14 KNAPP METHOD OF GROWING COTTON 



are three of these, which, with the inclosed bud, 

 form what is termed the "square." The leaves 

 are alternate, lobed, with veins all beginning at 

 a common point near the base. 



The genus or general subdivision of the 

 family to which cotton belongs is Gossypium. 

 A number of species are classed under this sub- 

 division, but only two of these are of special 

 interest to the American cotton grower. The 

 first, and one of the greatest importance, is 

 Gossypium Hirsutum, which includes all the 

 upland cottons both long and short staples. 

 The second, Gossypium Barbadense, includes 

 all the Sea Island and Egyptian cottons. As 

 indicated above, American upland cotton 

 may be divided into two distinct classes: (i) 

 short staple, and (2) long staple varieties. 

 The chief distinction between the two is in 

 the length and strength of staple. The short 

 staple ranges from three fourths to one and 

 one eighth inches, while the long staple ordi- 

 narily runs from one and three sixteenths to one 

 and five eighths inches in length. There are, of 

 course, several intermediate classes. The buy- 

 ing and selling prices of long staple cotton are 

 largely determined by the length of staple; the 



