GRASS DEMONSTRATIONS IN THE SOUTH. 5 



The demonstration plats in the upper part of Richland County have been growing 

 for one year, and not only do they strike a layman, such as I, as having been entirely 

 successful, but the demonstrators themselves are enthusiastic over the results ob- 

 tained and are proving it by the fact that they are increasing their acreage, and their 

 neighbors are following their example. 



The plat of Mr. Sam C. Cathcart, a few miles above Winnsboro, was particularly 

 successful, for that gentleman told me that he had gathered 3 tons of first-class hay 

 from a little less than an acre of ground and that he valued it at about $33 per ton, 

 that being the price of good timothy hay at Winnsboro. Mr. Cathcart is not only 

 a large farmer, but runs a considerable-sized dairy, and he tells me that in this grass 

 work of the Department he sees the beginning of the solution of the agricultural 

 problems of this State as far as forage crops are concerned and as far as soil building 

 goes. 



From our Fairfield trip we came back into the Dutch Fork of Lexington County 

 and saw there the plat of Dr. J. L. Shuler, one of the most substantial citizens 'of the 

 State; and not only could we see with our own eyes that it had been entirely suc- 

 cessful, but Dr. Shuler assured us that it was successful beyond his expectations, and 

 as a result he has doubled his acreage this year. Mr. James W. Shealy, who is in charge 

 of this section of the county, informs me that his 3 acres of experimental work for 

 this past season has been increased to 17 for the coming season, which, in my mind, 

 is evidence not only of the success of the demonstrations, but of the interest of the 

 people in it, who are beginning to realize that they must grow more in connection 

 with cotton. We came back into the territory covered by our mutual friend, 

 Judge Derrick, and saw two of his demonstrations, one on the farm of Mr. G. W. 

 Caughman and one on that of Mr. D. J. Caughman. The former has his demonstra- 

 tion plat upon about as poor a piece of red Spanish oak land as you ever saw, and 

 notwithstanding this he got from it 2 tons of fine hay. Mr. D. J. Caughman has his 

 plat on better land, and yet not the best type of land by any means, and he tells me 

 that he cut his grass three times and gathered 3 tons to the acre. He is now grazing 

 his hogs upon it, and the clover is 6 or 8 inches high and practically green. The 

 cured hay is as fine as I ever saw. 



What I have seen on this trip convinced me that my own idea of the feasibility of 

 growing grasses in this country, formed some 10 years ago, was entirely correct. We 

 can grow grasses without any doubt, and it is up to the Department of Agriculture 

 and Clemson College workers to lock arms and demonstrate that fact to the farmers 

 of the State. To my mind there can be no line of work undertaken that will mean 

 so much ultimately to the wealth of the State as to induce our farmers to grow their 

 own forage crops; and this, as you know, is unequaled as a soil builder and con- 

 servator. I think every student of the agricultural future of this State is agreed 

 upon the proposition that we must make ourselves, to as large an extent as possible, 

 a live-stock State. We must grow cattle; we must have some substantial crop with 

 which to reenforce our cotton crop; we must have some way of reducing the enor- 

 mous fertilizer bills of the State. We must find some means of producing enough 

 beef and dairy products in this State to save us the enormous drain because of our 

 deficiency hi this respect; and, to my mind, this grass work, if we can make it suc- 

 cessful, and I am sure it can be made successful with the proper efforts behind it, 

 will bring about the very condition of affairs which, I think you will agree, is so 

 necessary to the agriculture of the State. 



I have taken the liberty of writing you at this length because of my very deep 

 interest in this work and because of the impression I formed of you personally of 

 your great desire to be of the greatest benefit to the people of the State. 

 With personal regards, I am, very truly, 



A. F. Lever. 



Lexinoton, S. C, November 22, 1912. 



[Cir. 110] 



