18 BULLETIN 1034, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
TapLtE 4.—Yield per acre of the principal crops, Sumter County, Georgia, 534 
farms in 19138 and 550 in 1918. 
White White All white Colored Colored All colored 
owners. tenants. farmers. owners. tenants. farmers. 
1913 | 1918 | 1913 | 1918 | 1913 | 1918 | 1913 | 1918 | 1913 | 1918 | 1913 | 1918 
Cotton grown by wage 
LapOnaensase pounds lint... 
Cotton grown by share-crop- 
per labor. .-.pounds lint... 
All cotton..... do.... 
Corn grown by wage labor, 
bushelSi.2 8. spew ew eae 
Corn grown by share-crop- 
per labor....-.. bushels. - 8 8 
Allcorn....... do... 10 9 9 
Oatss ents rem oan do 12 13 11 
Wihea ticity ccseausecec do.... 6 8 7 
Cowpea hay......... tons. . -50 | .58 -ol 
Reanutseesesenen eens Gos e 5 ; 11 | .13 14 
e pHObDaCCOR As 2 ae pounds..|...... 1 at eA | (en ype ae 70 lee BO a | ee Pete les solo Els oom oc 
Cane sirup.......- gallons. . 102 | 127 102 
102 75 104 
Sweet potatoes. ... bushels. . 
In considering the wide difference in yield when comparing the 
various classes of farms shown in the table or when comparing the 
wide range on individual farms within any one class, many factors 
should be taken into account, some of which, because of lack of data, 
can not yet be properly weighed. While there is no great difference 
in the quality of soil of the various farms throughout this area, 
there has long been wide variation in the farm practice followed for 
soil improvement. Some farms have been operated year after year 
with little or no attention to fertility maintenance and are at this 
time in a very low state of productivity. Keeping up the produc- 
tiveness of these farms is a problem of much importance and one 
which is obviously receiving increased attention. The farmers of 
this area have to depend mainly upon growing crops for supplying 
organic matter, which is vitally important in maintaining the pro- 
ductiveness of these lands. With the long growing season a large 
quantity of organic matter is required each year. Many of the soils 
also lose considerable from erosion unless they are protected. By 
plowing under cotton stalks and cornstalks and leguminous crops, 
together with the aid of fertilizer, the more progressive farmers are 
keeping their land in a comparatively high state of fertility. The 
farmers that were found conserving manure, plowing under legu- 
minous crops to supply vegetable matter, using a good application of 
fertilizer, and practicing the best tillage methods were the ones 
realizing the better yields and the higher returns. 
Both white owners and colored renters used less fertilizer per crop 
acre in 1918 than in 1913 on cotton as well as on other crops, and, 
