394 



COTTON-WOOL. 



Appendix, and receives the pods when they are full. I prefer, 

 therefore, the method of encouraging the esquine to leav- 

 ing the soil bare. It is customary at Bourbon to prune 

 the cotton-trees eighteen inches from the ground a month 

 or two before the rains. Formerly the shrub was allowed 

 to remain eight or ten years without being replaced ; but 

 some pretend it ought to be done every third year, which 

 is done, as already mentioned, between the rows where the 

 soil must be left exhausted. 



Cultivation of Cotton. 



As the rains commence in October and November, 

 those months are generally chosen for planting cotton. 



The plantations, however, can be formed as late as 

 January in all parts of the island, but must not be neglected 

 longer where the violence of the rains ceases in March, 

 because the plant will not have acquired strength sufficient 

 to support the droughts at the time they set in. In those 

 districts where rain is more frequent, they may plant at 

 all times ; but the seed sown in winter thrives more slowly, 

 and languishes till the beginning of the heats and rains. 

 It may also be sown in dry weather. It remains in the 

 earth without injury or annoyance from insects till it 

 begins to vegetate when the rains fall. 



Plantations in lines are to be preferred, because they 

 are more easily hoed and gathered, and aflFord greater faci- 

 lity in inspecting the workmen. The ordinary distance is 

 six feet by five ; some plant at three by two. It is in this 

 interval that the Indian corn is sown at the same time 

 with the cotton: it does not receive any injury from the 

 neighbourhood of the corn, but on the contrary, is hurt- 

 ful to it. The holes for the cotton ought not to be very 

 deep, and when it is sown without rain, eight or nine 

 seeds are thrown into each without covering ; but on the 



first 



