The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1916-03-01
FIGURES SHOW BIG FARMING
GAIN MADE IN S. CAROLINA
(By E. J. Watson, Commissioner of
hr-,.;n,,lf,,ra Cn11fh Carolina

(By E. J. Watson, Commissioner of
Agriculture, South Carolina.)
When it comes to opportunities for
he intelligent tiller of the soil, there
ire few sections OF fhe world that
,ffer as many and in as great variety
N the same area as the State of
South Carolina.
l do not write this broad statement
inadvisedly, or because I happen to
DE a South Carolinian in charge of
agricultural activities in the State.
I write it in the full knowledge of
conditions in most of the countries
Of Europe, and the soil, climate and
rainfall conditions prevalent in every
other section of the United States
and because the statement is sustain
ed by an analytical examination of
the Federal agricultural statistics.
In elevations the State varies from
1000 feet above the sea level to the
low-lying coastal plain, affording al
most every conceivable variety of soil
sloping downward from the noun
tainsides to the sea and abundantly
watered by flowing streams.
Climate is Ideal.
With mean annual temperature
of 63 degrees, summer mean of 70
degrees, and winter mean of 46 de-
grees, conditions exactly similar to
the famous Riviera of Southern
France, and of California in the vi
cinity of Los Angeles, exist.
With an average annual rainfall
of 48.70 inches and summer aver
age precipitation of 1894 inches,
conditions are produced that mean
the growing successfully of almost
any crop: In no soil can better yields
or quality of cotton be obtained. In
no soil have larger yields per acre of
corn ever been obtained in this or
any other continent. In no soils are
better tobacco, fruit, forage, melons
or small grain grown.
When am asked about opportu-
mites usually i point to Federal fig
ures. After all, to the man with the
business head, it is money only talks.
Let's see what the census credits
to South Carolina in the decade be-
tween 1900 to 1910.
! Cites Federal Statistics.
The value Of farm property in 1900
was $153, ,591, ,f59; In 1910 it. was
1892, 1884, or an increase of 1856
per cent. The value of farm land in
1900 was $9S, ,905, 800, and in 1910 it
was $268,774,854, or an increase of
169 per cent. The average value of
all property per farm in 1900 was
1889, while in 1910 it was 1929, or
an increase of 124.8 per cent. The
average value of land per acre in
1900 was STA, while in 1910 it was
S19.89, or an increase of 1856 per
cent. The value of crops in 1910
was $140,000,000 (now over $780,
900, 0,000), and this represents an in
crease of 28.4 per cent. in one year,
the greatest increase shown in any
State in the Union. In millions of
dollars this increase in 1910 over
1909. was $31, 100000, over 1906 it
was s63,OO0,O00, and over 1900 it
was $88, ,685, 900. .
Stands High in Production.
In 1910 South Carolina outranked
in volume of production, though her
area was so small, every Southern
State except Texas and Georgia.
In value per square mile of terri
tory, South Carolina outranked both
of these States, her value being $4,-
518, against $1,369 for Texas, and
$3,373, for Georgia.
Among all the ranking States of
the Union, South Cardinals value
per acre was next only to Illinois,
with $5,1 and Indiana with $4,736.
None of the Southern States except
Georgia, came. up to the $4,000 mark.
The fact that e little State like
South Carolina could jump in 1910
from rank FL to rank 13, and be one
of only three Southern States stand
ing in the list between 1 and IS,
shows the opportunities offered by
the resources of soil and climate, in
her small area of 30,980 square miles
If there were other evidences need
ed to show what South Carolina can
do agriculturally when she has it to
do, an examination of the results of
aer activities at the end of the year
1915, following the year of disaster
20 cotton caused by the war, would
afford that proof.
Reeoups Losses-Shows Gain.
Notwithstanding the tremendous
,osses of 1914 the producing classes
80 handled the situation in 1915 as to
-ecoup most of those losses and be
S42, 100000 better off than they were
1T the end of 1914.
There is scarcely a country in ex-
stence where so quick a turn could
have been made to diversified crops
for money purposes. 1t was done,
however, on the same total culti-
yateG acreage that the State devoted
almost exclusively to cotton and corn
before, and that total by the way,
was little smaller than the total of
both 1900 and 1910, upon which the
above census figures are based.
This State is simply bristling with
opportunities for the intelligent tiller
If the soil, no matter whence he
comes. He has the opportunity to
work with the soil if he wants to do
it every day in the year.
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