The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-09-27

frequently happens, as is the case at
the present time. that some such mills
are willing to pay more than the
prevailing quotations Of the more
mills. That, however, is
not legitimate business. and it will
not do TO follow prices made by
man who may have sold his oil for
future delivery before any seed is Of
were in the oil business, and had
made such a successful sale. / would
consider myself very foolish to give
away the profits which I might have
by reason Of my luck or better judg
ment At the present time ! know
Of one party who has sold oil for
September delivery at lower prices
than are now prevailing. and who
cannot get the seed without paying
higher prices than are quoted by his
competitors. He is obliged to fill his
contracts or go out Of business.
Now. suppose the farmer holds his
seed and loses 10 per cent. 1t would
mean that. instead Of getting SIS for
his seed, he would lose approximate
ly 50 by loss Of weight. which would
reduce the net value Of the seed to
him, IL held and present prices pre-
vail the balance Of the season, to
about SIC for his seed. Now, hope,
and believe, that as the season ad-
vances that seed will be in better
condition, and that. instead of get
ting forty gallons Of oil. the mills will
average forty-three. ard l do believe
that the present prices of 36 cents
for early October shipment Of oil are
going to prevail through the season,
in fact. think that the average will
be nearer 80 cents for the season than
35. You can figure yourself on forty
three gallons of oil and see what my
opinion Of the seed market is.
I will state that I am not now in
the oil business at all, and will fur
ther state that my interest in this
matter Is purely and simply for the
good Of the farmers Of this State, in
whom I am much interested, and for
whom have done a great deal Of
work.
You state that at the prices which
prevail they use the seed for fertiliz-
er rather than sell them. Let us see
II this statement holds good.
Good. sound seed contains SIS
per cent Of ammonia. about per
cent Of phosphoric acid and about 1
per cent Of potash. Figuring the
ammonia at $3.40 a unit, the value
would be s1l.so. Figuring the phos-
phoric acid and potash at 81 a unit,
you would have 50, making the value
OF the seed for fertilizer. consider
ing its plant food only. about $14.
The farmers are receiving, as above
stated, the rise Of SIS q ton for their
seed now in carload lots. The COM
parative value Of seed as a fertilizer
has been very carefully determined
by bulletin of the United States de-
partment Of agriculture. which was
gotten out by Mr.. Boykin, and which
can be gotten from the department
OF agriculture. I suggest a careful
reading OF the pamphlet, which, I
am sure. will change your ideas
about the fertilizer value Of the seed
to a very considerable extent. In
this bulletin 1t states that about
1,400 pounds OF cotton seed meal Is
as good as a ton Of cotton seed Of
fertilizer on cotton and corn. You
can easily gec an exchange Of two
tons Of meal for three tons of cotton
seed on today's market. which makes
II very much to the advantage of the
farmer to exchange his seed than to
use 1t for fertilizer.
hope that after the receipt of this
letter you will find IL advisable to
change the advice given to the farm
ers unions as ] am firmly of the be-
lief that 1t will simply mean loss to
farmers. and a further disparagement
OF the Farmers Union. wish to say
that 1 believe that every farmer in
the State ought to be a member of
the Union. / think that the more in
telligent ought to be members, they
ought to attend the meetings, and
they ought to do their best to help
the more ignorant and poorer farm
ers in every way that they possibly
can.
hope that this letter will be taxi
en- by you in the spirit in which 1t is
intended. that is, for the advantage
OF the Farmers Union itself. You
may publish this letter IL you see fit
to do go