The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-02-25
HOLD FINE MEETING
DEMONSTRATION MEN FROM
EVERY PORTION OF STATE
MEET At CLEMSON.
INSPIRATION FROM LEADER
Splendid Talks and Illuminating Dis
c%ussions On Questions Of Import
ance to the Farmers Of South Caro-
:. lima Features Of Meeting.

ance to the Farmers Of South Caro-
. lima Features Of Meeting.
Clemson College.-Forty demonstra-
ton agents from every portion of
South Carolina gathered at Clemson
college recently for their semi-annual
meeting and held sessions during
most Of their waking hours for three
days. Papers, lectures and addresses
Of much practical value were heard
by the agents and there were at near
ly all times general discussions in
which questions were freely asked
and answered. Many men Of prom1-
hence were present and addressed the
meeting, which some considered the
most satisfactory In many ways that
has ever been held.
Probably the most striking feature
Of the meeting and the one Of the
most present interest to the whole
state was the annual report Of w. w.
Long,. state demonstration agent and
superintendent Of the extension divis-
ion of Clemson college. Mr.. Long
had just completed this report for
submitting to Washington and he
read it in lieu Of an address to his
agents, who evinced the keenest in
terest in it and who appeared greatly
encouraged by the fine totals which
it showed their work Of the last year
to have amounted to. Among many
interesting figures given by the re-
port, it showed the actual amount of
wealth added to the agriculture OF
South Carolina In 1918 by the extern.
sion division Of Clemson college to be
$2,274,374.12. This sum was calcu'
lated strictly on the actual work
which is being conducted by agents
OH demonstration farms and elsewhere
and leaves out Of consideration q very
much larger amount of additional
wealth created by farmers as a re-
suit Of the influence Of the demon
stration farms.
At this meeting the agents gave q
major portion Of their time to a study
and discussions of cover crops, espe'
cially to such questions as which
cover crops are best to plant, the best
time to turn them under, the best
methods of saving legume seeds and
other problems which have not yet
been definitely solved. In Mr.. Longs
report it was shown that, in 1919,
138, 900 acres were planted in winter
cover crops in this state, adding to
the soil in plant food and hun is value
$1,107, 900. In 1912 the cover crop
acreage was only $4,000, SO that last
year saw an increase OF nearly LOCO
per cent in this, which is considered
by agriculturalists the most import
ant work of the present day in the
South. Soil building will continue to
be the slogan vof the extension di.
vision and Mr.. Long said at the close
Of his report that he hoped to see
500, 900 acfes in South Carolina In
winter cover crops in 1914. W
At the concluding session Of the
meeting much time was consumed In
discussing the state fair exhibits. The
principal feature of this program was
an address by Bradford Knapp OF
Washington. agent In charge OF all
the demonstration work in the Unit
ed States. DR.. Knapp arrived just in
Lime to address the r agents before
they left for their homes. He com
plimented them on the splendid work
that has been done in South Caro-.
lima last year.
He spoke Of the relation which
should exist between the demonstra-
ton agent and the agricultural eI-
pert, saying IL was much the relation
Of the country doctor to the big spe-
cialist. There are times when he
needs expert advice and then said Dr..
Knapp, South Cardinals agents have
a fine, source Of expert information In
Clemson college.