The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-08-26

series OF meetings planned to be held
In this state by the automobile meth
od by Col T.. j. Watson. Prof. Ira w.
Williams AMI the Hon. Bradford
Knapp. FOR the benefit OF the farmers
In the rural sections OF South Caro-
lima was held here at IL o'clock to-
cay. IL was source OF great regret
that Mr.. Knapp was not present. he
being unable to join the party until
tomorrow. Messrs. Watson and Will
iiams reached Saluda on time and
were greeted by a large audience of
representative farmers Of the county
and their wives. The Hon. w. l..
Daniel presided.
Col. Watson spoke very forcefully
for an hour. lie showed what won
derful results had been achieved in
this State during the past six years.
even when only one-fifth Of the
farmers of the State had been reach
ed. He pictured the awful conditions
from an agricultural standpoint that
prevailed In the State when this
work was begun; how discouraged
the farmers were and how DR.. Knapp
hesitated To undertake his great
work In South Carolina. fearing that
the farmers would not respond to
~.
As a result OF this work. and Mr..
Watson emphasized the fact that II
was only just begun. and II was now
intended to teach the other four
fifths Of the farmers. there was an ip-
crease last year In the value of farm
products Of s31.0o0.o 900. He showed
the average corn production in South
Carolina had increased from s BUSH
els to 20 bushels per acre; how the
total agricultural products hai
jumped from 351. 100000 In 1906. TO
SsS.0o0.o0 for the cotton crop of
1910 alone. In 1906. said the speak
er. South Cardinals corn was only
II s-t million bushels. against a
crop OF $4,000. 900 last year.
notwithstanding this great increase.
he showed that the people OF the
State were buying 100000 bushels
per annum from the west. and, said
ne. exhibiting n large bottle Of rot
ton corn. here is the sort of stun
YOU people are buying" He made
the statement that the corn Of which
that was sample had killed several
mules after being fed on II three
times.
Col. Watson told OF his efforts to
drive out OF the State the rotton corn
and feed stuffs coming In from the
west. and he said that he intended
to Keep up the fight until 1t was all
driven out or the dealers In II were
put In the Penitentiary. He gave
figures showing the increase In the
value Of buildings. farming lands,
farming implements. etc.. In South
Carolina since Dr. Knapps work was
begun a few years ago.
Passing from this phase OF the SUBJ
ject. he showed how this State was
spending yearly eleven million dol
lars for mules thirteen million for
milk. butter and cheese. six million
for oats. three million for commercial
feed stufrs. two millions for hay and
twenty-one millions for fertilizers.
The great bulk OF this immense sum,
he stated. could be saved by the
farmers. as q. could all be raised at
home and on the farm. and II was
the purpose OF his Office and that of
the Federal department of agricuI-
ture TO show how II could be done.
The expenditure he characterized as
virtual waste. and vas the result
OF lack Of information and laziness.
Prof. Williams made a sensible.
practical talk. that was likewise
greatly enjoyed. Col. Watson and
Frof Wilson left for Johnston. where
they are scheduled 10 make address
es. Many favorable comments were
made on their talks. and the plan of
csTrying their information direct TO
the farming element by automobile
was highly commended. At the con-
ciusion Of the addresses by Col. Wat
son and Prof. Williams. each OF them
tried their kodaks on portion OF the
attendance.
This was the first time In the his
tory Of the United states that a tour
OF state was ever undertaken by
automobile To- reach all sections OF
the farming element. with the latest
Information along the lines OF sclen-
tihc agriculture and the speakers
wanted a picture OF the first audience