The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1880-06-24

N IMPORTANT DISCO VERY.
j.. PROCESS of Incalcuiabie Value to
Cotton PianCe.S.

discovery destined, in the opinion of
Ian. lie Due, TO be OF more value to the
.5urh than anything that has been previous
- done by the Agricultural Department., has
s,an made in relation to the planting of
zion. \ question having arisen as to
he situation of the oil cells IN cotton seed,
.ba matter was referred to the mlcrosoplst.
Prof. Thomas Taylor. He found a series OF
Il cells near the outer surface, aud another
nv Immediately surrounl ling the chit or
narminating point, evidencing the complete
nr5tectiOn which the latter received. This
aet led Prot. Taylo,' to experiment,
with a view to ascertalnlng the amount OF
distance offered to attacks of agents gener-
,lv supposed to be OF a destructive nature
10 all organic life. La trying sulphuric acid,
which had been previously used IN a diluted
farm to %agglutinate the cotton adherIng to
he seeds, SO as 20 facilitate the expression
Il the oil, he found that acid of the com-
m~ercial strength completely removed this
without visibly affecting the outer brown
hell. To test the actual effect on the ger
ninating property, he handed some of the
ICED thus treated and afterwards washed to
Nr. Saunders, who planted 1t. To the sur
rise ofevery one except Mr.. Taylor, who
lad foreseen this result. if the germ nad not
been DESTROYED, the seed cluIe up at least
i've days earlier that that in its natural
,tate. To ascertain whether this might not
he owing to the soaking the seed re, e we'd,
.ome was kept for several months and then
planted at the same time with seed Of the
same crop unprepared. The same results
followed, showing the action OF the acid IN
removing the adherant cotton to have been
the same as performed by nature. viz: the
conversion of the amylaceous or starch Gel
80 ., D.nf T,f, tho,r,
As to the action Of the corrosive acid being
crested temporarily on contact with the
~igneous celluiose Of the shell, proved to
have been correct. The advantage to plan
ters in having five or six days start can
,~carceiy be overestimated, whether awaited
u in avoiding early frost or raising early
cotton, for which premiums are offered by
several cotton boards in the South. But
thisis not said to be the principal benefit
Conferred by the discovery. Hitherto cot
ton planting has had to be done by hand,
aud The seed sown broadcast, owing to the
Inherent cotton preventing the seed being
used in the planters used for corn and other
clean seed. After preparation the seed can
cn be used in any planter, and, by the
-egularity, the subsequent cultivation
realty facilitated. The mode of preparing
"a: seed, which it is understood will be pa
,entet, is as follows: The seed IS placed
IL an eartheru or glass vessel, and ordinary
suiphuric acid poured over SO as to complete
Iycover it. 1t is then stirred until the brown
she'll is left free from cotton. The acid is
poured off to be used again. and the seed
Washed until all acidity disappears from the
EaJer aud dried. a large quantity Is to be
,hus prepared aud distributed among cotton
plauters for next season. The acid, after
Il has hpcomp saturated or exhausted, Is to
be Experimental With to ascertain whether
the glucose cannot be recovered. Expert
mcnts are also to be instituted with a view to
ascertain the practicabiIity Of the process a
applied to send slow Of termination, such
as that OF the palm, which takes three years
to ,prout. iioshGnGton Post.