214 REV. G. HENSLOW ON 
According to the best authorities, Cotton was not cultivated in 
Egypt in ancient times; and the fact that the varieties now 
grown there are, for the most part, forms of G. herbaceum, sug- 
gests the idea that India is the source whence Egypt has derived 
the Cotton, a notion confirmed, I believe, by various other consi- 
derations not of a botanical nature. 
The following are the technical characters of the new species, 
for an opportunity of examining which I am indebted to my friend 
Prof. Oliver :— 
Gossypium Krnxrr, Mast., sp. n. 
Suffruticosum, subscandens (Kirk), pubescens ; petiolis divari- 
catis subangulatis quam laminz longioribus, foliis superne stellato- 
pilosis subtus velutinis glandulis nigris prwditis, ambitu late 
ovatis acutis, basi cordatis palmatim 5-lobis, lobis ovato-lanceolatis 
acuminatis, nervo medio excurrente, lobo mediano longiore; sti- 
pulis faleato-acuminatis ; pedunculis petiolos superantibus supra 
medium articulatis; bracteis magnis cordato-suborbicularibus 
margine anguste et argute laciniatis; calyce cupulato obscure 5- 
dentato intus ad basin piloso; corolla luteo-oculata P: capsula 
bracteis multo minore, 8-9 mm. long. oblongo-conica scrobiculata ; 
seminibus liberis nigris lineis pilosis longitudinalibus 2-3 notatis, 
lanaque gossypina brevi fusco-rubra separabili indutis.—Dar 
Salam, in Africa tropicali meridionali-orientali, ubi detexit feram 
cl. Kirk. 
Note on a Proliferoug Mignonette. 
By the Rev. GEORGE HeNsroWw, MA F.L.S., F.G.S. 
[Read December 1, 1881.] 
(Puare XX XII.) 
THe plant from which a “strain” has been already esta- 
blished *, and is the subject of this note, appeared accidentally 
amongst some seedlings in the nursery of Mr. W. Balchin of 
Hassock's Gate. A basketful obtained by cuttings was exhibited 
at the Royal Horticultural Society in the spring of this year 
(1881). At that time it much resembled the ordinary kind, only 
the flowers were double, forming little balls of minutely fringed 
petals. In August Mr. Balehin kindly forwarded me some sprays 
* Reseda odorata, var. prolifera alba. 
