Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-03-23
cotton GrowIngi in indiana,

A contemporary SAYS: "Shall Indiana go largely
into the growing of ~cotton?" We think the ques
ton should be answered afirmatively. From es-
timates based on known facts, a farmer can see
about how his account current would be likely to
stand at the end of the year. 1t is reasonable to
suppose thot for the next year, and, perhaps. for
the next two or three years, cotton will sell high,
saw 50 cents per mound. That as much cotton
can be produced here per acre, or to the hand, as
is produced in the cotton States, is not pretended.
From all the Information we can gather from
those who have grown cotton in Southern lndi
ana for domestic consumption, bolls enough will
mature in ordinary seasons, in a remarkably good
soil, TO produce at least 100 pounds of clean cot
ton to the acre, in place of 300 to 500 in South
ern Tennessee. aud that one hand can produce
say two bales, 800 pounds here, in place OF four
to eight bales TO the hand, as at the South, and
where it is verv profitable to grow cotton at ten
cents per pound. IL will cost less to grow an
acre of cotron here than at the South. for the
reason that there will he less cotton to be picked;
and the picking is the greatest part of the work.
1t is a very common remark that any cotton
planter can ct iirar y produce a great deal mo; e
cotton than he can puck and take care of. If the
Southern cotton planter can produce at a cost not
exceeding 8 or 7 cents a pound, producing A to 6
bales to the hand, and 400 to 600 pounds to the
acre, what will be the cost of producing cotton in
Indiana, l0C pounds to the acre. and two bales to
the hand? Then the cnaLces are that in favor
able seasons two hundred or more pounds may
be produced. From all the figures we can make
from data in our possession, a farm well managed,
having one hundred acres in cotton. may be ex-
pected to clear abovt two thousand FIVE hundred
dollars. producing cotton at not exceeding twenty
i've cents per pound. Our belief is, that a man
can generally do better than this, but any one can
make the estimate for himself. No very great
pecuniary advantage can be expected from grow
ing little patches. though it is desirable that this
should be done for purposes of domestic manu-
facture, and TO learn the habits and manners and
customs of the plant.
The most favorable situations will be in the
neighborh0od of cities or villages, where an album
dance of manure can be easily procured, so nec-
essary to expedite as well as enlarge the crop;
also for the purpose of more easily procuring
extra labor in the picking season. Anybody who
can pick berries, can pick cotton.
A farmer, to grow cotton advantageously,
should have a crop large enough to justify him
in buying a gin and press. A common farm
horse power will be sufficient for, say twenty-five
bales, and a hay press will do for bailing. The
gin is a very simple machine that can be procured
ut almost any machine shop, and will cost, ac-
cording to size or capacity, from Slo0 to S300.
The gin is a series of circular saws, placed near
together on a shaft. with the hooked teeth so filed
as not to cut the fiber, the saws working between
iron crate bars, set so near together as not to al
low the cotton seed to pass through. The teeth
pull the cotton through, and a circular brush,
running at a quicker speed than the saws, over
the saw cylinder, throws the cotton off the teeth
into an adjoining Vincennes Sun.