LETTERS FROM ALABAMA. 
277 
LETTEE XV. 
October 10th 
The grand occupation of autumn is cotton pick- 
ing. It commenced in early fields more than a 
month ago, is now far advanced, and by the end of 
this month will be pretty nearly over. I have 
already spoken of the beauty of the cotton-plant 
when in full blossom ; scarcely less beautiful is the 
appearance of a field of cotton at this season, when 
the produce is ripe. The fine dark-green foliage is 
relieved by the bunches of downy cotton of the 
purest white, bearing a curious resemblance to a 
meadow on which a light shower of snow has just 
talien. 
The pods open chiefly during the night. If one 
is opened by force^ the cotton-fibres are found to be 
so closely packed into a hard dirty-white mass, as 
scarcely to be recognised^ and no manipulation will 
make them assume a downy appearance. When 
the capsules, which are three, or occasionally four- 
celled, burst naturally, the cotton springs out, and 
swells to four or five times the bulk of the pod, 
assuming the most beautiful softness, and the most 
delicate whiteness, and forming three oval bunches 
of snowy down, each about as large as a hen’s egg. 
As soon as the sun has exhaled the dew, these are 
fit for picking ; and the night’s opening should be 
