INXRODTJCXION. 



lu as much as this bulletin is prepared largely for the 

 benefit of the farmer, who is but little versed in botanical 

 literature, scientific terms have been carefully avoided where 

 simple language will intelligibly convey the information de- 

 sired without destroying scientific accuracy. 



There are also some remarks presented on the subject of 

 plant growth, with which all botanists are familiar; but it 

 is deemed best to submit them in this connection in order 

 to make the topic under discussion more clear to the farmer, 

 and, therefore, no other apology is necessary for reprinting 

 these well known principles of botanical knowledge. 



The author of this bulletin makes no claim to new dis- 

 coveries ; and, although problems have been presented for 

 solution, little more than an introduction to future investi- 

 gations on the subject under consideration, has been at- 

 tempted. The effort has been made to give an intelligent 

 account of how the cotton plant might be developed so as 

 to force it to yield the planter the greatest remuneration for 

 his labor. Nature has been carefully followed, as far as her 

 works have been understood, and all theories have been 

 eliminated. The bulletin is intended to be one of facts and 

 not of theories. 



The conclusions submitted are based on the results of in- 

 vestigations extending over a period of three years. Several 

 hundred crosses were successfully made, and the develop- 

 ments from year to year carefully watched and studied. A 

 large amount of microscopic work was required to deter- 

 mine the transformation of the fiber. 



The following represent the so-called varieties used in the 

 experiments : 



Allen's long staple, Bailey, Barnett, Cherry's cluster, W. 

 A. Cook, J. C. Cook, Dixon, Gold Dust, Hawkins' improved. 



