The National tribune., 1882-01-28

assessors made no mention OF 1t. 1t is expected
that this crop will be doubled next year. In
some favored localities as high as 500 per acre
has been realized. One great advantage OF this
kind of fruit crop is that half million OF dollars
may be produced from 500 acres of land, while
to realize this aggregate value in wheat would
require $4,000 acres of first-class land to be
planted and well cultivated.
AGRICULTURAL CoLLEGEs-From the dis
logically to be inferred that their peculiar duties
are those of educating and fitting their students
to be proficient in the science and art of farming
The endowments granted by Congress for sup
porting these institutions were given for the
purpose of educating farmers so that they mi ght
make profits by cultivating the land without
diminishing the fertility of the soil. The argu-
ments which Influenced Congress to pass the land
grants for this purpose were largely based upon
submitted facts showing that the average yields
of farming lands were gradually diminishing in
quantity and that the soil was rapidly being
exhausted of plant nutriment. To arrest this
somewhat alarming tendency towards spoliation
of arabic lands it was deemed advisable to en-
Investigations upon plant growth would be ex-
emplifed and their practical application SO
clearly illustrated to all who could happily avail
themselves of this education that the profits of
farming would become sufficiently great and
decided as to allure young men thus literally
educated to abandon all other pursuits and give
their preference to that of farming.
So much for Intentions Now, what are the
results: On every hand complaints are heard
that the graduates from these colleges seldom
become farmers,-they adopt other professions.
From this fact it would appear that their educa-
ton has led to different results from those which
were anticipated; they may have acquired
knowledge which would be useful on a farm,
but they find that in other channels the practical
application of this knowledge is better rewarded
than they have reason to expect from the profits
of farming.
1t has been alleged that this repulsion to
farming by these graduates arises from the cir
cumstance that most Of the farming conducted
on college lands is badly managed, and is carried
on at loss, and that the accounts of many of
these colleges show that the funds for their sup
port is seriously taxed for the support of the
farm. Hence it is not surprising that graduates
from such institutions should shun profession
which has been clearly demonstrated to be I'M
profitable. This evil should be remedied, where
it exists and if the college faculty have not the
talent to farm proftably, let the farm be rented
to capable farmer, whose example would be for
good to the students, and convince them that
farming is profitable.
CoTTON-sEED OIL.-The extraction of oil from
cotton seed is developing an industry of vast
importance and profit to the manufacturer, as
well as to the producer of cotton. A few years
ago, when this industry was first introduced,
cotton seed was worth six dollars per ton; now,
when oil mills have increased the value Of the
seed has increased to twelve dollars ton. AS
each bale of cotton represents half ton of seed,
it follows that the farmer who sells his seed adds
six dollars to the value Of each bale of cotton
which he produces.
A ton of seed yields thirty-fve gallons of oil,
is worth eighteen dollars per ton for cattle food
or for fertilizing the land, for both of which
purposes it is more valuable than the seed before
the oil is extracted. About 10000 tons of seed
was worked up during the past year. yielding
100000 gallons of oil, which, at 30 cents a
gallon represents value Of s., $4,000
Factories for refining the crude oil are also in
successful operation The refining process adds
about 80 per cent. to the value of the oil A
refinery in Montgomery, Alabama, works up
5000 gallons day.
The seed is hulled before pressure, and the
hulls are used as fuel at the mills and the ashes
from the hulls command high price for fertil-
izing purposes.
Uses Of CottOn-seed OH.-It is used largely
as an illuminating oil, being the best for head
lights and refectors. 1t is used as an adultera-
ton of inseed oil, and is pronounced by painters
preferable to the inseed itself 1t is used for
packing fish, and especially sardnes, in this coun
try. 1t is used as substitute for lard in cook
ing. 1t is made into what is called cotton but
ter, and in this shape it is supplanting lard. For
kitchen uses it is said to be cleaner, healthier,
and better than lard and it is much cheaper.
Two pieces of steak, one fried with lard and the
other with cotton butter, cannot be told apart,
and the latter which is not absorbed in the steak
can be poured back into the can and used again,
being just as clear and pure as before it was put
over the fire. 1t is conceded that much of the
salad oil sold in America is cotton-seed oil refined
up to the highest point and put up in fancy
bottles and sold at high prices Since the excel
lent qualities of this oil have been demonstrated,
it is not denied by those who deal in the article