CHAPTER XXIV. 
WHAT DOES IT COST TO MAKE COTTON? 
You may think it is an easy matter to calculate 
the cost of cotton-growing and the profits that are to 
come. But you will do well if you put a good 
deal of study on this problem, and then as a final 
proof that your solution is correct, make actual 
field tests, not for one but for many years. Nor 
need you then feel absolutely certain of your pro- 
cess of reasoning. 
Why do we say this ? 
Just remember this fact: you are dealing all the 
while with natural and artificial conditions, and 
while wise farm management endeavors to control 
these, it still remains true that cotton farming is 
dependent on natural causes which vary constantly, 
often to such an extent that the most careful cal- 
culations will be upset. 
For proof of this proposition you need consider 
only the production of cotton during the last few 
years. The yield in bales and production per acre 
is shown in the table following: 
YIELD OF COTTON 
Year 
Production, 
in bales 
Product per acre, 
1898 
1899 
11,235,383 
9,439,559 
(200) 
