Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-04-21
Miseellaneous 8eading.
STATE CEREAL CONTEST.
York County Competitors Have
Chance For Additional Prizes.


Chance For Additional Prizes.
One of the first steps of the commit
tee appointed by the Farmers Union
Of York county to augurate a corn
growing contest for York county, was
to write to Hon. E. ]. Watson, COM
missioner of agriculture and immigra-
tion for information about the state
cereal contest, and literature that
would assist the committee in the for
mutation of rules and regulations for
the government of the county contest.
Commissioner Watson did not hap
pen to be in Columbia when the letter
reached there and as time seemed to
be q most essential element Of the sit
uation the committee decided to go on
with it's work as best it could, under
the circumstances, throwing open the
contest as already announced. In the
meantime however, Commissioner
Watson has been heard from in an in
terestng letter that will no doubt have
an important bearing on developments.
This letter is as follows:
Columbia. s. c., April 16, 1908
Mr.. W. D. Grist.
Yorkville. s. C.
Dear Mr.. Grist:-
On returning to the city found your
letter Of April 7th. and was very much
gratified to learn that the Farmers
Union in your county had inaugurated
a county corn raising contest. l was
very much pleased too to note the
principal requirement Of the contest
which should have most beneficial re-
suits.
The state corn contest commission,
Of which am the chairman, has today
issued it's manual for corn growers to
use, and record the crop this year.
I. am sending you under separate
cover several copies of this Manual
which contains all the rules and regu-
la ations from which you can get some
suggestions as to the rules your COM
mittee wishes to provide. For your in
formation | will say that the commits
sion will be delighted to furnish you
with a number of these Manuals if you
can make use of them in your county
contest. wish particularly to direct
your attention also to the fact that eV-
cry man who enters your contest Is
eligible tn participation with one acre
in the state contest, thereby having the
opportunity of winning one Of the
prizes that the state offers.
/ wish to say on behalf of the COM
mission that | trust your committee
will work in close cooperation with
our state commission in the prosecu-
rion of work that promises so much to
the agricultural industry and work that
has in the past been Of incalculable
value to the commonwealth.
Very truly yours,
E. ]. Watson,
Commissioner
Copies Of the Manual to which Com
missioner Watson refers have been re-
ceived. This Manual is comprised In
a pamphlet Of 26 pages with covers. 1t
gives full directions for the cereal con-
test of 1908, and includes blanks to be
filled in by the contestants with details
of seed selection. planting, cultiva-
ton. fertilization, ETC., during the pro-
duction of the crops. There is nothing
in the requirements that are calculated
to prevent participants in the York
county contest from also participating
in the state contest. 1t will be well
worth the while of all who may be in
terested to write to Commissioner
Watson for copies of the Manual.
The following information is given
in the general announcement:
This competition has been inaugur-
ated with a view to Increase gram
growers profits by increasing the yield
per acre. and also the quality of corn
and oats through simple methods Of
seed selection and proper culture. 1t
is so named from the fact that it cam
not but result in adding millions in the
aggl egate to the profits of those en-
gagged in agriculture in this state.
Managers of the Contest.
The contest will be conducted by
commission created by the general as
sembly of South Carolina consisting
of the following:
|. The state commissioner of agri-
culture, commerce and immigration.
>. The president Of Clemson college.
3. The professor Of agriculture at
Clemson college.
The objects Of the contest are:
|. To encourage proper selection Of
seed and better care Of soils:
>. TO centre attention upon varie-
ties that are superior for each section.
tn introduce seed Of such varieties that
are pure and true to name, and to
prove that when such varieties are
grown under normal conditions, ii is
not necessary To so frequently change
seed
3. To encourage better methods Of
culture and harvesting, so as largely to
increase average yields per acre and
improved quality.
4. To show that such results can be
had at less expense of time, money and
labor than poorer crops when increase
in yield is considered.
5. To improve methods of market
ing and conversion Of crops into largest
possible cash return.
6. TO increase grain growers profits
on each acre and each bushel every
year.
:. To promote the keeping of intelli-
gent records and the use of business
principles in farming, to foster the far
mer's prosperity and the welfare of the
whole people.
Nature of the Contest.
/. Each grower will be required TO
grow one acre of crop.
.. Each contestant can follow his
own best judgment as to the selection
of seed and soil and mode of culture
harvesting and marketing.
3. Each contestant must report all
DarticularS relating to growth, tlllage,