HISTORY OF THE COTTON GIN. 803 



and peculiar situations. Its price, per lb., is many times that 

 of the other ; and at this day, though a plantation fit for its 

 culture is of rare value, yet the value of the entire production 

 of this species is quite insignificant compared with that of the 

 whole cotton crop of the Union. 



The upland cotton can be raised on a large portion of the 

 interior lands of the Southern States. Its fibre is short, and 

 adheres tenaciously to the seed, and presented such difficulties 

 in being cleaned, that the separation of a pound of cotton was 

 esteemed the work of a day for a single hand ; this circum- 

 stance alone interposing an insurmountable obstacle to its 

 general or profitable culture. It may easily be understood, 

 why the subject of a mechanical invention of this sort was es- 

 teemed so desirable by these gentlemen, residing, as they did, 

 on the borders of this upper country and being able to foresee 

 truly, yet dimly, what immense results were hanging upon 

 the possibility of such an invention. 



The hint given to Whitney by these gentlemen was not 

 lost upon him. The season for cotton in the seed was passed, 

 but Whitney went to Savannah at once, and after a long 

 search, at last lighted upon a small quantity ; with this he 

 returned to his temporary home, and communicated his inten- 

 tions to Mr. Miller, who was then a teacher in the family, and 

 afterwards married Mrs. Greene. A room was assigned to 

 him, to which Mr. Miller and Mrs. Greene were the only 

 persons who were admitted, or who knew anything of his 

 project. His materials and tools were both limited ; even 

 the wire which he required could not be found at Savannah, 

 and he was forced to draw it for himself. " Near the close of 

 the winter, the machine was so nearly completed as to leave 

 no doubt of its success." Mrs. Greene was naturally eager to 

 communicate to her friends the fact of an invention which 

 promised at once a crop suitable to the soil, occupation for 



