FARM HOMES in the NEW SOUTH (OI'VRK.HT 1912 By K. A. CiMMiNGS li; Co. DDD DD ■ nan dd DD -=DD= DD DD =^--aD DDD =DD DDD DD DD DD DD DD FARM HOMES in the NEW SOUTH AN ATTEMPT TO TRUTHFULLY REPRESENT SOME OF THE AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES AND HOME ADVAN TAGES OF THE COUNTRY ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI CENTRAL RAILROAD IN THE VICINITY OF HATTIES BURG, MISS., THE METROPOLIS OF SOUTHERN MISSIS SIPPI SEVENTY MILES FROM THE GULF OF MEXICO + + Compiled />y Edward S. Judd anJ Wilms S. Thompson + + E. A. CuMMiNGs & Company (ESIAIILISHHII 18691 DD DD DC] DD EDMUND A. CUMMINCS CHARLES O. GOSS EDWARD S. JUDD ROBERT C. GIVINS 40 N. DEARBORN STREET, CHICAGO. ILL. Price 25 Cents W. L. Twining Manager Farm Depurlmint DD DD DD DDD DD= DDD DD- =nD= -DD= QD =DD DDD =aD DDD D an Page Four DD D E. A. Cu m m 1 11 g s C o m p a n y Foreword Who Should Buy Farm Land There are many tillers of the soil nov\- working for others or farming as tenants, and many farm owners \^•ho wish to /'ctter thiir prosfcrts by moving to other places. There are men living in the cities who grew up on farms and now realize that the independent life of the farm is better than the city for themselves and their families. There are many others who are "land hungr\" and inquiring as to where the best opportunities for settlement and investment can be found. Having in mind the desires of all these people, we started out to find land ivhich ice could conscientiously reconrnend, and our experts, «ho are practical farmers, made examinations of land in many localities. Why Southern Land Selected The lands of the Canadian Northwest were left out of con- sideration on account of their location in a cold climate with short growing season, little opportunity for diversification of crops and in a countr\ not under the flag of the United States. Personal examination has been made of lands under sev- eral United States and private irrigation projects in the West and Northwest. \Miile wonders are being accomplished in making the wilderness blossom as the rose where water is car- ried to the dry land, yet the cost of such land and water rights, ranging from $40 to $300 per acre, with uncertainty in many cases as to sufficiency of the water supply and an absolute cer- tainty of a perpetual maintenance tax and occasional charges for repairs and betterments, led us to conclude that such land is not a desirable purchase for most people seeking farm homes. The orchard lands of the Pacific Coast are attractive in some respects, but prices are exceedingly high. It takes a num- ber of expensive years to develop an orchard, over-production of fruit is among the possibilities, and the long freight or ex- press haul to the consumer absorbs a considerable part of the profit. We sent a representative to the Southwest and found that liberal advertisement of that region in the last ten ^ears had attracted so many people that nearly all of the desirable land had been taken up and prices of what was left for late comers $iO to $100 per acre— are high. Land in the Central West has been bringing as much as (gC!.A3308G8 □ □ F a r III H III I' s i II the N t' w South DO a Pa K ^ Ft D DO $200 and more per acre for some exceptionally choice farms, with an average of from $75 to $100 per acre and upward. Land all over the countrj' is hound to increase in price with increase of population, but conditions vary in different regions, and we believe that the man making a new home or moving his family to find a better home, should compare land in different parts of the country. That is what our experienced farmers who select and handle our farm lands have tried to do for you. Points Considered In making our selection, we have made carc/ul examination of the following matters : 1st. Location as to HEALTH. 2nd. Location as to climate, including temperature. DRINKING water SUPPLY and COMFORT IN LIVING. 3rd. Location as to soil pRODucTn'ENESs. including rain- fall, LENGTH OF GROWING SEASON and VARIETY OF PRODUCTS. 4th. Location as to market for farm products. 5th. Actual value taking into account earning ca- pacity of developed farms and in comparison with other lands nearby and similarly situated. Conclusion We are FIRMLY convinced, after personal examination at every season of the jear, study of reports of soil experts and conversation with farmers in the vicinity, that THE lands de- scribed in this pamphlet meet all the requirements for AN ideal home investment. We vouch unreservedly for the truthfulness of the facts herein stated, with a reputa- tion established by over forty years of successful and conserva- tive real estate business in the second cit\' of the United States. E. A. Cummings & Company 40 North De:irborn Street Chicago, 111. Referencf.s : Merchants Loan and Trust Company Bank. Chicago, 111. Chicago Title and Trnst Company, Chicago, 111. Hattiesburg Trust and Banking Company. Hattiesburg, Miss. Your own banker. D /' CI M c i> i X D E . A . C u m m tugs ti' C o in p a n \ DQ Snap Bcarr;. Planted nnc hu?hel "^nap beans and shipped ?4*^ hampers of 7;^ bushels each to Pittsburgh nettina $ I 00 a hamper Nor ice pecan trees breaking with heavy crop. Photograph made November 13. IPIZ D Fa II (I III r s I n t h I' N r :<■ N o ii I h no D Pag. D CJuiptcr I South Mississippi and How It Looks P'ieKl i)t ( )|H'rati(iii SOME of those who will read this have never been in South Mississippi, and we wish to de- scribe the country so that it will look as ex- pected when visited. The map of the State shows the counties of Forrest, Lamar, Covington and Jef- ferson Davis, located an a\erage of about 75 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, and having the cities of Hattiesburg, Purvis, Collins and Prentiss as their county seats. Jackson, the capital of the State, New Orleans and Mobile are within a radius of about 100 miles. Of the cities in the counties mentioned, Hattiesburg is the most important, with a popu- lation of 12,000 people, being the fourth in size of the entire State; having railroads, including the Mississippi Central, the Gulf and Ship Island, the New Orleans and Northeastern (Queen and Cres- cent Route) and the New Orleans. Mobile and Chicago, radiating in six different directions, im- portant lumber mills of the J. |. Newman Lumber Company, large canning plant for handling farm products, the ALssissippi Woman's College, the State Normal College, and all the educational and other advantages of a prosperous and growing citv. Pleasant and Healthful Location As the visitor views the country for the first time, he will be impressed with the generally roll- ing character of the land, lying at an elevation of from 100 to 300 feet above sea level, and affording pleasant and healthful locations for farm homes, .