Tuskegee & Its People: Their Ideals and Achievements
History
Tuskegee & Its People: Their Ideals and Achievements
Tuskegee Institute
We find distributed through the colony not less than three distinct
species of cotton, with some hybrids and varieties; but none of
these are indigenous, and, having been left in a neglected state
for centuries, are consequently not far removed from nature and are
not so remunerative when put under even the best culture. The seeds
imported from America are not able to survive the greatly changed
conditions of climate. Here is our greatest obstacle. Our course
was plain. If we did not have a plant that exactly suited us, we
had to make it.
The production of a commercial plant is very important. Our present
domestic seeds will yield about four hundred pounds of seed-cotton
per acre, and the character of the fruit and the arrangement upon
the stalk make it very expensive to harvest. Besides, the stalk
grows too much to a tree and is not prolific proportionately, and
the quality of the lint is equal to American "middling." We are
trying to develop a plant that will yield 1,000 pounds of
seed-cotton to the acre, with a lint equal in quality to fully good
"middling" or to Allen's 1-7/8-inch staple.
Now suppose we succeed in making this plant as I have above
outlined; the 4,000 acres under cultivation would then at least
produce 2,000 bales of seed-cotton where they now produce but 1,000
bales. We can see how greatly the annual income of the natives will
be increased. Such a plant is forthcoming.
Through selection and crossing of American and native cottons we
have obtained a new variety, which is satisfactory in every primary
respect. It is more hardy than the average American plant and
fifty per cent more productive than the average native plant. A
sample of the lint of this new, would-be variety was submitted to
the Chamber of Commerce in Berlin, and it was pronounced good in
every way, and brought in January, 1904, about twenty cents a
pound.
There is one feature that I would like to speak about before I have
done with the subject, because I know it will please you. In one of
the letters you wrote me some time ago you advised me to "labor
earnestly, quietly, and soberly, discharging my duty in the way
that would eventually make me one of the most influential persons
in the community." Being faithful in small things is one of the
fundamental principles of Tuskegee, and is what I am able to do
without even striving. It has become natural for me to be faithful,
it matters not how small or insignificant the service. I find
myself to-day possessing much influence in the work in which I am
now engaged.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account