The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-12-26
ENDORSES WILLIAMSON PLAN
PROF. NEWMAN, OF CLEMSON,
SAYS 1T MAKES CORN.

A Searching Review Of the Essential
Features of the Method Originated
by Mr.. Williamson-After Careful
Personal Examination the Clemson
Expert Reports That Wherever
Tried it Has Been Found Superior
Farmers Urged to Experiment
With it Next Year.
Clemson College, Dec. 2O.-Prof. C.
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 all parts Of the
State. In part it is as follows:
The peculiar or essential William
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 much 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
.sstunting' or retarding the growth
Of the young corn and Of grasses and
weeds as we'll, since very nearly all
the soil proper has been ploughed
away from the corn row and into the
middles, and no fertilizer has been
applied.
g. Infrequent and partial cultiva-
ton in early stages Of growth. This
is contrary to the popular belief and
practice, and Mr.. Williamson styles it
.'the most difficult point in the whole
process" requiring experience and
judgement .Ato know just how much
tie stalk should be stunted, and pier
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 200 per cent. or
more in the number Of stalks per acre.
With rows 6x1 feet the Williamson
plan has little more than 1900
stalks per acre against a little more
than $500 if planting is done 5x3
feet, in accordance with the ordinary
practice. Theoretically, this would
give 73 and 29 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 she'll bushel Of grain.
5. Postpcning application Of fer
tiiizers until corn is given it's second
cultivation In ordianry practice this
would be about the time corn should
be worked the third time. The stalk
has been checked or "stunted' as de-
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.
I. 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 s to II 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
,,i+roto of soda Q25 mounds costing