COTTON. 179 
would, in such case, refuse to produce its accustomed 
fruits. The bodies inclosed in these trees are said to 
become perfectly dry without decaying, and thus to 
form a kind of mummies, without the process of em- 
balming. 
192. COTTON is a soft vegetable down, which is contained' 
in the seed vessels, and envelopes the seeds of the cotton-plant 
(Gosvpium herbuceum, Fig. 52), which is cultivated in the East 
and West Indies t and numerous other countries of hot climates. 
This, though an annual plant, grows to a considerable height. 
It has leaves of bright green colour, marked with brownish 
veins, and each divided into five lobes. The Jiowers have onty 
one petul, in five segments, with a short tube, and are of pale 
yellow colour, with Jive red spots at the bottom. 
The cotton pods are of somewhat triangular shape* 
and have each three cells. These, when ripe, burst, 
and disclose their snow-white or yellowish contents, in 
the midst of which are contained small black seeds, in 
shape somewhat resembling those of grapes. 
We are informed, by Mr. Edwards, that the plants are 
raised from seed, the land requiring no other prepara- 
tion for them than to be cleared of its native incum- 
brances. The seeds are usually sown in rows six or 
eight feet asunder, and the holes in which they are put 
are about four feet apart. At the end of five months 
the plants begin to flower, and in two months more the 
pods are formed. After the cotton is gathered, it is 
freed from the seeds to which it is attached, by a very 
simple machine, consisting of two small rollers that are 
close and parallel to each other, and move in opposite 
directions. The cotton is next hand-picked, to free it 
from decayed leaves, broken seeds, and other impuri- 
ties; after which it is packed, for sale, in bags of about 
two hundred pounds each. 
Though the cotton plant flourishes best in tropical 
climates, it is capable of cultivation in such as are not 
so hot; and it is now an object of attention in several 
of the southern parts of Europe. 
