501 
COTTON SEEDS. 
A chemical analysis of the seeds demonstrated that a 
large percentage of a fixed oil could be produced from them, 
and not only that, but that the kernel might be advan¬ 
tageously used for food for animals. This latter was tried 
some years ago, but led to bad results ; for even the best gins 
which were invented could not separate the lints entirely from 
the seeds to which it adhered, consequently this insoluble 
matter, with the hulls, formed hard masses in the stomach, 
and produced even fatal effects from the irritation of the 
membranes of the intestines. But, to obviate this, hullers 
have been made which decorticate, or remove the hull, with 
the adhering lint, entirely from the kernel. This is almost 
an invaluable invention for the planter ; for, when we con¬ 
sider the millions of pounds of cotton which are annually 
produced in the Southern States, and also that the weight of 
seed is double the weight of the other portion, then we may 
be able to estimate the value of these seeds when turned into 
nutritious food for stock. 
Since small hullers have been introduced on many of the 
plantations, the planters are enabled to hull their own seeds. 
These are thrown into the top of the hullers, and first come 
in contact with knives, which cut the hull; then they are 
passed through sieves, by which process the kernel and 
hulls are separated. The kernel is divided into two portions; 
the first is that part which has been broken or cut by the 
knives; this is ground to make the meal used for feeding, 
and constitutes one third of the whole weight of kernel. The 
remaining two thirds come out whole, and are sold for other 
purposes. This meal has been found to be as rich in flesh 
and fat producers as linseed meal for stock, and supersedes 
the use of it in the cotton-growing States. The hulls are 
piled in heaps until they arrive at the right state of decom¬ 
position to be used as a fertiliser, for which they are well 
adapted, being rich in the phosphates and lime characteristic 
of substances used for this purpose. The seeds contain a 
fixed oil to the amount of about thirty-seven per cent, of 
the weight of the kernel, most of which is obtained by ex¬ 
pression. 
At the factory on Long Island, which the writer visited, 
the seeds are bought with the hulls on, although the whole 
kernel is generally bought directly from the planter. These 
are first thrown into a gin, which separates some more of 
the lint. This is packed in bundles and sold for ordinary 
cotton batting. From this they are conveyed to the hullers 
and undergo the decorticating process. The kernel is then 
carried by an elevator to a box, which feeds two large iron 
