The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1917-07-16
FINE COTTON FIELD
Big Yield Certain on the WeH-TiIled
Farm of C. C. Balkcom

Mr.. c. C. Balkcom, who travels all
over this part of the state for the
Covington company of Jacksonville,
and has sold more goods this season
than last, has, in addition to his
work as salesman, raised one of the
best crops of staple farm stuff to be
seen anywhere in this section.
Mr.. Balkcom bought a 600-acre
tract, four miles west of town, on the
A. C. L., from Mr.. George Easterling.
He did not get on the property till
late and did not have the best show
from that reason. However, of the
800 acres that is cleared and fenced
he put in so acres of cotton, 58 of
corn, 18 of peanuts, 40 in velvet beans
and few acres of peas. Mr.. Balk-
com was fortunate in getting thor
oughly competent colored man to
place in charge with two other men,
and they have made the crops and
have as fine corn and cotton and vel
vet beans as can be found in the coun-
try-on pine land.
Mr.. Balkcom is so proud of his
pretty crop that he kidnapped Star
reporter Saturday morning and took
him out in his Ford. Mr.. Balkcom's
farm faces the full length of the rail-
road with two private loading spurs
on the tract. A public road also runs
along the tract, and it is only 300
yards across to the Martel road.
He took the reporter all over the
place, and the poor newspaper man
sure wishes he had Mr.. Balkcom's
chances at several thousand pieces of
kale from his cotton crop. He has Is
acres of long staple cotton, Is acres
of short staple and 20 acres of the
Floradora variety, and the reporter
decided that each field was "just
little better and a little more heavily
fruited than the other" 1t is certain
that it would be difficult to find bet
ter stand of cotton, fields freer of
grass and weeds, and stalks shoulder
and head high more thrifty or more
heavily loaded with lint, from buds
not yet open to matured and bursting
bolls.
Mr.. Balkcom, who was raised
among cotton; thinks he win get
around thousand pounds of seed
cotton to the acre. The newspaper
man thought it would go considerably
better. His expensive grades may
fiirt around dollar pound in the
lint. There is no telling, so, barring
some unforeseen calamity, Mr.. Balk-
com need not worry over money mat
ters.
There is plenty of labor handy to
do the picking and that problem is
solved. The cotton is now receiving,
It's last blowing.
The So acres of corn looks fine.
There is probably better in the coun-
ty, but it is a mighty fine average.
The velvet beans are thrifty and
green and will make a heavy yield.
The peanuts and peas are as fine as
one could wish an dthe little herd Of
pure bIooded Duroc Jersey hogs, with
eight large families of baby pigs,
make the place look mighty attrae-
tive for farmers first years work.
Mr.. Balkcom's fertilizer bill was
less than $50 for the entire crop.
We forgot the exact figures, but it
was around S125. It looks now ike
he might pay for the farm, stocked
and equipped as he took it, with his
first six months work. Is this
farming, or isn't it, and if not, why.
By the way, Mr.. Balkcom's terri
tory is along both railroads from
Jacksonville south to Groom, west to
the gulf and east to Sanford, and he
says Marion county has just a little
the best general farm crops that ne
has seen.