FIELD CROPS. 



207 



The name of the variety is not given. The following table gives the 

 results : 



Effect of distance on yield of cotton. 



Width (if rciw. 



3 ft. 

 3 ft. 

 3ft. 

 3 ft. 

 3 ft. 

 3 ft. 



Averaf;e for 3-ft. rows. 



4 ft. 

 4 ft. 

 4 ft. 

 4 ft. 

 4 ft . 

 4 ft. 



Seed cotton per acre. 



Distance j Stalks in 

 in row. hill. 



Feet. ' Number. 



1 1 



1 i 2 



14 1 



14 2 



2 1 

 2 2 



First 

 picking. 



Per cent. 

 54 

 46 

 52 

 CO 

 62 

 55 



Second Third 

 picking, picking. 



Per cent. 

 36 

 42 

 33 

 31 

 30 

 30 



Averaire for 4ft. rows. 



5 ft. 

 5 ft. 

 5 ft. 

 5 ft . 

 5 ft . 

 5 ft. 



Average for 5-ft. rows. 



Per cent. 

 10 

 12 

 15 



Total. 



Pounds. 

 1, 726 

 1,584 

 2,037 

 1,565 

 1,811 

 2,207 



1,821 



1,715 

 1,602 

 1,734 

 1, 734 

 1,432 

 1,677 



1,557 



1 624 

 1,394 

 1, 372 

 1,512 

 1,428 

 1,010 



1,540 



A report on uncultivated bast fibers of the United States, 



C. E. DuDGE {U. S. Dept. Atjr., Fiber Inct.stigKtioti.s lipt. 6', pp. .}i, 

 pU. 5). — Tlie most important plants and fibers treated are the follow- 

 ing: Swami) roseinallow {HlhiacuH moscheutos), rozelle hemp plant {II. 

 sahdariffa), " Cu^sar weed"' ( Urena lobata), sida fiber (Sida rliomhifolia), 

 cotton-stalk fiber { Gossypium herbaceum), hemp-like hibiscus {H. canna- 

 6m«.S'),okra liber {Abdmoschus esculentus) jahutilou fiber {Abutilon avicen- 

 Mff), asclepias, or milkweed fiber [Asdepias Incaniuta and A. eoniuti), 

 vegetable silk Irom the milkweed, Colorado Kiver hemp (Sesbania 

 macrocarpa), sunn hemp {Crotalaria juncea), Indian hemp {Apocynum 

 cannabinum), stinging nettle {Urtica gracilis), common burdock {Arc- 

 tium lappa), tree basts, and other fibers of plants of less prominence. 



"The fiber of the cotton stalk possesses fair strength, specimens I have exaraiued 

 by hand tests appearing somewhat stronger than jute. The fiber of old stalks that 

 have stood in the field is of varying shades of russet in color, while that from fresh 

 stalks is a yellow white." 



However, the author does not consider the cotton stalk as an eco- 

 nomical source of fiber. 



"In color okra fiber is as white as New Zealand flax, much lighter than jute as 

 usually prepared for export, but more brittle and showing less strength. The fila- 

 ments are smooth and lustrous and are tolerably regular. . . . Okra fiber is not only 

 inferior to that from other species of mallows, but is inferior to jute, and not half as 

 strong as hemp." 



The author concludes that the cultivation of tlie okra plant for its 

 fiber can not be made a paying industry in the United States. 



