Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-04-22

hobby of his life, and during pleasant
drive over a well arranged farm that
was at the time being carefully pre-
pared for various crops, the newspaper
man was treated TO some pearls of ex-
perience that are well worth the care
full study of all farmers who may not
have given the subjects discussed the
same amount of study on their own
responsibility.
"What was the most profitable crop
you ever raised, major2" was one Of
the question asked.
Gan oat crop in 1884," was the un-
hesitating reply. "It was on field of
sixteen acres. followed an ost crop
of 1882 with peas. In 1883, I planted
cotton, and at the last blowing of the
cotton during the second week in
August, I sowed oats. On the sixteen
acres made 1,012 bushels of oats, for
which I received rs cents bushel,
and it was all profit. Isold one-half
of the straw for enough to pay all ex-
penses. Exclusive of the other half Of
the straw, which was clear, my profits
amounted to $47 .23 an acre. That was
about the most profitable crop 1 ever
made"
"Now, 1 would like you to tell me
about your big cotton crop of 1894"
"That is rather an old story. 1t has
already been printed once or twice.
The crop was % bales on twelve acres.
The land was in good fix to start with.
In fact it is my rule to see to it that my
land is in better fix when crop comes
off than when the crop went on. That
year, the only fertilizer I used was
three 2-horse loads of stable manure TO
the acre. The bales averaged 46O
pounds, and I sold the cotton some at
63 and some at 9 cents. A careful cal
culation of all expenses, exclusive of
interest on land, stock and tools, ETC.,
developed that the cost of the crop will
not exceed % cents pound. I made
no estimate, of course, as to the value
of the fertilizers in the soil when l
commenced but, as is my invariable
rule, estimated the value of the seed
planted at so cents a bushel."
"Isn't so cents a bushel rather high
for cotton seed?"
"That is what mine ure worth, and
if 1 can't get it I don't sell them.'
"You must have fine variety Of
seed. What is it?"
~ call my seed whites Improved
and I think they are as fine as any
other variety known. I have been
working on them for more than
dozen years. make it a rule to go
out into the cotton field every fall
when the crop is at its very best,
select with the greatest care and pick
enough cotton to yield two bushels of
seed. These I always plant on a
separate acre, and the next year select
the best from it. I started originally
with what was known as Thomas
seed; but they are now very much
improved"
In answer to another question on
the same line, Major White said that
he did the same thing with corn. He
has two varieties, one white and the
other yellow. The white variety is
from an ear that was sent to him by a
friend in 1877. He has been improv-
ing it every year. 1t is his custom to
select the top ear from stalks having
too good, healthy ears, plant the select
corn on separate acre, and then
plant the main crop from seed off that
acre. 1t has been improved to such a
point that 100 pounds on the cob will
net 80 pounds of shelled corn, and the
grain averages 63 pounds to the bush
ell, struck measure. The standard
weight Of bushel, it will be remem-
bered, is Sc pounds The nextinquiry
of Ma jor White was intended to bring
out, his views with regard to fertilizers.
al believe in commercial fertilizers"
said Major White, unhesitatingly, "and
I believe that the highest priced goods