COTTON 
135 
THE FARM A FACTORY FOR FARM-MADE MANURES 
Naturally every farm produces some manure. 
But as the factory-farm is ordinarily run, only a 
small quantity is annually produced. Too little 
is made to meet the wants of the cotton farm. 
Something is wrong with the factory management, 
else more manure would be made. 
Live-stock increases the efficiency of the factory. 
We will go further and say that live-stock com- 
bined with any system of farming will lead not only 
to permanent improvement of the land but to the 
highest efficiency in the management of the whole 
plant as well. This suggests much. It means 
diversification; it calls for a rotation of crops; it 
increases the animal stock on the farm ; it demands 
greater skill in management; it means business 
farming. And with it all, it means manure. 
What becomes of cotton seed now ? You bury 
them in the soil for fertilizer, or you sell them ; but 
how few cotton farmers feed them, and thereby get 
two profits — one from feeding and one from fer- 
tilizing! And by neglecting to save one of these 
profits the Southern farmer annually wastes enough 
for a King's ransom. 
Plant food is always disorganized material. 
Decay must come before plants can feed. Animals 
on the other hand, can use only organized material. 
Hence, is it not better to feed cotton seed or their 
equivalent in meal, and get the feeding value out 
of them ? After this they may be returned to the 
soil in the form of manures. By this practice 
nothing is lost and much is gained. We like to 
buy fertilizers in the form of feeding stuffs, pass 
them to the cattle, and from them back to the soil. 
