DESCRIPTION OF COTTON PLANT 15 



highest price, of course, being paid for the 

 longest. 



Cotton seed when planted germinate quickly 

 under favorable conditions. The first stage in 

 the growth of the young plant is the formation 

 of a stem and tap root. When the young plant 

 first appears above ground it has two leaves. 

 With warm weather, plenty of plant food, and 

 good treatment the plant develops rapidly. 

 The plant has a central main stem from which 

 are put forth limbs or branches. This stem and 

 the branches are woody in nature and possess 

 considerable strength. The first or base limbs 

 are the largest and in many varieties assume 

 the stalk-like qualities of the parent stem. 

 The other branches decrease in length and 

 size toward the top of the plant. When fully 

 developed the plant usually presents a very 

 symmetrical and pleasing appearance. The 

 main stem and the larger base limbs produce 

 only leaves and smaller sub-branches on which 

 the bolls are found. One peculiarity of the 

 cotton plant is that two limbs start from the 

 axil of each leaf on the main stem. One con- 

 tains the bolls and the other is barren; fre- 

 quently, however, only one develops, and 



