Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-02-22

From the accompanying table, 1t can
be seen that there is the large differ
ence of 1873 gallons of oil produced from
the best and poorest varieties analysed.
This shows that If seed purchases were
based on quality. and at present prices
of cotton seed oil (s1.31 IA per gall,
those farmers growing College No. II
would have TO sell their seed for exactly
s21.66 per ton less than those who grow
Mexican Big Boil In other words, II
average seed with a total oil content of
Sc gallons per ton are worth S73, then
Mexican Big Boil seed with 63.5 gallons
oil per ton are worth S82.S4 since they
contain Z 1-2 gallons more oil than av-
erage seed. College No. 81 would like
wise be worth $11.S1 less than average
seed, or only $61.19 per ton, since they
contain only AZ gallons of oil per ton, or
nine gallons per ton less than average
seed
Seed below the average IN oil con-
tent, and certainly those below 1880
per cent oil, should not be planted I'M
der any circumstances, since they re-
duce the average price received for
seed by all cotton growers in our state.
The average yield of oil and it's value
is taken into consideration by the oil
mill man in determining prices paid for
cotton seed. If the demand for oil is
such that the price rises, the farmer
may expect, and usually gets, a better
price for seed. If the price of oil de-
clines, the miller as a matter of self
protection pays less for seed. The price
Of oil is at present considerably above
normal. A decline is naturally expect
ed, and the only way to prevent cor
responding decrease in the price of seed
is to improve their quality. The only
practical method of doing this is to in
crease their oil content, and evidence
that this can be done is available from
several sources.
Upon examination of the accompany
ing table it will be noticed that the
varieties ranking 90, 23, 80 and 40 are
all Cleveland Big Boil Likewise, num-
bers 5, IA and 33 are different selections
of the Toole variety. Some of the breed
ers of the above varieties have selected
plants and isolated strains that are
much superior to others. No. 8, for in
stance, and No. 33, are both Toole seed,
but from different breeders. and there
is exactly 80 gallons oil difference,
which at present prices OF oil makes
the seed Of the better strain worth $774
more per ton than those of the poorer
one
The same table shows college l rank
ing seventh and college No. II Last
These are two pure strains Of the same
variety, DOTH OF WHICH DISSQ Uu6 u
type and are high yielders Of seed and
lint cotton. The college No 1, which
ranks seventh, produced in 1917 1888
pounds seed cotton per acre, and the one
at the bottom of the table, which ranks
forty-eight produced 1,7s5 pounds seed
cotton per acre, thus making but little
difference in the value of the cotton
they produced. At the present there
would sc no difference in the price paid
for the seed from the two strains, yet
the prevailing prices of oil would tusti>
fy the payment of SIPS per ton more
the inferior one, since they contain
for the better strain than for those of
1877 gallons more oil.
If seed from the 1918 crop are to be
sold according to standards based on
oil content, which is the most accurate
basis for settlement since the value of
the oil represents more than so per
cent of their purchase price, then all
farmers growing varieties the seed of
which according to the above table con-
tain less than 20.5 per cent oil should
abandon them or at least understand
that their seed will probably bring
from 50 to SO less per ton than average
seed when offered to the mills next fall.
If these inferior varieties are eliminated
(Coutfnued On Next PareO