105 
the question is open to further investigation; and I desire to enforce the idea of the 
great necessity for the continuous planting of forest-trees as a protection to the farmer, 
and his products and material for the mechanic. 
Respectfully, 
FRED’K WATTS, 
Commissioner of Agriculture. 
G. W. Barnes, Esq., 
President of the San Diego Society of Natural History. 
MICROSCOPIC OBSERVATIONS. 
By THOMAS TAYLOR, MICROSCOPIST. 
Aspergillus MicheliimA genus of Mucedines (Hyphomycetous Fungi) 
forming common molds, such as the blue of cheese. I have found fre- 
quently on moldy cheese in combination with aspergillus, penicillium 
glaucum. Aspergillus has been found to produce a secondary form of 
fruit, being that forming the subject of the genus eurotium. The accom- 
panying illustration is from an original drawing by M. C. Cook. 
FACTS FROM VARIOUS SOURCES. 
COTTON-MANUFACTURING IN THE UNITED STATES.—It is gratifying 
to observe the steady progress of cotton-manufacturing in this country, 
and especially in the South. The location and exclusive conduct of the 
business in one corner of the country, and the insane refusal of the cot- 
ton section in the past to use its magnificent opportunities to share in 
the profits of manufacturing, while growling at those who use their 
facilities even at comparative disadvantage, is a thing of the past, ona 
par with the practice of importing from other States horses to cultivate 
cotton, and oats and hay to feed the horses, while half the labor of early 
summer is spent in killing grass in the cotton-fields. 
This Department has labored for years to induce the South to make 
yarns and coarse cottons to the extent of one-third of the crop, part 
with another third for the finer fabrics made in the North, (eventually 
this distinction may disappear,) and leave only a third instead of more 
than two-thirds for foreign consumption. The largest profits now en- 
joyed in cotton-manufacturing are realized in the South, and there is 
abundanteapital North and South, skilled artisans obtainable for prompt 
initiation of the abundant and needy home-supply of material for effi- 
cient and cheap labor. Only the inertia of southern habits and timidity 
of northern capital prevent. Let such a result be attained and we shall 
hear no grumbling about unremunerative prices for cotton, lack of em- 
ployment for labor, or wholesale purchase abroad of the bulky raw pro- 
ducts of agriculture; and the time would not be long ere the annual 
products of industry in the South would reach the value of five dollars 
for every one now produced, and heavy exports of manufactured cot- 
ton would be made to every country in the world, including England. 
The number of spindles reported in operation in the South in 1869 
was 225,063, increased to 262,221 in 1874, and to 481,821 in 1875. The 
quantity of cotton used has reached 67,733,140 pounds, about 34 per 
cent. of the amount produced. The following is the record ot home 
