3^8 THE FORAGE AND FIBER CROPS IN AMERICA 



the demand for this grade of cotton can be met by the American 

 planter by growing long staple upland cotton. 



421. Peruvian Cotton (G. peruvianum Cav.). This cotton 

 is characterized by the seeds in each lobe of the capsule cling- 

 ing together in a compact cluster. Seeds are similar to sea 



Cotton bolls. On left American upland; in center sea island; on right India cotton boll 



(After Dewey) 



island cotton. Lint shows a wide variation in color and texture, 

 white, brown, reddish, rough and harsh or smooth and soft. The 

 staple is mostly shorter, coarser and more wiry than American 

 upland cotton. Some varieties have a lint which, when made 

 into fabrics, closely resembles wool. The plant is perennial, but 

 only the growth from the second and third years is utilized. 1 

 Peruvian cotton is raised chiefly in Peru and Brazil. 



422. Classification of Varieties. Since the classification of 

 cotton into species is so difficult, it is not surprising that the 

 classification of varieties is equally difficult. There are at least 

 150 so-called varieties of upland cotton, 93 having been tested at 

 the Alabama Station. Varieties of cotton have not been for the 

 most part carefully described which, together with the tendency 

 of the plant to vary with its environment, makes great con- 

 fusion in the naming of varieties. 



1 Matthews: Textile Fibres, p, 116. 



