Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-01-01
WILLIAMSONS Plan.
Scientific Discussion by Professor
Newman.
STUNTING FEATURE is The Thing.

/
Thorough Investigation Of Mr.. vii.
liamson's Plan and They Have Giver
It the: Seal Of Their Approval
Prof. Newman Urges Experiment.
Next Year.
From the Columbia State:
Clemson College, Dec. 22.-The fol-
lowing favorable discussion of the
Williamson plan" of corn culture
by Prof, c. L. Newman Of the agricul'
turaI department of Clemson college
will make unusually interesting read
ing for thousands of farmers. The
discussion will be issued in bulletin
form early in January. II the far
mers follow the plan carefully there
will be!a new era in corn raising In
South Carolina.
Corn growing by the plan advo-
Gated by Mr.. E. H. Williamson OF
Darlington county has become within
the past two years a subject Of much
interest to the farmers Of South Car
olina and adjoining states. One OF
the main features Of Mr.. William
sons plan Is in direct opposition to
both the theory and practice supposed
| to be fundamental in the production
of corn. in the southern states and
many farmers are opposed to the
plan and condemn 1t. This opposi-
ton and condemnation seems to find
its origin in the failure Of many to
accept the "stunting process en-
braced in the plan, inasmuch as past
experience seems to teach them that
when corn has been once stunted II
is out of the question to expect nor
NAL or average yield. In support OF
this position attention is called to the
results from the stunting Of pigs OF
calves-they are almost invariably
undersized when mature. The cauli-
flower has also been given as an ex-
ample of the result of stunting. A
cauliflower plant that has been stunt
ed will produce what growers term a
"buttonr and not a we'll developed
cured or head.
Not a Fair Test
Some. experienced corn growers
have not only condemned the Will
hanson plan. but have ridiculed and
styled ii an absurdity, and In prac-
tice an impossibility and not deserv-
ing consideration. having cited in
stances coming within their expert
ence proving the fallacy of the plan
However, when these are question
ed, II is found that they have followed
the Williamson plan only In part
that more stress was placed upon the
nstuntiag process than uponTthe sub
seauent treatment; that the side ap-
plications of fertilizer were made toe
early or too late: that the crop was
laid by at the wrong time; or that
the other details were not followed
details that are apparently essential
to the success Of the plan. On the
other hand, when the plan was fol-
lowed in every essential detail the
verdict seems to be unanimously IA
vorable and many who have grown
crop, or a part of a crop, In stric,
accordance with the plan, are moi
only enthusiastic but extravagant ir
their advocacy Of the plan. Some
twelve or fifteen farms upon which
corn was grown this year by this plan
have been inspected. Half as many
more were inspected where the plan
was only in part carried out. Where
the plan was strictly adhered to the
yield was double that secured from
nearby fields of equal soil characters
and where the usual methods Of corr
culture were practiced, and the own
ers of the farms state that the yield
from the Williamson plan was from
two to three times greater than had
been secured from the same land ir
the past Where the plan had beer
carried through only in part. the yield
was reported in many instances as
greater than expected and greater
than the same soil usually gave, and
was perceptibly better than that Sc
cured from similar soils Of adjacent
fields where the ordinary meth ID:
were practiced.
Question of Rainfall.
The 1906 rainfall was excessive and
II Is the belief of some that an abun'
dance of rainfall was favorable to the
Williamson plan and by others thai
it was unfavorable. With an abun-
dance Of rainfall at least a norma
yield is expected and it is claimed by
some that this plan secured unusually
favorable conditions in 1906. On the
other hand those who had fields grow
| ing under the conditions Of the plar
found it difficult to supply these con-
ditions in accordance with the plar
on account of the wet condition OF
the soil and claim that this unavoida-
BILE neglect or noncompliance with
instructions curtailed the yield. lr
1906 with a deficiency of rain this
plan succeeded as well as. in 1906.
II VIII pTODdDly pc iho'i uNN''N N''N
interesting at least to quote few eX'
pressions of approval made by farm
ers who have had one or more years
experience in this method of corn cul-
ture. Each of the following state
ments were made to the writer while
inspecting Williamson plan cornfields
and each was made by a different
party:
Some Who Have Tried 1t.
Before | tried the Williamson plar
did not raise enough corn to feed
my stock. now have some to sell
THE problem of corn growing II
the south has been solved. l can no"
grow corn cheaper than l can buy it.
II never grew more than 20 bush
els of corn per acre until l tried Will
| liamson's plan. / tried 1t this yeai
and made 3S bushels per acre on LAND
that ordinarily would make between
II and 15."
Il consider the Williamson plan the
| greatest discovery that has been made
| for years 1t means an abundance OF