FARM-MANAGEMENT STUDY IN ANDERSON CO., S. C. 31 
SPECIAL FARMS AND NEW CROPS. 
Some mention should be made of a few farms producing truck on 
a small scale and retailing it in the near-by towns. There is room 
here for only a few farms in this kind of business, but some of these, 
so long as they are able to find a market for the produce, are finding 
the business profitable. Irish potatoes were profitable, as shown by 
the cost of production, which was 52 cents per bushel, and the value, 
which was $1.01 per bushel. These are planted in July, well toward 
the end of the cotton-plowing season, and the cultivating is done dur- 
ing August and September, when there is not much other farm work 
to do. The rainfall in these months is also ample for growing pota- 
toes. They may be left in the ground and harvested at any time dur- 
ing the winter. Late Irish potatoes handled in this way are a com- 
paratively new crop and are grown on only a few farms, but because 
they are profitable and do not interfere with other crops it appears 
that 1 or 2 acres per mule would add to the profits of many farmers. 
Alfalfa is also a new crop in this area, the possibilities of which are 
not yet fully known. Since the survey was made, alfalfa has been 
planted on 10 or more farms, and the fields appear promising. If 
the results are as good as have been obtained at Rock Hill, S. C, on 
a soil very similar in type, it should prove a valuable addition to the 
farms and greatly facilitate the growing of five stock needed for 
home consumption. An acre per mule carefully planted and handled 
should prove profitable. The velvet bean, which farmers are just 
beginning to plant, is also a promising crop in this section. Early 
varieties mature before frost, and, when planted with corn, the yield 
of corn is reduced little, if any, and a good yield of beans is ob- 
tained. The fodder on the corn can not be "pulled" where velvet 
beans are planted, but the soil improvement and the feed from the 
beans will ordinarily more than compensate for any loss incurred in 
this way. 
Soy beans offer possibilities for this area. A few farmers already 
have planted soy beans for feed, but the limited market for the beans 
has prevented the extension of the acreage. Soy beans are now 
crushed for oil and meal by cotton-oil mills, so that there is a ready 
market for the seed. This should encourage farmers to grow the 
crop. Soy beans can be planted in rows in the spring immediately 
after cotton planting is finished. They are cultivated very much 
like corn and harvested for seed late in October or early in Novem- 
ber. There are machines which straddle the row and pick and thrash 
the beans in the field. Soy beans can also be planted for hay after 
oats and wheat, and harvested in the same manner as cowpea hay. 
It is also probable that they can be planted after oats and harvested 
for the seed. Inoculation is necessary for best results. 
