604 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



cotton, is that it consists of bundles of fibres which the dje may 

 penetrate. The new and splendid colors from coal tar will dye 

 silk, wool and linen Avithout any mordant ; but in dying cotton, 

 it is necessary to wash the material with a weak albuminous solu- 

 tion. This solution is acted upon by the dye, and becomes inso- 

 luble ; so that the fibers of cotton have an insoluble colored cov- 

 ering upon the surface, while wool and linen have the color all 

 through the interior. 



Mr, Veeder considered wool cooler in the summer season than 

 cotton, and the cotton warmer in the winter, provided it is close, 

 of sufficient thickness, and has between it and the skin another 

 garment to cut off the direct communication. But, in the latter 

 case, the question of health arises, whether the exclusion of the 

 external atmosphere will not prevent the proper exhalations from 

 the skin. Sheep should be more extensively raised. They can 

 be raised for food ; their hide is of value, and there is no part of 

 the animal which is not useful, independently of the value of the 

 wool. 



Mr. Nash. — The English took four pounds of Indian cotton, at 

 five cents, and one pound of American cotton, at fifteen cents, 

 making five pounds at seven cents, and spun that into cotton 

 thread, and then they could sell it at eighteen cents. The Ameri- 

 can wool is the best in the world, having from 300 to 400 serra- 

 tions to the inch ; while the best of European wool would not 

 exceed 250 serrations to the inch. Our cotton and wool com- 

 bined will make a satinet that the English cannot equal, and one 

 much stronger and more durable than the English cloths of wool 

 alone. In Africa, it is said that there are no less than sixty dif- 

 ferent trees of cotton, one of which is as tall as the elm, produc- 

 ing cotton with a fiber over a foot long. We are out of the lati- 

 tude of cotton in the United States; the plant has been acclim- 

 ated here, and it is a great question to find what kind of cotton 

 is best adapted to our soil and climate. 



Mr. Garbanati considered the question of clothing as one of 

 political economy. It was the question of the production of the 

 best article, in the greatest quantity, and at the lowst price. 

 And the questions of freight and monopoly are important con- 

 siderations. Other articles may be applied to this purpose, with- 

 out materially diminishing the use of cotton. Plants now neg- 

 lected may be hereafter found invaluable. 



Mr. Dibben was of opinion that flax or any other similar mate- 



