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

Local banks offer cash prizes that
make test acres worth while. One
bank gives 500 to the farmer max
ing the greatest average yield on four
acres and 500 to the man making
the greatest net profit on that acreage
Another bank gives $500 each year in
q three-year contest intended to stim-
ulate proper rotation of crops, con-
test judges prescribing the crop sys-
tenn, which covers three years.
Mr.. Whites farm includes 275
acres and his cotton crop averages a
bale to the acre. He averages 40
bushels of corn to the acre on a 40
acre field, and in 1911 made IS BUSH
els per acre on five-acre field.
l.. ID. Jennings has a 4O0-acre farm
n few miles from Sumter on which
nearly a bale of cotton to the acre
Is made. His corn yields run from
30 to 40 bushels to the acre and cow
peas make an average OF a ton to the
acre.
Last year, from 100 acres OF land,
100 tons of cured hay were made. and
5000 bushels OF oats. At $40 per ton,
the hay was worth $4,000 and at Csc
a bushel the oats were worth $3.50.
This makes a total of $3.50 for the
crop from the 100 acres When the
oats were cut, the peas followed i'm
mediately.
| The soil Is a light, sandy loan, TO
which the cowpeas add much hu-
mus. Feeding beef cattle Is also prac-
tised for the purpose of building up
the soil. In November. 1912, Mr..
Jennings bought SO head from North
Carolina and Tennessee. They were
fed cottonseed meal and hulls, and
in February were shipped to the
Northern markets. Forty tons of cot
tonseed meal and 40 tons Of hulls
were fed. The average weight of the
cattle when feeding began In Novem-
ber was $50 pounds. and the average
weight when sold in February was
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975 pounds. No detailed record OF
expense was kept. but Mr.. Jenkins
thinks feelings is profitable, If man.
ure is made without cost, or if the
profits from the cattle are great en-
ough to pay their feed and labor bill.
Northwest from Sumter, and ex-
tending from the Wateree River, five
miles into the country, lie the High
| Hills of the Santee, once the home
OF General Sumter 'the gamecock OF
the American Revolution" Of Joel
K. Poinsette, Secretary Of the War
Department. of John Rutledge, dicta
tor of the state during the American
Revolution and later Chief Justice of
the United States Supreme Court.
Here was favorite camp for British
and Colonial armies during the revo-
luton and General CORVALLIS Of the
English forces chose it as a base of
operations and as a camp where their
wounded and i'll could recuperate.
Washington Irving called them the
benign hills of the Santee," and
Robrt Mills. in his review of South
Carolina, declared: There is not q
more desirable place for residence,
either for health or society, than this
village affords"
1t was here that more important de-
velOpments occurred before the war
between the States. and many old
mansions have been preserved in
good condition. Their owners ha.
large plantations in the lowlands of
the State. but lived in the high hills
most OF the time on account of the
more healthful climate. Along the
Wateree they raised large numbers
Of cattle and hogs. The hills were
considered fine for cotton, corn and
oats, and for nearly all kinds of fruits,
including peaches, figs. grapes and
small fruits. Four types of soil oc-
cur. according To the report of fed
eral soil surveys: Orangeburg clay,
orangeburg sandy loan, Orangcburg
sand and Orangeburg coarse sandy
loan. The Orangeburg clay Is local
ly known as the red lands" has ex-
ceilent drainage. and constitutes one
or the best cotton and general farm
| ing soils of the Gulf and Atlantic
coastal plains. 1t stands drought or
excess of moisture better than most
SOILS is retentivc. and the effects ut
fertilizer are lasting
The hills not under cultivation are
covered with heavy forests of pine
and hardwoods and there are many
bold springs furnishing sweet, potable
water.
The homes are generally i'm oak
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