SECTION IV: KIDNEY: IN WEST INDIES 307 



kidney cotton is to-day the least popular of the cultivated stocks, and, Unpopa- 

 moreover, its staple possesses certain properties that do not commend staple, 

 it to present-day industries. (See p. 298.) It was formerly, however, 

 in much demand in Scotland and England (as I have already indicated), 

 and for a considerable time Brazilian cotton was in fact a distinct 

 item in the imports of Great Britain, a few years prior to the discovery 

 of the Upland, Georgian, and Sea Island cottons of the United States. 

 Layman (' Cotton Culture,' p. 153) says that it began to be imported 

 definitely in 1781, and, according to Bohr, Glasgow was its first Formerly 

 important market. Even so late as 1812 Macpherson (' Hist. |^ Gla S a _ n 

 European Commerce with India,' pp. 136, 223, 389) speaks of the g w - 

 cotton plant lately introduced, and with much success, in the southern 

 territories of the United States of America. He then adds, ' Great 

 quantities are brought from Brazil and the Levant ; still there is also 

 a considerable demand for cotton from India.' 



Speaking of Brazil, Koster (' Trav. in Brazil,' 1816, pp. 365-9) 

 says ' the districts which are chosen for cotton cultivation, and 

 universally allowed to be the best adapted to its growth, are far 

 removed from the seacoast, arid and oftentimes scantily supplied with 

 fresh water.' ' The opinion is very general that the cotton plant will 

 not thrive in the neighbourhood of the coast, and that frequent 

 changes of weather are injurious to it.' ' The dry and wet seasons are Effects of 

 doubtless more regularly marked at a distance from the sea, and if ram * 

 any variation is felt in such situations, it is from a want of rain, and 

 not from a superabundance of it. The cotton plant requires that a 

 great portion of the year should be dry ; for if much rain falls when 

 the pod is open the wool is lost ; it becomes yellow, decays, and is 

 rendered completely unfit for use. The soil which is preferred for its 

 culture is a deep red earth, with veins of yellow occasionally running 

 through it ; this becomes extremely hard after a long interval without 

 rain.' The plant described by Koster seems to be G. brasiliense. 

 But further on he observes: 'The quality of the cotton which is Brazilian 

 produced in South America, either to the north or south of Pernam- cottons - 

 buco, is inferior to that of the province of which I am treating. The 

 cotton of Ceara is not so good, and the cotton of Maranham is still 

 coarser . . . Proceeding to the south the cotton of Bahia is not so 

 fine, and the small quantity which is produced at Eio de Janeiro is 

 not so good as that of Bahia.' 



Bolingbroke (' Voy. to Demerary, &c.,' 1807, pp. 81, 204) speaks 

 of the British settlers having commenced cotton cultivation on the 



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