154 



COTTON-WOOL. 



iMr. Tucker's 2. There are several varieties of each species * 



Paper. . ... 



produced probably by a difference in situation, 

 soil, climate, and culture ; and although the two 

 species, with their several varieties, have an 

 original and natural site, there is reason to believe 

 that they can be cultivated indifferently, in any 

 tropical situation favourable to the production of 

 the plant generally. 



3. The cotton of the West, as the raw material 

 of our manufactures, has hitherto borne, and still 

 bears, a much higher price in the markets of 

 Europe than the cotton of the East ; although it is 

 contended, that the fabrics wove from the latter 

 surpass, in the essential character of strength and 

 durability, those which are manufactured from the 

 cotton of America . 



4. Without insisting upon the superiority of 

 the eastern cotton as a natural production, its 

 inferiority as an article of commerce, and its con- 

 sequent depression in price, may be accounted for 

 by the following circumstances, which operate in 

 a greater or less degree in deteriorating its quality 

 and merchantable value. 



First. The best variety is not generally culti- 

 vated for exportation. 



Second. 



* Some naturalists reckon four species of the cotton-plant, 

 and many varieties are enumerated by Dr. Lastreyrie and others. 

 As I am not a naturalist, I shall not attempt to give botanical 

 descriptions nor use botanical terms. 



