( 5Q ) 

 grows in Perfia and Bengal,* and which feeds are found among 

 the cotton brought to us from thence ; I was aftonillied to fee the 

 variety of Nature's operation in the formation of this feed. For, 

 upon opening thele feeds, of v/hich ftven, eight, or nine are con- 

 tained in one fhcU or hufk with the cotton, I did not fmd any thing; 

 of a mealy nature or fubllancc, but the oblong round figure of 

 the feed is only caufed by four diilinA leaves, with wonderful ex- 

 a6lnefs doubly folded together, and as it were embracing and de- 

 fending that part from which the Hem or root will proceed. I 

 caufed a drawing of this to be made, fomewhat magnified, in 

 order to Ihew the leaves, with their fibres or vefiels, and alfo cer- 

 tain dark round globules which are to be {gcti on the leaves : thefe 

 are (hewn Sit_fig. 24, DEFG. When I cut thcfe globules open 

 as exactly as I was able, the pieces cut off exhibited the brightell 

 grals-green colour that can be imagined ; a particle cut thicker 

 was of a darker green ; and the globule viewed entire was of a 

 deep green, verging to a black colour, a b c. Are three pins, with 

 which the leaves are fpread open. The fubftance of thefe leaves 

 was compofed of exceeding fmall globules, of a kind of grafs-green 

 colour. I enquired of feveral perfons who had been in India, 

 what was the form and nature of the leaves of the Cotton tree, 

 but among all to whom I addrelfed myfelf, I only found one gen- 

 tleman and lady, who told me that the leaves of thofe trees were 

 marked with fpots. Here we fee the wonderful regularity of Na- 

 ture's works, namely, that in the feed of this tree there is not only 

 formed a perfect }oung plant, but the leaves in that young plant are 

 dotted with points or fpots, in the fame manner as the leaves 

 growing on the tree. In the figure, D E is that part from which 

 the Hem and root will be produced, and, upon cutting it open, I 

 found in it a very few grafs-green globules. 



• The Cotton tree is now caltiyated in the Weft Indies, where it forms a confidcralle 

 branch of trade. 



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