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6 THE ATLANTA SEMI-WEEKLY JOURNAL. ATLANTA, GA, Tuesday, December 23, 1913 ricultural and SUCCESSFUL EARIffltG w Andrew M.^oule PRODUCERS' INTERESTS NOT CONSIDERED IN THE HANDLING AND MARKETING COTTON IN OKLAHOMA This department wilt cheerfully endeavor to furnish any information. Letters should be addressed to Dr. Andrew M. Soule, president State Ag ricultural College, Athens, Oa. THE MENACE OF THE BOLL WEEVIL T -fOSE who have studied the steady and relatively speaking uniform advance and spread of the boll weevil throughout the cotton growing- states realize that it has come to stay. Sooner or later it will eventually infest all the territory now devoted to tne growth of co'tton. Reliable authorities state that it is now as far east as Do than, Ala., and headed towards tne Georgia border. It would appear cer tain, therefore, that it will infest some of the southwest Georgia counties in 1914, though serious damage from Its presence will hardly be witnessed be fore the following year. It behooves the people of this state, therefore, to get ready to meet this infestation by one of the greatest menaces of modern times to the agricultural and industrial welfare of the state of Georgia. In spite of the treasure which has been expended to study the life history and habits of the boll weevil no means completely destroying it in territory it has once inhabited has as yet been found. Consequently, it is to become an active factor of momentous impor tance to the agricultural interests oi Georgia in the not distant future. Since what affects the farmers affects all, no citizen can escape the result of any injury which the boll weevil may Inflict. It is, therefore, a question or universal and paramount importance. The life history of the weevil has now been studied most exhaustively ana it appears that little is to be gained at present from further work along this line. In fighting It the following plan of action has proven most successrtu in the territory already attacked as It represents the observations and experi ence of many workers and affords the best basis for predicting a plan on which Georgia farmers may hope to meet and combat its ravages most suc cessfully. Fields selected for cultivation should be well drained so that they can be planted early and the cotton brought to maturity in the shortest period of time possible. Stalks in infested fields should be destroyed before frost ana rubbish in and about the field burned. This is imperative as it removes tne protection which the weevil requires during the period of hibernation. Brea* the land as early in the fall as practi cable and to a good depth. Before plant ing the ground should be thoroughly pulverized so as to secure a fine seed *>ed. Early maturing varieties 1 of cot ton are of the highest importance. This does not mean that small boll varieties need of necessity be used. Early plant ing is desirable and relatively wla© planting is an advantage. . Or course planting should not be done in any event while there is still danger of frost. The use of section harrows be fore planting and after the crop is up will be found helpful. Intensive fertil ization and shallow, rapid cultivation cannot be urged too strongly. When the weevils appear in the field early in the season in considerable numbers hand picking or poisoning should be Immediately resorted to. When damage by the weevil is first evidenced by the appearance of punctured squares attach a pole to the handle of a cultivator so as to knock the squares off. Persistent ly pick up and biirn the infested squares. Above all, practice crop rota tion. Diversify and rediversify. Em phasize and persist in the production of animals of every class and variety adapted to Georgia conditions. By this means the evil influences of the weevil on our agriculture can be checkmates* successfully and the invasion of this pest mitigated in the highest degree possible. A successful fight against the boll ♦ weevil appears therefore, to rest in the first and last analysis on a state-wide campaign of education which will en able the farmers to become thoroughly acquainted with the means which have been employed n^ost successfully to en compass the destruction of the weevil in other states. They must be taught how to produce, handle and finish live stock. How to rotate crops, what crops to grow and when to harvest and mar ket to the best advantage. To this end the state of Georgia should liberally endow thje extension—demonstration agencies now at work to regenerate the agricultural practice of £he state. Real izing the importance of this matter, the College of Agriculture in co-opera tion 4 ^ith the United States department of agriculture has already placed in the field sixty-four county demonstration agents. The result of their work is too $9.50 Christmas Offer Our Annual Christmas Combination FEATHER BED, FEATHER PILLOWS, PAIR OF BLANKETS AND BOLSTER Greatest bargain ever offered. Feather Bed weighs 40 lbs., covered in 8 oz. A. C. a. ticking; nair of 6 lb. pillows, same grade; Pair full slz e blankets and large, 6 lb. bolster. This combi nation would cost you at n retail store $17.50. AN IDEAL CHRISTMAS GIFT $10,00—2 Feather Mattresses, I Ticking—$10.00 Built for winter and summer use. One side a succession of soft, springy sections, snug and warm. Other side, firm, smooth and cool, for summer use. Weighs 35 lbs. Guaranteed for a lifetime. Something new. $6.85 86 LB. FEATHER BED $6.35 No excuse for not having a new, comfortable feather bed. now. AH feather beds, mattresses, pillows made from new, clean, odorless and dustless feathers. Mattresses, beds and pillows ventilated and sanitary. All goods guaranteed, you must be satisfied or money back. Cash must come with orders. Good territory for live agents. Catalog free. Write today for your bed. Refer ence: Broadway National Bank. PURITY BEDDING CO., Box 244.C, Nashville Tenn. FEATHER BED BARGAINS Send u» 410.00 ami we will ship you one first-class new 40-pound Feather Bed. one pair 6-pound new Feather Pillows-($2.50), one pairful] size Blankets ($3.00), one dandy Comfort, full size ($3.00), all for only S10.00. All new goods and no trash. Biggest Bargain ever offered. Satisfaction guaranteed. This offer is good for a short time only to advertise our goods. Mail money order now or write for circular ana order blanks. SOUTHERN FEATHER & PILLOW CO. D«pt. 1234 Qroansboro, M. C. GOOD COTTON SEED We have a record of 65 bales on 45 acres tills season. Fine lot of pure, clean seeds to sell. $1.00 the bushel. Buy now and get something good. 1,250 pounds will more than make a 500- pound bale. Fort Valley Fruit Farm, 11, Fort .Valley, Oa, well known to need special emphasis at this time. These same authorities established and organized the boys’ and girls’ corn and canning - clubs, thus teaching the rising generation how to pioduce new sources of revenue from the soils of the state. The extension department of the Col lege of Agriculture in co-operation with the bureau of soils has been promoting soil surveys that the intelligent fertil ization of our lands may be carried on more successfully in the future than has been possible in the past. The de partment of animal husbandry is pro moting the breeding of horses, cattle and hogs. The pig club work and the dairy work, for instance, is being car ried on in co-operation with the Uni ted States department , of agriculture, bureau of animal industry. In its ef forts along this line the college has had the co-operation of the progressive citi zens of Georgia, the board of trade, the commissioner of agriculture, the stat^ board of education and the county superintendents and teachers. Practical ly every one who has given any con sideration to the matter realizes its vital importance and the necessity of preparing for the worst plague which has ever come upon our agriculture. Without funds and in abundance the work can not be maintained and pro moted on a basis commensurate with the exigencies of the situation. It is up to the state and to its citizens to provide these funds and thus minimize the damage which the weevil will other wise inflict upon Georgia. The writer believes that the funds will be forth coming through legislative enactment and through the response t/o this appeal which the business men of Georgia will feel constrained to make for the pro tection of their best interest. / * * # TOO MUCH WEED IN COTTON. H. I,., of LaGrange, Ga., Writes :* I bare a tenant who gets on his bottoms a splendid stand of cotton, heavily fruited with large bolls, but which rarely opens more than a few bells to the stalk. The upland sur rounding the bottoms Is a red clay. Can you suggest what he may do to get cotton on his bottoms which will open? Or would it be best to cut the cotton out on the bot toms? It is possible that the soil about which you inquire is so low in phos phoric acid that the cotton crop is not provided with enough of this element to insure the proper feeting of the plants and the maturity of the bolls before they are damaged by frost. We judge that this land produces a vigorous growth of stalk and leaf. Such b^lng the case, we would select a relatively small stalked sparsely leaf variety for cultivation on the area in question. We would plant the cotton further apart than usual so as to let the sun light and air in as completely as possible. Do not use any nitrogen or at least a very little in the formula applied next year, but emphasize phosphorus and potash to some extent. If this land is very alluvial in character it may not con tain a sufficient amount of phosphoric acid and potash. Therefore, we would suggest that you use a formula con taining 12 per cent of phosphoric acid and 4 per cent of potash. Apply 600 to 700 pounds per acre. On some of the land we would then use as much as 1,000 pounds with the idea of making a comparison to determine if the heavier application of phosphoric acid and pot ash proved more effective than a lighter application. If this treatment does not hasten the maturity of the crop and enable you to get the bolls open before frost falls we know of no other practical sugges tion to make at present for growing cotton successfully on this land. If the recommendations made fcfil we would advise using the area as a hay bot tom or plant it in corn to be followed by a