Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-07-08

PART l.
Every one interested In the welfare Of
the south is concerned in any discussion
OF this important topic. for IL is vitality
related TO the prosperity Of all the peo-
Die. Occasionally we bark 70 the days
OF childhood and read with incredulity the
rhymes OF Mother Goose" and other
fairy stories which AT an earlier age fill-
ed with a supreme fascination our unde-
veIoped intellect. In the worries OF more
mature DAYS We frequently consider the
business which occupies our time as
sort Of mean drudgery by which we exc
out an existence No fairy stories OF
childish conception. however. surpassed
in interest the transformation Of the cot
tonSeed from a waste product TO that OF
one OF the great industries OF the south
ern states Some % to 50 years ago the
seed was cast aside as useless and looked
upon by the producer as a nuisance. Now
Il is one Of the great sources OF revenue
incident 10 the production Of cotton. and
promises in the next half century 70
double and treble in value. and TO be one
OF the chief means BY which the soils
OF the south are TO be made permanent
IL fertile and a variety and efficiency
given to the dietary not previously con-
sidered possible.
There are few romances Of industry
more marvellous than that OF the eleva-
ton OF the cottonseed from a condition
OF degradation to where IL commands the
respect and attention OF the civilized
world. II furnishes 10 animals one OF the
choicest items OF the ration; TO the hu-
man being a palatable and nourishing oil;
20 the farmer who grows II a profitable
income; 70 transportation agencies an i'm
mense amount of tonnage: and to the
commerce Of the nation an ever-growing
trade balance on the credit side OF the
ledger. II Is well that we should con-
slider and pay tribute to any natural pro-
duct which has made possible the de-
velopment Of an industry Of national i'm
portsnce and which we know TO still be
IN its infancy.
In spite OF the splendid achievements
OF the last half century. II will be well
70 ascertain what stfll remains 20 be
done 20 broaden the markets for cotton
seed products. 20 increase their efficiency
and multiply their value. There are two
outstanding propositions which require
consideration The markets for cotton
seed can be extended most effectively by
educating the farmers OF the south 10
sen the seed: and second. by teaching
them TO use the by-products here at
home. At the present time between 6
and 20 per cent Of the seed is crushed. A
seed. but al least Is TO % per cent Of that
remaining on the farms could be sold
10 the great advantage Of the grower and
give a new impulse 10 the industry be-
cause OF the additional raw materials
which would thus be placed upon the
market
The farmer retains the seed now chief
" because he feels that he IS not get
ting value receivd for il. or from the
mistaken notion that IL contains some
fertiliZing constituent OF peculiar value 20
his soil. Some seem 10 think that the
oil provides plant food, but this is not so
since II is a carbohydrate and the constit-
uents OF which II is composed are drawn
entirely from the air. So far as its sup
plying humus 10 the soil. that Is a negli-
gible quantity. and that its effect may be
observed for a longer period than from
the use OF the meal is an open question.
as the experiments made do not indicate
this TO be a correct deduction TO draw
There Is no reason, therefore, why the
farmer should retain the seed, as II can
be shown over and over again that IT is
10 his interest to sell II, and use meal
for feed and fertilizer IN its place.
The education OF the farmer along
these lines Is making progress In Geor-
gia. but in view Of the large number OF
people TO be reached II should be ac-
CELEBRATED BY adding TO the extension IA
cilities Of the college. which affords
about the only medium now for getting
IN touch with the adult farmers in vari-
Gus parts OF the state. II Is equally i'm
portant that the farmer be taught TO
use the by-products OF the seed at home.
The meal furnishes the choicest kind OF
concentrated food for the nourishment
OF beef and dairy cattle. horses. sheep,
and TO some extent, swine. The oil fur
nishes an edible product Of high nutri-
tive value and Is equal to that derived
from any other vegetable product. Soap
made from the low grade oil is Just as
serviceable as that derived from other
substances. and the substitute for lard
which is now being manufactured is GER
tainly as wholesome and desirable as
that obtained from animal sources. Up