COTTON

(Qmmmh. Lin.) A species of vegetable wool, the produce of the Go yjrium herbaceum, of which there are many varieties. The kinds of cotton met with in the market are usually designated by the names of the places from winch they are brought; but practically, they are all divided into the two great cla es of long and short stapled. Its goodne depends on its colour, and the length, strength, and finene of its fibre. Its price varies, according to 1'nlity, from 2s. to id. per lb. The general chemical chars Of Cotton are those of lignin. It is peculiarly sus- ■ile of combination with certain metallic oxidc3 or: whence the facility with which it is locally dyed, as in the proce of calico printing. i [s. 305]