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


the residence OF Mr.. 8. j. White IN.
nrst Farm Institute for Sumter Coun.
" was held Friday. There was ar
audience OF more than two hundred
farmers. together with a number OF
ladies'. the wives and daughters of the
farmers. present to hear what the ex-
perts from Clemson College and 9TH
er points had 10 say on bugs, water,
bhsht. crop rotation. live stock rats.
Ing and other things. as they were
related to the farm and the raising
OF crops.
The meeting was a success. No one
present who saw the interest with
which the farmers listened to the lec-
lures and heard the variety and rela-
tive questions asked OF the speakers
could doubt but that the school was a
success.
The meeting was held under big
oak trees and the coolness of the
breeze and the coming OF the cooler
weather made the day as delightful as
one could wish for. Mr.. s. ]. White,
who was chief host of the occasion, he
and his neighbors having made the
Preparations which went far to make
the occasion the success IL was, rad
arranged a platform for the speakers
and had provided extempore seats Of
planks, so that there was plenty of
soom for ali to secure seats, while
listening to the speakers. The speak,
ers platform was most uniquely dec
Grated with plants and fruits from
Mr.. Whites farm. tall green corn
stalks. each one containing two large
carr OF corn. waved at the four cor
ners OF the platform. Along the side
rails on the platform. big juicy look
Ing watermelons made the mouth wa
ter; peanut bushes were hung along
the rails. showing an abundance of
young fruit. pears. were placed I'm
groups on the platform and a fringe
OF sweet potatoes showed that Mr..
White still had some OF the potatoes
left from his bumper crops Of 1912.
The speaking commenced shortly
after IL o'clock with Mr.. j. Frank
Williams. county farm demonstrators
In the chair TO preside over the meet
Ing. Mr.. Williams introduced Mr.. L.
L. Baker. district farm demonstra-
tion agent for eastern South Caro-
lima. as the first speaker.
Mr. Baker spoke only a few min
ntes. He stated that II was the
aim OF the department OF agriculture
To carry the Institutes where they
would do the farmers the most good,
and for this reason they were
no longer held I'm town. but in
the country or the farm. where the
farmers could gather easily and the
matters could be brought home to
them In q practical way. He stated
that the money for holding these in
stitutes was furnished by the United
states government, except for a small
shara from Clemson College which
came from the fertilizer tag tax.
Prof. w. l. Hutcheson OF Glenn
son College was next introduced. Mr..
Hutcheson was extremely hoarse and
made his interesting talk on the value
OF water To the growing crops exceed
ingly short for this reason. His sub
ject was soils, fertilizers. tiliage and
water. but he took up only the last
mentioned of these, which he said
was. next TO having good land. the
most important feature for the
growing crop. which required food,
water. light and heat. He pointed
out that the farmer could do a very
great many things to- assist nature i'm
making conditions suitable for grow
Ing crops. especially I'm keeping "a sup
ply Of water In the ground for them.
He stated that water hurt crops
"'Ao hott IMAM uny OtneT Out tfllIiE
but at the same time he pointed ou,
that well drained bottom lands were
the best lands for farming. He said
that too much standing water viii
hurt the crop, II one In on II at tht
time or u one ls planted on Il later
Tie stated that organic matter mad,
np the farm more than any other on,
thing and the building up the farm
was merely the putting In IL organl,
matter and land said To he worn ou
was simply land In which the or
ganic matter had been used up. ~,
stated that the organic matter die
much to- retain the moisture. but thi!
must not he depended upon lon,
A mulch Of dust must be- formed or
the land two or three inches thict
which would serve as covering
through which the moisture could no
escape
In closing his talk Prof. HutChesOI