The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-02
|WAGt SIRtNUUUS WAR ON BOIL WEEv|L Mississippi Farmers Begin
 Active Campaign ESTABLISH AGENCIES Railroads Will Lend Helping Hand in Solving Many Agricultural Prob
 lems Which Now Confront
 the Planter

Meridian, Miss, January 1.(Special.)- Thero is no state in the south or in the nation that will wage a more strenuous war on the boil weevil and other pests which tend to do damage to the farmers crops than Mississippi. The farmers and those corporations which are agencies for good in tho state have begun an active campaign which will begin to assume shape now that the new year has opened The railroads will lend helping hand in the solving of many of the agricultural problems that confront the Mississippi planter today and the prominent citizens of the state who have been studying con- ditions as they exist here. will cooperate with the movement to bring about di- versification of crops on the farm and 10 solve the other industrial problems that face the farmer.
 The Southern railroad and it's associated lines, including the Mobile and Ohio, the Queen and Crescent, and others have taken an active part in the campaign for better conditions and to this end have created what is known as the cotton eul- ture department of the Southern railroad. T. o. Plunkett, a practical farmer and expert is at the head of the department and has under his leadership corps of men who have actually waged the battle with the bolt weevil in Texas and towns where the weevil has ravaged the farms. Agents have been stationed in the sec tions of the south where cotton is the staple and these men are teaching the farmers in the most advanced methods in which to fight the advances of the wee vii. Their demonstration in the different sections of the south has worked won ders for the farmers and the strained conditions that at first existed between the farmers and the experts" has been removed ami they are now working to- gether The coming of the Mexican boil weevil to Mississippi caused thousands of people much privation and in many cases played havoc with the prospects of some of the best towns In the state. These conditions have been seen and to forsetall their further depredations the railroads have taken up the fight hand in hand with the farmers themselves and with the department of agriculture of Mis- sissippi.
 Following the lead of the Southern and associated railway lines, the Illinois Cen tral railroad has begun @ campaign for the betterment of conditions along the lines of it's system, and the farmers have been enlisted in the fight by the employ ment of a number of these farmers to operate the farms to be established by that railroad. Twenty experimental farms will be established by the Illinois Cen tral and 15 of these will be in Mississippi
 The department Of agriculture of the United States has furnished soil survey experts who are now busily engaged il analysing the soils of the different eoun ties of the state and when this work ii completed the farmer of Mississippi ano those of other states who are pouring into this state will be able to engage in agri cultural pursuits much more intelligentlS than before. Maps of the counties show ing the character of the soils will be ready for distribution in the early part of this year and already more than one dozeI counties have had their soils examined by these experts and the farmers are eager to make an attempt at farming by the directions of the government depart ment of agriculture.
 The crops that will be stressed in Mis- sissippi this. year will be the growing ol sugar cane, potatoes, peas and other crops to supplement cotton.
 A series of institutes will begin this month and will be held in all parts of south Mississippi, at which time noted speakers will discuss the problems with the farmers.
 A celebration of the centennial annl- versary of the birth of Judah F. Benia- min was observed in this city yesterday afternoon al o'clock, when great mass meeting was held at the Jewish syna- gogue, Temple Beth Israel. under the auspices of the two local chapters of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. The speaker of the occasion was Hon. A. B. Amis, prominent member of the Meridian bar A fine programme by the great choir composed of members of all