314 THE FORAGE AND FIBER CROPS IN AMERICA 



the three bracts or involucre, is referred to by farmers as 

 squares. 1 



The stamens are many, monadelphous, and united at the base 

 with the petals; the anthers are one-celled. The styles are 

 united, but are distinct above; thus the stigma appears three 

 to five cleft, depending on the number of cells or carpels into 

 which the pistil is divided. 



406. Bolls. The pistil grows into a large fruit or capsule, 

 usually called boll, about the size and somewhat the shape of 



Inside structure of cotton bur. The small, thin bur opens flat and twists backward, re- 

 moving all support to the locks which fall out. The big, tough bur does not fold 

 back and leave the locks unsupported 

 (From photo by Bennett) 



a hen's egg, except that it is distinctly pointed at the free end. 

 The bolls vary from 1.5 to 2.5 inches in length, and from 1.25 

 to 1.75 inches in width. The weight of the content of 100 bolls 

 may vary with the variety from 0.75 to 2 pounds, or the number 

 of bolls required to produce one pound of seed cotton may vary 

 from 50 to 130. Varieties requiring from 50 to 65 bolls to 

 make a pound of cotton may be considered as having large 

 bolls, those with 65 to 80 medium bolls, and those with 80 to 



1 The terms, form and squares are used loosely and to some extent inter- 

 changeably. Frequently these words are used to apply to the leafy bracts 

 and the enclosed bud, flower, or small boll, while in other cases the word 

 form is applied to the bud only; that is, the flower before it opens. 



