22 THE DEVELOPMENT OF RAW COTTON 



100 F.* to 115 F., and cold with such temperatures 

 as 40 F. The tracking of cause to effect is neces- 

 sarily easier in Egypt than in some countries as 

 regards the cotton-plant but the same interpretations 

 are being found to hold good elsewhere, though with 

 greater complication; and it might be well to notice 

 here that even Egypt is far from possessing a monotonous 

 climate, excepting during July, August, and September. 

 A difference of 20 F. between the maximum temperatures 

 on successive days is not at all uncommon in the other 

 parts of the season. Further, this limitation is less ob- 

 jectionable than it might be, because the researches 

 presented in this book are of more interest to the fine- 

 spinning trade than to the ordinary trade, and Egypt is 

 the largest producer of such fine cottons. 



The characteristic feature of all cotton-plants is the bell- 

 shaped flower (white, yellow, yellow with red spots, or entirely 

 red), with a brush of golden or buff stamens borne in the 

 centre on a hollow cylinder, through which the style extends 

 to the exterior from the ovary, and surrounded externally by 

 three leafy bracts (PL III.). The latter feature distinguishes 

 cotton from such plants as Lavatera, which is frequently con- 

 fused with it, and when the capsule has opened into two to 

 six loculi, exposing the white or brownish cotton, the plant 

 is unmistakable. The main differences between the principal 

 groups of cottons have already been indicated. 



The stages of the life- history before sowing havt very 

 little immediate interest for us, and we may take up the 



* 100 F. to 115 F. = 38 C. to 46 C.; 40 F. = 4J C. For 

 conversion of future statements of temperature, note that 



