SECTION II: VAR. NEGLECT A 101 



procured through M. Chemnitz, of Copenhagen, from a M. John, of Tran- 

 Tranquebar in Madras Presidency. This, Bohr cultivated in his qu t e t ljar 

 plantation in Sainte-Croix (Santa Cruz) in the Antilles. He classified 

 it as one of the forms of cotton to which he gave the name of ' Nun's 

 Cotton ' ; a second Nun's Cotton also came from India, namely from 

 Cambay. It is interesting to add that Eohr, though he cultivated 

 these experimentally, and at the same time Siam cotton (G. Nanking), 

 did not think it necessary to suggest that the three plants named 

 were in any way specially related to each other. 



There can thus be no doubt that Indian cottons were at an early 

 date introduced into the West Indies and into the United States 

 of America as well, and therefore very possibly this particular form, 

 as also the far-famed Dacca cotton, stands every chance to have 

 been carefully investigated in the New World. But the fact that O. 

 arboreiim, var. neglecta, has preserved in the United States, during Survival 

 probably close on 300 years of cultivation, identical characteristics united 

 to those it possesses under the widely different environment of States. 

 India, argues strongly against the structural peculiarities by which 

 it is recognised being viewed as merely geographical and climato- 

 logical features, that change or disappear under altered conditions. 



In passing it may be here added that a perfectly distinct plant, 

 though in external manifestations one that resembles G. neglectum, 

 has recently been sent me from the Department of Agriculture 

 in the United States, under the name ' Okra,' but with a totally 

 different history. It has been supposed to be a natural sport from 

 a form of G. hirsutum known as King's Improved. The plant 

 to which I allude may be seen on Plate No. 39, and its supposed 

 original stock on Plate No. 31 B. In this connection also a refer- 

 ence may be made to G. pubescens, Splitg., which Schumann, 

 (Martius, ' Fl. of Brazil ') speaks of as grown in gardens in Surinam. 

 There would seem hardly any doubt that the plant indicated is G. 

 arboreum, var. neglecta. Lastly, Macfadyen ('M. Jamaica') speaks Carried to 

 of his G. oligospermum as found on ' waste places, Liguanea.' i n( jj eg- 

 This plant having been thus carried to the New World, it is not 

 difficult to believe that the close relationship and intercourse that 

 existed between India and the West Indies, for a couple of centuries 

 or so, might easily have resulted in cottons, sent originally from 

 India, being again returned later on, from the belief that they were 

 West Indian if not American, and possibly, therefore, worthy of 

 cultivation in India. In part support of this view it may be added 



