The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-03-07

H.
atmosphere. Owing 20 the absence
of counter currents and a conse-
oucnt intermingling Of the atmos-
phere. there is no frequency and
equitable distribution of RAIN
through the wear. Rather, there
are only two seasons, the wet ana
the dry. II even the temperature
is right for the cotton plant either
the dry starveling atmosphere OF
the one or the excessive wet OF the
other season, is not adapted to the
cotton plant and cannot develop
and mature a good elastic fiber.
We shall see before we are done
with this subject that the American
staple cannot be duplicated upon
any other portion Of the globe.
The continent Of America lies at
right angles to the equator, or
nearly SO. The great dorsal ridge
which trends near the Pacific coast,
forms. on our equator, an etfectual
barrier that completely breaks up
the trade winds, and, from the
slight angle in this grand massive
elevation, hurls them back upon
H. 0ro~ - tha fr1f 10 Io
and intermingle with the polar cur
rents that come down the eastern
base of the Rocky mountains.
These lntermlngliIg currents sweep
over the cotton plateau of the Gulf
and South Atlantic States, and
coming IN contact with spurs Of
the Blue ridge and Allegheny pro-
duce a frequency and equality in
the distribution of rain unknown,
perhaps, anywhere else in the same
latitude. AS the result of these
great continental laws-the direct
consequences Of these wonderful
physical forces, we have all over
this cotton plateau of ours an atmos-
pheric condition of things not to
be found any where else. 1t is
always elastic and fresh, and our
cotton fibre, no doubt owes its supc-
rlority to the peculiar characters
ties of the atmosphere in which it
is grown. 1t must be remembered
also, that the coast of this plateau
is closely washed by the Gulf Stream
until it reaches Cape Hatteras,
where coming in contact with a oar
rler which juts out into the ocean,
this stream is driven off and cross
es the Atlantic. | have no doubt
that the Gulf Stream plays a con-
spicuous part with the other agen-
cies mentioned in producing this
peculiar softness of temperature,
this freshness and elasticity of at
mosphere in which our superior
staple is grown. This view is sus-
tanned by the long staple cotton
which is produced on the coasts Of
Florida and Georgia, in the closest
known proximity to the Gulf
Stream.
Here then, we have a wonderful
combination of natural forces, a
grouping if | may SO express it, of
Continental laws, giving character
and value to u cotton fibre; and |
have no hesitancy in saying that
soil, labor, art of cultivation alone
can never, IN a dry starveling at
mosphere, duplicate it.
Now it must be manifest, to the
scientific mind, at least, that the
same causes which combine to pro-
duce this superiority Of staple are
essential to the highest degree of
perfection in its manufacture. 1t
is well known to every planter. gin
ner, spinner and weaver of cotton.
that even here in the South, a
change of temperature and the con-
dition Of the atmosphere seriously
affects the fibre. Not only the
elasticity Of the cotton but the wool
fibre is affected by certain condi-
tons OF the atmosphere as every
wool carder can testify. 1t is Of
paramount Importance, then, that
the material go directly from the