Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-03
poINrs FoK eLANrNNa.
An Interview w,th De- ). y. DraTinS 81
Improving tbs, Cottoa Plant.

An Interview w.th Dr.. ). y. bearing an
Improving the Cottoa Plant.
CovINGroN GA. March 2.-Your cor
respondent while looking at some line
specimen stalks OF cotton or exhibition at
the store of Dr. J. j. bearing, and which
We're planted and grown by him, asked
I him # ne couh give the variety Of seed
+ planted to produce such results.
J DR. bearing said: "SOme hve years ago
/ l wrote and had published i'm the Home
/ ami f0TH an article on the subject OF
Economy Of planting the small seed va
reiy of cotton cOusid, red.' / received
letters from every cotton State IN the
Union, makinr application for seed,
which / could not furnish. At that time
tue highest yield Of lint from me seed cot
ton mad obtained was 80 56 DER cent.
since that time J have addressed my ef-
forts towards obtaining the highest lint
product Of which the plant
was capable, and by dint OF
careful cuilinK and close selection
made IN isolated patches, testing by the
scales every stalk, reiscung all but those
yielding the highest per cent. of lint year
after year, until the wonderful yield NJ
- per cent. has been obtained. under
tue tlst of Prot. II. {. White, state Chem
49,. Win the increased lint product the
profllgacy Of the plant has likewise IN
creased, yielding as high as 2B0 boils 10
tee stalk. / have sold some Of the stalks
Tor ae much as 81 81 each. / will state,
however that the above figures as To
yieid aud value apply 10 the best stalks
grown"
SOME OF THE BENEFITS.
Correspondent Doctor, give me some
figures as to the practical benefits accru.
ing from the use OF the small seed variety.
DR.. Dearlng-My observations from &C
tual experiments made IN testing the dif-
ference in the lint product Of the large
and small seed varieties, show conclu-
siyely to my mind, that as a rule the yield
OF lint decreases as the size o the seed in
creases Now suppose instead of 1928
per cent, this variety of cotton would
average 40 per cent. OF lint cotton, which
Is about 10 pounds Of lint 10 the 100 pounds
Of seed cotton more that the general aver
age, and say 1000 pounds seed cotton to
the bale, there would be $50 pounds more
OF lint 10 the bale, which at the los price
OF Sc. per pound would be an increase OF
Sl2 per bale, and counting the crop OF the
state at $780, 600 bales a benefit OF S96OO.-
600 would accrue to the farmers of the
state by the use of the improved seed, and
TO the planters Of the cotton States, esti-
mating the crop at 100000 bales, a bene-
Il il of So, 100000. Now with the above
would pay to improve cotton seed? The
increased revenue resulting from their
use does not lnure alone to the benefit of
those engaged in the culture of the cotton
plant, but to all the inhabitants of the
community, though engaged in other pur-
suits.
This demonstrates TO my mind the pos
sibilities Of the improved cotton plant,
and should, think. incite the farmers to
investigate the subject, when they will
lind that $l2 is nearly third of the value
OF a bale OF cotton, and il so, that with
the improved seed they can make as
much value as they now do with unim-
proved seed-on one-third less land, one
third less of manual labor, One-third less
of pillow teams, One-third less feed for
stock, One-thITd less fertilizers, etc, etc.
If the farmers would study more closely
the details, and Institute a careful inves-
tigatlOn as to the economy in every de-
partment of their business, and with the
exercise of industry, energy, and good
management. a new career Of progress
and thrift would be opened up to them.