- -~'.Y~"w;:<='-‘ ' =1 Y‘ i M . (259) Texas PlgrrieulturvalalExperiment Station. BULLETIN NO. Q6. i MARCH 1893. czosr 0P sorrow PRODUCTION AND PROFIT PER HCRE. AGRIFULTURAI, AND IVIECHAXNAL COLLEGE 0F TEXAS. All Bulletins of this Station are issued free. Any one interested in any branch of agriculture may have his name placed 0n our permanent mailing list, and secure future numbers, by ap- plication to GEO. W. CURTIS, DIRECTOR, College Station, Brazos 00., Tex. In requesting Bulletins. write name and address plainly. ‘J t4 I . | ‘ u’ " ‘ wit», a l. 5 ‘ ' . .. 1"»; BRYAN, Tmxiaszf COX, “THE NEAT PRINTER.” 1893. (290)_ TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENTSTATION OFFICERS AND STAFF. iii-inn GOVERNING BOARD. BOARD OF DIRECTORS A. AND M. COLLEGE. W MAJ. A. J RQSE, President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “Salado; i HoN. J NO. E. HQLLINGSWURTII, State Com. Agr . . . . . . . . . . . . .i . .Austin.; Hon. W. R. CAVITT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _ . . . . . . . . . . . .Bryan. DR. J. D. FIELDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Man0r.= HON. JNo. ADRIANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..C01umbia.. TREASURER. I PRESIDENT L. S. Ross, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . College StationQfi STATION STAFF. GEO. W. CURTIS, M. S. A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Agricuiturist, Directorg H. H. HARRIRGTQN, M. Se. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .' . . . . . . . Chemist. M. FRANCIS. D. V. M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Veterinariani . R. H. PRICE, B. S. . . . .4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .i . . . . . . .H0rticu1turist. D. ADRIAANCE,M.S . . . . . . ._ . . .. . . . . . . . flvleteorologist, Associate Chemisti J. W. CARS0N,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .Assistant to Directoi J. M. CARSQN, . . . . . . . . .I . . . . . . . . . .i . . . . . . . . . . .Assistant Agriculturisigi; P. S. TILSQN, M. S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Assistant in Chemistry (291) Texas Agricultural Experiment Station. cosr cm‘corToN"PRonucuaoN Anr>raanuT PER ACRE. (GEO. w. crrrarrs, M. s. A.) (J. w. oARsoN.) In the production of cotton at high prices the margin liars always been Wide enough to prevent disaster, and very few have thought it necessary to ascertain the exact cost 0f its production. For the past few years We have taken special pains to inquire of leading cotton planters in different portions of the state, and in a great majority of cases have found a very decided lack of accurate mformation respect- ing cost of producing the staple so extensively grown. Last season a circular letter was issued from the station requesting certain informa- tion and substantially as follows : . “Dear Sin-Desiring information relative to the cultivation and the cost of production of cotton in different sections of the state, we address to you the following, to which we trust you will give your prompt attention and favor us with an early reply. If you have not the exact data at hand please make a close estimate in each case: Cultivation of Cotton and Cost of Production. _ 1st. Preparation before planting; (a) time of preparation; (b) how pre- pared? (c) At what cost per acre? Planting. (a) Time of planting; (b) what kind of planter used‘? (c) Cost of planting per acre? A Culticattion. (a) How many times cultivated; (b) implements used for each cullivation; (c) cost of each cultivation per acre; (d) time of “laying by.” Chopping. Cost per acre. . Picking. Cost per hundred pounds. Yield per Acre. (a) Yield of seed cotton; (b) yield oflint. a Total cost of producing one bale of cotton, computed on the basis of $1.00 per day per man; $92.25 per day for man and team (double); $1.62 1-2 per day tor man and single horse or mule. The above figures to include the wear and tear on machinery, interest on investment etc. _ _ How do the above figures compare wlth your prices for labor of man and teams and wear and tear on machinery-are they more or less? state (litter, ence, if any, Total cost of producing and marketing a bale of 500 pounds. How much does land rent for per acre in your county? How much do you pay field laborers per month ‘? Also day laborers?” . Special pains were taken to place this circular request in the hands of one or more of the best planters in each of the different soil sections of the State; but it is worthy of note that many of these planters, either did not c-onsider the matter of sutficient moment to 292“ TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. warrant a reply, or were unable to furnish intelligent data on the subject as relating to their own crops. Some few opinions were re- ceived not claimed to be supported by actual results and these we have not published as we wished facts and facts only. Some or eight careful, practical cotton growers in different parts of the state, however, kindly volunteered to furnish records desired, and summaries of their results with extracts from their ex- pl£LI12LtOI':y' letters accompanying are published herewith and form a rnost interesting and important part of this bulletin. It will be seen that perfect tinifonmity in the manner of reporting results could not well be secured, and that therefore an exact comparison cannot be made. In the statements from our own records, however, we have aimed to give cost of production under different conditions as to fer- tility and consequent yield, and the relation which cost of production bears to returns at different prices for cotton; that‘ the line between larofit and loss may be easily seen and that the circumstances causing results to vary may be applied with little trouble to suit the peculiar conditions of different individuals. Mr. XV. A. Clark of Temple, Texas, sends the following exact fiigt1res—tlie first (No. 1 ) shorving profit and loss with a “long staple” cotton in 5 foot rows, 15 loads barn yard manureapplied in November before plowing, and double cropping by planting English peas for early market in January; the second (No. 2) showing results of Mr. Clark’s enterprising son Homer, on another piece of land, without manure, and with ordinary “short staple” cotton in 3 1-2 foot rows : STATEMENT No. 1. lei/l. A. Clark, Temple, Bell C0., Terms", 1892. ONE ACRE. t Long staple cotton after peas.) ltoifltie 5 feet apart; manure applied in the fall. Cost. Rent of land . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... ..._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. $4.00 Filteen loads barn-yaid manure at 50c $7.50; allowing 1-2 to benefit peas leaves chargeable to cotton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 3.75 Breaking once . . . . . . . . . .; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... 1T0 Planting cotton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 0.20 Une bushel long staple seed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1.00.. 1.20 Ploxving 1st. time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .- ~‘ . . .. 0.50 Plowing 2nd time . . . . . . . .. ... .._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 0.50 ' Plowing 3rd time . . . . . ....... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 0.50 Plowing 4th time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 0.50 . . . . .. 