256
   GIUSEPPE DEYINCENZI
   Seeds
   The melhud of picking iiinst be iiu-proved
   zone of Italy, which, at the present moment, do not yield this return under the ordinary mode of cultivation.
   We would advise ali the present cultivators of cotton to preserve the greatest possible quantity of seed for next year, and we would further advise those wlio intend, for the first time, ap-plying them sei ves to the cultivation of cotton, to lay in a stock of seeds in time. It would he very provokiug, in the event of the American war not being brought to a dose by next Aprii, if our agriculturists, in consequence of the want of seeds, should be unable to cultivate cotton, and if we should lose returns sudi as, in one year, would, in many districts, be equal in value to the price of the land itself.
   But as ali the varieties of seed are not equally good, it would be desirable that, in those of our provinces where cotton is cultivated, either the Chambers of Commerce, or the agricultural societies, or persons known for their probity, should devote themselves to niaking a provision of cotton seed, for the purpose of afterwards distributing them amongst, or selling them to, ali who should require them.
   Here is, perhaps, the fitting place to offer a few remarks respecting certain methods which would greatly improve the production of cotton in Italy. The examinatiou made above has led to the conclusion that the species and varieties of cotton grown in Italy are excellent, and that our methods of cultivation do not injure the quality of our cottons up to the time when they are gathered. But after the cotton has been ga-thered it must be separated from the seeds, or « picked ». Now, the method of picking in Italy is, in almost ali cases, wretchedly bad, and we ought, with ali possible earnestness, to set about at once