*97 



luxuriantly on the islands and sea-coasts. Through the art of cul- 

 tivation it is possible to rear the plant up to 40 northwards as well 

 as southwards. In America it can be reared with advantage up 

 to 37 northwards. 



The plants belonging to the genus Gossypium are of a tree-like 

 as well as shrub-like nature. They have a root penetrating deep 

 into the ground. The boughs bear from 3 to 5 sometimes also 7 

 lobed, more or less petioled, large leaves. 



The straight- growing cylindrical stems have a dark reddish 

 coloured bark, and a white skin, and bear a wide, out-spread crown. 

 The round or sometimes rough boughs grow straight, and spread 

 out ; cultivated plants have these short. 



The structure of the flowers and fruits growing on the branches, 

 of the different kinds have much mutual similarity. 



The three large outermost, heart-shaped sepals, parted on their 

 extremeties. surround a short fringed five-sided cap. 



The fine large petals are mostly yellow, (only those of Gossy- 

 pium hirsutum are white) after opening they become reddish. 



The fruit has from 3-5 cells each containing a certain number 

 of seeds. 



On the whole surface of these seeds, long hairs (the cotton) de- 

 velope which always remain single-celled and attain a length of 

 from 4-5 cm., as in the Sea-island cotton. 



On the bursting of the ripe fruit, these hairs bulge outwards in 

 clusters. 



In some kinds of Gossypium the seeds, besides being covered 

 with the mentioned hairs forming the cotton, are covered with a 

 felt-like mass ; as for instance in Gossypium herbaceum, etc. 



In other kinds, such as ; G : barbadense. L. and G : peruvianum. 

 Cav. this covering is wanting. In those cases and especially in 

 G : barbadense, the hairs (the cotton) are easily removed which is 

 of great advantage in collecting it. 



On the removal of the hairs, there remain the hard, black and 

 smooth seeds. In those kinds of Gossypium, whose seeds have the 

 above mentioned felt-like covering, the hairs (the cotton) are diffi- 

 cult to separate from the seeds. 



In consequence of the great tendency to vary which these species 

 have it is difficult to determine their number. Linnaeus describes 

 three kinds, but since then this number has increased considerably. 



The " Index Kewensis" mentions 42 names, of which however 

 only a few have a specific meaning. It also makes mention of 88 

 kinds, which are since looked upon, by it as synonyms. 



The great variability and inclination to hybridize make it very 

 difficult to specify a plant of this kind. 



No plant answers more quickly to improved growth-conditions 

 than cotton. 



The most widely spread are 4 kinds which differ from each other 

 in the following way. 



A. Besides having the long seed-flocks (cotton), a yellow felt- 

 like covering over the seeds : — 



/ Gossypium herbaceum. L. Indian cotton) with 3-5 seldom 7 



