The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1839-12-21

VI the Committee OF the Agricultural So
cicty OF South Alabama, on the Twin
or Okra Cotton, at its fall meeting i'll
Montgomery, Nov. 5th, 1899.
The committee appointed to inquire and
report every thing deemed interesting in
relation to the twin cotton, as far as asccr-
tanned, have had the same cndcr consider
alton, and report:
From the very short time that the twin
cotton has been cultivated, together with
the difficulty of procuring the necessary
information, your committee arc not pre-
pared either to present many facts, or
make such suggestions as should have
weight with the society. We can only
o1ter for your consideration the little infor-
nation it has been in our power to obtain
Various have been the opinions entertain
cd as to the origin of the twin cotton:-
whilst, perhaps majority contend, that it
Is of an entirely separate and distinct ge-
n;ls from the common Petit Gul-athcrs
arc of opinion that it is enc and the same,
but that is has been brought to its present
state OF perfection by care and attention.
They arc led to this conclusion from the
fact, that indications of its dcgenerating
into the common kind, have in some instan-
ccs been discovered. That it is superior
to any cotton heretofore aalong$: lis, cam
not admit of doubt. From actual eNpe-
riment, we are inclined to the belief that
the poorest soil is best adapted to It's sue
ccssful production. Upon very rich lands
the weed Or stalk grows to all enormous
thcight, is slender and weak; so soon then
Us the bolls appear and arrive az any size,
top falls to the ground, thereby iajaiiag III,
further growth aid rendering the gather
ing of the cotton, when matu.ed, exceed
ilgly difficult. Your committee are Of
opinion that this might be partially, if not
entirely remcdicd. by early topping. This
would have the effect Of strengthening the
stalk, and causing the whole to sprcad.--
A greater cluster oE bo'Is would be form
cd upon cach sem. ait,i the picking CT ga
,?er!ng rendered comparatively easy
The twin lit III, from tho manner in which
it grows, produces but ;i!tilc shade, co:lsc-
Gilently it natures at q much curl!er peri
cd than the ordinary kind. Samples lave
been presented to competent Judges, and
they have bccnunanlmous in pronouncing
the staple Of much superior and finer
quality than the ordinary Petit Gulf; that
it produces at leas' one third more to the
acre, we have been informed by persons
testing it last year. The present crop not
aSyet ascerta;ncd, we arc unable from our
own knowledge to corroboratc this; but
we are strongly inclinedto believe its truth
from the prospect and appearance of the
crop of the present year. Your commit
tee respectfully submit the following cx-
tracts from letter received from Mr.. w.
X. A!dridge, the gentleman IN WI se pos
session the twin c0tlpn was first Iscovor-
ed. His ori:i,ons arc entitled to much
weight, as he Ead an opportunity Of arri-
wing at correct conclusions from the length
r of time he has been engaged in raising
the new cotton.
b He writes us as follows:
-. "In 1885 Mr. Todd Terry gaveme three
u and informed me that he discovered
Iing through his fathers farm late in
Rn, stalk Of cotton entirely DIFF
n the common kind. The cot
|een picked out, but on examin-
alk he found three seed. He in
|e his father had bought the Pc
Bed that year; it was found near
oh, Ala. Lam under the impression
= hat moderate soil is the best to raise it on,
but have no doubt Of its doing well on the
best lands. sold a few seed to a gentle
man living in the cane brake, Perry coun-
ty, Ala, who informed me that it yielded
surprisingly. Another reason for believing
it would do finely on the richest soils, is.
that it has but little shade, and of course,
opens earlier; also, there is no doubt it ma
lures much sooner, which renders it less
liable to rot, &c, Moderate seasons are
best: however, have no doubt il would