2.00 Chopping-after 1st plowing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.50 Picking 2100 lbs. seed cotton at 60 cents per cwt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 12.60 Marketing cotton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1.00 Ginning, Bagging and ties (omitted by Mr. Clark in esti- mate) average $3.00 per bale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -... 4.00 Total cost per acre, including rent of land . . . ~ . . . . . . . . . . . . .. $30.55 Proceeds. 650 lbs. lint sold at 9c, actual price . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $58.50 40 bushels cotton seed at 10c . . . . . . . . . ; . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . .. 4.00 _Total proceeds per acre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $62.50 31.95 Net profit per acre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. $62.50 $62.50 COST OF COTTON PRODUCTION. 293 (Mr. Clark’s full statement covering cost and proceeds for an entire year, for one acre, including both peas and cotton, and showing to good advantage the net profit in thorough systematic and intensive farming, appears later on-statement No. 8.) STATEMENT No. i2. Homer Clark, Temple, Bell C0 ., Texas, 1892. om: ACRE. (Crdinary short staple cotton.) Rows 3 1-2 feet apart; no manure applie.;l. Cost. . Rent per acre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4.00 December breaking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . j . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.50 _ February re-breaking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _ . . . .. 1.25 . . . . .. 2.75 Planting May 5th. . . . . . .' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 0.25 Cotton seed... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 0.25 . . . . .. 0.50 Plowing 1st time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.50 ' Plowing 2nd time. . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 0.50 Plowing 3rd time.. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . ..t . . . . . . . . ...... 0.50 Plowing 4th time . . . . . . . .' . . . . . . . . . . . ..' . . . . . . . . . . .. 0.50 . . . . .. 2.00 Chopping after Qndplowing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . j. . . . . . . . . . .. 0.62 Hoeing out after chopping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 0.50 . . . . .. 1.12 Picking 1450 lbs. seed cotton at 60c percwt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..‘ . . . . .. 8.70 Blarketing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.75 Ginning, Bagging and Ties (omitted by Mr. Clark in state- ment) flVélrélgillg $3.00 per bale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . _. .. . 2.50 Total cost per acre, including rent ofland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $22.32 Proceeds. {IQ lbs. lint at 8 1-20, actu-il price . . . _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .:l'35.50 .2.» bushels cotton seed at 10c . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 3.00 Total proceeds per acre . . . . .. _. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - 38.50 ' Ne! profit per acre. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ' . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . -. . . . . . . . . 10.1.8 $38.50 $138.50 In further explanation of the last above (Yo. 2.) Blr. Clark ad- ivises in the letter which accompanied statements, that his soirHomer, made a-special attempt to beat him in yield of cotton on his pet wide ;§row theory’, and. that as a matter of fact he actually raised 200 lbs. ilmore seed cotton per acre with his 33%; foot rows than did Mr. Clark, Sr. fiwith his five foot rows——the two patches being side by side and no "imanure. being used in either case. The acre reported b§/'_...\I_1P. Clark, 5Sr., under Statment No. 1, was of a special improved variety and was lhandled on better land and under manure application facts yrhicla fully explain the large yield reported. 294 TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. STATEMENT No. 3. J. M. lllcCi-ary, Comanche, Comanche C0., Texas. 1892. ONE ACRE. (Ordinary short staple cotton.) Rows 3% feet apart; no manure applied. Cost. Rent of land $2.00 t0 $5.00 per acre, average . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 3,50 Breaking in April 0r May, three horses abreast . . . . . . . . . . . .1.16 Harrowing or pulverizing before planting, four horses, . . . . .. 0.58.. . . 1.7-1 Planting 1-6 day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _ . . . . . . . . . 0.27 __ Cotton seed, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.08.... 0.30 Plowing two or three times, according to season 41c each time—:tverage 2 1-4 times. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1.02 Chopping. sometimes before aud sometimes after 1st. plowing 0.25 Hoeing out after chopping... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 . . . . .. 0.50 Picking, average 800 lbs.seed cotton at 65c per cwt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.20 Marketing same . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.17 , Poisoning when neccessary, including cost of poison . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.20 Qiinning. bagging and ties, paid by seed at the gin _ Total cost per acre, including rent ofland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .3513 .68 ............Proceeds....... . . . . .. " 2-50 lbs. lint at say 8 1-2c per lb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .. . .$ 21.25 550 ibs. cotton seed, allowed to go for ginning, bagging andties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .... . .. Total proceeds per acre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 21.25 _ Net prrgfit per acre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .57 $ 21.25 Mr. McCrary explains his methods clearly in a very interesting let- ter #14011 from which we make the following extracts; “* "it I would say that the cost of cultivation per acre will vary accord- ing to. or on account of season; nearly as much as the yield per acre. “Prepare land by breaking (in April or May) with 11 inch steel beam walk- ing plow, with three horses abreast, breaking an average of 2 1-2 acres per day; cost $2.87 per day or $1.16 per acre. , horses to six foot Disk harrow, 1-2 lap; six acres per dav at $8.50 or 58c per acre. “Plant in last part of May and all through June with one horse Banner cotton and corn planter flat, six acres per d-ay; cost 27c per acre, and 1-4 to 1-3 bushel seed .080. “Sometimes chop to stand before, and sometimes after plowing around close ~, up to cotton with double shovel stock, with two 12 inch buzzard wing sweeps attached. Chop twice, averaging four acses per day; cost23 cents per acre each time, total 50c. “Plow two or three times, owing to season. with double shovel sweepsoon .5; after rains when possible; four acres per day, 41c each time, average 2 1-4 times, total $1.02 per acre. ‘Lay by’ in August. “Average yield about 803 lbs. seed cotton, making 25') lbs. lint less bagging ’ and ties. “Cost. of picking about 65c per 100 lbs. or about $2.50 per acre. “Not prepared to say which is the best variety no grow. different longlimbed varieties ’till lastyear. were very bad this year, and being over cropped with hay, failel to poison. “Cost of three men, wagon and team one day to poison 25 acres; including poison, 20c per acre. _ “Hauling cotton to gin $2.00 per bale or $1.00 per acre. ginning, bagging and ties. Hauling t) cotton yard and weighing. 