^lost of the country has been forested, chiefly with the famous long leaf yellow pine trees interspersed with some hardwood varieties, and saw-mills are still in active operation in manv places. Land Rolling The man who expects to see large tracts of open prairie readv for the plow will be disappointed; D an Pa i''' K i g h t DO a E . J . C II m m i n g s C m p a n y qq there is the rolling prairie aspect to much of the brush, and many fields are cultivated without re- country and one can look over the land for long moving the stumps, the farmer burning them out distances, but scattered over it are the stumps left at his leisure between raising crops, by the lumbermen. There is little or no under- This photogragh was made in October, It's a farm in the midst of the land we are offering and the picture shows the rolling condition and the tail native grasses on which stock feeds and fattens. A dairyman who followed the business in New "\'ark State for a number of year has located at Hattiesburg and bought one thousand acres, establishing one of the finest dairies in the South. DD Farm H o yn e s in the New South P a e e Nine DO Iowa farmers buying land in South Mississippi. Photograph taken on the Strayhan farm at Hattiesburg where the average corn yield per acre was sixty-one bushels and three pecks Productive Soil and sweet potatoes, while an abundant growth of The agricultural development will impress the sugar-cane, strawberries, orchard fruits and all visitor as being mostly of recent date. There are garden products indicates the crop-producing ca- many fields producing good crops of corn, cotton pacity of the soil. D aa Pa DD a E . A . C. II III New Country near Market The general impression made on the visitor will be that of a newly developing country con- venient to transportation and near the great mar- kets of the Central West— onlv 24 hours from Chi- cago and a much less distance'from St. Louis, Cin- cinnati and other important cities. Enough farm- ing is already being done to demonstrate the pro- ductiveness of the soil and to show that intelligent work on the part of the now rapidly increasing population of South Mississippi is bound to bring results in profitable farming and large increase o1 land value. S,.„u ,,l ilu- nc» M-tlk-rs and a .emporary huilding Ix-ing u.sed while cleahriK the land I hese people are from Pennsylvania, and the picture was taken thirty days after their arrival in Mississippi III I n t; S C U III p a II V DD Home »f Mr R. K. Smith, at Hattiesburg Mr Smith is IJeneral Manager of the Mississippi Central Railroad Low Price and Easy Terms The counties of South Mississippi in which the lands represented by us are located are steadily increasing in agricultural importance and we know of no region where equally desirable land for farm homes can be bought at so moderate a price and on such easy terms of payment as the [. J. New- man Lumber Company lands along the" Missis- sippi Central Railroad and near the other rail- roads traversing this part of the State. n Fa 1] t)i <• I h N f «' N It t li DD n Page Kiev D CD Chnphr II What Two Governors Have Written L ETTER from GoVKRXOk NoKL, chief execu- tive of the State in 191 I : Jackson, Miss., Xov. 9, 1911. Miss. The J. J. Nkwm.w Ltmukr Co., HattiL'sbiirg Gentlemen : I am glad to hear that you have made arrangements to secure farmers to settle and cultivate lands along the Mississippi Central Railroad near Hattiesburg. 1 trust that the efforts of yourselves and associates, Messrs. E. A. Cummings & Co., will result in bring- ing a large number of desiralile citizens to Mississippi. .•\ccording to my information, the lands you are offering for settlement are well located, and most of it productive and well suited for farm homes and close to one of the best of our cities. In liehalf of the people of Mississippi I wish to say that the newcomers will be given a cordial welcome. We are glad to have them cast their lots among us and to assist in the development of the resources of our state. Assuring you of my interest and cordial good will in ymu' efforts, I remain, \'ery sincerely, !■:. I'. XoKi., Governor. Letter from GoVKRXOK Bri-A\ KR, inaugurated Governor in 1912: Jackson, .Miss., July M. 191J. E. .\. Cummings & Co,, Gentlemen: I note your effort to obtain good citizens of other countries to come into South Mississippi to purchase homes and to become citizens of our state. 1 hope very much you will succeed in this very commendable effort. It is in Mississippi where soil and climate Ijlending together make the most profitable country to be found in the world. When we consider the fact that the lands of no other country that produce as much, can be bought for twice the money that Mississippi lands are sold for, and the gradual increase of the value of our lands, which is going to become more and more rapid, offers an oppor- tunity to a man to buy a good home cheaper than he can buy it anywhere else, and the increase in value thereof will make him a wealthy man if he simply sustains himself and makes a living. I know of no country that presents as many splendid opportuni- ties for a man to make money as is now presented in this now imdeveloped country of ours that is so rapidly improving. Yours very truly, Eari. r.KKWF.K. Governor. n Page Twelve DD D ^ . C u m m i n g s IS C o m p a ii y nD Chapter III General Information A Good Place to IJve A FARM home furnishing a comfortable liv- ing and independence f(^r the family can be secured by you who are reading this state- ment. We olTer you here good land, in a climate where you can comfortably work out of doors twelve months in the vear, without extremes of heat or cold; soil that produces marvelously and matures three crops a vear; at a price and on terms that place a good farm which will rapidly in- crease in value, easily within your reach. This land is not in a new and untried country; there are farmers already located, to become your neighbors if you will, whose prosperity in this community has already extended over several years. Central Location Besides the advantages of this home market for farm products, the school, church and social con- veniences, all needed supplies for the farm and home can be purchased from good local stores at the competitive prices prevailing in the large cities. There are four railroads centering at Hattiesburg and reaching quickly all parts of the country, mak- ing this a good shipping point for all farm prod- ucts. Temperature