The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-10-01
rHE ADVANTAGES WHICH ACCRUE
TO THE FARMER,
Some Of the Profit He Realizes by the
Establishment of Cotton Seed Oil Mills.

NO manufacturing iuuuSlry SIGAioo
so close to the farmer as the cotton
seed oil mills. The interest of the two
are mutual and inseparable. A very
large part of the products Of the Oil
mills is now returned to the farm and
practically all of it in some form can
be utilized.
The mill provides a profitable market
for the surplus seed, and returns the
product to the farmer, with greatly
enhanced value in finished condition.
While the larger part OF the business
between the mill and the farmer is
conducted on a basis Of barter and ex-
change, it does not actually differ
much in results from the toll system OF
the corn mill.
The oil mill purchases the seed in
the open market, and sells its products
in the same way, but ultimately, all
of the hulIs and meal should get back
to the farms from which the seed were
shipped. While this is now the result
in many cases, 1t is not as common OF
general as the practice should be. Ev-
cry pound Of these two products pro-
duced in the South should be returned
to the land, either as fertilizer ap-
piled direct, or stock feed, the latter
much to be preferred, as their value
in that way is immensely increased.
About 1880 a cotton seed oil mill was
established at Columbia, S. c. The
historian OF the time only considered it
of sufficient Importance to congratu-
late the "public-spirited'' citizen who
had enterprise enough to establish the
business, but did make the further
comment that the owner expressed
from cotton seed a very fair grade Of
edible oil'' No further reference is
made to this beginning Of the busi-
ness, and it can only be inferred that
the improper handling Of the product,
or the prejudices Of the people against
this edible OIL prevented it from be-
ing successful. In 1850 Aldigee
found thousands Of tons of
seed dumped on the commons, and
cows from eating them, as they were
regarded as poisonous to cattle.
From such conditions has grown
magnificent industry that has added
millions to the value Of Southern
farms, increased the traffic Of the rail-
roads, established an immense foreign
trade with this country, earned fair
returns for its promoters, While giving
employment to thousands Of men at
remunerative wages, many Of whom
otherwise would be idle at the season
when their work is required at the
mills.
LIZ dll ol luiS OSSS1Opn4S1lI. l1lC SlCol-
est benefits have been derived by the
farmers. The mills have taken the seed
which prior to their establishment,
were either lost entirely or wastefuliy
used, and converted them into valuable
products, easily and economically
handled, resulting in the cheaper pro-
duction of crops, and increased yields
per acre.
Raising and fattening cattle has been
one of the Interesting features Of this
development. The fattening of cattle
in the South for market, outside, per-
haps, of the Texas ranges, was un-
known before the extensive use Of cot
ton seed hulls and meal. At present.
almost every neighborhood is raising
a. few head of cattle for the butcher
on. this feed, and in many sections,
numbers of cattle are being fattened
in this way. AS this business increases
it viii be followed by the erection of
packing houses in the South with all
the advantages Of such industries.
Any landowner can make fattening
cattle profitable. It has been cheni-
cally demonstrated, sustained by prac-
tical tests that the droppings from cat
tie fed on cotton seed meal is equal IN
feeding value to the meal itself applied
directly to the land. No other feeo
has any such comparative Vaiue-
When this is considered, the immense
advantages derived by the farmers
from the Establishment Of cotton SEED
oil mills is realized even if no other
benefits accrue, but when the aound-
ance and cheapneSs Of hulls is conslo-
cred, and their value to the farmer
and feeder recognized, some loea is.
given Of the splendid work and advan-
tages the other mills have accom-.
-1;etol Sov6lOnrQGnt or
Southern agriculture.
In almost any season, regardless OF
the price of seed and products, the
mills Of the Southern Cotton OH Mill
Company Of the Carolinas and Georgia
Will give back to the farmers all OF the
meal and hulls produced from the SEED
in exchange for the seed, reservlng
only the oil, and small amount or snort
lint to cover transportation charges,
cost of working, interest on investment
and profits No more liberal division
of the profits between manufacturers
and consumer has ever been accom-
plished. It makes the business CO.
opera tive, returning to the farmer all
that is Of any value to him, in great
Iy improved condition, and consequent
" greatly increased in value, ano
leaving with the mill only that part
of the seed universally regarded as oe-
trlIueQCal IN lIS udtUldl NOiiSaSAOA1,
either as a feed OF fertilizer, from
which the mill must realize all OF its
expenses, including cost of working:
The oil is converted at the refnerles
in Savannah into pure and whole
some substitutes for lard. known as
"Paln2atina" and "Snowdrift, and is
given back to the consumers table as
a delicacy at low price, or as a pure
cooking oil, as Wesson Cooking OIL
The refuse or waste from the ref1ned
oil is made into soap, and sold back
at a cost that places it in the reach OF
the poorest. The lint is made into
quilts, pillows and mattresses and sold
at price that makes it possible for
the bedrooms Of the humblest cottage
to be comfortably furnished.
In buying or raising cattle to be fat
tened on hulls and meal. every ::ffort
should be made to secure good beef
producing breeds. A prominent and
successful packer is authority for the
statement that the improved breeds
will sell on foot for three times as
much as the common stock.
The consumption Of beef in the South
far exceeds any previous period. 1t
can be met by home production If
Southern farmers will use all the hullS