152 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



sible for them to diifer, and they have maintained that difference 

 for fourteen years. The fertilization and manipulation of the 

 soil, for the whole length of the arbor, has been alike, during the 

 entire fourteen years. 



TREE COTTON, 



Mr. Kendall exhibited a specimen of tree cotton grown by him 

 in Maryland, and a portion of the tree. It has been popularly 

 believed that the cotton plant cannot be grown north of the 

 parallel of 31° in our country. But as long ago as 1833 cotton 

 has been perfected in Canada. The plants have also perfected 

 their fibres in Massachusetts. Early in 1854, he had had his 

 attention particularly drawn to the perennial cotton tree, being 

 then in Chili. For a whole year he studied the growth and the 

 product of that tree. The climate of Southern Chili is as rigo- 

 rous as that of New York State. Yet there are cotton trees 

 there one hundred years old, annually supplying the natives with 

 materials for textile fabrics. By diligent investigation and 

 inquiry, he had learned that it produced with great certainty, 

 and that the crop was never a failure. In those regions the tree 

 commences bearing the third year, and continues in bearing 35 

 or 40 years. In warmer latitudes, it dAvindles to a shrub, bear- 

 ing 10 or 12 years. He had observed that in many instances 

 tropical plants have been improved by their removal to the tem- 

 perate zone. Thus with the cotton tree. It is improved by the 

 cold, producing a finer fibre and a longer staple. This specimen 

 was grown about fifteen miles north of Baltimore. The annual 

 production would probably be about twelve pounds to each tree. 

 It will probably perfect the fibre of the cotton wherever Indian 

 corn will grow. He would estimate the yield per acre at 1,500 

 pounds ; whereas the yield from the cotton plant is 500 pounds. 



Mr. Pardee remarked that the specimen produced was above 

 the average of good cotton, and nearly approached the Sea 

 Island cotton. 



Prof. Mapes corroborated this opinion, and moved that Mr. 

 Kendall be requested by the club to deliver a public lecture upon 

 this subject. 



The motion was agreed to. 



FRUITS, POTATOES AND GRAIN. 



Mr. Carpenter this week exhibited improved varieties of pota- 

 toes and of grain. Hallet's Pedigree wheat has produced a head 



