COTTON. 39 



in which the cotton is retained in its place after the 

 bursting of the pod ; while others believe the only 

 circumstances worthy of attention in the classification 

 to be those which regard the staple or fibre. 



Very white cotton is not considered the best; a 

 slightly yellow tinge, when not the effect of acci- 

 dental moisture or of an inclement season, is indica- 

 tive of greater fineness. 



The number of seeds in one pod vary according to 

 the different species ; the pods of some containing 

 only ten or twelve seeds, others as many as thirty ; 

 while in all there is a marked difference in colour, 

 shape, and size. 



The shrub which grows wild in many parts of the 

 West Indies, especially in low and marshy grounds, 

 has a rough black seed. The cotton of this is in 

 colour a pale red, and is of so short a fibre that 

 it cannot be spun ; in consequence, it is scarcely 

 worth the trouble of gathering, and what little is 

 picked up is used for stuffing mattresses and pillows. 

 Among other varieties, the Brazil and the Guiana 

 cottons bear the same kind of seed as the wild species, 

 differing slightly in shape; these are both nearly alike 

 as to the quality of their produce. The Guiana is, 

 after the " Sea Island cotton," the most esteemed in 

 Europe, on account of its colour and fineness, and 

 the length and strength of its staple and fibre ; it is 

 likewise extremely productive, as it furnishes two 

 gatherings in the year. It is farther valuable as the 

 seeds of this kind conglomerate, or adhere firmly to 

 each other in the pod, and are easily separated from 

 , the cotton. This variety requires a moist soil, such 

 as generally predominates in Dutch Guiana. 



The Indian cotton has a dark brown seed streaked 

 with black ; this cotton is very white and finer than 

 that of Guiana, but not so productive. Six other 

 varieties bear nearly the same description of seed, 

 among which is the Siam so noted in the West 



