The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1910-01-13

material advantage over the farmer
when it secures his seed.
FERTILIZING VALUES.
A ton of seed contains but half as
much fertility as ton OF meal. Ex-
periments have indicated that 900
pounds of high-grade meal are equiv
alent to q ton of seed in fertilizing
value. The seed cannot be fed with
satisfaction to some classes OF live
stock, and certainly not in the same
amount or with the degree of safety
with which the meal can be utilized.
The seed is not nearly as valuable for
fertilizer as the meal, which is natur-
ally more concentrated. Under the
circumstances, therefore, the farmer
has nothing to gain by retaining the
seed on the farm, provided he can
make satisfactory trade with the
oil mill. Suppose the farmer has four
tons of seed and can secure $3Oa ton
for the same. He can exchange a ton
OF seed for q ton OF meal, and in some
instances, was offered additional re-
Enumeration during the present sea-
son. Two tons of meal possess the
fertilizing, and we think practically,
the feeding equivalent of four tons OF
seed. The farmer could, therefore,
put $50 in his pocket and still have
as much material for the proper nu-
triton OF his live stock and the fertil-
ization OF his land as il he had re-
tanned the seed at home, and denied
commerce and the people OF the world
the privilege of utilizing and enjoying
the 1GO gallons OF oil and other by
products derived from the seed. Ed
ucatiOn along this line is very much
needed and will do much to stimulate
the sale of seed to the oil mills Ot
course, the mill man should realize
that he must be fair and just to the
farmer in the exchange offered. This
has not always been the case and ac-
counts in part for some of the prelu-
dices existing, and which can be rem
edied by the fair dealing on the part
of all those interested in preventing
the inpxcusable waste which results
from utilizing seed directly as fertil-
izer.
On the basis Of this years crop at
least 100000 tons of seed will be
withheld from the channels OF COM
MERGE. representing a waste OF more
than &c. ZOO. 900 gallons OF oil, worth
approximately $14.50O.OOO. In a
season when the crop apprOximates
$4,000, 900 to IA. 900. 900 bales, the
loss will be from two to three times
as great. The agricultural colleges
are making an effort to reach the
farmer and correct such mistakes and
practices as this through extension
teaching. 1t would seem as though
every State Legislature and every
interest in the South might approx
mately combine in the effort to Sc
cure ADEQUATE support for these instl-
tutes in order that they may assist
in disseminating information which
will correct such an enormous and
needless waste.
Similarly, attention should be di.
rected at this time to the frightfuI
waste of cotton seed meal which Is
going on in this country as fertilizer
when it would first be fed. 1t has
been pointed out over and over again
that cotton seed meal is worth at
east $25 to $50 ton as foodstuff
and certainly as much more as q
fertilizer. Under the best manage
ment it should be worth $50 ton
We have seen that tits sold probably
at 1927 ton, and this represents the
potential value we are securing from
it now. The waste due to failure tC
utilize cotton seed meal as a food
stuff is quite as appalling as from the
misuse OF the seed
In this connection it should b'
pointed out that cotton seed bv-prO
ducts are finding new uses every day
and thai this is likely to continue
for some time to come.