The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1903-06-18
O. - TO RIA.
Bears the ~ The Kind You Have Always Bought
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SOUTHERN FAR MING.

Where the Famous Corn Crop Was Grown
Readers are familiar with the woyld's
greatest corn crop, produced by Capt.
L. J. Drake of Marlboro county, S. G.. in
Anne lean Agf ulturist's famous corn
test several years ago. On single acre
Capt. Drake produced and harvested
I7,4o7 pounds of corn in the ear, of which
only 40 pounds was not considered first
class, This acre produced I4,273 pounds
OF shelied corn, or 354 bushels and 40
pounds to the acre. allowing So pounds to
the bushels. When kiln dried, leaving
10 per cent water, it represented 23o
bushels; and when the water was entirely
removed, PIT bushels. This elaborate
and practical experiment was projected and
carried to a successful completion by
Herbert Myrick, editor of American Agr-
euiturist WeekIes. There were contestants
from every corn growing belt in the
United States and the second prize was
won by a New York farmer, who produced
ziy bushels, while the third place was
given to Nebraska corn grower, who
raised III bushels,
Perhaps the output of a single acre
OF land never before received more favora-
bic comment tiaan ths crop produced by
Capt. Drake. Recently Our editorial
representative, Prof. w. @. Johnson,
at and T. A. Barrett, secretary of Orange
Judd company, called upon Capt. Drake
the old homestead in South Carolina and
carefully went over the.plantation on which
the unexeeiied earn crop was produced,
Capt. Drake is man who does ROC believe
in doing things by halves, and when he
undertakes problem he put into it his
strong personality and leaves nothing
undone to oceompliseh the results he sets
ogt to obtain. The section in which he
lives eaaaot be considered corn growing
country. In fact, Marihote county Is one
of the most important cotton growing
sections of the south. During the drive
from CheraW and Bennettsvile and from
this latter place to Blenheim, distance
Of Is miles, we passed through an almost
eontinuoYS belt Of cotton. In most cases
the cotton was just coming through the
ground. April IS, while some farmers
were still planting. Capt. Drake is
pre-eninently a cotton producer and this
is the principal crop on his extensive
plantation.
He says he was really brought into
the eern contest BY accident. Some years
ago whea ise and bis brother came into
possession Of the plantation, on which the
prize crop was grown, certain knoll or
hill, as it is called, was considered very
light and unproductive. Cotton on that
kAeil rarely attained hight ofI2 inches.
Capt. Drake sasv an announcement in
American Agricu turist about the corn con-
test and resolved that he would utilize
this acre, enter the contest, and if skill
and cafeis.l management meant anything
win first place. The results are already
known to our readers.
An interesting incident told US by Capt.
Drake which has not heretofore been
published is as follows: He said" went
into this ocntes with the purpose of win
ming. After the ground had been well
prepared under my direct supervision and
everything was in readiness, | took a
handful OF the seed. When | dropped
the first grain, resolved thatif should
be the winner of this contest, one-tenth
of the prize money should 90 to the
church. And, # remember correctly,
more ii.a;9 one -tenih went to that good
Cause AT the tIA.S of our visit, the
last week in April Of this year, cotton
was just through the ground. Negroes
were thinning it, or "chopping' it, as it
is known in that section.
Our iliusi1 4ti2n on opposite page shows
Capt. Drake and bis son standing near
the center Of the famous acre which pro-
duced this enormous corn crop. The
negroes on the left are in the so-caIIed
hollow and the CAPTAIN is really On top Of
the knoll. To our readers who are
ACCUSTOMED to billy OF rolling country,
this idea Of bill top Is somewhat anus