l6 KNAPP METHOD OF GROWING COTTON 



fortunately this one is more often the fruit- 

 bearing branch. 



The varieties or plants developing fruit limbs 

 nearest the ground having short joints or 

 nodes are found to reach maturity first; the 

 long-jointed, straggling plants being invariably 

 late in maturing. The stalks and stems are 

 covered with a rather strong, tough bark, 

 usually of a brownish color. This bark contains 

 a coarse fiber, but it has never attained any 

 commercial importance. 



Cotton leaves appear alternately on the stem 

 and may vary in size or shape in the same 

 variety and even sometimes on the same stalk. 

 The upland cottons usually have leaves with 

 three lobes, sometimes more. The big boll 

 varieties have large heavy leaves with slight 

 indentations and short lobes. The very small 

 boll varieties have small, light leaves with 

 deeper indentations and sharp, pointed lobes. 

 Sea Island and Egyptian cottons have very 

 deep indentations and slender lobes. There are 

 usually three or more prominent veins in each 

 leaf starting out from a common point at the 

 leaf stem. The leaves and small stems of 

 upland cottons are covered with short hairs 



