No. 216.] 663 



heap of manure, when reduced to the elements which constitute ma- 

 nure, becomes quite a small one. 



Mr. Meigs. Chemists agree that a ton of barn yard manure, all 

 but about ninety pounds is nothing but water, and that therefore we 

 take much useless pains when we cart on to our land nineteen hun- 

 dred pounds of water for the sake of one hundred pounds of manure. 



Chairman. The oil derived from vegetation is no very material 

 loss to the soil; it is constituted of carbon and hydrogen, which are 

 easily restored to it. These volatile elements are capable of being 

 preserved. 



Mr. Lewis. Leibig's reasoning pleases and satisfies me. The 

 atmosphere supplies volatile ingredients. 



Edwin Williams, inquired of Mr. Lewis relative to his opinion of 

 the relation of value in the cotton, and corn crop. After some con- 

 versation between them, Mr. Lewis said, that on the whole, he should 

 prefer to raise Indian corn at twenty-five cents a bushel, than cotton 

 at six cents a pound. 



Judge Van Wyck, remarked upon the value of cotton seed as a ma- 

 nure, asking Mr. Lewis what crops it appeared to be most suitable for_ 



Mr. Lewis. It is excellent manure for any crop. It is much like 

 oil cake for that. 



Judge Van Wyck. How many pounds weight of cotton do you 

 get from an acre? 



Mr. Lewis. Eleven or twelve hundred seed cotton, which when 

 ginned gives us about three hundred and fifty pounds of clean cotton. 

 I have spoken of a proper analysis of our cotton plant as very im- 

 portant to our planters. All this, and other knowledge of great im- 

 portance to our agriculturists would be universally diffused, if we 

 had agricultural colleges such as we ought to have, to familiarize 

 science with the works of the farm and plantation. 



Chairman, being obliged to leave the Club, invited Mr. Lewis to 

 take the Chair. 



I. D. Williamson. I oflfer my services to complete the desired 

 analysis of the cotton plant. 



Mr. Lewis. I will send on the entire plant in all its parts, and 

 your analysis of it will be gratefully acknowledged 



