The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-04-12
Cotton-Seed OIL.

"The cotton-seed oil season is now far
enough advanced 10 admit Of pretty fair
approximation Of the production, and the sit
uation presents sufficient features 10 war
rant review" said 10 W. Allison TO re-
porter for the Commercial yesterday.
During the season Of 1880 there were
crushed 200, 900 tons of seed which. at an
average of thirty-seven gallons of oil per ton,
gave a total production of 81, 900, 900 gallons
of oil. or 40 900 barrels Of fifty gallons each.
As fully three-quarters Of the mills have
now closed operations for the season. and
seed Is coming forward slowly and in small
quantities IL may be assumed that the sea-
son is practically closed. and that the amount
of oil which will be produced hereafter
will not be sufficient 10 materially alter
present estimates Of the total The receipts
of seed thus far indicate that the total will
be fully 20 per cent. smaller than during the
preceding year, or the total amount crushed
will reach 100000 tons. With the same per-
centage Of yield Of oil this would insure O
total product of 20 GOO 900 gallons OF 500 900
barrels of fifty gallons, being decrease as
compared with last year Of las 900 barrels
The exports during the calendar year 1899
amounted 10 6.244 900 gallons, while during
1880 the exports reached 1924 600 gallons
Ii will be seen, therefore. that while the pro-
duction shows decrease of $4,000 barrels
the exports show an increase OF 16i 600 bar
rels, making difference IN the amount avail
able for home consumption and for trade Of
3096OO barrels From these comparisons n
fair idea may be gathered Of the present sta
tlstical situation. and leads TO the conclusion
that the higher prices ruling are fully war
ranted
There are other causes, however, which
have lent their influence in the same direction
and 70 which will allude The seed of the
year 1SS9-s0, in addition 10 being more abund-
ant, was far superior III quality TO that Of 1890
81. The latter crop was III very bad condi-
ton when harvested. and as it did not re-
ceiye that degree Of care at the hands of the
planters which its importance warranted the
yield was extremely low The inevitable re-
suit has been "A deterioration in the quality Of
the product, leading 10 innovations in the
manner Of selling. The difference in the
quality Of the oil produced this year has made
strictly prime OIL comparatively scarce, and
this scarcity became more pronounced as the
season advanced. All these conditions naturally
tended In one direction-to higher values
Still other conditions are exerting an inhu-
ence on the market yalueof cOttOn-seed oil
The highest prices ruling in the foreign mar
kets for oils used as substitutes and as adul-
terants Of olive oil, tends To increase the de-
mand for cottOn-seed oil, and the production.
as already shown. being smaller. the natural
result Is seen IN the current course Of market
values The very low prices which prevailed.
especially for the off grades early in the sea-
son, attracted buyers, and their use has been
extended in new directions. and the consump-
ton has shown a large increase, the natural re-
suit being relatively greater advance on
these grades than on prime. The better prices
prevailing tends 10 foster the belief that the
season Of ls9o-el will not be so unsatisfactory
as was feared would prove 20 be the case
earlier in the season, when sales made at cost
for production were not Of isolated occur
renee. memphis Commercial.