432 ON THE CULTIVATION OF COTTON IN ITALY. 



Koyal Italian Commission has made the utmost exertions to procure the 

 largest possible collection of Italian-grown cotton, which they have 

 exhibited in the International Exhibition. 



Two species of cotton are grown in Italy, the Gossypiumherbaceum, Lin., 

 and the G. Siamense, Ten., or Siamese cotton. 



The Gossypium herbaceum generally grows to the height of a foot or two ; 

 its roots are fusiform, and about six inches long. Stem erect, round and 

 woody, reddish, and sometimes marked with black dots ; it ramifies 

 alternately into spreading branches, forming a pyramid. Leaves composed 

 of five short oval lobes, indented at the base and pointed at the extremity 

 with a small gland on the median nerve. Leaf stalks two or three inches 

 long, with black dots — each has two lanceolate and somewhat curved 

 stipules. Flowers arising from the axillae of the leaves, and supported on 

 peduncles shorter than the leaf stalks. Calyx double, the external calyx 

 being the larger, and composed of three smooth sub-cordiforni leaflets, 

 deeply indented, or even fringed. Internal calyx entire, deep, with five 

 marginal indentations. Corolla bell-shajiecl, consisting of five yello w petals 

 with purple spots at the base ; when dried the petals become uniformly 

 red. Stamina numerous and grouped, the pistil rising from their midst. 

 Stigma divided into three or four portions. Capsule oval, the size of a 

 small walnut, three or five-celled, opening into four valves. Seeds 

 roundish, about the size of a pea, and enveloped in dull greyish-white 

 wool. 



The Gossypium lierbaceum is cultivated in many localities on the shores 

 of the Mediterranean ; the wool is of ordinary quality, rather grey than 

 white ; its use is only local, especially for common manufactures. 



The Gossypium Siamense has a brownish fusiform root, about a foot long. 

 Stem reddish-brown, dotted all over ; rather taller than the G. herbaceum, 

 rising to the height of two or three feet ; erect and cylindrical, covered 

 with hairs, some of which are in stellate tufts, and often pungent. Branches 

 alternate and spreading, forming a pyramid. Leaves brownish-green, with 

 three or five deep lobes, terminating in a point ; the two external lobes 

 cordiform, and cleft nearly to the base of the leaves. Leaves always in- 

 dented, rough above, hairy underneath, with black dots, especially on the 

 nerves, of which the median one is provided with a gland at a third of its 

 length. Leaf stalks reddish and hairy. Flowers arising from the axillse of 

 the leaves, either singly or in pairs. Peduncles, like the stalk, hairy and 

 reddish-brown, at first shorter, but eventually longer than the leaf stalks. 

 Corolla two or three times as large as the internal calyx, the latter five- 

 lobed, cordiform, and fringed. Petals somewhat folded, yellow at first, and 

 turning red before fading. Stamina grouped, varying in length from a few 

 lines to an inch. Capsules oval, attaining two inches in length by one in 

 width, with projecting lips. When ripe they divide into four valves, com- 

 posed of as many cells, closely packed with glossy snowy-white wool. Seeds 

 invested with greenish cotton, which adheres firmly to them. Six or eight 

 in each cell, disposed in double row along the axis of the capsule. 



