132 PLANT BIOLOGY 



vent loss. This extra labor in harvest time is usually supplied by 

 the wives and children of the laborers. The harvest season extends 

 over a period of about four months, beginning August 15 to Sep- 

 tember 10, according to locality. 



" Cotton is probably a native of the tropical and semi-tropical 

 regions of both hemispheres. The earliest records of the Asiatics 

 and Egyptians speak of it ; Columbus found it growing abundantly 

 in the West Indies, while other early explorers found it growing 

 in Mexico and South America. . . . There is no region in the world 

 which has such a favorable combination of suitable land, intelli- 

 gent and plentiful labor, cheap capital and adequate transportation 

 facilities for the cultivation of cotton as the cotton belt of the 

 United States. It has been the chief source of supply of the cotton 

 mills of the world, for in this section has been raised several times 

 the quantity of cotton produced in all other countries of the globe. 

 There are various other countries which seem to possess the soil 

 and climatic requirements for its growth, but for various economic 

 reasons the industry has not been greatly developed in them ; 

 however, a considerable quantity is produced in the following coun- 

 tries in the order named: India, Egypt, China, Italy, Turkey, 

 Brazil, West Indies, Mexico, South America, Australia, and the 

 South Sea Islands." 



140. Further study of fiber-producing plants. Study No. 60. 

 (Optional.) Select one or more of the following fiber-producing 

 plants for further study: flax, hemp, jute, raffia, hat-straw. Consult 

 Bailey's " Cyclopedia of American Agriculture," Vol. II, " Crops," 

 or any encyclopedia. Determine (1) the parts of the United States 

 (or of the world) in which the crop is raised in large quantity, (2) 

 the amount and value of a year's crop, (3) methods of harvesting 

 and preparing the crop for market. ' * 



II. THE USES OF FORESTS AND FOREST CONSERVATION 



141. Uses of forests for fuel, lumber, and other commercial 

 purposes. In the earlier days of our country's history all 

 the fuel for heating, for running locomotives and other en- 



