392 



COTTON- WOOL. 



Appendix, the rays of the sun, expose the young plant to all the 

 inconveniences of a drought until the setting in of the 

 rains. The holes are generally made seven, eight, or 

 nine feet asunder. I think seven sufficient, particularly 

 if, as is commonly done in this island, the trees be pruned 

 every year. Those who pursue the contrary method may 

 plant them at a greater distance. 



Some people are satisfied with throwing the seeds into 

 the holes and leaving it to the wind to cover them; others 

 cover them over. This last is the preferable method, does 

 not increa-e the trouble, and is absolutely necessary in par- 

 ticular cases; nevertheless, never more than half an inch 

 deep of earth should be thrown over. In that part of the 

 island where the breeze blows strongest and rain more plen- 

 tiful in winter, cotton may be planted all the year round. 

 It puts forth and vegetates during winter, but it growsvery 

 rapidly on the opening of summer. Then it is necessary 

 to cover up the seed, for in spite of the humidity of the 

 soil, the breezes and sun might so dry up the earth, that 

 the grain which might have been sufficiently moistened to 

 make it swell, might not have been sufficiently so to shoot 

 forth : it would not, and it would be necessary to replace 

 it. To avoid these inconveniences, aud to make up for 

 the seed which may have been crushed by the milling, it 

 is usual to throw ten or fifteen grains in each hole. It 

 does not appear that the seed is attacked by any insect 

 previous to its shooting forth. Those who wish to make 

 the most of their grounds plant maize (zea) between the 

 rows of cot'on-trees. This practice is advantageous, as 

 the slight damage which the shrub experiences, and the 

 smallness of the first crop, are amply made up by the 

 return in maize. The cotton-tree should be planted at 

 the same time with the maize and after heavy rains, other- 

 wise it might incommode it by its rapid growth without 



experiencing 



