California Farmer and Journal of Useful Sciences, Volume 3, Number 3, 18 January 1855 — COTTON IN CALIFORNIA. [ARTICLE]

COTTON IN CALIFORNIA.

We place before our readers the following letter from Col. P. B. Reading, of Cottonwood, upon the culture of cotton. It has appeared in some of our journals, and was addressed to Judge Heydenfeldt. The arguments are forcible and lucid and cannot but carry conviction to the mind of the reader, of the ultimate success of this great staple production of this State. Col. Reading is bo well and favorably known, and his influence in favor of everything that tends to advance the interests of the State, so well understood, that his statements will carry weight wherever and whenever presented. We trust they will not only turn the attention of the cultivators of the soil to the importance of the subject treated, but also cause our legislators to consider how and in what manner they can so legislate as to give encouragement to, and assist forward to a speedy introduction of. this and other new and important products into the State. We trust the public will hear often from Col. R. and other public spirited men, upon such subjects as may be presented from time to time. We also append a letter from Judge Heydenfeldt, to the editors of the Sacramento Union, in which Judge 11. refers to the "sample of cotton which has been deposited in the office of the Secretary of the State," and to this we also refer with pleasure. — Benicia, January 10th, 1855. Messrs. Editor : I enclose you for publication a letter from Col. P. B. Reading, containing an account of his experiments in raising cotton. The sample of the raw material which accompanied the letter, I have, through the permission of General Denver, deposited in the office of the Secretary of State, for the inspection of those who are interested in the progress of our agriculture. I will add, for the information of those unacquainted with cotton planting, that one hand, besides raising an annual supply of provisions, can rasily cultivate ten acres in cotton. This would give a crop of four thousand pounds, which at the average price of ten cents, would pay $400 to the hand, which is above the average of the uplands of the South. In the lower latitudes of our State, I have no donbt that this production would be nearly doubled. Considering how far north this experiment was made, its success is surprising, and I think the results of the future, will stamp Col..Reading as one of the truest benefactors. Respectfully, S. Heydenfeldt. Cottonwood, Shasta County, Dec. Ist, 1854. Dear Sir : Aware of the interest you take in the development of the agricultural resources of our State, I embrace the opportunity of presenting you with a specimen of cotton raised by me on my ranch in the Upper Sacramento Valley, Shasta county, lat. 40, 22. 23. It is the product of the common black seed of Mississippi. I have

cultivated the plant successfully for the past three years. The two preceding crops were irrigated, the last was not, and I have found but little difference in favor of the former. I planted in the alluvial soil of the Sacramento River, generally about the 10th of April. From the Ist to the 15th of August, the bowls commenced opening, and continued until after the frost. On examining the staple, you will find it in texture finer and more silky than the upland cotton of Mississippi and Alabama, equally as strong, but fomewhat shorter. It should be taken into consideration, [however, that the same kind of seed has been cultivated on the same soil for three successive years. This, you are aware, tends to deteriorate the plant. Cotton planters prefer to change the seed every second year. From my experience in three years cultivation, the plant will, I believe, under ordinary culture, produce about 400 lbs. of clean or ginned cotton to the acre, which is equal to the uplands of the Southern Atlantic States. You will bear in mind the lattitude of my ranch, being nearly within one and a half degrees of the Oregon line. I am, very respectfully, Your obedient servant. P. B, Reading. To Hon. Solomon Heydenfeldt.