Nov. 1906.1 



431 



Miscellaneous. 



In conclusion, on the particular propositions that I have been discussing, it 

 seems clear, both from consideration of the chemical analysis of cottonseed and 

 cotton meal, that it is a wasteful and unwise practice to use cottonseed 

 directly as a fertilizer, when it can be exchanged for cotton meal on a fair and 

 equitable basis. 



This brings up the question, which is the real crux of the problem, how 

 much meal should the oil-mill man give in exchange for a ton of seed ? With the 

 given facts of analyses and the results of ac tual experiments in the field, together 

 with the market price of oil and meal, there should be no real difficulty in reaching 

 a mutually satisfactory basis of exchange between the producer and the oil-mill. 

 The former should in no conceivable case receive less than 800 or 900 pounds of meal 

 in exchange for one ton of seed, after allowing for the expense and labor of hauling 

 to and from the point of delivery. The oil-mill man must get his expenses and 

 profits for operating the mill out of the oil. It is quite evident that the value of the 

 oil should be divided between the producing farmer and the oil-mill on a fair basis, 

 and this basis must be determined mainly by the current market price for the oil. 

 In my own experience I have found it much better to hold on to the seed until the 

 approaching close of the crushing season, when the mill owner is hard up for seed 

 to keep his machinery going. I have usually had no difficulty in exchanging on a 

 basis varying from 1,400 to 1,800 pounds of meal in exchange for a ton of seed 

 delivered at the mill. 



I will close this paper by saying that a farmer should not use cottonseed 

 meal as a fertilizer so long as he has cows and beef cattle to consume it. I have 

 been insisting that he should exchange his seed for meal and use the latter as a 

 fertilizer rather than the former. But the true policy is to use neither seed nor 

 meal as a fertilizer if practicable to avoid such use. 



Correspondence. 



IMPROVED CEYLON NATIVE PEAS. 



Dear Sir,— 1 should be glad to know how I may procure a sample supply 

 of the "native" peas spoken of by Dr. Willis in the first article of the current 

 number of the Tropical Agriculturist. If you can assist me in this matter I shall be 

 greatly obliged. 



1 am, yours faithfully, 



E. MACFADYEN. 



Jebong Estate, Perak, 4th October, 1906. 



[The peas can, as a rule, be bought in the bazaar. The Director, Royal 

 Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya, would be glad to buy them if requested. — Ed.] 



GINSENG SEED. 



DEAR Sir,- Will you forgive me if I ask you to kindly inform me where I 

 can get ginseng seed {Panax ginseng). I have just read an article re this product 

 in your issue of November, 1905, and would very much like to experiment. I shall be 

 very much obliged indeed for the information. 



Yours truly, 



I. G. F. MARSHALL, 



Burmah Forests. .' 



Thanawady, 18th September, 1906. 



[Ginseng seed can at present only be easily procured, so far as I know, in the 

 United States. The demand for ginseng is small, and I am told by one who knows 

 China well that the Chinaman would probably not buy stuff grown abroad.— Ed, J 



