£793- account of Persian cotton. =~ ar7 
AN-.ACCOUNT OF PERSIAN COTTON, 
Communicarep By ArcTicus- 
Being atranslation of a paper presented to the royal econo- 
_ mucal society of St Peterfourgh by Mr 
GENTLEMEN, 
Attow me to have the honour of presenting to ‘you 
some grains of cotton seed. This seed is gathered prin- 
Cipally in Persia, and is bought in the markets, from the 
peasants, who bring it in small packets, from half a pound 
to two or three pounds. It is even difficult to collect any 
quantity of it; and it cost the person who jfurnifhed me 
with this sample, a great deal of time and trouble to col- 
lect three poods, which cost him nearly 3000 rubles. 
The sale of this seed is not unknown at Smyrna ; but 
what you see here, gentlemen, was bought from Boucha- 
tian merchants trading with Rufsia, and itis besides of a 
superior quality to what is found commonly at Smyrna, 
_from whence the French obtained it tormerly to culti- 
vate in their colonies, as well as the Maltese, who have 
also reaped so much advantage from it among their rocks, 
that it is to be feared their sweet orangés, so famoas, 
and which were very lucrative to them, will soon disap- 
pear, although the only production of traflic, till within 
these few years, of their burning and barren rocks, to givé 
place to another kind oj cultivation as useful, and a great 
deal more profitable. 
The Portuguese have sent this seed to Brazil, where 
¢ts cultivation has had a wonderful succefs, in a climate 
and soil perfectly adapted to its production, so much so, 
¢hat in a few years, the piant, by the constant and conti- 
nued attention of her ministers, flourifhed so well that it 
VOL" XVII. EE Tt 
