The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1874-01-22
THE ARKANSAS VALLEY.
The Cotton Growers Convention

THE ARKANSAS VALLEY.
The Cotton Growers Convention.
Pursuant to previous notice pub
lished in the Belle Planine Democrat,
and copied by the several papers in the
Arkansas valley, convention of the
cotton growers Of the valley was held
in Belle PLANE, Sumner county, Kan
sas, on the Goth and 9th of December,
1873.
A. B. Epperson, esq, of Belle Plaine,
was chosen chairman, and Judge Wal
ton, Of Oxford, secretary. j. W. For
ney, of Oxford, was shosen correspond
ing secretary.
J. W. Ferncy being called upon to
state the object of tho meeting made
an able and interesting address which
was well received. lie said the Akan-
sas valley, not the land of our birth,
but the home of our choice-comprisc
large area of the finest lands in the
state. Our people are mot contcnted
with mediocrity of SUCCESS" but are
earnestly and scientifically inquiring
the path that shall speedily lead them
to wealth and ease. Hence we conclude
that they are worthy owners of this
goodly land. The first
thing shall mention is this We must
produce something from the soil that
will buy money and bring it from the
east to our valley. Corn, wheat, and
oats will not do this, owing to the high
rate of freights for transportation. the
farmer who produces more corn than
he consumes can sell the surplus to his
neighbor who consumes (which does
not enrich the country, nor the farm
ers as class, for the trade is made
among themselves. Owing to
our ignorance of the culture OF cotton,
the very late frosts in the spring, the
very heavy rains early in the season,
very dry after summer, and finally, to
try our cotton experiment to the ut
most, the one early frost in the fall,
our crop was light. Yet, uotwith-
standing all these advcrsities, cotton
has been raised this unusually bad sea-
son in paying quantities. 1t is to con-
suit together as to whether or not cot |
ton--in the opinion of this convention
can be relied on in this locality and
be made paying crop.
Col. III. St. Clair was called upon and |
gave q glowing account of the effect of
the products of sumner county in the
state fair, especially the show of cot
ton thereat, and remarks of cotton rails
ers of Kansas and other southern men,
who were decidedly Of the opinion
that cotton was a success in this val
ley, most Of whom recommended the
early varieties, as the Dickinson and
Early Green. The rows of cotton
should run north and south, SO as to
allow the sun free access to the plants.
Three feet and one-half apart is good
distance for the rows. He had learned
from experience that cation can be
worked too much. Summary of Col.
st. Ciair's remarks: Try again; each
person plant from two to four acres
next year we will have grangcr's facil-
tiles for shipping. He exhibited sew
eral specimens of this years crop.
Judge Walton was called upon to
make some remarks upon the subject of
raising cotton, which were well re-
ccived.
Subject for discussion tomorrow,
variety of soil most suitable for the
culture of cotton" Mr.. Epperson to
open discussion. Second subject, GLOW
and when shall we plant, prepare seed,
etc." DIR. Hyperion to open discus
sion. Adjourned till 10 a. m. to-mor-
row. GEO. F. WALTON, Sec.
DECEMBER 81, 1873.
Convention assembled pursuant to
Minutes of yesterday
read and approved. Col. st. Clair in
the chair.
A. b. Epperson took the floor and
made . timely and sensible address.
He believed the Arkansas valley the
very best soil for cotton. Did not
deem deep blowing prior to planting
advisable. He had considerable knowl-
edge of the kind of soil best adapted
to the growt tn Of cotton in other states.
1t was the warm, sandy loan which {
prevails in the Arkansas valley. Cow 4
ley, Sumner, Sedgwick and Butler s,
counties should and will soon produce
cotton sufficient to insure manufacto- /
ries of the staple in our midst Our f,
Young county of Sumner NAV well feel {
proud of having taken the initiatory s
step in the growing Of cotton.
VIM. Carter, esq, was then called
upon. He had not come to max q
speech. He had been IN nearly all the
cotton districts and was familiar with
The most approved plans for raising
md marketing cotton. East Of the I,
Cross timbsrs in Texas he found bot !
.om soil. black sandy loan, similar to !,
he soil of Sumner county, but inferior b
N point Of richness, which usually
Fields from one to ono and hair bales
per acre. Frosts are later in the spring
md earlier in the fall than in Sumner {.
county. They throw two burrows to- q
yether, leaving the Flaps" undisturbed,
md plant on the ridge. The top root
Il cotton penetrates the ground like
he hickory, and branches which bear
he bolls are kept back until the top
DOT strikes solid earth. Hence the
dvantage in hurrying OH the bolls by
eaying the ground undisturbed under $,
he row Of cotton. The land between Il
be rows can be plowed at any conven- d
emf time. The ridges should be scraped r.
instead of hoed. The seed should be ID
rilled in the rows close. and the plants
ut out with q hoe TO about sixteen
nches apart. He recommended for
his climate the Early Green.
The following programme was then =
dopted for the convention at its next
essien: Col. W. III. Knapp, address or
ssay on cultivation Of cotton in the
.rkansas valley; Col. Ii. c. ST. Clair. Of
tdress or essay on the capabilities of 10
.rkansas valley: j. W. Forney. ad- p
rcss or essay: q. +. Meeker. ESSAY on
he agricultural interests Of the valley: be
I'm. Carter, address or essay on the Ia
eneral adaptablili,y of Sumner coun- fO'
to produce all the cereals and sta
es Of this latitude; {. S. Broadbent, !
ldress or essay. sa
The convention then adjourned to se'
Get again on Saturday. March 2eth, An
"a, at 10 O'Clock o. m, sharp. pa.
A. B. EPPERsoN, Pres.
6. t. WALTON, Sec.-BelIe Paiae
esaa<vof