98 



SELECT PLANTS READILY ELIGIBLE 



Distinguished and illustrated by Parlatore as a species, re- 

 garded by Seemann as a variety of G. arboreiim. Staple 

 longer than in the latter kind, white, opaque, not easily 

 seceding. Even this species, though supposed to be herba- 

 ceous, will attain a height of 12 feet. A variety with 

 tawny fibre furnishes the Nankin Cotton. 



Gossypium hirsutum, Linne.'^ 



Upland or Short-staple Cotton. Tropical America, culti- 

 vated most extensively in the United States, Southern 

 European and many other countries. Perennial. Seeds 

 broAvnish-green, disconnected, after the removal of the 

 cotton-fibre greenish- velvety. Staple long, white, almost of 

 a silky lustre, not easily separable. A jDortion of the 

 Queensland Cotton is obtained from this species. It neither 

 requires the coast-tracts nor the highly attentive culture of 

 G. Barbadense. 



Gossypium religiosum, Linne.* {G. Peruvianum, Cavan). 

 Tropical South America. Kidney Cotton, Peruvian or 

 Brazilian Cotton. Leaves long-lobed. Petals yellow. Seeds 

 black, connected. The cotton is of a very long staple, white, 

 somewhat silky and easily seceding from the seeds. A 

 tawny variety occurs. This is the tallest of all cotton Bushes, 

 and it is probably this species, which occurs in the valleys of 

 the Andes as a small tree, bearing its cotton while frosts 

 whiten the ground around. 



Gossypium Taitense, Parlatore. {G. religiosum, Banks and 

 Solander). 



In several islands of the Pacific Ocean. A shrub. Petals 

 white. Seeds discomiected, glabrous after the removal of the 

 fulvous cotton-fibre, which secedes not with readiness. 



Gossypium tomentosum, Nuttall.^ {G. Sandvicense, Parlat.; 

 G. religiosum, A. Gray). 

 Hawaia. Perennial. Petals yellow. Seeds disconnected, 

 after the removal of the tawny cotton-fibre, fulvous-velvety, 

 not easily parting with their cotton. The Cotton-roots 

 are a powerful remedial agent, which, however, should 

 only be used by legitimate medical practice. The barks of 

 Hamamelis Yirginiana and Viburnum prunifolium are anti- 

 dotes (Phares and Durham). 



For limitation of species and varieties Parlatore's " Specie dei 

 Cotoni" (Florence, 1866) and Todaro's " Osservazioni su 

 Cotone " may be consulted ; information on culture may be 

 sought in Porter's ''Tropical Agriculturist" and in Mallet's 

 work on Cotton" (London, 1862). 



There are many parts of our colony, in which all these species 

 of Gossypium could be cultivated, and where a fair or even 



