The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-02-20
GOVERNMENT EXPERTS TALK.
Farmers Meet at plantation Of Il. c.
Haynsworth, Esq, to Hear Mcssrs.
Bennett and Quinn. of the Depart
nent Of Agriculture.

Thursday E. c. Haynsworth, Esq,
gave barbecue to Messrs. Benton
and Quinn, of the United States Agri-
cultural Department and a few
friends interested in farming.
Mr.. Quinn, who is an expert on the
growing of corn and Of hogs, lectured
before dinner on corn growing. He
has Just been making a special study
Of the Williamson method and he
states in no uncertain terms thai II IS
far and away the best method for this
part of the country. He therefore
spent most of the time on the subject
of seed selection. He stated that
care in this particular could make as
much as five dollars an acre differ
ence in the value Of the crop and out
lined a method of seed selection, en-
phasizing the fact that the foreign
seed do not produce nearly so well as
the native.
The crowd then partook Of one Of
Stoney's famous barbecues and thor
oughly prepared themselves for Prof.
! Quinn's lecture on hogs.
After dinner Prof. Benton lectured
on bermuda grass, the cow-pea, the
yetches, alfalfa and other forage and
soil improving crops in Connection with
the raising of stock. He was follow
ed by Prof. Quinn on hog culture in
most enlightening lecture. He told
how to get the best results from hog
raising and what results could be OBJ
tained. He also spoke Of mistaken
notions about hogs which have pro-
duced diseases and seriously inter
fered with profits. AS to dairying,
he stated that he had never known a
country to go into it yet where the
farmers didn't get rich.
After the lectures, a committee
consisting Of Messrs. Pitts, Stuckey,
Willie Shaw and Parrott was appoint
ed by the meeting to take steps to
perfect the organization Of an agri-
cultural association, which would
have for its object the discussion OF
matters pertaining to farmers, the
exchanging of experiences which
would be of benefit, and the promo
ton of diversified farming.
Mr.. Bennett, of the corps Of soil
survey engineers, was present and
sketched the work that this depart
ment was doing for the county. He
stated that the map Of the county,
which the corps would make, would
be of immense assistance in inducing
immigration this way, in that 1t
would be an official statement as to
what the soils are in this county and
what crops could be produced. Such
a mab could be shown in foreign
countries and would carry the full
weight of governmental authority
upon its face. He stated that his
corps would be at work in this and
Lee counties probably until July.
A particular feature of this map will
be the showing up Of soils that are
favorable to trucking crops.
The barbecue was given at Ingle-
side, the plantation Of Mr.. E. c.
Haynsworth, on Rocky Bluff swamp,
which has been selected by the United
States government as a place upon
which they VIII conduct experiments.
Prof. Quinn stated that if the as
sociation were formed, it could prob
ably get the government to send ex-
perts down on any subjects which
they wished discussed. It is difficult
to estimate the value Of such an en-
terprise to the farmers Of this coun-