The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1882-11-23
Farm and Home.
The Cotton Crcp.
By PROF. J. R. DODGE.


ten states of the south, not the
largest area cultivated, but in value
of product. In 1860, its breadth
may have been $1,000, 900 acres {;
in 1870, not more than 100000; in
1877, it had reached about 1880,
600; in 1879, nearly IA, 500, 900, and
in the last two years the gain has
been about 100000 acres.
Large as is this domain of cotton,
it falls short few million acres OF
the extent of maize in the three
states, Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri.
The uHoccupied areas of the cot
ton states are suggestive not only
of future extension of cotton grow
ing, but of the grand field for the
introduction or extension of Other
rural industries upon the soil tC
which they are best adapted. Geor-
gia, Alabama and Mississippi have
each about Z per cent. of superficial
area in cotton; South Carolina, six
Louisiana, four; North Carolina
Tenness see and Arkansas, each about
four, while Florida has less thar
one, and Texas but a fraction more.
Mississippi has unoccupied land
enough to satisfy half the require
ments of the manufactures Of the
world.
There are about 900 counties in
which this cultivation is established
but 100 produce half the crop, and
twelve make one-twelfth of it, oil
half a million bales. The distribu-
tion is exceedingly patchy.
The alluvial of the Mississippi,
the Red, Arkansas, Trinity, Colora-
do, and Guadalupe furnishes most
of the crop of the southwest. In
interior Mississippi, the ''rotten
limestone" lands of Madison and
Kinds counties represent some OF
its best cultivation and product.
In Alabama the canebrake belt that
spans the state east and west,
centering in Dallas, produces about
halt the crop of the state. Central
and southwestern Georgia has a
considerable area well suited to the
growth of this fibre. In North
Carolina a group of nine counties
northeast of Raleigh yield half the
crop of the state, though they do
rot occupy tenth of its area. All
the Virginia cotton is grown in a
small area, which is but an extern
son northward of North Caro-
lima. A few counties in South Caro-
lima, similarly situated between the
coast lands and the Piedmont dis
trict, include most of the cotton
breadth of that state.
The census shows that the most
productive district in the United
States is on the Mississippi river,
representing three states-East
Carroll county, in Louisiana; ChicOt,
in Arkansas, and Washington in
Mississippi, averaging nearly bale
per acre. The locality of next
highest production, also on the
Mississippi, includes three counties
and three states-Lake, in Tennes-
see; PemiscOt, in Missouri, and
Hickman, in Kentucky. Bowie, on
the Red river, shows the highest
production in Texas.
The rate of yield varies from a
bale to one-ffth of bale per acre.
In the census year, one little above
the average, the average was four
tenths of a bale per acre.
In aggregate production the first
county in 1879 was Washington in
Mississippi; the second, Shelby,
Tennessee; the third, Tensas, Louisis
ana. The other heavy producers
were Carroll and Concordia, in
Louisiana; Boliver and Kinds, in
Mississippi; Jefferson, IN Arkansas
Fayette, in Tennessee; Montgomery
and Dallas, in Ala bama, and Edge
field, in South Carolina.
Prior to 1850 scarcely a tenth OF
the cotton area was west of the
Mississippi. In 1860 it had become
about one-fourth; In 1870 scarcely
more; but in 1879 three-tenths, and
now about one-third. The proper
ton is increasing constantly.
The crop of 1880 gave a larger
rate OF yield upon an increased acre
age, the largest crop ever grown,
nearly twice as large as the average
from 1850 to 1860, making about
six and half million bales.
The crop of 1881 was the poorest
since 1866, but the increase of acre
age will make it nearly as large as
the census crop.
The cotton crop must ever be
prominent in this region, but it
should be manufactured, at least a
third of it, at home. The corn and
hay required to feed the pillow
horses, the hog and hominy for the
laborers, should all be made at home.
But this is not all; a multitude OF
other crops and of other manufac-
lures should spring up to occupy
every variety of soil and employ
every grade and quality of labor.
Then Improvements would increase,
comforts multiply, luxuries abound,
wealth increase and enfold in its
embrace the masses who have never
dared to dream of wealth or luxury.