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other, and rife* generally from feven to nine feet in height, bearing a great numbc 

 of feed-veffels on all the branches. 



GOSSIP1UM 2. Fruticofum, filiis trilobis, fe minibus majoribus. 

 Gofiipium filiis trilobis integerrimis. L. Sp. PI. 

 Gofiipium. Mart. 7. & 



Gofiipium Brafilianum Jlore Jlavo Hern. Slo. Cat. 156. 



The Cotton flirub. 



This plant is of a quick luxuriant growth; and rifes, generally, from four to fix 

 feet in height, throwing out a good many branches from all parts, as it (hoots. It 

 is now cultivated much in Jamaica, and fupplies a very conliderable and beneficial 

 branch of the exports of that ifland. It thrives bed: in a rich gravelly foil, and 

 generally yields two crops a year; the one in May, the other in September. It is 

 planted in regular walks, and at a moderate diftance from each other, fo as to let 

 the branches fpread ; which, however, are fometimes pruned, if the ground be too 

 rich, and the growth over-luxuriant. When the pods are full grown, and ripe, 

 they bur ft, and expofe their feeds, wrapt up in their native flocks, to the fun: 

 and when a great part of them are thus opened, the negroes begin to gather 

 the wool with the feeds, from which it is afterwards cleared by a convenient 

 machine, commonly called a Gen ; which is made of two even, fmooth, and 

 fmall rollers, placed clofe, and parallel to each other in a frame : thefe are 

 fattened to different wheels, at the oppofite fides of the machine, and turned in 

 contra-directions by the fame foot-frame. The cotton is put to thofe rollers, as 

 they move round, and it readily pafles between them, leaving the feeds, which arc 

 too large for the inter-fpace, behind. What paffes in this operation, is afterwards 

 hand-picked, and packed up in bags for the market. 



All our fuftians, calicoes, Manchejier velvets, &C\ are mide of this commodity; 

 which now maintain a very confiderable branch of the commerce of Great Britain: 

 for they are generally worn in all parts of the world, particularly in thofe countries 

 iltuated more immediately under the fun. Nor can there be any other fort of cloaths, 



fo appropriated to thofe climates ; for it eafily exhales the vapours of the fkin, and is 

 not fo eaiily moiftened by them, as either linnen or woollen 3 nor does it yield or rot 

 fo foon. 



The greateft part of the cotton now produced, annually, in 'Jamaica, is imported 



into England, and wrought up chiefly about Manchejier ; where, I am credibly in- 

 formed, there are no lefs than 120, ceo people, conftantly employed in the different 

 branches of the manufacture of this fingle ftaple. And indeed it is from this place 

 that mod foreign markets are now fupplied with the various forts of cotton cloaths; 

 there being but little worked up in the places of its growth, except what is made into 

 .hammocks; and even that little branch of induflry has not yet reached Jamaica. 



The plant is propagated by the feed, which is generally fowed in September, or 

 October ; but the ground muft be kept very clean about the young plants, until they 

 rife to a moderate height •, for they are, otherways, very much fubjecl: to be de 



flroyed 



lirft ; and the earth fhould be well loofened about them ; that the young plants, 



which are very tender, may take a proper root in time. 



An emuKion of the feeds is recommended much in bloody-fluxes : they yield a 

 great quantity of oil by expreffion ; and fupply many plantations with a fumcient 

 quantity of that commodity, for their boiling- houfe lamps. 



ALT HE A 1. Erecla minor, foliis ferratis, hajlato-cordatis ; pedunculis tenui- 



caterpillars. The feeds ought to be but (lightly covered with mould, at 



bus fingularibus ad alas. 



The fmaller ered Marfhmallows. 



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