religiosum with coloured wool, and the South American 



hirsiilum with green seed, each distinct from the present, 

 where the wool is white and the seed black. Yet Dr. Swartz, 

 after observing the three in their cultivated state in the 

 colonies of the West Indies, says, that they are with diffi- 

 culty recognised from each other ; and that they vary in so 

 many and such material points, that he can easily believe 

 them to be one species. But are not near species of most 

 phrenogamous vegetables liable, from intermixed culture, 

 " to run," as the gardeners say ; or, in other words, to be- 



nixed race? And are not close species which pro- 



come a m 



duce the staple of a long-standing and extensive commerce, 

 and have been purposely brought together with the view 

 of experiment and improvement, especially liable to inter- 

 mixture of race and consequent variation? But can we 

 adduce as evidence of derivation from a same primary type, 

 intercurrent variations of vegetables so circumstanced ? 



The plant with us is perennial, and grows to the height 

 of 7-8 feet; the stem dying down every year, after produ- 

 cing seed, if kept constantly in the bark-bed of the hot- 

 house. 



The cotton or wool consists of the fleeces of the seed, 

 forming a separate ball in each cell of the capsule. When 

 picked from the capsule for use, this is freed from the seed 

 '* by means of a small mill, consisting of two bright steel 

 " rollers, each about an inch in diameter, set parallel within 



the distance of about the 20th part of an inch. These 

 " rollers move different ways, and draw the cotton through 

 u them, while the seeds are forced out of their respective 

 u little balls of down in which they are enclosed." It is 

 of inconceivable elasticity; and a large mass, by a compres- 

 sion familiar to those who pack it for carriage, may be re- 

 duced within a compass incredibly small. Said to be a dan- 

 gerous cargo, being subject to take fire if at all damp when 

 packed, and burning upon admission of air with great fury. 



The drawing was made from a plant which flowered in 

 Mr. John Hall's collection at Notting Hill; whence speci- 

 mens were liberally communicated to Mr. Edwards. 



a 



a The 3 balls of cotton, one in each loculament. h Dissepiment placed 

 at the centre of a reflected valve. ^The back of one of the three valves. 

 c A seed partly bared of its wool, d The stigmas, e The anthers of the 

 monadclphous stamens. 



* 



