Evening star., 1912-04-28

culture and IL the ratio Of increase for
the last five years is maintained for
another five the south will be the
greatest agricultural country in the
world" said DR.. Bradford Knapp of the
Department Of Agriculture, Washing
ton. when in the city few days ago.
DIR. Knapp was here to attend meet
ing of the united agricultural board
Continuing, he said: ITO begin with.
the south last year raised about one
hundred millions more bushels of corn
than she did three years prior thereto.
Some time ago 1 asked reports from
100 agents Of the department, located
throughout the various southern states,
of the number of farmers who were
engaged in raising hogs for their own
That was for last year. The figures
were remarkable. These 100 men made
reports showing that they knew Of at
least 1000 farmers In the south who
sibly knew of one-fourth Of the cases.
Say these farmers are raising four
hogs each. Make calculation and see
what the result Is and you can. readily
made along that line. This year I ex-
pect to see vast increase in that in
duStry, and in a few years the south
will be raising the bulk Of it's meat.
The same is true of cattle. The peo-
pie of the south have begun to awaken
to the possibilities of raising better cattle,
more of them and providing beef cattle
for market. The breeds are being i'm
proved, there is more milk and more but
ter, and dairying Is becoming to be a
factor in the south.
What is true Of the cattle and the
hogs and the farming interests also is
true of the poultry business. The atten-
tion Of the farmers and housekeepers is
are being made in every section in the
raising Of fowls of all kinds for home
use and for market. and 1t is money
enterprise
Big Venire for the Aliens.
Judge Staples has directeGs Sheriff
Thomas Davidson Of Wythe to summon
100 veniremen to attend court in Wythe-
vile next Tuesday. the day on which the
Allen cases are to be called. 1t is un-
derstood that a majority Of the men sum-
moned will come from the northern end
of the county. and will be made up OF
farmers and cattle growers. At least two
days. probably. will be consumed in get
ting the jury to try the case of Floyd
Allen, the prisoner who was sentenced to
serve q year in the penitentiary, and
which sentence started the shooting which
wiped out the Carroll county court-judge.
sheriff. prosecuting attorney and juror.
a spectator, young woman, and wound
ed several other persons.
The accused men have elected to be
tried separately. and the fight will center
on the first case to be tried, for IL that
results in conviction the fate Of the
others will be Influenced to a considerable
extent. All the evidence will be taken
stenographically, for there Is not the
least doubt that the men will appeal to
the higher courts in order to get free
from the clutches OF the law or to miti-
gate their sentences.
Penitentiary Base Ball League.
Monday will see the formal opening
of a base ball league in this city which Is
| something out of the ordinary. 1t is the
| Virginia Penitentiary Base Ball League,
composed wholly of men doing time in
| the prison. There are four clubs in the
league and some brisk games are played
inside the inclosure, There are two white
| teams and two colored teams. The games
| hours. the players being the "honor" con-
victs. They are allowed to play marbles,
pitch quoits and indulge In other games.
The men all wear blue caps, the badge
| which shows that they have made good
records for a year, have attended to their
duties, broken no rules. kept their quar-
| tens clean and are clear of all sorts of
infractions Of the prison regulations. The
system has served to improve discipline
| more than 100 per cent. and is reducing
the number of punishments far below the
usual record. The games are witnessed
| by several hundred Of the honor men.
Soldiers Cannot Vote.
| Unless there is a change of date for
the congressional primary or the gov
ernor can make a swap" with some
other state for the Mount Gretna ma
/ neuyers the votes of some 200 men,
bers of the militia of this city will be lost
| In July. The men have been ordered to
report at Mount Gretna July Is. having
| to leave here July IA. the congressional
primary to be held July 16 1t is known
| that Capt. Lamb. who is very popular
with the military. Is doing his best to
| have some arrangement made whereby
| the men will not lose their votes.
| Company L OF the Second Regiment,
Virginia Volunteers. has been organized
at Shenandoah county. and officers are to
1 be chosen In the course Of the next few
days. The new company Is made up of
the young men of that town. with some
of the best known professional men of
/ that county enlisted aa Drivafea