The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-08
SEYMOUR TALKS
 ON CORN GROWING Williamson Method In Interest
 of Cotton Grower FINE RESULTS ARE SHOWN Believes Alabama Within Three Years
 Will Be Producing All the Corn Necessary for Home Consumption.

w. H. Seymour, director of the bureau of cotton statistics of Alabama passed through Birmingham yesterday and looked in on the proceedings of the Farm CTS union convention.
 i For about one year MT. Seymour has | been working to introduce the William son method of growing corn among the 1 farmers of the state and is we'll pleased l with the results that have been accomp- lished over the state in the first year 1 that the method has been given anything like fair test.
 l Many people do not appreciate the fact that the Williamson corn movement is in the interest of the cotton crop of the south.
 Hear what MT. Seymour has to say: Two years ago was state president of the Southern Cotton Growers association. One of the principal purposes of this as- sociation was to maintain prices of cot ton. We tried to turn the trick by or ganization and cooperation. This failed. About this time MT. Williamson of South Carolina came forward with a method of raising corn that promised much I investigated the method and found it to be good. I thought I saw in 1t the salvation of the cotton farmer in the south.
 "The south sends away every year something like $4OO.OOO.OO0 for corn, hay and hog products. Alabama sends away about $40,O0O000 annually. This drains the cotton money from the state and forces the sale of the staple at any price that the speculators may set.
 Now, the farmer with a crib full of corn and smokehouse full of meat is in dependent. He does not have to sell his ised to turn this trick, and I have been pushing it.
 "As a result hundreds of farmers in Alabama have adopted the method and the corn crop in this state this year promises to be the largest in its history. Through the Williamson method the farmer is not only enabled to double and treble the amount of production to the acre but does it at large saving.
 By individual subscription purse of $S50 was raised for corn prizes in Ala bama. There are two groups of prizes, one for adults and the other for boys. There are more than 700 contestants for these prizes In the state. The reports that are coming In from the people are more than encouraging.
 1T feel safe in saying that the average yield of corn per acre will be raised from 131k bushels to the acre to more than double that in a few years. Indeed, I am confident that Alabama will produce all the corn needed in the state within three years. With the Williamson method South Carolina increased its corn production last year more than 6000.o00 bushels. This is the largest increase made in any state in the union.
 'srhere is no money-making scheme in the Williamson plan. MT. Williamson is a plain farmer He discovered a principle of culture that promises to revolutionize the industry in the south and gives 1t, free to the planter He does not advise any particular seed for planting, but rather advises the use of seed selected from the best corn grown in the community where the planting is to be made.
 "When Alabama produces all the corn if consumes in the state we will have made long step toward success. and the full independence of the farmer. Then, and not till then, can the cotton planter hope to control the price of cotton"