140 REPORT — 1861. 



character, and the improvement of those opportunities which they so abmidantly 

 enjoy. This is the great desideratum, and imtil this is done, no gi-eat good can be 

 effected. The ship-captain of intelligence must know that his attention to natm-al 

 history, or any other branch of science not immediately connected with ship duties, 

 is not only not looked upon with suspicion \)y his owner, but is encourcKjed by him. 

 He must feel that his master regards his scientific studies and attainments, not as 

 unfitting him for command and full confidence in the management of the import- 

 ant interests entrusted to him, but as absolutely rendering hun more trustworthy, 

 on the principle enunciated by a well-known member of the mercantile marine 

 service, that " a man ^vith a hobby is always safer both at sea and on shore than a 

 thoroughly idle man." The advantages which might be expected to accrue from 

 such a plan are manifold. Museums such as those of Liveipool and Manchester 

 should not lack specimens in any department, with such a staff of industrious and 

 intelligent collectors constantly bringing contributions. But by no means the least 

 important residt woidd be the elevation of the mercantile marine service as a body, 

 and their emancipation from the evUs too often looked upon as inseparable from 

 their habits of life, by giving them a rational object upon which they may expend 

 their energies, when not called upon by pressing duties on board ship. They have 

 no resources such as those possess whose life is passed on shore, and it cannot be 

 othei-wise than that, herding together, as they do, for months at a time, with scarce 

 any of the amenities of life, their minds should degenerate to a dull blank, or eveq 

 to a worse condition ; and it too often happens that in this respect the captain is in 

 no degree superior to his crew. Regarded, therefore, from a philanthropic point of 

 view, it is a subject worth inquiring into, whether or not some scheme may be 

 rendered feasible by which tliis opprobrium may be removed. No shipowner will 

 deny that such an amelioration of the seaman's character woidd be ultimately fol- 

 lowed with advantage to his o\ra personal interest; but that advantage is not to 

 be reaped suddenly, and it is too distant in its prospect to offer much inducement 

 to take much trouble to accomplish it. The direction which I have here supposed 

 the ship-captain's energies to take is, however, bj^ no means the only one which 

 may be followed with usefulness and advantage. I have made it prominent be- 

 cause I believe it would, in a vast number of instances, be adopted -with most useful 

 results. But men's tastes, doubtless, differ considerably, and the study of natural 

 history would not commend itself to all. Various subjects of study might be fol- 

 lowed out advantageously, and the sciences of na\igation, meteorologj-, «fcc. would 

 receive important accession from the intelligence which a higher standard of edu- 

 cation would develope among our mercantile marine. Some stimulus, however, 

 would undoubtedly be needed to cany on this work ; and the nature of the rewards 

 which might be offered to induce the cooperation of seamen shoidd occupy our 

 carefid attention and consideration. Among the commanders of the mercantile 

 marine there are many intelligent men, who would gladly embrace the opportunity, 

 if it were offered to them, of aistingaiishing themselves in the wallis of science, and 

 raising themselves above the level to which they are at present doomed. Whether 

 this stimulus should be in the way of honorary certificates, pecuniary or honorary 

 rewards, association with scientific bodies already in exi.' fence, or of any other kind, 

 woidd be an impoi-taut matter for after consideration, t have said, however, enough 

 to bring the matter fairly before you, and in your hands I now leave it, hoping it 

 may not be permitted to fall to the gi'ound, but may be taken up by the influential 

 members of the Association connected either with science or with commerce, my 

 own humble cooperation being always at theu' service. 



On the Culture of the Vine in the Open Air. By J. Coubuen, 



0?i Barragudo Cotton from the Plains of the Amazon, and on the Flax-jihre 



Cotton of North America. By W. Danson, of Liverpool. 



The writer states that he has known the vegetable substance called Ban-ao-udo 



cotton for more than twenty years, a small import having been received from Peru 



via Cape Horn about that time. It was represented as the produce of a very large 



tree, 30 feet to 40 feet high, and the cotton, when ripe, hangs down to the groimd 



