OUR HERO AND HEROINE DISCUSS AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.
On the day following the festival, we find Fillmore Flagg in the office
of the farm, going over the books of the company with Fern Fenwick. To
most women, such a task would soon prove unbearably monotonous and
tiresome. However, she neither grew restless or inattentive. At all
times on the alert to note each new point of interest; her questions on
every subject indicated a remarkably intelligent conception of the
general plan of the work. Finally, having satisfied herself that she
understood the status of the farm well enough to enable her to propound
her list of queries in the proper order, and in such a manner, as would
most successfully bring to her the information she wished to obtain:
with note-book in hand, she commenced by saying: "Now Fillmore, I am
ready to take up my series of questions about Solaris, which you have
kindly consented to answer. I promise in advance to be good; to try to
refrain from untimely interruptions, by asking a host of irrelevant
questions at inopportune moments!
"First, I wish you would tell me just what is represented by the one
thousand shares of capital stock, of the Solaris Farm Company?"
"The corporation, as you know, is so limited," said Fillmore, "that the
land cannot be sold, and the stock can only be sold to the Company;
nevertheless, the original cost of the land is covered by the stock. The
entire capitalization of $250,000, which I think will fairly represent
the financial status of the farm at the end of the first five years, is
divided as follows:
Purchase price of land $ 32,000
Improvements 68,000
Buildings 100,000
Live stock, equipment and machinery 50,000
--------
$250,000
Of the last named item, about $25,000 is estimated for machinery.
However, this amount does not fully represent its real value. In many
instances, it only gives the actual cost of the raw material used in
construction. This capitalization does not seem so large, when we
consider the small individual holdings. Having a par value of $250 a
share, we have only $500, in the two shares, for each one of the five
hundred co-operators. I think it has been wisely determined by a
majority vote, that as the resources of the farm continue to develop and
mature, the increase of profits shall come to the individual stockholder
in the shape of larger wages, instead of by dividends on stock. Although
this is not a money-making institution, and was not so intended from the
beginning; a fact properly emphasized by the foregoing. Yet, by the way
of arriving at some estimate of its future value, I feel safe in
predicting, that, if the stock should be offered in the markets of the
world, and dividends declared in the usual way, twenty years hence,
these certificates of stock would be worth $1,500 per share. In other
words, would have doubled in value six times during that period."
"Judging by what I already know of the farm and its resources," said
Fern, "I quite agree with you in this view of the matter.
"In considering the future needs of such a large number of
co-operators, which in ten years may be increased by pensioners and
children, to one thousand people; do you think this farm is large enough
to meet the demand?"
"For the purpose in view it is ample," said Fillmore. "Operated in
connection with so many allied industries, I think a farm of 5,000 acres
would be sufficient. That would be ten acres for each one. Here in
Solaris, we have 12-8/10 acres of land for every adult member of the
company. By carrying the process of intensive farming to a very high
state of perfection; Prof. Grandeau, at Capelle, France, has actually
demonstrated, that it is possible to grow 8-1/2 bushels of wheat--one
man's bread food for the year--on one-twentieth part of an acre of land.
Armed with so many advantages, with better conditions, superior methods,
and more intelligent workers; I feel sure we can easily accomplish here,
all that Grandeau has done in France, and more. Besides, you must
remember, that we shall have the additional support of quite a large
number of profitable industries, to help us in meeting the demands of an
increased number of consumers."
"That sounds logical and reasonable," said Fern. "I now remember, that
while traveling in Europe with my father, gathering agricultural
statistics: the Capelle experiments were brought to our attention at
that time, as worthy of careful consideration. I am greatly pleased to
know that you are already familiar with them. To continue the subject, I
wish to say that I am much impressed with the outlook for intensive
farming at Solaris. Aided by the wonderful power of applied co-operative
thinking, combined with your careful and comprehensive system of
book-keeping, which embraces every field and department of the farm! I
believe that ten years hence, you will be able to give to the world,
some very valuable statistics on the whole subject of farming, both
intensive and diversified.
"I have noticed with an unusual degree of interest, the apparently
lavish use of electric power in operating the factory works and farm
machinery. I am really quite curious to know just how it is generated."