35.: per bale or 17c per acre. Total cost of producing one acre of cJttoQ. (including rent of land)$13.6S. “Wages named in circular are about right for an average. “Total cost of producing one 500 lb. bale, and marketing it (including rent $21.25 l, Pulverize twice before planting with four _. 1 - n»; . A Have grown the t The Boll worm and Grass-hoppers Seel to pay for i COST or COTTON PRODUCTION. 295 _ of land) $27.36. i‘ Good labor $20.00 per month and from 75c to $1.00 per day. j “Land rents for from $2.00 to $5.00 owing to quality, quantity, condition and location; the good sandy land and black land back in country, say ten miles from town and depot, not over $3.00 nor less than $2.00 per acre. “My farm is of black sticky soil, except about 1-5 which will scour when rather dry, andit seldom gets too dry to plow the Whole farm. “'1_‘he cost of cultivation is considerably reduced in drouthy years, one chopping and one plowing being sufiicient as there is sometimes no rain after planting until in September. * J. M. MGORARY.” STATEMENT No. 4. G. L. Stone, illcGregoigMcLennan Co.. Texas. 1892. ONE ACRE. (Ordinary short staple cotton.) tows (l?) feet apart; no manure applied. Oost. jRent ofland—1-4 of lint crop less expense-——ginning, bagging and ties, amounting to . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..$3.96 Breaking—‘f0ur horses to sulky plow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..$1.75 Pulverizing, four horses to pulverizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.40 . . . . . ..2.15 Planting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .025 ‘ Cotton seed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0.l0 . . . . . . .0.35 Plowing-four cultivations, 25c each . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.00 Chopping and hoeing out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1.00 Picking, 800 lbs. seed cotton at 50c per cwt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4.00 .Marketing 250 lbs. lint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .._ . . . . . . . . . .0.50 ‘Ginning, bagging and ties at 70c per cwt. oflint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1.75 Total cost per acre including rent ofland. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $14.71 Proceeds. 250 lbs. lint at 7c per 1b., actual price . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..$17.50 550 lbs. cotton seed, 16 bushels at 10c per bushel . . . . . . . . . . . .1.60 _ Total proceeds per acre . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $19.10 , Net profit per acre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.39 $19.10 $19.10 \Ve extract as follows from Mr. Stone’s explanatory letter accom- jpanuving statement: I I “* *1 enclose to you a statement showing the actual cost per acre in this ésection of the country, or at least what it cost me. You will see from my fig- Qures in breaking land, I have charged $1.00 for hand per day and 50c each for {our horses, and 50c for wear and tear of sulky plow, making $3.50 for one hand, team and plow. _, “One hand and four horses with a good sulky plow can make very easy an Average of two (2) acres per day, making the cost per acre $1.75. I “In regard to time of preparation will say that all enterprising farmers in §thi3 black land section break, or prepare their land in the fall or early part the winter. In the spring land should be well pulverized before planting. {his is done with a good pulverizer. One man and four head of horses will iiulverize eight acres per day, allowing $1.00 for the hand, 50c each for four f orses, $2.00, and 25c for wear and tear of pulverizer. making $3.25 per day; 1i: verage per acre 40c. In the same proportion all other work throughout the ’aking and gathering the crop. Ihirm hands can be obtained at $12.00 to 15.00 per month. Labor by the day on the farm, $1.00 per day with the ex- gption of harvesting grain. ti‘ G. L. SToNE.” 296 ~ TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. STATEMENT No. 5. J. F. M 31ers, Hutto, Williamson Co, Texas, 1892.- ONE ACRE. (Ordinary short staple cotton.) Rows t?) feet apart; no manure applied. Cost. Rent of land 1-4 share lint and seed . . . . . .._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..v . . . . . . . ..$i7.98 Breaking, walking plow and two horses . . . . . . . . . . ., . . . . . .. . . $2.00 Harrowing, two horse harrow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Marking rows with marker . . . . . . . ..‘ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .15 Laying off rows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .34 Laying off rows to plant. . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .34. . . . 2.98 Planting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .25 Cotton seed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... .15 . . . . .. .40 Plowing, iour times with cultivator, 34c each time . . . . . . . . . ..1.o’() .t’lowing once with sweep. . . ._ . . . . . . . . . . . ._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .25 . . . . ..1.o1 Chopping and hoeing out, twice 50c_each time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1.00 Picking 1279 pounds seed cotton at 50c per cwt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .639 Marketing 42s pounds lint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .95 (iinning, bagging and ties paid by seed at gin . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . - . . . .. Total cost per acre, including rent of land . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . ..$21.31 Proceeds. 428 lbs lint at 7 l-2c per 1b., actual price... ... ......_ . . . $331.92 853 lbs. cotton seed, allowed for ginning, bagging and ties. . Total proceeds per acre. . . .. . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . ..$31.95 IVeé profit 1:201" (icrc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _ . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1064 $311.»; shits; Mr. Myers cultivated 2G acres on the fitrms of Mr. W. ll. ltarley & Bro. and paid fer rent 1-4 of the lint and seetl. His figures are not estimated but show exactly xvhait he paid and what he receivctl, aver- age per acre for the 2G acres <~til".iv:1t<:}‘4.00 Breaking flat with two horse plows in the fall . . . . . . . . . . . “$1.00 Harrowing .. . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. -20 . . . . .. 1.20 Planting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Cotton seed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. - . . . . . .. .10.. 25 5PloWing—cultivating every ten days or after each rain——s'ay eight times, at 25 cents each time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.00 Chopping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 Pitsking 1500 lbs. seed cotton by machine (Cunningham Cotton Harvester) including interest on investment or Wear and tear on machine—10 cents per cwt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.50 Marketing 500 lbs. lint- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.50 Grinning, bagging and ties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ' . . . . .' . . . . . . . . . . . .. 3.00 Total cost per acre, including rent of land . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13.85 Proceeds. 500 lbs lint at 7 cents——actual price . