The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-12-16
GOOD BOY FARMER
HOW BAscoMB USHER WON che
CoRN PRIZE CONTEST.
How He Prepared, His Land, Ferti-
lized His Soil. Cultivated Hnd
Gathered His Crop.

lized His Soil. Cultivated Hnd
Gathered His Crop.
A Columbia dispatcI says the AT
nouncement TO the effect that las
comb Usher, the Marlboro county
boy who raised 1852 Lusheis on lis
acre, had won the State prize in
the national corn contest has caused
a great deal of comment here.
Many are wondering just how he
did it. A glance at the following
will give some idea as to just how
the phenomenal yield was produc-
ed:
The land on which the corn was
produaed is in Brightsyille town
ship in Marlboro county and is a
sandy loan soil. There was a sub
soil of 10 inches. The land sloped
to the southeast. The land was
first cleared in 1907 and was plant
ed In corn and peas. The same
crop was planted in 1908 and 90
bushels of corn was produced. Pri-
or to the large yield cotton seed
meal and 100 pounds of nitrate Of
soda were used.
The acre was well fertilized this
year. The following being used:
200 pounds: of commercial ferti-
lizer, 100 pounds German KANT, 800
pounds second grade Peruvian qua
no, 800 pounds cotton seed meal
and 600 pounds nitrate soda. The
land is considered worth SIS per
acre.
On March 20 the land was brok-
en-. 1t was subsoiled with a Boy
Dixie plow. There was no barn
yard manure used. u
Great care was exercised in the
selection Of seed, which is one OF
the most important points about the
contest. Garretts prolific corn seed
were used. This seed was secured
from B. E. Moore, who won the
State prize in 1908 by producing
1877 bushels on one acre and who
won third prize in the national con.
test in 1908 with 125 bushels. This
corn has been used since 1900.
The seed were planted on April
l by hand, in rows five feet apart.
There were no hills and only onc
peck of seed was used. The seed
were carefully hand picked befor'
planting. . No time was spent in
terminating them. The cult,. ii
commenced on April IS, Boy-Dixie
plow being used. The grounu w.-
stirred to a depth of 10 inches. The
acre was cultivated five times on
April %, May II, June Is anu
July 8. The corn was thinned by
hand, one stalk being left to the
hill, eight inches apart. Hand Ia
Dor was used in removing the weeds.
The weeds were the rag weeds and
the morning glory, which were re-
moved in one day.
On October 13 the crop was har-
vested. The corn was pulled from
the stalk by hand. The stalks were
not cut and shocked. The corn
was husked by hand.
The boys corn club work was in
troduced In this State last spring.
Only FIVE counties could be organic
ed. Marlboro, Lee, Florence, Claren
don and Newberry. The results have
already been reported IN detail from
each of these counties. Prof. Ira
w. Williams, United States Farm
Demonstration Agent; O. B. Martin
and Prof. D. N. Barrow, of Clmson
college, are now actively engaged in
stimulating the work in various To-
calities of the State. With the co
operation of the different county su-
perintendents of education, the rural
school Improvement associations,
state Superintendent of Education
Swearingen and Commissioner Wat.
son. Active efforts will be made
to organize boys corn clubs in every
county. Means and methods will
be discussed at the coming meet
ing of the State teachers associa-
tion, and those in attendance will
learn definitely of the scope Of this
work for 1910.
This work has, up TO the present,
been independent of the contest
conducted by the State corn contes,
commission for both boys and men.
though many of the boys participat-
ing in the above contest have also
participated IN the State contest.
During the coming year it is the
purpose of the commission to COM
bine its efforts and prizes with the
new work that has been inauguratcl
under the direction of o. B. M,r-
tin.
There has been a great increa 81
in the corn production in South Cc.-
olina In the past several years an!
the corn contest commission is Of
the opinion that the work of Mr.
Usher will encourage other boys OF
the State in agriculture not only in
producing corn but in all other lines
Of agricultural work
One Of the mem bers of the COM
mission in speaking OF the young boy
said, why he is a great man AMI
loeS not know It, There are few
hove that hava done what no has