"That is a very large question!" said Fillmore. "At different times
since the commencement of our work, we have used three methods for
generating electricity. First, the old fashioned steam dynamo. Second,
the direct conversion of coal into electricity. Third, the gathering of
great quantities of this subtle force from the atmosphere, through a
certain vibratory action, set up by intense concentration of the sun's
rays. As a result of a vast deal of co-operative thinking and careful
experimentation; the last named process, has been so perfected and
cheapened, as to entirely supersede the first two. The powerful
batteries of Solaris concentrators, which you see around the
power-house, and at various points on the farm, are important factors in
this work. I confess, that I am rather proud of the remarkable success,
which we have achieved in this line of invention. When I gave a title to
the farm, I had a premonition, that solar heat and force would be so
successfully harnessed to both industrial and agricultural work, that
the suggestive name of Solaris, would soon become as famous, as it was
fitting and well earned.
"In applying this power to all kinds of farm and factory work, we have
succeeded far beyond my most sanguine expectations. With a plant almost
entirely built by our own co-operative labor, we are able to generate an
abundance of cheap power, which can be easily and safely conducted to
the most distant portions of the farm. This power is readily available
at any desired point, and for all kinds of work; becoming the magic
motor by which we operate trains of trolley cars, for handling grain,
hay, corn and all heavy crops; great gang-plows, rollers, harrows,
cultivators, planters, drills, reapers, threshers and motor wagons; all
so perfectly constructed and so easily controlled; that with them a
woman, fittingly dressed and gloved, protected from the heat of the sun
by a canopy, comfortably seated on cushions and springs, may accomplish
the roughest and heaviest kind of farm work, without fatigue or
discomfort. In fact, our women soon find it the most delightfully,
fascinating work on the farm.
"In connection with such a powerful motor, a single person, operating
one of these improved agricultural machines, can do an amount of work in
six hours, which under the old system would require ten hours of severe
toil by six men and twelve horses. Of course, such machinery can only be
produced and operated by large co-operative farms like this; with a
carefully chosen force of co-operators, who are thinkers as well as
workers; who are intellectually, physically and socially prepared to
invent and construct machines that are perfectly fitted to do this
particular kind of work."
"Really!" said Fern, "this is as interesting as it is remarkable! This
sun-generated force, this magic motor, so perfectly adjusted to
agricultural work, under the test of practical use; which has proved so
easily controlled; together with the tireless host of wonder-working
machines, which this force has called into being; is truly a marvel
worthy of the twentieth century!
"Tell me, Fillmore! Why is it that these things have not been done
before?"
"There are many reasons. I think I can give you the principal one. From
a remote period of time, a large majority of the people of this planet
have gained a living by following agricultural pursuits. Bowed down
under the weight of severe toil, hopeless under the pressure of a
belief, that labor was a curse which they might not seek to escape;
confined by ignorance to a narrow sphere of action, which kept them from
looking upward and outward; it is not strange, that so many passing
generations of these people, should never once dream of adopting a
series of progressive changes for the betterment of their condition.
"Such people were incapable of understanding, that, in order to secure
the best and most successful results from agricultural work, it requires
a systematic application of the highest order of brain work: that this
brain work, must inspire a harmonious collection of trained, muscular
workers, operating under the most favorable conditions. By the way of a
contrast, how helpless were the lives of these farmers! As a rule they
worked under the most discouraging conditions, distrustful and envious,
uneducated and narrow minded; how could they be prepared to comprehend
that basic law of progress, which is embodied in the idea of unselfish
co-operation?
"For these reasons, co-operative thinking and co-operative farming, have
not heretofore been successfully combined. Here and now, in the first
decade of the twentieth century, a few unselfish souls, the advance
guard of the coming army, responding to the pressure of progressive
evolution, have risen to such intellectual heights as has enabled them
to discover, that by the aid of a harmonious union of thought and labor,
a collection of people, working the soil unselfishly together, can
easily attain results which, the most brilliant individual effort, armed
with the wealth of a millionaire, could never hope to accomplish.
