330 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE, 



look to some other country for a supply. Perhaps there Is no 

 plant that is affected more by change of climate and soil than 

 cotton. The best cotton is produced where it is under the influ- 

 ence of a saline atmosphere, although a good quality is grown 

 far inland. 



That cotton can be grown in many of the Northern States is 

 certain, but whether at a profit is yet to be determined. Besides, 

 when it is removed from a warm to a colder latitude, the fiber 

 often becomes very inferior. Yet we might in time remedy this 

 defect by producing new varieties from the many species which 

 are known to us at the present time. 



The Arboreum, or Tree Cotton, grows to a shrub or tree from 

 twelve to eighteen feet in height, and is a native of the East In- 

 dies, and is quite tender. There are some five or six species that 

 are herbaceous plants, two that are deciduous shrubs and one 

 that is an evergreen shrub, beside many other sub-species and 

 varieties. From some of these it is quite possible a variety might 

 be grown that would succeed here. But it is doubtful whether 

 labor will ever become so cheap in this section of the country as 

 to admit of its being cultivated. 



Dr. Trimble. — You may talk about cotton being king, but the 

 "truth is that the caterpillar is much more king, for it has threat- 

 ened to annihilate the cultivation of cotton. Again, the silk-pro- 

 ducing caterpillar is much more a king than cotton. 



R. G. Pardee. — If the best late information published be true, 

 then China is far ahead of the United States in the amount of 

 cotton produced. It is all a fallacy that the world is dependent 

 upon this country for cotton. It can be produced in several 

 other countries to any extent desired. It is only because it has 

 been produced here cheaper than in other countries that we 

 have the lead. 



Dr. Trimble said that some of the Egyptian mummies were 

 wrapped in well-woven cotton 3,000 years ago. This proves that 

 it can be and has been grown in Egypt a long time. 



Wm. Lawton contended that cotton is king in this country, 

 and seems to think it must continue to rule, unless people can be 

 induced to give up dogs and grow sheep, which farmers cannot 

 do Tinless the dogs are destroyed. 



Dr. Trimble. — The great secret about cotton is that, by our 

 Southern system of labor, we have been able to furnish cotton 

 cheaper than any other country; it is not because it cannot be 