winter cover crop such as oats or oats and vetch. Draining this bot tom with tile will probably be found beneficial and you might then easily grow cotton successfully as the removal of surplus moisture would tend to hasten maturity and promote the early fruiting of the crop. * * * AN APPRECIATIVE SUBSCRIBER. J. F. M., Denton, Oa. writes: I am very much interested in the great work you are performing for’ the uplift of the farmers and their sons of this, our great old state. I want you to put me on your mailing list and send me anything you think will be of interest to farmers of this section of the state. I wish to get some good variety of wilt resistant cotton seed. Also a good early variety of some other kind. I also wish to secure a variety of corn you think best suited to this section. Office of Markets Shows How Cotton ^Growers Sustain Great Losses Which Might Be Avoided by Co-operation WASHINGTON, D. C., Dec. 22.— 'There is not a single important step or process in the entire cotton handling and marketing scheme which owes its origin to a special consideration of the producer’s interests,” is one of the con clusions reported by the Office of Mar kets of the United States Department of Agriculture in its Bulletin No. 36, of November 15, 1913, on “Studies of Primary Cotton Market Conditions in Oklahoma.” This bulletin can be ob tained free, as long as the supply lasts, by application to the department. These studies began in October, 1912. They have covered 103 cotton market towns of Oklahoma, involved the sam pling of over 3,200 bales of cotton with records of date, place of sale and price paid to the grower. They also involved careful grading and stapling of these samples and a close comparison between the prices paid to the grower and the actual differences in grade. As a re sult of these studies, the investigators find that practically every feature of the handling and marketing system is retained because of the insistence of some one of the numerous middlemen and carriers who have at best only a temporary interest in cotton. Even the spinners’ desire for a better bale kept under shelter until It is shipped to the mill and with a covering which would keep the cotton clean and dry is sys tematically ignored. These conditions apply to many other cotton markets in the south. Partly as a result of the findings, the Office of Markets is now conducting extensive in vestigations in eighty typical local mar keting points throughout the cotton belt. The investigation showed the follow ing conditions: Actual quality above middling has little effect on the price paid to the producer, because (a) In general, the ginners, who buy a large proportion of the cotton, pay very nearly the same price for all cot ton purchased on a given day. (b) In many street markets, even where there are a large number of buy ers, widely differing prices are paid on the same day for bales of identical qual ity. There is no uniform price even for middling cotton. (c) The differences fixed by Oklahoma firms allow only about one-half as much premium for graces above middling as do the differences of the New York Cot ton exchange. This, however, should not be construed as an approval of tne New York fixed difference system. (d) In actual street buying the pre miums paid for bales grading above middling, are far less than the locally advertised differences for such grades. In some cases the bulk of the cotton is bought as middling for weeks at a time, when a large majority of the bales are actually above that grade. (e) Except in the southwestern part of the state no attention is paid to length of staple in fixing the price of the Individual bale, but certain regions receive slightly higher prices than oth ers because of reputed superiority of average staple. (f) The cotton trade in Oklahoma rec ognizes no grade above good middling, although many thousand bales of high er grade are produced. From these conditions it is apparent, the investigators say, that accurate knowledge ( of cotton grading is of little value to the producer in marketing his individual crop under present conditions. The prices paid to farmers both for seed cotton and for lint are too largely based on a system of averages. This works great injustice to the producers of the best grades, and discourages care ful picking and improvement of varie ties in length of staple. The greatest losses to the farmers under the present system of marketing appear to lie in their failure to secure the premium for their high grades which these bales finally bring. The farmer is not a party to the neg lect which results in most of the coun try damage, but he receives no com pensation for any extra care which he may bestow upon the finished bale. No evidence has come to light that any attention is paid to the variety of short staple cotton grown when fixing the price. In other words, the only advantage derived by the grower of an improved variety is the advantage which may result from Its larger yield per acre, its higher percentage of lint, or some strictly cultural characteristic. RELATION OF PRICE OF MIDDLING IN LOCAL MARKETS AND GALVESTON. To bring out the general relation be tween the price of