The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-12-26

NfSAANSNt ASS'
L. Newman, who recently visited Dar-
lington county and the Pee Dee sec
ton for the purpose Of investigating
the plan Of growing corn originated
by Mr, McIver Williamson, an account
of his visit having been printed in the
News and Courier at the time, has
completed his report on the subject.
The correspondent Of the News and
Courier has been permitted TO copy
the report. which will have great in-
terest for planters in ali parts Of the
State. In part it is as follows:
The peculiar or essential Willian-
son plan features are:
1. Deep and thorough preparation
of seed bed. The soil is not only
broken to fully twice the depth to
which it is usually broken, but Is
broken muck more thoroughly than
is the custom.
2. Deep planting of the seed. The
seed are placed four to six inches be-
low the soil level, and almost or quite
in contact with the subsoil but cover
ed to the usual depth, This aids in
."stunting'' or retarding the growth
of the young corn and Of grasses and
weeds as well, since very nearly all
- - =
the soil proper has been plougfed
away from the corn row and into the
middles, and no fertilizer has been
applied
3. Infrequent and partial cultiya-
ton in early stages Of growth. This
is contrary to the popular belief and
practice, and Mr.. Williamson styles it
"the most dsf6cult point in the whole
process requiring experience and
judgement s:to know just how much
1.-The stalk should be stnnted, and plen-
| ty Of nerve IS required to hold back
your corn when your neighbors. who
fertilize at planting time and culti-
vate rapidly. have corn twice the size
of yours"
4. An increase Of geo per cent. or
| more in the number Of stalks per acre.
With rows 6x1 feet the Williamson
plan has a little more than 1890
stalks per acre against a little more
than $500 if planting is done 5xs
feet, in accordance with the ordinary
practice. Theoretically, this would
give 73 and 20 bushels per acre, re
spectively, and it seems, from evi-
dence at hand, that it is borne out in
practice, assuming that each stalk
will produce an ear, and one hundred
ears will shell a pushel Of grain.
5. Postponing application of fer
ltilizers until corn is given its second
acultiyation In ordianry practice this
| would be about the time corn should
| .pe worked the third time. The stalk
thas been checked or "stunted' as de-
l$sired, and the fertilizer is applied
when the plant needs it for the de-
velopment Of the ear.
6. Intentional retardation of early
growth of the stalk until its size is re-
duced one-half or one-fourth its nor
NAL development.
Z. Augmented development of the
ear following retardation in the
stalk development) by cultivation
and heavy applications of fertilizers
made at appropriate intervals.
Since by the Williamson plan corn is
planted to inches below the level,
and is laid by to inches above the
level, there is 8 to IL inches of the
stalk below the soil surface, The
stalk roots or brace roots are below
the surface when the crop is laid by,
and probably perform their nutritive
functions better than would be if a
part of them were exposed to the
air.
Amounts of Fertilizer.
Mr.. Williamson recommends the
following amounts Of fertilizers ap-
piled to an acre:
For so bushels Of corn per acre:
Two hundred pounds of cotton seed
meal, 200 pounds Of acid phophate,
400 pounds Of kainit, 125 pounds Of
nitrate of soda, 925 pounds, costing
about So.
For 100 bushels Of corn per acre:
Four hundred pounds Of cotton seed
meal, 400 pounds of acid phosphate,
500 pounds of kainit, 800 pounds of
nitrate of soda, 1900 pounds, costing
about $1s.
The total cost Of fertilizers, cult
vation, etc, tor producing SO bushels
on one acre would vary from SIS to
$40, and for producing 100 bushels
en- one acre from SIS to $50. These
valuations are based on the market