The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1911-03-03
REPORT TO BOARD.


The law authorizing the establish
ment of county department Of agri-
sult4irs makes it the duty of the com-
missioner to keep in close touch with
the United States Department of Agri-
culture, the Mississippi A. 4 NJ. Col
lege, the State Experiment Stations,
the State department of Agriculture,
assist in organizing agricultural clubs,
and advance in every way possible the
farming interests of the county.
Since 1 was appointed Commissioner
by your honorable body, I have visited
Washington and met many of the Of
iicials of the Department of Agriculture
and obtained literature for distribution,
and many valuable suggestions. l have
visited the State Department of Agri-
culture several times and placed names
on the mailing list. While | have not
a. YET been able to visit the A. 4 M.
College and the State Experiment
Stations, I have kept in close touch
through correspondence and bulletins. I
have assisted in organizing n agri-
cultural society and one boys corn
club. l have made ten talks to the
farmers at different times and places.
l have visited about ore hundred
farmers in the boil weeyil districts Of
Louisiana and Texas and obtained their
experiences and advice for the guidance
of the farmers in this county.
The paramount issue in this county
at this time is the boil weevil. When I
arrived in this county as your Commits
sioner, l began to entreat the negroes
to remain in the country and the farmers
and merchants to put forth every effort
to prevent the laborers from leaving
their homes. 1 have urged the credit
merchants and the bankers to supply
the farmers the actual necessities of
life. l have urged all classes of people
to practice the most rigid economy this
year.
/ have never advised the farmers of
the county to supplant cotton a. their
leading crop on account Of the boil
weevil, but 1 have increasingly impor-
tuned them to supplement the cotton
crop with good pastures, good gardens,
enough of every food crop necessary for
home consumption, and enough good
stock to consume the leguminous hays
that must be grown in order to
ically maintain the productiveness of
the soil.
I have established at the places desig-
mated by you, thirty-twe demonstration
farms. The demonstration farmers have
agreed to cultivate 1877 acres Of cotton
and Ill acres of corn according to gov
eminent instructions. l have made lie
visits to these farms. That IL, I have
averaged about four visits to each
demonstration farm.
l discussed the following fundamental
requirements for good farming with the
farmers of the county:
1. A thorough pulverization Of the
soil a little deeper than it has v been
before.
2. The use of seed of the best variety
As shown by the records of the expert
ment stations.
3. The width of the rows and the dis
tance apart of the plants in the rows
to suit the plant and the soil.
4. Frequent and shallow cultivation
during the growing period of the crops.
s. Filling the soil full of humus by
the rotation of crops, the use of peas
and other legunes, and the use of barn
yard manure.
6. Systematic crop rotation with a
winter cover crop.
Z. The accomplishing of more work
in a day by the use of more horse power
and better farm implements.
s. More and better stock to the ex-
tent of utilizing all the surplus farm
produce and the idle land of the farm.
9. Production of all the food re-
quired for the men and animals on the
farm.
10. The keeping of accounts of each
farm product, in order to know from
which the gain or loss arises.