Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-12-18
WILLIAMSON CORN CONGRESS.
Darlington Farmers Hold an Expe.
rience MEETING.


Intelligent farmers who are inter-
ested In furthering agriculture came
together, rubbed elbows with their
neighbors, and discussed not only
the Williamson theory Of making corn,
but the practical results of following
that theory or method. It was a proud
day for Mr.. E. McIver Williamson. II
must have done him good to have
heard one intelligent farmer after an
other get up and as II at an "expe-
rience meeting" tell of his efforts to
follow Mr.. Williamson's method and,
without single discordant note, hear
of how pleased the speaker was with
the results of his efforts.
A short synopsis of what several
said Is given below, from which 1t
may readily be seen that under the
Williamson method the yield per acre
Is from two to three times as great
as under the old plan.
Leaving out the question Of the cost
Of fertilizers, those who testified today
declare that II Is much less expensive
to cultivate a crop Of corn under the
Williamson plan than II Is under the
old plan. 1t is not the purpose Of the
correspondent Of the News and Cour-
Ter in this article to go into details and
tell how 1t is much less expensive, as
dDONc dSScIlcu, Dut Ilc lS DdSluB Tic
assertion on the statements made by
the many intelligent, practical farmers
who spoke today, and who did tell how
II Is done.
Then, too, many Of those who spoke
declare that the increased value Of
their land, the result of the growth of
vegetable matter left on II when the
Williamson plan Is followed, is so much
greater than when the old plan Is fol-
lowed, that they believe that 1t will
pay for the fertilizers used Several
remarked that they would not ex-
change the fertilizing matter on their
soil for the price paid for the fertili-
zers used. There Is much that could
be written to prove that under Mr..
Williamson's plan Of making corn the
for that article but the direct testi-
mony of those who have experimental.
not only one year, but for several
years, will possibly have more weight
with the reading public and the farm
ers generally than could any other
way of presenting the facts.
Mr.. Williamson opened the meeting
today with few remarks as to the
purpose of the gathering, and then
called Mr.. Robert II. Rogers to the
chair to preside over the meeting. Mr..
A. ]. Howard was requested to serve
as secretary.
Mr.. Williamson served the meeting
by playing the lawyer and cross-ex-
amining those who testified.
Mr.. R. II. Rogers repeated the results
of his experiments with the William
son plan" as given In the News and
Courier few days ago, and added
that while there had been some adverse
criticism because of the use of the
word "sunt." Still he thinks II very
expressive, and a farmer has but to
look in his dictionary for the meaning
If the word.
He quit planting corn for several
years because he could not make ends
meet" with six to ten bushels to the
acre.
He is now planting under the VII
hanson plan and 1t is profitable, as he
is making more than fifty bushels to
the acre. ta
Mr.. ]. B. Edwards, under the old
plan. made from eight to twelve BUSH
els per acre. He now makes forty to
fifty bushels on the same lands.
MY lands" he said, ARE very much
improved by the Williamson plan.
The vegetable matter left on the land
as q result of the plan followed Is
worth more than the fertilizer costs
me-"
|. Mr.. James w. Goodson formerly
made eight to fifteen bushels per acre.
Under the Williamson plan" he an6
his neighbors now make from fifty to
one hundred bushels per acre with
about 800 to 1000 pounds Of fertilizer,
or about $40 per acre. On a test he
made on about three acres ffty-two
and half bushels on one acre by the
kt,a ID, 1a,a l.t,-fxr htto n
els under the old plan. The same con-
ditions, same fertilizer and same
amount Of work were given each.
Mr.. T. j. Rogers of Society Hill, has
been experimenting with the plan for
about four years and from forty BUSH
els per acre the year he began he Is
now making about seventy bushels per
acre. He finds that the closer he fol-
lows the Williamson plan" the better
the results. He makes three times
more corn now than under the old
plan. This is not a good year for corn
too wet. But the plan Is the best In
either wet or dry years.
Mr.. Charlton Law has tried the plan
this year, and is satisfied that 1t Is all
right. He has been making fifteen
bushels per acre formerly, but made
forty-five bushels this year.
II. w. Ld" lOllOWCu llC pldA oiA
twenty-four acres and made 40 bushels
per acre. On forty acres last year,
with 500 pounds of fertilizer, he made
a third less Of corn than he made on
twenty-four acres this year with 500
pounds OF fertilizers.
Wayne G. King says he made about
sixty bushels per acre, with $7.16 per
acre. His neighbor, r. s. Grant, over
in Chesterfield county, Is good far
mer, and has always been re-
garded as a good corn farmer" He
used to live in Marlboro county, and
thought they knew over there better
how to grow corn than anywhere else.
He adopted the Williamson plan" this
year and made seventy-six bushels per
acre, and under the old plan he has
made fifteen to twenty bushels per
acre. Same lands, same conditions.
Lands are. under the new plan, very
much improved.
Mr.. Robert e. James says that he
has followed the plan, and is pleased
with 1t, and satisfied II will be gener-
ally adopted. His yield Of corn Is from
two to three times greater than under
the old plan.
c. H. Ellis thinks that the plan Is so
far superior to the old plan that no
comparison can be made. He has fol-
lowed the plan for eleven years.
Leaving out the question OF fertil-
izers, the Williamson plan Of making
corn costs much less than the old plan.
A. ]. Howard used last year $3.50
worth Of fertilizers on forty acres
and made $50 bushels of corn. This
year, on forty acres, with $400 worth
of fertilizer, he made 1900 bushels OF
corn.
Mr.. David R. Coker talked Of the
plan and of his experiments in pulling
and not pulling fodder. Where the
fodder was pulled the yield was forty
two bushels per acre; where cut and
shocked forty-five bushels per acre;
where fodder not pulled forty-nine
bushels per acre.
He experimental with alfalfa and
Bermuda grass He paid $400 for an
acre in town and spent money in addi-
ticn for fences. work. fertilizer, ETC.,
but thinks this Is one Of the best In
vestments he has made this year.
He spoke of the necessity for select
inc seed and for using the same, not
only in corn, but in other plants. Mr..