Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-03-10
From the NesD Orleans Della
Cotton and Salt


He is both stupid and impracticable who
will assume that the book of agricultural
| science and Improvement is closed, that its
| last apocalyptic chapter has been written and
! that no room is left for marginal note. To
| such il would be vain to speak of the applca-
| ton of salt, or any other new fertilizing agent
in the growth of cotton. But the cotton plan
| tiers of the South are not stockish impractical
Lles; they do not reject the revelations OF
| scientific experiment, but are now awaiting
with interest the results of fair trial of salt
in the cultivation of cotton, to test its efficacy
! for improving the fineness and strength of the
staple, without any loss of the quantity of
the yield" Mr.. Thomassy is the leading adj
vocate of this idea at present. He is an en-
thusiastic and experienced agricultural chem
list, as well as salt manufacturer, and proposes
not only to prove the validity of his theory,
but to produce salt in sufficient abundance
and of sufficient cheapness to make its use
profitable. a Southern contemporary speaks
of Mr.. Thomassy and his theory as follows:
''Mr. Thomassy, a highly intelligent, culti-
waited, energetic and indefatigabe French
gentleman, who has been for several years in
America, engaged in the diligent prosecution
of certain scientific Investigations and expert
ments in relation to the production of salt by
simpler and speedier processes than those in
common use. The results of these researches
have been quite remarkable, aud seem indis-
putably to establish the propositions advanced
by Dir. ThOmassy. But interesting and i'm
pOrtalt as the manufacture of salt on a large
scale. and by prompt and easy manipulation
may he, there is one phase of the subject which
peculiarly concerns the South and to which
Mr.. Thomassy devotes particular attention. in
the full belief of attaining complete success
We refer To his theory of the action of salt in
me diGying the growth of cotton, in giving
strength, softness and elasticity to the fiber /;
in converting, so to speak, the short-staple
variety of the uplands into that valuable de-
scription of cotton known Sea Island.
1T were greatly TO be desired that the views
of this enlightened and profound agricultural
chemist should be tested. The theory ap-
pears, in every respect. sound and rational.
If the excellence of Sea Island cotton depends
mainly on the peculiar saline nOurishment re-
ceived by the plant by being imbedded in salt
mud, il is evident that an application Of this
material to the variety grown in the interior
must materially enhance the quality of the
fiber, and the consequent value of the crop.
So important point is well worthy series
of carefully conducted experiments Should
they prove successful not only will the cotton
planters be enabled to avail themselves of a
discovery of vast Importance to their future
prosperity, but the demand for salt will be
largely augmented, and the production of the
article be stimulated far beyond its present
limits. Were we an extensive cotton planter
we should certainly solicit the services of Mr.
Thomassy in testing the powers of salt us a
means of improving the staple and increasing
the yield. From what we know of that gen
tleman, we feel assured that he would very
cheertully embrace an eligible opportunity of
the truth of his theory by the
substantial value of the results
In DeBow's Review of November last we
are told that: tts
''Mr. Thomassy has been for several years
resident among us, and exhibits some speci-
mems of American salt made by him from
sea-brine, after three weeks only of solar evap-
grafton. BY a method of his own invention
he succeeded regularly at his Italian works,
on the Adriatic. in obtaining large quantities
Of salt two months after the completion of
his evaporation fields. Such method intro
duced largely into our country would produce
q great industrial rev olution, and free us from
foreign dependence for an article scarcely less
important than gunpowder As author, foun-
der, and engineer of salt-Works, a large part
Df his life has been spsnt among the swamp
lands of the seaboard, near the mouths of riv- |
FRS. or in the midst of lagoons undergoing a |
process of removal or formation, like those of |
the Mississippi
The City Council of savannah not long ago |
strongly recommended the enterprise of Mr. |
fhomas>y Tn the Legislature OF Georgia, and |
the Cove of that State leased /
- him a portion nf the public domain 10 be |
Used for the purposes of his salt works Has |
Tot the State OF Louisiana several thousand |
scrcs Of disposable sea marsh that might be |
donated or leased 20 advantage for the home /
of salt for home consumption In |
agriculture: When the English and French |
IRE both threatening extensive aud yigor- /
nus East India and African competition with |
Is In the production of cotton, il Is by all |
neails desirable that we should improve the |
quality Of our cotton. The salt theory pro-
'oses 10 secure that object Why should il !
hot he fairly and thoroughly tested: