The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-06-17
LIE DUC's DISCOVERY.
Cotton Planting to be Revolutionized and
the Growth OF the Plant Stimulated
Sulphuric Acid the Potential Agent.

A discovery destined, in the opinion
of Gen. lie Due, to be of more value to
the South than anything that has been
previously done by the Agricultural De-
partment, has been made in relation to
the planting of cotton. A question hav.
ing arisen as to the situation of the oil
cells in cotton seed, the matter was re-
ferred to the microscopic, Prof. Thomas
Taylor. He found series of oil cells
near the outer surface, and another row
Immediately surrounding the chit of ger
minating point, evidencing the com plete
protection which the latter received.
This fact led Prof. Taylor to experiment,
with a view to ascertaining the amount
of resistance offered to tue attacks of
agents generally supposed to be Of q de-
structive nature to all organic life. In
trying sulphuric acid, which had been
previously used in a diluted form to ag-
glutiuate the cotton adhering to the
seeds, so as to facilitate the expression of
the oil, he found that acid Of the COM
mercial strength completely removed
this without visibly efectiug the outer
brown shell. To test the actual effect on
the terminating property, he handed
some of the seed thus treated and after
wards washed to Mr.. Saunders, who
planted it. To the surprise of every
one except Mr.. Taylor, who had foreseen
this result if the germ had not been de-
stroyed, the seed came up at least Ave
days earlier than that in its natural state.
To ascertain whether this might not be
owing to the soaking the seed received,
some 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 adherent cotton
to have been the same as performed by
nature, viz: the conversion Of the amyla-
ceous or starchy cellulose into glucose.
Prof. Taylor's theory as to the action of
the corrosive acid being arrested tempo
rarily on contact with the ligneous cellu-
lose Of the shell, proved to have been
correct. The advantage to planters in
having five or six days start can scarcely
be overestimated, whether availed of in
avoiding early frosts or raising early cot.
ton, for which premiums are offered by
several cotton boards in the South. Bnt
this is not said to be the principal bene-
ft conferred by the discovery. Hitherto
cotton planting has had to be done by
hand and the seed sown broadcast, owing
to the adherent cotton preventing the
seed being used in the planters fer corn
and other clean seed. After preparation
the seed can be used in any planter, and
by the regularity of growth resulting,
the subsequent cultivation greatly facili-
tated. The mode of preparing the seed,
which it is understood will be patented,
is as follows: The seed is placed in an
earthen or glass vessel, and ordinary sui
phuric acid poured over so as II
pletely cover it. 1t is then stirred until
the brown shell is left free from cotton.
The acid is poured off to be used again,
and the seed washed until all acidity dis
appears from the water and dried. a
large quantity is to be thus prepared and
distributed among cotton planters for
next season. The acid, after it has be-
come saturated or exhausted, is to be ex-
perimented with to ascertain whether
the glucose cannot be recovered. Ex-
periments are also to be instituted with
a view to ascertain the practicabilty of
the process as applied to seeds slow of
termination, such as that of the palm,
which take three years to sprout.