The Story of the Cotton Plant

by Frederick Wilkinson

PREFACE.

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.

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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]

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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]

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