Malvaceae. THE HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINS. 89 
to the sea; but the Pernambuco cotton is said to be injured by this proximity, and to 
improve in proportion as its cultivation advances into the interior (Koster’s Brasil). With 
regard to latitude, the cotton of Java under the Line is almost the worst in the market, 
and that from Guiana and Brazil, within a few degrees of the Line, is the second in 
quality ; while that from Jamaica, in 20° of N. latitude, more costly in production, ‘is 
30 per cent. worse than that from Demerara, 14° more to the southward ; while the 
cotton of Georgia and the Carolinas, nearly at the most northern limit of its extension, 
is the best that is produced ; and the cotton of Egypt, of which the cultivation, with 
returning civilization, has returned to the country by which it was first made known in 
Europe, is of excellent quality. In India, though some fine cotton is produced in the 
neighbourhood of Dacca, and some other places, that of Bengal, according to Mr. 
Colebrooke, is worse than that of the north-western provinces ; and the natural vege- 
tation of these, as we have seen in so many instances, corresponds to that of the coast 
of Coromandel, where the cotton is grown, of which the Madras long-cloths are made. 
It would appear, therefore, that not only is temperature necessary to be considered, 
but also the due balance between the supply of moisture to the roots, and its escape by 
the perspiratory surfaces of the leaves, as well as all the varied processes of a judicious 
culture, in addition to the choice of the species or variety to be cultivated in any parti- 
cular locality. 
In the choice, however, of seeds, it does not follow that that which is best suited to 
one climate, is the kind most eligible for introduction into another, where the requisites 
of soil and climate may be neither identical nor analogous. Dr. Rohr and Mr. Bennet 
mention, that even in the same field some plants were ten times more productive than 
others, and that a variety which was sterile in one situation, became fertile when removed 
to another, which did not appear more favourable; while a kind that in one bore but 
little cotton, became most productive in a neighbouring farm. Much, therefore, may 
be done in improving the kinds which already exist in India, by ascertaining with 
precision the parts of the country where the best cotton is already produced, the peculia- 
rities of soil, climate, and culture, selecting the most prolific plants, and extending 
their cultivation, to the exclusion of less fertile and inferior kinds; exchanging the 
produce of one place with that of another, when others can be induced to take the 
same trouble in selecting and preserving only the best kind of seed. Doing, in fact, 
what is everywhere done by all who are interested in the improved cultivation of grain, 
vegetables, fruit, or flowers; though some varieties are difficult to propagate by seed, 
yet others may be continued sufficiently long to attain the permanency of species 
instead of the hability to change of varieties. 
Much, moreover, may be effected by introducing into India the different species and 
varieties which are already successfully cultivated in other countries; and here the 
chief thing is not to restrict ourselves to too small a number of varieties, because they 
happen to be those which at present produce the best kinds of cotton. Not contented 
in America with possessing already the best kinds of cotton, they have tried ee of 
N other 
