FRUITS AND THEIR USES 



61 



Cotton. — Among our fruits cotton is probably that of the most 

 importance to the outsidi- world. Over eleven million bales of five 

 hundred pounds each an- raised annually. Of this amount a large 

 amount is exported, the United States producing over three fourths 

 of the world's cotton supply. The relation of source and distribu- 

 tion of the cotton crop can be seen by a glance at the accompany- 

 ing diagram. 



-^rv> ,\::^v i'"---^' >4^ 



C3.....V . . \ if \ ) \^ 



COTTON 



Cotton Crop in United States — Percentage Source 



?o 30 40 5P eo 7,0 so 



I L 



-^w- 



y~. 



Texas 



Georgia 



Miss. Alabama S.Car.. Ark. La. N.COther States 



Percentage Consumption — United States Cotton Crop 



^ 



h: 



nr 



d 



United States 

 North South 



Great Britain ^S. Ireland 



Germany France It. Rst.Wld. 



The cotton plant is essentially' a warmth -loving plant. Its 

 commercial importance is gained because the seeds of the fruit 

 have long filaments attached to them. Bunches of these filaments, 

 after treatment, are easily twisted into threatls from which are 

 manufactured cotton cloth, muslin, calico, and cambric. In addition 

 to the fiber, cottonseed oil, a substitute for olive oil, is made from 

 the seeds, and the refuse remaining makes an excellent cattle fodder. 



