316 THE FORAGE AND FIBER CROPS IN AMERICA 



or more. The number of bolls does not depend alone on the 

 size of the plant, but on the number of branches and distance 

 between the leaves upon the branches, usually referred to as 

 the joints. Since the branches arise in the axils of the leaves 

 upon the main stem and the flowers arise in the axils of the 

 leaves on the secondary or tertiary branches (branches of 

 branches), short-jointed plants are, in proportion to size, 

 most productive. 



407. Seed. The seeds are somewhat angular, about three- 

 eighths inch long and three-sixteenths inch wide, oblong oval, 

 pointed at the hilum end with the crown or free end enlarged 

 and rounded. The seed coat is brown or black. The number 

 of the seeds of upland cotton may vary from about 3,000 to 

 nearly 6,000 to the pound. The seed of sea island cotton is 

 slightly smaller. Seed requiring 3,500 or less to the pound (13 

 grams per 100) may be considered large; those requiring 4,500 

 or more to the pound (10 grams per 100) may be considered 

 small. The legal weight per bushel of upland cotton seed varies 

 from 28 to 33.3 pounds, usually 30 or 32 pounds, and sea island 

 cotton seed from 42 to 46 pounds, usually 44 pounds. 



The seed cotton in each lobe or cell is called a "lock" of cot- 

 ton. Each lock contains six to ten seeds, hence each boll may 

 contain from 20 or less to 50 or more seeds. Individual plants 

 may produce from 500 to 2,000 seeds. The seeds of upland 

 cotton are covered with a dense "fuzz," or short lint, which 

 gives the seeds a whitish, brownish, or green tint. The seeds 

 of sea island cotton are nearly or quite naked, thus exposing 

 the black seed coat. 



The seed consists chiefly of the testa or hull and the embryo 

 or meat. In addition to these, but forming only a small portion 

 of the seed, are the nucellus, a thin skin just within the hull, 

 and just within this the endosperm, a layer of cells containing 

 aleurone grains. Throughout the nearly white embryo are the 

 so-called resin cavities containing a dark-colored secretion, 