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “$35.09 1000 lbs. cotton seed at $6.50 per ton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.25 Total proceeds per acre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $38.25 Netprofit per acre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24.40 $38.25 $38.25 g Mr. \Vellborn’s Red river bottom farm, his “Pet Uotton,” and his "OWE indefatigable energy and progressiveness are Well knqwn to the gpeople of this and other states, and need no comment. He is a firm believer in the Cunningham machine for picking cotton, and we are glad to give his actual figures, showing the net profit per acre he has; tmade by using the machine for picking. From his letters accompa- nying statement We extract: “ Thisis on red river bottom—without 0verfl0\v_ The 11111 lands "make about half as much as the bottoms, and will cost abQut Qne..thifd mom ,per bale. *-°‘ =1“ I include wear and tear of machinerv in mv estimate. "*- ” cosT OF COTTON PRODUCTION. 299 STATEMENT N0. 7. lV. G. Johnson, Reagan, Falls Co, Texas, 1892. ' one ACRE. (Ordinary short staple cotton.) Ptows four feet apart; no manure applied. Cost. Rent of land . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ., . . . . . . . . . . $3.50 Breaking and harrowing, cost of man only (teams and tools not counted) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57 Planting, including seed (teams and tools not counted) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Plowing five times (teams and tools not counted) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. J52 ‘Chopping and hoeing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . '. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 Picking 800 pounds of seed cotton at 50 cents per cwt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.00 Marketing 250 lbs. lint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .50“ ‘Teams and tools to cultivate one acre as above . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. 2.50 Salary of Manager... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1.50 (iinning, bagging and ties paid by seed at gin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total cost per acre, including rent of land . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $14.15 Proceeds. ‘.250 lbs. lint at 8,15 cents per pound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “$21.25 .‘-150lbs. cotton seed allowed to go for ginning, bagging and ties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total proceeds per acre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $21.25 1Y0! profit per acre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.10 $21 25 $21.25 Mr. Johnson handles his plantation in a closely practical and profitable manner, as indicated by above statement and the following extracts from his letters: “ "-“' I cheerfully comply with your request; and owing to my system of farming I am able to do so with but little difficulty. I work altogether wage labor at 2O per month, they boarding themselves; about 77 cents per day. A I pay only for time they put in, so vou see I have no difiiculty in getting at the expenses, as I keep a strict account of time, and money paid out. Moreover, my farm is in such a state ot cultivation and preparation that I can break the whole ofit eight inches deep, without striking a root; so you see We can make good time with the plow. “I started December 1st with a stalk cutter, kept it filed up sharp, so it did its work well; next eight and nine inch clipper plows—rows are four feet. I run a center furrow in the middle ofroiv with a clipper plow’, and thFOW four furrows to that with same plow. I plow about eight inches deep; some may doubt that, but I take my measure and measure on the bar side ot the furrow till I get that depth and hold it there. This completes prepiration until plant- ting time. Cost per acre 57 cents, “Beds thrown up in December and January by planting time are so firm that a drag will notlower them sufficiently, so I run on top of the heil a heel Sweep, follow that with a railroad bar drag, and that with a. Champion planter. I planted thirty acres March 13th; balance April 1st to 10th. Cost per acre, 2) cents. Mind you I am only estimating cost. of labor. “As s )()11 as my cotton is fairly up, or as soon thereafter as the weather a or condition of’ the land will permit,I run around it with a sixteen- inch winged sweep set fiat on acultivator; with tenders rightly adjusted there will beno reason to stop to uncover cotton, and a go )d. team and hand will go over nine or ten acres per d-iy cost 8 cents per acre. “The next thing to do is to put cotton to a stand; and it in ready for that when it has three or four leaves. What I mean by a stand is one stzlk in_ a place two feet apart. By reference to my account book I find that chopping my cotton last spring cost me net 41 cents per acre. The cultivate: follows close behind the hoes with the same sixteen inch ivinged sweeps with the fen- TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT‘ STATION. ders on, which dirts up the young plants so completely and so rapidly that if" you never witnessed the operation it would delight you to stand and watch it for hours. I followed the cultivator with a thirty-four inch sweep, set so the- loose soilflows back over it, leaving no naked land beneath it. This is the most tasteful, complete and economical mode of cultivation I have ever tried. Cost of second plowing 16 cents per acre. “The third and fourth plowings were exactly similar to the second, and they cost a little less from the fact that there was no stopping to uncover little plants; say the two plowings cost 32 cents- "The last and fifth plowing was in July. Early in July we had a fine shower. My cotton was then too large for the cultivators. I ran round with a twenty inch sweep, run out middles with thirty-inch sweep. Cost 24 cents per acre, hoeing after first chopping estimated at I5 cents per acie. Thus we have a total cost per acre of $2.15. . “The above is almost the exact cost oflahor exclusive of the pay of my manager. "l" "t You will note I paid 77 cents perday for labor. '3“ I was fortunate last springin getting What day labor I needed, for the same I paid my regular hands. - “My crop will turn out. one-half bale per acre, one-third more than the av» erage in this section. “I estimate the tctal cost of producing and marketing 500 lbs. of cotton on my farm as follows: Cultivating two acre-r (including team and took) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..