Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-11-02
ANOTHER LIVE FARMER.

this is the outlook that is presented to
the farmers of this section. But the
situation is not nearly 80 bad as that.
The principal requirements of existing
conditions are more headwork and in
telligent changes in methods that have
long since outlved their usefulness.
Mr.. B. D. Springs, of Charlotte, is a
farmer who fully appreciates the force
of the foregoing suggestion, and like
Mr.. T. B. McClain, of Yorkville, is
also pushing forward on more progress
sive lines than has heretofore been
absolutely necessary to financial sue
cess. When THE ENQUIRER first told
of Mr.. McClain's experiment in dodg-
ing the expense of fodder and corn
pulling by harvesting bis corn, stalks
and all, it was under the impression
that he was the pioneer in York
county but now it develops tnat he
is only one of the pioneers. Mr..
Springs is another.
The reporter heard of Mr.. springs's
experiment several weeks ago. The
report came in shape that indicated
disastrous results, and under the cir
cumstances it was deemed best not to
say anything about the matter until
the exact facts were obtainable. Mr..
Springs is in Yorkville this week, and
on Monday the reporter had talk
with him.
II have heard" asked the reporter,
"that you are trying the corn-shred-
ding experiment this year."
"Yes; I cut my corn down early in
the fall and have purchased a shred
der" Mr.. Springs answered.
"And have also heard" continued
the reporter, "that you cut your corn
at about the time the fodder was ripe,
and that it is all ruined. How about
that?"
"Well, that is mistake" answered
Mr.. Springs, frankly, as there came
into his eyes an amused twinkling
that showed his appreciation of the
proneness of some of his neighbors to
predict utter failure for all new expe-
riments, especially when those expe-
riments are in the nature of innova-
tions. ~ have about 40 acres of corn
that is damaged but taking the crop
as whole-and there is perhaps about
$500 bushels of i'll have reason to
believe that it is in as good condition
as any crop I have ever harvested.
This, of course, making allowance for
the fact that there is more damaged
corn this year generally than has ever
been known before, so far as I have
any recollection"
"But about that 40 acres. Why do
you speak of that as being badly
damaged ?"
"That was some corn that grew
along the creek bottoms. 1t was very
rank and not thoroughly ripe. l had
it cut first and shocked on higher
ground. We were rather green in this
new business, and bruised some of the
corn in hauling it up. The shocks
were made too large to facilitate ven-
tilation, and then again to make
matters worse, the rain set in shortly
afterward. But after all, this partic-
ular body of corn was not utterly
ruined, as would have been the case
had it been left in the bottoms, for it
would have been overfiowed.
"As to the balance of the CROP" Mr..
Springs went on to say, 81 am delight
ed. It's condition is as good or better
than if harvested according to the old
method, and the new plan is a big
saving. I used to pay 40 cents a hun
dred bundles for having fodder pulled.
The expense of cutting the corn and
hauling it up to the shredder is moth
ing like as great as this one item, and
the stover is worth great deal more
than the fodder. But you see this
thing is not exactly new experiment.
A number of farmers around Charlotte
have been harvesting after this method
and using a shredder for two years or
more, and the practicability of the
plan, as we'll as the value of the shred
ded cornstalks, is established. Yes,
sir +; it is the thing, and there will be
no more fodder pulling for me-"
Though now resident of Charlotte,
Mr.. Springs's farming interests are all
in Fort Mill township. He has the
undisputed distinction of being the
largest farmer in York county. In all,
he runs 80 plows on three plantations,
with each plantation under an over
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