272 SOUTHEEN FIELD CROPS 



other fiber that approaches cotton in the extent of use for 

 this purpose. Cotton is adapted to the manufacture of a 

 greater variety of textile fabrics than any other fiber. 

 When it is treated with certain chemicals, or mercerized, 

 the fabric takes on a glossy appearance and becomes a fair 

 imitation of silk. 



One reason why cotton is so much more extensively 

 used than linen, jute, and other vegetable fibers is found: 

 (1) in the readiness with which cotton fibers absorb dyes, 

 and (2) in the peculiar twisted structure of its fibers, so 

 favorable to ease of spinning and strength of thread. 



The seed constitute a valuable food for cattle and sheep. 

 They are usually fed raw, though sometimes boiled when 

 fed to dairy cows. After the seed are ground in the oil 

 mills, the hulls are separated and used as cattle food. 



From the " meats," or hulled and ground seed, cotton- 

 seed oil is expressed by means of powerful hydraulic 

 presses. This oil finds use as a human food, especially as 

 a constituent of compound lard, oleomargarine, salad oils, 

 etc., as a lubricant, as a constituent of paint, in the manu- 

 facture of soap, and in almost all ways in which other oils 

 are employed. After the extraction of the oil, the residue 

 constitutes one of the most nutritious of foods for cattle 

 and sheep. It is fed either in the form of cake (lumps), 

 or more frequently this cake is first ground, thus forming 

 cotton-seed meal, which is one of the most valuable foods 

 for cattle. Large amounts of cotton-seed meal are also 

 used as fertilizer. 



Cotton-seed meal as a foodstuff is chiefly used for cattle 

 and sheep. It exerts a specific toxic effect on hogs when fed 

 in quantity for a certain length of time. Ill effects are 



