THE FIBER CROPS 341 



varies with the variety and the environment in which the 

 plant was grown, but the average length of the upland 

 fiber is about 1.2 inches. The value of the cotton crop is 

 determined by the length, strength, fineness, and maturity 

 of the fiber. The number of seeds in a boll varies from 30 

 to 50. In the upland cotton they are covered with a white 

 or greenish fuzz in addition to the longer fibers which 

 surround them in the boll. The percentage of seed to 

 lint or fiber varies considerably, but the average is approxi- 

 mately 2 to 3 pounds of seed to one pound of lint. The 

 legal weight per bushel of the cotton seed is 32 pounds. 



KINDS OF COTTON 



357. American upland cotton, Gossypium hirsutum. 

 This type of cotton is by far the most important in the 

 United States and when a cotton planter refers to 

 " cotton " he has in mind the upland type. This type may 

 be divided into two classes, namely, the short fiber varieties 

 and the long fiber varieties. The important difference 

 between them is the length of the fiber, that of the short 

 fiber varying from } to 1J inches and the long fiber from 

 1J to If inches in length. Usually the long fiber varieties 

 do not yield as much lint as the short fiber varieties, but 

 the value per pound is greater. 



358. Sea island cotton, Gossypium barbadense. This 

 species of cotton differs from the upland cotton chiefly 

 in the larger growth of the plant, more deeply lobed leaves, 

 smaller and more pointed bolls, and black seeds covered 

 with fuzz. The lint is considerably longer and is more 

 valuable, being used in the making of the finest cotton 

 fabrics. The yield per acre is less than the upland varieties 

 and it is more difficult to pick and gin, but the difference 

 in the price per pound makes it a more profitable crop 



