The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1890-01-25
Our Cotton Seed.
ATLANTA Constitution

When Mr.. Edward Atkinson. OF BOs-
ton, came to atlanta ten years ago and
told our people about the value OF cotton
seed, but few people believed what he
said. After discussing the various uses
this little product could be made to serve.
he said that il the New England people
had plant that would yield only the
seed that we get from the cotton plant,
and could make the same amount per
acre that is made in Georgia, not count
ing the lint at all, they would get rich
from it. This was startling statement.
but the various uses of cotton seed and
its products are daily increasing. and
there is no telling how much there real
ly is yet to be developed in 1t.
At the time Mr.. Atkinson made this
statement there was not a cotton seed
mill in the state of Georgia, and but one
or two in the whole south. This was on
ly ten years ago, and there are now over
the south a dozen large mills, and in
Vulnerable small ones. One mill that we
know OF, on an investment OF one hun
bred and thirty-fve thousand dollars
paid the first year ninety-six Thousand
dollars net. What manufacturing bust
ness can beat that?
Cotton seed has added very largely to
the freight of railroads. Ten years ago
there was not dozen car loads OF seed
hauled by the railroads in this state; last
year over fifty per cent Of the seed In
Georgia was hauled from the plantations
to the mills by the railroads. When you
consider that for every ton OF cotton
made there are two tons Of seed, you can
appreciate the enormous increase in
freight in the cotton belt.
Hauling the seed from the plantation
to the mills by no means stop the freight
earning capacity of the seed. The meal
is carried to the fertilizer factories, the
bulls are sold for the same purpose or, as
food for cattle, and the oil is carried to
the west to make lard, and large guam
tity to Europe to make pure olive oil.
The cotton seed oil product now absolute
" controls the lard and olive oil markets
of the world.
1t Is matter Of surprise that our. far
mers do not get better price for their
cotton seed. 1t is shame to sell this
valuable product for three-quarters Of a
cent a pound. 1t is more difficult to
make than beef or pork, yet compare the
prices. II the lint is worth ten cents a
pound the seed, being just as useful in
its line, should certainly be worth five
cents. Why don't the farmers demand a
better pricep They have the whole thing
in their own hands, and five cents q
pound is not too much for good, fresh
seed.
To sell the seed for prices now paid and
purchase guano is the worst kind Of eco
nOmy. Better keep the seed and waste
the oil. The oil in the seed Is Of no use
as fertilizer, but still you get all these
in the seed, and at present prices 1t pays
to waste the oil. The truth Of the mat
ter is this: Our farmers have never pro-
perly valued cotton seed. A few years a.
90 they had no value at all. and indeed
were considered nuisance. After q.
while few used them as a fertilizer, but
never till the oil mills were in operation
was there fixed value to the seed. The
oil mills fixed their value. and they fixed
it too low. Now let the farmers try it
They can handle the matter If they show
the same determination they did about