Cairo evening times. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1865-1866, 1865-10-24
COTTON CULTURE.

Until recently when man came West and
purchased a tract of land his thoughts reached
no further than as associated with the growth
Of cereals and their probable market value,
and many fortunes have thus been made. But
time has fully demonstrated that there are
other and more inviting fields for the invest
ment of capital and labor than in the culture
of wheat, corn, rye, oats, and kindred cereals.
Especially is this the case in Southern Illinois.
We alude to the culture of cotton. And we
are pleased TO learn that the idea is becoming
quite current and that many embracing
the opportunity presented Of realisng fortunes
in Southern Illinois.
We have OF late conversed with several gen.
tlemen from the country who are engaged in
cotton raising, and been surprised when made
acquainted with the number thus occupied in
the counties contiguous to Alexander, and
the success which has thus far attended their
efforts.
I'VE are positively assured that between this
city and Carbondale SO, 900 bales of cotton
have been raised the present year, and that
full 90, 900 bales will be shipped from Carbon
monstrate that cotton not only can be raised,
but actually has. been raised in this section.
Nor is this all, we are assured that in quantity
to the acre, and quality, Southern Illinois can
safely challenge any of the cotton growing
States of the South.
An average crop of cotton will be one bale
to the acre, upon which Our dealers here
freely advance $3.50 per bale-the balance
when returns are made from Eastern pur-
chasers. Each bale weighs from 400 to $50
pounds, which at but so cents per pound-a
low average-would bring from 5000 to S275
per bale, or for the proceeds of one acre Of
land
How will these figures compare with those
realized from the growth and sale of cereals.
The average yield of corn is from thirty five
to forty bushels to the acre, and the prices
vary from thirty cents to seventy-tive cents per
bushel Corn therefore to cotton stands as
does $40 to 5000. Wheat will average not
more than twenty bushels to the acre, anc
averages in plfce from rs cents to 81 rs
Wheat, therefore, would stand to cotton as
say $50 to 5000.
The soil and climate of Southern Illinois are
excellently well adapted to the prolific growth
of cotton, and certainly its culture is fully a:
pleasant and requires but little more physical
or manual labor than does the culture of whea
or corn. 1t requires more hoeing than does
corn and about the same amount of pie wing,
and is always more marketable than either
corn or wheat.
The great trouble experienced this year i:
in procuring help to gather and prepare the
cotton for ginning. There are, in and arounc
Cairo, Il great number OF freedmen who wei
understand picking cotton, and are unemploy
el, and yet the cotton in several fields betweer
here and Carbondale Is rottng for want 0
hands to pick it. This is partly owing to thu
ipdlspostion of the negroes to work, and partl,
in consequence Of the igorance, vilany arc
prejudice Of the lower grades Of whites who
in some places, have used violence toward
the blacks, and threatened them with death
they continued ut their labor, thus drivin,
away those in6ustriousiy inclined and giving t.
others an excuse with which to cover up thei
idlencss. But we pleased to learn that tn
military authorities have sent armed soldier
into such districts and that hereafter the plar
ter and laborer will both be protected in the
rights.
We trust that the agricultural portion
the community viii consider these facts al
turn their attention to Investigating them ft
themselves 1t is notorious fact that Il
corn crop is so great this year that farmer
aoticipating low prices, are turning their atte