$ 9.30‘ Picking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ._ 8.00 Teainster for hauling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1.00 Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.00‘ 21.30 “Seed pays ginning, bagging and ties. _ "The varieties planted here are Heflev and Storm Proof. I prefer Storm Proof. Barely thirds itself at gin. The big yields I read about, I never real- ize at home. The most common rent here is a bale to ten atrres. ‘if ii‘ {e- ineniber this is a hi-t ~ry of my work for this year only, and it has been a re- lllftlkrl-bly favorable one for such Work. Anothe: yfear I may be found to do my work in a different way and at greater cost. In the spring; of i800, for 1n- stance, it rained so much that I was notable to get a plow in my corn until it was waist high. Then there was such a growth of grass and weedstliitt it was iinpossibie to plow it otherwise than with large turn plows, throwing. up high beds ab-oiit the stalk, and that ‘was all the plowing it ever got. Still I made fairlv good corn and a magnificent crab grass pasture, which keptiny stock till frost. The same year be"ore I could reach my cotton, the grass and weeds had assumed such proportions that I had to use turn plows, wrap it up in rniddles zind smother-it out; and I was only able to g1". re that cotton two yilow- ings, beside barring off. So you see the mere book farmer who makes all his calculations in zIdVztnCB and expects to work up to them is always liable to ClIS" appointment as well as failure. _ In the year 1890, instead of chopping to a stand, costing 41 cents per acre as this _vear, it cost over $1.00. I will add, ciiztivate with sweeps when prctica- ble, and never deep enough to disturb the iiiain lateral roots; and remember soil thrown up around the stalk is taken awayt from the roots and can do I10 possible good. "i" i‘ W. G. JoIixsoN.” From the above statements may be gathered something of the (lifiierent conditions ivhich are liable to confront the cotton planter in Texas. The lowest actual price at which any one submitting state- merits sold, was 7 cts per pound. average, as noted by Mr. Stone in statement No. ~I and also by Mr. “lellborn in statement No. 6. The actual cost of production, 1t is noticed, varies according to the price of labor, the niethivrl of pl‘9pitl’tltli)ll, kind aural quantity of fertilizers used. and the manner" and frequency of ctiltivat-ion. In the case of Mr. \Vellborn (statement No. 6) the machine plCklllg reduced his cost of production at‘ least <“l'6.C0 per acre. We have no recommendations to» COST or COTTON PRODUCTION. 301 imake on this point: If the machine does as ‘is claimed, it "certainly {should prove a paying investment for. any plantation of large size”; but the fact cannot be over-looked that a good many draw-backs have been found in practical operation, not all of Which have yet been suc- cessfullv remedied. ' . . Mr. Clark’s full statement covering an acre under his double crop forcing system-planted to English peas in January and put in cotton .as soon as the peas Were off—is of a profitably interesting character, :50 much so, that we have thought best to insert in full : STATEMENT No. 8. W. A. Clark, Temple, Bell C0., Texas, 1892. ONE ACRE. (English peas followed by Long Staple cotton same year.) Cost. Rent of land per acre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4.00 15 loads barn yard manure at 50c . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.50 Breaking in December per acre. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.50 2 bushels English peas at 374.00. .\ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .._ . 8.00 tPlowing one fourth day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .» . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . .. 50 Planting peas 1 1-2 days, beginning January 30th. . ._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 2.25 _ Picking 65 bushels peas. Q . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 20.00 i Planting cotton one hour .. . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .20 One bushel long staple cotton seed . . . . . . . . . . . .._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........ 1.00 Plowing cotton four times at 50c each . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.00 i Chopping cotton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .50 Picking 2100 pounds seed cotton at 60c per cwt . . . . . . . . § . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12.60 Marketing six hundred and fifty pounds lint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.00 rGinning, bagging and ties (omitted by Mr. Clark) at $3.00 per bale, . A average . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Total rost per acre, including rent of land . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .:f;65.05 Proceeds. e65 bushels peas sold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $85.00 650 pounds lint at 9c, actual price . . . . . . . . . . . _ . . . . . . . . .. 58.50 1 40 bushels cotton seed at 10c per bushel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.00 Total proceeds per acre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $147.50 Alel profit per acre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82.45 $147.50 $147.5 H It ‘will be seen that we have charged up the manure in full, as if were all used by the'crop the first year; when as a matter of fact it it is Well known that its effects will continue for a number of years with more or less decrease. As no charge was made for‘ hauling out f‘ - nd spreading the, manure, however, we have thought it fair to charge mp the whole cost of manure in this one year. Hr. Clark asks the jquestion, “did the manure pay?” In view of the profit made per acre ot only on the peas but also on the cotton, as shown by statement ‘No. 1, it is hardly necessary to answer that it certainly paid. i Without further comment on the statements of cost and proceeds er acre under the varying conditions of different sections, different rices and different individual methods, we present the following ixact figures from our own results for 1892. It must be remembered that our tests are not based on any un- atisfactorysystern of small plat culture, but are based on our prac- TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. tical Work covering a field 0f 18 acres of post-oak upland soil, in which one third bale per acre is considered a fairly good crop, and from which 18 acres we made, and sold at the average price given on the following statements, fifteen bales, not one of which weighed less than 500 pounds and some as heavy as 600-—a total weight of 8001 pounds of lint. Cost of labor is based on the following prices which are about an average of what we have had to pay for the last ten years, for hands and team labor, and include interest on investment, or wear and tear of machinery : $1.00 per day for man; $1.62 1-2 per day for man and one horse or mule, with cultivator or other one horse imple- H16I1t,$2.25p€1' day for man and two horses or mules, with plow, cultivator or other double team implement. The yield for last year was the best average we have yet made, and this we find is the experience of nearly’ every planter who has kept yearly records. Our yield the preceding year, 1891, Was also large, but not so much as last year by nearly ten per cent. The year preceding that, .1890, it was six or seven per cent less than in 1891. The percentage difference in yield just explained refers to the un- manured land as well as that which was fertilized-a fact which goes to show that our system of cultivation has tended gradually to im- prove the land and render heavier crops possible each succeeding year: COST OF COTTON PRODUCTION. ' 303.: STATEMENT No. 9. Tents Agricultural Eaperinuant Station, College Station, Brazos County, Texas, 1892..- ONE ACRE. ‘ (“Bohemian” Short Staple Cotton.) Rows {our feet apart; 650 lbs. fertilézer mixture applied at planting time. ost. Rent 0t land, average price cash rent, for same quality of land per acre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3_O&2= Fertilizer-300 lbs. cotton seed meal; 300 lbs. Acid Phosphate; 5O lbs. Kainit, 650 total—c0st per acre. . .. $7.14 Mixing and spreading fertilizer per acre . