198 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



efiFects in New Jersey wlicre it is convenient that it can be used in larg-c 

 quantities, oven if it is not of tlie best quality, it certainly does a great 

 deal of good. But at does not follow that it will do good eA'erywhere else. 

 I am sure that none but the very best quality will bear transportation, I 

 am willing to credit marl with all its due, but it is idle to say that it will 

 prevent the effects of drouth. I saw corn in New Jersey last snmmer upon 

 land that has long been marled, where the crop would not pay the expense 

 of gathering. Unless we are sure that marl is valuable in other sections, 

 I do not think it quite right to bring it away from New Jersey, for there 

 are millions of poverty-stricken acres in that State which require all the 

 marl that can be found beneath the surface. As to the experiment of Mr. 

 Townsend with marl upon grass, he said it appeared to benefit the crop 

 when first applied. Perhaps any other substance would have done the same. 

 It is a common practice with my brother, whose farm is of similar charac- 

 ter of sandy soil, to cart clay aud spread upou the grass which proves very 

 beneficial. 



Cotton Growing in California. 



Mr. Solomon W. Jewett, writes from Kern River, Buena Yista county, 

 California, Nov. 15, and sends a sample of very handsome upland cotton, 

 grown upon an adjoining ranch. He says: *' An experiment of three years 

 fully proves its natural growth Irere, and it will produce as well as in the 

 old cotton States. So old cotton planters tell ns. Much uncultivated 

 lands here might be applied to that use, that can be taken up by the actnal 

 settler. The best mode of fencing the crop is by planting out willow sticks 

 about six and a half feet long and from two to four inches in diameter. 

 They are set from four to six inches apart in the row, secured by a hori- 

 zontal pole, four feet from the ground. The first year they form quite a 

 top, are firmly rooted, assisted by a slight ditch, for water to pass near 

 them. Under good cultivation from four to eight hundred pounds of cot- 

 ton can be grown upon an acre between the 20th of May and 15th of Sep- 

 tember. Wood and water are in abundance. For the first j'ear's crop the 

 planter should prepare his lands by inclosures, and clearing off the weeds, 

 and in some parts small bushes. The land is easily coltivated and sugar 

 cane produces well. So it does small grains and vegetables in abundance, 

 as well as fruits, where encouragement has been given." 



The sample showed a staple of good length, but of remarkable coarse 

 fiber. It would be valuable for heavy fabrics. 



When Should Timber be Cut? 



Mr. G. J. Locke, Danby Four Corners, Vt., gives as a reason why tim- 

 ber should be cut the last of August, that the sap does not then leak out 

 but dries in the cell into a substance like hardened glue. He says: " I 

 know that timber cut at this time and loft untrimmed a few weeks, will 

 not powder post. The cells being full of dried sap, there is no roojn for 

 the worms to work, and the timber has more weight. But I do not claim 

 that I may not be mistaken as to the best time for cutting, as my experi- 

 ence has not been large." 