middling cotton in different local markets in Oklahoma as compared with the Galveston closing price of the preceding day, four middlng bales were selected at different times in fifteen towns, their range of local price noted and difference from the Gal veston price determined. It was found that the range in price paid in a local market for dif ferent bales of middling cotton varied from 75 cents in Duncan to $6 a bale in Erick, where on the same day $52 and $58 were paid for a bale of this same grade. The difference between local average middling prices and the Galveston price varied from 60 cents in Ryan to $5.20 in Marietta. There seems to be no regularity in variations between local prices and the Galveston prices. In Norman at different times the differ ences from the Galveston price was $1.05, $2.10 and $3.10. All figures are based on random sampling, but bales sold in round lots were excluded. The figures do not represent the extreme ranges on the days samples were tak en, as the collectors usually secured samples before learning the price for which the bales sold. That the price ot middling is often more variable than any other is brought out by the figures for Correll on November 8, A total of thirteen bales were sampled. Of these three w6re middling and the extreme variation in price among them was $5; three bales were strict middling, and the extreme variation in price among them was $3.76; five bales graded strict low middling, and the extreme range in price was $2.50; one bale of good middling brought $60, the- highest price among these thirteen bales, but a low middling spotted, the poorest bale of the thirteen, brought exactly the same price. IRREGULARITIES IN PRICES PAID IN SAME MARKETS ON THE SAME DATE FOR IDENTI CAL COTTON. The investigation showed that in the case of strict middling cotton in the same local market the difference in price for bales of this grade would vary from $2 to $7.25. In the case of low middling cotton in seven, markets, the price variation on the same day was from $2.20 to $12.50 a bale. In the case of strict low middling cotton the variation ran from $2/0 to $3 per bale. The following table shows the variation in high and low grades and tinges: HIGH AND LOW GRADES AND TINGES. Variations Between Identical GRADE— Place. Date. 1912 Bales. Good Middling . .Purcell. Oct. 30 $5.00 Strict middling tinged .. Noble. Nov. 21 5.00 Do . .Byars. do 5.00 Do . .Durant Dec. 4 5.00 Do . .Lawton Dec. 12 5.00 Low mailing tinged . ■. . .Madill. Dec. 20 7.50 Strict good ordinary .. . .Terral. Nov. 8 7.00 Good ordinary .. Mangum Nov. 7 19.00 Summing up this feature of the in vestigation it may be stated that the fluctuations in prices paid for any grade of cotton from day to day, or during any one day, exceed greatly those jus tified by any change in the buyers’ lim its or in spot transactions in the great cotton markets. APPLICATION OF DIFFERENCE SHEET TO FARMERS’ COTTON. According to the investigators, the whole question of the application of the difference sheet in Oklahoma appears to be in a chaotic condition. In general the premiums offered by Oklahoma firms for grades above middling are about one-half as great as those of the New York Cotton Exchange. For the grades below middling the penalties are, in a geenral way, almost twice as great. The results of the investigation show conclusively that the difference sheet receives little attention in fixing, the price offered the grower. On November 15, 1912, bales ranging from strict middling down to strict good ordinary spotted were bought in one small town at 11.05 cents per pound. Five days later the extreme range was $3 per bale, but the investigators found single bales of strict middling, strict low middling, and good ordinary each of which sold at 11.50 cents per pound. In a neighboring town, with only two grades between the highest and lowest bales, the difference in prices actually paid was $7.26 a bale. A SPECIFIC APPLICATION OF THE DIFFERENCE SHEET. An analysis of the prices and premi ums actually paid for seven bales of cotton sold in Shawnee on November 2 shows pointedly the failure of the pres ent sellihg system to secure for the farmer proper recognition of superior quality. This lot of samples was found to consist of one middling, three strict middlings and three strict good mid dlings. The middling bale brought 11.25 cents per pound, which by comparison with the prices at the ports we must assume to be a fair price, Shawnee be ing recognized as a premium market. Of the three strict middling bales, two brought 11.25 and one brought 11.35 cents per pound. Of the three strict good middling bales, one brought 11.25 The wilt disease of cotton is now known to be one of the most destructive parasitic diseases which attacks this crop. The disease does not seem to be affected matrially by cimatic condi tions. Plants grown on sandy lands seem to be somewhat more readily af fected by wilt than those growing on heavier types of soil. The principal method of fighting this trouble Is through the growth of resistant varie ties. In this respect the strains of cotton now generally cultivated show a wide divergence. The most resistant strains