The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-11-06
PLANT BREEDERS MEET,
FORWARD STEP IN BEHALF OF
SOUTH CAROLINA FARMERS.
David Il. COker, OF Hartsville, Heads
Committee TO Work Out Details of
organization Looking to Bettering
and Perfecting Breeds OF Farm
Plants - In Cotton Alone, II Is
POinted Out, States Income Should
De Increased by Forty Million DOL
lars.

lars.
Columbia, Oct 31.-The initial
steps looking to the organization Of
strong and active State Plant Breed
ers' Association were taken at q con-
ference held at 6 o'clock this evening
In the State Library at the State
House. The conference was attended
by such men as D. r. Coker, Of Harts-
Vile, who has done so much for cot
ton; A. w. Brabham, Of Olar, who is
the originator of the widely known
Brabham cowpea, and many others
E. j. Watson, State commissioner Of
agriculture, was called to the chair,
and presided over the conference, out
lining at the outset the vital import
ance Of such an association at this
stage Of the States agricultural de-
velopment, and stressing the need for
the organization to be vigorous
working one, reaching with teaching
and practice into the uttermost far
rural districts.
Mr.. Coker, when called upon, made
the necessity for such an orgaization
perhaps even clearer. He dealt with
the cotton situation, and showed the
difference between real, established
varieties Of long staple cottons and
so-called long staple cottons. He
showed how by intelligent handling a
county like Darlington, for instance,
can add a million dollars annually to
the income from cotton grown with
out increase Of acreage. This carried
out generally could add some forty
millions Of dollars to the States in
come from her cotton crop annually.
Next year, he said a greatly increased
acreage would be devoted to long
staple, and the next year even a
greater acreage. All kinds Of seed
without regard to character would be
planted, and 1t was timely now to
the average farmer as to the differ
ence between real long staple va
rieties and the necessity for keeping
them pure, and the so-called long
staple, with all kinds of lengths of
staple on the same plant. Too gener-
al planting without regard to we'll
down and break the market. He
touched also upon the necessity for
the establishment Of local markets,
80 that farmers would not have to
haul too far to market their cotton
On motion Of Capt. w. r. Low
rance the conference rendered Mr.
Coker a vote OF thanks for his valu-
able address.
BY resolution. unanimously adopt
ed, Mr.. Coker, after declining to serve
at first, was made chairman Of a CEN
trail committee, which will perfect all
the details Of the proposed organiza-
ton. and report to general meeting
to be called by that committee at a
later date to perfect the organization
This central committee, at the sug-
gestiOn of Mr.. Samuel Dibble, Of Or
| angeburg, is to appoint committees OF
two in each Congressional district to
work up a live interest in the Asso-
citation before the general conference
is held.
BY unanimous action the conference
| named Commissioner Watson and
President Dabbs as members Of the
central committee The other mem
hers of the committee were named by
Mr.. Watson, under the resolution, as
follows: Prof. J. n. Harper, Glenn
son College; j. Swinton Whaley, Eds
to Island; A. W. Brabham, Olar, and
DR.. a. G. Moore, University Of South
Carolina, Columbia