CROPS 133 



Cotton (Gossypium Itei-haceum, &c.). — This crop, which is 

 largely grown for its h'nt, yields also seeds which are valuable 

 both on account of the oil they contain and also because of 

 their richness in nitrogenous matter and ash constituents. 

 Cotton requires a warm climate, and succumbs rapidly to frost. 

 Frequent rain and a damp atmosphere are wanted during the 

 early stages of its growth until the formation of seed com- 

 mences, then dry weather is favourable to the formation of 

 seed. The lint envelops the seed, and is contained in a boll, 

 which attains the size of a hen's e^^, and then bursts into three 

 or five cells. In America about 300 lb. of lint and GOO to 

 650 lb. of seed per acre are usually obtained. The seed is 

 highly nitrogenous, and also rich in phosphoric acid. The 

 manurial needs of cotton in most soils are phosphoric acid, 

 nitrogen, and potash, in the order given. 



The seed is mainly used for the manufacture of oil, which is 

 extracted by pressure. Sometimes the whole seeds are crushed 

 and pressed, but more generally their outer coating is first 

 removed. In the former case, the residue from the press is 

 sold as *' undecorticated cotton cake," in the latter as " decor- 

 ticated cotton cake" or " cotton-seed meal," but cotton-seed 

 itself — best after steaming — is an excellent food for milch cows 

 or fattening oxen and is largely used in the cotton -growing 

 districts. 



Linseed^ Flax (^Linum). — The usual species, Linum usitatls- 

 simum, can be grown either for fibre or for seed, sometimes, 

 though not very successfully, for both. For fibre the plant 

 apparently does best in moist, temperate climates — e.g.y Ireland, 

 Belgium, certain parts of Russia and Canada. For seed, how- 

 ever, warmer climates are more favourable, much linseed 

 coming from Russia, India, the United States, Canada, and the 

 Argentine. Any soil which will grow wheat will apparently do 

 well for linseed ; a friable, loamy, alluvial soil with a clay sub- 

 soil is probably best. A fair supply of phosphates, potash, and 

 lime is important. If grown for fibre the object is to obtain 

 as tall and little-branched plants as possible, while for seed 