and Rainfall The climate makes life pleasant for twelve months in the year. There are not the extremes of heat or cold such as are common in the North, causing sulTering to people and failure of crops, and entailing much expense and uncertainty in taking care of stock. The United States Government Weather Bu- reau reports for the past several years give the av- erage temperature of the winter months about 50 degrees, the spring months about 65, the summer months about 79 and the autumn about 65. Dur- u DD Fa H m e s i n the New S o u t h DD D Page T h i r t e e n DD ing the torrid waves which cause so much suffer- ing in the North it is usually several degrees cooler in this part of Mississippi and the nights pleasant. Frequent cooling breezes from the Gulf of Mexico, 70 miles away, contribute to comfort in summer. The average annual rainfall is from 54 to 60 inches, well distributed through the year. With the temperature and rainfall so favorable there is F-^lowing artesian wells at Hattiesburg There are more than thirty iif these wells in the city. The twelve thousand people are supplied with water from four wells three hundred feet deep no time in the fifty-two weeks when some crops cannot be growing. [See appendix for official weather statistics.] Water Supply The drainage and water supply are good. There are numerous streams fed principally by living springs, with water as clear as though filtered. For domestic purposes water is found at any point; a bountiful supply is easily obtained by driven wells of twenty to forty feet. The water is very soft and free from any objectionable qual- ities. Artesian wells all over the territory range frQui:200 to 400 feet in depth. Churches and Schools Education and religion are essential to make life worth while in any community. The rural schools and churches of South Mississippi are year- ly increasing in number and quality of work. At Hattiesburg are found remarkably good facilities for higher education in High School, the Missis- sippi Woman's College, the State Normal College OD Page F u r t e e n E . A . C II n g s 'is' C m p a n y 1 CH r^ NORMAl, rOI,Li:GE OF STATi; OF MISSISSIPPI, AT I lATTll-SBl IRt; MISS D Fa II 111 f s i II the N I S u t h DD D Page Fifleen qd SchtK)l Buildmg at Sumrall and several business colleges. Articles by the Su- perintendent of Education and by the pastor ol one of the leading churches in Hattiesburg, will be found in the appendix and should be carefully read. Ideal Growing Soil The soil ranges from grav to red, chocolate and black sandy loam, named by soil experts the "Orangeburg sandy loam," and is underlaid with a clay subsoil. There is sufficient depth to the soil and the clay subsoil is of a quality to hold the mois- ture and sustain growing crops. The land is enough rolling to make artihcial drainage unneces- sary but not to cause the fertilizing qualities to be washed away. The land responds readily and abundantly to intelligent and moderate use of fer- tilizers, and the leguminous crops, such as peas and beans that grow here luxuriously are soil builders equal to red clover or other cover crops whose good qualities are so well known. Official Advice Gladly and Freely Given For the aid and instruction of farmers in Mis- sissippi, the United States Government has a regu- lar organization of good men who look after the individuals as well as communities. They instruct the farmer in the best methods of preparing his lands, in the best methods of planting and rotat- ing his crops, in the best crops to plant and how to take care of them, the best live stock and the most economic methods to secure profitable re- sults. The State and United States Government have joined in establishing experimental and prac- tical farms, and these have demonstrated the value of the lands under the right sort of farming. Success Assured by Intelligent Eiiort With all this assistance at his door, no man should conclude that these farms will produce '-' I) OD 1 CI g e Si x I e I' n □a □ ^- A. Cu >" >" ings Is C ow pel n y pg Two-ycar-uld pecan orchard and velvet heans in S„uth Mississippi D an Fa // U ))1 c i n I h (• N e iv S II t It a age S e vent e e n a DO without work. It takes as much work as farming anywhere, but with the possibility of two or more bountiful crops a year, a good market ready for all that is produced, the unlikelihood of a crop failure from any ordinary cause for which climate or soil can be blamed, we assert that it is already proven that the farmer is much more liberally re- warded for his work in the New South, in Mis- sissippi, than in other parts of the country. Enough Timber for Farm Purposes One very important feature of all this land is that each forty acres has sufficient small timber to provide fence posts and fuel supply. The lim- ited amount of fallen yellow pine timber which is on the ground makes excellent fuel, and as these logs do not rot for years because of the large amount of rosin and turpentine they contain, they can also be made into fence posts or cut into fuel supply and become at once a valuable asset to the farmer. Some of this fallen timber can be made into railroad ties which bring about thirty-five cents each. Because of the nearness of the lumber mills the construction of houses and other farm buildings is far more economical than in a countrv where lumber is scarce. Home Building Inexpensive The nature of the climate makes building in- expensive. It is not necessary to plaster the houses; in fact very few houses in the cities are ever plas- tered; plain sheeting is used instead and with papering cannot be distinguished from the plas- On a Sunday afternoon in lanuary. at the home of a farmer near I lattiesburK ■'■■', h M 1 'fti " * 1^^ I ^B k" iiii'l Hills . \ an P (I i: e E i j; /( / <■ c h uu D E . A . C H m 111 I n g s Is C u III p II n \ A Southern Mississippi Pecan Orchard at the time of gathering the crop a an Fa II m e 5 in the N e zc S o ii I h aa u Page N i n e t c en Q DD tered houses of the North. It is not necessary to use heavy walls for protection from the cold, since it is very rare that there is any weather sufficiently severe to stop the growing of some crops on the farm. Cabbages planted in November mature in January for the market, showing that there is no very severe weather during these winter months. Most of the farmers build houses of from three to five rooms, according to the size of their fam- ilies, and these range in cost from $350 up. We will personally interest ourselves in assist- ing all farmers to get the best possible contract for the construction of all their buildings, securing only the most