332 TRANSACTIONS OF THE KANKAKEE 



Avhite cotton lint inside. In this lint is found the cotton seed, and 

 to separate it from the cotton it is passed through a machine called 

 a " gin."' The seed formerly was useless, but now it is worth more 

 than the lint itself, for it is utilized to make salad oil, cooking oils, 

 oleomagerine butter, etc. 



The great picking time begins about October 1st and lasts until 

 December 1st. 



After ginning the cotton it is pressed in bales of five hundred 

 pounds and is ready for market. The a])proximate worth of a bale 

 of cotton at the present time is fift}^ dollars. Of course it depends 

 greatly upon the quality. 



A farmer counts for a good crop one bale per acre: it often sur- 

 passes that on some farms. According to statistics this year, the 

 cotton seems to yield only about two-thirds of a bale per acre. 



Some have the query: Why can't cotton grow up north? Our 

 answer is, '" It will grow," but must be kept in a hot-bed, and be- 

 fore frost it must be brought in the house and treated like a house- 

 plant. 



Owing to the shortness of the season up north is the reason it 

 is not cultivated like anything else. 



Why can't you, botanist, florist, and horticulturist combined, 

 who are yearly so enterprising in bringing your displays to the fair, 

 start in and have a cotton plant all in bloom on exhibition; it would 

 attract much attention, and be something new for hundreds of people. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



Your committee on Fruits and Flowers would report as follows: 



Mr. R. A. Lane had on exhibition some splendid specimens of 

 Yellow Bellflower, Domine, Minkler, Westfield, Seek-no-Further and 

 Minister. 



0. W. Barnard exhibited several specimens of N. Y. Vandevere 

 that were very fine. 



Wm. Knox exhibited several varieties: Roxbury Russet, Ben 

 Davis, Jonathan and Grimes Golden, the two latter varieties being 

 exceptionally fine. H. S. BLOOM, 



Com m if tee. 



A. St. John exhibited six ears of pop-corn grown on one stalk ; 

 eleven stalks bore forty-six ears. 



Mrs. Mary Jane Barnard placed three beautiful bouquets of 

 flowers on the table. 



On motion the meeting adjourned. 



