The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-04-04
THE STATE CORN CONTEST.
TO BE CONDUCTED BY A STATE
COMMISSION.

A Meeting of the Commission Held at
Clemson College on Wednesday.
There VIII be Contest of Farmers
and a Special Contest of School
Children.
Columbia. March 2s.-Commission-
er Watson returned last night from
Clemson College, where on Wednes-
dav a meeting Of the State corn con-
test commission, created by the Legis-
lature, was held. The other members
are DR.. Nell and Prof. Harper, of
Clemson. Practically all of the details
of the contest were arranged by the
commission, and judging from the in
auiries already received there will be a
large number Of entries. ALI of the
commissioners believe that this con-
test will result in great good to the
farmers Of the State and stimulate the
growing of cereals. 1t was determined
to have all correspondence go through
the department Office at Columbia and
Commissioners Watson is to receive the
entries, and the products when they
are ready. The commission deter
mined to adopt the. beneficial plan
used in Illinois and sorle o. the other
leading States of providing foc school
-,
with the main contest, and Commis-
sioner Watson will at once furnish
supply of circulars, etc., relating to-
this to the county superintendents of
education.
After considering the matter Of the
South Carolina contest, and this.
States participation lin the national
contest in all it's phases, the con1mis-
sion issued the following:
To the Farmers of South Carolina:
The largest crop of corn ever pro-
duced on an acre Of land was grown
by Capt. z. j. Drake Of Marlboro
county, s. c.. In this great contest,
which was conducted by the American
Agriculturalist several years ago,
Capt. Drake produced on single acre
255 bushels Of shelled corn. This mar
vellous yield surprised farmers Of the
great corn belt, and for many years
they have been trying to break this
record. It is doubtful If the world
record Of Capt. Drake will ever be
broken. No single event in the history
Of agriculture has called forth more
favorable comment to the agricultural
possibilities of the South than the
crop Of corn grown by Capt. Drake.
He not only won the grand prize Of
fered by the American AgriculturaliSt,
but he also won the $500 given by the
State Of South Carolina, as we'll as
many minor prizes.
Another cereal contest Of much
wider range is now being conducted
by the Orange-Judd Company, pub
fishers of the American Agricultural
ist, in which they offer $4,000 to be
distributed in prizes. This contest is
national in scope, and thousands of
farmers from all parts Of the country
have already made application for en-
try. Hundreds Of prizes from various
individuals have been offered, and
farmers have an opportunity Of win
ming one or more prizes in this con-
test.
The objects of the contest are as
follows:
/. To encourage proper selection Of
seed and better grade Of soils.
2. To centre attention upon varie-
ties that are superior for each section,
and to introduce seed Of such varieties
that Are pure ana iii,d tue to namess.and
to prove that when such varieties are
grown under normal conditions it is
not necessary to SO fequently change
seed.
8. To encourage better methods Of
culture and harvesting, so as to large
lyIncrease average yields per acre and
improve quality.
4. To show that such results can
be had at less expense Of time, money
and labor when increase in yield is
considered.
5. To improve methods Of market
ing and conversion of crop into largest
possible cash returns.
s. To increase grain growers prof
it's on each acre each year.
I. To promote the keeping of in
telligent records and the use of busi-
ness principles in farming, besides fos-
tering the farmers prosperity and the
welfare of the wholeipeople
Nature of the Contest.
There will be three general classes,
including corn, wheat and oats. For
this year South Carolina farmers are
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