PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 211 



and lie stated to me that when the seed was first brought to 

 South Carolina it was supposed to be so much a tropical plant 

 that it would be difficult to grow it even on the low sea 

 coast near Charleston to perfect itself so as to produce cotton. 

 And after it had been grown there successfully the planters iu 

 the upper part of the State would not for a long time plant the 

 seed, thinking it would not grow there. Yet cotton has been 

 carried even into Indiana, north of the latitude of 40 cleg., where 

 it perfects itself every year. So with the sugar cane, upon its 

 introduction into Louisiana; it was at first doubted Avhether it 

 could be grown to produce sugar, and even after that was suc- 

 cessfully done upon the coast the planters back from the river 

 would not believe that they could grow it. Yet, I have seen it, 

 far up on the hills, upon an old worn-out plantation, produce four 

 hogsheads to the acre, which was as much as the best lands upon, 

 the river, with equal cultivation, could produce. Whether this 

 was acclimation or habituation is of little consequence. It is 

 our object, as it was the object of the Society of Acclimation, to 

 inquire whether there are new plants or animals which can be 

 usefully introduced. Shall we " rest upon our riches," or shall 

 we stretch out our hands abroad and see whether we cannot 

 grasp something else and bring it here and make it serviceable to 

 us. Here is this tree cotton. Who knows but we may as well 

 have our cotton trees on every farm as easily as our apple trees, 

 or pear trees, or cherry trees ? 



Prof. Mapes. — I am as much in favor of introducing new plants 

 or animals as any one. That is a different question. Mr. Robin- 

 son has stated the opinions of the planters upon the introduction 

 of the cotton plant and the sugar cane ; but it has been clearly 

 proved by the government, in an experiment which cost $100,000, 

 that the sugar cane has not been acclimated ; for new plants have 

 been introduced which have been grown by the side of the old 

 ones and there was no dilBference. 



Mr. Carpenter. — I was one of the first to plant the Persian 

 melon. I found it very superior, and procured some fine speci- 

 mens. I planted again and gained a little. Of course I planted 

 the first that ripened, for all did not ripen. It has now advanced 

 some thirty days, and it has all been brought about by the 

 selection of the first seed that ripened. 



Mr. John G. Bergen. — I am inclined to believe with Prof. 

 Mapes that no permanent change is produced. In my experience 



