.VALWICK.E. 617 



'The saniplo sent 1)T Major ITaofarquliar appears to l)c of a quality resembling tlio 

 Sea Island, but finer and more silky, anil the fibre not so strong, its value is not so 

 easy to diterniine, but the Committee arc of opinion that it would sell for a high 

 price. Tiie Peruamliuco cotton, which it is believed is the same as the South Sea 

 Island cotton, is an inferior staple to that of the N. American Sea Island, and they 

 have a sample of cotton submitted which in point oi fineness surpasses the genuine Sea 

 Island cotton of X. America. 



" ' This improvement on the general staple of I'enuimbuco cotton might be 

 reconciled had it been produced at a distance from the Sea, since it has been ascertained, 

 that this description of cotton deteriorates by proximity to the sea ; whence your 

 Committee are disposed to think that Major Macf'arquhar has been led into error in 

 calling it South Sea Island instead of Sea Island.' 



" Adnutting that Major Macfarquluir was in error, which it is believed he was 

 not, the report proves that an article, ' finer and more silky ' than the best American 

 cotton has been raised in these Provinces. The principal difficulty to the introduction 

 of this species into general cultivation was, as Mr. lilundell told me, that the trees 

 did not produce abundantly. 



"Sea Island cotton has been raised in the Tenasserira Provinces by amateur 

 cultivators, but I have never seen any report on the article obtained. ' Bourbou 

 cotton of Indian growth,' says "Wight, ' has sold in the London markets for the highest 

 prices going ; ' and, as the Bourbon plant is the original Sea Island acclimatized to 

 the East, the cultivator would have a stronger probability of success by obtaining his 

 seed from Bourbon, tlian from America.' Much attention should also be given to the 

 selection of a proper soil. Analysis has shown that all the lands on which cotton is 

 grown in India differ widely in their constituent parts from the best cotton lands of 

 America. The subject is still in its infancy, more extensive analysis being required ; 

 'but it seems at present,' observes Mr. Piildington, 'that the abundance and fineness 

 of good cottons depend on the quantity of carbon in the soil, and the soluliliti/ of that 

 carbon.' If therefore you can obtain a soil approaching the American soils, that is, 

 containing peaty matter, lignite, and colouring cold water, this will no doubt be the 

 best ; because it contains carbon, and probably hydrogen combined with it, suitable 

 for tlic food of the plant. And the next best soil is one containing carbonate of lime." 



* G. B.4.KBAUKXSE, L. Rare in gardens in Pegu. 



Nu-wa. 



Shrubby perennial. Seeds black, free or cohering, devoid of adhering pubescence. 



BO MB A CIE.E. 



Staminal column divided at summit, or rare!;/ to the base, info numerous filaments or 

 5 to S staminal bundles, very rarely entire nearly to the summit. Anthers free or variously 

 cohering. Stigmas free or connate. 



* Leaves diyitate. Ilracteoles distinct or none. 

 BoJiiiAX, Linnmus. 



Calyx cup-shaped, truncate or irregularly 3-5-lobed. Staminal column divided 

 into numerous fihtuu'nts. Ovary 5-celled, with several ovules in each cell. Style 

 club-shaped or .shortly 5-lobcd at top. Capsule woody or coriaceous, loculicidally 

 5-valved, the cells copiously downy inside. Seeds obovoid or globose, enveloped in 

 the silky down. Albumen thin. Leaf-shedding trees, with digitate leaves. Flowers 

 large scarlet or white ficshy. 



B. Malahauicum, DO. Prom Chittagong to Tenasserim, up to 3000 feet. 



Let-pan or Di-du. 



Leaflets on a 10 to 12 lines long pefiolule. Staminal bundles consisting of 15 to 

 20 strong and thick filaments. Young trees have the bark armed with numerous 

 conical thorns of a sharp and formidable chai'acter. 



