The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-07-11
Gram and Cotton.

this connection we caniioI oul "S"ih 'o''i
~ and express thanks for the unwearied
efforts OF Mr.. EDWARD ATKINSON 10 pro-
mo,e southern material development. He
suggested and put on its feet the great Cot
ton Exposition at Atlanta last year, and ne
has Iabored not less to have the largest
southern exhibit possible at the great FAIR
TO be held in Boston next September.
From present indications the South will
not be ashamed of the display she will
make there; and It will result in the using
Of many northern dollar in the develop
ment OF her mineral and timber resources,
and her manufacturing enterprises:
BosTON, July 6, 1882.
To the Secretary Of the Massachusetts, Hort
icastturol Society:
Dear Sir,-May be permitted to place
on exhibition some examples OF wheat and
oats OF the present crop from Hogansyilie,
Troup county, Ga.-a section to which we
have not been accustomed to look for large
crops OF grain per acre!
These examples will possess great inter-
est. as being visible and tangible evidences
Of the vast improvement in the methods OF
southern agriculture now being brought
into action by the small farmers who own
their land and cultivate it under their own
supervision.
The crops OF which these are samples
were raised bv Major j. +. Jones, who had
already given evidence OF product OF $50
pounds Of lint cotton per acre in State in
which the average per acre is only about
200 pounds.
I will now quote from his description OF
these samples OF grain:
/. The Italian white wheat. This he
states to be the most valuable variety Of
white wheat known in his section. The
Rev. MIR. Stacey, OF his State, when visit
Ing Italy few years ago, found some wO-
men cleaning in wheat-feld near Naples.
Being attracted by the quality, he pur-
chased a small quantity for seed, which he
brought TO Major Jones, and from this
source this immediate section in Troup
county has been stocked. From one acre
this season he tbreshed IS bushels OF this
variety, his average crop over the whole ci
hi. whcat-land being a little over 80 bush
els.
2. The red wheat, with purple straw, he
describes as a hardy variety. giving large
Weld. Four years ago he tlireshcd from a
given acre 5SA bushels, averaging 10 bush
els Of this kind on his field.
3. The oats represent ruSt-prOOf varic-
tv. of which he has thrcshed 90 bushels per
acre this year. His method Of cultivation
is as follows:
ave SOW our wheat about the 1st OF
November; generally after & crop Of cotton
has been raised from the same land the pre-
vious year. For some unknown reason
wheat thrives best after crop OF cotton
| the old stalks, leaves, immature fruit, and
roots being themselves Il splendid fertlll-
zer."
The farmers in Troup county consider
grain as much a money crop as cotton
and their work explains in part why
Georgia is prospering this year in its grain
and fruit crops, irrespective OF its cotton
crop.
Major Jones states that "many OF on
farms average % to 80 bushels OF good
wheat, and % to 100 bushels OF oats, pei
acre."
! In connection with what is said about
the fertilizing properties OF the cotton
plant. it may not be ami,s TO call attention
to some facts but very recently developed.
For each 800 pounds OF lint cotton there
are 1900 pounds of stems, roots, burrS, and
seed, in which an average OF over per
cent. is phosphate OF lime and potash, and
/ other mineral elements drawn from the soil.
In fact. for each bale OF cotton lint, which
j, itself almost wholly carbonaceous mate
rial drawn from the air, there are in the
plants on which this lint was grown more
than two hundred pounds of these valua-
BILE ingredients. Now bear III mind that
the plant is hcrDacCOus, and that ii can be
saved after the cotton is picked. and ground
into meal as food for stock with the cakt
which is LEFT after the oil has been extracted
and it would appear probable, to say The
least, that in the refuse OF the cotton plant
we may find an invaluable fodder and M
equally invaluable fertilizer.
1t is Therefore probable that each bale c
800 pounds OF lint cotton will be repre-
scented by - gallons OF oil and 5000 pounds
Of fodder: Of which $50 pounds will b.
phosphate OF lime and potash and Othel
fertilizing ingredients.
The value Of cotton-seed meal for food
and for fertlizing has become general,
known, but there is no press capable Of re
moving all the oil. The cake, being *
cessiyely rich, must therefore be used will
great care. But il it be proved possible t.
grind the stems, burrs, and hulls with th'
cake, the mixture may not he too rich, an(
the stems and burrs contain even more
phosphate than the meal, II the analysis il
"Pendlcton's Scientific Agriculture" b.
correct.
Our annual cotton crop may therefore b'
computed ut 100000 bales OF cotton
5000, 900 tons OF cattle food, and 90000,00
gallons OF oil.
AL these facts may possess greater in
: terest mt the present moment in view o
/, the invitation which has been extended b.
the Manufacturers and Mechanics Insti
tute to the southern railroads and 10 othe
corporations or persons interested in tn,
South to contribute TO their great Fair
which is to be held In Boston next autumn
examples Of southern minerals, timber, ant
products Of agriculture similar TO thos
which attracted such widespread attention
ut the Atlanta Cotton Exposition last year
The Richmond and Danville railroad ant
others have already accepted this invita-
ton, and very extensive display may b
expected.
Very few persons, except those who hay
made a thorough investigation, can begil
to realize the Potentially OF this uplan,
southern country. HoganSville is 1,40
feet above the sea-level. II possesses
very healthy climate, and is close to tn
mountain section, where timber, mineral
and soil fairly rival each other in power
OF production apd in wealth-giving re
sources.
Trusting that these few examples MAJ
interest your members, beg to submit
them with this statement.
Very truly yours,
EDWARD ATKINSON.
New Book.
The Adventures of n T;c0i0j0n II,