126 



for the money, and soon find their disappointment, as in times 

 of old it sours, it will not keep and cry out humbugged. 



First, Baden corn, about eighteen years since, was run up 

 to a high pitch by false statements, and men went in for seed 

 at about $30 a bushel a complete failure ; the thing passed 

 off in quick order. Next, in the year 1837 or '38, the Twin 

 or Okra cotton seed came up ; seed sold at various prices, 

 from $5 a quart to $160 per bushel. It, by-the-by, proved to 

 be a pretty good kind of cotton. I have been led to believe, 

 that by a mixture of that kind with the Petit Gulf, &c., have, 

 by proper selection and care, sprung up all those new kinds, 

 or nearly so, that we have heard so much about for the last 

 five years. Be it as it may, that seed has long been num- 

 bered with the things gone by. Next thing comes the making 

 of sugar from common corn stalks. There was no speculation 

 in this that I heard of; but what extravagant accounts did 

 we hear ? Some went so far as to make out that it would 

 make more sugar per acre, with proper management, than the 

 sugar-cane in its proper soil and climate. How has it turned 

 out ? Why, I suppose, a failure, as it has passed off now 

 never heard of. The Jerusalem Artichoke not so much of 

 a humbug, but overrated has also gone by. Next comes 

 Mr. Abby, of Mississippi, with his Mastodon cotton seed. I, 

 fool like, went in for enough, one year, to plant twelve acres ; 

 and, as the devil said when he sheared the hog, " a great cry 

 for a little wool." Mr. Abby could not keep the reputation 

 of his seed up by all he could say in the papers. They had 

 to pass off though not before he realized several thousand 

 dollars, as has been said. Next comes Remington, with 

 his bridge and bed-slats if not a humbug, certainly a failure, 

 and has long since been laid as cold as a wedge. There is 

 the Banana, Pomegranate, Sugar Loaf, Texan Burr, Silk, 

 Brown, and Jethro cotton seeds all very good, I have no 



