The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-01-21


~ sn1go plnce IN the homes Of the girls
s ~ 4hatr influence upon these homes
4 - Educational and -far-reaching. Thi
MBork II largely supported by funds
4 coaeE1hused thrcueh the United States
Il 6opAEtmcnt a. agriculture, and should
~ favoFed by the general assembl,
und the united agricultural board
N1gro Gtris' Garden and Canning
Clubs.
In fourteen counties OF the State
under the supervision and direction
a. NJ. Jackson Davis. this work by
the negro girls garden and canning
citrbs Is carried on upon substantially
the same line, and the same things are
taught as TO the white girls cannine
and roultry ciusb. The clubs are held
IA the homes of the coered girls, and
the mothers soon become as much in
tereefed as the girls. and an interest
and enthusiasm is aroused, which pro-
duces good results. During last year
1896 Jars Of fruit and vegetables
were put UP by girls. and 1898 put
up by mothers. Before these clubs
were started the fruit and vegetables
now canned and used were thrown
away. or permitted to decay. 1T is
said that these negro girls garden
climbs can be traced by improved
fences. wflt4ewashed houses, ana other
evidences OF thrift and industry. The
united agricultural board was able TO
render a little assistance TO these
clubs and is more than satisfied with
the result, These clubs are almost
entirely supported by contributions
from the people Of the State and ny
help from Hampton Normal and Agri-
cultural institute, and from the
Jeanes fund.
Department of Agriculture.
This department IS supported en-
sirely by a tax Of fifteen cents per ton
on fertilizers, Of which about seven
millions of dollars in value were pur~
chased in the State last year. Sam
nles Of all fertilizers offered for sale
are taken by department inspectors
twice a year, are carefully anaiyzed
and the results sent IN bulletins to
the farmers. The department is care
full to see that the law protecting
purchasers from aduIterated fertilizers
or those not coming UP TO tho analy-
Sis are promptly enforced
Under the pure seed law. samples
are taken as OF fertilizers. are care
fully examined In the seed laboratory
and the standard required by the law
ynstrta sned This law ia important
and lis enforcement is doing good.
and in consequence crops have in
creased In quantity and quality.
The department has a machine for
cleaning tobacco seed for farmers re-
curing that service In the opera
ton, all of the light and imperfect
seed are discarded, and healthy, Wig
orous plants are the result.
BY furnishing TO the farmers, Mt
cost. anti-fog cholera serum, several
hundreds of thousands of dollars have
been saved. and hog raising greatly
encouraged
with the cooperation OF the rail-
roads, which generously furnish trains
free Of cost, farmers Institutes have
been held all over the State with con-
stantly increasing interest and at
tendance. Competent lecturers on ag-
rfcultural subjects have been secured,
and 1t Is estimated by those m charge
of the trains, that forty thousand
people have been reached.
Nearly a million bulletins discuss
ing practical agricultural subjects
adopted to the season. have been sent
out TO the farmers Of the State, and
as the demand shows, have met with
approval.
In addition to the general monthly
bulletins, nineteen special bulletins
have been published and are sent out
on application
Agricultural values In Virginia are
increasing annually at the rate OF
about thirty-fiye millions OF dollars,
and some two thousand homeseekers
and investors come to our State each
year Virginia is the only Southern
state that has decreased the number
Of tn tenants, and 1t can safely be
aaid that more people in Virginia
own the land they cultivate than any
Htnte OF the South. AS a result, the
average value of farm lands has
doubled during the last ten years.
Ground Limestone.
The governor, the superintendent OF
the penitentiary and the commissions
Of agriculture. constituting the con-
vict lime board, have not been able to
establish plants for the grinding Of
limestone and oyster shells as re-
quired by act Of March IA. 1912, be-
cause shortly after the act went into
effect the convict lime board and Its
members were enjoined by certain
lime manufacturers Of the State on the
ground of the unconstitutionality OF
the act The case was decided against
the compIafnants by the Circuit court
Of Richmond, but was appealed, and
In now before the Supreme Court of
AppeAle and will doubtless be de-
cidcd on the day after the general
assembly cenvenes. In the meantime.
a valuable option. which the board
had obtained. has lapsed, and the
without adequate redress.
The pecuniary interest which the
compiainants had In the amount ap-
propriAted---that is. the amount which
they had possibly paid In taxes, and
which was included in the amount ap-
propriated-waa not as much as fifty
dollars. and yet for eighteen months
they have prevented the enforcement
OF a benencent act of the general
assembly In the interest OF the people
: Of the State. Just how much loss
has been suffered cannot be estimated.
There il no intention to reflect upon
any person or tribunal by this plain
statement of facts, but to call atten-
ton TO them, that some remedy may
he found by the general assembly.
IN cases where State officers are
charged by the general assembly with
certain duties for public benefit. II
the court granting the Injunction
should be authorized, upon evidence
offered by the party sought TO be
enjoined of the actual or probable
damage likely to be sustained by the
defendants, TO fix an amount AS
iiQuidated damages for every day the
Injunction remains In force. TO be
secured by an Injunction bond, with
good security. and in sufficient penalty.
am sure injunction in such cases
would not be often sought Certain
iy. some remedy should be found
Da1ry and Pure Food Department.
This department hay rendered very