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   GIUSEPPE DE VINCENZI
   are formed of three large leaves, fibrous, loose, and tìruv tlie inner calyx is cup-foriuerl, five-lobed, and blunt; the petals are, for the most part, rolled up, but sometimes open in the forni of a bowl. Their colour varies in the same flower from a Straw yellow to a red, from the first budding uutil they fade away. The tube of the stainens varies in length from a few lines to an ineh, and the pisi il emerges from the same, with the stigma for (he most part united. The capsules are from two inches in length to one ineh in breadth, and have an ovate forni with a projecting apex. On arriving at maturi ty, they divide into four vaives, and appear composed of four small cells, which are closely li lied Avith a very fiue cotton wool, shilling, glittering, and white as snow, the seeds are ovate, and covered with a grcenish down, which remains constantly attached to the sanie. There are from six to eiglit in every pod, disposed iu tAvo series along the centrai axis of the fruit.
   Duration.  " As in the case of Herbaceous Cotton, so, likewise, with reference to the duration of Siamese cottou, the opinious of agriculturists are discordant. From seeing it grow on vigorously uutil autumn is far advauced, sendiug forth in abundance new buds and new flowers, it is to be presumed that, but for the arrivai of the winter, cold and frosty, this cotton, as well as the Herbaceous Cotton, would continue its vegetatiou for two and perhaps even for a greater number of years, as Melograni asserts to have seen iu Calabria. This conjecture would derive strength from the analogy with other plants found in tlie sanie circum-stances, and especially Avitli the Ricinns, which, in warin climates, becomes an arboraceous aud perenuial plant, Avlie-reas, in cold climates, it remains a berbaceous aud annual plant. At the sanie time, I must uot couceal that, iu spi te of ali the care practised to preserve the plants of the Siamese cotton from the severity of winter, they ha\e always proved useless; uor has it availed to cut cIoavu the steius, and to cover over the roots with mauure, or Avith some momentary protection, as certaiu persons are said to have done successfully, because, in spite of many aud repeated