The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1921-09-08
FARMING UNDER BoI!. wEEvL
CONDITIONS DISCUSSED

farm demonstration agent, has lust
closed a series of nine meetings held
in Chesterfield county for the bene-
mt OF the farmers who will ever here
after have to grow theip crops under
boil weevil conditions. These meet
ings have been well attended and
show that the people are interested,
for the boil weevil is here and is do
ing damage and it is evident that he
will do greater damage in the future.
The meeting scheduled for Ches-
terfield was held last Thursday
About a hundred were present but
these were thinking men and listened
well to the messages that were
brought to them by those who have
contended with the boil weevil in the
past.
The first speaker was Mr.. Winters,
who has worked for six years in Tex
as with the boil weevil. He stated
that to grow any crops profitably un.
der boil weevil conditions it was nee
essary that one have a rich soil and
this rich soil must be obtained other
than from the use of commercial fer
tillzers. With the boil weevil this half
crop to be made with any profit one
can't buy expensive fertilizers. The
remedy is to build up your soil with
cover crops and legumes. About Oc-
tober 1st, one should sow rye and
hairy vetch or crimson clover; these
should be innoculated the first wear.
If land is allowed to lay out all win
ter the natural fertility is leached
out of the soil by the winter rains.
One must have organic matter in the
soil, like corn stalks, leaves, ETC., and
by turning under rye in the spring
and velvet beans in the fall. The
people were urged to plant the velvet
bean. If planted in the corn he would
guarantee the fodder would not be
pulled-and it should not-this is q
natural hay country. Mr.. Winters
main theme was that the farmers
must improve their soil other than by
the use of commercial fertilizers,
otherwise they could not grow cotton
under boil weevh conditions. God has
put the nitrogen in the air, man can,
If he will use intelligence with which
his creator has endowed him, transfer
the nitrogen of the air where it can
be used to make our. soil rich. ....s
The second speaker was Mr.. Schil-
letter, who spoke on commercial peach
orchards and sweet potatoes. The
speaker said to grow peaches for
market one must use time and atten-
ton and intelligence-no nigger and
mule. Land for the orchard should be
high where the air drainage was
good. Frost does not damage as much
In high places as in low places. Trees |
should be secured from g good nur
sery-not from an agent. Should be
planted twenty feet apart each way,
must be well pruned. Prune the in
side limbs and let the tree grow like |
an inverted umbrella or basket so the |
aid an sunshine can get in. Varieties
to plant for market arc Belle of Geor-
gia and Elberta. Spraying very i'm
in the winter for scale !
and later for ms-twice-and |
finally for rot. Spraying is no good
unless done at proper time. Major
Tlller would give all who desired a |
spray calendar. Those who were think
ing of growing peaches for market
were requested not to go ahead until |
they had conversed with him or 9TH
ers as to the details. One must know
his ground before proceeding.
Chesterfield county is well located |
and it's sandy soil by nature adapted
for peach growing. Mr.. Mcleod Of
McBee shipped $4,000 worth of
peaches this year from ten acres of
trees.
Mr.. Schilletter also spoke on the |
value of sweet potatoes. But to ship |
thes potatoes in the fall and spring
when markets would take them call
ed for sweet potato house to be
Only way potatoes could
be preserved so they would ship.
Government had plans for success
full potato house which was free for
the asking. Government would super
wise construction of same and curing
of first crop of potatoes. Average
cost of 1000 bushel house from $4OO
to $500. Sweet potatoe growers this
year received average of $1.25 a !
bushel for last years crop. Potatoes
must be graded and placed in bag
kets of standard size; this should be
done when crop is gathered and po-
tatoes placed in baskts and in house
for curing in same way they are ship
ped.