CHAPTER XXV. 



PREPARING FOR MARKETING! THE WORK OF 

 THE COTTON GIN 



Cotton production in the Southern States. owes 

 its great development to a simple invention which 

 must be considered one of the greatest connected 

 with the marvelous rise of American agriculture. 



When cotton is gathered from bolls it is known 

 as seed cotton from the fact that it contains both 

 seed and cotton lint two-thirds seed to one-third 

 lint. To prepare cotton therefore for the market 

 and for commerce, it is necessary first to separate 

 these two products. This work is now done by 

 means of the gin. 



In 1790 but 3000 bales of cotton were produced 

 in the Southern States: in the year 1904 more than 

 13,000,000 bales were produced. 



Why this remarkable difference in production? 

 Naturally the demands of the world have influenced 

 this production; improved tillage and cultural 

 tools have played a considerable part in lessening 

 the cost; commercial fertilizers have increased 

 yields without additional labor and with relatively 

 small cost; but for an answer to our question we 

 must go first of all to that invention which has 

 made the name of Eli Whitney immortal. 



To the cotton gin the greatest credit must be 



given. With seed picked by hand, cotton produc- 

 es) 