reliable contractors to do the work. Where the farmer chooses to buy the lumber and do his awn building we will help him to secure the best possible prices on all his lumber. Many Farms are Cultivated Before Stumps are Removed The removal of the stumps from this land has been reduced to a simple and inexpensive process. Besides, many farmers prefer to start farming and remove the stumps gradually. The best method of L^ POTATOES I^EIGHING 65Lbs been done by farmers on this same land for a num- ber of years. When Irish potatoes yield less than 100 bushels to the acre, something is usually wrong with the farming methods employed. Then there is time enough for two other crops to grow on the same land in the same vear. J. T. Delk of Hattiesburg, owning a farm with- in a stone's throw of the eastern line of the farms we are offering you, planted five acres in Irish potatoes in 1911 and raised 200 bushels to the acre, for which he refused $1.50 a bushel, holding them till spring for higher prices. J. D. Pool of Hattiesburg, on the same sort of land, planted his Irish potatoes five feet six inches apart, gathered 115 bushels to the acre and had his corn planted between the rows when the po- tatoes were dug. The corn produced 96 bushels to the acre and gave time for a third crop the same year. Enormous Sweet Potato Crops Sweet potatoes are a banner crop in Mississippi, producing under proper cultivation from 200 to 400 bushels to the acre. The cut-over lands have produced as high as 500 bushels to the acre. There is always a good market. The canning of sweet potatoes is a Southern industry that supplies a uni- versal market and a canning plant at Hattiesburg takes care of this crop. aa F a r III U III f s I II the N e w S o u t h aa a Page T w e n t y - n i n e □□ AM ssissippi cantaloupe field that will make Rocky Fords take notice. The tall, scattering plants are not trees, they are Mississippi corn stalks that have not reached their growth and the time to tassel D an Page Thirty D E . A C II III III I II v s C m pan y qu R. W. Thompson, representative of the United States Department of Agriculture with headquar- ters at Hattiesburg, points out in one of his re- ports that 200 bushels of sweet potatoes is an easy average crop to the acre. Water-melons, Cantaloupe and Peanuts Mr. Thompson also calls attention to the fact that one farmer realized $1,000 from nine acres of water-melons, afterwards raising a crop of pea- vine hay worth $20 a ton, and left the land in shape for a winter pasture for hogs. Cantaloupes pro- duce in large quantities of excellent quality and both the early water-melon and the early canta- loupe should be made an important feature in ship- ping to the Northern markets. The growing of the Spanish peanut has de- veloped most wonderfully within the last few years. It is not only a profitable crop in the pro- duction of nuts, but the vines produce about a ton to the acre and make excellent hay. Hattiesburg jobbing houses are ready to purchase all the pea- nuts that are raised by the farmers in the country round about at the highest prevailing market price. Sugar-Cane and What One Man Made on Tvvehe Acres J. T. Delk, the same man who grew the Irish potatoes mentioned in this book, planted twelve acres of ribbon cane in 1911 and sold to the Mer- chants Grocery Company of Hattiesburg five thou- sand gallons of syrup at fifty cents a gallon, after retaining enough of the cane to plant 25 acres for his 1912 crop. His 1912 product was contracted for at fifty cents a gallon. This land is especially adapted to cane. The syrup is equal in flavor to the best maple. The machinery used in making the syrup is very inexpensive. Mr. Thompson, the United States Department of Agriculture repre- sentative, has stated in a report that 450 gallons of syrup to the acre is a very moderate estimate. Nearly every farmer in the vicinity now grows enough cane for his own familv use and a largely increased production will be found profitable. A canning plant with facilities for handling all the business ofi^ered is located at Hattiesburg. Lj J /' a r III II HI e s in the N e w S o it t h u Page T h i r I y - o n ' DO Gathering South Mississippi Tomntnes D DQ Page Thirty-/ -w o D E. A . Cu y Co m p a n y nn Big Profit in romatoes The boys' corn clubs have been so successful that the United States Government Agricultural Department has organized girls' tomato clubs. One of them is at Hattiesburg. The girls not only raise but can their tomatoes under the instruction of the United States Government experts. The cans are the same as those used in large canneries and the canned tomatoes are marketed under proper labels. The winner in 1911 on the cut- over lands of Mississippi produced $100 worth of canned tomatoes from one-tenth of an acre, this being the unit used in the competition. This is equal to $1,000 an acre. In 1912 Miss Susie Chat- ham of Hattiesburg canned 1,852 cans of tomatoes from one-tenth of an acre, won the national prize and sold the tomatoes for $131.18 cash, or at the rate of $1,31 1.80 an acre. Her family also ate all they wished from her patch during the season. Her net profit on the tenth of an acre was $107.75. In the raising of tomatrfes, both climate and soil are especiallv suited and some very prosperous farming communities testify to the value of the crop. Here is a sample wlTich is not classed as a remarkable exception : J. D. Ford bought 50 acres of cut-over land in December, 1910. He planted nine acres in toma- toes, the balance of the farm going into other crops and the breeding of hogs. June 1, 1911, he had marketed his tomatoes. From that nine acres alone he had paid for his farm, paid for improvements, cropping and marketing and had $1,875 in cash left over. The tomatoes were marketed in the North, while Mississippi growers had nothing but hot house products with which to compete. Tomatoes not only grow in Mississippi ahead of Northern crops but late tomatoes can reach into the Northern cold weather and secure the benefit of other high prices. It was because of the fitness of Mississippi for fine tomatoes that the United States Government decided to pay particular attention to increasing the cultivation. Carloads of Early Cucumbers Cucumbers constitute another standard and most profitable crop on these Mississippi farms. They are the earliest to the Northern fancy mar- kets, as arc tomatoes. Very early in the spring they are shipped North in carload lots. This has □ □ F CI r III II 1)1 r s i II I li f N <■ cr S' o u I h Page T h i r f y - I h r e e □□ Another view of the land which is being offered for settlement been done for