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

are Iue CuedPco1 vuo "y oAPe'iehSe
in this direction is not worth great
deal. I fertilize mostly with stable
manure and cotton seed. Cotton seed
is always a good investment No
matter how much you use, you will
find it profitable; but you can't tell
exactly how much they are worth. 1t
takes something like three years before
you can get all there is in them, though
they will pay even the first year.
However, with me, stable manure
ranks ahead of anything else. I buy
all can get at 50 load, about ton
to the load. 1t will do for any kind Of
a crop and invariably makes the land
better. In my opinion it is the very
best fertilizer known, as we'll as the
cheapest. Like cotton seed, it is COM
plete in itself, and when you mix the
two, you have very near approach to
perfection"
"Now, major, just one more ques-
ton. In your opinion, how much
cotton is it possible to grow on an
acre?"
Major White grew still more inter-
ested in the conversation. The sub
iect was one to which he had evident
ly given great deal of careful thought,
and the facts and figures were ready on
the tip of his tongue. "That is a
matter about which we can only specu-
late," he began. MNo man can tell
the possibilities of an acre Take
York county over, for instance, and
the average is about third of a bale
to the acre. My crop of 1894 was six
times that. If it is possible 10 go six
times over the average, why is it not
possible to 60 twelve times? But
take it this way. As much as two
pounds have been made on stalk.
With the stalks three feet apart you
have room on an acre for 300 stalks.
A stalk 2 feet high is capable of carry
ing 2 pounds, and suppose each of the
1900 stalks could be made to yield
that muchP Or take it another way.
1t is generally assumed that a boil to
the stalk means 100 pounds to the
acre; two bolls 200 pounds, and so on.
have raised stalks that contained 100
bolls. How much will that be !? No,
cannot tell you as to the possftnl-
ties of an acre but I can tell you
this. don't think that any of us have
ever approached it, and between what
has been and what can be done there
is room for some powerful big crops.p
Major White went on to say that the
question presents a number of problems
that he has, as yet, been unable to solve.
While he has seen 160 bolls to the stalk,
he has never seen such an average on
any considerable number of stalks to.
gether, and whether one stalk necessari-
ly takes from others, or all can be made
to yield in the same proportion is a
question that he cannot answer. The
fact that there are also good and bad
cotton years is also matter that can
not be disputed, and no matter what
the fertilization and cultivation, it is
out of the question to expect as good
results in omiss" as in q chit" year.
Although Major White is a man of
large means and an enthusiastic farmer,
let no one take UP the idea that he
farms for fun. He is thoroughly
practical, and he recognizes that
above all things else, the most import
ant feature of any crop is the margin
of clear profit. He works on the
wage system alone, requiring his en-
pToyes to obey bis orders with strict
precision, and in proportion to the
amount of actual money invested in
his operations realizes as much profit as
is realized by other business man in
the county. This fact is especially
mentioned because 80 many farmers
will be disposed to. ignore the lesson
that the major is teaching on account
of the inequalities occasioned by the
means at his disposal. 1t is true that
this is an advantage; but in this case
it seems that it is not an unmixed one.
AS he has been situated for years,
Major White is able to give only about
one-third of his time to farming. Other
business interests take up the balance
of his time. Having accomplished this
under the circumstances, what could
he do if he could give his entire atten-
ton to his farm?