Inspired with this idea, the people of Solaris, as pioneers in the work,
are striving earnestly to demonstrate the absolute success of
co-operative farming."
"What I have seen with my own eyes, I know as a verity!" said Fern,
enthusiastically. "Therefore I feel like shouting in the ears of our
people: Well done, good and faithful servants in the cause of progress!
The victory is already won! It is yours!
"Your explanation of the cause of the late coming of practical
co-operation in agriculture, appeals to my mind, as a very clear one.
That the ignorance and selfishness of the individual, has from the
beginning, proved the real obstacle, is now quite plain to me.
"However, returning to my list of questions. How is it, that the fields
and cultivated grounds at Solaris, are so free from weeds?"
"Ah!" said Fillmore. "The answer to that question, is another argument
in favor of co-operative farming. Weeds have always been counted by
farmers, as among the worst of the pests which they have been obliged to
contend with. Under the most adverse conditions, weeds will grow,
flourish, and ripen an appalling quantity of seed; where all useful
plants will languish and finally perish. To keep them down, is a task
which requires a great deal of hard work. To destroy them, root and
branch, is a problem which has occupied the minds of our people for the
past thirty months. After much thoughtful work, we have reached a
solution.
"During the period of frost, from the first of December to the first of
March, the weedy ground is thoroughly stirred several times. After each
stirring, the ground is swept by a broad stream of concentrated
heat-rays--both light and dark. These rays are generated by a number of
batteries of Solaris mirrors, or great sun glasses. This operation soon
warms the ground and causes the weeds to put forth a tender growth.
After such a growth, a week of frosty weather kills it down. This
process is repeated until the weeds are all gone. When the necessary
frosts do not appear, or when the work is carried on during warmer
weather, a scorching from the sun glasses, kills the weeds even more
effectively than frost. In this way the cultivated ground on the farm,
has been entirely freed from weeds. As a result, the yield of crops has
been largely increased, while the labor of cultivation has been
correspondingly reduced. That back-aching work of hoeing, has been
almost entirely dispensed with. Machine culture does the work.
"The great advantage gained by cropping soil free from weeds, is most
apparent in case of wheat culture. In such soils, the wheat can be
deeply sown by the drill, beyond the reach of predatory birds. This
develops a strong root-growth in the young plant, which as a consequence
requires more space. To meet this demand, care is taken to have the
drill-rows made one foot apart--running north and south. These wide rows
allow free access of air and sunlight to the soil, which may then be
cultivated. Under the old system this space would be full of weeds;
therefore impracticable. This gives the young wheat a chance to spread
out, to send up from twenty to forty stout stems from the root-system of
a single grain of seed. The growing stems become more sturdy, bear
larger heads, heads with more and larger kernels, of heavier, brighter
wheat. With this culture, the yield is increased one-third--many times
one-half--and the quality wonderfully improved. Fully one-half of the
usual quantity of seed is saved.
"By repeating this method for a few years, carefully choosing the seed
for each planting from the best kernels borne by the largest heads, the
ordinary wheat-crop, without extra fertilization, may easily be doubled
two and one-half times; while the quality of the entire crop is raised
to the grade of extra fine, which will readily sell at fancy prices for
seed wheat. The net gain, is a large cash balance in favor of
cultivating a weedless soil. What is true of wheat culture in such
soils, is true in a large measure with most other crops; more especially
with corn, cotton and all kinds of garden crops."
"Stop a moment, Fillmore!
"Did I understand you to say that these immense discs, these mammoth,
weed-scorching mirrors, were made here at Solaris? How can such
expensive things be made, for a price that would allow so many to be
used?"
"Yes, these concentrating mirrors and burning glasses combined, are the
product of the inventive genius and skillful work of our people. A
combination of brain and muscular work so successful, that these discs,
although they are of such great size and weight, are quickly and
cheaply made from thick plates of flat glass, which we manufacture from
our abundant supply of excellent sand! The quality of the glass in these
plates is of the best; clear, soft, and tough, just the kind that will
most readily take the proper concave and convex surfaces, when treated
by the evenly applied heat of swiftly revolving electric brushes. With
plenty of strong machinery to handle these heavy plates, a few skilled
workers, can with ease, soon transform them into perfect, lense-shaped
discs. Similar discs, made by the slow, tedious process of nineteenth
century methods, would cost many thousands of dollars for each one."