of upland cotton found to date are Jackson’s, Limbl’s, the Dixie, the Dillon and other strains, the general characteristics of which have probably not as yet been so well established as those mentioned. The Jackson and es pecially the Dillon are probably two strains which you can plant to good ad vantage provided you can purchase seed which has been grown under favorable conditions, as a selection for resistance to the wilt disease. Of course you understand that in selecting for this purpose the plants should be chosen from infested fields and from those areas from which the disease has been worse. You should not have serious difficulty in securing a choice strain of the Dillon variety which is especially recommended. While there are many varieties of early cotton there are prob ably none superior to a good strain of King, Broadwell or Simpkins. Of course there are rhany other varieties which would come under this class and are worthy of test, but we have found those mentioned to give good satisfaction where earliness and other useful qual ities are taken under consideration. We would recommend the growth of prolific varieties of corn in most parts of Georgia, except where the soil is un usually rich as in extensive bottoms. Among the varieties which have given excellent results here at the college are Marborough’s, Hastings and WhAtley. Tliese are all relatively small two-year sorts. The corn is quite flinty and the cob is white* on the two first named varieties, but red on the Whatleys. These strains cultivated side by side in our demonstration field fpr several years have given good results and made satisfactory yfelds on soils of only fair fertility and under the varying climatic conditions which have existed during the past several years. We think you will find a good strain of seed of any of these varieties satisfactory for your conditions. * * * WILL A SMALL DAIRY PAY. W. C. Powell, Pansy, Ga.. writes: I con ceived the idea about three months ago that a small dairy run on a high plain In con nection with my farm would be profitable. My purpose is to sell butter and send it by parcel post. I have done this much so far. I bought a DeLaval separator as per your suggestion, also ten of the best cows in this section (natives). I built a good cow house with ten stalls. Have contracted fir thirty tons of cotton seed hulls and twen ty tons of cotton seed meal and am now about ready to go to work. I have hired a good industrious man to attend to my dairy, but would like to know something about the best rations for my cows. There should be a good opportunty for the dairy business in your commun ity as the demand for good butter is very keen and likely to continue so for a long time to come. The reasons are under-production in proportion to the consuming population. A fine quali ty of butter should sell at 40 cents. Of course much of it does not bring over 25 cents or 30 cents, but this is probably the fault of the producer rather than anything else. As to the practicability of shipping butter by parcel post, there will naturally be some reasons for doubt in saying whether the butter might be too long in transit for the customer to get it in good condition as to texture and flavor. Possibly some other method of delivery can bo arrived at which will be more satisfactory, though now as the parcel post is to be extended in proportion to size and weight of pack ages you" might be able to handle your packages well through the mail. You have done well to purchase a sep arator and to build a good house for your cows. You now need facilities for cooling, and handling your cream , to advantage after you have separated it. A spring house with running water will answer well for this purpose. You should aim in the future to grow feed for your cows and not find it necessary to buy roughage in particular. Meal and hulls should do well for your cows. You should feed the meal at the rate of three to five pounds per head per day with as much hulls as they will eat up clean. This will vary from fifteen to twenty pounds, depending on the size of your cows. Do not feed too much meal, and If you can provide a cereal pasture during the winter: it will be to advantage to do so. The dairy business requires great care as to sanitation and dispatch in the handling of the products, and especially Is this true in warm weather. Good houses for housing your cows, the cooling of your cream and the churning of the butter are all essential. * * * WANT TO TAKE A SHORT COURSE. W. G. W., Reeves, Ga., writes: Would you be so kind as to inform me -what short courses, if any, you offer which would be a benefit to one who is iutensely interested in better farming methods in Georgia. We ar e incorporating a small agricultural school at this place which is designed to serve the more mountainous districts of this section. In view of this we would be glad If it were possible for us to get more closely In touch with your work. Any information you can give me will be appreciated. The College of Agriculture offers a se ries of short courses which would be of great benefit to*one interested in better farming methods. These courses com mence on January 6th and will