Sugar-cane, Cotton, and Tobacco 225 



short-staple, the different fibers vary in length from three- 

 quarters of an inch to one and one-eighth inches and in the 

 long staple from one and one-quarter inches to one and five- 

 eighths inches. Long-staple cotton is of much more value 

 than short-staple, but usually the acre yield is less. A large 

 proportion of the upland cotton grown in the United States is 

 short-staple, but of recent years improvement has been made 

 in varieties by careful seed selection and larger acreages of 

 long-staple are being grown. 



The other type is sea-island cotton. The lint is much longer 

 than that of long-stapled upland, the usual length being from 

 one and one-half to two inches. The yarn from these fibers 

 is used in making the finest fabrics. The price is much higher 

 than for upland cotton, but the acre yield is less and it is more 

 difficult to pick and gin. This type can be grown only where 

 the climate is even and moist and where there is no danger 

 from frost. The areas in the United States where it is pro- 

 duced are along the coast and on nearby islands of South Car- 

 olina, Georgia, and Florida. 



131. Uses of cotton. The principal use of cotton is for 

 making thread and cloth. The seeds are, however, of consid- 

 erable value. They are sometimes used as fertilizer by the 

 southern planters, but this practice is much less common than 

 formerly. The seeds now are usually sold to the oil mills, 

 where the oil they contain is extracted and refined. Cotton- 

 seed oil is used as a substitute for olive oil and for making 

 soap and lard substitute. The portion of the seed that is left 

 is valuable as a dairy feed. It is high in protein and is one of 

 the chief products used by dairymen to increase the protein- 

 content of the rations fed to the cattle. It is also valuable as 

 fertilizer. Before extracting the oil, the hulls are removed. 

 These are used by some southern planters as dairy feed. They 

 contain, however, chiefly cellulose and thus their chief value is 

 to furnish bulk to the ration. They are sometimes used as a 

 fertilizer, but for this purpose are of no considerable value. 

 Q 



