The Semi-weekly leader., 1921-12-21

ed an army of workers. The mer-
chants of the town were prosperous
and the farmers of the surrounding
country found ready cash markets
for all their surplus products. One
day the town and country were
thrown into a state Of CONSERVATION
because of the news going forth that
the cotton mills were sold and would
cease to operate. Closing Of the
mills caused property in the town
and vicinity to decrease to a low lev
ell. AS the years passed a new in
dustry was in process of building, in
and around this town. Today the
weekly payroll of this new industry
is greater than the weekly payroll of
the cotton mills during it's best days.
The cotton mills were owned and op-
Grated by few capitalists. This
new industry is owned and operated
by the many small farmers of that
section. l refer to the dairy indus
try of the Wesson vicinity.
Peach growing on a commercial
scale is growing and attracting IA
vorable attention in Pearl River, Lin
coin and Jones counties. The or
chards that have reached the bearing
stage prove that our soils and cli-
mate are well adapted to growing
peaches of the highest quality and
flavor.
"The satsuma crop along the Gulf
coast is yielding good returns. Sue
cessful orchards have been develop
ed as far as forty miles north of
the coast. Some new orchards are
being planted each year.
Organization has been the watch
word of South Mississippi extension
workers throughout the past year.
Practically every county in the dis
trict has a farm bureau either Or
ganized or in the process of organi-
zation. Farmers, generally, are en-
the farm bureau is functioning and
serving the people. All surplus farm
products are being marketed, coop
eratively, through the bureau, and
all materials that enter into cheaper
production of crops are being pur-
chased comparatively at a great saw
ing to the individual farmer.
"As an index to the agricultural
growth and development of South
Mississippi I will state that for the
past two years 65 per cent of the
agricultural exhibits at the Missis-
sippi State Fair came from the South
Mississippi district. And for the same
biennial period the highest award
for the county doing the best all
round club work went to the South |
Mississippi district. Despite the |
small acreage in cultivation, South |
Mississippi counties have more miles
of roads than any other section of |
the state.
"The progress along the agricultu-
raj lines has been matched by the |
growth along educational lines. OF |
the 450 consolidated schools in the
state, approximately 65 per cent of |
them are in the southern part of |
the state. OF the 125 teachers homes,
oPPi PiOAAhAoIOAy ~ PeI Ceul VI lneul |
are in the Southern half. Salaries of |
teachers, especially those in the ru-
raj districts average rs per cent
higher in the southern half of the
state.
In conclusion I will state that |
farm extension workers of South Mis-
sissippi have had a full measure of |
cooperation from the State Depart
ment Of Agriculture, The State De-
partment Of Education, Chambers of
Commerce, agricultural departments |
Of railroads and various business and |
fraternal organizations. We owe
much to the press for cordial sup
port and helpful influence"