98 TEXTILE FIBRES. 



The long-stapled is much in demand for the spinning of stout warp 

 yarns that are used for backing of some heavy fabrics, such as velvets, 

 cords, and moleskins. 



In Egypt there is little or no rain, but the river Nile is utilised for the 

 purpose of irrigating the land ; it thus becomes specially suitable for the 

 cultivation of the cotton plant. The waters of the Nile flow from the 

 Abyssinian mountains, and convey red particles of matter from the rocks over 

 which they flow. This tends to nourish the cotton plant, and influences the 

 presence of the endochrome or red colouring matter in the Brown Egyptian 

 fibres, which has the effect of strengthening the staples, which is probably 

 due to the reddish sediment carried forward by the waters of the Nile. 



In India the cotton plant is grown under adverse conditions. Up to 

 the time of sowing the cotton seeds the ground is hard and dry. 



The sowing of the seeds is dependent upon the occurrence of the 

 monsoon or the rainy season, when the ground becomes fairly saturated 

 with moisture. Immediately the monsoon is over the sowing begins. 

 By the time the plant has got into full foliage and produced its 

 inflorescence, the ground again becomes somewhat dry, and the aestiva- 

 tion of the flowers and the production of bolls take place at a time 

 during which the plant is subjected to an excessivs transpiration. The 

 flowers are developed and fertilised and the fruits are matured under a 

 hot and blazing sun, a marked contrast to the moist climatic conditions of 

 the American plant. The fruit of the cotton plant is the boll or capsule, 

 and must not be confused with the seeds, as is sometimes done. 



Cotton Staples. American cotton fibres are noted for their uni- 

 formity of diameter in the body of the fibre, their snowy whiteness, 

 and at other times for their creaminess. The regularity of length in 

 American staples is well marked in such cottons as Memphis, Mobile, 

 Uplands, Orleans, Texas, and Norfolks. Some other American cottons 

 are specially noted, such as Benders, Peeler's, and Allanseed. Of the two 

 latter classes, Peeler's is readily adapted for weft yarns that are used in 

 raising the plush surface in cotton velvets, and for giving the latter a 

 silky effect. 



Allanseed is remarkably strong and white; it often excels in strength 

 the staple of Benders cotton, so called from growing on the bends of 

 rivers. When Brown Egyptian cotton is dear in price, and becomes 

 scarce, fine spinners have found it advantageous to use Allanseed to 

 blend with Brown Egyptian in carefully selected mixings for strong 

 twist yarns. 



Sea Islands cotton has a long, fine, and silky staple, and is used for 

 spinning some of the finest and best of cotton yarns. The principal 

 kinds of Sea Islands are the high-class, silky stapled varieties known 



