Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1847-03-24
From the American Agrieu,turiisl...

MASTODON COTTON.-NoR
The Introduction of this variety OF cct-
ton into the United forms new era in
their history, and has excited greaG at.
tention.in all the cotton growing Districts.
The chieflopics Of inquiry or examination
TO whichl propose TO direct your feadeats
are as follows - =
Where did the seed come .from?-This is
not known with certainty, and perhaps
neverwilI be. In 1872 gentleman who
is moi known to the writer, and who had.
recently lbeensin Mexico and California;,
tslcft:tilfee; seeds tIinrn ouse. .ess s
ner in this place, with Que Of my neigh
bors. 6Thecircumstance became known
to me. and 1 carefully preserved aporEion
of tbelr product. From this beginning has
grown sthe 'Mastoden Cotton ID the
United States. Not all that is genuine. 4
l<mig ght here remark that for many years I.
had been endeavoring 10 obtain a better
seed than is usually cultivated. had Ia,
ken much pains TO procure and try ALI
seed / could hear of. had also spent
much time and expense in crossing, mix
ing and proving different kinds Of seed,
and | had then several different kinds of
cotton seed which had pe,ted good
deal, but have thrown them all away.
The name "Mastodon'' was given it BY
the writer in consequence of the size of The
bols and stalk.
What are the peculiar properties of the
plant and cotton?-The plant when young
IS stouter and more thrifty in its early
growth, the leaf is thicker and the stalk
larger. As the plant grows the stalk be,
comes very large and the branches very
long, with shor, joint. The foliage is Of
somewhat darker green Than the COM
mon cotton and the boil nearly thrice the
size, with thicker kind. The cotton when
open, adheres iu the boil with sufflcien.
strength to entirely prevent ITS falling out
iu The field.
The character and value Of the cotton
when prepared for market is ofmuch inn
porlance. The first that was exhibited 10
the market 10 N. Orleans sold IN Dec. I5.
As, at l6 cents per pound, and afterwards
as understood, IN Liverpool at9d. Ny
private commercial information from Liv:
erpool on the subject, placed it when well
ginned on saw gins, in The usual way
above all other Cotl0ns except The higher
grades Of Sea leland. No attempt has
been made that is known to the writer. 10
gin, ii in any better mode than on common
saw gins somewhat modified. Ills conf;
DENLY believed however, that iii could
be ginned without materially injuring the
staple, it would rank with the best Sea
Islands cotton. Its staple is from three,
quarters of an inch to two inches and a
half in length. Cotton brokers as mer-
chants speak of it as being remarkably
fine and silky.
lought 10 have remarked above, thar
the product Of the Maslodon, especially on
dry. thin, or sandy soil, is supposed to be
greater than that Of the common Mexican
cotton.
Ho,D and on soaat kinao Land IS IL.
cuIt,uated?-It has been cultivated, the
present year on all kinds Of cotton land
in the whole South. The season having
been so extremely disastrous, on account
of the wet weather and the famous cotton
worm, that it has been extremely difficult
TO make any calculation or estimate upon
i,;yet,it is believed from experience for
merly as well as the present year, that
Thin. dry land suits'it BEST. com mparatively,
ln culliyating the Mastoden cotton care
should be taken, on rich land; 10, make
and keep the ridge high, otherwise It may
continue to grow too long, in the season.
Theye sho,ild he a 1aoo r,,,on,;,. &c r,Ian,,