The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1920-10-14

Bale No. 2, exposed on dunnage ant
turned after each rain or once week
dropped in ne marketable weight
from 4S7 to 4sO pounds. (Seven pound:
lost.)
Bale No 8, on dunnage on edge, COW
cred with tarpaulin and left without
further attention during the test, drop.
ped from 4s9 to 4S5 pounds. (Foul
pounds lost.)
Bale No. 4, flat on ground during
entire test same surface down at all
times dropped from 492 to 260 pounds
(232 pounds lost). During the test this
bale absorbed moisture until it weigh
ed 912 pounds on June 7th. In recon
ditioning, 420 pounds of moisture
went out and 232 pounds of moulded
and ruined cotton were thrown away
Bale No. 5, on the end on ground
during the entire test, with the same
surface down at all times, dropped
from sos to 3s5 pounds. (Loss 12O
pounds.)
Bale No. 6, on edge during entire
test, same surface down at all times,
dropped from 503 to 43S pounds. (Loss
65 pounds.)
Bale No. z, on edge on ground, turn
ed from time to time, at least once a
week, dropped from 495 to 473 pounds.
(Loss 22 pounds.)
The most striking fact disclosed was
that of a 492 pound bale of cotton stor-
ed flat on the ground for six months
lost 232 pounds, leaving 26O pounds
for the market, while another bale
properly stored in a warehouse lost
only two pounds. This means that if
the price was 80 cents pound, the
loss on the first bale was $69.60. The
loss on the bale in the warehouse was
but sixty cents.
Now that we have discovered the
actual loss suffered year after year
from the careless handling of the cot
ton crop, let US take look at crop
which can and should be made mon
ey crop-sweet potatoes.
South Carolina produced in 1919
on $4,000 acres of land 100000 bush
els of sweet potatoes, valued at $11.
$4,000 on the farms. By reason of i'm
proper storage and disease, possibly
one-half of this crop was lost to the
growers and to the consuming public
as a food. In other words, after put
ting your money and labor into the
production of this splendid food crop,
by careless methods you permitted a
monetary loss to the state of not less
than five and half million dollars;
fearful economic waste when we con-
slider that fod stuff is badly needed
and that a similar loss is occurring
year in and year out. 1t is we'll
known fact that large percentage
of the sweet potato crop can be saved
by storage ih houses constructed in
accordance with plans and specifica-
tions developed during a period Of
several years investigational work by
the U. S. Department of Agriculture.
Storage information, blue prints, and
bill of materials are free to the people
of this country.
Agricultural Agencies
My friends get acquainted with your
County Agent, if you have one, get ac-
quainted with the Extension Workers
of your State Agricultural College,
aid get acquainted with the U. S.
Department of Agriculture. Your
State and Government maintains a
force of specially trained men and
women, and have a wonderful fund of
information of all kinds pertaining to
agriculture and industry on tap; and
they are at your disposal. All that you
have to do is to signify willingness
to use these men and the splendid in
formation which is available.
The Negro Question
Before going into this subject, | de-
sire to address few words to our col
ored farmers.
Don't get panicky with the coming
of the boil weevil--keep your head
Don't believe tales brought to you
about the opportunities in the North
and West for the Negro. The place for
the negro race is in the South, the
climate suits him better; constitution
ally they are not able to withstand the
long cold northern winters. They know
the disposition of the white people OF
the South and the white people know
them, and generally, there exists g
feeling of kindness between the RAGS
Many southern colored farmers have
made nice fortunes during the past