The Sun.
London, England, 1863-11-17 00:00:00

THE GROWTH OF COTTON.

The scarcity of cotton caused by the continuation
of the civil war in America, united with the desire
expressed by the French Government that cotton
should be cultivated in Algeria, has been a singular
good fortune for that colony. Within the last year
the increase in the land planted with cotton has
been considerable. In the province of Oran it
has doubled in less than a year, and amounts now
to 2,669 hectares. The cultivation would have ex-
tended still more had the colonists found land capa-
ble of being irrigated. It is to be further remarked
that, of the 2,669 hectares planted with cotton trees,
561 hectares are growing cotton plants of the second
year, but in general these plants have not realised
the expectations entertained of them. Notwith-
standing the precautions adopted to preserve them
during the winter, many of the plants perished, and
it became necessary to replace them by hand labour,
as a plough could not be emp'oyed. The greatest
number of cotton plants of the second year are to
be found in the plain of the Sig. Some of the plan-
tations of the second year have given as much as
1,000 kilogrammes of long silk cotton the hectare ;
but this is the exception, for more than 300 hectares
of old cotton plants perished in the plain of the
Habra in consequence of the winter rains. The
growing crop in the province of Oran presents a
very favourable appearance, and, under the influence
of the high price of 230 f. and 250 f. the 100 kilo-
grammes given for long silk cotton not dressed, the
cultivation will be considerably extended next year,
in case the profits already realised should enable
the planters to irrigate fresh lands.
Accounts just received from Palermo state that
the cultivation of cotton in the island of Sicily has
become very general within the last two years. It
►has become a source of wealth for the inhabitants of
the district of Terra Nova, besides giving employ-
ment to a number of idle hands. The crop of
the present year is estimated at 1,269,472 kilo-
grammes, which were exported under the national
fl ig to Naples, Genoa, Messina, and Malta to be re-
shipped for England and France.

Full benefit of reduced duty obtained by pur-
31:lasing Horniman's pure Tea; very choice at 3s. 4d. and
4s. " High Standard "at 4s. 4d. (formerly 4s. Bd.), is the
strongest and most delicious imported. Agents in every
town supply it in packets.

GARIDALDIDECLINING A MONIIMENT.--The Pro-
vincial Council of Potenz t (one of the Neapolitan
provinces afflicted with brigandage) a short time since una-
nimously voted a subsidy to the Polish revolution and a
monument to Garibaldi. Garibaldi, in a letter published in
the Diritto, applauds the subsidy, but declines the monu-
ment. ig As to the monument to me," he.says, "I beg you
will dismiss the thought of it. If you insist you will put
me to the pain of saying that I will not accept it. As long
as tho soldiers of two foreign armies'riot on our soil, as long
as a stream of civil blood flows from the Tronto to the
strait, as long as the glorious remains of our national battles
die of hunger or by their own hand in the midst of the in-
sane rejoicing of our cities, as long as the boy wants, a
school and the orphan an asylum, as long as there are in
Italy misery, chains, and darkness, speak not of monuments,
least of all of a monument to me."

CURIOUS FREAK OF LIGHTNING.—The lightning
a few days ago produced a Curioub *Met upon the
church of St. Aptirodiso, in the town of Beziers, in the
South of France. It struck the roof and went through it.
No great damage was done to the roof; but it lighted all
the wax candles placed in the choir and at the altar ; and
when the attendant at the church opened it in the morning,
he found all the candles at the altar lighted just as they are
when grand mass is celebrated.--This is the statement of
the Gazette du Midi.--Correspondent of the Building NCO.
SCHOOL FOR COOKERY.—Th© art of cookery,
which, as a rule, should form a department of female
education, especially among the middle classes of society,
is unfortunately greatly neglected in this country, and the
consequences are often glaringly apparent. An ill-cooked,
and as a matter of course indigestible, dinner is in many
families a misery of almost daily occurrence. Every effort
to counteract this serious evil is therefore deserving of
encouragement, and we are glad to observe that a step has
been taken in the right direction by the establishment of a
school for culinary instruction. This institution is now in
practical operation at No. ill, Groat Portland-street, under
the able management of Mrs. Mitchell, who, we heartily
hope, will meet with success iu her very useful and much-
needed undertaking.

TDB BANK OF ENGLAND covers a whole parish,
and the minister of that parish gets £7OO a
year, a berth that many would find just suited to their
capacity and comfort. The congregation would sometimes
consist of a dozen. Those who have visited the Dank have
no doubt noticed in the central area a small grass plot and
one or two trees. That was Onto the churchyard. There
is a room in the Bulk which is held to represent the church,
for the sake of keeping up the living and its emoluments.
ANOTDEII MATCA AT DRAtJGDIS has been
art•anged between the " Herd Laddie" (Mr, tames
Wyllie, Leven) and Mr. Robert Martin, London. play is
to commence in Glasgow on Monday, lan. 18, and the trial
of skill is to last for 62 games. Tho match is to be for £lOO
a-side, and a bet of £5 on each game ; and the articles set
forth such conditions of opening the games that the result
can scarcely be a " dritw," as in the case of the last match
between these celebrated pla) ere.

THE COURT-MARTIAL ON COLONEL CRAWLEY.
—The trial commenced this warning, but up to the hour of
going to press the proceedings were only of a preliminary
character. Colonel Crawley protested that the charges
were at present too indefinite for hina to answer, but the
inquiry proceeded.