19^ 



Tile Rose is an ally of R. macrophyUa, Liiidl., from wliicli it 

 may be distinguislied by tlie absence of s^nnes when mature, and 

 by tbe many small flowers wliicb are borne in cormybs towards 

 the ends of the branches. As is tlie case with the three preceding 

 plants figured in this issue of the Botanical Magazine, Rosa 

 corymbiilosa is a native of China. The Kew j^lants were raised 

 from seeds collected by Mr. E. H, Wilson, and presented by 

 Professor Sargent of the Arnold Arboretum. 



Notes on Cottons. — Interest in the genus Gossypiam has been 

 stimulated by the publication of Watt's *^ Wild and cultivated 

 cotton plants of the world/' and numerous specimens haA'e been 

 received lately at Kew for identification. 



Excellent material of two native !N^igerian races of cotton^ 

 ''Ishan" and *^ Meko/' lias been communicated by Mr. AV. H. 

 Johnson, Director of Agriculture, Nigeria, ^^ Ishan '' j^roved to 

 be Gossypiam vitifolium^ Lam., and ^* Meko '' G. peruvianum^ 



Cav. 



A fine series of specimens of '' Caufo " cotton liaA^e been received 

 from Mr. W. Harris, Superintendent of Public Gardens and 

 Plantations, Jamaica . Mr. Harris writes under date March 

 3rd: — '* This is said to be a 'tree cotton,' I suppose a large 

 shrub really, and is aj^parently found in a wild or semi-wild state 

 in the Cauto district of south-eastern Cuba, Our plants are only 

 six months old from seed, and have not yet attained their fulj 

 dimensions, but they are now bushes up to ten feet liigh. The 

 plant is a perennial, and, according to our present information, 

 is likely to prove of considerable agricultural value for cultivation 

 in dry districts in the tropics. We have about two acres at Hope, 

 uud there are a good many acres at present under trial in various 

 l)arts of the arid southern districts. We are now passing through 

 a very severe drought, having had scarcely any rain since the 

 beginning of last'December, and yet the^ cotton bushes are in 

 excellent condition and producing crops estimated to yield at 

 least 1200 lbs. of seed-cotton per acre, and as this cotton has been 

 sold at prices varying from 18 to 20 cents, per lb. in the American 

 markets, you will see that it is a plant of much promise for lands 

 that are now producing nothing but scrub. The President of the 

 Cauto Cotton Company, who is now in Jamaica, tells me that he 

 has had enquiries for t^^enly million dollars worth of this cotton, 

 which appears to be used to some extoTit for adulterating wool 

 for the manufacture of cheap woollen goods, for which there is an 

 enormous demand." The following notes accompanied the 

 specimens : — '' A large 'shrubby perennial plant. Petals 

 convolute, the margins undulate, pale lemon-j'ellow, the base of 

 a slightly darker shade. As they grow older thie outer and upper 

 portions of the petals become slightly streaked and flushed with 

 purple-rose. The flowers do not fully expand, and present the 

 appearance of being semi-double. '^ 



The specimens sent agree in most of their technical characters 

 with Gossypiu)n bras Hie nsSy Macf., from which they differ, how- 



ever, in tlie seeds being free from one another. In view of tb'^' 