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . Breaking March 3rd. to 10th. Center furrow with bull tongue following in the same furrow with subsoil plow deep as team could pull it. Cost per acre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Bedding up; thowing two deep furrows with turning plow splitting middles deep, also with turning plow. Cost peracre. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1.55 Harrowing with smoothingharrow, March 11th to 12th. .45.. . $159, Cost per acne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .19 . . . . .. 2.06.. Planting April 4th to 6th with Eclipse corn and cotton planter. Cost per acre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . .. .27 Cotton seed, short staple. Costof seed per acre . . . . . . . . .08 . . . . .. 35.. 1st cultivation, April 20th to 22nd, with Ford one horse cultivator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .36 2nd cultivation, May 4th to 7th, same cultivator, after chopping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .3. 3rd cultivation, May 19th to 21st, same cultivator . . . . . .. .38 4th cultivation, June 8th to 9th, with 16 inch sweep twice - to the row, splitting middles with 22inch sweep once to the row. Cost per acre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .- . . .60 5th cultivation with 22 inch sweep twice to the row, first week in July. Cost per acre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .38 . . . . .. 2.1} Chopping. April 27th to May 4th. Cost per acre . . . . . . . .70 Hoeing out, May 25th to 26th. Cost per acre . . . . . . . . . .. .46.. . f. 1.16;. Picking 1634 lbs. seed cotton at 65c per cwt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10.62 Ginning 544lbs. lint at 60cts. per cwt., of lint, bagging and ties included . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . 3.26 Hauling to gin and back with seed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.00 Marketing: Freight paid per bale to Houston, Texas . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 2.25 Conimis.~ion, handling etc., paid per bale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1.50 . . . . .. 3.75» Total cost per acre including rent of land . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $31.90 Proceeds. 544 lbs. lintat9 5-80, average price at which cotton was sold 52.36 1080 lbs. cotton seed (l7 abs. lost in weight at gin) at $6.50 per ton (seed not sold, but. price given same as price paid for seed pilrchased by us at time of ginning) . . . . . .. 3.50 Total procteetls per acre . . . . . . . . . . _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . ._1§—55.86_ fiTdjiflgfitpfl" . . . . 20.96"» $55.86 $55867 The above statement shows exactly what was done last vear on post-oak upland soil with very hea.v_y' application of fertilizer mixture as noted. In order to give a clear view of the difference be- tween heavy and light application of manures, we present the follow-- ing, showing results for 1892 with a trifle less than half (1-2) as much fertilizer (300 lbs. per acre), mixed in almost the same proportion, as. will be seen by consulting statements herewith: T304 TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. STATEMENT N0. 10. ‘fem-s Agricaltutral Erperiment Station, College Station, Brazos Co, Texas, 1892. ONE ACRE. (“Bohemian” short staple cotton.) Lifibws four feet apart; 300 lbs. fertilizer mixture applied at time of "planting. Cost. ‘fient ofland per acre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .._. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..$ 3.00 B‘ertilizer—12_5 lbs. cotton seed meal; 125lbs. Acid Phos- phate; 50 lbs. cotton seed hull ashes; total 300 lbs.; cost per acre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 3.12 'Mix‘ing=and spreading fertilizer per acre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45. . . . 3 .57 wBreaking, same as statement No. 9. Center furrow and subsoiling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 32 Bedding up... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .......................... .. 1.55 ‘Harrowing. same as statement l\'o. 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .19. 2.06 ‘Planting ................................................................. .. .27 aCotton seed ............................................................. .. .08 . . . . .. .35 Plowing-five cultivations same as in statement No. 9 _ _ , _ _ _ , _ _ _ _ _ _ , _ , _ __ 2.11 Chopping and hoeing out. same as statement No. 9 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ , _ _ _ _ _ __ 1.16 ‘Picking 1452 lbs. seed cotton at 6-5 cents per cwt _ _ _ _ _ , _ _ , _ _ , _ , _ _ _ _ _ , , _ _ _ __ 9,44 'Ginninq 484 lbs. lint at 60c per cwt, of lint, bagging and. ties included ...................................................................... .. 2.92 Hauling to gin and back, with seed .......................................... .. 1.00 lMarketing: Freight paid per bale to Houston, Texas. . . . . . . . . . . _ _ _ , _ _ __ 2.25 l Commission, handling etc., paid per bale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1.50. . . . 3.75 ' Total cost per acre including rent of land _ _ , , _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ , _ “$29.30 Proceeds. ~-'~484 lbs. lint at 9 5-8c per lb. actual price . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..$45-58 1960 lbs. cotton seed at $6150 per ton.......; ......................... .. 3.12 TOW] Proceeds PPBI‘ 2C1? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..$49-70 U615 Pmfit Pa‘ acre ................................................................. .. 20.34 $49.70 $49.70 As illustrating the different elTec-ts of different fertilizers We sub- ‘zzmit statement from another acre of the same character of land, on which a mixture of bone meal and cotton seed hull ashes was applied ‘fin moderate qiaantitgvritg300flbs.) per acre : COST OF COTTON PRODUCTIOK, " STATEMENT No. 11. Tara-s Agricultural E.;rperii1nent Stat/ion, (Iollege Station, Brazos County, Te.rus,'f1892. ONE ACRE. a (“Bohemianf fihort Staple Cotton”) _ . Rows 4 feet apart; 300lbs. fertilizer mixture applied at planting time. Cost. Rent of land per acre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 3-00 Fertilizer: 150 lbs. bone meal; 150 lbs. cotton seed hull ashes: Total 300 lbs. Cost per acre........ $3.42 Mixing and spreading fertilizer. Costper acre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. A5 3-87 Breaking same as statement N0. 9. ,9 ~ Center furrow and subsoiling .............................. .. --32 Bedding up ........................................................ .. 1.55 Harrowing, same as statement No. 9 _ _ _ , . . . . . . . . . . . . . - - - . . . . . . . . .. .419. . . ."_2.-06 Plan ting ................................................................... . . 27 "* Cotton seed _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .08. . . . ‘.35 Plowing, five cultivations same as statement N0. 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 2111 Chopping and hoeing out, same as statement No. 9 . . . . .; . . . . . . .. 1716 Picking 1268 lbs. seed cotton at 65c per cwt. . . . .' . . . . . . , . _ _ , _ _ . _ . , _ __ 8.24 Grinning 423 lbs. lint at 60c per cWt of lint, bagging and ties included _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 2-53 Hauling to gin and back with seed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. -85 Marketing: Freight paid to Houston/fexas, at per bale . . . . . . . . . . . , 1.80 Commission, handling etc. at 1.50 per bale , _ , , . . . . . . . . . . . 