28 BULLETIN 521, U. S. DEPAETMENT OF AGEICULTURE. 



Lesson 28. — The Cotton Industry in the South. 



1. History and statistics. 



2. Relation of cotton to southern agriculture. 



3. Present status of the industrj'. 



Lesson '2^.— Uses of Cotton and Its Products. 



1. Cotton lint — a source of material for clothing. 



2. Cotton seed — a source of food for man, beast, and soil. 

 Illustrative material : An exhibit of cotton and its products. 



Lesson 30. — General Characteristics and Structure of Cotton. 



1. Botany of the cotton plant. 



2. Composition of different parts of the plant. 



3. Classes and grades of lint. 



Lesson 31. — Types and Varieties of Cotton. 



1. Species and types. 



2. Groups and varieties of American Upland. 



Illustrative material : Pictures and mounted specimens showing types and 

 varieties. 



Exercise 30. — A Study of Cotton Varieties. 



Purpose: To familiarize students with the varieties of cotton suited 

 to the section. 



Directions: Each student should be required to collect, classify, 

 and describe 10 varieties of cotton, or as many of this number as are 

 grown in the school district. 



Record and report: Notes should be taken regarding the fields from 

 Avhich the specimens are taken. The written descriptions should 

 include : (1) Xame of variety and group to which it belongs, (2) size 

 and shape of plant, (3) time of maturity, (4) size and relative number 

 of bolls, (5) length and quality of lint, and (6) yield (record in 

 district). 



Reference: Lessons on Cotton for the Rural Common School, United 

 States Department of Agriculture Bulletin 294. 



Lesson 32. — Improvement of Cotton. 



1. Importance of selection. 



2. Qualities needing improvement. 



3. Methods of cotton breeding. 



Exercise 31. — Judging and Selection of Cotton. 



Purpose: To train judgment of students in selecting a variety and 

 in the selection of plants in the improvement of a variety. 



Direction'^ : Each student should have practice with a score card 

 to the extent that time will allow. After such practice the student 

 should select the nearest approach to his ideal from a variety common 

 to the district Avhich may be designated by the instructor. This 

 practice is preliminary to selection of seed plants in the field. 



Record and report: A written report of the field selection should 

 include a description of an ideal plant of the variety selected and 