"You have answered my question both briefly and perfectly! I recognize
in these great mirrors, a swift, wonder-working agency, that shall make
possible a new system of farming; which means, in the improved
conditions for mankind that must follow, a revolution in social methods,
calculated to bring them quickly into harmony with a rate of progress
demanded by the twentieth century.
"I will take up another question. It is in connection with the large
amount of cultivated ground devoted to vegetables. How do you manage to
make it profitable to grow such a quantity of perishable things?"
"That is another important question, which will require an answer so
lengthy, that perhaps you may grow weary before I have finished.
However, I will try to be brief. During the past year, we have taken
from the ground devoted to vegetable growing, more than 100,000 bushels
of cabbage, cauliflower, onions, beets, mangel-wurzel, carrots,
parsnips, salsify, potatoes, sweet-potatoes, cassava, turnips, kohlrabi
and artichokes. The best part of the story is, that this heavy crop has
proved profitable, to a degree far beyond our expectations! As a rule,
this class of vegetables, so heavy and so perishable, cannot be
profitably grown in large quantities, except in locations near a large
market town. This advantage, Solaris does not possess. To overcome this
difficulty, was an additional task, which must be conquered, by the
allied forces of co-operative thinking and co-operative working. In the
solution of this puzzling question which was finally reached, the great
mirrors and burning glasses of the Solaris concentrators, were again
called upon to play an important part.
"The first necessity, was to reduce the weight of the vegetables, and at
the same time, to arrest all tendency to decay. The second was to
protect them from the attack of insects, by placing them in neat,
strong, insect-proof packages.
"A large curing establishment was built and equipped with machinery;
most of which was made at Solaris, from especially devised patterns.
Convenient trolley lines, connected the curing-house with the fields.
The vegetables, crisp and fresh from the ground, were quickly brought to
the washing machines, on trains of cars laden with shallow trays, which
permitted them to be swiftly handled without bruising. In these
machines, they were thoroughly cleansed, scraped, and freed from tops,
rootlets and imperfections. This process complete, they were placed in
trays on traveling carriers, which delivered them to the dicing
machines. In the dicing machines, they were soon reduced to inch-cubes.
"In passing from these machines, the cubes fell on traveling screens of
fine wire, which formed the first of a long series of drying rollers.
The drying rollers, on the way to the packing rooms in the large
store-house, passed through a long system of sheet-iron conduits, which
were well heated by the concentrated rays of the sun from the mirrors
and sunglasses. So well did the drying rollers do their work, that by
the time the cubes had reached the store-house, and were delivered by
the elevators into the storing-bins in the packing house, they were
reduced to a dry, hard kernel. They had lost three-fourths in bulk, and
about the same proportion in weight.
"The funnel-shaped bottoms to the storing-bins were so arranged as to be
above the long rows of packing tables. A series of graduated spouts,
delivered the cured vegetables to the packers, who, standing or sitting
as they might prefer, could, with but little effort and much speed, fill
the prepared boxes with the little cubes.
"These boxes, of a uniform size and shape, were made from thick layers
of heavy straw-paper, made stiff and firm under high pressure. The farm
in manufacturing them, was able to utilize large quantities of surplus
straw from the grain fields, which could not be used as forage. In the
corners of the boxes, between layers of paper, while they were being
molded into shape, were inserted small, triangular pieces of wood. These
bevel-shaped strips were cut six inches in length, just the depth of the
boxes, in which they served as upright cornerposts. The shallow covers
fitted each box with a telescope joint.
"In the process of box-making, the layers of paper were saturated with a
chemical, germicide solution, which made the boxes insect-proof; yet,
which would not odorize, nor in any way injure the contents. In the
process of packing, each box and cover was lined with thin sheets of
parafine paper, as an additional guard against moisture. When the boxes
were filled and sealed, they were strongly coopered, by adding four thin
laths of strong wood. These laths, one-eighth of an inch thick, two
inches wide, and just the length of the box; two at the bottom, and two
at the top, were securely nailed to the cornerposts; thus completing a
package which was cheap, strong, light, durable, rodent and
insect-proof. With a capacity of a half-bushel, it weighed only five
pounds. Filled with cubes, the gross weight was but thirty-five pounds.