1.20.... 3.00 Total cost per acre including rent of land . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. $27.17 Proceeds. i 423 lbs. lint at 9 5-80, actual price _ _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .._$4.0.71 835 lbs. cotton seed at $6.50 per ton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 2-71 Total proceeds per acre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. $43-42 Nelprvfitper acre- ................................................................... .. 16.25 N $43.42 $43.42 _The last three preceding statements, numbers .9, 10 and 11,=Tcczsas AgrricttlturalE1qz>e2~i1ne1it Station, College Station, Br qzos C0., 22.1118, i892. oxn ACRE. . a (“Bohemian” Short Staple Cotton.) ‘Rows 4 feet apart; 5 tons rich barn yard manure applied just before breaking. Cost. Rent Of land per acre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. 8.00 Fertilizer: 5 tons of barn yard manure at $1.00 per ton, in- cluding cost 0f hauling and spreading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 5.00 Breaking, same as statement number 9. Center furrow and subsoiling... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .32 Bedding up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1.55 Harrowing, same as statement 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . .. .19. . . . 2 06 Planting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 2'7 Cotton seed ..... ............................... ................... .. .08.. 35 Plowing. 5 cultivations, same as statement No. 9 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ 2.11 ‘Jhopping and hoeing out, same as statement No. 9 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ 1.16 Picking 1507 lbs. seed cotton at 65c per cwt , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 9.79 Grinning 502 lbs. lint at 60c per cwt of lint, bagging and ties included _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .... 55-01 Hauling to gin and back, with seed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1.00 Marketing: Freight paid per bale to Houston Texas . . . . . . . . . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ 2.25 . Commission, handling etc., paid per bale _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1.50. . . . 3.75 Total cost per acre including rent of land _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. $31.‘)? Proceeds. _502 lbs. lint at 9 5-8c, actual price . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..$43-31 990 lbs. cotton seed at $6.50 per ton _ , _ , _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ 3.22 - Total proceeds per aere . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....$5l.53 Net Ptqfit Per acre ...................................................... .. » 20-30 . As a basis for comparison We submit the statement immediately‘ following, showing actual figures for one acre, and being a fair average» for all of the unmanured land We had in cotton last season: tiosr or COTTON ‘PRODUCTION. ~ _ ~ 307 STATIarJENT No. Teras rlg/riicultzlrrtl Ifxperiment Station, College Station, Brazos Co., Terms, i892. ONE ACRE. “ (“BQl1e-n1ian” short staple cotton.) - A Rows four feet apart; no manure applied in any form. Rent oflanrl per acre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3.00 Breaking same as statment No. 9. Center furrow and subsoiling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .3; a Bedding up .... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ._1.55 , Narrowing, same as statement bio. 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 . . . . .. 2.05 f Planting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............. . .27 Cotion seed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .(.f-8. . ; . . . ._f-?5 1*l0wing—-tive cultivations, same as Statement N0. 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.11 Chopping and hoeing out, same as statement l\'o. 9 _ _ _ _ _ _ , _ _ , _ _ _ _ _» _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __1.16 Picking 848 lbs. seed cotton at (650 per cwt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _ . . . . . . . . _ ~Ginning lbs. lint at 60c per cwt., bagging and ties included _ _ _ _ _ , _ ,_-_1.8() Hauling to gin and back, with seed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . --‘--60 hlzirketingz: Freight paid 1o Houston at $2.25 per bale _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ._l.35 Commission, lI-andling: etc., at $1.50 per bale . ....... .90.. . . .225 Total cost per acre including rent ofland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “$18.84 Proceeds. i283 lbs. lint at9 5-8c actual price , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..$2(>‘.23 5601b»; cotton seed at $6.50 per ton , , _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .182 Total proceeds per acre _ $28.05 .Net profit per acre. . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..9.21 -_.j-____i_1- The relative profit per acre at difierent prices for cotton_ and “lowest limit at which cotton could have been sold to save cost of pro- duction in each statement as submitted, furnish a most interesting study, and we have therefore prepared the following condensed sum- mary setting forth the points noted for each statement: Cotton sold at home or local market, and no charge made for shipping or "ltand- ling and commissioryall handpicked except statement No. 6, in which the nzachine was used. Statement No. 1, W’. A. Clark, Bell Co.. "7 1-2 tons barn pard ‘manure used, lowest limit in price to save cost of production 11.09 cents per lb. Statement No.2, Homer Clark, Bell Co.; lowest limit in price to save cost of production 4.62 cents per lb. Statement No. 3, I. M. McCrary, Comanche Co.; lowest limit in price to save cost- of production 5.47 cents per lb. Statement No. 4, Gr. L. Stone, McLennan Co.; lowest limit iin price to save cost of production 5.24 cents per lb. Statement No. 5, J. F‘. Myers, Williamson Co., lowest limit in price to save cost of production 5 cents per lb. Statement No. 6, J eff Welborn, Bowie Co.; lowest limit in price" ‘to save cost of production 2.12 cents per lb. Statement No. 7, W. G. Johnson, Falls Co.; lowest limit in price to save cost of production 5.66 cents per lb. , Cotton sold in Houston, Texas; charge for freight, itandliizg and commission. in- cluded in cost ‘of production; all hand picked. 308 TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. Statement No.9, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Brazos Co; G50 lbs. fertilizer mixture used; lowest limit in price at Houston, Texas, to save cost of production 5.7 7 cents per lb. Statement No. 1'0, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Brazos Co; £3300 lbs. fertilizer mixture used; lowestlimit in price at Houston, Texas, to. save cost of production 5.42 cents per lb. Statement No. 11, Texas Agricultural experiment Station, Brazos Co; 300' lbs. fertilizer used, lowest limit in price, at Houston, Texas, to. cost. of production 5.78 cents per lb. Statement No. 12, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Bra- zos 00.; tons barn yard manure used; lowest limit in price at Hous- ton, Texas, to save cost of production. 