no 



Selections. 



[NO. 8, NEW* SERIES, 



timber is much esteemed for building purposes, and the resin which 

 exudes in considerable quantity from any wounded part of the tree 

 is sometimes used by tne natives for burning in their houses, being 

 first mixed with the husks of paddy. The resin is soluble in spirits 

 of wine or turpentine, and makes an excellent varnish. 



The tree is called by the Cinghalese " Boon," or Boon-gala ; 

 anglice, Boon or Boon-tree ; whence our generic name Boona. (The 

 genus is nearly allied to Hopeaa.—'ED.) — Kew Misc. vol. IV. p. 1. 



In a subsequent volume, the following character of the embryo 

 is added : 



Embryo Cotyledonibus, foliaceis, valde inequalibus ; harum 

 maxima inter stratum oleoso-albumenosum contorto-convoluto, in 

 germinatione inclusa; altera brevissima, in germinatione ssgpissime 

 emergente. 



This shows the genus Boona, Thvv. to be very distinct from 

 Hopea, Rox. t., the Cotyledons of which, like those of Vatica, L. 

 are subequal, very fleshy, and emergent in germination. 



Seven species of Boona have now been detected in Ceylon. — 

 Ibid, viii. 377. 



Observations on Free Labour Cotton of Honduras and Yucatan, in 

 the West Indies, and of Western Africa, and Natal; also, Rela- 

 tive to East Indian, and Slave Grown Cotton of the United States, 

 by James Banks, late of Honduras. 



Extracted from the " Transactions of the Society of Arts," for 1817-8. 



My friend Dr. James Thompson, having submitted to the Society 

 a sample of the common indigenous Cotton of Yucatan, on the 

 Gulph of Mexico, and of the fine Anguella sort from British Hon- 

 duras, for the purpose of showing the valuable qualities that might 

 be obtained from these quarters by free labour, I was induced to 

 present several samples, collected by me in that Settlement; and, 

 at the suggestion of your Committee, the following observations 

 are thrown together : — 



The importance of our Cotton Manufactures; the successful 



