The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-04-23

the Benign Hills of the Santee," which
is az follows:
Sumter County lies to the east of
Richland. connection by rail over the
Southern between Sumter. the county
seat. and the state capital. dis
tance OF 80 miles. affording a con-
venienr schedule. Railroad lines cross
the county I'm every direction and
the seat OF county government has
thirty-six passenger trains daily. max
Ing II n natural distributing point for
manufacturing and jobbing establish
ments.
A telephone factory which devotes
extensive space to magnetic making is
the chief industry, although there
are important lumber, brick, machin-
ery. Ice, buggy. wagon, cotton oil and
cement pipe plants. One Of the
largest cypress mills In the South is
located a few miles from the city.
The early settlers In this county
were herdsmen. who moved their
cattle from place to place as prefer
red range occurred. Then the i'm
mense areas OF pine gave profitable
opportunities and in addition to the
production OF beef. pork and hides,
more attention was given to tar, tur-
pentine. rosin. slaves. shingles and
lumber.
Corn and wheat were the chief of
the early day crops. and indigo was
rnrcwr for expose -ussil east, India
competition and the war with England
put q stop to this industry Rice,
wheat and oats were the chief crops
up TO the Civil War. which brought
n revelation in agriculture that plac-
ed cotton In the lead.
Discussing Sumter County, the Unit
ed States Soil Survey report says:
With such a variety Of soils as is
found in Sumter County. one should
be able TO carry on almost any line
Of farming desired. Very little at
tention has been given to the raising
Of live stock. though there are lands
that could be utilized more profitably
for this purpose than in any other
way. Bermuda grass does we'll on
most. OF the soils. The sandy soils
are especially adapted to truck, al
though at present they are little used
for this purpose. not enough being
grown for home consumption. There
Is an excellent opportunity for this
Industry and dairying. The Norfolk
soils would also grow fine grapes and
the Orangeburg soils fine peaches.
The county roads are In very good
condition and much interest Is being
taken In their Improvement. The best
road material available is composed
Of sand and clay. Good roads are be-
Ing rapidly extended to all parts Of
the county Artesian wells OF excel
lent flow ate secured In the eastern
part Of the county, at a depth of from
75 20 200 feet"
Crop contests do not Indicate the
average yields In any community, but
they do sh the possibilities OF the
land. Therefore. the achievement Of
:. J. White. whose farm IL near Sum
ter. will inllcate what can be done.
Mr.. White made S3s i-3 bushels OF
sweet potatoes on one acre OF land.
and sold the potatoes for seed at 81
and si.25 per bushel. The slips
were bought and set out May 12. 1912.
To prepare for these slips the ground
was broken with a two-horse plow and
rows were laid on three feet. bed
ded out with four burrows. and the
fertilizer was applied after break
Ing out the middles.
As soon ,s the slips took root they
were worked with a 2i-inch sweep
Altogether. they were plowed four
times. and dug November 8. Expen-
scs In connection with the crop are
placed ny Mr. White at sG2. itemized
as follows: Slips. SIC: fertilizer. $50;
labor. Sc; land rent. SO. At 81 a
bushel his potato crop from one acre
netted S77e.
In the contest for average Yields
on an acre Of cotton. an acre of corn.
and an acre of peas. Mr.. White made
DC s-i0 bushels Of corn, 1854 pounds
&C seed cotton. 10 1-2 bushels of pens
and i,932 pounds of "ured peavinc.
J. w. Odom made $3.50 pounds OF