The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1911-03-02
THE BOYS CORN CLUB.
More Than Three Thousand Members
Enrolled.

States Farm Demonstration work,
saws there were over 5000 members
enrolled in the School Boys Corn
clubs of South Carolina last year,
and of that number more than 2,O0O
members made report of the yield
and manner of culture on their acre
of corn, the others failed to report
from the mistaken idea that II they
had not made a record breaking
WELD of corn, they would not be ex-
pected to report. OF these more than
1000 none reported yields less than
so bushels and the great majority OF
them came near the IS bushel mark.
These boys have almost to man, by
their experience gained by last years
work, enrolled for this year, and
with the proper work, may be reas-
onably expected to increase their
Weld as much as 25 bushels.
1t is noteworthy that the 319 high
est yields reported averaged over 81
bushels per acre. Of this number
one raised 22S, one made 1T, six
made $50, 100 made 100 bushels
and more than 200 made IS BUSH
els per acre. None of the remaining
2,7O0 reporting made less than 50
bushels, and the majority of them
lust missed the rs bushel mark.
Averaging the whole it is seen that
more than 1000 boys on South Caro-
lima farms last year made an aver
age of over 65 bushels to the acre.
When it is remembered that the
average corn yield for the State for
the past ten years has been little
over IA bushels per acre, it VIII be
realized that the boys corn CLUBS
have done a wonderful thing; and
the best of it all, said Mr.. Williams
is the fact that wherever you lind
one of these boys with his wonderful
yield of corn, you find a center OF in
tense interest in the modern manner
of making the land produce what 1t
is capable of, instead of permitting
it to give back only modicum OF
the fruit that it should yield.
In thirty-six counties of the State
last year there were farmers acting
as agents of the government in the
work of arousing the farmers of the
county to the better plan of raising
corn. Each one of these agents was
q successful farmer, owning his own
farm, and living strictly on it. He
could not live in town, and he had
to make his own farm a model farm.
These men, said Mr.. Williams were
practically commissioners of agricul-
fure, one in each of the thirty-six
counties, and each had from 40 to
100 farms under his inspection and
Supervision. The result in the ma
tority of the cases was wonderful.
There was such modernizing OF
farm methods in those sections that
the oldest inhabitants almost doubt
ed their own eyes.
Not corn, only, but all the various
products which the soil and climate
of South Carolina so freely produces,
was raised on these demonstration
farms. The forage crops were given
especial attention; and the raising
of those things that really go to|
making the farmer Independent, such
as potatoes, both kinds, peas, and
small fruits, were encouraged, not
to say required. Some of the farms
made wonderful demonstrations OF
what farmer can raise at home,
and at the same time be building up
his land, and increasing his acreage,
and his production per acre.
The common vegetables of the
kitchen garden were raised in abund-
ance, both for home consumption,
and for sale in the nearby markets
DOCQ Ill LuGlE SLdtC duo CohhOo
or dried. 1t is a grand fact that
thousands of farmers in the State,
are this winter. feasting on the pro-
ducts of their farms, where hereto
fore they have existed on the bought
bread and meat Of the western farm
er. Thy are living in diversified
abundance.
Besides these small demonstration
farms and local agents of the gov
ernment the agricultural department
maintains under strict supervision
large demonstration farms in the
different sections of the State. Prob
ably the most important Of these at
this time, is the Hitchcock farm in
Aiken county. On this farm not only
the practical and scientific modern
farming is taught, in so far as it re-
lates to agriculture, but all the al
lied lines of the farmers business
GRO cbown in the latest and most