The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-20
WILL ESTABLISH
 TWENTY FARMS Illinois Central to Instruct Farmers Along Line FIFTEEN IN MISSISSIPPI The Other Five to Be in Louisiana. Thirty-seyen Pigs to Be Awarded
 Corn Prize Winners at
 County Fairs
FIFTEEN IN MISSISSIPPI

Meridian, Miss, December l9.-T(Special) The pace set by the Southern railway Queen and crescent system, the Mobile and Ohio and other associated railway lines has been followed by the Illinois Central railroad. The Illinois Central railroad is laying plans for extensive work in the line of experimental farms, and industrial education among the farm- CTS that have residence along their lines Twenty farms will be established b to be located along the Illinois Central in Mississippi, the remainder to be In Louisi- ana. An expert will supervise the work
 ngs of these farms which will cover about 40 to 50 acres each. Diversification will be stressed in the management of these farms, and instruction will be given the farmers without charge in the best methods of raising all kinds of truck and produce from which there may be derived a reasonable profit.
 Land owners along the Illinois Cen tral will cultivate their lands under the direction of the agriculturist of the rail- road, and these farms will be located along the lines where they will benefit the greater number of farmers. The plan of the road is to get the farmer away from the one crop idea.
 Thirty-seven blooded pigs have been purchased by the Illinois Central, and these pigs will be given on Christmas 10 the thirty-seVen prize winners in the corn growing contests among the boys of Mis- sissippi These pigs will be given to the boys who won the prizes at the exhibits in the county fairs.
 The stationing of cotton experts, who have aided in fighting the advance of the boil weeyil along the Southern and asso- ciated railway lines, has been Of great service to the farmers in their work. The New Orleans and Northeastern rail- road, part of the Queen and Crescent, will at the beginning of next season put on this new department. Thus Mississippi will be protected in every section by the railroads, who have aided in the fight against the Mexican boil weevil.
 The scheduled meetings of farmers and business men throughout the breadth of Mississippi and other cotton growing states for Saturday. the 18th inst, passed off very quietly, and in only few in stances was there much interest shown. The farmers seem to have given up in despair, and will trust to providence. The meeting to have been held in this county failed to materialize, likewise in other counties of the state. One of the best meetings to be held was that at Shubuta, in Clarke county, when a num- Der of boil weevil experts and agricul- tIral speakers met with the people of Skubuta and Clarke county and discussed the prevailing conditions.
 The purpose of the meetings was to discuss the low price of cotton, and de- wise some plan by which there may be a reduction in the acreage next year. The farmers do not seem to be willing to accept any proposition that has been made to them, and already they have be- gun to employ dynamite in preparing larger acreage than ever before for some product they know not what. The farm- CTS have been offered so many proposi- tions and have been burdened with so many suggestions that they appear to have ignored them all and will follow their old role of planting much cotton next year as they can cultivate, regard less of the low prices this year.
 In the face of much speculation and rumor to the contrary, it is an assured fact that the Meridian and Deepwater railroad will be pushed to completion, that is, that it will be built from this city to Myrtlewood. Ala, a distance of about 1T miles. The report had gone forth that the road would not be com pleted This idea was exploded yester- day by an official of the road, who states that there is no foundation to the re- port. As to the rumor that the road would be taken over and completed by the Illinois Central railroad the same official stated that the road was stf1i a free and independent organisation, and lad made no such arrangements, either with the Illinois Central railroad, the Louisville and Nashville railroad or any other system.