The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1889-03-21
Large Yields of Corn.
II. G. Stribbing, in Cotton Plant

il. G. StribbIng, in Cotton Plant.]
Asit is likely We will have consider
able contest in South Carolina for the
large premiums offered for the best
acre of corn grown this year, T have
searched the records for information on
the subject, which give below.
In the memoirs of the New York
Agricultural Society for the year 1918,
there is a well attested report of 11S
bushels of corn having been raised at
one crop on one acre of land.
In 1920 the Massachusetts, Agricultu-
raj Society awarded a premium of $50
to Jonathan Hunewell for the best acre
Of corn, which measured III bushels.
III. Rose, the same year and State,
raised at the rate of 1856 bushels per
acre, and Thos. P. Bennett, of Mary
land, raised 151 bushels per acre. In
the year 1921, Tresden & Miller, of
Massachusetts,, got a premium of $50 for
l05 bushels per acre, and in the year
1923 John and Matthew Pratt were
reported to have raised 5l74 bushels on
5 acres, or over 172 per acre.
In the year 1927 John Andrews, of
Maryland, has statement of 10 bush
els per acre, and the next report ofnote
comes from DR.. Parker, South Carolina,
who raised 2002 bushels in the year
1857.
Now let's see about how this corn
looks standing on the ground to pro-
duce 200 bushels per acre; allowing LOG
average ears to the bushel-which is
about right-rows feet wide, hills 18
inches in the drill and two average ears
to the hill, will give just 1872 bushels to
the acre. Rows four feet wide, hills 20
inches apart in the drill and three
average ears to the hill, will give 1856
bushels to the acre. Rows 4 feet wide,
stalks u inches apart in the drill and
one average ear to the stalk, will give
102 bushels per acre, or two ears to the
stalk will give 204 bushels to the acre,
or 81 1924 average ears to the acre,
which, if shelled, will completely cover
one acre of land, and if these ears aver
age 9 inches long and the rows are 2E
feet wide and the ears are laid length
wise of the rows, every row will have a
continuous line Of ears touching each
other all over the acre.
While we have no good reasons to
doubt that 200 bushels has been raised
on one acre Of land, yet when we are
forced to say that it must be a grand
sight indeed, and no wonder that our
Western States look upon this wonder
ful crop of being raised in South Caro-
lima with good deal of incredulity.
The writer has measured a consider
able number of acres of fine corn, but
the largest yield I have measured was
about 50 bushels on the acre, and a
field of 80 acres that averaged about So
bushels to the acre I thought the finest
field of corn, I ever saw grow, but if
we will apply the skill and energy to
corn that has been bestowed upon the
cotton plant and its culture during the
last 80 years, since DR.. Parker beat the
world on corn, it would seem within
the bounds of possibility to surpass this
arge crop, since we have at least trebled
our yield of cotton since that time.
At any rate, it behooves every farmer
in South Carolina, who can, to make a
strong effort to win this premium and
keep the honor of beating the world on
corn, and I hope that the board Of
agriculture will follow their commen.
dable efforts in this line, and devise
such means of supervision in measure.
ments ofthe land and crops as to place
the whole matter beyond the doubts ct
the skeptic. And in the way of encour.
agement to those who may fall behind
I would suggest that our State Agricul
tural Society offer premium of $50 fol
the second and SIS for the third best
acre produced in the State.
Up to the time that DR.. Parker beat
the world OH the best acre Of corn
David Justice, near Raleigh, n. c..
had the lead for the best ear of corn
which contained 1921 grains, with 81
rows on the cob and only nine inches
long. This corn was grown in the veal
1882. BY way of comparison I have
just counted the largest ear that could
find in my crib, which contained /, IS:
grains and only "a rows to the ear, an6
as ears measuring twelve, fourteen and
even sixteen inches are not uncommon
these days, I believe that Mr.. Justice:
large ear has been beaten, which hope
may encourage some one who may..ha7e
a alonger ear to report it.