continue through the 23d of the month. Tne courses deal with cotton industry, in cluding a study of soils, fertilizers, im plements related to cotton growing, dis eases, insects and the grading and hand ling of cotton. There is also a course in cereal production. This discusses the insects injurious to grain, methods of seed selection, crop rotations and the judging of cereals. There Is also a course in live stock farming which in cludes a consideration of feeds and feed ing, the breeds and breeding, diseases of animals and the treatment of the same. Special work is also offered in poultry culture. For boys and girls there are corn and canning club courses, while for the horticulturists a special course has also been provided, including a study of the various fruits, orchard management, insects and diseases affectir*" fruit and practical demonstrations of spraying and pruning. These courses are free save for rail road fare and board and lodging while here. A registration fee of $1 is charged, which does not pay for the lecture sheets which are furnished each student. Do you not think the state has provided liberally for the practical training of her farmers by offering this splendid series of short courses under the direc tion of Competent experts at a cost to the individuals of from $15 to $25. Sure ly it will pay one interested in the de velopment of agricultural school to take full advantage of the opportunities which these courses offer to them. and two brought 11.35 cents per pound each. Now, assuming that one farmer pro duced all these Pales, he actually lost on the three strict middling bales $1.35, as compared with what tne local differ ences would have allowed him. On the three bales of strict good middling wnich by local custom would be graded only as good middling - , he received $3.05 less than he was entitled to even under local differences. ±ie actually received a total of only $1.50 in premium above .middling price on the whole six bales of hign-graue cotton. If tne New York difference sneet had been applied, al lowing the premiums presumably paid Dy the mills lor suen cotton, this larmer should have received $3.60 in premium on* his three strict middling bales and $10.20 in premium on the three strict good middling bales, or total of $13.8o above the price of mid dling lor his six bales, instead of the $l.bu which he actually received. Summing up this whoie matter of pre miums ana penalties tne report contin ues, we may say that the larmer sells his cotton subject to comparatively lit tle variation in price in consequence of variation in grade, but that he is sub jected to a process of averaging to which he is not consciously a party, which is based upon no dennite consid eration of his rights or interests and which must inevitably be so adjusted as to leave a hidden profit for the buyer, This system of averages is arrived at by a rule ol’ thumb, is never reduced to writing, and is subject to no supervis ion or adjudication. Averaging prices on the original pur chase of cotton is a vicious practice because it is impossible to distribute equitably its benefits and burdens. By this sytsem the careful and progress ive are regularly penalized for the ben efit of the indifferent and thriftless. GROWERS LOST $20,000 IN PREM IUMS ON ONE GRADE. For some reason not satisfactorily explained, the cotton trade in Oklahoma recognizes no grade above good mid dling. All strict good middling and middling fair bales are expected to be graded and sold as good middling. The reason for this practice is alleged to be That the higher grades are not produced in sufficient volume to permit full car- lots to be concentrated for shipment. Consequently , small dealers or fanners can not get a cent above good middling price for strict good middling bales, even when their actual grade is admit ted by the cotton merchant. As the result of the sampling, the in vestigators estimate that the crop of Oklahoma for 1912 contained some 19,000 bales of strict good middling cotton on which the New York differ ences would entitle some. one to a to tal of over $20,000 in premiums above the price of good middling. No one in the state who was interview ed admitted having received a cent of this premium. COMPETITION AMONG BUYERS DOES NOT AFFECT ‘THE PRIMARY MARKET. “Cotton growers,” according to the bulletin, “very generally measure the desirability of a market by the numi ber of cotton buyers therein. Our work gives us no ground for accepting this view.” The bulletin then cites investigations at nineteen points in which the average price per pound paid for a lower grade cotton was mor’e than the average price paid for certain higher /grades of cotton on the same day. This condition was found in about one-fourth of the markets in which extensive sampling was undertaken. In speaking of the effect of compe tition, the bulletin states: “Mountain Park has only two buy ers, but Mangum has twenty-seven street buyers and we must assume that everything which competition can do to force proper respect for quality is done in Mangum. By what operation of the competitive principle does not happen that a low mddling bale can be bought for $1.55 less than