The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-01-08
The News and COurier's Prize Contests
for 1896.

Inc news anu COurler>S fFIZe eOuGeStS
for 1896.
Our offer of prizes to the most successful
hog growers in the State in 1895 was produc.
noting interest in an important but neglected
agricultural industry aud Inducing many
farmers TO engage In IT again TO their owl pro
At and with large benefit to the State. that we
have determined to organize another compe-
tition for the year 1896, and to extend 1t SO as
TO include variety of products and TO enlist
a still larger number Of farmers In 1t.
The details Of the contest have not yet been
arranged, but will be announced at an early
day and In good time for the due Information
OF all who may desire to engage in it. We
cannot do more today than give very gene
raj Idea OF It's scope, its limitations In part,
and It's objects, with the understanding that
the scheme as here outlined Is subject TO what
ever notifications may be found 10 be neces-
sary before the final announcement Of condi'
tions is made.
The competition will be limited to subscrib-
ers TO the Weekly News and Courier.
The prizes will consist Of five hundred dol
yer medal. The five hundred dollars will be
divided into prizes OF one hundred dollars
and fifty dollars, TO be paid to the winners In
the several contests. The medals Will be In
separate competition. so that no contestant
can receive both medal and cash prize for
the same thing.
One Of the contests, will be for hogs again,
but under somewhat different conditions
from the contest OF 1895. We learned last year,
when too late to change the published condl.
tiops materially without affecting some Of
the contestants unfairly, that the restriction
some that might properly have been entered,
and that would have been entered but for
that Limitation. We make the timely and de-
hog contest for 1896 will begin on March l |;
will close 3O0 days later and will be open. TO
all pigs not over months old on March l..
These terms. OF course, will permit the entry
as ell as those born In 1896, and we think are
both proper and liberal for the purposes OF the
competition.
Another contest will be organized for the
best exhibit of hay-usipg the word in the
widest sense, to include all kinds OF "long
iced" or forage" as clover, timothy, ALA IA,
Bermuda and other grasses, separate or mix
ed. corn fodder, pea vines, pindar vines; etc,
oably relate to the yield per acre, for stated
number OF acres, and 70 the quality or The
product as determined by It's selling price In
the Charleston market.
The News and Courier has special regard,
Of course, for the tobacco crop, which Capt
Dawson was so largely instrumental IN re-es.
tablishing In South Carolina, and Is desirous
the plant as far as practicable. A prize will
be given to the farmer who makes the most
profitable crop on one acre, so as TO allow both
large and small farmers TO compete for II on
will count heavily in such a contest, OF course
but quality alone or yield alone, or quality
and yield together will noo insure the capture
of the prize. As now proposed the farmer
will win II who "clears" the most money
from an acre. and tells his fellow farmers how
he managed 10 do SO, and these conditions
evidently will give every tobacco grower
fair chance and make the contest both inter-
estiDg and instructive.
Another and very general, but highly in
tensely and profitable, contest will be organ.
lied for progressive "an round" farmers, by
the offer of prize for the best results obtain
farmer. The general plan for this contest is
that the competitors may produce what they
please-cotton, corn small grain, tobacco, hay,
fruit, pindars. truck, hogs. COWS, horses, sheep,
prize to be awarded 70 the one who shows the
largest relative profit on the years operations.
Provided only that he produces not less than
four different kinds OF field or orchard crops
as corn, cotton, tobacco and hay or corn,
peas, pindars and potatoes; or cotton, hay,
turnips and oats; or peaches, cotton, water.
melons and corn; or grapes, corn, wheat and
cabbages. and SO on through hundred posi-
ole combinations OF the larger "plough crops"
with whatever additions may be made in the
way Of raising cattle. sheep and hogs and
poultry, bee-keeping. ALTERNATING. garden
ing for market, etc., etc. The purpose of the
contest is to prove that diversified" and "all
round" farming pays In South Carolina, and
10 exhibit the proofs and give public recogni-
tion to the farmer that makes the best show
Ing.
Small and large farmers can compete for
this prize on equal terms. The highest prof
1t" made per acre for the whole mum ber Of
acres employed on the farm, and including
everything made on the farm, will determine
the winner, whether he farms ten acres or
thousand. The prize cannot be won by
spending time and labor and money on one
It is most desirable that more attention
should be paid in this State TO the industry
Of sheep raising, which could be developed TO
important proportions, II the farmers would
be offered in the interest OF this industry.
Another will be offered to be competed for
by the fruit growers, who have already fairly
organized one Of the most promising new in.
dustries In the State, but will be interested
doubtless in contest which will show who
is the leader in this pleasant and profitable
field Of endeavor.
Last but not least In the order of merit and
interest, will be the prize TO be contested for
by the women Of the State who are working
on the farms as hard as their husbands and
fathers and brothers and sons, without get
ting due credit for their part of the yearly
products and income. This contest will cover
the field of woman's work on the farm, in the
orchard, about the house, in the dairy and
among the bee hives, and In all the wide and
varied departments of her ceaseless Industry,
and we hope will serve 10 inspire many such
workers with new interest in their daily and
prize, OF course. but all can win recognition
for the important part they play In making
farming proftable-and possibe-to the men
who work afield. and we can promise all the
contestants such recognition at least, besides
the prize or prizes to those who win them.
This contest will 'ht" In naturally and neat
ly with the contest for the prize for the most
successful 'all round" farm, and 1t may we'll
be that the prize for such a farm will be wor
at last by the farmers In petticoats, who help
TO run it," in the race.
We have already made this Introductory
chapter with regard to the several contests
larger than we intended IL TO be, and will only
add, therefore, that all the prizes indicated
will be certainly offered, and perhaps more Of
them; that the conditions of the several con-
tests will be announced in few days, and
that the present Intention Is TO have all the
farm products offered for ompetition, as far,
as practicable, exhibited In Charleston on the
occasion OF the next Fall Festival, when the
prizes will be publicly awarded.
rT1 rnTr INV SIrrn