251 



Gossvpium barbadense L. 



This is a large, bushy shrub, 24 to 30 dm. (8 to 12 feet) high. It is 

 grown in many parts of Mexico and is seen in yards and gardens. I 

 saw shrubs at Guaymas, in the Sierra Madre, at Bolanoa, etc. My 

 specimens came from Bolauos, September. 1897 (Herb. No. 3097). 



Mr Hemsley, in the Biologia Centrali-Americaua, states that m 

 Mexieo the species is "cultivated and wild, probably indigenous in 

 America." In the National Herbarium we have only three other 

 species, and these all cultivated. They are the following: 

 Palmer's No. LO, from the State of Jalisco. 

 Palmer's No. 110, from the State of Coahuila. 

 Charles K. Dodge's No. 70, from near Monterey. 



At Bolanos and other places the uucleaned cotton is gathered and 

 sold in the little stores. The women buy this, cleau out the seeds, and 

 spin it into thread. 



For this purpose they use a rude spinner (PI. LII1), consisting of an 

 upright shaft or spindle 2.5 dm. (10 inches) long and less than 6 mm. 

 a inch) in diameter, somewhat tapering toward the top. This spindle 

 is usually made from an old Indian arrow, and my specimen appears 

 to be of Brazil wood. Near the bottom of the spindle is a circular 

 disk or whorl 3.8 cm. (H inch.es) m diameter, made of some heavy wood 

 (in my specimen said to beirouwood), somewhat rounded below. 



The thread is made in this manner: An ordinary clay bowl 12.o cm. 

 (5 inches) in diameter is held in the lap. The thread is begun by fast- 

 ening a piece of the cotton to the middle of the spindle. The spmdle 

 is then revolved rapidly in the bowl with the right hand, while the 

 cotton is " fed" or supplied with the left hand. As the thread lengthens 

 it is wound around the spindle and the work of spinning continued. 

 The women become very expert in spinning and it is very interesting 



to watch them. 



Specimens were obtained as follows: 



EBNo.54. A bowl in which the spinner is twirled. 



EB No. 55. The cotton spinner called "trompa." 



KB No. 56. The thread and raw cotton. 



EB No. 57. The cotton with seeds ;is sold in the Moves. 



EH No. 58. The cotton bolls. 



Herb. No. 3697. The cotton plant. 



Explanation of PLATE LlII.-Fig. 1, cottox, .spinner with thread attached ; fig. 2, clean cotton , fig 

 3, bowl for holding the twister; fig. 4. cottou boll*; figs. 5, 6 part 8 oi Hmchole arrow, usedm repair- 

 ing the cotton spinner. 



CUCURBIT ACE AE. 



Luffa cylindrica (L.) Roem. Estropajos. 



The vegetable sponge was seen only in cultivation, where it grows as 

 a tall vine. The fruit is about 3 dm. (12 inches) long, and the bright 

 yellow flowers are nearly 10 cm. (i inches) wide. 



The plant is sometimes cultivated for the sponge- like tissue of the 