the average price of four ordinary bales, when by the pub lished differences of the trade it should bring $13.75 more than an ordinary bale? # “A study of these facts leads to the conclusion that prices on indiivdual bales are fixed by some consideration into which local competition for the cotton does not enter appreciably. In a majoirty of cases the actual grade of the particular bale does have a real influence on its price, but not to the extent that it does in later transactions between dealers. Most of the buyers are the subordinates of middlemen. A multiplicity of buyers means that just so many more men are living on the profits made on the cotton of the com munity after the farmers have parted with it.” THE INFLUENCE OF STAPLE ON PRICE IN OKLAHOMA. A section of southeastern Oklahoma extending from Durant to Fort Towson produces staple cottons similar in qua! ity to those marketed at Paris and Clarksville, Tex. Outside of this terri tory practically no attention is paid to the length of staple in determining the price which will be paid to the pro ducer. In a general Way the eastern half of the state is believed to produce a bet ter staple than the western half, and instances have been known in which New England buyers, have stipulated that the cotton must originate east of the Santa Fe railroad, when the very types which they had accepted were drawn from bales produced in the west ern part of the state. In order to show just how little dif ference in staple there is between cot ton from the eastern and western parts of the state, the investigators stapled samples from over 3,000 bales with the general result that the regions in the eastern part of the state which have a reputation for good staple were found to have an aotual average advantage of about one-sixteenth inch. Outside of the small district previously mentioned, it is probably safe to say that there are no two compresses in the state the cotton from which will show an aver age difference of much over one-six teenth of an inch throughout the sea son. In addition to discussion of these subjects, the bulletin also deals with the practice of selling cotton on the seed. Chapters are devoted to the market ing of “bolly” and “gathered” cotton and to the system whereby growers of di versified products, having but a few bales of cotton to sell, sell exclusively to general merchants. The merchant, because he buys cotton as a means of collecting open accounts and securing general trade, gauges his offer by the value of the farmer’s good will rather than the exact grade of cotton. This mixing of bill collecting and cash trad ing with cotton selling is destructive to close discrimination between grades and a scale of prices based on the real value of the cotton. The fluctuations of prices in primary markets also are considered and the fig ures indicate rather pointedly that the grower does not reecivew by any means, Didst Ever Hear Tell Of the Dasheen? 'Tis Very Fine Food, Indeed Secretary Houston New Vegetable Is for Turkey Dressing-Tastes Like Boiled Chestnut Declares Delicious PEORA, Ill., Deo. 22.—H. L. Now- ingr a fowl, or how to stuff a Christ mas turkey,” recently has given experts in the federal department of agricul ture food for thought, with the result that Secretary of Agriculture Houston has issued a formal statement dealing with this all-important gastronomic Problem. The following Is recommended by Mr. Houston as being the last word in tur key stuffing: Two parts of riced dasheens. One part of bread. One egg Butter to correspond in quantity to the dasheens and bread. Salt, pepper, sage and onions. It ts a simple little recipe^—all but the dasheens, which really form the ba sis of the whole. Comparatively few have heard anything of the dasheen, and fewer still are familiar with its fine qualities or the many uses to whicn it may be put. Secretary Houston, in his statement, devotes many words to a discussion of the dasheen, which he regards sis a -‘most delicious vegetable not only for turkey stuffing, but also for independ ent preparation. They may be boiled, roasted, baked, fried as fritters, used for salads, biscuit, pies, muffins or griddle cakes. The dasheen is not a new vegetable. It is as old as the hills, and it grows in hills. But it was introduced in America only recently, and Secretary Houston has been so favorably im pressed with It that he is now devot ing himself to encouraging Its cultiva tion generally. A SUPERIOR FLAVOR. The flavor of the dasheen Is superior. It tastes something like a boiled chest nut, and resembles in appearance an undersized cocoanut. The dasheen came originally from China. Its name seems to indicate, says Mr. Houston, a cor ruption of the French “de Chine.” It was transplanted from China to South American countries, but the department of agriculture has discovered that it will prosper in oru southern states. In growth the dasheen is not unlike In appearance the plant known famil iarly as the " elephant’s ear,” but the resemblance stops there. The tops of the dasheen make delightful greens for cooking. The department of agriculture has the full benefit of a rise in prices at the port. There seems to be no