The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1881-09-08
THE COTTON EXPOSITION.
A Significant Letter from Mr.. Edward
Atkinson to the Commissioner of
AgricuIture-The Needs of the
South and Its Opportunities.
BosToN. Mass. August 6. 1881


Boston, Mass, August 8, 1881.
+ Hon. Geo. b. Loring, Com. Of Agriculture:
/ Ny DEAR SIR Having induced the PEG
pie of Atlanta 10 undertake the Cotton Elk
/ position, which Is now developed into an ex
position OF all industries, [ feel a great
sense of responsibility in regard thereto
and desire to do all that lies in my power tc
make the exhibition success. Its first pup
! pose was 10 bring into common knowledge
and use the vari0u, machines and tools for
the cultivation and preparation of cotton
prior to its being sold or spun. The prepa-
ration of cotton in the gin and press con
stitutes the most important department OF
manufacturing, but 1t IS OF necessity carried
! on either by the farmer, planter, or by per-
sons whose establishments serve the pur-
pose of small neighborhood these pro-
cesses, therefore, constitute part of what
belongs to the department of agriculture
other than OF manufacturing Within the
last f-w years many crude devices and some
perfected machines have been applied to the
cleaning OF cotton before it Is ginned, and
this i, the true method.
HOW THE SOUTH MAY FEED ITS SHEEP.
The treatment and use of cotton seed also
constitute a very vital department in agri-
culture. The waste of the seed, as is well
known to you. has been in the past the great
waste of the South. The seed has now be-
come valuable article Of merchandise, but
Is generally removed from the soil aud its
products are mainly sold abroad One hun
dred aud twenty thousand tons of cotton
seed meal and cake, annually shipped TO
Great Britain, work terrible exhaustion of
Southern soil. This meal which is fed very
largely to English sheep ought, every
pound of it, to be fed to sheep on the cotton
lands. In this manner the soil would not
only be maintained in its fertility, but the
crop of cotton might be doubled and the
wool clip added almost without cost. There
also many crude aud some perfected
machines for hulling and preparing the seed,
which may be used by farmers and planters,
but the small press, by which the crude oil
may be extracted by farmers and planters
Is still to be invented or brought into use
| feel very little doubt that the Cotton Ex-
hibitiOn at Atlanta will bring into notice
great variety of new inventions for the treat
ment of seed, and l have great hopes that
adequate apparatus may be exhibited, at
moderate cost, by which men of small capt.
tai can either, each for himself or by small
combinations, hull the seed, remove the
crude oil and grind the cake, thereby re-
tanning on their own farms all that is valu-
able as food and as a fertilizer.
ENsILAGE FOR THE SOUTH
Another suggestion made by myself has
also been adopted Ensilage pits are to be
constructed on the Exhibition grounds,
coupled with large shed, under which cat
tie, sheep, hogs. poultry and mules may be
fed during the term OF the exhibition upon
ensilaged corn, COW peas and other succulent
material, mixed with cotton seed meal or
ether nutritious food, as may be required
DR.. Bailey has gone to Atlanta to supervise
the construction and Cling of the pits. In
view of the fact that it now cost three times
as much to feed mule as it does to feed
field hand IN many yQrts of the South, the
importance Of this undertaking can not be
moderated It CATTLE mules and hogs can
be carried ou saGcqleqt food through the
long, hot and somewhat dry season which
makes the great cotton crop, the capacity of
the South in sustain large and prosperous
population will be vastly increased.
TFE COMMISSIONS COOPERATION INVITED.
In view OF ali tLes4 matters pertaining
directly or indirectly to the Department Of
Agriculture may be permitted to suggest
that the subject has become one of sufficient
national importance for you to take action
in the premises. Would it not be expedi-
-tL for you to call for the cooperation of the
various departments of agriculture of the
several States ~ She 4pRQiptnlent of dele
gates in connection with the National De-
partment of Agriculture to consider all the
subjects which may be brought into notice
at this Exhibition and to make national
report thereupOn when Congress assemblies
By this suggestion do not mean 10 bring
into view any special need or expediency of
legislation, unless it might be in removing
taAes nov imposed under the tariff upon
some Of the Ingredients needed in the South
to increase the value of fertiii1iHg material
for instance salt, an exceedingly important
element in fertilizing cotton. But entirely
aside from any call for special legislation,
such action may bring more prominently
into view the right work of your depart
ment, and induce such measures as may be
required to Sustain it more adequately, if
such measures are needed. On this subject
/ am not informed il this matter approves
itself to you and you and il eEpedent to
take action thereon, shall be glad to have
you make such use of this communication,
either public or private, as you may find ex-
pedient.