The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-03-28


ing of the corn, and we are sure that
We made q normal corn crop, seasons
considered.
We planted the beans about IS
inches apart in the drill and found
this distance about right for light
land, but entirely too close for good
land. Where the SOIL was good the
beans ran over the corn to such an
extent that it was swamped and begun
to mildew in September. On the light
land, however, the corn was not at
all injured and the yield was 10 to
1G bushels Of corn and an average of
about 20 1-2 bushels of beans per
acre.
into one field OF II acres which we
had in corn and beans on good land.
We turned about 100 head Of hogs in
September. Later we grazed a flock
of 80 sheep in the same field for about
six weeks. The hogs did not eat the;
beans for some time, grazing on the
corn and the green leaves on the
bean vines. After they had eaten up
the corn they started on the beans,
and from then on improved very rap
idly, doing as we'll as any bunch of
hogs / ever saw. A few were killed
out Of the field during the fall, but
about rs head stayed on the bean and
corn field with practically no other
feed until the middle of February, at
which time they had eaten up all OF
the beans.
We have just gotten account sales
for carload Of hogs sold last week
in Richmond Thirty OF them CTam-
worth and Tamworth grades) were
grazed in this corn and bean field, and
practically all Of this 80 brought lac
per pound on foot in Richmond. This
price should net the farmers little
over IL 1-2c after deducting freight
and shrinkage.
We picked the beans from the 9TH
er acres Of good land and secured g.
600 pounds >33 Ia bu.) per acre.
We find that our cattle are very
fond Of these beans, and do well on
them. They also greedily eat the
dead vines from the corn stalks and
thrive on this grazing.
Where velvet beans are planted in
corn we recommend that the rows be
about feet apart and the beans
spaced from Is inches to 4S inches
in the drills according to the strength
OF the land. We think about three
feet in the drill would be about right
for land expected to make 25 bushels
Of corn per acre. If a full crop Of
sound we'll matured seed is to be ex-
pected the beans should by all means
be planted before May 1st.
We have not experimental with all
varieties of velvet beans. but believe
from our experience and grading that
the Early Speckled or Hundred Day
is the best for this section. With it
the farmer can certainly at least dou-
BILE the grain yield usually made on
the acreage devoted to corn. The
tremendous growth of vine will en-
able the fertilizer bills to be greatly
reduced and increase the crop bro.
ducing power Of the soil. thus helping
us to farm more cheaply, produce
more livestock and get ready for the
| boil weevil.
I think that the farmers every
where should be urged to increase
their production Of foodstuffs heavily
this year on account of the very high
prices now prevailing, and also be-
cause an adequate supply Of food
both for home consumption and for
export will be a vital factor in deter
mining the outcome of the terrible
| world war in which it seems we are
going to become unwilling partici-
pants.
Yours very truly,
David r. Coker.