The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1915-04-01
REvOLUTlONizE STOCK
RAISING INDUSTRY

Jackson, Miss, April 1.-The history
of the development Of corn growing
and improving from the start made
half dozen or so years ago through the
activities and leadership of the quiet
person of Corn Club" Smith, now
leader of the department of education.
may be repeated through the activi-
ties Of another wideawake county SUI
perintendent of education. 1t is prob
able that W. H. Smith, as superintend-
emit of education in Holmes county,
had no hopes that the movement
would catch the public spirit as it has
since then; in a way which has pro-
duced two champion juvenile corn
growers In Mississippi during the past
three years.
Now comes Bura Hilburn, who few
months ago was principal of thriving
little consolidated school in Coving-
ton county, who has succeeded J. T.
may duplicate the corn club movement
and revolutionize the live stock indus
try in Mississippi. 1t was Mr.. Hill
burn who took up the subject Of baby
clubs and introduced the first one of
its kind in Mississippi less than six
months ago. Yet on Friday and Satur-
day of last week, at the Covington
county school rally and field day exer-
cises, the principal feature was the
baby beef club" show at Collins.
Auction a Success.
This initial county beef club has now
100 members, who at the show exhibit
ed so calves, including six pure blood
ed males, four pure blooded females
and the balance bulls and heifers. Of
this young stock 20 were sold at auc-
ton to men who knew what they
would be worth in developing and i'm
proving their own herds, at an average
price of $3.50 each.
Among those who attended were P.
P. Garner, United States demonstra-
ton agent for South Mississippi, and
c. A. Cobb, assistant state agent, in
charge Of the boys club work, both
of whom speak in glowing terms of the
event and the great significance which
it bears to the future. Discussing the
features of this work, Mr.. Garner
stated that membership is open to any
boy of school age or over eight years
of age The calves raised must be
under nine months of age and have
been fed 120 days, and record of the
feeding and other details kept by the
grower.
The breeds shown are mostly Here
fords, with some Shorthorns and
scrubs, and the calf which was award
ed first prize was the property of Miss
Ada Thames, daughter of ]. c.
Thames, a prosperous farmer, which
had been bred by Hugh Mcintosh and
valued at 800. 1t is of interest to
know, as stated by Mr.. Garner, that
Miss Thames was so proud of her
young bovine protege that she refused
an offer of 1896 for the youngster.
These demonstration agents insist
that what has been developed in Gov.
ington might well be tried in other
counties, and they stand ready to atd
the people in every way possible in
promoting a statewide baby beef in
dustry, just as they are lending their
aid to the encouragement of the corr
clubs among he boys and young men
Of the state. If after six years of ef.
fort a roster of 5000 club members in
over 40 counties for the promotion OF
corn growing can be developed, 1t
seems reasonable to assume that the
pig and baby beef club movement will
be susceptible to just as great de-
gree of development.