the past three years, and the farm- ers who have engaged in cucumber growing have realized from $100 to $200 an acre, shipping only the "selects." The "culls," including all cucum- bers not perfect in shape and size, have been thrown away or fed to the hogs. The canning and pickling plants now take care of all this surplus and materially increase the farmer's profit. Both cucumbers and tomatoes are gathered before the end of May, just as they are starting in the North, and the farmer in Mississippi has the rest of the year for other crops. More farmers each year are planting these because of the splendid profits in either planting. D □ D Page' T h I r t y - J i< r D A . C u m m i n g s l3 C o m p a n y n an The farmers in one section of the cut-over dis- trict of Southern Mississippi in 1911 combined to raise cucumbers for the early market. They shipped and marketed fifty-two carloads at a net profit of $325 a car, or a net profit per acre of $130. This is on the sort of land which we are offering and represents only one of three crops that can be grown the same year on the same land. Onions The lands all about Hattiesburg have thorough- ly demonstrated that they will grow anything in the fruit and vegetable line. T. A. Hightower, a Hattiesburg merchant, has experimented in grow- ing Bermuda onions. The onions Mr. Hightower grew were in every respect the equal of the Texas product — good size and verv firm, being well ma- tured and perfectly sound. His harvest amounted to $250 an acre and Mr. Hightower believes that he will far exceed this, profiting by some experi- ments which he made in his first crop. Mr. E. B. Ferris, manager of the McNeill Experiment Station, writes us: E. A. CuMMiNGs & Co., McNeill, Miss., May 9, 1912. Chicago, 111. Dear Sirs: Answering your letter in regard to growing Bermuda onions. we have grown onions here in small quantities for a number of years, and I know no reason why they should not be grown com- mercially in this section. In fact, I know a number of individual farmers and truckers who do grow them for local markets, but as yet the crop has never been grown in any great quantity. They, of course, require very highly improved land, and our people have heretofore failed to build up their soils as they should be for this crop. I have now before me a Bermuda onion that was grown by J. J. Scarborough of Poplarville, Miss., which measures 13 inches in circumference after the outside hull had been removed, and weighs one pound. Mr. Scarborough is postmaster at Poplarville, Miss., 14 miles north of us, and sent me the onion to show how nicely they had grown. I feel sure that you could recommend the crop to prospective settlers on these lands with the understanding that the soils would have to he built up before they would successfully produce them. Yours truly, E. B. Ferris. One Acre of Cabbages and Cotton The United States Government employs a num- ber of expert farmers who spend their time among people who are cultivating the soil, aiding them in securing the best possible results. At a recent meeting of these men employed by the agricultural department, there were many reports from these farming sections. Here is one: J. E. Slaughter planted an acre in cabbage, his rows being six feet apart. This was planted in December, 1910. In April, 1911, he planted □n Farm Homes in the New South DD D Page Thirty -five DD • . "■" '*■ ■- "^' m ■ ^pHpp^^^^^^PJl^^^^^^^^^ " ^^M^€^^^rff^^^^^^^P^^^^ ' "ca^^^j^^^^^S^SiMB ■-^^lop^^t^^^lg^^ . o . ^ ■■L\-i^^'^'.:.V-i~-''f-^'f.'--'^^-^^ -Vii^ -^HV^*- — :i:- C . &• - '■^i-i:''*\ ■i^-k ■y'-fS'^ *JV-t'>(--- 4 *-^' .' ^^. ».'■ '\ -"■■^f»-Ji:^ >'-rip<.^ 'TfeJ^'^^C^BBIC'' '^%tS^J^f 'is* .^lyf?^-^' ■■ J^* .j^^bK jHty-^. .-f^Sf!^,-'"' ^^ 'f7 It- * 'j^- B^ossi^^^9ig%ir^^iK'i^:M^'^^ift'^ A- P"--ij^j i'^ 's^^^y^^ '•^''^^^S*^^'^•'^■'-^^^BM^'T^1E^ ". '?^^ H M^P^^'"" ^\^^^' % "'*^*'- "*' ,^ ■» j^^Mfliaaiawa^vv^j.* jyrafc^'fes.it > ^ tWv" OSi: L.^'^F^^ -^^^P^S ^ -^-. A IXxcmhirt ( al"^baKe (Jrop nt Haitieshurs. Mississippi D an Pa t' ' T h I r l \ - s I .V no D E . A . C II m m i n , C m p a n y nn cotton between the rows. His cabbage crop sold for $350. He gathered 4,360 pounds of seed cot- ton. He sold his cotton seed for $200 and the cot- ton brought him $142.70 at the prevailing low price. Had he planted his cabbage rows three feet apart instead of si.\, he could have doubled his crop, and following the cabbage could have planted corn or potatoes and taken much more from the same land he did. This would have left plenty of time for a third crop of peas or beans. All Sorts of Truck The land can be made to produce five trucking crops each twelve months and there is nothing that grows in the garden that does not do well here and for which there is not a steadv market. The head lettuce, which is the favorite varietv, is shown in samples at the Hattiesburg Commercial Club as large as ordinary cabbages. Each year there are more and more strawber- ries being grown and they produce a crop that adds much to the farmer's annual profits. The soil and climate are especially fitted and markets are within reach. In some parts of this cut-over section of Mississippi large areas of land are given over exclusively and profitably to growing crops of strawberries. As a demonstration of the ability of the land to produce five good trucking cn^ps a year, Mr. H. A. Camp of Hattiesburg, President of the Hat- tiesburg Trust & Banking Company, set aside a tract of Hattiesburg land, beginning his planting on New Years Day, 191 1. On part of the land he planted radishes and another part was used for lettuce. This produced abundantlv, matured and was ofif the land the last week in February. Im- mediately following this he planted Irish potatoes. In 65 days he took the potatoes out of the ground and planted snap beans. The last days of June he planted June corn in this same plot of land. This matured in September. The land was then planted part in turnips and part in cabbage. All these five crops vielded abundantlv. No two crops were on the land at the same time, the demonstration being to show that soil and climate will produce five clean crops in one season and with part of December unemployed. Qu Far m H o m e s i n the N e :r S o u t h DD D P a n f T h i r t ' t y - s e V e n nn THU LA>' OF THE L,\ND This view taken on the land of H. A Cummines & Co. give's a guod idea of how the country looks. Notice the slope giving good drainage and the small arnount of underbrush making the land easy to clear n A* a f; (• '/' li i r t y - e i g h t DD D E . A . Cummings i^ Company a an Chapter I A Good Stock Country Hogs and Cattle