The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-01-26
CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE NOTES
Diversified Crops and CO-opera-
tive Marketing


Chamber OF Commerce by farmers
about amber Of things coincident
with diversified farming which will be
necessary because OF the reduction OF
cotton acreage and the certainty that
the boil weevil will require more live
at home" methods and sufficient mar
keting facilities in Sumter and at
other points in this county.
A very In elligcnt and successful
farmer asked the other day IL there
would be facilities provided for storing
and marketing hweet potatoes.
Another sought information about the
advisability OF several farmers going
together and planting about two hun
dred acres OF watermelons and canta-
loupes--the question was also asked
what variety Of sweet potatoes and
melons should be planted, etc.
Some farmers have been to Cham
ber Of Commerce to find out where
ma how to secure hog cholera serum.
how to use 1t when secured, etc. They
zsid that hog cholera was all around
.hem---in or two instances they had
cholera among their hogs. They said
It looked like a spread of the disease
and much loss OF pork.
A variety Of questions are being pro-
bounded to the secretary about di-
versified farming and marketing. such
ls what Is the best thing to plant in
olace Of cotton, and other information
ls requested. All of which goes to
show that farmers are interested in
trying to do the right thing. But II
Sumter county had a farm demOnstra-
zion agent all Of these questions could
oe more intelligently and quickly re-
oiled to, many thousands OF hogs
,ou.d pc saved by the farm demon
strator going to the cholera infected
farms. and much other valuable in
formation distributed which farmers
seeking information want now and
will want before planting time arrives
his spring
The formation Of a marketing asso-
station with headquarters in Sumter
% buy up the surplus corn. oats.
wheat, potatoes, hogs, poultry, and
,ther farm products other than cotton
md tobacco for which markets are AL
.eady In existence, is an important
matter that the Chamer Of Com
nerce is now beginning to see about.
info rmatiOn and assistance from
Clemson College will be secured, but a
county farm demonstrator would be
the best method OF getting these mar
xeting facilities started. The Cham
ber OF Commerce can get the capital
Invested, In fact twenty thousand
dollars have already been subscribed
For marketing corporation for 1921.
But getting the right kind OF farm
products planted, things that will be
n demand and putting up the pro-
ducts in merchantable and market
able condition is n ve~y necessary fea-
sure OF marketing aftor money is pro-
Vided to buy the products.
And the most important thing Of oil
IS getting these things planted. Here.
tofore with cotton practically the en-
tire crop Of this county, q majority OF
farmers knew little about any thing
but cotton. Now confronted with
other crops they are ''up in, the air" as
we some times say about what to do
md how to do 1t. or course q minority
of up to date farmers know all OF these
things. But what Of the majority who
are In need OF expert advice and CO.
operations?
Perhaps the most important infor-
nation needed ia what not to do" in
many instances. For instance II sweet
Dotatoes arc planted In large quanti-
lies for marketing. that is for shipping
because the local demand will not be
sufficient to consume any considerable
amount OF sweet potatoes--then the
tariety Of sweet potatoes to be pro-
'uced is important--and the stand
Nrdization of. the sweet potatoes is
mother important proposition to be
Considered. The same applies to. the
question OF whether hundreds Of acres
of melons ought to be planted for ship
mont, and applies to many other pro-
lucts Of diversified farming, for mar
rctinE purposes.
IL Sumter cOunty's cotton money is
70 be reduced by hundreds Of thous-
1ndS OF dollars this year by reduced
acreage and reduced in quantities
nr"duccd by the boil weevil. then
what is going to take the place Of the
cotton and supplement- the money lost
from reduction OF cotton production ?
Intelligent leadership and instruction
organization, business like marketing
and business like farming will be re-
quired. Is every farmer. white and
rolored, or anything like a majority
Of farmers prepared to solve all Of
these problems without leadership and
advice? A farm demonstrator will
be needed more than ever IN Sumter
county for tho next four or five wears.
Washington, Jan. 20.-RecOunt Of
votes in 1,"83 OF Michigan's 2,232
precincts accomplished when the