BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA. 
165 
The cotton blossom is born in the night, glows in the morn, but decays at the 
meridian. The day following its appearance, it has changed to a deep red, and, 
ere the sun goes down, its petals have fallen to the ground, leaving enclosed in the 
capacious calyx a scarcely perceptible germ. In its incipient and early stages, this 
germ is called " a form," and in its advanced and perfect state of existence " a 
boll." . 
The growing cotton is liable to many accidents, and "rust," "rot,' "the 
blight, " generally caused by a species of borer or pith worm, the J^geria carhasina, 
a species of gangrene, and wet seasons, often cause great injury. The " boll," 
more especially of the Upland cotton, is subject to the depredations of the Heliothes 
Americana or boll-worm. The PJialena Gossypion is the boll-worm usually found 
among the Sea Island Cotton, 
The season of cotton picking, always performed in fine weather, after the 
morning dew has disappeared, commences in the latter part of July, and continues 
uninterruptedly to December. The work is not heavy, each field hand has a basket 
and a bag; the basket is left at the head of the " cotton rows", the bag is suspend- 
ed from the " picker's" neck by a strap, and is used to hold the cotton as it is taken 
from the " boll." The usual method is to take away the seeds and cotton, leaving 
the empty husks. In the East the whole pod is gathered, but the husk being apt 
to break and mix with the cotton, this is found to be disadvantageous. When the 
bag is full it is emptied into the basket. Some negroes are able to exceed three 
hundred pounds of " seed cotton" a-day, but they are extraordinary. The " pick- 
ers" have to go over the same fields often, as the cotton does not all ripen at the 
same time. The cotton is carried from the field direct to the " packing-house" pro- 
vided the weather is favorable, but generally, or at least very frequently, the cotton 
is spread out on scaffolds where it is left to dry, and all extraneous matter picked 
out when perceived. 
The " packing-room" is immediately over the " gin-stand " in the loft of the 
" gin-house" ; by this arrangement the cotton is conveniently moved down a cause- 
way into the " gin-hopper." 
Much of the comparative value of cotton depends upon the excellence of the 
" cotton-gin," for if the seeds be left in the wool it becomes oily and mouldy, and 
thus deteriorates in value. Some " gins" separate the staple from the seed far bet- 
ter than others, while all are dependent, more or less, for their excellence, upon the 
judicious manner in which they are used. 
A " gin-stand" worked by the steam-engine has been brought into requisition 
upon large plantations, and found eminently serviceable, but if worked by four 
mules with constant attention from the persons in charge, it will make up four bales 
of four hundred and fifty pounds each a-day, but the average amount does not equal 
this, 
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