The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1913-01-21


operating with the state department
of agriculture and urged that all men
make use of the bulletins issued by the
department.
The efficient work being done by the
state inspectors of fertilizer and feed
stuff was discussed, showing that the
farmers are being saved a large sun
of money each year by preventing the
sale of adulterated feedstuff and low
grade fertilizer.
Tick Eradication.
One of the most beneficial efforts
of the department has been along the
line of Graduating the cattle tick that
has caused so much loss in this state
and retarded the greater development
OF the livestock industry. On the
first Of next March eighteen counties
will be free of the tick, and cattle from
these counties can be shipped to any
part of the U. S. 1t will be a matter
of but a few years, according to Com
missioner Blakeslee, if the instructions
of the department are followed be-
fore the tick plague will be entirely
exterminated.
Mr.. Blakeslee spoke enthusiastically
OF the good work that is being done to-
ward the improvement of the highways
of the state. Five years ago only thir-
teen counties were operating under the
present road system. Now only thir-
teen counties have not adopted the
system.
Animal Husbandry.
The history of all nations and of all
times shows that those which have been
successful in agricultural pursuits have
devoted much time and attention to
livestock husbandry, according to Prof
A. Smith of the A. & NJ. College, speak
ing on that subject this morning.
OF the many different breeds of
beef cattle it was shown that the De
Won is the most profitable for this re-
gion at present. The shorthorn breeds
are very profitable animals, but they
are used to grazing in the bluegrass
regions and this section is not yet
adapted to raising them.
Beef cattle on farm are simply ma
chimes for converting the coarse foods
and concentrates into finished prod
ucts of higher value. This section with
its mild climate, fertile soil, grasses.
plenty of roughage in the way of shred
ded stover, hays, cotton seed hulls and
that best of all concentrates, cotton
seed meal, which is being shipped in
large quantities to the Eastern states
and Europe for feeding cattle, is the
most favorable in the world for the
profitable industry of livestock rails
ing.
Last year Prof. Smith fed three car.
loads of cattle which used a large
amount of slower and other roughage,
thereby turning into cash substance
that goes to waste on many farms.
Keeping UP the Soil.
After the devotional services were
by Prof. J. C. Roberts, the
subject How to Make and Keep
Farm Productive" was discussed by
Prof. E. R. Lloyd of the A. & NJ. Col
eye.
Mr.. Lloyd's experience in teaching
he study of soils convinced him that
he way to interest the boys and girls
n this otherwise uninteresting sub
ect was to bring the matter home to
hem by teaching about the soils of
Mississippi.
Improvement of soils lies at the bot
pm of the problem of increasing the
productivity of Mississip-
|. Any fool can farm rich soil, but it
squires brains to keep a farm rich.
y giving more intense cultivation to
fewer number Of acres and by adopt
g the use of modern implements,
stter teams and scientific methods
the land in the state can be made
ghly productive.
The three things that have made
'or land in this state are short pIows,
'es and the tenant system, said Mr..
oyd; and the ways and means for
aking the land rich are sensible
ainage, use of proper fertilizers. deep
i blowing, careful selection of seed I
d the use of stronger teams. He I
planned the virtues of subsoil, in |
ting that bringing into activity the
ent elements of the subsoil was a e
lch better method of improving the b
ID than by using commercial fer T
zers too extensively. By turning b
der a cover crop in the fall, the land g
] be given the amount of phosphoric
d and nitrogen that is needed. Good C
'er crops suggested are Japanese T.
yer, white clover, velvet beans, and, Il
n IN cav ardfrox~x, oAalxI1 nj