M 0 5 
G R A 
G R < A 
8(54 
traversing the air for food, shoots out these 
threads from its anus, which are borne down 
by the dew, &c. 
GOSSYP1UM, or cotton ; a genus of the 
polyandria order, in the monadelphia class of 
plants, and in the natural method ranking 
under the 37th order, co'umni-terae. The ca- 
lyx is double, the exterior one trifid ; the 
capsule rpiadrilocular ; the seeds wrapt in 
•cotton-wool. There are six species, all of 
them natives of warm climates. 1 . The her- 
baceum, or common herbaceous cotton, has 
an herbaceous smooth stalk two feet high, 
branching upwards ; five-lobed smooth leaves; 
and yellow flowers from the ends of the 
branches, succeeded by roundish capsules 
full of seed and cotton. 2. The hirsutum, 
■ or hairy American cotton, has hairy stalks 
branching laterally two or three feet high; 
palmated, three and five-lobed hairy leaves ; 
and yellow flowers, succeeded by large oval 
pods furnished with seeds and cotton. 3. 
The barbadense, or Barbadoes shrubby cot- 
ton, has a shrubby stalk branching four or 
Jive feet high, three-lobed smooth leaves, 
glandulous underneath; and yellow flowers 
succeeded by oval pods, containing seeds 
and cotton. 4. The arboreum, or tree cot- 
ton, has an upright woody perennial stalk, 
branching six or eight f v, et high ; palmated, 
four or five-lobed smooth leaves, and yellow 
flowers, succeeded by large pods filled with 
seeds and cotton. The first three species are 
annual, but the fourth is perennial both in 
root and stalk. In warm countries these 
plants are cultivated in great quantities in 
tiie fields for the sake of the cotton they pro- 
duce ; but the first species is most generally, 
cultivated. The pods aresometimes as large 
as middling-sized apples, closely filled with 
the cotton surrounding the seed. When 
these plants are raised in this country, they 
must be continually kept in a warm stove, 
where they will produce seeds and cotton. 
They are propagated by seeds. 
'The American islands produce cotton 
shrubs of various sizes, which rise and grow 
up without any culture, especially in low and 
marshy grounds. Their produce is of a pule 
red, some paler than others, but so short 
that it cannot be spun. None of tills is 
brought to Europe, though it might be use- 
f ill v employed in making hats. The little 
that is picked up serves to make maltrasses 
and pillows. 
The cotton shrub that supplies our manu- 
factures 'requires a dry and stony soil, and 
thrives best in grounds that have already 
been tilled. Not but the plant appears 
more flourishing in fresh lands than in those 
which are exhausted; but while it produces 
more wood, it bears Jess fruit. A western 
exposure is fittest for it. The culture of it 
begins in March and April, and continues 
during the first spring-rains. Holes are made 
at seven or eight feet distance from each 
other, and a few seeds thrown in. When 
they are grown to the height of five or six 
inches, all the stems are puled up, except 
two or three of the strongest. These are 
cropped twice before the end of August. 
This precaution is the more necessary, as the 
wood bears no fruit till after the second prun- 
ing ; and if the shrub was suffered to grow 
more than four feet high, the crop would not 
be the greater, nor the fruit so easily gather- 
ed, The same method is pursued for ihr.ee 
years •; for so long the shrub may continue, 
if it cannot conveniently be renewed oftener 
with the prospect of an advantage that will 
compensate the trouble. This useful plant 
will not thrive if great attention is not paid 
to pluck up the weeds that grow about it. 
Frequent rains will promote its growth, but 
they must not be incessant. Dry weather 
is particularly necessary in the months of 
March and April, which is the time of gather- 
ing the cotton, to prevent it from being dis- 
coloured and spotted. When it is all gather- 
ed in, the seeds ;».uist be picked out from the 
wool with which they are naturally mixed. 
This is done by means of a cotton-mill, 
which is an engine composed of two rods of 
hard wood, about IS feet long, 18 lines in 
circumference, and fluted two lines deep. 
They are confined at both ends, so as to leave 
no more distance between them than is ne- 
cessary for the seed to slip through. At one 
end is a kind of little millstone, w hich, being 
put in motion with the foot, turns the rods in 
contrary directions. They separate the cot- 
ton, and throw out the seed contained in it, 
GOUANIA, a genus of the monoecia 
order, in the polygamia class of plants. The 
calyx of the hermaphrodite is quinquefid ; 
there is no corolla ; there are five anther® 
covered with an elastic calyptra or hood; 
the stvle trifid ; the fruit, inferior to the re- 
ceptacle of the flower, divisible into three ! 
seeds. The male is like the hermaphrodite, 
but wanting stigma and germen. There is 
one species, a shrubby plant of St Domingo. 