An ideal package, which could be piled high in transportation or
store-house without injury; the upright cornerposts taking all the
pressure.
"The half-bushel or thirty pounds of dried cubes in each box, represent
two bushels of fresh vegetables. Cured and packed in this way, they
reach distant markets, sound, sweet, clean and nutritious. No waste, no
worms, no musty smell, no decay! Frost cannot hurt them, heat preserves
them! For long voyages, army and navy use, mining, lumbering, and
hunting outfits, they are simply invaluable! For all classes of
consumers, they are cheaper, cleaner and more wholesome than the
ordinary stale and wilted vegetables, for sale in the city markets! We
have named these cubes, 'Solaris Vegetable Concentrates,' a title which
we have copyrighted. The packages readily wholesale at 75 cents, to be
retailed at one dollar. At these prices, they yield a handsome profit to
the farm.
"Last year we placed hundreds of sample packages on the general market,
which soon proved the excellence of the goods, and later brought heavy
orders for this year; even more than we can fill, for many of the
varieties. A valuable hint to us, that we must devote more ground to
growing those particular kinds.
"Our 'Solaris Mixture Concentrates' are almost equally popular. We also
have a growing demand for our 'Solaris Stock Food,' which we put in
cheaper packages, to wholesale and retail at 50 and 75 cents. This
mixture is made up of equal proportions of dried cubes of potatoes,
carrots, cassava, and mangel-wurzel. It has proved the acme of a
healthful, fattening stock-food; especially beneficial in counteracting
the evil effects of heavy grain-feeding; or in cases of emergency, to
take the place of forage or cut-straw food.
"In a weedless soil, much of the heavy labor of growing vegetables is
eliminated. In curing and preparing them for market in this way, a great
amount of light, pleasant work, is available for our women co-operators.
Considered as a whole, this vegetable scheme is one of the notable
achievements of Solaris farm, of which the members of the company are
justly proud."
"This is surely a most excellent work! It is a clear demonstration of
what important results may be attained, by the application of thinking
to agricultural work. In this instance, the lesson of your brilliant
success, impresses my mind as a most convincing argument in favor of
co-operative farming. I feel sure that it will appeal to the multitude
with the same force. It is but another illustration of the old saying,
'Nothing succeeds like success!' A few such examples will serve to
overthrow the prejudices of a thousand years! They will win for you a
host of followers in the cause of co-operative farming.
"Now Fillmore, let us consider another matter. At the time we made our
tour of inspection, my attention was attracted to groups of oddly
constructed barns, scattered here and there about the farm. What are
these buildings, and for what purpose are they used?"
"Those are curing-barns. They mark another wide departure from the usual
methods of ordinary farming. For many years it has been a ruinously,
wasteful custom with farmers, to allow their crops of corn, grain and
hay, to stand in the fields while curing. All, subject meanwhile to the
destructive effects of storms, dews and all kinds of adverse weather,
which as a rule, destroyed much of the crop, and reduced the remainder
to the condition of an inferior grade.
"By the use of these barns, we are able to inaugurate an entirely
different system, which succeeds admirably. These barns, located near
the grain fields, are constructed with strong frames. They are both tall
and wide, and so anchored to their foundations as not to be overthrown
by high winds. Each roof is supplied with a series of latticed
ventilators. In building the side walls, every alternate ten feet, was
left open from ground to roof. These open spaces were fitted with roller
screens of jointed, wooden slats, operated by weights and springs, which
allowed the interior to be well lighted and thoroughly ventilated. These
screens could all be raised or lowered at pleasure. While the barns were
being filled, they were all open.
