STOCK FOR A POULTRY-YARD. 
the latter being at least quite as productive as the 
former, and in all other respects about as easily ; 
prepared for market. If the common cotton then 
be continued at all, it will be only for the produc¬ 
tion of a cheap article. For this purpose a greater 
quantity to the acre, or to the force in the field, can ! 
be produced than now is, for the object will be 
quantity with but little reference to its quality. 
But for an article as high or above midway, in the 
scale of classification, the mastodon will un¬ 
doubtedly be resorted to. We shall then have a 
wider range of classification in cotton. We shall 
have more low-priced cotton, and considerable that 
is lower in price than what is called “ Ordinary” 
or “ Inferior,” and we shall also have a much larger 
quantity of what is called “ Good” and “ Fine,” 
and larger quantities also that will class two or 
three grades higher than that. This is regarded as 
an important point, and it may be expected greatly 
to increase the consumption of cotton in this sec¬ 
tion. If considerable quantities of fine cotton, such 
as would rank several grades above “ Good” and 
“ Fine,” were offered to manufacturers, it would not 
only enter largely into the fabrication of new 
articles, but to mix with sheep’s wool, flax and silk, 
would find a heavy consumption. While at the 
same time the facilities that will be given to the 
products of very cheap cotton, will increase the 
consumption. Osnaburgs, coarse clothing, sack 
cloth, sail cloth, and the like, will become cheaper, 
and consequently more abundant. 
It seems then, to be conclusive that the introduc¬ 
tion of the mastodon cotton into the United States is 
going considerably to increase the consumption of 
cotton. The planter can do what has never been 
done before. He can supply a large market with 
any quantity of fine cotton, ranging and filling up 
the entire vacuum between “ Good” and “Fine,” 
and the higher grades of Sea-Island; and at the 
same time he can supply an equally large, perhaps 
larger demand, for cheaper cotton than we now 
have. 
If it should be also found advantageous to make I 
cheap cotton of mastodon, instead of the common 
Mexican, which is the opinion of many, the same 
result will follow. On thin, dry, and sandy soil, 
and especially of dry seasons, the product of mas¬ 
todon is supposed to be the greatest, in which case, 
the lowest grades of cotton will be produced 
cheaper than of any other kind, or at least as 
cheap. So that it will make no difference so far as 
the present argument goes, whether low priced cot¬ 
ton is produced from mastodon or any other kind. 
The first and most obvious result following the 
cultivation of mastodon cotton is, the production of 
a large quantity of cotton of a much finer and better 
quality than what the trade calls “ Good” and 
“ Fine,” of common Mexican; and this will only 
cost the same labor that that does now. But if the 
whole crop were mastodon, it could not all be of 
this quality, because of the labor required to handle 
it thus carefully ; and if another portion of the crop, 
or different crops, the same labor be appropriated 
that usually is with “ Ordinary” cotton, if of mas¬ 
todon it would class as “ Middling Fair,” perhaps; 
and so on downwards, until if you make “ Ordi¬ 
nary,” or “ Inferior” cotton of mastodon it would 
n 
be handled in the most hurried manner desirable, 
and be picked in the last of winter after being ex¬ 
posed to weather in the field for months. 
It is through these that the trade may expect a 
wider range in cotton than heretofore. We will 
have considerable quantities of a far superior 
article to any heretofore in the markets, except a 
very few thousand bales of Sea-Island of the higher 
grades, and also a large quantity of what will 
class, so far as the appearance and handling is con¬ 
cerned, at and below “ Inferior,” but which from 
strength and length of staple alone, will be as 
valuable for cheaper goods, as “ Middling,” and 
which will be produced with the same labor of 
“ Inferior” or common Mexican, and will probably, 
after a while be afforded at the same price—both of 
which circumstances must tend to extend the manu¬ 
facture and consumption of cotton. 
There is another that may well deserve atten¬ 
tion. There is a disposition to consume cotton 
largely in making beds, pillows, &c. It is sup¬ 
posed that the lower grades of mastodon cotton 
will enter largely into these articles, its heavy body, 
great firmness and elasticity, rendering it much 
superior to the other cotton for these uses. 
As to Sea-Island cotton, it appears to be conclu¬ 
sive that it cannot be cultivated in competition with 
mastodon, except such qualities as range above the 
best class of the latter. R. Abbey. 
Yazoo, Miss., Dec. 3d, 1846. 
STOCK FOrT^POULTRY-YARD. 
I have been two years gathering stock for a 
poultry-yard. It is my present purpose to keep on 
hand for public market a supply of the best varie¬ 
ties of hens, ducks, geese, turkeys, doves, and 
everything else attainable that will add to a good 
poultry-yard. 
At present my stock is somewhat limited, but I 
hope by next fall to have a full yard. At present, 
however, I can supply a few orders with the best 
variety of the snow-white, crested, black Poland 
j hen, and the Malay hen; and next fall the Dorking 
hen, the golden top-knot hen, the leopard hen (all 
from imported stock), and the white Bantam hen. 
Also, Muscovy ducks (very fine), and a splendid 
variety of Poland ducks, very large and beautiful, 
with large black top-knots. The latter, which are 
from imported stock, are said to be great layers, 
and like the Muscovy ducks are peculiarly do¬ 
mestic and harmless ; and for feathers as well as 
for the table, are of the finest quality. Also, white 
top-knot ducks, fine white turkeys, and beautiful 
double fan-tailed doves, all splendid varieties. 
Buffalo, Dec. 2 6th, 1846. N. S. Smith. 
To fix Ammoniacal Gases in Vaults.— The 
most effectual substances that can be employed for 
the purpose of attracting ammoniacal gases, are 
green vitriol or common copperas (sulphate of iron), 
and sulphuric acid. A pound of either of these 
substances, diluted in a gallon of water and thrown 
into a vault, will immediately render it inodorous. 
Thatch, on the roofs of houses, may be rendered 
incombustible by a common flame, by coating it 
over with a mixture of white-wash and alum. 1 lb. 
of alum will suffice for 5 gallons of white-wash. 
