Mogford, Joe 1986-05-21

Joe Mogford relates his experience in the cotton seed industry.

General Interview Information

Interviewee Name: Joe Mogford

Additional Parties Recorded: None

Date: May 21, 1986

Location: Bryan, Texas

Interviewer: Richard Mason

Length: 1 hour

Abstract

Tape 1, Side 1: Mayben Cottonseed Company, A. D. Mayben, Background on seed classification, A. D. Mayben (again), Description, Involvement in cotton breeding, Storm proof cotton, Texas cotton breeders, Mayben Cotton, Increasing demand, Big 5 or 7 Group, Mayben Cottonseed Company, Background, Texas Cottonseed Breeders Association, c. 1922, Walton Poteet, Dallas News, Meeting to organized, February 1922, Breeders involved, College Station, Texas meeting, May 1922, A. D. Mayben first president, Other officers, Mission, Rules and regulations, Hiring inspector, Offered to Joe Mogford, Refusal, Inspector Ryan hired, Activities, Growth in number of certified seed producers, Breeding seed for other crops, Corn, Maize, State inspector, Bob Miller, Program and results, Mogford working with, Growth in Texas cottonseed production, 1920s, Reasons, Land and cotton prices, Depression, 1921, Need for better production, Farmers demanded better seed, Early rules and regulations regarding certified seed, Leniency, 85% sure, Increasing stringency, Techniques in maintaining variety purity, Single row planting, Ginning, Qualities desired by breeders, c. 1920s, A. D. Mayben, Storm proof, Boll size, Ginning, Insects, Concentration of breeders in Lockhart and San Marcos, Texas, Center of cotton production, Breeders, Other areas, Lone Star variety in North Texas, D. A. Saunders, John Gorham in Waco, Texas, Delinting cottonseed, Culling machines, Joe Mogford, Work with A. D. Mayben (again), Drought, 1925, Efforts in Haskell, Texas , 1924, Lawsuit, Details, Ginners, Drought, 1925 (again), Teaching at Texas A & M, 1925, Course in cotton production, Methods of choosing farmers to grow certified seed, Good farmers with good land, Agreements.

Tape 1, Side 2: Cottonseed production, Lint percentages and oil content, Monitoring ginning results, Staple length, Seed inspectors, Marketing cottonseed, A. D. Mayben (again), Seed sacks, Fairs, State Fair of Texas, Various company’s sacks, State Department of Agriculture, germination tests, Variety purity, Advertising, Salesmen, Sales work, Agricultural papers, State Department of Agriculture involvement in cottonseed certification, Legislation, State Commissioner’s activities, Law came first, Commissioner, George Carroll, Inspecting cotton, Expectations of early inspectors, Distinct difference in varieties, Example of inspector at Anderson-Clayton, farm, Growers not knowledgeable, Efforts to produce a single "Texas" breed, Different locations, Anderson-Clayton efforts, Munday, Texas, Problems, Commercial breeders undermined efforts, Need for diverse types, History of Texas cotton production, Earliest growers along Brazos River, Spread to other areas, Effect of boll weevil, Cotton growing in Lubbock County, Changes, Technology, One horse plows to tractors, Picking/pulling cotton, Strippers, Gins, Cottonseed prices, Oil and protein content, GP-74 cotton variety, Areas grown, Conversation about pictures, High strength cotton, Charlie Lewis, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Dry land cotton production, Techniques.

Range Dates: 1888-1986

Bulk Dates: 1920-1940

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