Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1912-11-28
HOPIIND|ANS RAISED
EARLY TYPE OF COTTON
Arizona Tribe Developed and
Used the Bolts Mssny Years
Ago.

The origin, growth and development OF
the cotton industry in the United States
has received considerable attention from
historians. ethnologists and statisticians.
Much interest has been manifested in the
identity and description of the varieties
which formed the foundation of the
American upland cotton. hut only recently
has there been a systematic study and
anlysis OF the types of plants which make
up the field crops today, with a view OF
accomplishing this object.
Although 1t is difficult to ascertain the
actual extent of the influence OF native
species of cotton on the character OF the
p~rescnt-aay types. it is felt that they
have been influenced more by the impor-
tation OF tropical and European cottons
than by any original American ones. With
Il view of c~lucidating. the history of one
form of native cotton. Frederick l.. Lew
ton. of the United States national mu-
scum, has written a pamphlet entitled.
The Cotton of the Hopi Ind 'ans-A New
Species OF Gussyl.ium,' forming publica-
ton NO. DAG OF the Smithsonian Miscellan-
couS COLLECTIONS.
the fact that cotton was used and of ne
ce.sily cultivated by the Indians. is re-
corded by several early Spanish explorers.
as ii has been more recently, by many
ethno!ogists. LIN the villages of the cliff
jewellers of Mesa Verde National park nu-
merous fragments of cotton cloth ave
been uncarthed. and. IN Utah, the seeds OF
the plant itself have been found.
Today. among the liuni Indians of Ari-
IONA. the cotton plant is highly esteemed.
and it's fibre enters into many of their
ceremonies, as we'll as into many practical
household activities. IL Is considered es-
sentlal by them that all strings employed
In religious services he of native cotton.
These strings of cotton are used to bind
together prayer sticks and offerings of all
kinds and ni,. tlared in tho tlNf10 enter
ing the Pueblls where services
are in progress: the badges of the chiefs
are all wrapped with native rOugh-spun
cotton strings; and cotton rs also used to
weave ceremonial kits. BELTS and wedding
blankets.
delft in the arr OF weaving blankets. man
Ties. rugs aid other articles from cotton.
now find Ii far easier to purchase either
the yarn already spun. the cloth already
woven. or the omp.et garment. and thus
the art is gradually beng lost. Cotton is
still cultivated by them, however, to a
small extent, IN a village In the western
Navajo reservation and in another OF the
Moqui.
The department CT agriculture has car
ried on experiments with Hopi cotton for
the past seven years. This particular
species of cotton is .cmarMabie in the ra-
pid.ty with which 1T grows and the early
date AT which Ii blooms, it being the earl
iest to blossom OF several hundred species
put to les, lants of this species have
borne lipened hollis in "a days from the
owing Of the seed.
Following a pertinent discussion as to
the history and development of this par
ticular sort of cotton, Mr. Lewton de-
scrlbes bo;an.cally The distinguishing fea-
lures of a new species which he calls
G%ossyriun llni i. and " hich is illustra ted
by five plates showiH, The growing plants.
the flowers, and ike maturing and ripe
boliS.