The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1880-06-17
ioyed the adulation due to La Signora
Symphonic, of the Grand Italian Opera.
Cotton Possibilities,

| NOttou iOsblnilitlCoa
One-half of the entire crop OF the mer.
charitable cotton of the world is grown
in The United States. The cotton trade
is watched more closely than any other
There are daily reports of the amount Of
cotton received at the centers of distri.
button, and how much is sold and ex-
ported. Great pains are taken to get al
the exact facts regarding the supply and
consumption of this great staple. As a
gentleman once expressed it, cotton
statistician would chase single bale all
over the country 70 see what finally be-
came of it.
The figures that express the growth
and use of cotton are astounding. The
best authorities place the production
annually al from $500, OOO, 900 to $780,
600 600 pounds, or from 2,250,00O to
2,750,O00 tons. There is no surplus.
What is produced is ali used from year
to year. Mankind uses an average OF
fully three pounds of raw cotton every
year for every man, woman and child
on the face of the globe.
When, however, we inquire now
much land is needed TO raise this vast
crop, the reader will be surprised when
we say that there is land enough, ex-
actly suited to the production of cotton.
in thu State of Texas alone, to supply
the whole world.
The average production of cotton in
Texas is about one-halfa bale to an acre.
The highest estimate of the worlds
crop is 100000 bales, of $50 pounds
each. An area of 100000 acres is
therefore all that is needed, and that is
but 37,5O0 square miles. The area of
Texas is more than seven times that
number of miles, and the part that could
be proftably devoted to cotton growing
is many times greater in size than would
be required.
The cotton that is used fer manuiac.
ture is the wing of tn he seed. 1t core
spends to the light fillment that carries
the seed OF the thistle, that pest of the
farmer. There are about two and a hall
pounds of seed to every pound of cotton
fiber. How much cotton seed, then, is
raised every year in the world Be-
tween six and seven million tons!
The uses OF cotton seed are many, and
set it is only lately that the great value
Of the article has been recognized.
When pressed, the kernels will yield
about one-oighth of their weight in oil,
which can be used for many purposes.
Indeed, it is more than suspected that
arge part of the ''pure olive oil" from
Leghorn, is either pure cotton-seed oil,
or mixture of cotton seed and other
oils.
What is left after the oil is expressed
is seed-cake." This is sent in vast
quantities to Europe, where it forms the
best known feed for cattle, and no better
fertilizer is known than the manure of
cattle fed upon it. The hulls of the cot
ton seed have usually been thrown
away, but now it is known that they are
as good for feed as the seed itself.
We are Just beginning to use economy
ip the cultivation of cotton, and in the
use of the other products of the plant.
The production of cotton is increasing
from year to year. The crop of 1879
was the largest ever gathered. But the
consumption of the staple is also in
creasing
In the United States we consume more
than thirteen pounds of raw cotton
year for every person in the country.
The average amount for each person in
Europe is only four and half pounds;
in Asia about three pounds; in Africa
less than one-third of a pound. AS en-
lightened civilization extends and
wealth increases, the consumption of
this article of trade must also grow; and
it is the mission of America to supply it
to the whole world Youths CON-
rGsstul