The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1904-10-05
HOW TO GET MOST FOR COTTON.
A Large Cotton Producer Talks Of
the Crop and Its Value If Handled
Properly-Half the
Crop Should be Held Back-Seed
Lower Than Last Year-Some
Interesting Fscts and Figures.

This seems to be the day of the
farmer, and he is disposed to make
the most of it: he is keeping posted in
a general way, and on cotton in
particular.
An Observer man had a talk, yes
terday, with one of the leading cotton
growers of the State, and got from
him a splendid idea, and some inter-
esting facts. This man has proven
himself thoroughly practical by his
success; he is nothing of a dreamer.
He has over 500 acres in cotton this
year, and his crop will be twenty
per cent less than it was last year.
In answer to the question: What
do you think of the cotton situation?"
"The cotton crop now being har-
vested a be made the most valuable
crop ever gathered, if the farmers will
act in concert and on similar lines, in
every State, county and community.
''There is now no question of the
crop being a moderate, if not a very
small one, compared to what was
expected two, yes me month ago.
The whole spinning world is depleted
of cotton; must have cotton, nc mat
ter what the cost. The present crop
can be made to average at least II
cents if not Is cents per pound to the
grower, if the growers will gin and
sell cautiously. If only half the cot
ton picked each week is placed on the
market and the other half held back,
either stored in bonded warehouse,
when money must be obtained, or
stored on the farms either ginned and
baled or in the seed: there would be
no Cutting the market for October,
November, December, which is the
very condition the Spectators want,
in order that they may be able 10
buy what will be in active demand the
world over, at much higher prices
after January l.
What is true of cotton is also true
of cotton seed. The oil mills are
entering the crushing season with
cotton seed oil 10 cents per gallon
lower than last year or for the last
five years, and consequently the
mills cannot pay by $500 per ton as
much as they paid all through the
last season for seed.
1--WE have almost identically the
same condition in all crops affecting
cotton oil as existed for the season
l892-1S93 when cotton oil went to IS
cents per gallon in February 1898.
We have q very short crop of wheat
this year, as,compared with the crop
for several years past. There is no
old wheat to be had at any price, and
the present price for wheat is IS per
cent higher than last year.
"The present corn crop prospects
are for q crop smaller than in ten
years, with perhaps one exception,
and if IS short rs now predicted, corn
will go to IS cents and perhaps
higher, per bushel. A short crop and
high prices for corn, means q short
crop and high prices for hogs; and
with hogs high, lard will be high, and
high priced lard mean high priced
cotton oil: then why not high prices
for cotton seed paid to the farmers?
The crop of linseed now being har-
vested in the Northwest, is only about
One-half to three-fifths the crop har-
vested last year, and the result is,
linseed is forty per cent, the oil about
30 per cent, linseed cake and meal IS
to 10 per cent higher.
"But the United States is not the
only country with short crops. All
OF the European countries without a
single exception, have the poorest
crops of grain, feed and fodder, they
have had for years. Russia, the
greatest grower and competitor of the
United States for the trade of Europe,
for wheat is fully employed trying to
whip its very small, and as she sup
posed, Insignificant antagonist
Japan; and the result is she will have
no wheat to export, and if the war
should continue for several years, rs
1t is very likely to do, Russia will
be importing wheat and all
kinds of provisions.
The olive oil crop Of all countries
bordering on the Mediterranean Sea
Is reported on best authority to be
only 0ne-half to twO-thirds q full