190 



COTTON 



The Fiber. There is but little twist in immature fiber, 

 and based upon the amount of twisting, there are in every 

 lot of cotton three kinds of fibers, mature, partly mature, 

 and immature. The strength of cloth and thread depends 

 largely upon the amount of twist or state of maturity of 



Fig. 106. A fine grade of cotton fiber. 



the fiber. The more mature the fibers are, the more uni- 

 formly and satisfactorily will they absorb the dyes used in 

 the manufacture of colored cloth. 



The following factors generally determine the value of 

 cotton fiber: (i) strength, (2) length, (3) fineness, (4) ma- 

 turity, (5) uniformity. Usually the longest fibers are the 

 finest and these are used in the manufacture of the more 

 expensive cotton fabrics. The following are about the 

 average lengths of the fibers of the principal kinds of cotton : 



American upland . 

 American long staple 

 Egyptian .... 

 Sea Island 



.9 inch 



1.3 inches 



1.4 inches 

 1.6 inches 