"As the fields of grain commenced to ripen, while the straw was still
green and full of sap, and the swollen kernels were just passing out of
the dough stage of maturing; with the aid of a large force of workers,
operating improved machinery, entire fields of standing grain at just
precisely the proper stage of maturity, could be transferred to the
shelter of these barns in a single day. As the heavy green bundles of
grain were delivered from the fields, to the adjustable elevators
working through the open spaces of the barns, from either side, these
bundles were carried to the hands of the rick-builders, who piled them
into narrow ricks five feet in width, across the barn and up to the
roof. As the ricks grew in height, strong wire screens were hooked to
the dividing posts which marked the boundaries of the ricks. These
screens kept the bundles in place, and the ricks securely upright. When
the barns were filled in this way, the ricks were separated by four feet
of open space, with a ventilator in the roof for each pair of ricks and
spaces.
"When the grain crops were thus housed without waste from shelling, the
curing process went forward swiftly and securely. The advantages gained,
were many. The wheat straw, full of sap when harvested, in curing
slowly, kept the plump kernels of grain from shrinking, while it left
them with clear, smooth, thin skins, and a quality, which produced less
bran and more gluten, in the flour they would yield when ground. The
kernels were all more uniform in size, larger, firmer and fairer; would
all grade as number one. No sprouted wheat! No must! No blight! No rust!
"This was also true of oats and barley. The straw came from the improved
threshers, in straight, compact bundles, thoroughly freed from grain,
fragrant and bright, almost as nutritious for forage as hay. In fact,
this straw, in such excellent shape for cutting, feeding, storing, or
transportation, possessed more than twice the selling value of the best
of ordinary straw. The oat straw, being softer and more pliable, was
still more valuable as forage. The barley straw, less desirable for
stock food, was sent to the paper mill for the use of the box factory.
By this method of harvesting and curing grain, the increase in quality
and selling value, was largely augmented. The general result was a
marked saving of grain, time, labor and money.
"In cutting and curing the hay crops, the same kind of barns were used.
The loosely packed hay in the tall, thin ricks, was soon dry enough to
bale, and then be transferred to the storing barns; leaving room for the
corn crop which was to follow. Hay cured in this way is superior to
anything on the market, and always brings tip-top prices!
"In curing corn, more time and wider ricks are necessary. The corn could
be cut earlier, thus leaving the ground free to be prepared for the
succeeding crop of fall wheat or late vegetables. During stormy weather,
after this slower curing process was complete, a jolly army of huskers
invaded the barns. The ripe corn, free from husk, was carefully assorted
and stored in the ventilated bins prepared for it. The selected husks
were packed and baled, ready for market. The stalks were stripped and
topped by a clever machine. The excellent forage thus accumulated, was
baled and stored. The pith in the large part of the stalk, was then
extracted by another machine. These piths were then treated to a
water-proofing process, sent to a shop on the farm, and made up into
life preservers. Both life preservers and life rafts, made from pith
treated in this way, proved lighter, cheaper, and more buoyant than
those made from cork. This, you will observe is another profitable
industry, added to the financial resources of Solaris. It is also an
addition to the fitting employments for women.
"A still more desirable employment for our women co-operators, was found
at the grain mill, where wheat, oats, and barley were transformed into
popular brands of 'Solaris Breakfast Food.' Thus prepared, the market
value of a bushel of grain was increased four fold.
"A new food preparation, from a mixture of pop-corn with equal parts of
thoroughly ground, roasted sweet corn, is really an excellent article of
diet. In small, neat packages, this healthy and attractive food can be
sold at a large profit.
"All of these sources of profit, naturally grow out of the new methods
of harvesting and housing grain, which is made possible by the curing
barns. While in appearance, these barns may not prove attractive, yet, I
think you will readily acknowledge that they are very useful buildings;
buildings which Solaris could not well do without."
"Really! Fillmore, I think these buildings are very fine! More than
that, they are wonderfully well adapted to the purpose for which they
were constructed! In this respect they certainly excel in usefulness,
all other classes of barns. In your description of them, and of the new
methods in harvesting; I have been as much interested and entertained as
though you were relating some fascinating romance. Indeed, I have been
so absorbed, that I fear my poor note-book has been sadly neglected!
"How much land do you devote to cotton growing? How has co-operative
methods, affected its culture as a paying crop?"
