The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-06-08
FARM NOTES.
Edited by John C. Edgar, Duval to whom all
communications for this column should be ad-
dresSedl
Cost of Raising Cotton.

Agricultural Editor Statesman;
DEAR SIR-Last year l had occa-
sion to ask you for an estimate of the
cost of raising cotton, for the benefit
of one of my Eastern correspondents.
If my recollection serves me, l think
you made the average cost to be about
3-4 cents. Herewith l enclose you a
clipping from the Galveston News OF
the Goth, showing result of some ex-
periments in Bell county and else
where last year. These figures are
revelation 10 me, and although not
farmer, to my mind, seem to be mis-
leading, especially if read by our
spinners east, who have no practical
knowledge of cotton farming. 1t
would appear to them that we are
making good money in the South on
to 1-2 cent cotton, when we know
such can. not be the case. One acre
farmed for experiment no doubt can
be made to show marvellous results,
farming that we carry on in this coun-
try, taking the seasons good, bad
or Indifferent as they happen to fall,
it would appear to a practical man,
whether farmer or not, that no such
result could be obtained as is shown
by these experimental instances.
You being both theoretical and a
practical farmer, it seems to me ought
to be able to elucidate the problem
and show practical result, and ask
you to study these sums and give the
public the benefit of your experience
and your views on the subject.
CHARLES EVANS, Austin.
The clipping referred to by Mr..
Evans is bulletin No. 26 of the Texas
experiment station, from the pen OF
Professor G.. w. Curtis. Its object
seems to be to let the world know at
what small cost cotton can be grown
in Texas, and give the lie to the pop.
ular belief that the cotton crop is I'M
profitable when sold at cents or less
| believe cotton it raised more cheaply
in Texas than in any other state,
but submit that the figures
given in the bulletin are not repre-
sentative of the average cost and are
altogether misleading and calculated
to still further injure the interests CT
cotton producers.
1t appears that last season circu-
lar was sent out to several practical
cotton growers in diffe' ent parts of the
stated with request that they re-
port fully on their methods of cultiva-
ton and the cost of producing and
marketing bale of 500 pounds.
Very few responded to the call; in
fact only seven names are given of
parties reporting. These gentlemen
rep TT that they last season raised cot
ton at prices ranging from l-S cents
to 90 cents per pound.
We are only given the details of ex-
penses in three cases, those of w. A.
Clark of Temple, his son, Homer
Clark of the same place, and jeff
Welborn of New Boston. They re-.
port having raised ON an experimental
acre, $50, Ais and 500 pounds of lint
cotton at a cost of 400, 4.62 and 2,12
cents per pound respectively.
Practical cotton growers will be
struck with the yield per acre and at
the small amount Welborn paid for the
production of his 500 pound bale.
1 do not question the correctness of
Messrs. Clsrk's figures, which en-
brace every item OF cost likely to come
against an average crop, but the yield
is more than double the average of the
state. While one rails ed a $50 pound
bale and the other one weighing 418
pounds; the average yield OF the state
will not exceed 40 pounds of lint cot
ton to the acre. 1t is true that more
labor would be expended in the pro
duction of the largest quantity, but
the increased cost would not be in pro.
portion to the increased yield.
Jeff Welborn's case Is most extra
ling. He seems to have the faculty
for getting work done at prices I'M.
heard of in this section. His acre of
land only cost 81 for blowing, chop
ping 40 cents and the picking of 1900
pounds of seed cotton only cost him
$3.50. do not for moment believe
that Mr.. Welborn has knowingly
ueed figures that are not founded on
facts, but 1 do believe that he has
handled his figures carelessly and has
not kept a very strict account of
all monies paid out. He must
live in highly favored sec.
tion where he can get his land
plowed for 81, and all the hoe work on
an acre done for 40 cents. 1t is quite
clear he is not troubled with crab,
wire, or goose grass. AS agent for
the Cunningham cotton harvester he
ought to know what it costs to pick a
bale. The average farmer has to rely
on hand labor at a cost of from 60 to rs
cents per hundred, according to the
condition of the labor market.
Assuming that all the figures given
in The Bulletin are correct, they are
no guide in estimating the average
cost of production over the state.
have for many years kept strict &C
count of my farm operation, and my
figures show that on basis of half a
bale to the acre, that in an average
season it costs me "a cents per
pound to produce cotton. If anyone
can tell me how to do the work at less
cost on our grassy black land, L will
be glad to hear from him. The publ
cation of few exceptional expert
ments made by firstclass men on first
class land, can be of no practical value
10 the cotton grower, but OH the other
hand injurious, as it leads manufact.