COTTON 201 



or pale yellow. The second day they turn somewhat red 

 in color and soon drop off, leaving a small boll which 

 contains the seed. This boll continues to increase in size 

 until the seeds which it contains mature. It then breaks 

 open and the soft white lint which surrounds the seed 

 is exposed. The boll contains three to five compartments. 

 When it breaks open, each compartment opens separ- 

 ately. The seed and lint contained in each separate com- 

 partment is called a "lock." Each lock contains six 

 to ten seeds. 



191. Types of Cotton. 1 Sea-island cotton is adapted to 

 low, moist soil and a humid atmosphere. Experiment 

 station reports indicate that certain varieties of sea- 

 island cotton have been grown west of the coastal plain, 

 and in irrigated sections, but, for the most part, the cul- 

 ture of this type is limited to regions adjacent to the 

 coasts of Georgia, South Carolina and Florida. This 

 cotton has a naked, black seed, and flowers that are yel- 

 low when they first open, but gradually turn purple. 

 It does not produce so much lint per acre as the upland 

 cotton, but, because of its greater length and fine 

 quality, it sells for a higher price per pound. 



There are two accepted types of upland cotton G. 

 herbaceum and G. hirsutum. These types include all the 

 varieties which are commonly called short-staple cotton. 

 The flowers are white or pale yellow when first opened, 

 and turn to a reddish tinge. The seeds are covered with 



1 Cotton belongs to the family of plants called Malvaceae and to the 

 genus Gossypium. There are many species belonging to this genus among 

 the most important of which are the upland cotton (G. herbaceum and hir- 

 sutum), sea-island cotton (G. Barbadense}, tree cotton (G. arboreum) and India 

 cotton (G. neglectum). Of these only the upland and sea-island cottons are 

 cultivated in the United States. 