GOUGE, an instrument or tool used by 
divers artificers ; being a sort of round hol- 
low chisel, for cutting holes, channels, 
grooves, &c. either in wood or stone. 
GOURD. See Cucurbita. 
GOUT. See Medicine. 
GRACE, act of, an act of parliament for 
a general and free pardon, and for setting at 
liberty insolvent debtors. 
Grace , days of, in commerce. See Bills 
of Excbance. 
GRACULA, the grakle, in ornithology, 
a genus belonging to the order of pica?, d he 
bill is convex, cultrated, and bare at the 
point ; the tongue is not cloven, but is fleshy 
and sharp ; it has three toes before and one 
behind. 1 . The religiosa, lesser grakle, or 
Indian stare, is about the size of a blackbird ; 
the bill an inch and a half long, and of an 
orange colour. The general colour of the 
plumage is black, glossed with violet, purple, 
and green, in different reflections of light; 
on the quills is a bar of white; the feathers 
and leg? are an orange-yellow, and the claws 
of a pale brown. 'This species, which is 
found in several parts of (he East Indies, in 
the Isle of Hainan, and almost every isle be- 
yond the Ganges, is remarkable for whistling, 
singing, and talking well, much better than 
any of the parrot genus, and in particular 
very distinct. Its food is of the vegetable 
kind. Those kept in this climate are ob- 
served to be very fond of cherries and grapes; 
rf cherries are offered to one, and it does not 
immediately get them, it cries and whines 
like a young child, till it has obtained its 
desire. It is a very tame and familiar bird. 
2. The barita, or boat-tailed grakle, is about 
the size of a cuckow. The bill is sharp, 
black, and an inch and a half in length; the 
general colour of the plumage is blacky with 
a gloss of purple, especially on the Tppes 
parts; the legs and claws are black, the latter 
hooked. There is a singularity in the fold- 
ing up of the tail-feathers, which, instead of 
forming a plain, surface at top, sink into a 
hollow like a deep gutter. It always carries 
its tail expanded when on the ground, folding 
it up in the above singular manner only when 
perched or flying. It inhabits Jamaica; and 
it feeds on maize, beetles, and other insects, 
as well as on the fruit of the banana. It is 
likewise common in North America, keeping 
company with the flocks of the maize-thieves, 
and red-winged oriole. These breed in the 
swamps, and migrate in September, after 
which done are seen. 3. Thequiscula, pur- 
ple jackdaw, or Barbadoes blackbird, is about 
the size of a blackbird: the male bird is 
black, but most beautifully and richly glossed 
with putple, especially on the head and 
neck. The female is wholly of a brown ce- 
lour, deepest on the wings and tail. This 
species inhabits Carolina, Mexico, and other 
parts ot North America, also Jamaica. These 
birds for the most part feed on maize, whence 
the name of maize-thieves has been given 
them ; but this is not their only food, for they 
are known also to feed on many other things. 
In spring, soon after the maize-seed is put 
into the ground, they scratch it up again ; 
and as soon as the leaf comes out, they take 
it up with their bills, root and all ; but when 
1 it is ripe they do still more damage, for at 
that time they come in troops of thousands, 
and are so bold, that if disturbed in one part 
of the field they only go to another, in 
New Jersey and Pennsylvania three pence 
per dozen was once given for the dead birds, 
and by means of the premium they were 
nearly extirpated in 1730: when the perse- 
cution of them was abated on account of 
the great increase of worms which had taken 
place in the meadows, and which in the pre- 
ceding year had left so little hay in New 
England as to occasion an importation from 
other parts. The grakles were' therefore 
again tolerated, as it was observed that they 
fed on these worms till the maize was ripe. 
These birds build in trees. They are said 
to pass the winter in swamps which are quite 
overgrown with wood, thence only appearing 
in mild weather ; and after the maize is got 
in, are content to feed on other things, as 
the aquatic tare-grass, and if pressed by hun- 
ger, buck-wheat and oats, & e. : they are said 
also to destroy that pernicious insect the bru- 
chus pisi. Their note is pretty and agree- 
able, but their flesh is not good to eat. 4. 
The cristatella, or Chinese starling, is a little 
bigger than a blackbird. The bill is yellow 
or orange, and the general colour of the plu- 
mage blackish with a tinge of blue; the legs 
are of a dull yellow. These birds, which are 
said to talk and whistle very well," are com- 
mon in China, where they are very much 
esteemed, and the figures of them are seen 
frequently in Chinese paintings. Their food 
is rice, insects, worms, and such-like. They 
are seldom brought to England alive, requir- 
ing the greatest care in the passage. There 
are eight other species of gracula. 
GRADUATION, in mathematics, the 
act of dividing any thing into degrees, or 
equal parts. 
GRAFTING, or graffing, in gardening, 
is the insertion of a scion into a stock or stem 
raised for the purpose, and is necessary 
