The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-20
WORK ON A TEXAS PLANTATION.
How Crops are Raised and Pre-
pared for the Market.
THE PRESENT CONDITION OF LABOR.
Comparative Acreage and Expense in
Various States.


Below will DO found replies TO series Of questions,
asked through circular letter. regarding the produc-
tion Of cotton. have selected mainly those replies
which give tho results OF tho cultivation Of cotton
land small parcels, and have condensed the ques
tons and answers
No. MY farm IL In Navarro COUNTY, Texas. The
land both sandy and stiff black sell Tho farms
small, averaging 90 acres eac and worked mostly
by owners; 100 planted in cotton 1876
IN 1850. The average number OF acres to hand
Ia To- No fertilizers bought and
used but cotton seed. The average crop OF clean
cotton to tho is 300 pounds Tho seed Is worth
TO 10 cents a bushcl; II Is fed TO stock, u
fertilizer or mostly wasted rho largest crop OF lint
or clean cotton per acre within my knowledge IL LOO
pounds 500 to 600 pounds often made Much atten-
ton Is being gwen varieties with Of
20 to so per IN tho yield. Improved gins
being used with selt-feeders, securing OF
staple Tho crops Of small farmers balod by hand
horse power presses from dirt noorcd lint
There is great room for improvement; the lint should
be carried TO the press box by machinery secure
freedom from dirt and from mixed packing Four.nhs
OF tho labor here is white Very much better tools
being used than formerly. Negroes not mqrat-
Ing to or from our county, and about in 100
becoming owners OF land The cost OF producing
cotton varies according to SOIL character Of tools and
efficiency OF labor-say, 7c. to lie Wo raise
our own corn ana meat, with increasing tendency 10
do SO around us. Villages increasing in number
and We succeed In hiring extra hands In tho
picking season, but at high prices, resulting in de-
creased profits. The drawbacks greater
the high price OF picking and want Of more thorough
tllage. The advantages Of section capacity
make all the cotton that can DO saved and freedom
from the ravages Of worms and insects Immigrants
are much needed The Inducements fertile land
NJ low prices for sale rcnt healthy climate and,
lroward for Industry, the speedy requirement Of
comfortable homo in the most favored Of Southern
States
STATEMENT CROP
No. 2-The statement made by Mr. Cochran, OF
Dallas county, Texas is OF tho most instructive,
and, by his permission give 1t in full
Statement Of tho crop made by John H. Cochran,
OF Dallas. Texas, In the season OF 1876
Cotton-Caltivated, 80 acres; made 81 bales Of 500
pounds cach crop cut short by excessive dry weather
In July and August. Corn-56 acres; over 1000 BUSH
els. Oats-ls acres; thresned only $50 bushels; led
the rest III tho shea; crop about Az bushels 10 the
::s Sssass ssss ''is o oSss p'ossss:
somewhat by rust; quality good Hands employed for
cultivation, So wages and tenants Tor part OF
the crop. Extra hands In picking. 8 extra for one
month. wheat sowing ard cotton picking coming
Rcthcr. always allow 10 acres OF small gram. ~ of
corn and Of cotton 10 the hand and by proper man
aseneui .hoy can DO seeded cultivated and gathered
without extra labor, besides saving hay and DONG
other necessary farm work.
The following are Mr. Coch rams replies to questions
asked. they give interesting view Of tho growth
ana condition OF a Texas county,
Q. Whore is your farm or plantations A. Dallas
county. Texas.
q. What tho character OF the soilY A. Rich
q. How IS lund divided you, in small or largo
larceiss What is the average sze Of plantation or
pastures and outands 500 acres.
Q. Is IL mostly worked by owners or lesseess A.
About equally divided
hut the incre Or dpcre nj in mt.
tou since ls6O2 A. More than l0v0 pcr cent increase
there was but little cotton raised In the county until
the railroad reached us III 1870.
q. What Is the average number of acres to q handY
A. Eight acres OF cotton; crops are diversnsdcotton
wheat oats and corn.
q. What fertilizers, il any, are usedY A. No fcrtil.
lzers have ever been used and needed
q. What Is tho average crop OF lint clean cotton
PEI acrcs What was the average before tho WARP A.
about 400 pounds.
.. What Is done with tho seed A.. Fod to stock
or wasted; oil factory just established at Dallas
What Is Its value II sodY A. ~ to 10 cents pcr
busheL
q What is the largest crop OF lint or clean cotton
per acre within your knowIedgeS A. $50 pounds
raised on my farm IN 1870.
q. What do you consider tho largest possible crop
per acrcy A. Some claim l. 600 pounds but the sea-
son must be extraordinary.
What IS tho largest crop per that II would be
profitable TO try TO 0btainY a. Tho the yield
the greater the profit
Q. Is attention being given to obtaining new and
more prolific varieties OF seed A. Yes and to quality
oil staple also.
@ WIN what successs A. Very satisfactory and
q What is the method OF ginning9 A. Generally
steam and horse power with improved gins; but few
u Arc improvements in ginning being madeY A.
used successfully.
q. How are the crops OF small cul.iva.ors ginned
and bsedf A. by owners Of gins for gwen portion
Of the cotton-rom one-tenth to one-twolftn.
@ What further improvements do you soc In pros
pcct in ginning and ballngs A. Two large compressors
operation III Dallas.
To what extent IS your crop raised by whito aborp
A. TO its utmost.
Q. Arc better tools used than formeriys A.
Decidedly.
q Have any attempts been made to start cotton
plants under glass or canvas framesS A. Not that /
know Of
land? A. Very limited; their highest ambition seems
10 be to get into towns or villages and own small lot
cabin on the suburb
q What do you estimate the cost OF producing cot
TOM A. Taxing cost OF labor, rent OF land, feed OF
hands, taxes aud glnn,ne transportation TO GIN ana
then TO market into consideration estimate tho
~ about eight 10 nino cents per pound
u Do you raise your own corn and meatr A. do,
and to sell
Q. what new crops are being introduccds A. | do
not know OF any, we raise wheat corn oats, barley
rye anu sorghum successfully.
q Arc villages increasing in number and szes A.
q. what rev crnployments or manufactures are bc-
Ing established A. Large iron foundry, small woollen
mil, wagon factory two cotton compressors large grain
elevator SIX large Touring mills and dstiIlery In tho
q DO you succeed in hiring ali the extra hands you
need IN the picking season. do, but labor Is yet
too high.
4, What are the drawbacks to greater successs a.
We need more nnd cheaper labor 10 cultivate and gather
our diversified crops.
u What advantages do you claim for your section Z
A. Rich and productive soil, diversity Of crops, genial
climate, good local government
Y. Are Immigrants wanted A. Yes-with wei
come
a. What inducements are offered? A. Rich land,
diversified crops, genial climate ready market, good
wages. cheap living protection ~ lie, liborty and
property and low taxes.
q What results In number and general character?
a. Tho Immigration has been very heavy for tho last
lew years, from the rich 10 tho poorest
a. Where fromy a. From tho tour quarters of the
giobe; mostly from the Southern and Cuff States
q What do you need 10 reduce the cost OF market
Ing your cottony A. Cheaper transportation about
NIL
O. Are thorc cotton mills near you? a. None
The worm mover troubles us IN this section. The
only things need be certain OF 6OO TO GOO pounds
Of lint TO the acre good season and
labor bestowed ut the proper Tune.