The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1906-04-11
Capt. Drake $ Crop Recalled.


tion with the new corn growing con-
test:
Please give the largest authentic
yied Of corn for one acre of ground,
the kind of soil, it's properties, ferti-
lizlng, variety Of corn planted, dis
tance between rows, and plants in the
rows, cultivation, etc. in fact, all the
essential "details Of production.-Dr.
W. l.. nsYe1 iprt, Washington Coun.
ty, Va.
The largest corn crop yet recorded
was grown by Capt. Il. j. Drake, OF
Marlboro County, South Carolina.
Not only is this the largest grown in
America, but in the world. In one
season and on single acre he produc-
ed 255 bushels and thus secured the
American AsSiculturist's prize of
$500, besides several other awards
offered locally by fertilizer and other
manufacturing companies. The de-.
tails as to how this remarkable crop
was produced we're published in
American Agrioulturist in March,
1890. The following facts regarding
it will be of interest to others:
The land on which the crop was
grown was originally sandy soil on
which formerly grew oak, hickory and
long leaf pine. Three years previous
this particular acre was especially
fortified and prepared by Capt.
Drake and planted with sPeterkin cot
ton, from which he harvested 9l7
pounds of lint cotton. The land was
especially prepared for the corn con-
test. In February he hauled upon it
so one-horsc wagon loads of stable
manure, at the same time broadcast
ing 500 pounds Of each Of guano, cot
ton seed meal and kainit, all Of which
were ploughed under.
Following the plough 600 bushels
of whole cotton seed were distributed
in the furrow after the plough. In
meaiately following this subsoil
plough turned this 12 inches deep.
The field was laid off alternately
feet between two rows, then 3 feet,
then 6 feet, etc. One bushel Of the
common gourd variety Of the South
ern white dent corn, of strain i'm.
proved by 20 years selection, was
planted March 2. Five or six ker-
nels were dropped in the row to each
foot.
The crop was still further fertilized
during the growing season as follows:
April 2, 200 pounds each of guano,
cotton seed meal, kainit, acid phos-
phate and animal bone sown early in
the burrows; May Is, 800 pounds nj
trate soda in rows and worked in with
the harrow; May 25, 200 pounds
guano were applied in the three fur.
rows run in the wide rows; June 8,
500 pounds Of an equal mixture of
gusno, cotton seed meal and kaiuit
was strevn in the wide rows; aud fin.
ally, on June 10, 100 pounds nitrate
soda was broadcasted in the narrow
rows: and hoed in.
The acre was was surveyed June IS
by William B. Afford. The harvest
ing was, done November rs, in the
presence OF representative farmers,
including J. G. Campbell and official
representatives OF American Agrioul-
turist. There was taken from the
field II. .407 pounds corn in. the ear,
which only 140 pounds were soft and
considered poor. By making several
selections the average test showed
that 81 per cent Of the total crop. was
kernels, and equivalent of 1923
pounds Of shelled corn, or 254 bush
els and 49 pounds, estimated at 56
pounds per bushel. ...
This was an elaborate experiment to
prove ho| Ml5a Sa.a ecS!j &c actual
ly grown on an acre, the cost Of pro.
duction having been secondary mat
ter in this case. The second prize in
this coctest was won by Alfred Rose,
Of Yates County, New York, who
produced 2l3 bushels Of Early Mas.
todoa corn. He planted one kernel
every foot 10 rows 3 seet apart and
fertilized with 800 pounds Mapes
corn manure. The soil was sandy
loan. Third prize vas awarded TO-
George Gartner, Of Pawnee County.
Nebraska, who raised III bushels Of
Early Mastodon on a black, rioh loam,
fertilized with 80 loads OF barnyard
manure, planted in hills 3 by 3 feet,
The average weight Of the entire 45
crops raised and entered 10 shis con.