215 



published in the third volume of the Annals of the Sericole. Society, 

 specially instituted for the promotion of the culture of silk in 

 France. 



As instruction is much wanted in this country, on this particular 

 subject, while the culture of silk engages the general attention, Mr. 

 Du Ponceau expressed a" hope that M. Ferrier's Treatise would be 

 translated, and published for the benefit of his fellow citizens. 



Mr. Du Ponceau farther stated, that from the volume of Transac- 

 tions above cited, it appears that the English are making great exer- 

 tions to introduce the culture of cotton into India. Specimens of the 

 best soils for growing cotton in this country, particularly those of 

 Georgia, have been sent to the Agricultural and Horticultural So- 

 ciety, and analyzed by them. The descriptions accompanying the 

 specimens have not been found sufficiently, particular, nor have their 

 analyses yet led to any decided conclusions. They seem to think, 

 that the abundance and fineness of good cotton depend on the quanti- 

 ty of carbon in the soil, and the solubility of that carbon. But with 

 this theory they do not appear to be entirely satisfied. They find 

 that all the American, the Mauritius, and the best Singapore soils, 

 producing the finest cotton, contain a considerable per centage of 

 vegetable matter under the form of peat or lignite, in a state of ex- 

 ceedingly minute division, and in many of them, some part of it is 

 readily soluble in cold water. They find, again, that the Indian soils 

 contain very little vegetable matter, and this wholly insoluble in 

 water, but that the best contain a far larger proportion of carbonate 

 of lime, and some of them the iron in a different state from the others. 

 It would seem, however, that the plant is somewhat indifferent about 

 the iron ; yet, as it is not known what part the iron plays in soils 

 (which may influence their electricity as well as their tenacity and 

 relations to moisture), they consider it a matter to be borne in mind 

 and to be subjected to farther inquiries. 



The culture of the vine in India, Mr. Du Ponceau added, appears 

 also to engage much of the attention of the Society; and, on the whole, 

 the useful arts and sciences seem to be cultivated in that country to 

 a degree which deserves to be particularly noticed. 



Mr. Walker stated the results of Professor Loomis's farther 

 observations on the subject of Galle's second comet, which 

 Prof. L. intends hereafter to lay before the Society. He 

 further stated, that Galle had discovered a third comet, which 



