214 BITTER CASSADA. 



baceum, or common herbaceous cotton plant, is most 

 generally cultivated; and this divides itself into 

 annual and perennial plants. The first is herbaceous, 

 and rarely attains to more than eighteen or twenty 

 inches in height. The pods, when fully ripe, open 

 simultaneously, and exhibit to view the fleecy cotton, 

 in which the seeds are securely bedded. At this 

 season, the effect is extremely pleasing when seen 

 from a rising ground. A bed of waving verdure 

 extends on either side, relieved with large yellow 

 flowers, having each a purple centre, while here and 

 there, tufts of white are seen amid the foliage. 

 The next day, or after the lapse of a few hours, or 

 even while the spectator is looking on, suddenly 

 every bush and branch appears as if covered with 

 balls of the purest white, waving in the breeze, 

 which not unfrequently carries with it a tuft of 

 cotton, as if in. triumph. This common herbaceous 

 plant is sown, and reaped, like corn; the time of 

 gathering, in hot countries, occurs twice during the 

 year, in colder climates only once ; that which is 

 imported into England from Georgia, and is called 

 the sea-island cotton, bears a double price to that of 

 any other country. The perennial plants which 

 have been left to grow, rise far above the annual in 

 height and size : they frequently attain to a con- 

 siderable elevation, and both at the time of flower- 

 ing, and when the pods are fully ripe, produce a 

 remarkable effect. 



The Jatropha manihot^ bitter cassada, or manioc, 

 also grows profusely in Quito, as well as generally 

 throughout South America, and has been long cul- 

 tivated in the West Indies for the sake of its nutri- 



