BOTANICAL AND COMMERCIAL CLASSIFICATIONS. The cotton of commerce is the product of a few species of Gossypium, a genus of the natural order to which also belong the hfilly hock, mallow, hibiscus, etc., as may be readily seen by a comparison of their flowers. (For illus tration, see Plate with article HEMP.) There are in all about 50 species of Gossypium, only a few of which arc economically important. They are small trees, shrubs, or herbaceous plants, and in their duration are perennials. biennials, or an nuals. The leaves of the cultivated species aro three to seven, or even nine-lobed, and are more or less sprinkled with small black or pellucid dots. The flowers vary in color; the common colors in the 'United States arc white or light yel low, with purple spots at base, the whole flower turning red the second day after opening. The flowers usually are borne singly in the axils of the leaves except in the 'cluster' type, where a number occur together. At their bases the flow ers are surrounded by three or more green heart shaped bracts, which are deeply cut or fringed and are united at their bases to form a cup. These constitute the 'squares.' The fruit, known as the boll, is a three to five-celled capsule, con taining the numerous seeds, more or less covered with lint, which is white or tawny. All of the species are of tropical origin, yet their most suc cessful cultivation is in temperate climates \\Alene there is a period of six months free from frosts and where there is an abundant and well-distrib uted rainfall throughout the growing season. An increasing temperature during the period of greatest growth is believed to be conducive to the production of the best fibre, and in India, where a lower grade of staple is produced. the decreas ing temperature at this period is held responsible for the inferior quality. The botanical origin of plants that have long been in cultivation is al ways a source of perplexity, and the exact species to which the different varieties of cotton belong has been the subject of much controversy. By
almost common consent it is now agreed that most of the cotton of commerce is the product of three or four species and their hybrids. These species are Gossypium arboreum and Gossypium peruyianum, arborescent species grown only in the tropics; Gossypium barbadense, the source of the celebrated Sea Island cotton, and Gossypium berbaceum, the species from which most of the crop of India and the United States is grown. By some the American upland cotton is believed to have originated from Gossypium maritimum and Gossypium hirsutmn, but these are now be lieved to be the same as Gossypium barbadense and Gossypium herbaccum. There is perhaps no other plant that responds so quickly to changes in environment and improved cultivation, and to this are doubtless due the many varieties and species.
The Sea Island cotton, Gossypium barbadense, with its beautiful, long and silky staple, is one of the most valuable of the races or species of cotton. The flower is of a rich cream-color and its seeds are black, small, and easily separable from the lint. This species attains the highest perfection along the coast region of South Caro lina, Georgia, and Florida. with well-known vari eties grown under irrigation in Egypt from American seed. The fibre of Sea Island cotton averages about one and three-quarter inches in length, with one and one-half to two and one-half as the extremes. It is adapted to the finest thread and lace work, and other products for which the short staple is not suited. The Egyp tian varieties are usually a little shorter in sta ple and are of a tawny color. These are often used for the natural colored halbriggan under wear. hosiery, etc.. where a smooth finish and silky lustre are desired. The cultivation of Sea Island cotton is highly developed. and the 'United States crop of 1898-09 was 67,611 bales of 500 pounds each. About the same amount is annually imported into the United States from Egypt.