538 



various descriptions and qualities have been invented, both in Europe 

 and in this country ; but no one as yet has obtained the prize. The new 

 machine of M. Roland is described by the Paris Journal of Practical 

 Agriculture as being valuable for its simplicity, its moderate price, and 

 the amount of woi'k it is capable of performing. It is designed not 

 only for the treatment of ramie, but of other textile plants of which 

 the fibers are utilized for the fabrication of tissues. The stems can be 

 worked by it either green or dry, and whether rotted or not. Eotting can 

 thus be dispensed with to great advantage, if the time and expense and 

 unhealthiness of the operation are considered. These repeated efforts 

 are at least important steps in the right direction. 



American cotton in China. — A quantity of upland cotton was sent 

 from this Department a few years ago to the United States charge 

 d'affaires at Pekin, China, at his request, for experimental purposes. The 

 following letter communicates the somewhat singular result of the ex- 

 periments that were made. It will be observed that the attempt to intro- 

 duce American cotton into the mountainous district ot Shantung is sub- 

 stantially a failure. It is obvious, however, from the statement which is 

 made in regard to the latitude of the district where the experiments 

 were tried, that the climate is too cold and the season too short for the 

 maturity of cotton. 



Legation of the United States, 



Pekin, June 5, 1874. 



Dear Sir : In Aiignst, 18G8, I requested the Commisaioner to send mo a quantity of 

 nplaud-cotton seed, which he was obliging enough to do, so that the three packages 

 came during the next summer in excellent condition. 



I distributed them to various persons in this city, through whom the seeds were sent 

 to different parts of this province south of Pekin. One of these was an English mis- 

 sionary at Tien-Tsin, of whom I recently inquii'ed as to the success of the cultivators to 

 ■whom he had given this cotton-seed. He writes me as follows : 



" I have made iiiqairies respecting the growth of cotton in Shantung from the seed 

 yon gave me a few years ago. I am informed that in each case (for it was given to 

 several farmers) the result was the same. It grew into a fine shrub, much higher and 

 larger than the native plant. One root yielded over a hundred pods, three times the 

 size of native pods, but none of them opened, and consequently no cotton-fiber was 

 obtained. The seeds were preserved and planted by one or another every successive 

 year with the same result, so that they are now planted in gardens as a flowering shrub, 

 and are much admired. The farmers say that the climate is too cold, and hence the 

 cotton will not ripen." 



The native cotton in this part of China is not over six inches high, and the fiber (as 

 cultivated without much care) is short, almost like wool ; perhaps it would develop 

 if more manure was applied. The cloth made from it, by those who rear it generally, 

 is durable. The latitude of that part of Shantung province where the experiment 

 above referred to was tried, is about 38^^, and the seed, I suppose, came from Eastern 

 Tennessee. Perhaps more fiber will be developed as the plant becomes acclimatized. 

 Your obedient servant, 



S. WELLS WILLIAMS, 

 United States Charge d' Affaires. 



Frederick Watts, Esq.. ' 



Commissioner of Agriculture, Washington. 



