St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1901-11-30
FARMER ANDPLANTER.
COTTON IN THE SOUTH.
pKesident Peters of the Texas Cot
ton GrOwers' Association Pre-
SCENTS q Few Thoughts.

ton Growers Association Pre-
sents Few Thoughts.
There is much to be said on this
subject in its many different aspects
from any point of view. 1. is king,
and the producers are the slaves
made SO by their own choice.
We have the greatest agricultural
product on earth, a. necessity in ev-
cry corner in the world; can be stored
and kept without deterioration for
years and yet we allow it to control
us.
The history Of cotton dates back
for thousands of years. The Hindoos
used it 800 years before Christ. 1t was
introduced into China by the Tartars
when they conquered that country.
Palestine and Egypt produced it when
the Romans acquired that country,
showing that it had been in Use from
time immemorial. At the present
time the United States produce about
20 per cent of the worlds co1lsu'np-
ton, the south being especially adapt
ed to it's production.
The value of cotton when spun IN
coarse fabric is double, and the finer
the weave the greater the value OF the
fabric.
The seed are one of the principal
sources of income now to the pro-
Queer. The value of a ton of :ott' n
seed at present is about $24. The
mills are entitled to some, and 81
per ton would pay any well man
aged mill fine profit for crushing. 1T
would pay the producers best to feed
the seed if they can not get the value
from the buyers. Hon. Edward At
kinson, of Boston, said: IF Vermont
could get the value of the cotton seed
alone it would pay them to raise it,
This present crop of cotton is ac-
knowledged by all authorities to be
very short; in fact, the present con-
dition is the lowest average condi-
ton, with one exception, in twenty
years. Then why do the prices stay
80 low-about two cents lower than
this time last year? One Of the prin-
cipal reasons is the SPECTATORS in
New York and New Orleans have sold
the crop many times over, and on ac-
count Of being able to deliver any
old thing that is wrapped in bagging
and ties on their contracts they are
able to keep the prices down, hoping
In the meantime the producer, be-
coming tired, will turn lose his hold
ing to supply their immediate wants.
Mr.. Neill's false estimate on crops
has cost the farmers of the south not
less than 500, 00O, 600, but, fortunate
", all have lost confidence in him
now.
Az q remedy, would suggest that
the government pass laws compelling
operators on exchange to deliver on
all contracts for agricultural products
the grades sold and not allow the sub
stitution of any lower or inferior
grandes. Then spot cotton will not be
selling in Texas at New York quota
tions and two cents per pound more
than chalk mark cotton.
The United States should license all
ginners, and in their application for
license they should make statement
Of size Of boiler, engine, how many
and what size gin stands they have;
what kind of presses, round OF
square; whether they gin for the pub
lie or only for themselves.
The permit to do business should
be small, say 81 per year, but they
should be compelled to make reports
eyery week on blanks furnished them,
the amount of cotton ginned and com.
pare with last season, and other in
quiries demanded by the government
with q heavy penalty attached fol
noncompliance with the law. A sum
mary of these reports should be pub
lished Immediately, SO that all car
know what amount of cotton is
ginned, and by January the depart
ment would be able to say how much
the cotton crop would be and not be
compelled to wait eight months
longer to be attacked by all kinds OF
guessers and spectators.
Farmers in the south should de-
mand that their representatives II
congress work for the enactment OF
these laws. It would do away with
Nein and all other wild and woody
Quessers, and the mill owners and op
orators could buy their supply, know
ing what the crop would be.
God has been merciful to the cottor
farmer this year-kinder and more
merciful to them than they are tx
themselves. He has sent the Mexican
boil weevil and the drought in Texas
and excessive rains east of the Mis-
sissippi river. That is all that ha!
saved us from another calamity O,
four-cent cotton.
The way to raise cotton successful
| " is to, first, make the farm self-sus
| taining; raise plenty of food prod
ucts, not only for yourself, but fol
your stock. Keep plenty of hogs
Now that we have a market all tn
year round for hogs, we should supply
it. There is no place in the United
States that can raise hogs cheaper
that Texas, with good feed and pas
ture all the year round. So plant al
falfa and corn. Make improved cattle