The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1916-10-10
HELPFUL HINTS FOR
LANCASTER FARMERS
COTTON CROP SHORTAGE
Valuable Information Concern.
ing Seed Corn for Next Year.
Boil Weevil Coming.


county published in the last issue of
The News, furnished by Mr.. l.. NJ.
Beckham of Pleasant Hill, in which
it is shown that the bales of cotton
ginned this season are 2.10O short of
last season. is convincing proof
Of the cotton shortage in Lam
furnish considerable food for
thought to those who are interested
in the future welfare of our county.
In addition to the above we must
further consider the fact that, in all
probability, the dreaded boil weevil
will reach this county during the next
two years, therefore. we should not
parations with which to meet this
new foe. Those who have not wit
messed the dreadful ravage of the
bolu weevil cannot begin to realize
when it does arrive. Therefore. to
be prepared for the coming of this
pest, we should get busy on crop ro.
tation, cover crops, small grains.
crimson clover, corn and stock rails
ing. Get in touch with the local
county agent, Mr.. C. l.. McManus.
and have him advise with you as to
the proper line of procedure
~ q
corn raising for instance we can
truthfully state that better county
than Lancaster for this purpose can
hardly be found in the State. Ian.
caster county has fields OF corn this
year that are excellent from every
standpoint. There are a great many
more that are only medium and too
many that are almost worthless. In
some cases the farmer is wholly re-
sponsible for the big yield; in others
the big yield has come in spite of the
farmer. In some cases the farmer Is
wholly responsible for the low yield:
and again in other circumstances
over which the grower has no control
are to blame. The business of the
man who intends to grow corn next
year is so to act that no one can say
he is to blame for the failure. Whcr
crop does not meet our expectations
learn the cause If possible and over
come the difficulty.
Now is the time to start the 1917
corn crop. Some time ago we pub
lished an article in this paper calling
your attention to the matter of prop
ed seed corn selection. 1t is to be
hoped that every corn grower has Sc
lected some corn from the field. The
question How can this corn best be
kept until planting season." is the
one to be answered now. When seed
corn is taken from the field it should
befhusked at once and placed in a
dry place where there is a free cir
culation OF air. The ears should be
so placed that they will not touch
each other. Corn must not be allow
ed to freeze while drying. for that
rason a well protected place must be
selected in which to keep during the
winter. The amount OF cold corn
can stand and still grow depends up
on the percent of moisture present.
After the corn has dried as thorough
ly as possible store in a dry place
where the temperature is reasonably
constant and not too cold
In connection with seed corn dis
cussion a few facts should be stated ;
seed corn selected from standing corn
in the field will yield a great deal
at the time OF husking. A farmers s
time is worth $3.50 per hour when
intelligently devoted to selecting and
testing seed corn. Try IL two years
and you will say that the estimate is
low. Is your time worth more at
any other farm labor?
makes the fertilizer outlook for the
future hopeful. AS yet potash prices
are prohibitive. The price according
TO the president OF the Armour Fer
tilizer Work has dropped from $500
per ton for Muriate of potash TO
$500. Fortunately America is not
wholly dependent upon Germany for
potash. According to the same au-
thirty the Armour alunite project in
Utah, which has been developed