The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1863-01-31
Cotton Meeting in Lawrence.

A meeting of the farmers of Douglas
county was held in Lawrence, on the 10th
inst. We take the following extracts from
the State Journals report:
Robert Miller exhibited a fine stalk OF
cotton, grown on his place last year.
Hen. Hugh S. Walsh, a gentleman ia
miliar with cotton raising, in response to
questions informed the meeting that the
stalk presented was very fair specimen of
the kind; but that the staple length of
fiber was too short, and not strong, and
did not yield as much lint as some other
kinds, The better seed was Petit Gulf or
Brazoria, which was longer stapled, yielded
more lint to the quantity of seed cotton,
and, he thought, more per acre.
Being asked what was necessary in the
way of machinery to prepare cotton for
market, he stated that a gin (for separating
the cotton from the seed and screw press
(fOr packingl was all the machinery re-
quired. A good building would be neces-
sary for storing the cotton in the seed, at
tached to gin and screw.
A gentleman inquired as to proper time
to plant and manner of planting.
Mr.. Walsh replied Be sure and not plant
until there be no longer danger of frost. The
ground should be prepared, before that
time, in beds, by throwing two burrows to-
gether, four feet froEn center to center; the
seed to be drilled in. He thought the beds
should be made according to the lay of land,
80 as to prevent washing.
Judge Miller suggested that, the land be-
ing favorable, it would be better to furrow
north and south, so as to shield the bolls
10 oil md
As to profit of the crop here, Mr.. Walsh
thought so lbs. pure lint per acre would
pay. The price of ginning would not vary
much from one tenth toll of the cotton GIN
ned.
Mr.. Walsh;in response to inquiry, stat
ed that either the upland or bottom soil of
Kansas was equal to any in the world for
cotton growing; but that the season was not
long enough to make or mature fill crop.
Judge Miller remarked that the middle of
May was the time to plant in this country.
Mr. Walsh said that he deemed it unad-
visable for the farmers to go into cotton
culture too extensively, before they became
better acquainted with the subject. He ap
pretended no trouble from lice or worms in
ordinary seasons. The manner of tending
was very much the same as of corn-plow-
ing between the beds or dges-throwing
the dirt from and to the plants.
He said that cotton growers considered
nineteen full pods good average for each
stalk.
The conversation now turned to the cot
ton gin question. Judge Miller proposed
club to arrange for gin. &c. He was sup
ported by Mr. Oldham and others. much
interest being taken in the practical turn
which the subject was taking. The Judge
remarked that one gin would take care of
all the cotton raised in Douglas county this
year.
1t was voted that three gentlemen be ap
pointed to draft articles of association.
Judge Miller suggested one busbel of seed
to the acre; certainly not less than three
pecks. Rolling seed in ashes makes it drop
easier.
The Judge stated that the seed he bad
thirty bushels-had cost
abodt 81. rs per bHshel; but more could be
obtained cheaper.
Subscriptions for seed were then taken
from those present, which resulted in forty
FIVE bushels being subscribed for.
The meeting then adjourned for one week.