276 SOUTHERN FIELD CROPS 



The following may be regarded as the species most im- 

 portant to the world's agriculture, commerce, and manu- 

 facture. 



American group. 



(1) Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum). This is the 

 ordinary cotton of the southern part of the United States, 

 including the long-staple class. 



(2) Sea Island cotton (Gossypium barbadense ; so named 

 from the Barbadoes Islands). This affords the finest, 

 longest, and most valuable of all cotton fibers. 



(3) Peruvian cotton (Gossypium peruvianum). Its im- 

 portance is not due to its cultivation in its home in Peru, 

 but to its having become the principal cotton of Egypt. 

 Although transplanted to Asia, it retains a closer kinship 

 to American than to true Asiatic cottons. 



Asiatic group. 



(4) Indian cotton (Gossypium obtusifolium; so named 

 from the lobes or divisions of the leaves being rounded or 

 obtuse) includes the best grades of Indian cotton, often 

 called in commerce Broach or Surat cotton. 



(5) Bengal cotton (Gossypium arboreum) is another im- 

 portant cotton of India. 



The members of the American group, including Sea 

 Island, ordinary upland, and Egyptian, cross freely among 

 themselves. Most Asiatic kinds also cross freely among 

 themselves. However, Gammie l in his experiments found 

 that the American cottons did not cross with those of the 

 Asiatic group. While there is undoubtedly difficulty in 



* Gammie, " The Indian Cottons." Calcutta. 



