The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-06-04
A MARVELLOUS PRODUCT.
THE DIVERSITY OF INTERESTS
BASED on THE COTTON PLANT.
4 Theoretical study of the POssibiII-
ties of the Plant, showing the
Enormous Waste Under Present
Systems-New Machinery Wanted.


ufacturers Record.
Early in the seventies. when cotton was
selling for about 20 cents per pound, many
doubts were expressed then II the cotton
planter in the United States ever could
produce cotton for fifteen cents per pound,
yet a 1OOO0. O0O-bale crop has been raised
and sold at cents per pound; without any
profit it is true, yet no great financial
disaster has ensued.
The main factors that have rendered
within the last score of years the produc-
ton Of a scent cotton possible are: Rails
ing food supplies at home, a more perfect
system of cultivation, the extensive use
of commercial fertilizers, the parity of
gold and greenbacks and the utilization of
the cotton seed.
Pessimists are now discussing the posi-
bility of Scent cotton. if another 10.0O0.-
900 bale cotton crop should be raised in the
near future
The only margin left for still lowering
the cost of production of cotton can only
be found in completely utilizing all the
byproducts of the cotton plant.
An enumeration of the various wastes
as they now exist. compared with theo-
retical perfection. will show that this mar
gin amounts to many millions of dollars
annually, which can and eventually will
be recovered to great extent with better
methods and improved machinery, which
are bound to come into existence sooner
or later
The south plants in round numbers 20
100000 acres in cotton; an acre produces
from 1000 TO 5000 pounds of cotton stalks,
which are now not alone valueless, but
which must be chopped down, burned or
buried in the burrows at some expense.
Dry cotton stalks gathered after the cot
ton has been picked are covered with
bark which contains a very strong fiber
well adapted for cotton bagging or bur
laps Cotton stalks have from 5 to per
cent. of this fiber. so that it is possible
to produce from 80 to $50 pounds of such
fiber per acre. Its value ought to be
about $40 per ton; or from " to $40 per
acre.
Tho cost OF gathering, baling, shipping
and fre!ghtng the dry stalks TO central
ly-located works would leave little or no
margin for profit; hence the stalks would
have to be decorticated, either in the
/ field or nearby, so as TO crudely concen-
] =
there is no doubt that this can be done,
and the cotton planters could realize
from this source all the way from &c.,
100000 TO 500, 100000 annually, instead of
sending out annually some SS,00e,0OO or
100000 for cotton bagging. With an
abundance of cotton stalk and palmetto
fiber the south offers uncXcc3iionable ad-
vantases Tor the establishment of bag
ging and burlap mills.
The ginning of cotton Is now much i'm
proved as a rule; still an immense amour.
of valuable short lint remains on up
land Of srcen cotton seed after 1t IL
ginned. The oil mills decorticate the
seed, and this lint remains on the huiis,
which arc either burned or fed to the
stock In either case the lint is totaliy
lost. as the lint consists OF ceiuiosr.
which leaves no mineral ash IL burned.
Lint cellulose is absolutely devoid Of
nourishment, as ii is entirely indlgest.3ic
consequently. utterly worthless Tor cattle
food.
Cotton seed oil mills run the seed
through linters, and recover from twenty
to twenty-five pounds Of cotton lint from
a ton OF seed, or about per cent. vet
the upland seed, if it Il completely de-
naded from fibre, is capable Of yicidin.;
20 or Il per cent OF a short lint or from
20 10 225 pounds Per ton.
This short lint Is valuable, and ought
as it would find numerous technical EN-
pigments, principally in the marufa -
ture of paper, paper boards, PAPER mach 3,
felt uphoistering and collulose. Miro
cellulosC. OF gun cotton, could Glso he
made from IT. which would be cheaper AID
safer than dynamite for bias ting pur-
poses.
With the advent of machine that wil
completely clean green cotton seed. from
So to 81 worth of lint per ton corld be
saved amounting on an annual produc-
ton of 100000 tons of seed to $1,000 0C3
or $20Cco. 600.
Polished upland cotton seed, # planted,
. terminates Wy rapidly, especially ii
planted in dry weather; il will be out Of
the ground one or two weeks carrier than
lint-covcred seed, thereby adding one Or
two weeks to the life of cotton plant
which is often of importance as regards
the maturing OF top crop OF cotton.
Polished upland seed occupies much loss
space than crude seed. hc1ce il can he
transported and stored at less expense: IT
is not liable 70 heat, and cen therefore be
exported n the same manner Is sea island
or black cotton seed which is to-day quot
ed as high as wheat in England
Polished seed can be crushed without
decorticating the same. Oilcake from un~
decorticated seed only contains TO per
cent of oil.
seed Will be milled this season, producing
from 10000 to 125,oo9 tons of cake. The
oil remaining in decorticated cake will
average Is per cent. in the United States:
thus practically forty gallons Of oil ar.
wasted to each ton of cake produced This
oil is worth say 20 cents per gallon loose,
or a waste Of $4,000 to 100000 IS the re-
suit Of the present faulty system of oil
extraction.
The oil III the cake has no value what
ever as a fertilizer. For feeding purposes
212 or per cent. of oil is desirable; If the
cake contains any larger amount the
feeding of oilcake to stock has TO be cur
tailed, or indigestion or surfeit are bound
to ensue. The large amount Of oil con-
tanned in American cake limits the de-
mand and employment Of the same to
very large extent. as II can only be fed
together with other food to a limited
extent
Decorticated cake contains about 10 per
cent. of moisture. OF the remaining 90
per cent, fully one-half consists Of starch
and cellulose. BY the present method Of
cooking kernel-meal before pressing, this
large amount of starch and cellulose is
rendered valueless for any purpose. except