The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-08-20

hanson plan
Good preparation of the land is en-
pensive. Done with $500 mules and
81 day labOrers, it costs apprOXi-
mateiy 80 per acre for cutting the
stalks, plowing the land with two
horse plows and narrowing with cut
away harrow. We have recently
bought traction engine with which
We are blowing down the uncut cot
ton stalks, breaking the soil 10 to II
inches deep and at the same time
narrowing it thoroughly. Figuring
3 inches as the depth usually plowed
by two-horse teams and 10 inches as
the depth of the preparation with the
traction engine, each inch of the mule
broken land costs SO cents per acre
to prepare against 20 cents per inch
per acre for that prepared by the
traction engine.
The actual cost of running our
traction engine is less than 81 per
acre for fuel and labor. Call this ex-
pense 81 and add another dollar for
interest and depreciation and you
have the figure upon which the pre-
ceding estimate is made. The main
value of the power propelled plow,
| however, is not in the saving in cost
of preparation, but is in getting the
plOwing done at the right time and
done right.
The smaller farmers can obtain the
advantages Of the traction engine by
combining and several together pur-
chasing an outfit. Or possibly plow
outfits may some day go from farm
to farm Gust as threshers do now)
and break the land for so much per
acre.
One Of the most important dis
! cOveries we have made in our expert
mental work is that very much
smaller amount of Oat seed than is
usually used by the average farmer
seems to produce maximum results
I'd in our experimental blocks seed
ings at the rate Of 3, and IL pecks
per acre. and invariably had gotten
heaviest yield. with three pecks.
would not, however, advise as light
rate of seeding as this unless the
grain drill is used, for, seed planted
broadcast are frequently thinned out
badly by heavy freezes.
The limits of this paper forbid my
telling you about my experiments
with sorghum, which we have found
to be a most valuable hay crop and
which (the general impression to the
contrary Notwithstanding seems to
exert q beneficial effect on subsequent
crops. Nor can / speak at length
about the use Of lime and it's effect
on crop production, but will only say
that believe practically all the land
in eastern Carolina needs an applica.
/ ton Of One-half to one ton of lime or
twice the quantity of ground lime
stone about once every five years.
l would like to warn you never to
judge crop results on the farm by
the eye and tell you how often train
ed observers make mistakes when
they trust the eye rather than the
scale-I would like to urge you to
do all agricultural experimental work
under absolutely normal conditions,
Yand never presume that any seed is
Of superior value until you have test
ed it along side of other varieties
upon average lands with average fer
tilizer and culture. would like to
urge upon you the supreme import
ance of good seed, which are bred
to pedigree and increased only after
being tested against numerous other
strains, but if / should go fully into
all these subjects l would keep you
here several hours. could talk
alone on the technique of seed breed
ing and it's importance to our agricul-
ture, for hours, but that subject has
already been admirably handled by
other lecturers.
But above all l would like to give
You an insight into the attractiveness
and usefulness of plant breeding and
all other work requiring a close study
Of nature. No work possesses greater
possibilities of usefulness or pleas
ure than plant breeding. None keeps
You in closer touch with the great
directing Intelligence of the Uni.
verse. The plant breeder is in fact
partner with nature.
If any of you young men are in
terested in the seed breeding and
experimental work we are doing at
Hartsville, | shall be lgad to have
YOU come over at any time and will
afford you every facility Hooking
over our entire plant.