t is said to be closely allied
to the Acuminatum variety, so named because of the pointed character of
its capsules and leaves. Perhaps the most striking feature of this plant
is the colour of the seeds, which is black. Another interesting point
about the seeds is that they adhere closely to each other, and form a
cone-like mass. Brazil is the home of this particular species, though it
is cultivated here in two forms, as "Tree Cotton" and as "Herbaceous
Cotton." The former is also known by the name Crioulo or Maranhao Cotton
or short Mananams. It appears also that the Tree Cotton is one of the
very few which does not suffer from the depredations of the cotton
caterpillar. What is known as "Kidney Cotton" belongs to this species,
which is sometimes named Braziliense. The name kidney is given because
of the peculiar manner in which the seeds are arranged in the capsule,
adhering together in each cell in the form of a kidney.

The most important countries in which it is grown are Brazil and Peru,
though it is produced in other districts outside these countries, but
not to any great extent.

A very curious cotton which receives the name of "Red Peruvian" is also
produced in South America. On account of its colour, it has only a very
limited sale. This is owing to the difficulty there is in blending or
mixing it with any other cotton of similar quality.

Cottons known generally as Santos, Caera and Pernams are not of this
species--viz., Gossypium Peruvianum, but belong to the first and second
of the types already described.

=The Strength of Cotton Fibres.=--Mr. O'Neill some years ago made many
experiments with a view to obtaining the strengths of the different
fibres, and the following table compiled by him, will be of interest to
the general reader.

Sea Islands 83.9 mean breaking strain in grains.
Queensland 147.6 " "
Egyptian 127.2 " "
Maranham 107.1 " "
Bengueld 100.6 " "
Pernambuco 140.2 " "
New Orleans 147.7 " "
Upland 104.5 " "
Surat (Dhollerah) 141.9 " "
Surat (Comptah) 163.7 " "

From this table it is arguable that the strength of fibre varies
according to the diameter, that is to say,