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172 



COTTON. 



of kidney-cotton, saying that he believes it to- 

 be " the true cotton of Brazil."* The yellow 

 or nankeen cotton is likewise to be found at 

 Pernambuco ; but it does not form an article of 

 cultivation, being regarded rather as a curiosity. 

 I have seen some species of wild cotton, of 

 which however as 1 have neither note nor spe- 

 cimen, I cannot pretend to give a description. 



The profits which are obtained in favourable 

 years by the planters of cotton are enormous ; 

 but frequently disappointments are experienced. 

 Oftentimes a whole crop is totally lost, and 

 instead of large returns, the year proves entirely 

 unproductive j or after a fair promise, the grub, 

 the caterpillar, the rain, or the excessive drought, 

 destroys all hope until the following season. 

 The other great agricultural object, — the sugar- 

 cane, is not subject to these numerous and 

 ruinous reverses ; for even if the year is unfa- 

 vourable, at least enough to pay the expenses 

 may be expected. I have heard it urged that 

 the market is very little affected by the supposed 

 failure of a crop : but it must be remembered 

 that in a country of such vast extent, one 



* Mr. Edwards calls the species of the cotton-plant which 

 is cultivated in the Columbian islands, the common Jamaica, 

 of which " the staple is coarse but strong." It is difficult to 

 clean, owing to the brittleness of the seeds. It is strange, 

 as Mr. Edwards remarks, that the British cotton-planters 

 should be acquainted with species of the shrub which pro- 

 duce finer wool, and yet continue to rear this inferior quality. 