IN THE raising of hogs, cattle, mules, horses and sheep, Mississippi has many natural and economic advantages. The weather is never cold enough to make it necessary to shelter the stock. The streams fed mostly by living springs are numerous and always flowing with excellent water. The native grasses growing all over this cut-over territory are fine for grazing. Bermuda and Lespedeza grasses are extensively sown and take hold readily. Secretary of Agriculture Wil- son has publicly declared that all investigations and experiments by his Department, as well as the present stage of development, justify the predic- tion that in a very few years^ the South will not only exceed in productiveness any farming section of the country, but that it will raise more and bet- ter hogs and cattle and raise them much cheaper than anv other countrv on earth. Thorough-Bred Stock The days of the "razor-back" have passed. The raising of fine hogs and cattle is increasing each year. Hereford, Jersey and Holsteins are the best varieties of cows, and the Berkshire and Poland China hogs predominate. Many of the hogs raised here have been shipped to other states for breed- ing stock, and the farmers who set aside a part of their land for breeding of good hogs will be able for some years to sell most of the product for breeding at prices that mean fancy profits. The extensive feeding of corn is not necessary. The velvet bean, as a grazing crop, is a wonderful fat- tener both for cattle and hogs. The Lespedeza grass as both a grazing and hay crop is one of the best in the South. It is not damaged in using for pasture and is not easily killed out except bv plow- □ D Farm H o tn e s in the N e zv S u u t h DD a Page T h i r t y - n i n e an Cattle on the range in the midst of the lands being sold by ti A Cummings & Co Notice the excellent pasture ing under. It produces a heavy crop of hay that says, "I am sure that I can produce hogs at much always sells at a good price. less cost here than I did in Illinois. I will have a ^ x*,T- • -It- o I dairy of fifty cows on one farm and am buying One Man s Experience with Live Stock ^^^^^ ^^^ f^r two more dairies. 1 find dairying and Dairying" more profitable here than in Illinois. Cheap land, H. D. Curley, who was originally in the stock short winters, cheap labor and good prices for raising business in Illinois and now in Mississippi, dairy products are the advantages we have over an Pa^f Forty aa a Cu m m I n g s L m p a n y qq the North in this line. I have a small Hock of for one and one-fourth cents per pound live sheep that are doing well; the lambs are coming weight. Mules, horses and cattle can be profit- now and the weather is ideal for them. Mules ably raised on almost every farm. There are can be grown here at less cost than in any section of the North where they are grown to supply this market. I am positive that this belt is to become one of the best stock countries in the world." Read What One of the Best Informed U. S. Officials Says G. H. Alford, who has represented the United States Government in supervising farm work in the Southern part of Mississippi, says, "We need good hogs to manufacture grass, peanuts, sweet potatoes, peas, soja beans and other farm products into pork and lard. Bermuda grass alone will keep hogs fat and growing all the summer. Ex- cellent winter and earlv spring pastures can be obtained by sowing hairy vetch, white, red or burr clover seed broadcast on Bermuda or carpet grass early in the fall. Oats, rye, rape or orchard grass planted in October furnish good winter pasture iov hogs. Verv little corn is necessary and it should be given just before killing time to harden the meat. Pork can be produced on grazing crops a nat.ve of Mississippi on a ia.mn.ariintiKshur^ D DD Ho the N e w S o v t h DD D Pa /,'<' Fort V on springs in ev^ery part of the state, numerous creeks traverse it and water is obtained from wells at small depth. Bermuda or carpet grass well sodded furnishes as good summer pasture as can be found in North America." A Wood Scene. Oxen are used for hauling the forest giants to the railroads and mills V X.. ?1 %mI fl f -^ hpw If ■»»■ ' '^ - . 1 ....... Practical Dairyman One of the New Settlers D. M. Collier was in the dairying business in New York. State for a number of years. He was successful. He investigated Mississippi as a dairying state and decided to purchase a farm and locate at Hattiesburg, disposing of his prop- erties in New York. He purchased one thousand acres of the J. J. Newman Lumber Company lands on the line of the Mississippi Central Railroad. This is his dairy farm. In the same vicinity he has estab- lished a creamery where he manufactures all dairy products and sells them in the Hattiesburg mar- ket. He believes he has located in the best dairy- ing section in the country. He sells his milk at ten cents a quart and constant increases in his dairy fail to supply the demand. Success in Stock Breeding S. P. Carter has been farming near Hattiesburg for fourteen years, having one hundred acres under cultivation. Corn, sweet potatoes, Irish potatoes, oats, velvet beans and cow peas are his n Fa F r t y - t U' DD D E . A . Cummings y Company on staple crops. His corn produces an average of He crosses New Jersey Reds and Poland about seventy-five bushels to an acre and in some Chinas in raising hogs for the meat market, and instances shows as good as 125 bushels to the acre, for breeding stock he sells the Poland Chinas, His Irish and sweet potatoes follow his oats crop, both being most profitable. He also breeds Jer- the sweet potatoes reaching 250 bushels or more to sey cattle, grazing them on a tract of uncleared the acre. , land on native grasses. He is one of the especially Native cattle on the lands of F. A Cummings &' Co These men from Indiana arc pici a n y DD purpose of cstiniLiting what pecans will do in the way of production. At four years of age this tree yielded one nut; the crop was carefully gathered and weighed each year thereafter for fifteen years from the date of planting. Taking this as a sam- ple tree, he prepared the following table, estimat- ing twenty trees to the acre as showing the possi- bility of the pecan. This table is interesting as showing possible results of pecan growing in Southern Mississippi: Years Yield Yield per Value Value from per acre of per for 10 Year Piantin Si tree 20 trees acre acres 1896 4 1 nut 20 nuts 1897 5 7 lbs. 140 lbs. $ 70 f> 700 1898 6 lOi u 210 u 105 1.050 1899 7 13i a 270 (i 135 1.350 1900 8 16- u 320 u 160 1.600 1901 9 27 u 540 u 270 2,700 1902 10 45 li 9C0 u 450 4,500 1903 11 80 u 1.600 (1 -" 800 8,000 