The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1896-11-26

WONDEkFu4 DHN|U
81 -.---------zk ~ Z,
~ osorsia 3armse's etzauus Ctoo'
of Oosson.
xhe Dssa q Hs Wseth more - Bs y.
s4roysd Than for Planting Deeaass,
Pnsadoxical - Il Nay oseiA,
Il Il Too Prolincs
An Atlanta farmer mas created sen
satidn In Agricultural circles BY benz
waited on by . committee Of south
Georgians appointed by the TURNER'S OF
that section Of the state to buy from
him the seed from a crop Of cotton.
The price to be paid for the seed u
$4,000. The man who raised and owns
the valuable cotton seed Is Mr.. Jackson,
well-known farmer, who lives on and
cultivates the farm Of Tax Collector
Stewart. The citizens Of south Georgia
are not the only persons who a.s
anxious to become owners o& the cot
ton seed. Other men throughout the
state have made offers almost a. fat.
tering, all Of which have been refused
by Jackson.
The unnatural part Of the sffcr TO
he made Jackson by the committee
from south Georgia II the fact that the
men who will buy the seed do not wish
to plant them. On the contrary, II they
get possession Of the seed they will
destroy them a. quickly a. possible,
taking care that not single seed e.
capes. Such price a. that for cotton
seed was never heard of before. Jack-
son has received hundreds Of ozSers for
his seed, but even he was surprised
when he heard that committee would
wait on him for the purpose Of offer
ing him as high as s1s. 600 for his crop.
The seed has q history of . kind that
IL unusually interesting. Several years.
ago Mr.. jackson was presented with
them by Jew who had brought them
from the interior Of Africa, from q part
of the dark continent on which the
foot Of white men seldom treads. The
Jew had Joined an exploring party
which had started to the center Of
Africa. He was wealthy, and went ON
the trip simply for the novelty Of the
experience. When In the very middle
Of Africa the party came across some
cotton, the stalks of which were over
20 feet In height. The government bot
anist who was along with the party
took the measure of one OF the stalks,
and 1t was from this stalk that the
first seed came. The jew cut of about
1S inches of the stalk with q view to
bringing It to America. On the stalk
were e5 boqls, the largest and finest ever
seen. The seeds were well preserved
by, their original owner, and were
brought safely to America. While on
trip through the south the man who
had brought the seed from Africa told
Of them, and stated that he would give
them to some farmer who would take
care Of them. jackson was mentioned
to him, and the Jew turned the seed over
to him. 8
Jackson planted the seed and watched
It's growth with fond eyes. He had
heard how high the stalks from which
the seed were taken had been, and he
determined to grow stalks equally a.
high. His first crop was success. Tho
stalks of the cotton grew to an enor-
nous height.
This year when the time for planting
cotton came Mr.. jackson determined
to give the seed . severe test to- go
II it would stand It. He planted every
seed in the poorest ground on his entire
farm on the west side of hill. A. II
well known to farmers, the west side
upland ground Is always very poor.
Though the land was unusually poor
and the year one of the worst cotton
years In the history of the south, the
cotton fourished. Mr.. jackson used
nothing to enrich the soil in which
the seed was planted. The test was
severe one, but Notwithstanding that
fact, some Of the stalks are as high es
seven feet.
The COTTON produced by this seed II
of the very finest quality. and II
even as fine az long staple cotton. Jack
son has been offered ten cents per pound
for what he has raised this year, but he
has refused to sccept II and believes
he will be able to get IL cents for e.
One Of the peculiarities E5 this COT
ton y the fact that It Il leahess. Whom.
the stalk grows up leaves begin 70
sprout out on II, and after they have
grown out for some distance the fruit
comes out from the stem Of the Leaf.
After the fruit hes partially matured
the Leaf drops on, leaving the stalk pere
fectly leafess. This 10 the only cotton
Of this kind ever heard Of in this coun-
try. and il causing no end Of comment
among the farmers throughout the
south.
The farmers Of south Georgia hase
sent their committee to Atlanta to. buy
the seed from Mr.. Jackson. because theY
believe that II the cotton 10 planted
throughout the south they will b
ruined beyond repair. They are Of the
opinion that II cotton win do 70 well
under so severe test, when planted and
cultivated 1t will produce 20 much that
cotton will be 20 cheap that there viii
be no money in II for the farmer.
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