.MTM3MQ.MTE2NTc2

106 An acre of land will generally produce 2000 lbs of "seed" cotton, which yields after being ginned or the seeds separated about 600 lbs of cotton ready for baling. The bagging and rope for each bale costs two & a half dollars. when a planter has no gin on his estate, he has often to give 1/2 or 1/10 "toll" for the seperation of the seed from the raw cotton. The ovnplus [surplus] seed that is not required for the next crop is thrown out upon the land and acts as a manure. If low prices for cotton continue it will not pay, if planter has any great distance to haul it in waggons.

  Some few planters have shipped cotton on their own account to Europe, but they have been surprized at the charges &c. It is much better for the planter when he has confidence in his Merchant to get his supplies from the Merchant on the spot & let him have the cotton.
  Some 2 or 3000 bales of Texan cotton goes annually by Red river to New Orleans; much of which passes for American cotton; if it goes in as Texan produce a duty of three cents per pound is levied on it, but returned if shipped to a foreign port within three months.