The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1920-10-21
Cotton Seed Situation.

When the market for any agricul-
tural product becomes disorganized,
it is difficult to offer satisfactory So
luton to the situation. In such in
stances, it is well to consider causes
before attempting to suggest rene
dy. The low price now being offered
for cotton seed is extremely disap-
pointing to southern farmers. Large
importations of Oriental oils are
somewhat responsible for the pre-
vailing condition. Not only are far
mers suffering losses, but many con-
Germs that have large investments in
oils are strained almost to the break
ing point.
Before determining to feed cotton
seed in their raw state to live stock
or use them as fertilizer, it is we'll to
consider their value in comparison
with other sources of feed and fertll-
izer. At the time of the preparation
of this article, mills are offering $50
ton for seed from the wagons and
S34 a ton f. o. b. shipping point in
carlots; or they will exchange on a
basis of 1900 pounds standard cotton
seed meal for ton of seed.
The value of this product as feed
is determined largely by it's protein
content. Cotton seed contains 12.5
per cent. digestible protein; whereas,
high grade meal contains 37.2 per
cent. The oil and linters are of prac-
tically no value to cattle, so We are
led to conclude that one pound Of
meal is worth more than two pounds
of seed. When we consider the fact
that when the seed are fed, the oil
is total loss and that by exchanging
as indicated above there is a gain in
feeding value, we do not hesitate to
advise against the feeding of the
whole seed, except in extreme cases
where there is long haul to market.
Nitrogen is the principal fertilizer
element in cotton seed and meal.
Standard cotton seed meal contains
6.18 per cent. nitrogen; whereas seed
contains about per cent. So, if the
seed are used as fertilizer, we again
sustain a loss Of the Oil, which has
no fertilizer value. Meal compares
favorably in price with other nitrogen
carrier in that it can be more readily
trate of soda and other carriers, we
can obtain nitrogen at about 81 cents
per pound, while the nitrogen in cot
ton seed meal will cost practically "a
cents. 1t should be borne in mind
that the meal also contains % per
cent. PHOSPHORUS and 10 per cent.
potash. Furthermore, meal has the
advantage of the seed as a nitrogen
cerrier in that it can be more readily
distributed. The seed, when used as
fertilizer, germinate and the plants
get in the way of the growing crops
A great many farmers prevent this by
making composts If the compost
gets hot ery>gh to kill the seed germs
there is certain to be a heavy loss OF
nitrogen.
After all, the sanest programme
would b to feed the meal to live
stock, CO efully conserving the ma
nure. By this process at least Is per
cent. of the fertilizer value in the
meal is returned to the soil, and a
profit should be realized on the feed
ing operation. Some may claim that
the seed con- rare more favorably with
the neal as fertilizer than the analy-
ses would indicate. 1t is true that by
applying seed we get more organic
matter, but if the meal is fed to live
stock and the manure returned to the
soil, the organic matter and bacteria
activity will surpass that obtained
by applying seed.
In communities having no oil mills
we would suggest that farmers make
carlot shipment comparatively and buy
meal the same way. This plan is
quite feasible where there is county
agricultural agent.-Southern Rural
ist.