Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-08-14
From the South Carolina Agriculturist.
THE PROPER PREPARATION OF
COTTON AND FLOUR.


THE PROPER PREPARATION OF
COTTON AND FLOUR.
The greatest economy in the gathering
and preparing any crop which is produced,
is essential to ensure the proper profits to
the planter. He may have fine lands, pro-
pitious seasons, and all the incidents to sue
cessful production; but, if the most careful
attention is not bestowed upon the gather-
ing of his staples, he is no better off in the
end than he who tills poor lands, and care
fully husbands and protects its products
From the moment crop is matured it de-
mands, therefore, strict attention, and no
labor is better paid than its preservation and
protection from depreciation. If all the cot
ton which is produced was saved, and pro-
perly brought to market, it would swell the
production to degree unthought ofby those
who do not look strictly into details. If
this, which is not regarded by the larger pro-
ducers of cotton as essential, is a fact, how
much is lost to the planters by the careless
and bungling manner in which the staple
crops are prepared for market? We do not
hazard great deal in saying, that from this
alone the planters suffer more than from even
short prices, and all other depressing causes
combined. Nor do We assert anything but
truth when we say, that these losses to the
planters of South Carolina would pay their
taxes more than four times over.
The careful picking and ginning of cotton
is most essential. Nothing pays better than
attention to these two operations. A good
cotton gin should be secured, and attention
paid to the manner in which the ginning is
performed. The condition of the cotton
should be perfect. If it has been properly
summed before put in bulk, and securely
housed against the damp, it will be in such
order that the lint will be thrown from the
brush-wheel in feathery, aeecy state. If
the gin is in proper condition, the staple
will not KNAPP, nor will the fibre be cut by
the saws. Knapped cottons, and that which
is cut by the saws, always sell for less than
even dirty cottons, which are well ginned,
from the fact, that the manufacturers have
the proper machines for cleaning it Of the
dirt and leaf left in it; but when the fibre is
once destroyed, its value is in like manner
impaired. This exemption from injury can
only be properly secured by having both the
cotton and gin in perfect order. An over
seer should not only be capable judge of
these things, but he should be able to rcmc-
dy any defects which may occur in the work
ing of The machinery of the motive power
which drives the gin, as well as in the gin
itself. The Georgia and Alabama .cottons
arc prcfcIrelin in our shipping markets, not On
account of the superiority of their staple,
but merely because they are well giuned :
In packing cotton, six ropes should be used
to each bale; for if one should break, there
are always sufficient number left to secure
the bale from bursting. The rope, too, is
seldom an expense to the planter, as it usu-
ally brings as much as it costs, and hence
he can afford to apply it without stint. If
six ropes are used, the sowing of the bales
on the side with twine can be dispensed with;
for with close packing the bagging will meet
and even if it does not, there can be no vast
age at the sides. From the mode in which
cottons are packed in the screw-boxes in
layers, the wastage only occurs in the top,
bottom and ends. The heads of tho bales
should be securely and properly sewed up
with twine in the best manner. After the
bale ia turned out, avoid the common Gus.
tom of exposing it to the weather. Tit is
worth gathering, picking aud packing for
market, it certainly is worth protecting from
the weather. If these particulars are strict
ly attended to, the cotton crop would bring
the producer from one to two cents per
pound more than it does when prepared in a
careless and indifferent manner.
FLOUR, though not so important, is nev-
erthelcss worthy of the same care and atten-
tion The barrels should have ten hoops,
and in all other particulars conform to the
act of inspection now in force in this State.
Flour for expectation should never be sent
to market in sacks. The reasons for this are
so obvious, that they do not require men,
tion. No fancy brands, such as superfne,
and extra-fne, should be INDUCED in by the
miller, but he should simply place on the
barrels the name of his mill, with private
brand such as A, B or G, to designate its
particular quality, to enable him to invoice
it to his factor, so as to be recognizable by
him. Our whaat-srowers do not know how
much they lose, and how greatly the com.
merce of the State suffers from negligence
in properly preparing aoar for market. Re-
Gently two Spanish vessels came to Charles.
ton to load with -four, and although there
was an abundance in the market, they could
not procure FIVE hundred barrels in fit con-
dition for expectation. Flour in sacks, and
ill-conditioned barrels, was aelling for S5 so
to SIS rs per barrel, and 81 was freely offer
ed by these ships for cargoes in fit condition
for expectation. They weighed anchor, and
going to Baltimore, took full cargo for
Spain So, the loss of over FIVE thousand
dollars was entailed on the commercial pros
pcrity of Charleston, simply from the negli-
gence of those who furnish her market with
-four These are small details, but they
make UP the vitality Of trade; and if we
wish to build up prosperous shipping marts,
and infuse active vigor into the producers Of
our staples for expectation, we must not neg
lect the particular requirements of trade
We have not mentioned rice and sen island