Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-10-12
from the New York Evening Post, October g.
perPuniuI C0ltnu.

TFrom the New York Evening Post, October91
Perennial Cotton.
Mr.. Kendall, resident of Maryland, and
a botonist, is lecturing in this city, on the
qualities of the Gossypiur Arboreum, or tree
cotton of Peru, which he has transplanted to
this country, and raised successfully on his
farm in Maryland.
In 1853 Mr.. Kendall was sent out by the
Government to collect seeds and plants in
South America, which might prove useful to
the people of the United States, as we'll as to
assist in taking observations Of its transit
routes, if necessary. He passed, IN the course
of his journeys, through the greater part of
Western South America. In Peru and in
Chill he found the cotton-tree growing wild,
and in few instances cultivated. He found
that the tree grew equally we'll in the sultry
lowlands and in the cold highlands and
mountain regions; but he noticed also that
the product of trees growing in colder cli-
mates was finer and of larger staple than that
grown under a hotter sun.
Seeing this, he conceived the idea that this
plant might easily be transported to the
United States, and he has since proved that
it will grow and bear abundantly any where
where corn will Iipen.
He carefully collected seeds and plants of
the GoStypium Arbcyeum from the higher and
colder regions of Chill and Peru, and brought
them to this country. He has raised the tres
Oh his own farm in Maryland with great sue
cess, as he AYERS, and with no trouble, the
trees proving entirely hardy in the severest
winters OF that latitude.
The matter became known in the South,
and number Of cotton planters came to see
him and his cotton trees. Struck with the ad-
vantage of a new cotton yielding plant viii III
required so little attention, Gov. Hammond,
Pickens, Davis and others formed a society
which offered MIR. Kendall terms sufficiently
profitable to induce him to introduce the cot
ton tree into the South in quantities. His
thought was that they would easily add to
the productiveness of their cotton fields by
planting this tree along fences and on the
waste lands untitled for profitable culture Of
the common cotton plant.
The outbreak of the rebellion put a stop to
the plans of the Southern planters Mr..
Kendall escaped from the South, refusing to
serve under any flag but that of the Union;
and he has now been requested by some of
our most prominent merchants, manufacture
ers and others, to lay the result of his eX-
periments and observations before the public.
A tree cotton, perennial and hardy wher-
ever corn will mature, bearing even more
amply than the annual cotton plant of the
South, must be of infinite advantage to this
country under any circumstances, if it is
once fairly introduced. Mr.. Kendall gives
"Seversl years ago, while an empLoye in
the Patent Office, l received and accepted q
q tempting offer from Gillian gentleman of
wealth, Senior Alsogara, to conduct certain
matters on his estates. One holiday morn
ing, not very long after my arrival at my
ten p)Iary South American home, set out
on horseback along the course OF a modest
little river called the Chipura, and forming
the boundary between standardization and
&c tha
solved to explore as much Of my patron 8
domain as the brief May day would allow,
pushed brskly forward over the already
frozen ground, covered fetlock. deep with
newly fallen snow, following the windings of
the stream, whose ledgy banks of dark rock
generally thrust back, as it were, by aluyial
bottoms from one 10 three hundred yards dis
tsnt, indicating thatlthe Chipura had one day
been a river of ten times its present volume
After a ride of some two hours, in doubling
an abrupt turn where the rocks apJroac ned
very near the water, came suddepiyIinto full
view Of an object. some two hundred yards
distant, which presented the most magniti-
cent spectacle l had ever seen-a perfect
cone or pyramid of pure, brilliant snow,
elevated at its base perhaps seven feet ifrom
the ground, upon a shaft of whitish bronze,
the whole structure cut clear and sharp
against the dark wall Of rock in the back
ground. | had in northern countries after
a calm fall of scOw, seen many white pyra'
mid, having an internal structure of pine or
spruce, but knowing that in the present in
stance tie snow had fallen during a violent
gale, and ob:erVing hat none the pines about
me bore any traces Of it upon their branches,
| rode forward in semi mi-beWilderment to in
vestigate the phenomenon.
SIT resolved itself, as drew near, into a
NEST perfect specimen Of the GossyPium Ar
bOTeam, the perennial cotton tree. Its fOi-
age had long been shed, but the pods re-
manned, having fully burst, and turned out
their spotless samples in almost perfect roses,
covering the entire structure with dense
mass of spotless, glossy cotton. | had often
seen and examined Indifferent specimens Of
the perennial cotton shrub, but | had never
seen any thing even approaching in pertec-
tion that solitary tree.
"The remainder Of that, and many a saint
day thereafter was devoted to intimate com
panionship with and diligent study of the
habits, peculiRrities and general economy o.
the beautiful solitaire of the Chipura.
"In its native condition, and in the higher
southern latitudes, the average size and alti
tude of the GOSSypium AT6Oreum equal thu
medium peach tree of North America-say
eight inches in diameter at two feet from tn,
ground, and in hight twenty feet; in its gen
eral structure more nearly resem mbling tht
white mulberry than any other tree will
which ! am familiar. The leaves are abun
dant distinctly denticulated, and of a glossy
silVery green. Flowers profuse, very double
variegated, and in size about a third smaller
than the perfected hollyhock, the tree when
in full bloom presenting one of the mos
beautiful effects imaginable. The bolls a
maturity are twice the size of those born,
by the herbaceous plant, and wherever i
approached the colder regions found tn,
fiber finer and the length Of staple increased
"The perennial cotton tree is propagate
simply thrust into the ground, and possesse
this pee uliar advantage in our country owe
the herbaceous plant. 1t may be plante
out as an apple, peach or pear orchard, an,
the field cropped with any of the cereals, un
til the tree, having reached its maximu1
standard, should entirely occupy the land
II bears cutting as kindly as any know
fraa and in faid on 1tura mo " al hn Ia m