or COTTON, a genus of plants belonging to the monadelphia class, and in the natural method ranking under the 37th order, Columiferae. See Botany Index.
The American islands produce cotton shrubs of various sizes, which rise and grow up without any culture; especially in low and marshy grounds. Their produce is of a pale red; some paler than others; but Gossypium, so short that it cannot be spun. None of this is brought to Europe, though it might be usefully employed in making of hats. The little that is picked up, serves to make mattresses and pillows.
The cotton-shrub that supplies our manufactures, requires a dry and stony soil, and thrives best in grounds that have already been tilled. Not but that the plant appears more flourishing in fresh lands than in those which are exhausted; but while it produces more wood, it bears less fruit.
A western exposure is fittest for it. The culture of it begins in March and April, and continues during the first spring-rains. Holes are made at seven or eight feet distance from each other, and a few seeds thrown in. When they are grown to the height of five or six inches, all the stems are pulled up, except two or three of the strongest. These are cropped twice before the end of August. This precaution is the more necessary, as the wood bears no fruit till after the second pruning; and, if the shrub was suffered to grow more than four feet high, the crop would not be the greater, nor the fruit so easily gathered. The same method is pursued for three years; for so long the shrub may continue, if it cannot conveniently be renewed oftener with the prospect of an advantage that will compensate the trouble.
This useful plant will not thrive if great attention is not paid to pluck up the weeds that grow about it. Frequent rains will promote its growth; but they must not be incessant. Dry weather is particularly necessary in the months of March and April, which is the time of gathering the cotton, to prevent it from being discoloured and spotted.
When it is all gathered in, the seeds must be picked out from the wool with which they are naturally mixed. This is done by means of a cotton-mill; which is an engine composed of two rods of hard wood, about 18 feet long, 18 lines in circumference, and fluted two lines deep. They are confined at both ends, so as to leave no more distance between them than is necessary for the seed to slip through. At one end is a kind of little millstone, which, being put in motion with the foot, turns the rods in contrary directions. They separate the cotton, and throw out the seed contained in it.