SECTION IV: VAR. MARITIMA 293 



(G. barbadense) and a fuzzy-seeded plant (G. punctatum). Such a 



cross has often been pronounced impossible, but it not only can be, 



but has been produced, and the seeds are mostly fuzzy, while the Hybrid. 



resulting stock seems to gradually tend toward the condition known 



as G. peruvianum. (Cf. Long Staple Uplands, pp. 194, 234-5.) 



Sea Island in Africa. Mention is made of experimental cultiva- 

 tion of this cotton in both East and West Africa. It is not possible 

 to discover, however, whether the true Sea Island plant is meant or 

 only the Egyptian, which by many writers is erroneously regarded as 

 being true Sea Island. Wiesner (' Die Kohstoffe des Pflanzenreiches,' 

 1903, vol. n. p. 257) very rightly observes that the better class African 

 cottons practically mean Egyptian stocks. 



Col. Alfred J. Arnold (Inspec. Gnal. de Explor. Companhia de East 

 Mogambique) speaking of the experience gained with the cultivation 



of cotton, in the provinces of Manica and Sofala, says that the bique 

 experiments made ' tended to prove that Egyptian or Sea Island j on> 

 plant, producing the long-fibre cotton of the more expensive class, 

 was better adapted to the soil and climate than American Upland 

 cotton of a shorter staple. To this class of cotton, therefore, the 

 attention of the Companhia and the public has been specially directed, 

 and so far with undoubted success ' (' Memo.' &c., 1906, p. 48). But 

 the samples of long-staple cotton seen by me from East Africa have 

 been mainly Egyptian mil afifi, more rarely abassi, none of Sea 

 Island proper, and indeed I much question the true Sea Island being 

 anywhere successfully grown and its properties preserved in Africa or 

 Egypt. But Sadebeck (' Kulturgew. der deut. Kolon.' p. 304) strongly West 

 urges not to attempt the cultivation of any other cotton except Sea T"^ ' 

 Island. If confined to New Guinea and the Bismarck Archipelago land - 

 that recommendation might be worthy of being tested definitely and 

 finally, but if given to the planters of Togo-land it has quite another 

 meaning. At all events the true Sea Island has seldom been 

 successfully grown in any locality more than 30 miles distant from 

 the sea, and there is nothing to show that the recent successes with 

 cotton cultivation in West Africa is in any way connected with the 

 production of Sea Island cotton. (Cf. with remarks under G. 

 punctatum, pp. 174-81). 



Baron (' Flora Mad. ' in Journ. Linn. Soc. xxv., 1890, pp. 246-94) 

 speaks of G. barbadense as introduced into Madagascar, but gives 

 no particulars as to the race grown, extent of cultivation, or success 

 attained. 



