San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-08-10
COTTON SEED.

The recent convention in New York
OF the cotton seed crushers, which was
in session for three days few weeks
ago serves to draw some attention TO
the manner in which the minor pro-
ducts OF the country may be utilized,
aud in which new and remunerative
employment for capital may DO given
by them. 1t is highly desirable in ev-
cry country that industries should be
multiplied so that their variety shall
afford an overwhelming field for labor
and skill, not less than for capital, and
that even should depression prevail in
one department, in Others of a different
nature scope for full activity will be
found. Few people here in the north
are aware that new and important in
dustry, that of cotton seed crushing,
has been added to the list of successful
American enterprises, in late years, aud
they will be surprised, doubtless, to
learn that the crushers have now no
fewer than sixty mills completed for
working all over the country, but more
especially in the far south, and eight or
ten are now building. The mills are
limited in the south to cotton producing
regions lying Immediately along the line
of the railroads and navigable rivers,
as the seed is bulky, and the cost of
transportation is heavy. With the de-
velopment of the railroad system in the
cotton belt must come an extension of
the cotton seed crushing. At present
only very small percentage of the
seed produced is crushed.
The three products obtainable from
the seed for purposes of commerce are
the oil, the meal and the cake. The
refined oil has passed into use largely
for table, culinary and domestic pur-
poses, preference being given it fire..
quently over butter or lard. Notwith-
standing the fact that Italy, two years
ago, put prohihitive duty on this oil
when imported, and had, previous to
that time, taken more than so per cent.
of the annual yield, the price for the
oil during last year and up to the pres
emit hour has ruled, it is stated, about
25 per cent higher than it was previous
to the imposition of the duty. This
fact points at least to an increased
home consumption, rendering the man
ufacturers of this oil independent of
foreign demand. England, it is said,
had lately taken few lots of oil, but is
returning them, the re.shipment at cur
rent prices here giving a fair margin of
profit. 1t is confidently predicted that,
having cut off supplies of this oil, Italy
will find her export trade of olive oil
seriously hampered and curtailed.
The cotton seed meal, residue from
the crushing process, has proved to be
an excellent fertilizer, and place is
claimed for it abreast of guano. 1t is
considerably patronized for fertilizinP
cotton and corn, and stimulates effect
lively some of the poorest soil of New
England. It has been tried on tobacco
with favorable results, and may event.
ually become an item of export for
tropical tobacco districts such as those
of the West Indies. The meal is like
wise used as a feed and fattener, but
Hitherto the meal worked into cake has
been in greater request. Immense
quantities of cake have been regularly
exported to Liverpool and other British
ports, but there is now tendency on
the part of mill proprietors to dispose
of their meal in this country instead of
sending it away in cake. Much of the
meal has gone into the New England
states. In England the demand for the
cake has led to the erection of several
mills, and while England has been and
is still heavy buyer of cake from this
country, it is thought that our local
consumption will be serious matter to
English consumers.
A gentleman interested in this prom
Using business, when interviewed by a
Bulletin reporter touching these few
facts, remarked that the recent conven-
ton had been a most fattering success,
as indicative of growth in the industry.
Farmers are beginning, he said, to ap-
preciate the value of the meal as fat
producer, and the consumption of oil
was going up in a way that must fur