The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1863-02-07
Enthusiastic Meeting Of the Farmers of
Lyon County.
COTTON GROWERS ASSOCIATION
ORGANIZED.


On Saturday last. Jan. 31st. pursuant to
published call, about fifty farmers, repre-
senting every township in the county, met
at McElfresh Hall. in this place, to consult
upon various matters of interest to them
selves and the country particularly with
reference to the organization of Section
Growers Association
R. w. Cloud, Esq, of Waterloo, was
called to the chair, and ]. o. Way and J.
Stotler appointed secretaries.
Mr. Swallow stated that he had, after
consulting with few individuals, assumed
the responsibility Of issuing the call for this
meeting, to which there was such general
response on the part of the farmers. He
was satisfied that much good would result
by holding meetings of this kind, in the in
terchange of thought upon any and all
questions affecting agriculture generally,
And as cotton culture in Kansas was just
now attracting much attention, it might be
well, inasmuch as quite number of the
farmers of our county had experimental a
little in that line, to have them state the
result of their experiments; and if, upon
hearing their reports, it was thought best
to organize Cotton Growers Association,
to do SO at once, so that we might procure
seed as soon as possible. He called on per-
sons for report of their experiments.
Several gentlemen who were reared in the
South, and had grown cotton there and here,
were called upon to give their opinions as
to whether cotton could be raised here sue
cessfully and proitably, aud there was but
one opinion in all the crowd-and that was
that it could be. We were pleased to see
the great interest which our farmers mani
tested on the subject. Each seemed to real
ize that our farming pursuits in Kansas
were about to be revolutionized, and that en-
tirely new branches of industry are 10 be
opened up for them, and they took hold of
the matter with earnestness and energy.
Cbas. Bunch, of Jackson township, said
he had but little experience; had raised a
little ever since he had been in Kansas, and
thought it would do as well here as in that
part of Tennessee where he came from.
Mr.. Palmer, of Waterloo, said that his
wife raised, The past season, on a very
small patch of ground, IS lbs; that. for the
attention bestowed on it, it produced well.
1t was only picked twice-should have been
picked again. The quality and quantity
produced compared very favorably with
what he had seen in Alabama
Mr.. j. H. Pheanis, of Pike, said he plant
ed little in connection with neighbor-
he thought about one fourth of an acre; he
took but very little pains with it. bull
thought that his half of the crop, on one
eighth of an acre, was about goo lbs. ofraw
cotton. He planted the green-seeded cotton.
Judge Watson inquired whether cotton
should not be planted as early as corn-as
soon as the danger from frost was past?
Mr.. Way answered: Year before last, be
planted cotton early-before corn planting
which did remarkably well; did not plant
last year, because be because he could not
get ready until he thoughtit too late He con-
sidered from 9Th of April to 10th of May
the proper time to plant, ia this country.
+. G. Hunt gave his experience in-cotton
raising in North Carolina, several years ago.
He said they commenced in the early part
of April to prepare ground, by throwing up
ridges; after which they split the ridges
with plow. The seed was prepared by
putting it in leached ashes, to separate it.
1t was dropped in these ridges-about two
bushels to the acre; thought this was more
than is necessary for Kansas soil. In North
Carolina the ground baked very hard, aud
the object in sowing so much seed was to
make it force its way though the crust; this
would not be the case with Kansas soil.
After the plants came up, they were thinned
the cultivator leaving the healthiest stalks.
If they were thinned with hoe, great care
must be taken, as. if they were touched
with the hoe, il would create 8 disease
known as the "scab." About the last of
August the bolls began to open, at which
time The first picking took place. He
thought the fiber here would be shorter.
Thought 1t could be made very profitable
and that was the great question. Would
it pay Take the experience of those who
had tried it. Mr.. Pheanis had raised 600
lbs. on one-eighth of an acre. of seed cotton.
This would be / 500 lbs. to the acre. This