Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-08-18
RAISING COTTON IN GEORGIA.

product IN the United States that
commands such universal atten-
ton at hone and abroad as cot
ton This staple Is used more extensively
abroad than any OF our other products.
and We contribute more than 60 per cent OF
the raw material used by the cotton spin
ming centers Of the world. Georgia stands
second on the list OF southern cotton pro-
ducing states. the average crop annually
Grown IN this state amounting TO 1-S90.-
COO bales. little more than one-fourth
OF the total yield Of the crop IN Georgia
Is annually consumed IN Georgia mills.
the Balance being shipped abroad either 70
European, eastern or southern mills. To-
Gated IN the two Carolinas-
GsorEfa was probably the first state IN
fhe union that began the production OF
cotton In 1876 q good quality OF cotton
from this state was offered in the mar
kets OF New York and sold for 81 cents
Der pound. The first cotton mill built in
the United States was at Beverly. Mass.
IN 1TSs, and the first mill built in the south
was IN Georgia IN 1Soe. In 1So1 the cotton
milling industry IN the south had tncreas-
Cd to 6sS plants with the total number Of
spindles amounting 20 s.551.s9A Georgia
stands third on the list OF southern cotton
manufacturing states. having TO her cred
Il on the first day OF September, 1s0l. u6
mills, with q capacity OF 1900 looms. l.
cI671 Epindles. consuming $500 bales OF
cotton
Extent Of Production.
Many OF the largest and most progress
sive cotton planters IN the south are
among the prominent farmers OF Georgia.
On many large plantations IN this state
many thousands OF acres are annually
PLANTED IN cotton and thousands OF bales
are produced and marketed under tndi-
widual management Some OF GeOrgia's
largest cotton planters operate more than
20 plows 20 the plantation. while a large
number run from 100 20 Is plows. From
the seaboard 20 the mountains cotton Is
the principal staple and money crop OF
Georgia farmers. no matter whether the
farmer Is operating a one-horse farm as
tenant or cropper. or whether he culti-
Yates HIS acres By the hundreds or thou
sands. II IS the only crop IN the state
which furnishes a basis OF credit with
the merchant and banker from the day
Il Il planted IN April until IL IS gathered
and thrown on the market IN the fall A
neld OF cotton IN the spring OF the year
win furnish credit for money OF supplies
for the grower. no matter whether he be
q bankrupt or independent Under the
laws OF Georgia crop mortgage for the
year IN which II Is given Is g prior lien
70 al other liens except for rent A bale
az cotton viii command a cash value at
year and upon the streets Of every town
or city IN the south. IL has fits local de-
rnaud az all times, hence the intense fas-
cfuatfon its production has for the south
srn farmer. There r. no other product
which can be so easily and cheaply held
n storage or on the farm. and no other
rroduct for which 50 good a demand exists
az AL times and under all circumstances.
Different Methods Of Farming.
H.
ployed a the production OF cotton in
Georgia. and II might be said that the
same systems apply 20 an the other cot
Ton producing states One class OF our
cotton producers. generally tenants, grow
cotton 70 the exclusion OF all other crops.
using their cotton fields as a basis Of
credit 70 purchase the supplies OF corn.
meat. etc. necessary 70 cultivate the
crops- This class OF farmers. while usual
" making both ends meet at the close OF
the year, rarely accumulate money or
property, as 70 costs as much 20 culti-
vats and market the crop under such a
system as the crop VIII sell for in the
markets. Those who furnish the money
OF supplies get whatever profit there Is in
the business.
On the other hand those farmers.
whether they be the owners OF their
farms. tenants OF CHOPPERS. whether large
or small farmers, who diversity and raise
their supplies az home. cultivating their
cotton as a strictly money crop. are the
men who are growing independent, max
ting money and finding pleasure In their
avocation- A majority OF the cotton pro-
eucers are found IN the ranks OF those
who have adopted this Eystem-that OF
appreciating the magnificent resources at
their command: are developing those
resources under diversihcation and are
learning rapidly 10 live at home. A wen
equipped Georgia farm operated under
diversified system Of culture Is one OF the
most independent and profitable lines OF
business IN the state.
There are thousands OF Georgia cotton
producers who are annually making
money and q splendid profit on their m
vestment. while theer is no other business
which IS 50 Independent OF free from the
usual vfcissitudes Of commercial life The
climate and soils OF Georgia render the
business OF diversified farming unusually
attractive. because. aside from a few
tropical plants. grain. grasses. clOvers
and fruits grow as abundantly and turn
out as heavy yields per acre in this state
as any other state in the union. Farm
ers from the windswept plains OF the
northwest would find Il far more pr0flta-
bic raising cattle. stock and grain in
Georgia. and with far less care ana ex-
pense than in any other section Of the
United States
Long Staple Cotton.
Georgia IS the leading long staple cot
ton growing state. as wei ass the second
leading short staple state. The largest
long staple producing county Is located
IN south Georgia. and the largest long
stapIe cotton market I'm the world IS
found al ValdOsta. Ca. where there IS
now also being erected the most extern
sfvs plant for ginning long staple cotton
ever before built While Georgia stands
second only 20 Texas in the production
OF short staple cotton. and is first I'm the
production ard marketing OF long staple