The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-11-30
(Oxford Public Ledger.)

In re- to my letter inquiring in
to the particulars of the record
breaking yield of corn, how planted,
etc, the editor Of the Progressive
Farmer sends me the following let
ter:
Dear Sir:
In 1899 Mr.. T. J. Drake, Of Marl-
boTo county, South Carolina. raised
SIS bushels Of corn on one acre. That
is SO far as we know, the largest
authenticated yield. The corn WIS
planted about six inches apart, In
rows alternately 3 aad feet One
thousand bushels CT manure, $40
Of various fertilizers were used. The
variety was the common gourd seed.
/ am informed that Mr.. Drake was
prepared to irriSate in case of neceS-
sit" but the seasons were entirely IA
vOra bic. LII my report of this to the
farmers in the court house a few
weeks ago 1 made a mistake OF one
barrel.
Now. the premiums were awarded
in Wake county only a few days ago
in the corn contest. The highest
premium was obtained by Mr.. Bats,
who lives on the line between Wake
and johnson. where the land is not
reputed to be very rich. He secured
226 bushes from one acre. These
| large yields have seemed incredible
to many people Of the county One
farmer said to me: 1T is impossible
to ~roduce 255 bushels per acre.
Another said: IF you were to spread
255 bushels Of corn on one acre Of
land, it would cover the land" An
other said: 1T is impossible for a
| common head to take in these figures
If they would get into a common
head. they would burst wide OPEN
Names are withheld.
OF course the yield of land in any
crop depends upon three things,
nOurishment, moisture, and sunlight.
Mr.. Drake furnished all the nourish-
ment that his crop needed he was
prepared to furnish the moisture if it
had been necessary, and he secured
the sunlight by having his rows three
and six feet apart alternately
am very glad to give these facts
to the farmers Of Granville county,
and sincerely trust that this agita-
ii n Of corn production will result in
great good to our people. Every man
who thinks and is acquainted with
the present conditions, knows that a
revolution is needed in the mode Of
farming in Granville.
There is one sure method of de-
termining the prosperity of the farm
ing interests Of any communicable
price Of land.
The normal law is that lands should
advance In value with the increase
in population. Now, I have made
diligent inquiries as to the price Of
lands in this county. and I have come
to the conclusion that the lands that
are peculiarly suited to the growth
Of tobacco are not selling as high now
as they once sold, say 20 years ago.
while the lands in the northern part
Of the county are selling perhaps a
little higher. The increase in the
price Of these lands in North Granville
NAV be due in some measure to the
value Of timber on them, and in some
measure, perhaps a larger measure
to the fact that they will produce
eater variety of crops than the
tobacco lands in the southern part of
the county, and those crops are now
very high Certainly the lands in
this county have not increased IN
y..Iue in the same degree in which
lands of other counties of North
carolina have increased. | was told
hv well informed and reliable men
in cleveland county that there was
hardly a farm in that county Inat
could be bought for less than FIFTY
DOLLARS per acre. Now there has
been The same increase IN prlce IN