Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-09-07


sects, and he showed how as the birds
become scarcer, the insects increase,
and as the insects increase, agricul-
tural products Of all kinds shrink In
proportion. He cited statistics and
other facts, also to prove that where
the destruction Of the birds had been
checked to an extent that had enabled
the feathere6 tribe to begin to show
an increase, the results could be seen
In better field crops and more perfect
and plentiful yields Of fruit. Taking
the particular case Of the bull bat or
night hawk, he defied anybody to show
him when, how or where this bird had
ever done any harm to the farmers.
He referred to the familiar scene Of
the bullbat flying low among the cot
ton stalks at twilight, and said that
the bird was there solely in search Of
peculiar kind Of a moth that lays
eggs that do great damage to future
crops and that a single bird will de-
stroy hundreds of these moths in a
single evening. He described the
robin as a bird Of great value, and
paid a high tribute to the partridge.
He said that although the partridge
does eat certain amount Of grain, It
is the only bird that will eat potato,
chinch and other bugs, and that 1t
destroys four times enough chinch
bugs to pay for all the grain 1t eats.
He referred at some length to the un-
necessary slaughter Of partridges, and
said that a man who would slaughter
these birds unnecessarily is an enemy
to his country.
At the conclusion Of Mr.. Rice's re-
marks, the institute took recess un-
til 2 o'clock, and upon reassembling
in the afternoon with Mr.. ]. Frank
Ashe in the chair, there were speeches
by Prof. Ira w. williams and Hon. e.
]. Watson.
Prof. williams confined himself to
a brief review Of the objects Of the
cooperative demonstration work, ex-
planning how the department of agri-
culture was trying to help the farmers
in the solution Of their problems; how
1t hoped to increase the productiveness
of every farm In the country, and to
make a healthier, wealthier and wiser
people. He said he had been very
much pleased with what had been ac-
complished by the demonstration work
in South Carolina. He took occasion
to ask those present who had noted
evidences Of disease In their crops to
bring out specimens for the meeting
today and the experts would do all
they could to diagnose the different
diseases and give such information as
they had as to the remedies to be APP
piled.
The next speaker was the Hon. e.
J. Watson, commissioner Of agricul-
ture and labor, who devoted himself
to showing that South Carolina ranks
above any other state in the Union as
to natural possibilities; that she had
accomplished wonders, considering the
terrible drawbacks she has suffered by
reason Of the war; but still she had
much to be proud Of and he was proud
Of her He told Of having recently
passed through twenty-three states OF
the Union; of the progress he had seen
in them; how he wiDhed he had
twenty five or thirty York county
farmers along with him to see the tre-
mendous wealth that brain and Drawn
had built up on the arid lands OF the
west with nothing but a little alfalfa,
etc., to go on. The great secret OF 1t
all, he declared is In the old, old story
of intelligent labor. He told the peo-
pie how they were spending $11.3b3,o00
a year for western mules and horses:
$13, 100000 q year for bacon; $12.000,-
600 a year for dairy products, $2o.-
O00, 900 a year for flour; $s,000.000 a
year for corn, Every one Of these
drains, he said, South Carolina could
easily stop by raising the different
commodities at home cheaper than the
people from whom we buy them can
produce them to save their lives. He
also called attention to the fact that
we are spending s15.55o,ooo a year for
commercial fertilizers and urged that
there could be q tremendous saving In
this respect. Continuing these re-
proachful statistics, he referred to the
fact that the records show that there
are more dogs returned for taxation
in South Carolina than there are
sheep, goats and hogs, and that the
assessed valuation Of the dogs is 5ome
s2O0, 900 more than the sheep, goats
and hogs. He said that South Caro-
lima has more natural resources to the
square mile than any other state IN
the Union, and that all that Is needed
to make our people the greatest and
happiest people on earth is intelligent
and persistent work. He told how he
had induced DR.. Knapp to try the far
mers cooperative demonstration work
in South Carolina The doctor was
at first afraid that the people would
not take to this work. He had assured
the doctor, however, that all he need
ed was to try it, and South Carolina
would show him results. He spoke OF
the splendid results already accom-
plished, and cited among other things
that the corn production Of the state
had been raised from 17,500,000 BUSH
els to 2s,50O,O00 bushels a year. One
of the greatest needs of this country
is the Incorporation Of agricultural
schools In the educational system OF
the state and more attention to agri-
cultural subjects in the public schools
of the state. He was glad to say that
that he was able to see signs Of pro-
gress everywhere, and he was sure
that IL the farmers Of South Carolina
will give less attention to profitless
politics and more attention to the de-
velopment Of their splendid agricul-
tural opportunities, build good roads
and insist on having the best schools,
the time will come when health,
wealth and happiness will bless every
part Of our splendid state.
Mr.. Watsons remarks were listened