Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1916-02-04
NJ h WOLFE ON
half AND HALF
ssys Cotton Planters stand to Lose
Millions by Planting This
Kind Of Cotton.

Dallas. Tex. Feb. s.-"coiton grow.
ors OF Texas are confronting the dan
ger OF losses running into millions
this year" said NJ. II. Wolfe. leading
cotton buyer of Dallas, yesterday.
Frequently one hears sSoO.O0o,0OO
mentioned as the value OF the Texas
crop. In the event Il Is OF inferior
quality. or any appreciable amount OF
Il is undesirable. plainly the loss can
readily reach millions. The danger
now grows out OF the tendency In
some parts to plant what is known as
the half and hair variety OF cotton.
"our experience in the buying field
has convinced US that this type of
cotton produces short fiber--one
that is not readily disable on the ma
chimes OF the spinners. Quite natur'
ally they object to II. and those who
buy Il refuse TO pay standard prices
for II. Nor Is that all. for when the
spinners begin to buy In one territory
and find that they are getting ocea'
sional bales OF the shorter fibered
staple. they either lower the price
they are willing to pay for all cotton
In that territory. or they may refuse
to buy I'm that section any further.
(which ever alternative the spin
ners choose. the cotton farmer is the
loser. The one who plants half and
half" loses because there Is little or
no demand for his product The neigh
Dor OF this farmer finds that the price
OF his long staple article is lowered
by the spinner who takes this means
OF recouping himself against the ar
ceptance OF an occasional objection.
able bale Of half and and hair cotton.
"The interests OF the cotton pro
ducers and those OF the cotton factors
and exporters are pretty nearly ideR
teal. The better the grade OF cotton.
the longer and more workable the
staple. the more II viii be sought by
spinners. and the more profitable for
all concerned win be the business.
With the hope OF getting higher prices
for both producer and buyer. the Dial
las Cotton Exchange has undertaken
to expose the fallacy and danger OF
planting half and half cotton In this
state"
"The United States department OF
agriculture declares half and half cot
ton undesirable. and not only has
ceased to propagate II. but advises
against its further production" said
ID. A. Saunders Of Greenville, expert
in charge OF cotton experiments In
the South for the United States bu'
reau OF plant industry. This variety
was first developed in Georgia, and
Is degenerate sport OF the Cook va
riety. II Is practically worthless for
textile purposes. and many Of the most
responsible buyers will not buy IL
while those who are less particular
take Il only at a reduced price. II IL
actually worth from &c to &c per pound
less than the corresponding grades ol
ordinary upland cotton.
Its large yielding quality leads
some farmers to believe they car
make more money per acre by grow
ing It In preference to the Lone Star
the Mebane. the Rowden and othel
standard varieties. The grower findi
difficulty. however, In disposing OF II
and must accept such reduced pric'
that II more than offsets any differ
ence In the yield. Growers som'
times try to escape the difficulty b,
planting a row OF standard cotton AM
a row OF half and half alternately
the purpose being to market a larg'
yield at the price OF the ordinar,
staple. II they knew that the buye
always takes the mixture at the hal
and half price. they would not follow
such a practice.
"The Texas farmers should stol
planting half and half cotton. b!
growing II they are injuring. the cot
ton production and cotton business o
the state. injuring themselves most o
all. Larger yields OF standard yarietie
OF cotton. and certainly much NOR
profitable yields. may be grown by III
use OF good seed and right cultura
methods"