NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



339 



ciallv nftcr drought or oxlremc Ituiiriance. — 

 hus offccted, llip proximate cause may be irn- 

 ited to a peculiar humid state ot" the atmos- 

 ipi-o — to the action of insects or other cx- 

 rnal agents. 



Each Sf)ecips of the Cotton Plant srcner:\Ily 

 llivateil in Ihe United State?, and of necessity 

 :('ed as an aniuinl, niny he fnimd h) clinialc? 

 ro congenial, or uhnrc indisjenons, a fcr- 

 iV.j- plant, ca;ni')o of production for sevrial 

 ii's. Tlic AUmrn im or Sap-wood, comprising- 

 e entire ^tem. with the exception of a Small 

 rtion of pith, althong-h the product of our 

 rt seasons, has a firm texture, and is rcplole 

 ih a variety cf tn'>es, ihrnug-h nhich the snp 

 :enils iVom Ihe remotest I'lbres of the roots to 

 : leave*; and descends thronji^h Ihe bark. In 

 s capacions vascular stifleiii, oiving lo Ihe! 

 arf 'talure of the plant and other causes, ; 

 ivprfiil capillary attraction is ordinarily ex 

 ttd ; producing a copious and rapid flow of 



a correspondent increment of wood, and a 

 istant succession of flowers and capsules ; a 

 •lion of which do not arrive at maturity. — 

 w if the circulation of sap is stopped in its 

 icent through the bark, it must necessarily 

 Buhject to less violent action upon any excess 

 itimulus, and more perfect elaboration in the 

 nches and foliage, by a protracted exposure 

 ight, heat and other influences of Ihe atmos- 

 re ; while the leaves, exercising their pro- 

 functions, perspire or evaporate the excre- 

 ititions and aqueous parts ; the remainder 

 ) modified, or prepared for organization, is 

 vrbed and evolved by the flowers and cnp- 

 s; rendering them at all times vigorous and 

 i to withstand the vicissitudes of seasons. 

 on of insects, — and to repel the formidable 

 hsitic tribe that float in the atmosphere, 

 Dy to fix upon weak or diseased vegetation, 



complete its destruction. Moreover, the 

 it bf ing, in a great measure, deprived of the 

 ins of [iropagating the Tn-iparous or it'ood 



reny, its energies are directed to the ovipa- 

 or sexual ; accordingly, the main force of 

 •etation is employed to increase and perfect 

 crop. 



ou will now understand, Sir, that the im- 

 /ement before stated, consists in obstructing 

 circulation of the sap in its descent tliiough 

 stem or branches of the Cotton Plant, wilh- 

 deteiiorating the Alburnum or Sap-wood — 

 this may be effected by an annular excision 

 le cortex and liber, or outer and inner barks, 

 nd the process on which I rely for the most 

 ient and economical application of the dis- 

 ery, is with an instrument I denominate a 

 oRTicATOR, that will, at a single operation, 

 >rticate a cylinder or annular stri[) of the 

 .. and completely detach the same, leaving 

 Alburnum entirely bare ; and can be man- 

 1 with such facility, that a common labourer, 

 believed, will be able to operate upon one 

 nore acres in a day. This instrument has 

 3 resemblance to the common forceps, in 

 1 limb of wliich are two knives of anellipti- 

 form, for making the horizontal incisions, 

 parallel, and at such distance as the width 

 le excision may require; between each in 

 centre, is fixeil an incisor, for making the 

 K leal cuts, having its edge at right angles, 

 even with the edges of the horizontal knives. 

 ; operator grasps the stem with the instru- 



ment, and by a gentle pre.ssnre, which a spring that experience only can determine, 

 between the handles enables him to regulate, inexpedient to evprf.,, more offhe 

 the strip to be removed, is divided on eacl •• • 



■ -.1 side, 



»vhcn 1>T turning the instrument round the stem, 

 the horizontal incisions are completed, and bv 

 Ihe same operation the incisions detach the 

 hark. To prevent an accumulation of bark be- 

 tween the knives, that would obstruct Iheir ope- 

 ration, or consume time in TcmoYins:,sprin<rs are 

 fixed at eacli end on a level with "their edjjes, 

 and extending to the ijicisor, where the 

 way on a slight pressure; when tli:it ceasoL, 

 they rotiirn to their former position and throw' 

 off the bark. For a more particular <lcscrip- 

 lion of this instrument, you are referred to the 

 .Imerican Farmer, in which, by the patriotic 

 land friendly exertions of John S. Skinner, Esq. 

 of Baltimore, ihe indefatigable Editor of that 

 invaluable vehicle, a fac simile, or drawing of 

 fullsize, with ample references for its construc- 

 tion, will shor'.ly appear.* 



It will readily occur to you that the results 

 ofsitigle experiments in Agriculture, often prove 

 no more than what relates to a single season, to 

 one soil, one climate, and one tnode of culture ; 

 and the axiom may be applied to the present 

 subject, which opens a field where great uncer- 

 tainty of data must necessarily exist. It is from 

 this consideration, Sir, that I am induced to so- 

 licit that the merits of the discovery may be 

 submitted to the test of varied and multipled 

 trials, under your auspices, the approaching 

 season ; and with great deference ofter some 

 suggestions as an outline for your government. 

