CG w ALL' s M A N u A L 



but from the expense of its preparation for market, 

 is not considered more profitable to cultivate than 

 the short staple. 



The upland, first cultivated at the South, differs 

 from the preceding in the color of the blossom, the 

 size and form of the boll, and in the length and fine- 

 ness of the staple. Both have smooth, black, naked 

 seed. All other varieties seem to have a tendency to 

 return to this by long continued cultivation. 



The Tennessee cotton has a seed invested with a 

 thick green down adhering firmly to.it. It is difficult 

 to gather, but it superseded the Hack seed for a few 

 years, from its freedom from the rot a disease with 

 which the black seed had become infected. 



They both gave way to the Mexican, which is 

 now chiefly cultivated, or is the basis of all the varie- 

 ties now in favor with the planter. The superiority 

 of the Mexican variety consists in its vigorous growth, 

 the size of the boll, and its free expansion, affording 

 great facility in gathering the crop. The objections 

 to it originally were the coarsenesss of the staple 

 and loss sustained by its falling out, if not gathered 

 speedily. These defects have been, in a great degree, 

 corrected by cultivation. The Mexican seed is be- 

 lieved to have been first introduced by the late 

 Walter Burling, of Natchez, Miss. He was sent to 

 Mexico on a mission in 180G. He requested permis- 

 sion to import some of the Mexican cotton seed from 

 the Viceroy, a request which was not granted, on the 

 ground that it was forbidden by the Spanish Govern- 

 ment. But the Viceroy sportively accorded his free 

 permission to take home with him as many Mexican 

 dolls as he might fancy a permission well under* 



