The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1888-01-05
The Possibilities Of the Cotton Crop in
South Carolina.
E,Ttmtul -NcWS anil Coouyier, Sd.

ELtmiM NcrS anil Coouier, Sd.
The average production of cotton per
acre In South Carolina, last year, as
shown in the Annual Review published
in the -Neors 2ni Courier yesterday, was
l5S pounds. or at the rate of about one
bale to three acres. That these figures do
not by any means represent the average
productive capacity of the cotton lands in
the State, however, scarcely requires to
be said. From one bale on three acres to
one bale on one acre is long stride, but
it is stride which has been accomplished
by many of our intelligent farmers, while
the record has been raised to two bales
per acre by number OF others. and even
to three bales per acre, it is claimed, by a
particularly skilful few.
These differences in the amount of cot
ton produced do not depend, OF course,
upon the location and natural fertility of
the land. One farm can be made to pro-
dllce one or two bales per acre, while an
other, across the road or fence, will yield
only third of bale, Or less careful cul-
tivation. This is well understood. It is
astonishing, however, to see what can be
accomplished, by proper methods. and
this can be shown by a few examples,
without attempting to make the record
complete. The Nc1cS Gnd COmier has
published at different times within the
past few weeks, number of reports of
some successful experiments in cotton
planting in 1887, which may be summa-
-ized briefly as follows:
In Marion County, Mr.. Duncan Nc
Laurin, with one mule, made twenty six
bales on twenty-five acres, "and a bounti-
"ful supply OF corn, fodder, potatoes and
peas besides" MIR. George T. Reid, of
Chappelrs, made ninety bales, besides
plenty OF corn and fodder, on "a FIVE
horse farm" the area of which was OF
more definitely mentioned. Mr.. W. H.
Hardin, Jr., OF Chester, made 2615 bales,
averaging 45U pounds, Oh thirteen acres.
Each one Of four farmers Id the counties
of Greenyille, Oconee and Pickens made
over 1000 pounds of lint cotton on a sin
gle acre, while others approached very
nearly to the thousand-pound limit.
Another interesting experiment was made
by three leading agriculturalists in New
berry County, but the acreage planted
Was not mentioned, and the Weld was
stated in pounds of seed cotton. so that
no comparison Of yield per acre can fairly
be instituted. One feature of this record
is too important to be passed over without
particular notice. Some of the best re-
suits attained were reported from the
counties of Greenville, Pickens and On
CONGO. AS IS well Known, cotton cultiva-
ton has been introduced into these coun-
ties since the war, but by the aid of COM
mercial fertilizers they are enabled to
take their place now III the front rank OF
the cotton counties.
| This is fair showing indeed for the
possibilities of the cotton crop of the frl-
ture in South Carolina, but there Is more
yet to be told. Mr.. J. A. Peterkin, OF
Fort Motto, OrangebUrg County, it will
be remembered by some of our agricultu-
raj readers, promised last spring to prove
that he could cultivate fifty acres Of cot
ton with one mule and one laborer, and
make fifty bales" In recent num-
Der OF the Weekly News and Courier, Mr..
Peterkin announced the result of his ef-
forts. He failed to make fifty bales, but
succeeded IN making forty-four bales,
whose average weight was 450. pounds
Six bales were lost on account of the cat
erpllldrs, whose presence rendered Two
polsonlngs necessary, and injured the
crop at least to the extent stated. The
fifty acres were well cultivated by one
mule and one laborer," no help being
employed except to hoe the crop twice.
These hoeings cost 500, and ginning and
picking cost $500 more. The crop was
lnanured by means OF cotton seed, or the
seed was exchanged for cotton seed meal
to be used for the same purpose. This
meal, mixed with acid phosphate, Mr.
Peterkin claims, makes the land self
'supporting."
Besides the forty-four bales of cotton
the ploughman. and mule made $4,000
pounds of peavine hay and peas, the labor
on this crop being performed ii five days
that were too wet to plough in the cotton,
The total expenses for making and gath
ering the whole crop was $500, and if the
cotton shall be sold at 10 cents pound
as Mr.. Peterkin expects it will yet be sold
he will clear nearly 81, 800 on the work OF
the one laborer and one mule. The cost
of making the cotton was less than :
cents pound, and Mr. Peterkn prom.
i<es, finally, to tell the readers of the
Weekly Ne,cS and Courier how he planted
and cultivated it.
1t is not to be expected, of course, thai
every farmer in South Carolina will be
able to raise three, or even two bales OF
cotton to- the acre, as rule; but very
many more Of them ought to find it prac.
ticable to raise one bale to the acre, and
make all their necessary supplies besides
If only this much of the possibilities OF
the cotton crop were realized by all the
cotton producers in the State every year
the average crop would be three times as
large as it was last year, and South Caro-,
lima, besides being the pleasantest State
in the Union to live in, would soon be.
come the richest.
More CroOi<eGneSS of Henry Ives