1904 12 121 a 2,420 u 1.210 12,100 1905 13 131 u 2,620 It 1.310 13,100 1906 14 152 a 3,040 a 1,520 15,200 1907 15 177 " 3,540 u 1,770 17,700 South Mississippi Pecan Tree 29 vears old, measuring sc\ enty-iwt) feel across D Farm Homes in the New South aa a age Fort \ DO Always in Demand The foregoing estimate is made at fifty cents a pound, whereas most of the choice varieties sell from seventy-live cents to a dollar a pound and retail at from §1.25 to SI. 50 a pound in the north and east. It pa\s to plant peciins, whether the farmer plants nursery stock or plants the nuts and secures the huds for grafting. There are ordinarily no pests to fight, such as one contends with in apple orchards, peach orchards and the like. Outside of giving the soil a little attention, all the pecan tree asks is to be let alone and it will attend to producing its own crop. Bcfiinning f>r a farm home The land w ill soon he cleared and cultivated n DD Page Fifty DD D A . C u m m i n g s y Company nn Chapter I U As a Fruit Country Grapes and Small Fruit WHEN the farmer in Mississippi has con- sidered the value of his land because of the value of three ordinary standard crops which can be raised yearly, and the hogs, cattle and poultry he can raise for market, he has by no means exhausted his resources. His farm will do more. It will produce as fine grapes as ever grew in France or in California. Men who have grown grapes in both France and California are growing them in Mississippi today. They declare that the Mississippi product is equal to any in quantity and quality produced anywhere. Jiivery farmer should plant some grapes. Plum trees do well and bear heavily. Nearly every farmer has a few peach trees, and berry vines of all sorts thrive luxuri- antly and bear prolifically. Figs The fig is another crop the value of which is already but partially demonstrated. Mississippi has developed a fig that is cut close to the ground the first of March each year. The root sends up new shoots and the fruit begins forming as the shoots appear at the surface. At the first of July the figs nearest the ground are ripe for picking and the branches grow to a height of ten to twelve feet with the figs about two inches apart the full length. The shoots are so numerous from the roots after the second year that they must be thinned. When the land is given over entirely to fig culture about 140 trees are planted to the acre and some companies are now engaged in planting and sell- ing fig orchards at prices of $200 an acre and up. D DO Farm Homes in the New South DD D Page F 7 f t y - ?i : D DC ^.f^^ An txcellent picture storv of the country. In the background is the uncut native forest. In the foreground the cattle feedind on native gra-ises on undeveloped cutover land. In the midst of this is the farm. This land produces three mature crops each year. The Secretary of Agriculture has publicly declared that this will be the greatest hog and cattle section of the country, because of abundance of natural feed in the native grasses and the excellent corn and hay crops D Page f i J t y - t w o an a E . A . C u m m i n g s y C o m p a fi y DD CAaper IHI Some Advantages of the Hattiesburg Region Good Wagon Roads Besides Railroads INTEREST in the building of good roads is very much aroused. Many of the counties of Mississippi are building extensively every year. Under the supervision of United States Govern- ment experts, a model road has been completed frcmi the city of Hattiesburg connecting with other roads leading directly into the lands of the New- man Lumber Company which we are now offering for sale. The material is at hand for the construc- tion of these roads in the most economical manner and the public spirit of the people will make the work progress very rapidly. The Canning Plant The canning plant at Hattiesburg is one of the best equipped and largest in the State of Missis- sippi. It began operation the first of October, 1912, to take care of manv new farmers coming in and to encourage larger production by the farmers already there. Sweet potatoes, sugar cane, cab- bage and other crops are contracted before the The New Canning Plant at Hattiesburg, the largest in Mississippi, take care of the crops of all the farmers It will ,DC3@e III '"IIIIHlillnllg UG Far m Homes in the N e zv S o u t h D a g. F i f I y - t h r e a DO Miss Nannie Chatham, Hatciesburg, Mississippi. Petal Station, canned 1852 cans of tomatoes from one-tenth of an acre, netting over $ 100 profit and winning national prize over all contestants in rival states planting or bought from the Held when harvested. This insures a ready cash and sure market for all crops produced. The canning plant is owned by D. Emmet Mclnnis and W. NI. Conner, two of the wealthy men of Hattiesburg who have other large business interests in the same city and who are personally interested in co-operation with the farmers in developing the country to the highest degree. Schools The state's school svstem is especially well or- ganized as are also the schools of the several coun ties. Forrest Countv, of which Hattiesbuig is the countv seat, has a splendid school organization. Aside from the public schools there is a State Normal college now being constructed at Hatties- burg at a cost of a half million dollars. There is also a good woman's college. In addition to this, under the authority of the state law recently passed, each county may establish an agricultural school teaching scientific farming and domestic science. One of these schools is being opened near Hattiesburg. These schools are conducted under the direction of the State Agricultural College. The agricultural school otifers a four-vear course; DD Page f if t y -f u r n A . Cummings i^ Company qq farm crops, horticulture, soils and fertilizers, ani- mal husbandry, farm engineering, farm manage- ment, dairying and farm bookkeeping are taught. The public schools of the common school grade are in session eight months of the year and any community with five or more children is entitled to public school facilities. This is one of the many school buildings of Hattiesburg. The city has a High School, Woman's College and State Normal College being built at a co^t of half a million dollars Banking Facilities The banking business of Hattiesburg is taken care of by three very strong institutions including the largest National Bank in the State of Missis- sippi. The business done by these banks and the fact that they have deposits of nearly $3,000,000, indicate a thriving condition of the business com- munity. Besides having the largest national bank in the State of Mississippi there is a