The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-11-09
TAKES CORN PRIZE
A MARLBORO YOUTH OUTsTRIPs
ALL HIS COMPETITORS.
A. B. Usher Produces 152 1-2 Bush
els on an Acre and Thereby Wins

First Honor.
The Bennettsville correspondent of
The State says the farmers of Marl-
boro county are very proud of the
past as well as the present record
enjoyed by Marlboro. AS will be
remem bered, it was our own Capt.
q. ]. Drake of Drake, Marlboro coun-
ty, who a few years ago won the
champion prize offered by the Amer
lean Agriculturist for the largest
yield Of corn produced on one acre
of land. This corn was weighed and
measured by sworn committee
appointed under government require
ments, the yield being 254 ga BUSH
els, which 80 far has been the largest
yield on one acre not only In the
United States but in the entire world.
Capt. Drake received the $1,000
awarded by the United States gov
ernment. The State correspondent
saw this corn two or three times
while growing, and ne was not pres
ent when gathered and measured,
yet he is frank to say that he never
saWczso much, since or before while
growing on one acre of ground.
Laat year and year before, B. E.
Moore of Marlboro county, won the
State prize, the yield last year being
r72 bushels on one acre.
The United States government,
through DR.. Knapp, this year organ
lied what is known as the Boys
contest Corn club" in many coun-
ties throughout the dorm growing
States of the United States. About
one dozen boys, ranging in age from
IA to Is years, entered the contest
in Marlboro county. Last Monday
specimens of this corn from various
acres were artistically arranged in
the court house, making most at
tractive and creditable exhibit.
At 2.30 p. m. interesting exercis-
es were held in the court house.
speeches were made by Prof. D. n.
Barrow of Clemson college, and Mr..
Ira W. Williams, State agent of the
farm demonstration work.
Prof. Barrow emphasized the ne
cessity and Importance Of properly
selecting seed and impaired valu-
able information as to the growth
and character of the plant. Mr.
Williams explained in most practi-
cal manner the aims and purposes Of
the farm demonstration work and
urged the young men and boys pres
ent to enter the contest next year.
Prof. Barrow delivered the prize
won by the boys in Marlboro county
and each acre of corn was measured
by a specific committee appointed
by the farm demonstration officials
In this State.
Master A. Bascome Ushen OF
Brightsville township. received the
$50 gold prize given for the largest
yield on one acre, which was 1872
1-2 bushels.
Master Ernest Fletcher Of
Brownsville township, received the
SIS gold prize for the largest yield
after oats-he shaving raised As
bushels Of corn on the same acre.
Mr.. Williams stated that young
Mr.. Ushen had outstripped all COM
petitors from Virginia to Oklahoma,
and would get the free trip to Wash
ington city, and that the government
would pay him 81 per bushel for
25 bushels Of his corn. So Marlbo-
70 remains in the front rank. and
from the expression of determina-
ton in the faces of the boys who at
tended these exercises, she will con-
tinue to hold the belt as the cham
pion corn growing county in the
United States.
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