The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-11-26


and destroyed. AS soon as the
squares begin to form and punctur-
ed squares show up, they should
be picked off. The cotton should
be cultivated at least once alweek.
Dusting with calcium arsenate is
still in the experimental stage, but
in dry season it certainly pays. As
soon as the cotton is open it should
be picked as rapidly as possible and
the stalks destroyed as soon as it all
has been picked out. The boil Wee
vii destroys all top crop, SO it should
be practicable to cut down and
plough under the stalks in October.
Experience has proven that if this
be thoroughly done, the yield of
cotton the following year is mater
tally increased.
Corn and Velvet Beans.
Corn, under boil weevil condi-
tions, becomes one of the leading.
crops in the cotton territory. By
the use Of a. good crop of velvet
beans, planted in with corn, the
corn land Will bring as high a re-
turn as any Of the staple field crops.
The velvet beans SO enrich land that
they will soon make commercial
fertilizer, other than acid phos-
phate, unnecessary. A good yield
of velvet beans often runs from
twenty to thirty bushels per acre,
and the value Of these, added to
the corn, makes this combination
very desirable crop.
The people of the south under
stand this crop well, and in every
community there are plenty Of
farmers who can advise those who
may be unfamiliar with the best
methods of handling these crops.
AS. many Of the velvet beans as
possible should be gathered in the
pod, as these have a good market
value and can be handled through
the selling organizations Of the city
of Sumter.
Oats.
Oats do well in this soil and cli-
mate, and with the peavine hay
which should follow them, ought to
give a return Of from thirty to forty
dollars an acre. Oats should be
planted in October, when possible,
and certainly during the early
part of November. AT least part
Of the oats should be threshed and
used as a money crop. The Caro-
lima Products Company and num-
Ger Of other business firms Of the
city will be able to buy or sell the
seed oats for you.
Wheat.
At least one acre Of wheat should
be planted to the plow, and this
will satisfy the needs for home
consumption. The Sumter Roller
Mills is in positions to take care of
all wheat which the county is like
~ to raise. and have been making
an excellent grade of -four.
Sweet Potatoes.
The sweet potato is rapidly be-
ing developed into one Of the best
market crops Of this section. The
Porto Rico is one of the best mar
ket varieties. It is suggested that
few rows be planted very early
and that vines be cut from these
for planting the main crop. Po.
tatoes raised from vines, if the vines
be set out early, will give a greater
proportion of Number potatoes
than either sprouts or slips. If you
have not the potatoes for your own
bed, it will pay YOU to buy the
sprouts or vines for these early
rows. Full information as to the
time of planting and manner of
grading, Grating and curing can
be obtained from Clemson College,
and from the Agricultural Exten-
sion Department. These potatoes,
when cured, can be sold either
through the South Carolina Sweet
Potato Association, or through the
Carolina Products Company Of
Sumter. Good farmers are making
as much as one hundred bushels of
No. / potatoes with about an equal
quantity Of seconds and culls, which
are all right for use on the plan
tation and for hog and cattle feed.
Irish Potatoes.
Irish potatoes should be planted
In February and are ready for mar
ket in May. A fair yield runs from
sixty to over one hundred bushels
per acre. The market price also
varies, widely, but gross returns
from 10000 to $4,000 per acre
should readily be realized. This
crop can also be used on the farm
to advantage, both as human food
and as food for the hogs and COWS,
if at any time the price is so low
as to make it improbable to grade
and ship potatoes. Potatoes can be
housed and preserved all through
the summer; and there is always a
very good local demand for pota-
toes, after the garden crops are
exhausted. Returns of from $500
to $500 per acre are sometimes
realized in favorable years. This
crop, therefore, offers d chance of
being highly profitable in favorable
years, and can always be utilized
on the farm and portion of it
sold to the local market; and we
think that at least the one acre to
the plow should go on every farm.
This crop comes off of the land in
June and will leave the land clear
ed to be followed by peanuts. sweet
potatoes, or any other crop desired.
Snap Beans.
Snap beans is one Of the safest
truck crops, and one for which
4laa.a is. r,onst oanaral demand They