~ Malvacee.) THE HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINS. 87 
he caused it to be introduced into Corsica, Italy, and the southern parts of France ; 
and Mr. Kirkpatrick cultivated it in Spain, near Malaga. In America, cotton is exten- 
sively cultivated in the Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, and English settlements; one species 
is peculiar to Peru ; others are cultivated in the West-India islands; also in Mexico, and 
in the southern states, as Georgia and Carolina of the United States of North America. 
Knowing the countries through which cotton is already spread, the next interesting 
subject of inquiry is to ascertain the kind of climate it requires, as well as that of the 
countries where the best kinds are grown, and, if possible, to determine whether this 
superiority depends on the excellence of the seed, the goodness of the climate, or care 
in the culture ; and here the general results which have been deduced by the illustrious 
Humboldt render the most essential assistance. He remarks that Gossypium barba- 
dense, hirsutum, and religiosum, have their favourite climate, from 0° to 34° of latitude, 
where the annual temperature is from 82° to 68°, but that G. herbaceum is successfully 
cultivated in the temperate zone, where, with a mean summer heat of 75° or 73°, that of 
winter is not less than 46° or 48°. Cotton is, however, cultivated as high as 37° of 
N. latitude in America; beyond latitude 40° m Europe, and even as far North as 46° 
near Astrakhan. 
_ As the British possessions in India extend from 8° to 31° of N. latitude, the whole are 
included within the favourite tract of the cotton ; and as Mr. J. Prinsep has presented us 
with an epitome of the meteorological phenomena at five places from 12° to 30°, it will 
be seen that the mean temperature of the year, along the whole extent, is what is 
required for the cultivation of this plant. By all the observations to which Mr. Prinsep 
had access, the mean temperature of Madras is found to be 81.69°; of Ava, 78.39°; of 
Calcutta, 78.13° ; of Benares,77.81° ; and of Saharunpore, 73.5°: to these may be added 
that of Nagpore, about 80°; Nusseerabad, 76°; Bancoorah, 74.5°; Delhi, about 75°. 
The mean temperature of the winter months at Saharunpore, the most northern station, is 
moreover about 55°, and though we are without any precise data respecting the nature 
of the climate of the Tinnevelly district, the most southern portion, where, however, 
the best cotton is at present grown, we may safely assume that in point of temperature, 
and, I believe, in the course of the seasons, every = of the Indian territories is fitted 
for the cultivation of cotton. 
With respect to elevation, Humboldt mentions that in the equinoctial regions of 
America, cotton extends to nearly 9,000 feet above the level of the sea, but in Mexico, 
in 19° 22’ of N. latitude, it reaches only to 5,500 feet. In the ‘Himalayas I have seen 
it at above 4,000 feet in the tract between the Ganges and Jumna rivers; Dr. Govan 
mentions. it as extendmg with the sugar-cane to about 4,200 feet between the Jumna 
and Sutlej rivers; both situations are within 28° to 314° of N. latitude; but in neither 
is it cultivated to any extent, a few plants only are grown about the villages, of which 
the produce is used up by the females of the family. Mr. Trail mentions that the 
cotton of the Kemaon district is superior to that of the plains in softness of texture, 
gloss of colour, and length of fibre. 
In 