 The first and most important point lo be as- 

 certained, is the period most suitable to obstruct 

 the sap, in order to promote the highest state 

 of improvement in Iho crop, and at the same 

 lime effectually guard against the ro^ — For this 

 purpose a number of rows in a cotton field should 

 be appropriated expressly for experiments ;_ 

 commencing with one row when the flower buds 

 appear on the first tier of branches— with the 

 next when the petals of the Aohts on those 

 Lra.-iches are first expanded ; continuing to de- 

 corticate other rows successively at every mark- 

 ed stage of groxvth, 'till the crop approaches to 

 maturity— leaving mitonched, alternate plants in 

 each rnw, as standards for comparison. There 

 may possibly be periods when the bark will not 

 peel freely ; in that case the operation should 

 be deferred 'till it can be easily and complete- 

 ly detached, so that no fibre be left to connect 

 iSe circulation ; nor should there be any shoots 

 or branches permitted to remain between the 

 roots and the excision, unless they are also de- 

 corticated. 



Should you be disposed to extend the opera- 

 lion to acres or f elds, the period I shall assume 

 as most likely to produce the desired results is, 

 when the [danls are in full foliage, having the 

 most part of the flower buds formed, that may 

 be expected lo come to maturity, and before 

 the fecundating process has generally commenc- 

 ed ; as the organs of fructification will be great- 

 ly invigorated, and, of course, fewer abortive 

 pods. 



The necessary width of the excision of bark, 

 presents lor the next enquiry; and on this 

 point so much depends upon the luxuriance of 

 the plant ana the period when decorticated, 



See Americaa Farmer, vol, vi. No. 8. 



It will bd 



Alburnum 



than necescnry; and prolriMy one-lourth of .-in 

 mrh may bo a.ssumed as Ihe medium, lo prevent 

 a union of the barks and a restoration of the 

 circulation, before all the benefits from llie 

 process are realized. 



I would further request, that yinur attention 

 may be directed to plantations where no dan- - 

 ger is apprehended from the rot, i>articularlv 

 'vej to the htack seed species, which, though not af- 

 I fecled by that malaily, except in peculiar silua- 

 j lions or in consequence of long continuance of 

 wet weather, is subject to a nii! that destroys 

 the foliage, cau'ins: the pods to shrink or perisli ; 

 and also to a blig/it ^Ihnt shews itself in dark 

 spots on the capsules ; these, by whatever morn 

 correct names they may be (iistinguished, arc 

 both active members of the parasitic family— 

 Ihe effect of a diseased slate of the vessels and 

 not the cmcse. And probably may be repelled 

 by the increased vigor imparted by decortica- 

 tion. 



It should be kept in view that Ihe black spe- 

 cies is more disposed to produce wood than 

 the green, especially on deep carbonaceous 

 soils, such as su-amps and marshes; indeed 

 so much so, as to become very unproductive 

 from its exuberance and profusion of wood buds. 

 There are strong reasons for concluding, that 

 this disposition may be changed, and flower buds 

 produced more abundantly, if the plants were 

 decorticated at an early period, or as soon a« 

 there was sufficient stamina in the stalk to hear 

 Ihe operation. The prospect of an accelerated 

 maturation, will, I trust, elicit attention to de- 

 corticate this species, even on tjie sea islands. 



Asyouinaybe unprovided with Ihe instru- 

 ment above described before the season for op- 

 erating commences, one of the following de- 

 scription I presume may be conveniently with- 

 in your reach. Insert into a haft the blades of 

 two knives a quarter of an inch apart, or the 

 width that may be deemed necessary, having 

 their edges parallel and even. With such an 

 instrument two horizontal incisions are made 

 at the same lime; when the operator should 

 divide the strip by one or two vertical cuts, and 

 children might follow and detach the bark with 

 their fingers. Although this method will re- 

 quire more than double the labour, and, withorut 

 great care, less likely to be well performed 

 than with a decorticator properly constructed, 

 yet it is believed that considerable progress may 

 be made in a day. 



It remains to be stated thai Letters Patent 

 have this day been issued according to law, 

 granting me the exclusive right to the improve- 

 ment here announced. And I hereby give you a 

 license to make use of said improvement to 

 any extent that may suit your pleasure or con- 

 venience, for and during the present season. 

 At the close of which, namely, after the first 

 day of November next, I shall be ready to 

 recieve overtures and to treat for the disposal 

 of the right of said improvement, either for the 

 Stale in which you reside, for Districts, or to 

 individuals. 



With sentiments of high respect 



ana consideration, I am. Sir, 



Most faithfully yours, 

 SAMUEL WYLLYS POMEROY. 

 Of Brighton, Massachusetts. 



