The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-06-06
UNCLE SAM AND THE COTTns
CROP
CONTINUED from Page Fy.A

j that last year on $4,000 acres MI
were cultivated under such dire.
a total of II, 600, 900 pounds 40
cotton was raised, making an a,.
or $50 pounds 10 the acre. In ~
Carolina where there is no wc,t.r -
Yet, $500 pounds of seed cotton h..
been raised on one acre. MAXI
GRO which with lint and seed
worth s1s5. These demonSt-.-.r
| farms have shown a mighty ln,-..n
i'll production over all Others an.rt
where the old methods OF ~farp.rg
were used, n in most localities .r.,
they are showing a proft Of ST. r,r
acre over that of their neighhors
In one of the worst weevil districts
| F. l.. Maxwell, of Louisiana. grew 50
pounds of lint to the acre on q MAN
tation of 1000 acres, and this on and
which is said to be especially faNu~t-
Bile to weevil production,
Converting an Old Farmer.
This demonstration work is reyo'1-
tiOniZing the south. Both young and
Did are engaged in it. Many Of the
boys have been each given an acre uu-
on which to raise cotton and there re
now boy cotton clubs as wei as boy
corn clubs. These acre farms are to
be seen everywhere, and the poor
farmer cannot help knowing tho hig
yields Of his neighbors.
The government is trying to ge; the
very best farmers to make the eXptri-
ments. The agents pick out those
Who are noted for their success and
common sense and ability. In many
cases they persuade the older planters
to engage in the work, and that with
great difficulty. Take, for instance.
one old Georgia farmer. who had
been growing crops after the ordinary
methods for forty years. The man
stood high in his community, and it
took much persuation to get him 10
promise to set out an acre. and work
it on the new plan. About two weeks
after that the Agricultural Depart
ment man again appeared. He found
nothing doing and asked the planter
why he was not carrying out his part
of the contract.
ITO tell the truth, my man. I never
thought you would be around again
But you promised to set out that
acre and plant it just as I told YOU
80 did, was the reply, and now
that you have come again | VIII dc IT
WELL said the agent, suppose We
go out now and start you men to
blowing, and 1 will come around every
week and see how you and they are
following my Instructions"
The old man laughed, but he went
with the agent to the barn and pick
ed out the tools. Among his farm
implements was a subsoiling pillow that
he aid was no good because it ploW-
ed too deep for his land. The agent
insisted, however, that it was all right
and he did not leave until four mules
were hitched to it and the ground was
broken up to what the planter said
a ruinous depth. He then saw
the land narrowed, and instructed TN"
about his seed n how to
plant it.
To make a long story short the cot
came up with more vigor than
and when. later on, the old man was
asked to run a cultivator over the crop
to cut out the weeds and keep down
grass he replied that it would
ruin the cotton. n when the agent
insisted, saying he would guarantee
him against loss, the planter gave the
order, but vent away with tears in his
eyes, saying he could not stay there
and see his crop torn to pieces. He
was surprised to find, however, that
cotton grew better than ever, and
when, at the enc of the season, he
h a he had gotten two bales
or cotton from hat acre. whereas the
rest Of his land had produced less
one-fourth that amount, hc be
came an active government supporter.
fd1s nelghbrS at first thought il must
De IN the seed, and they paid him ~
a bushel for all that came from that
acre. Lately he met the agent again,
and in speaking of his conversion said:
Il am now over sixty years old and
farmed forty years, but il is only
years since l have earned how to
arm"
The demonstration men give me
stories like this. They show
of this movement which is
low permeating the south. and which
promises to make it far richer than
EVER before.