The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1907-10-23
SHOULD Be TESTED.
Does Lint Cotton Gain in Weight
by Being Held?

MIR. G. NJ. Davis, of Georgia, Says Il
Undoubtedly Does, and Is anxious
For Thorough Test.
There seems to be widely prevail
ent conviction that cotton lint gains :
both in quality and weight by being
allowed to rippen on the seed for
few months after it is picked, and the
belief seems to be based upon more
or less clearly defined experince. In
the last issue Of the Progressive Far
mer for August was published
statement from Mr. G.. NJ. Davis,
State Lecturer ef the Farmers Union
for Georgia, to the effect that 1it is
an unquestioned fact that cotton held
in the seed will gain about one-tenth
in weight for the first three months
after picking"
A month later The Progressive
Farmer printed a communication
from correspondent in Me:klenburg
County. n. c., signing himself J. A.
w, who also holds to the belief that
cotton will gain both in quality and
in weight from being allowed to rip
en-, the time required being from
three to FIVE months. This, he said,
he had learned fifty years ago in the
days Of the old horsepower gins, and
he had known seed cotton to yield
81 1-2 per cent. of lint after ripen-
ing. ..s.-s5 1850 :. rs
The question raised is one fairly
capable Of scientific demonstration
and if the results are such as its adj
vocates claim, the truth Of the matter
is well worth the cost and trouble Of
demonstration. AS to the present
status of the matter, the subj joined
article from. Mr.. Davis Will be found
Of interest. q few weeks ago The,
Progressive Farmer referred to Mr..
Davis, the following letter. IS
Chicago, Sept..14 4, $50 075.@: &
Editor Progressive Farmer, Raleigh,
N. C. -: z:sx3s;;ss 3 s$::.5s
Dear Sir: In the August 18th is
sue Of your paper, a statement is
printed over name Of G:sM. Davis to-
the effect that cotton, as aSrule, is
ginned too soon after picking, and a
money loss is the result. 5; z:s1.'s..gg -. 8
Will you be good enough to adj
wise US of the address Of Mr. Davis:
that we may write him for his au-
thority on the subject stated.
1--WE certainly hope Mr.. Davis is.
correct in this position and should
like to know more Of the matter.
Thanking you in advance for this
courtesy, we are, &
| very truly, -. .2s.=
Dixie Cotton Picker Co, 49,.
ttW. B. Stone, Sec. -
In reply, The PROGRESSIVE Farmer
has just received from Mr.. Davis the
/ following which we are glad to print
as current contribution to this in-Ss
teresting and important topic: '
'eThere is no published book or
printed authority on the subject in
existence to-day, so far as know.
If there is, have never seen it or
heard of it.
''The Government Bureau Of Agri-
cultural Information has no bulletin
on the subject, but this does not ar
que that there should be none In the
future. have been trying for some
time to interest the Agricultural De
partment and some of their special
agents in this and othes matters OF
like nature, but they all seem too
busy with other things to give me
hearing or chance to have the
matter thoroughly Investigated along
scientific lines.
''My authority is based on expert
ence and investigation along inde-@
pendent lines. That cotton grows and
continues to mature and gain in lint
weight for from two to three months
after being picked, as set forth in a
previous article on the subject and
for which am asked to give a. spe-
cifc authority, there is no question.
The chief authority is the cold fact
known to all growers and handlers
Of cotton who observe cotton closely.
''The first cotton which opens is
green, and if carried to the gin soon
after beng picked the lint it cut by
the gin saws and the staple so badly
damaged that the loss in price is con-
siderable. Perhaps the 6rsst cotton
ginned is actually worth cent
pound less to the manufacturer be-
cause Of the damage to the staple
than the same cotton would be i
left to dry and ripen in the house. In
this respect Gotten only follows the
natural laws followed by all other
agricultural products. Melons, fruit
and hundred other things ripen af-
ter being gathered. :s;sssss ~
1.-The greener and wetter the cotton
the more closely it sticks to the seed,
and the harder it is to seperate when
being ginned. Every man who has
had dav's experience about cotton
gin will bear me out in this state e
ment. The closer the lint adheres to
the seed the less the lint from the
cotton when ginned. In other words,
more of the lint is left on the seed
and proportionate lost is the result.
f.It now seems to be an unques-
toned fact that the seed is the lint
producer of the interior cotton boil.