Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-10-09
PRIZE CORN ACRES.

PIXIE COhN AShES.
There were sixteen entries into the
prize contest that was instituted by the
York County Farmers Union last fall,
and with the exception of perhaps one
or two who were knocked out by the
recent flood, they will all be in the con-
test up to the day Of the final award.
Those who notified Secretary Black
Of their intention to compete and paid
their initiation fees on or before June
| l, were as follows; J. L. Wood, ]. E.
Beamguard, w. E. Land, D. ]. Forbes,
N. S. Black, NJ. c. Willis, NJ. A. McFar-
land, G. W. Wallace, E. u. Caldwell, w.
A. Mckinney, C. H. Smith, ]. L. Laugh
ridge, r. N. Whitesides, J. Frank Ashe,
]. A. Steele, S. F. Black.
There has not been a great deal Of
fuss about the contest. In fact, there
Is nothing exciting or sensational about
race involving only the slow processes
Of nature in developing fields Of corn.
It is not to be denied, however that
this effort on the part of the Union has
awakened quite a wholesome interest
| in corn production in this county, and
subscribers to the prize fund, who will
take the trouble to investigate the mat
ter little will not have to go very far
to find that their investments have
shown profitable results
Upon the invitation Of and in COM
pany with Mr.. J. E. Lowry Of York
vile, who Is entitled to such credit as
may attach for having been the first
to suggest the corn prizc idea to the
Union, the editor Of The Enquirer, on
Wednesday made a drive of some fif-
teen miles through the county to take
a look at. the corn situation generally,
and such prize acres as could be con-
veniently reached, especially.
AS it happens, the contestants are
scattered over quite a wide area and
only three Of them were included in the
route. These were Messrs. C. w. Wal
lace, w. E. Land and J. Lytle Wood.
All three, however have fine corn, and
an inspection Of their respective prize
good, general idea as to the condition
Of most Of the others.
The first prize crop visited was that
Of Mr.. C. w. Wallace. Mr.. Wallace
lives about five miles northwest Of
Yorkville, some three-quarters Of a
mile east of the Rutherford road. His
contesting corn crop consists Of about
four acres planted in light, sandy up
land. The soil does not appear to be
at all rich, but there is no question
of the fact that the corn is fine. The
corn is planted in accordance with
plan that seems to be original with Mr..
Wallace. There are two rows two feet
apart, then a row four feet from these,
and then two more rows two feet apart.
The stalks stand from IL to 1S inches
in the drill. The fodder has been pull
ed Of course, and it looks like each
stalk in the field has two ears-not an
average Of two ears to the stalk-but
two ears on each stalk The ears are
rather small; but there are lots of them.
By more or less tedious search there
can be found some stalks with one
ear but while these are being found,
the search will probably disclose as
many others with three ears.
Mr. Lowry was not inclined to ven-
ture a guess as to the probable yield
and the editor had no idea whether it
would be twenty-five or seventy-five
bushels. Mr. Wallace was not disposed
to give his own opinion either; but
said that visitors had estimated the
probable yield at all the way from so
to IS bushels. He seemed satisfied
that whether he shall take a prize or
not, he has a good crop Of corn, and Of
that fact there is very little chance Of
mistake.
Mr.. Wallace used 1000 pounds Of fer
tilizer to the acre-340 pounds Of nj
trate Of soda and $50 pounds Of guano.
The cost of fertilizer for the four acres
was $40. There can hardly be a rea-
sonable doubt that the aggregate yield
will be more than 200 bushels Of corn.
Besides the four contest acres, Mr..
Wallace has about eleven acres more
in corn and he is calculating on getting
not less than five hundred bushels in
all.
Mr.. w. f. Land lives with his father,
Mr.. ]. D. Land, about two miles from
Mr.. Wallace. He is about mile west
of the Rutherford road. He was not at
60 thara
was no trouble about being able to see
the corn. which is on a hillside to the
rear of the house. The soil like that
of Mr.. Wallace, is sandy, but rather
heavier. The corn, also like that OF
Mr.. Wallace, is Of prolific" variety.
Mr.. Land explained that the corn had
been planted before the announcement
of the contest. The rows are five feet
apart, and the stalks pretty close to
IL inches in the drill. The rule Is two
ears to the stalk; but there are many
stalks that have three ears and not a
few that have four. The ears generally
are larger than Mr.. Wallace's; but Mr..
Land has not nearly so many stalks.
ANY attempt, IO"eNtI, " "illSii
will give the largest yield would be
necessarily wild. Mr.. Land used 1000
pounds Of fertilizer, including 200
pounds of nitrate Of soda to the acre.
Most of the fertilizer was put on after
the planting of the crop, and in addi-
ton to the 1000 pounds referred to, he
also applied rough manure.
From the home Of Mr.. Land to that
Of Mr. j. L. Wood the distance is some
six or seven miles. The road runs
through a considerable portion Of the
splendid cotton producing lands that
the owners are fond of referring to as
the Cotton Belt" over quite a strip Of
sandy country that was formerly con-
sidered as almost worthless; but which
is now steadily and surely increasing
in fertility and productiveness. The