TBE TRUE NATURE OF THE LONGER FIBERS. 7 



degrees of this tying or curling together, as seen when greath^ mag- 

 nified. In figures 1 and 2 single and united fibers, respective!}', of 

 natural length are shown, but the diameters are of necessity much 

 greater than normal, owing to the exceeding fineness of the fibers. 



The drag of cottons showing the longer fibers previously described 

 gives a more extended, elastic tension tiian is manifest among the 

 short-staple varieties. It is probable that breeders may find this 

 character a useful one in indicating a tendency toward increased 

 length, fineness, and crinkliness of staple in the individuals in which 

 it occurs most noticeably — an indication of better spinning quality. 



It is important that 

 breeders and grow- 

 ers of 1 o n g - s t a p 1 e 

 cottons should know 

 that these apparently 

 longer fibers are no 

 indication of true 

 'lack of uniformity. 

 The presence of these 

 fibers in the long- 

 staple Upland varie 

 ties has quite univer- 

 sall}" led to the erro- 

 neous belief that such 

 cottons are rather 

 inferior in uniformity as regards length of fibers. The Grifiin cotton, 

 in particular, recognized in other respects as the best long-staple 

 Upland cotton grown, has alwaj's been described as decidedly unsatis- 

 factor}' so far as uniformity in length of staple is concerned, since the 

 drawing out of fibers from adjacent seed is a marked characteristic of 

 this variet3\ 



A knowledge of the true nature of these longer fibers will clear the 

 reputation of some of the best long-staple Upland varieties of a seri- 

 ous fault hitherto wrongly attributed to them by all breeders and 

 growers. 



Flo. 3. — Cotton fibers tied together, very much luHgaified. 



111-11 



o 



