CHAPTER XXvV. 
PREPARING FOR MARKETING: THE WORK OF 
THE COTTON GIN 
Cotton production in the Southern States owes 
its great development to a simple invention which 
must be considered one of the greatest connected 
with the marvelous rise of American agriculture. 
When cotton is gathered from bolls it is known 
as seed cotton from the fact that it contains both 
seed and cotton lint—two-thirds seed to one-third 
lint. To prepare cotton therefore for the market 
and for commerce, it is necessary first to separate 
these two products. ‘This work is now done by 
means of the gin. 
In 1790 but 3000 bales of cotton were produced 
in the Southern States: in the year 1904 more than 
13,000,000 bales were produced. 
Why this remarkable difference in production ? 
Naturally the demands of the world have influenced 
this production; improved tillage and cultural 
tools have played a considerable part in lessening 
the cost; commercial fertilizers have increased 
yields without additional labor and with relatively 
small cost; but for an answer to our question we 
must go first of all to that invention which has 
made the name of Eli Whitney immortal. 
To the cotton gin the greatest credit must be 
given. With seed picked Ash hand, cotton produc- 
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