Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1910-01-07

Among the powers and duties CON
ferred upon the Governor by our consti-
tuition are that "he shall, from time to
time, give the legislature information of
the state of the government and rec
ommend for consideration such measures
as may be deemed necessary and eNpe-
dent" Among those statutory are: H
is to supervise the official conduct of all
executive and ministerial officers"
(c) He is to see that all offices are
filled and the duties thereof performed,
or, in default thereof, apply such rem
edy as the law allows; and if the rem
edy be imperfect, he shall acquaint the
legislature Herewith at its next ses-
siOn.'
I shall not, at this time, cover the en-
tire field embraced in the provisions men
toned, but shall, at my discretion, from
time to time, submit special messages,
celebrating the subjects here presented,
or others.
General Conditions.
AS known to all, Mississippi is the
most strictly agricultural state in the
union, both as regards capital invested
and the employment of it's citizenship.
Prosperity or adversely of all other avO-
cations and industries is directly depend
ent upon farming conditions. These con-
ditions, through the invasion of the boil
weevil, are seriously threatened with a
great misfortune, which can only be
averted by a revolution in our farm
ing methods. Disaster awaits those who
will not abandon the practice of zone
crop" farming system, whereby cotton
is expected to provide, through purchases
from others, all that is needed for farm
or family. Crop Investigation improved
variety of seed and agricultural meth
DDS, stock raising, truck growing and
the development of new industrial enter
prises should be encouraged by every
reasonable and constitutional means.
Some specific methods are here sub
| mitted, and others may be evolved, af-
ter opportunity is had of learning your
views. Except where poor drainage, or
other exceedingly adverse conditions pre-
vent, the damage from the boil Weevil
can be largely reduced, and cotton sue
cessfully grown, by strictly adhering to
the methods which have been tested and
approved by farmers of sections in which
the weevil has been a long but lessen
ing affliction. The efforts of the fed
eral government to alleviate the boil wee
vii situation should receive our hearty
cooperation. Counties should be author
lied, if regarded by them advisable, to
employ a county commissioner, for each
supervisors district. thus meeting the
necessity for constant, helpful sugges-
tiOns and encouragement to those who
are so largely welded to the old and
now fatally defective methods, as to
need much persuasion for such rapid
and radical charges as will enable them
to produce, on their own lands, nearly
everything needed for a comfortable liv-
ing.
Our climate, soil and weather condi-
tiOns, if our advantages are wisely util-
lied, give us unparalleled opportunities
for the production of nearly all kinds of
crops, vegetables, stock and fruits.
"Book farming was once regarded, not
altogether without reason, as visionary,
for then no accurate tests of the produc-
tivity of plants and animals, undo vary
ing conditions had been made and veri-
fed. The great and useful United
States Department of Agriculture is
thoroughly investigating all the methods
and results of husbandry in the civil
lied world; and, especially, the varying
possibilities and needs of the different
rural sections of the United States.
Through the experimental stations,
federal and state, a vast and val
liable experience, thoroughly tested. has
been accumulated, and this work, under
skilled, scientific oversight and direction,
is continuing its discovery and dissem-
nation OF all important facts that help
or hurt rural life. Our Agricultural and
Mechanical College, at Starkville, and
its four experimental stations, are rem
dering magnificent service. NOtwith-
standing the very adverse weather, of
this year, their agricultural products, in
Guiding cotton. far surpassed those
grown, under different methods, with like
opportunities. Two additional expert
mental stations should be created-one
in the heart of the boil weevil territory,
and another in the prairie lands.
Mississippi should produce horses,
mules, cattle and hogs for its own use,
and for export, thus furnishing a means
of converting farm products into COM
modities that are always salable and
of constantly increasing value.
The cattle tick which carries Texas
fever, was unknown, as a cause of the
trouble, until quite recently. Dur loss
through death. decreased value, limita-
ions on marketing. arrested growth and
decreased milk production amount, in
this state. TO millions of dollars a year.
This curse can be readily remedied and
the tick exterminated by cooperation
with the United States Agricultural De-
partment. Hog cholera can be eradieat-
ed by the intelligent use of serum, which
could be distributed through the agricul-
tural colleges at no large outlay.