COTTON 



163 



length of Sea Island cotton ; their thickness varies from e~o o 

 to 20*00 f an inch. Cotton in which the fibres measure less 

 than one and one-eighth inches is said to be short-stapled, 

 that in which they measure more than this, long-stapled. 



CULTIVATION. The cotton plant grows best on rich well- 

 drained soils, though it often does fairly well on thin poor soils. 

 Whilst forming its stems and leaves and flowers it requires 

 plenty of moisture ; a hot steamy atmosphere and frequent 



COTTON 

 A, flower. B, boll. c, open boll. D, seed with cotton attached. 



showers suit it admirably ; but while the seeds are ripening 

 it requires dry sunny weather with little or no rain. 



In different parts of the world therefore the time of sowing 

 the seed varies. In St. Vincent, for instance, June or July is 

 considered a favourable time ; in Barbados May or June ; 

 and in the United States, March. 



When the ground is in a suitably moist condition shallow 

 holes are made, and four seeds are put into each hole, and 

 covered with earth to the depth of about an inch. The holes 

 should be about twenty inches apart, and the rows four or 



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