The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1906-07-14
FARMER AND PLANTER
ORIGIN OF COTTON SUPPLY.
Losing Its CommandinW
Position.

An elaborate discussion of the worlds
cotton production in 1905, contained in
the final report just issued by the GEN.
sus bureau, goes to show that the Unit
ed States is in no danger of losing its
commanding place as the origin of sup
ply.
1t is made very clear that the posi-
bilities for increasing the production
are as great in the United States as in
India, In Central and South America,
and greater than in Egypt. This start
ling statement is made concerning the
available cotton acreage in our cotton
growing region:
"The total area Of the present cotton
producing region of the United States is
estimated at 100000 square miles, or
448,000,000 acres. OF this, only about
one acre In every IL was given to cot
ton in 1905. Were this proportion
raised to five acres in every II, it would
mean crop of more than $4,000, 600
bales at the present rate of production.
The increase in the amount of cotton
grown in this country does not depend
so much on an increase in the acreage
planted as on seed selection, fertiliza-
ton and the manner in which the crop
il cultivated.
"The cotton grower has discovered
that he can most easily and profitably
secure increased production by improved
methods OF farming-that is, by crop
rotation and better culture-than by an
increase in the acreage. What the re-
suit would be were the maximum acre
age devoted to cotton, and the best
cultured methods employed, must re-
main a matter of conjecture An av-
erage Of one bale to the acre is not an
impossible achievement, and at that
rate the cotton-growing states to the
south are capable of producing many
times the present yield"
The evil Of American cotton produc-
ers, says the report, is bad baling. The
Egyptian and Indian bales are pointed
out as much better. 1t is explained,
however, that reform of this lack here
will be exceedingly difficult because the
United States cotton is cultivated on
about 1,500,0 900 farms distributed over
a very wide area, and ginned in more
than $4,000 establishments.
The varying local conditions and wide
expanse of country render 1t difficult,
II not impossible, to introduce any uni
form system of baling, and especially
one requiring heavy presses.
The idea of a cylindrical bale, which
has found some favor, Is discouraged
by the census bureau. Scores of in
ventions for baling cotton in cylindrical
form have been made during the past
decade, but only two have been put
into practical operation. One Of these
is the Bessonette, or roundlap system,
and the other, the Lowry. The bales
turned out by these presses are about
% inches In diameter and 35 in length,
and average about ESQ pounds in
weight.
These packages are kept in shape by
the cohesion of fibers and layers, and
require no iron bands. The cylindrical
bale has not proved entirely satisfac-
tory, and the tendency at this time is
toward an improvement in the square
bale, many believing that the density
of that package may be so increased
as to avoid the present necessity of re-
compression. Experiments are now be-
ing carried on with inventions promis-
ing this result.-CensuS Bulletin.