86 HISTORY OF THE [book v. 
among the most valuable gifts of a bountiful Cre¬ 
ator, superintending and providing for the necessi¬ 
ties of man. 
The cotton-wool, which is manufactured into 
cloth (for there is a species in the West Indies, call¬ 
ed silk or wild cotton, unfit for the loom) consists 
of two distinct kinds, known to the planters by 
the names of Green-seed Cotton, and Shrub 
Cotton; and these again have subordinate marks 
of difference, with which the cultivator ought to 
be well acquainted if he means to apply his labours 
to the greatest advantage. 
Green-seed cotton is of two species; of one 
of which the wool is so firmly attached to the seed, 
that no method has hitherto been found of separa¬ 
ting them, except by the hand; an operation so 
tedious and troublesome, that the value of the com¬ 
modity is not proportionate to the pains that are re¬ 
quisite in preparing it for market. This sort there¬ 
fore is at present cultivated principally for supplying 
wick for the lamps that are used in sugar-boiling, and 
for domestic purposes; but the staple being exceed¬ 
ingly good, and its colour perfectly white, it would 
doubtless be a valuable acquisition to the muslin 
manufactory, could means be found of detaching 
it easily from the seed. 
The other sort has larger seeds, of a duller 
green than the former, and the wool is not of 
equal fineness; though much finer than the cotton- 
