The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1898-01-11
THE JACKSON COTTON.

= Dispassionate Reyiew of the DIFF
ferent Statements Concerning the
Wonderful Plant.
An editorial in lhe News and Courier
says that the famous Jackson lin bless
cotton, discovered in Africa and ex-
plotted in Atlanta, is truly remark
able plant, in that so widely differing
accounts are given of it. After it had
been credited with the quality Of pro.
ducing four balos to the acre as a re-
gular crop, with large margin for
spurts, and proclaimed as perfect bo-
nanza for the Southern farmers, we re-
printed few weeks ago the judgment
OF two or three experts that it did not
amount to anything, and was nothing
new besides-a farmer in Arkansas
Offering to sell the seed of identically
the same variety at the price of few
cents pound to all applicants.
In these circumstances we appealed
to the Atlanta papers to investigate
the plant in cold blood, and publish
the plain truth about it, SO that the
cotton farmers throughout the South
could know exactly what to expect of
| It, and to regulate their plans for the
future accordingly. The first response
we have seen to this appeal is made by
the Atlanta Jouanal, and is of the
character of the first exciting accounts
given OF the newcomer. cit will be u
source CT qualification" says the Jour
nal, that the cotton is to be planted
near Atlanta again, as it was said at
one time that the entire crop of seed
would be sod to the Chilian Govern
ment in which case it would have gone
out OF reach OF the Southern planters,
and they would have been unable to
obtain supply OF the seed, which is
destined to revolutioniZe cotton grow
ing in the South"
citizen Of New Jersey. it is explained,
has furnished the money for the pur.
chase OF The entire output Of the seed
OF this wonderful cotton, and his
agents, Mr.. w. T. Forbes and Mr.. II.
w. Beardsley, are engaged in Atlanta
making arrangements for cultivating
another crop OF it next year.
OF the cotton itself the Journal re-
atiirms, without qualification that it is
truly one of the most wonderful dis
covcrles or the century, as it has been
conclusively proved that it outstrips
all other varieties ever planted in the
south, both in respect Of yield and Of
the quality OF the staple. On piece
OF very ordinary land it grew from
nine to eleven feet the past season,
and kept green and growing until frost.
1t stood protracted drought during
the hottest part OF the season, and its
rich foliage was fresh and green when
fields of the common cotton were brow n
and bare OF LEAKAGE. 1t bears ruit
from the ground up, and there is no
limit to its fru;tage except frost. The
bolls, as heretofore noted, are formed
on the leaf stalk, in clusters of three
to live, close to the main stalk, so that
1T has no limbs, and it may be planted,
on rich ground, as close as six inches
apart in the row. without causing
shedding. Its tropical nature makes
it one Of the hardest OF field crops 80
far as heat and drought are concerned.
A hundred bolls and upwards may be
counted on the stalks still standing in
the fields, and it will produce between
| three and four bales to the acre. Its
fibre rivals in lineness and strength
the celebrated sea island varieties,
| measuring by the most careful meas
urements from one and fourth to one
and half inches in length. The lint
Is as fine and as ilossy as merina wool,
which it resembles in texture, and
| tryo in Gotten knowledge could tell a
sample of 1T from sample Of common
cotton In the dark. The purchasers OF
!
themselves into company, with their
| principal offices in Atlanta, and some
very wealthy men are connected with
| 1T. Besides the planting in Georgia.
some OF the seed will be planted in
| Alabama and west of the Mississippi
and 1t Is the purpose of the company
to give 1t the most thorough trial in
the principal cotton growing sections
OF the South, so as to completely
70 lnt kx.
other varieties grown"
All this Is interesting, of course, and
particularly so, as coming from so re-
sponsible paper as the journal,
which Is familiar with cotton and cot.
ton growing In general, and is in q
position to have seen the new crop in
all stages of its growth, and to have
handled its product.
The journal, moreover, knows all
that has been said by the "experts ~
In depreciation OF the new plant, and
it's present statements are made In
view OF their assertions and In answer
to them. One particular fact men.
toned by that paper appears to us to
have peculiar significance, as it Is one
about which there cannot well be any
dispute or doubt, and which is of Itself
conclusive as to the fine equality .
and consequent value of the new cot
ton. 1t is that the first bale sold for
ten cents pound in the open market q
few weeks ago. This Is nearly double
the price Of other upland cotton at the
same time, and II the limbess cotton
will do no more than produce as much
fibre per acre as the familiar varieties
but of double value, it certainly has
large merits, and we shall hear q great
deal moro OF 1t hereafter
|
The Railroad Commission of the
State in their report summarizes the