296 



A TEXT-BOOK OF BOTANY 



the most valuable variety, reaching its greatest perfection 

 along the coast region of South Carolina, Georgia, and 

 Florida. The upland cotton is cultivated over a wider area, 

 but is by no means of so fine a grade. In 1900, the greatest 

 cotton-growing States, in the order of the number of acres 

 under cultivation, were Texas, Georgia, Alabama, Missis- 

 sippi, and South Carolina. There are valuable by-products 

 from the cotton plant, the seeds yielding the well-known 

 cotton-seed oil. 



Flax. The fiber of flax forms linen thread and cloth, 

 and the extent of its use is second only to that of cot- 

 ton. The species used is a 

 small annual (Linum) native 

 about the Mediterranean, and 

 cultivated from the very ear- 

 liest times (Fig. 286). The 

 fibers are found in the stems, 

 which are subjected to a series 

 of processes for separating the 

 fibers from the other parts. 

 The oil yielded by the seeds 

 is the well-known linseed oil, 

 used in paints, varnishes, etc. 

 Russia is the greatest flax- 

 growing country in the world; 

 but for excellence of fiber Bel- 

 gium excels, where it is ased 

 in the manufacture of the 

 famous Brussels lace. In the 

 United States flax has been 

 long cultivated in many States 

 for its oil; but only recently 

 has its cultivation for fiber at- 

 tracted attention, and that chiefly in Michigan, Wisconsin. 

 Minnesota, and Washington. 



FIG. 286. The flax plant. After 

 BAILLON. 



