The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-11-19
BY F. H. JETER

The State Cotton Production con-
test will be fought out between
Rutherford and Union counties, ac-
cordlng to present indications. No
actual weights have as yet been
made public, but reports continue
to trickle in telling of probable
yields of two and even three bales
OF lint per acre. In some counties,
notably in the east, acre yields
have been disappointly low. Many
men who entered the contest early
last spring have asked that their
names be dropped but the yields
In some sections of the PIEDMONT
have been surprisingly his h.
Frosts in that section were later
than down east and the foliage was
not so dense and luxuriant.
The grand prize in the state
wide contest is $3.50 for the largest
production of cotton on five acres.
The state is then divided into three
districts and there are four prizes
for each district with first one be-
ing $3.50; second, $3.50; third, $500;
and fourth prize, $50. 1t is possible,
therefore, for the first prize win
ner to win his district prize and
then get the tate prize making
total of$1, 100 that he might earn.
Eight of the cotton growing coun-
ties also have special contests with
prizes ranging up to $4,000.
Moore County growers at first
estimated that they would not
make over one-half a bale of lint
cotton to the acre. The constant
rains and the boil weevil took a
heavy toll but indications are now
that the yields will be better than
at first thought Lincoln farmers
saytheir yields olso will be sur
prisingly good. Boil counts made
in the five-acre plot entered by
B. F. Baxter indicates produc-
ton of over LOO pounds of lint
per acre. But his other cotton is
just as good as the special five
acre tract. Farm Agent Graham
Morrison says Mr.. Baxter has the
reputation of being a good. cotton
growers having record of harvest
ing 26 bales from 10 acres with
only two of the bales weighing a
little less than 500 pounds of lint.
Contrasted with this are some
yields reported from Hyde County
where the growers produced only
300 to 500 pounds of seed cotton
an acre this year. Farm Agent
J. P. Woodward says that every
man who had entered the state
wide contest, requested that his
name be withdrawn. Hyde farmers
report nice yields. of soybeans,
however, with average acre yields
turning out from Is to Is bushels
an acre at the combine. The folks
have been busy down their spick-
ing peas as they call it, for the
past several weeks. Much lespe-
deza seed also is being harvested.
R. L. Gibbs of Englehard has in
stalled a modern lespedeza seed
cleaner so that the suplus seed
can be marketed for the highest
prices. Heretofore, the seed pro-
duced in that county have been
sold in the hull just as they came
from the combine.
Hyde County farmers believe in
having few sheep on their places.
P. E. Swindell, owner OF 8-acre
Linger Longer Farm near Fair
field, says he always keeps a few
sheep on his place; first, because
they are profitable and, second,
because they are the best lawn
mowers that one can get. Mr..
Swindell says it is essential to al
ways have purebred, registered
ram at the head of the flock be-
cause this will mean better lambs
that will be ready for the market
when the price is best. Mr.. SWIM
dell has been using purebred
shropshire ram for some years
but switched to a Hampshire four
wears ago and likes this breed bet
ter for Hyde County conditions. He
also trades breeding stock with his
neighbors to keep from too much
in-breeding. He maintains S good
permanent PASTURE runs his sheep
through the fields each winter to
CLEAN them after the crops are
harvested, and then he plants oats
and vetch each fall for supplement
tary grazing in the spring. He
finds that it pays to feed "heavy''
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