5.57 cents per lb. Statement No. 13 Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Brazos Co; no manure used in any form; lowest limit in price, at Houston, Texas, to save cost of moduction 6.02 cents per lb. If it be desired to compare the price limit for cotton sold in Houston, with that sold in local or home markets, it is simply/Y neces- sary to tleduct 3-4 cents per pound of lint ($503.75 per bale) which we actually paid to cover freight, handling and commission, leaving the lowest limit to save cost of production when sold at the home market as followsr c Statenient o. 9, 5.02 cents per pound. Statement No. 10, 4.6T cents per pound. i Statement No. 11, 5.03 cents per pound. Statement No. 12, 4.82 cents per pound. Statement No. 13, 5.3T cents per pound. The lowest limit in price to save cost of production per acre under hand iaiteking, and when sold on home or local market. is thus seen to vary fronn rtbout 4». 1-10 (4.09) as shown by Mr. Clark’s figures in statement No. 1, to about 5 2-3 (51116) cents per pound shown by Mr. Johnson in statement No. T In statement No. 6 where machine picking was practiced, Mir. Welborn was able to sell at a limit of zibout 2 1->.~‘;_ (2.12) cents per pound and still save cost of production. 0' The ditleimnirve in price for some of the items noted in each state- ment caxa be explained by natural situation. Hauling to gin and back and marketing, at home or local market is regulated largely by the dista.11:;~<->. Bent of land is usually based on yield per acre and on market nearness, Cost of hand picking is, of course, determined by the scarcity or ztbuntelzrnce of labor at the time when cotton must be picked. In the main, the figures given in the different statements do not vary ‘widely, and the profit made per acre thus is shown to follow, almost in (lirect proportion, yield per acre due to natural or made fertility’, and the price received for cotton when placed on the- market. \Ve may now devote more particular attention to the query pro- pounded lay Mr. Clark-“ditl the manure pay?” Given the same conditions of soil, climate, seed and cultivation; manured land will pay a profit per acre over that without manure exactly in proportion to the increased yield resulting, and showing stronger as the price received for cotton rises. That this is true may be readily seen from the fOllOWi11g' tabular statement: Column “A” showing profit per acre on each of the 5 acres for which statements are submittedfrom this station at a supposed price of 6 1-2c per pound; r- 1&1 m.‘ Mb m...hn:;¢w (£1m.m\ 0 m 4M‘ mg: 'P' ~ »~ cosr OF COTTON PRODUCTION. 309 column “B” showing profit per. acre at 9 5-80 per pound, the actual price received 0n last years sales, and column “C” showing profit per acre at a supposed higher price of 1O 1-2c per pound—all prices based on deliver ' at Houston 'l‘exas Where our last vear’s cotton Was sold: y 7 7 o l I A. i B. ’ o. Profit per Pro-fit per Profit per acre at acre at acre at 6 1-2 cts. 9 5-2:’ cts. I110 1-2 cts. l Statement No. 9. 650 pounds fertilizer mixture $3.95 $20-95 $25.92 300 pounds cotton seed meal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 300 pounds Acid Phosphate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 50 pounds Kainit _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. (550 pounds zStatement No. 10. 300 pounds fertilizer mixture. . .. 35-22 $20-34 $24-58 125 pounds cotton seed meal , _ _ _ , _ _ _ _ , _ _ , _ _ 125 pounds Acid PlIOSPhELtG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 5O pounds cotton seed hull ftallES . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 300 pounds PStatement No. 11. 2-500 pounds fertilizer mixture... 33-03 115-25 $19-95 150 pounds Bone meal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150 pounds cotton seed hull ashes . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 300 pounds . 9 , -Statement No. 12. 5 tons barn yard manure . . . . . . . .. 9541,22 $20-$11 $24-70 Statement No. 13. No manure in any form _ . . . . . . . . .. $107 $51-31 $12-69 The value of manure in cotton planting, as in other forms of fatrining, lies in the fact that We are able to increase the yield Without materially increasing cost of cultivation. The same rent of land or ‘interest on investment; the same cost for breaking, harrowing, plant- ing, seed and cultivation as with unmanuredland; the only increase showing in the cost of What manure is applied, together With the extra cost of picking, ginning and marketing the increased yield resulting from manure application. Not all manures prove equally effective, nor does any one manure shoW a constant fixed effect regardless of the soil or season. Time and mode of application; climate, especially moisture conditions, and time and mode of cultivation, all afliect the faction of manures and make the outcome more or less uncertain. As a rule, heavy applications of nianure Will not pay so Well as lighter doses unless in seasons exceptionally favorable. It should be remem- bered ‘also that the figures We have given from our tests, represent the profit made per acre With manure application all charged up to one yearis crop. lVe have made this single-charge Without allowing for accumlation of manure in the soil, for the simple reason that We Wished to make our statements cover every item Which might possibly be charged against the crop, and that the profit made per acre should be clear of all appearance of inflation. For sometime there has existed -a popular belief among those not Well informed that the staple crop of 1310 TEXAs AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. ‘this section, at any thing less than" 9 or 10c cotton, is a necessarily losing business. That ‘this view is incorrect the statements herewith submitted show conclusively; but, while this is true, it must also be ‘rememlbered that in farming, as in other forms of business‘, failures "sometimes come, and often when we least expect them. Roast Rot, insect pests, excessive moisture, drouth and bottom prices may result disastrously’ to calculated profits. Labor cannot always be obtained ‘WlTGH needed, nor is that we can obtain always etficient. Eor a renter especially, cotton planting presents an intrcate problem. He cannot afford to fertilize the land on short-time lease, and long time leases for a term of years, so common in other coun- tries,are here scarcely know. As a result of this the . renter must de- pend on thorough preparation, careful planting, persistent, proper cultivation and intelligent diversity of crops to insure a reasonable" e profit on the land he cultivates. For the independent homestead planter, who depends on brain and muscle to insure success, the problem takes a wider range and admits of easier demonstration. For all such the proper use of fertilizers and the combination of such other crons, with cotton, as will best economize labor by permitting steady employment throughout the year, will furnishia key to the "situation. As usual, in nearly all matters of importance, the average ability will find middle ground the r safest. Contrary to a very prev- ;-a1ent belief, there is still money to be made in cotton growing; but it follows careful work, and intelligent judgment and will never come Without an effort. The man who can and does diversify his farming interests, without discarding cotton as so many would advise, is the ‘one who finds a profit in the staple, one year with another.