[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 96 (Wednesday, July 9, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1377]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E1377]]



            A TRIBUTE TO SOUTH CAROLINA'S WATERMELON FARMERS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 9, 1997

  Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to South 
Carolina's watermelon farmers who planted more than 11,000 acres of 
watermelons this year. Yesterday, each Member of Congress should have 
received watermelons grown at the farm of Jim Williams of Lodge, SC. 
These watermelons were picked on Sunday and driven overnight by Clinton 
and Wade Murdaugh to be delivered to both the House and the Senate on 
Monday morning.
  We take great pride in our watermelons in South Carolina. We like to 
call them Mother Nature's perfect candy; they're sweet, succulent, 
nutritious and even fat-free. South Carolina farmers lead the way in 
the production of watermelons. My State was a pioneer in the use of 
black plastic and irrigation to expand the watermelon growing season. 
By covering the earth in spring with black plastic, farmers can not 
only speed the melons' growth by raising soil temperatures, but also 
prevent weed growth.
  So, as we all enjoy this summer treat, I would like to thank all the 
folks in South Carolina who brought us these watermelons: Jim Williams 
of Williams Farm in Lodge, SC; Les Tindal, our State agriculture 
commissioner; Martin Eubanks and Minta Wade of the South Carolina 
Department of Agriculture; Randy Cockrell and the South Carolina 
Watermelon Association; Bennie Hughes and the South Carolina Watermelon 
Board; and also Senator Hollings, Representative Spratt and their 
staffs who helped to deliver the melons. They have all worked very hard 
to share a taste of South Carolina with my colleagues here in 
Washington and I thank them.

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