strong state bank and one of the strongest trust companies in the South. All these institutions are controlled and managed by men of wealth and standing, and the growth under their management indicates their ability. Hattiesburg is less than fifteen years old. It is a new and thriving communitv. The condition of the banks as much as any other one thing will indi- cate how substantial has been this growth. September 1st, 1901, for instance, the First National Bank deposits amounted to $358,000. The deposits in this bank have now increased to approximately $1,900,000. The Citizens Bank and the Hattiesburg Trust and Banking Company □□ Farm Homes in the New South on D Page F if t y • f iv e an Scene in front of the Forrest County Court House. Hattiesburg, on the occasion of a public meeting of citizens in mid-winter a no Page F i I I \ - s i V DD D A C u m m i n g s & Company qq Store and Office Building at Hattieshurg This city, only about fifteen years old, and with a population of over 1 2, (IDA. is one of the best cities of the New South have increased their deposits to a corresponding extent. Each one of these banks offers the same advan- tages and conditions to its customers that can be found in any of the financial institutions or national banks of any of the large cities of the North. Plenty of Work in the Mills in Spare Time There are about thirty lumber mills in this ter- ritory along the Mississippi Central Railroad The smallest of these cuts 10,000 feet a day and the largest 300,000 feet. Thev offer a special op- portunity for anv farmers wishing to find profit- able employment any part of the year when work on the farm is slack. At the busy season on the farm it is also possible for the farmer to secure good labor in planting or harvesting his crops. The Mississippi Central Connects with Many Railroads The Mississippi Central Railroad, along which these lands lie, extends from Hatticsburg to Nat- chez, a distance of 150 miles. Between the two terminal points there are thirty-six stations, with double daily train service. At a large percentage of these stations there are sidings and every oppor- □ □ Far m Homes in the N e zv S o u t h D Page F i J t y - s e f e DO Mississippi Central Train as it pulls intti tlic I i;itlicshui"K StalH)n carrying land seely large and devout congregations. The buildings in which these churches are housed are adequate to their needs, and some of them are handsome brick and stone structures that would do credit to larger and more pretentious cities. The resident pas- tors are men of experience, probity, zeal, and ability, and the rela- tions of good fellowship between the different denominational bodies are pronounced and cordial. LD Pa g'' s, • e n I \ D an The people support their ministry with commendable liberality, and are fairl\- zealous in the various benevolent and humanitarian work of the church. Our friends from other parallels who come among us arc assured of a warm Christian welcome to our clmrches and our homes. Statement as to Title By LaiM.xr HKNiNCiTO.v, Eso., Hattiesburg. Miss. Messrs. E. .A.. Cummincs & Comp.\ny. Chicago, III. Gentlemen : I am engaged in preparing for you abstracts of title to the 50,000 acres of The J. J. Newman Lumber Company lands which you are settling in Mississippi. As you know, the company has in its office here, in book form, complete abstracts of these titles, but for your use I am making a separate abstract for each 40-acre tract, so that, as you sell Ihe land, you may deliver to tlie purchaser an abstract of the title to his land. In this connection I desire to say that these titles are based on patents from the United States government to individuals, and the chain of title is^ short, showing a perfect record title, in fee simple, in The J. J. Newman Lumber Company. These lands are abso- lutely unencumbered. These are good features in connection with the sale of these lands, as the purchasers incur no risk on account of tlie titles. Yours very truly, Lamak Hknington. D Page S e V e n t y - t ■ DD D /; . -V . C. H 111 III I n g s If Co III p a ii v n DD Mississippi Rainfall and Temperature This is the official report of the United States weather bureau on the monthly rainfall and average temperature for each of the twelve months for live years in Mississippi. No other part of the United States can show such a uniform record and such a delightful climate in w hich to li\e and \\ here every day is a growing day, making possible three to five crops a year. - RAINFALL Months 1907 1908 January 2.41 February 4.72 March 3.08 April 6.36 May 10.85 June 2.41 July 4.64 August 3.63 September 3.66 October 2.16 November 5.56 December 4.64 Average for the state of Mississippi annually 54.12 1909 1910 1911 1907 AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 1908 1909 1910 1911 4.75 7.95 4.67 5.28 6.38 4.89 5.42 5.84 2.65 0.35 2.02 4.5'6 2.22 7.13 5.80 6.85 9.95 6.53 3.64 2.90 4.22 1.32 1.86 5.55 4.15 5.15 0.80 3.92 4.88 6.53 7.12 3.13 1.89 3.80 2.02 3.73 4.12 3.69 2.47 9.61 2.08 4.48 6.36 6.38 1.87 2.01 4.28 12.17 56.0 50.6 66.0 59.6 67.8 76.5 81.5 81.7 75.4 64.6 51.9 47.9 48.7 47.3 63.3 68.6 71.9 78.4 80.2 80.0 75.6 60.8 58.0 50.9 49.8 51.2 57.6 64.2 69.2 78.6 82.0 82.0 75.8 65.0 61.4 41.9 47.7 45.8 62.6 62.9 69.4 76.0 79.7 80.9 78.3 66.5 53.0 45.6 52.9 56.4 60.0 65.2 73.1 81.4 78.6 79.7 81.2 68.3 50.9 49.8 54.76 57.97 47.12 59.52 65.0 65.1 64.9 64.1 66.4 n on F (I r III II III r ., / „ / /, ,. yv r "w South a P a g c S eve III y -thr c e a Mississippi Crops of tZ7^\lT 4^ pr hts vary from year to year and depend in a measure upon the intelligent work of the farmer. The fo lowing statement of average cost and production per acre is given as furnishinsr as possfb?e '"' ' "''•'' "^ ^""^ ""'^'' ^"""'■'^^' "™P conditions and is as nearly accuratf Irish Potatoes: Seven bushels seed @^1.S0 310.50 Cutting 70 Cow Peas: Half bushel seed peas $ 1.00 Dropping 1.40 Plowing 7.0C Fertilizing 5.00 Digging and marketing 10.00 Cultivate, plant and gather 4.00 Crop: 10 bushels peas @ 32.00 320.00 One ton hay 20.00 Crop 160 bushels ((v, 9Sc. 3 34.60 152.00 3 5.00 40.00 Net per acre 3117.40 Corn: Seed corn, 5 bushel Plowing Fertilizing and gathering. 3 1.50 6.00 . 8.00 40 bushels @ 90c. Net per acre 3 15.50 36.00 3 20.50 Net profit 3 35.00 Cow peas may be planted in corn and allowed to mature after corn is cut. Can also mix sorghum in peas, making heavy hay crop and only extra cost being for seed. Cabbages: 4,000 plants planted 315.00 Fertilizing 5 00 Cultivating lo.OO Gather and market 12.50 Crop 3,500 heads @ 5c. 3 42.50 3175.00 Net profit 3132.50 Gu ^ <' t' '■ "'' '■ " '■ " ■' V -./