The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-03-23

Issued following the conference of
members of the Corn Breeders Asso-
citation, State agricultural officials
and United States Government agents
of the department of agriculture.
These directions. which are signed
by c. III. Kyle. assistant phlslologist,
are to be followed by the Corn Breed
ers' Association of planters In this
State. and the results are expected to
lead up to the State Corn Exposition
to be held here next December.
For the Exposition several valuable
prizes will be offered. the State hav-
ing appropriated $1,000 for the pur-
pose with the understanding that s4.-
600 Is to be raised from those inter-
ested In this work. For the corn
breeders work there was an appropri-
alton of $500 by the General Assem-
bly,.
A Corn-Growing State.
South Carolina as a corn growing
State Is making leaps. Commissioner
Watson's 1909 report that Is now
being sent out sums up the situation:
The United States Government fig
ures of November 1st on the corn
crop alone. which three years ago
amounted In bushels to only about
17.5OO,000, was increased In 1907 by
over 5000, 900 bushels. and again In
1908 by about $500. 1000. being In that
year 2s.22s.oO0. This year the corn
crop Is already 37.041.000 bushels,
and ss per cent In quality, quality
nearly per cent above that for the
United States. and only a little less
than the highest average. which is 8S.
per cent for North Central States,
east OF the Mississippi. This Is an
actual Increase in one year Of pract,-
cally 100000 bushels. ana nearly
20.000.000 In four years. And Il has
been the direct result OF the introduce
ton OF proper cultural methods and
agitation by the Federal and State
Governments In cooperation. But
those figures. as strong as they are and
as indicative as they are Of the capa-
bilities OF the soil and climatic condi-
tions, don't tell the whole of the sig
nihcant story. In all the strictly
South Atlantic States the 1909 corn
crop shows an increase Of only 49,
haI
smallest State of them all shows s.
100000 bushels. only 100000 rep
resenting all the others. In the year
also South Carolina shows 5000. 0OO
OF the 9s.665.00O bushels increase
shown In the nations crop. OF a lit
tie over one-twelfth. The real sig
nificance comes in the increased yield
per acre. In the whole United States
there was a decrease between 1908
and 1909 OF s. of bushel per acre.
In South Central States a decrease Of
4.6 bushels: and Inv the North Central
States, west of the Mississippi there
was an increase OF 45 bushels per
acre. and In the South Atlantic States
or Il OF bushel. In South Carolina
the increase was rs bushels per acre
over 1908 and practically six bushels
per acre over her ten-year average
yield per acre. The work of in
creasing the corn yield per acre
has. too. only just gotten under
full sway. Farm demonstration work
was begun only three years ago. and
not farm under that work has
shown a yield OF less than thirty
bushels; this year they are running
from 35 to $50 bushels. and one 1S-
year-old boy has recorded. under Off
cial inspection. a yield Of one acre OF
152 1-2 bushels"
Corn Contest.
In a few days commissioner Watson
Will have completed the announce
ment for 1910 i'm the corn growing
contest. Last year there was great
Interest I'm this contest and already
there have been received by the de-
partment many letters relative TO this
years contest. The first prize was
Won by John r.. Dingle. of Summer
ton' who made a total yield In bush
els OF 1881. the second by A. T.. Ush-
er. Of Marlboro.
j. NJ. Moss. OF st. Matthews. won
the FIVE acre contest.
out West they print pictures in the
magazines OF bushcl TO the acre
man. while In this State a hoy raised
last year 1852 1-2 bushels on an acre.
The following are tho directions
issued this morning which will be Of
most interest TO farmers throughout
the State.
Foundation Stock.