COTTON 



.-,(.7 



genus Gossypium, which belongB to the natural 

 order MulvuctMi*, and is tlnm allied to Mallow, 

 Hollyhock, llilii-ni>, &c., the general resemblance 

 tn which is very apparent both in the foliage and 

 flowers. The species are partly shrubs, partly 

 lii-i hacepus, and either perennial or annual ; they 

 are natives of the tropical parts of Asia, Africa, 

 ami America, but their cultivation has extended 

 far into the temperate zones. They all have leaves 

 with three to five lobes, which in a very young 

 state are often sprinkled with black points, anil 

 rather large flowers, which are mostly yellow, but 

 sometimes in whole or in part purple ; the flowers 

 very soon fall off; they grow singly from the axils 

 ni the leaves, and are surrounded at the base by 

 three large, heart-shaped, cut or toothed, involucral 

 leaves or bracts, partially growing together as one. 

 The fruit is a 3-5-celleu capsule, springing open 

 when ripe by 3-5 valves, ana containing numerous 

 seeds enveloped in cotton, which is generally white, 

 but sometimes yellow, and issues elastically from 

 the capsule after it has burst open. The fibres 

 are long cylindrico-spiral tubes 01 from ^^th to 

 fAvth of an inch in breadth, which when platted 

 adhere firmly together. The wool is also very sus- 



jptible of dyeing. The figure shows the manner in 

 hich the cotton escapes from the capsule. Some 



Cotton (Gossypium Barbadense) : 



, ripe capsule after dehiscence ; b, a seed ; c, the same deprived 

 of its hairs. (From Bentley & Trimen.) 



of the kinds have the flowers larger in proportion, 

 and the leaves divided into more numerous and 

 much deeper and narrower lobes, but the general 

 appearance of all is very similar. 



Difference of opinion exists among botanists as 

 to the numl>er of distinct species, and there are 

 very many varieties in cultivation, the number 

 of which, through climatic influences and other 

 causes, is continually increasing ; but there are 

 certain leading peculiarities on account of which 

 some botanists and planters reduce all, at least 

 of the cultivated kinds, to four primary species 

 viz. (1) Gossypium, Barbadense; (2) G. herbui-f >i m 

 or indicum ; (3) G. peruvianinn; and (4) G. 

 nrboreum. The produce of the first species is 

 the most valuable. The beautiful long-stapled 

 ( 1 to 2 inches) silky wool known as ' Sea Island ' 

 is a variety, and is grown exclusively upon the 

 islands and a portion of the mainland of Georgia, 

 South Carolina, and Florida; the saline ingredients 

 of i lir soil and atmosphere being indispensable 

 elements of the growth. The plant, 6 to 12 feet 



in height, l>ears a yellow flower, and the need* 

 are small, black, and quite smooth, and the wool 

 IB easily separated therefrom ; but \vln-n Hown 

 far inland, away from the saline influences of the 

 coast, the seeds increase in size, and become 

 covered with innumerable short hairs. A large per- 

 centage of the crops raised in Alabama, Louisiana, 

 Mississippi, Texas, &c., are also varieties of this 

 species, though, owing to climatic influences, the 

 plant is smaller (4 to 6 feet in height), and the 

 wool is shorter in staple ( f to 1 J inch ), and lens 

 easily separated from the seeds than Sea Island. 

 In 1888 the commercial value of the latter kind 

 varied from lOd. to 21d. per lb., rare specimens 

 sometimes realising 2s. 6u. to 3s. per lb. The 

 better descriptions of Egyptian cotton belong to 

 G. Barbadense, and bring 9d. to 18d. per lb. in 

 the Liverpool market (staple 1 to 1 inch). The 

 short-staple varieties, known as New Orleans, 

 Mobile, Uplands, &c., sell at from 4d. to 7d., 

 extra qualities sometimes bringing 9d. to lOd. per 

 lb. G. herbaceum is found in India, China, Africa, 

 &c. The principal commercial varieties are those 

 known as Surat, Madras, Bengal, &c. It is a 

 small shrubby plant (2 to 4 feet high), bears a 

 yellow flower, the seeds are covered with short 

 grayish down, and the staple produced, though not 

 long ( | to 1 inch ), is very fine. Its price varies 

 from 3d. to 5^d. per lb. The cotton known as 

 nankeen is thought to belong to this species. 

 G. herbaceum can be profitably cultivated in colder 

 countries than any other species of cotton-plant. 

 The third species ( G. peruwanum) is a native of 

 South America, and the ' green seed ' cotton of the 

 United States appears to oe a variety. The stem 

 reaches 10 to 15 feet in height, the flowers are 

 yellow, and the capsules contain eight or ten black 

 seeds firmly attached together in a cone-like mass. 

 The wool is long ( 1 to 1$ inch) and strong-stapled, 

 and in value stands next in order to Sea Island and 

 Egyptian. Pernambuco, Maranham, Bahia, Maceio, 

 and Peruvian are varieties which sell in Liverpool 

 at from 5Jd. to 6$d. ; extra qualities of Peruvian 

 brin" 6d. to 8d., and Sea Island Peruvian is 

 worth 9d. to 12d. per lb. G. arboreum is found in 

 India, China, &c., and, as its name imports, is a 

 large tree-like plant. It bears a red flower, and 

 produces a fine yellowish-white wool. Varieties of 

 it have been lo'rig cultivated in the United States, 

 and with the requisite soil and climate, are said 

 to produce a wool somewhat resembling Sea 

 Island. 



The finer kinds of yarn are spun from Sea Island 

 and long-stapled Egyptian, and from them are 

 fabricated our muslins, laces, &c. From Brazil and 

 the better classes of short-stapled American come 

 our cambrics, calicoes, shirtings, sheetings, &c. , 

 and from the inferior qualities of American and 

 Surat are spun the coarse yarns required for fustians 

 and other heavy fabrics. Yorkshire broadcloths 

 are sometimes half cotton. From warps of cotton, 

 and wefts of wool or worsted, are formed varieties 

 of Orleans cloths, Coburgs, mousselines de laine, 

 &c. There are also fabrics composed of silk and 

 cotton, linen and cotton, alpaca and cotton, &c. 



(2) Cultivation. The plant is a very delicate 

 organism, and requires a peculiar soil and climate 

 for its due development. The method of cultivation 

 is much the same in the various countries where the 

 fibre is grown ; but the most perfect system is that 

 which obtains in the United States of America. 

 Although the plant is not, strictly speaking, an 

 annual, it is found more profitable to destroy the 

 shrub, after the crop is gathered, and sow new seed 

 every year. The preparation of the land takes 

 place during the winter months. After the ground 

 has been thoroughly ploughed, and as soon as all 

 symptoms of frost have disappeared, the soil is laid 



