The Story of the Cotton Plant

In collecting the facts which will be found in this Story of the Cotton plant, the author has of necessity had to consult many books. He is especially indebted to Baines' "History of the Cotton Manufacture," French's "Life and Times of Samuel Crompton," Lee's "Vegetable Lamb of Tartary," Report of the U. S. A. Agricultural Department on "The Cotton Plant," and The American Cotton Company's Booklet on the Cylindrical Bale.

Mr. Thornley, spinning master at the Technical School, Bolton, has from time to time offered very important suggestions during the progress of this little work. The author is also deeply indebted to the late Mr. Woods of the Technical School, Bolton, who was good enough to photograph most of the pictures which illustrate this book, and without which it would have been impossible to make the story clear.

For permission to reproduce Fig. 3, the thanks of the author are due to Messrs. Sampson Low and Co., for Fig. 4, to Messrs. Longmans, Green and Co. For Figs. 5, 8, 9, 13, and 36, to Messrs. Dobson and Barlow, Ltd., Bolton. For Fig. 7, viz., the Longitudinal and Transverse Microphotographs of Cotton Fibre, the author is much indebted to Mr. Christie of Mark Lane, London, who generously photographed them especially for this work. For Fig. 23, I am obliged to Mr. A. Perry, Bolton.

FRED WILKINSON.

TEXTILE AND ENGINEERING SCHOOL, BOLTON.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER PAGE

I. ORIGIN, GROWTH, AND CHIEF CULTIVATED SPECIES OF COTTON PLANT 9

II. COTTON-PLANT DISEASES AND PESTS 34

III. CULTIVATION OF THE COTTON PLANT IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES 39

IV. THE MICROSCOPE AND COTTON FIBRE 64

V. PLANTATION LIFE AND EARLY CLEANING PROCESSES 72

VI. MANIPULATION OF COTTON IN OPENING, SCUTCHING, CARDING, DRAWING, AND FLY-FRAME MACHINES 82

VII. EARLY ATTEMPTS AT SPINNING, AND EARLY INVENTORS 112

VIII. FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS--ARKWRIGHT AND CROMPTON 126

IX. THE MODERN SPINNING MULE 146

X. OTHER PROCESSES IN COTTON SPINNING 160

XI. DESTINATION OF THE SPUN YARN 176

INDEX 189

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

FIGURE PAGE

1. A Cotton Field in Texas Frontispiece

2. Bobbins of Cotton Thread 10

3. The Vegetable Lamb of Tartary 13

4. Gossypium Barbadense 24

5. An Indian Cotton field 53

6. Microscope in position for drawing objects 65

7. Transverse and Longitudinal Sections of Cotton Fibre 67

8. Indian women with Roller gin 75

9. Self-acting Macarthy Cotton gin 78

10. Bales from various Cotton-growing countries 80

11. Cylindrical Rolls of Cotton 81

12. Bale Breaker or Puller 87

13. Double opener with Hopper Feed 89

14. Scutching Machine with lap at the back 92

15. Two views of the Carding Engine 95

16. Lap, Web, and Sliver of Cotton 99

17. Drawing Frame, showing eight slivers entering, and one leaving the machine 103

18. Intermediate Frame (Bobbin and Fly Frame) 108

19. Twist put in Cotton by the hand 115

20. Jersey spinning wheel 117

21. Hargreaves' Spinning Jenny 124

22. Arkwright's Machine 130

23. "The Hall ith Wood" 136

24. Crompton's Spinning Mule 141

25. Portrait of Samuel Crompton 145

26. Mule Head showing Quadrant 148

27. Mules showing "Stretch" of Cotton yarn 150

28. Mule showing action of Faller Wires 154

29. Mule Head showing Copping Rail 159

30. Ring Spinning Frame 161

31. Combing Machine 170

32. Sliver Lap Machine 173

33. Ribbon Lap Machine 175

34. Reeling Machine 179

35. Bundling Machine 180

36. Quick Traverse Winding Frame 182

37. Ring Doubling Machine 184

38. Engine House, showing driving to various storeys 186

THE STORY OF THE COTTON PLANT.

CHAPTER I.

ORIGIN, GROWTH, AND CHIEF CULTIVATED SPECIES OF COTTON PLANT.