The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-10-18
Cotton Seed and American Supremacy

~ oSSo elAeA
The next issue of The American
Cotton Manufacturer will say:
American citizens are prone to apply
much JUNCTION to themselves ecaus
of the rapid growth of exports OF all
kinds. This is proper and creates in
us a comfortable feeling of security.
Thus is our rele tive property as
sured.
Abstract fr-n, the total OF our exc
rior sales Of pr ducts Of American CT
gin the values represented by the one
word Cotton" and the prospect world
be dismal. \.
The condition sur OF roing the maj
keting Of the raw material for the last
two and a half years have been so
twisted and Cooled for speculative
purposes that few of those most vital
ly interested care to rely upon any
demonstrations, no matter hcw relic
BILE the authority. The whole matte:
is b%eclouded, and the watcher befuG-
died by conflicting estimates.
The Short crop contingent no only
predict high prices for this crop year.,
but they are also prophesyirg a dwind-
ling of our present predominating po-
sition as pUrveyors of the bulk of thu
worlds supply.
Records of past years give no coun-
tCllIAl1O IoI LIZ SoSAA SAooAAy oNioo
D. M. Thompson recently said to a
meeting of cotton manufacturers thai.
ut is a question of cry SCI iOrS int
est to the cotton spir ners of the word
among whom there exists the gener u
feeling that cur cotton crop is subject
only to climatic condit. MS. 1T is an
unfortunate orIcr. The causes Of
very much of the present and proSpec-
tive troubles are possible G remova
thrn11Oh tntClliOQnf human oCr0nninc
Conditions during the past fcrty years
have been steadily changing. Quietly
but sure the element of deterioration
Of cotton seed has progressed until it
has become a vital force, involving in
juries which demand prompt relief"
Apart from seed deterioration, in
fuenced by the demand for cotton seed
products, and the lack Of appreciation
Of the necessity of careful selection
and preservation of seed for planting,
are the careless methods and systems
employed in the p~rep&fation of Land,
the interchange Of crops, proper ferti-
lization, cultivation, picking and pro-
tecting during the harvest period This
is a bull effort.
The growth of the cotton seed OIL
industry is blamed for most Of the al
legged falling off in productivity. Scru-
tiny of records does not bear out the
affirmatiOnS of the bull campaignerS.
Prior to 1884 baneful influences o.
the oil mill and carelessness in seed
selection a little Or no influence. TIL.
average yield per acre during these
eleven years during which the degen-
Grafton was said to nave been menac-
ing the future of the crop, was 1895
pounds.
Fol the eleven year period from 1892
SO back to 1928 when the "oir' YAM
pire was but little known the acre
yield averaged but 1853 pounds. Now
can evidence of decay be extracted
from these figures? Only the author
Of speculative campaign literature can
see around that corner.
For thirty-three years the crop only
averaged over 200 pounds per acre
seven times, and five of these seasons
are in the last decade.
The two years of least yield are
found in 1S11-T2 and 1SS1-S2. Take
away the d~epredations OF the boil wee
vii from the same years and the show
ing would be wonderfully improved.
Verify the obvious inferences are that
either our seed is all right, or that i'm
| proved cultural methods are more than
offsetting seed impairment. The alarm
lists on the subject must find another
vade-mecum. So far as seed quality
| goes our position as producers is evil
dentlS unaSSailable.