156 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



thrown out the quince root dies. In every instance he had found 

 both roots perfectly healthy and growing. 



The Chairman stated that his own experience corroborated 

 these statements. He had found that the Bartlett Avould some- 

 times do well on a quince stock, and would sometimes fail. 



Prof. Mapes stated that the Bartlett will produce upon the 

 same area of ground, a much larger quantity and better quality 

 of fruit, upon the pear stock than upon the quince. 



Mr. Carpenter was opposed to the theory of having the same 

 tree both a dwarf and a standard. He w*ould plant the quince 

 stock an inch below the surface, to protect it from borers merely. 

 By putting it deeper the roots are brought too far beneath the 

 surface, and will not feel the changes of the weather readily. 

 The tree keeps growing until it is injured by a frost. 



Prof. Mapes would only plant three or four inches deeper, 

 which will enable the pear roots to be formed. Whether the 

 tree shall remain a dwarf or become a standard depends upon 

 the pruning. As soon as the pear roots are thrown out, new 

 vigor is infused into the tree. 



TREE COTTON. 



Mr. Kendall was invited to repeat his statements with regard 

 to the Gossypium Jirhoretum, or cotton tree of Chili, and made 

 some statements additional to those in last week's report. 



The tree grows to the size of the peach tree. Under the trop- 

 ics there is no regularity in the crop ; but in the colder latitudes 

 the crop is as regular as that of the grains of the north. It takes 

 root kindly from cuttings, and may he produced from the seed. 

 It is of rapid growth, is a prolific bearer, makes an efficient hedge, 

 and is a highly ornamental tree. The blossoms are variegated 

 and odorous. The predominant color is a bright glossy yellow. 

 It is the same species with the cotton tree of Africa, but the 

 quality difiers with the locality. The African tree produces a 

 short, irregular staple, while this produces a long and uniform 

 staple. The lint is much more easily prepared for the market 

 than that of the herbaceous cotton. The seed is not distributed 

 throughout the lint, as in the herbaceous plant, but is confined to 

 a central stem, so that the lint may be drawn away, leaving the 

 seeds in a cluster. Clothes made of this cotton are water-proof. 

 The cotton will require ginning, but the gin may be simplified, 

 and the fibre will not be materially deranged. 



