The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1894-09-25

lands of China that had been devoted
to the production OF cotton were APP
propriated TO the raising OF corn, in
consequence of the alarming scarcity
Of provisions, by the supreme author
ity.
OF the two kinds of cotton cultiva-
ted in the United States the green seed
or short staple cotton is derived from
the Herbaceum or Herbaceous cotton,
and Hirsutum or hairy American cot
ton the long staple or black seed cot
ton is derived from the Arboreum or
tree cotton (Barbadense.)
In 1892 the growth of cotton was lit
tie known in this country. AS a COM
mercial article it was deemed to be of
little Importance. There was a law
against the importation OF cotton from
America. In 1892 the entire crop was
1885, 1923 pounds. In 1912, a half century
later, a wonderful revolution was ac-
complished in the cotton husbandry of
the United States, the crop then
amounting to 1856, 221, 800 pounds-and
almost within the period of another
half century the yield of cotton in the
United States aggregated the enormou
amount in round numbers of 1000, 600
OF bales with an average weight Of $50
pounds per bale.
Cotton is most successfully cultivated
between 30 and 30 degrees North lati-
tude. But Governor Seabrook says in
his "Memoir of the Cotton Plant:
sit is q well authenticated fact that in
1916 az far North as the 39th degree
cotton on the garden scale was raised
in the vicinity of, Eaton in the County
of Talbert, on the Eastern shore of the
Chesapeake Bay. About forty years
afterwards it was cultivated in st.
| MarvfS rpprf, Monylo,l mud ~ fhn
Northern county of Cape May in New
Jersey, also in Sussex County, Della
ware"
The wonderful discoveries and inven-
tions in this country and England in
the operations Of card spinning and
weaving cotton-the "Water Frame y
by Arkwright, the "Spinning Jenny y
by Hargreaves and the "Mule Jenny
by Samuel Crompton, together with
the American saw gin by Eli Whitney,
gave birth to the cotton husbandry OF
the United States.
"Of the great divisions Of the
GLOBE" remarked Mr.. Baines, Europe
was the last to receive the cotton man
u%facture, and England was among the
last to engage in that branch of indus
try. So Immense is the extent of the
British cotton manufacture at this time
(lS35l, that the yarn spun in a year
would in u single thread pass around
the globes circumference 203, ut times;
it would reach 81 times from the earth
to the sun and it would encircle the
earth's orbit 81 times. The wrought
fabrics of cotton exported in one year
would form a girdle for the globe, pass
ing eleven times round the equator
The distaff and spinning wheel have
have gone out of use, but in their place
have come the ponderous machines
which perform their task as if guided
by thought, and
With wiry teeth revolving cards
Release tho tangled knots and smooth
the raveled fleece;
Next moves the iron band with fingers
fine,
Combs the wide card and forms the
eternal line"
Some one has said thathe who would
know all about cotton must, like Lord
Bacon, take all knowledge for his pro,
vince. The influence of the industry
upon the welfare of mankind is beyond
computation. 1t affects our habits and
opinions-our laws and legislation. II
creates a vast commerce with wonders
at every stage of its manufacture. II
Is marvellous to contemplate the arts,
sciences and financial power involved
in one single branch of this industry
the art of cotton printing. "Thcre
are the madden and other vegetable
dyes, the brilliant coal dyes, and the
metallic mixtures to make the dyes
fast all the elements which tho chem
list controls must be studied in turn
their produce, collection, preparation,
blending uso and effects. The de.
signer searches through all nature for
nnttprps " Tha chill nf tho npuroyn,,
with his tools and copper cylinders, is
brought under tribute. Tho great
staple of the South, will we ever utilize
to their highest development the vast
powers and opportunities involved in
this great Southern industry?
For many of the historical facts here
mentioned, the writer is indebted to
the Memoir Of the Cotton Plant,
written by w. B. Seabrook years ago,
who was afterwards Governor of South
Carolina.