exact con nection between the Galveston prices and the local prices; when the trend is upward the local prices advance rather slowly, without any definite ratio to the prices In Galveston. REMEDY FOR CONDITIONS. The report finds that: No relief from this Condition can be expected while grading is wholly in the hands of the buyers. As long as this is the case the cotton will never be closely graded until after it has left the growers’ possession. Co-operation among growers, if prop erly organized, would probably furnish some measure of relief, but under pres ent conditions a rather expensive selling department will furnish sample drafts sary. The department of agriculture stands ready to advise the growers in their marketing enterprises, whether in Okla homa or elsewhere. A pian of co-opera tion is now being tried out in Arkansas In grading and marketing cotton. THe departmet will furnish sample drafts of by-laws and constitutions that should be of practical use for organization. All communications regarding this matter will receive careful attention if ad dressed to the Offic* of Markets, U. S. Department of Agriculture. Washington, D. C. been forced to reply to the inquiries from central and northern European countries that the dasheen cannot be grown successfully where the summers are not tropical. In fact, the dasheen cannot be grown with commercial suc cess where the frostless season is less than six months, and a longer season Is desirable. Contrary to the belief of many people, the United States Is a country of tropical summers, and the dasheen has been grown successfully as far north as Norfolk, Va. From the Carollnas southward the dasheen may be cultivated with a high degree of success in any rich, sandy loam or soil, where there is plenty of mosture and heat. It will not grow In soil suitable for cotton, but may be #rown In er.-- suitable for potatoees. The Importance of the dasheen to the southerner lies particularly In the fact that it matures in the fall, whereas the main potato crop in the south matures in the spring, and in winteh the south ern states have to obtain their potato supply from the north. If dasheens were grown and properly appreciated, there would probably be little need for the south ever to buy northern-grown potatoes for food. HOW TO COOK DASHEENS. Dasheens, large or small, may be baked like potatoes, In a quick oven. They should first be washed and scrub bed to remove the fibrous part of the skin. When practicable to do so It is often desirable to scrape the dasheens before baking, as they are then more convenient for eating and the soft crust which forms when they are prop erly baked is particularly delicious. The corms may be cut in half from top to base to lessen the time needed for bak ing. The time required Is about tha same as for potatoes of the same size. They should be served hot. Season with Salt and plenty of butter, and pepper If desired. Gravy instead of butter may be used. The dasheen when properly baked and served is mealy and the flavor is much like that of the white potato, but more or less suggestive of chestnuts. If not overbaked, the skin when prop erly scrubbed or scraped beforehand will be found of delicious flavor. As the dasheen is drier. than the potato It re quires more butter. This vegetable is already a staple article of food for millions of people In tropical countries, although Ameri cans have not yet evinced much inter est in it. In general It may be used in the different ways In which the white potato Is used. It may also be candled like the sweet potato. The flesh, when cooked, is frequently somewaht gray or violet, but this does not affect the flavor. The office of forlegn seed and plant introduction. United States department of agriculture, Washington, D. C., will gladly furnish information to -commer cial growers of vegetables throughout the south as to how the seeds and roots of the .dasheen may be procured for In troduction. ■ The department Is glad to furnish those interested its bulletin entitled “Dasheen, A.Root Crop for the Southern States." The housewife will find many recipes In It for preparing savory and delectable dasheen dishes, particularly one which she may use In preparing a filling for her Christmas turkey—provided only that she can get the dasheens. » LAWYER HURLS HIMSELF < BEFORE TRAIN AND DIESi WASHINGTON, D. C., Dec. 22.—‘‘Fill-” lan, a prominent attorney of this city, committed suicide by throwing himself In front of a Burlington train at Oalva, Ill., fifty miles from here last night. A warrant for his arrest had been is sued charging him with having forged names to a note for $3,000, which ho gave to a Peofia bank for security for a loan. When -Edward A. Smythe and James Rae, of this city, were indicted tor complicity In the alleged dynamiting operations of the Iron workers, Nowlan was engaged to defend them as well as the defendants from Rock Island and Springfield. Truck Fertilizers yield enormous profits if you use the right kind, containing 10 to 12 per cent POTASH or about twice as much Potash as Phosphoric Acid. | Potash improves the yield, flavor and shipping quality. 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