"Last year, we planted twelve hundred acres in cotton. By the use of
choice seed, a weedless soil, improved methods in the destruction of
insect enemies, a better selection of fibre-producing fertilizers, a
less wasteful plan of planting, and a more careful culture, we have
increased the yield per acre from 300 to 500, and in a few instances to
550 pounds. When the crop was picked and ginned, we had twelve hundred
bales of fine cotton. The quality of the fibre in the whole lot, was so
excellent and so uniformly well ripened, that we were offered two cents
per pound above the ruling price of ordinary cotton. As a result, this
one crop gave the farm a cash income of $65,000. $60,000 for the fibre,
and $5,000 for the seed, oil and oil cake. Choice seed for planting, was
a large item in the last named amount.
"Heretofore, the great difficulty experienced by single farmers in
growing large crops of cotton, has arisen from the want of sufficient
help during the picking season. At Solaris, we always have an abundance
of help. If the needs of the work seem to demand it, we can put two
six-hour reliefs of pickers into the field each day, with 200 pickers in
each relief. By working such a force, a large crop can soon be gathered
without waste or damage. The pickers, all receiving the same daily
wages, have a pocket interest in saving the cotton, therefore clean,
careful picking, with a view of preserving a high grade of fibre, soon
becomes the rule. This is an important matter, as green, immature fibre
is worthless for the purpose of making a strong, durable thread or
fabric; therefore pickers must be sufficiently intelligent, to
understand why they should select only the thoroughly ripened cotton.
"Care is taken to make the pickers as comfortable as possible. For this
purpose, broad, movable awnings, are provided to protect them from sun
and showers. Under such circumstances, the picking season becomes one of
fun and frolic, to which our co-operators, look forward with rejoicing.
Six hours in each day spent in such light, pleasant work, is hardly
regarded as toil. Yet, the amount of cotton picked by each individual,
measured by the number of hours employed, is fully up to the standard
set by good pickers, under the old system of long hours. The
nimble-fingered women easily bear off the palm, as the expert pickers.
If they were paid by the pound, their earnings would be greater than
those of the men. Judged by such practical work, women cannot much
longer be classed with the weaker units of an agricultural colony!"
"I consider that, as a very important point, well stated! But pardon me
Fillmore, for the question! You spoke of better methods for the
destruction of insect enemies. What are those insects, and how did you
manage to destroy them?"
"Those that proved the most troublesome, were the cut-worm and
boll-worm. Both were hatched from the eggs laid by certain kinds of
moths. During the nights of the egg-laying season, for these moths, they
were easily trapped and destroyed. By the use of a large number of
electric light traps, suspended from convenient wires, thousands of
these insects were lured to destruction before they could deposit their
eggs. We are encouraged to believe, that a few years of such wholesale
extermination, will soon rid us of these pests altogether.
"With a view of securing a continuous improvement in the quality of the
cotton, we propose during the next five years, to carefully select the
seed for each successive planting, from the largest, most prolific
stalks, that produce the finest fibre. Reasoning from past experience, I
think it will not be difficult to obtain a yield at least one-third
greater than that of last year; which, on account of extra-superior
quality, will readily sell for a still higher price. A careful reading
of the annual reports, made by our consuls, who are stationed at the
principal commercial ports of the world, has taught us, that to sell
well, American cotton must be baled to meet the requirements of foreign
markets. These markets demand that we must use a finer, better quality
of baling burlaps, that will enable us to make closer, stronger,
smoother packages, such as will at once impress the prospective buyer
with the fact that they are really fine, because in appearance they are
so tight, tidy, and attractive. To secure this, a small additional
expense for baling material, is money well spent.
"Considering cotton as a cash crop, our experience so far, proves it to
be especially adapted to the needs and methods of co-operative farming.
A single crop has put money enough into our treasury, to pay more than
double the purchase price of this farm."
"From your very clear and comprehensive answers to my questions, it
appears that a co-operative farm, by reason of the number and
organization of its workers, is equipped to carry on the culture of
cotton with more than ordinary profit. This I accept as being absolutely
true! Therefore I hail your success as a revelation of new
possibilities, which must surely follow in the near future!"