The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1882-01-07
Does Cotton Growing Pay.

Inc eSumated value of the cot 1
ton crop Of the ten cotton grow
ing states for 1879, was S242,140,. /.
9S7. We pay annhny to the North
for wheat, corn, oats aud hay, $3.50 4
000,00G, which leaves us S99,-lle,
9S7. The number of bales raised
for that year was 6,a61 ,90a, which /
cost the farIHer,s exclusive of fer.
tilizers, SO per bale, or s235, ,I6i-,
900, which leaves the pittance Of
$3.50, ,S97 for fertilizers, mules and
family clothing.
The value of the other crops
raised by these ten states the same
year was S22S,3O2,7S9. If we
would devote as much time and
the energy to the cultivation of
cotton, we would enhance the val
ne Of land already cleared, pre-
serve oT present timbered lands.
and in the years be the most hide
pendent people of the entire
country. #teA N
That cotton can be made Il pay
ing surplus crop, has been exem-
plifed by the experience of many
farmers scattered By the expert,
ence of many farmers scattered
throughout the country, not on
mere experimental farms. The
Constitution, Of Atlanta, October
18th, publishes the statements Of
Mai. J. +. Jones "a Farmer of
Troupe county Georgia, which we
have we have condensed to prove
our assertion.
Majar Jones is making and exhi-
bitit at the Exposition Of the pro-
duets of his farm, aud at bis indi-
vidual expense, His exhibit con-
sists Of honey, chufas, ground nuts
sugar cane, wheat, oats, rye, corn,
cotton in the seed and in the bales,
all grown on his farm, which is
ranby three horses or mules.
Tic says "the whole secret Of
success in Georgia farming, is to
cultivate less less land and cult
ate it better. There is nothing
that can be raised on any land, that
We cannot raise successfully and
. and profitably III middle Georgia i
we only cultivate itIigllt. Wien
ever they reduce the amount o.
land, and intensity the cultiyation
the state viii be enriched as few
! men believe to be possible
; Major Jones having some money
and considerable property at th'
close of the war, bought stOcl
! and hired hands sufficient to cnlti
/ vate all the land he had, whicl
carelessly done. In a few year.
. he had lost all but his land ant
was $1,000 IN debt. He borrowed
1 $1,000, and reduced his farm force
from twenty-five to two horses
{ he planted aud cultivated twenty
i five acres of cotton inl the bes
: style, at the same time raising hi
+ own corn, wheat, rye, oats, etc
: In three years he had paid hi
G debt, and greatly improved tn
value ofhis land. Last year whicl
= was his 9Th, after the reduction 0
@ his force he averagen within tw'
:. bales of one and one half bales t.
1 the acre. He holds the certilicat'
/ of two responsible gentlemen
/. showing that this year on three
/. acres ofland lofaised eight bale
s of balesSof cotton; and had gather
G ed in their presence 5,502 pound
: of Gotten per acre, making up t
A date 1902 pounds. The cottol
! was dry when weighed. The est
e mate of top cotton yetin the fell
h is $50 pounds toths acre.
Major Jones estfhates the cos
of cultivation at about three cont
= per pound when cultivated in thi
: way. He manfred his land with
!, ton and half of dissolved bone
composted with domestic manurei
? and cotton seetL mm a
i The crop last year was based OF
, twenty.one acres. He sold tn
. cotton in the spring at ten cent?
Below we givesa condensed state
ment of the cost and pfoductio
! realized as per Maj, Jones's state
nieid Total production, 81, ,2319t
!. Total expenses, including fertili2
: ers, 1851. Net profit, s1,7Q6.90.
:, Major Jones asserts that sever
al of hisneigbbofs, hnvingbeeom
I infused with his spirit tor slnal
farms, after seeing his experiment
have exceeded him in the in tl'
quantity of corn and cotton raise
according to the acreage plantee
A grain club has been organize
in his neighborhood the member
of which have determined to rails
their own grain and be no longe
dependent on other markets ro