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A machine used to separate cotton from dirt, twigs, etc.

Picker

A machine used to separate cotton from dirt, twigs, etc.

A machine used to separate cotton from dirt, twigs, etc.

Pickax

A machine used to separate cotton from dirt, twigs, etc.

A machine used in the 19th century to open cotton.

Cotton Opener

A machine used in the 19th century to open cotton.

"Three-cylinder Opener, Beater, and Lap Machiine." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Cotton Machine

"Three-cylinder Opener, Beater, and Lap Machiine." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

"Single Scutcher and Lap Machine." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Lap Machine

"Single Scutcher and Lap Machine." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

"Self-stripping Flat Carding Machine" — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Flat Carding Machine

"Self-stripping Flat Carding Machine" — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

"Roller and Clearer Carding Machine." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Carding Machine

"Roller and Clearer Carding Machine." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

"Combing Machine." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Combing Machine

"Combing Machine." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

"Drawing Frame." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Drawing Frame

"Drawing Frame." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

"The operation which succeeds that of the drawing frame is slubbing, where the sliver has a certain amount of twist imparted to it, and is wound on a bobbin. In this process the end or sliver from the last head of the drawing frame is drawn out by means of three pairs of rollers, and this is twisted as it emerges from the front line of rollers by the action of vertical spindles and flyers, which at the same time wind the ends upon bobbins in successive layers." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Slubbing Frame

"The operation which succeeds that of the drawing frame is slubbing, where the sliver has a certain…

"This, which is the last required before the operations of spinning, strictly so called, commence, resembles in principle the slubbing and intermediate frames. It has a greater number of spindles than either, seldom less than 100, and often 164; and these spindles are set close together, and the bobbins are shorter and smaller than in the intermediate frame." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Roving Frame

"This, which is the last required before the operations of spinning, strictly so called, commence, resembles…

"The spinning frame, or throstle, is made with two sets of drawing rollers, one on each side. Between these the roving bobbins are placed, and the rove is drawn through them to the requisite fineness, and formed into thread by the action of the spindles and flyers, which are placed in front of each set of rollers, at such distances apart from one another as may be required for the different-sized bobbins and counts of yarn to be spun." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Throstle

"The spinning frame, or throstle, is made with two sets of drawing rollers, one on each side. Between…

"The spinning frame, or throstle, is made with two sets of drawing rollers, one on each side. Between these the roving bobbins are placed, and the rove is drawn through them to the requisite fineness, and formed into thread by the action of the spindles and flyers, which are placed in front of each set of rollers, at such distances apart from one another as may be required for the different-sized bobbins and counts of yarn to be spun." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Throstle

"The spinning frame, or throstle, is made with two sets of drawing rollers, one on each side. Between…

"Probably no inventive contribution has been offered to the cotton trade more important than the mule. Samuel Crompton of Bolton completes in 1775 his invention of the mule jenny, contriving which he had been engages for several years. But this machine, possessing great merit and advantages, did not come into general use, nor was its value known, until after the expiration of Arkwright's patent, the spinner till then being confined to the rove prepared from common jenny spinning, which was unsuitable to the mule jenny." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

The Mule

"Probably no inventive contribution has been offered to the cotton trade more important than the mule.…

"In 1818 William Eator obtained a patent for a self-acting mule, in which the operations ordinarily performed by the spinner were effected by automatic means, and this machine, though not extensively adopted, contained several ingenious arrangements." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Mule

"In 1818 William Eator obtained a patent for a self-acting mule, in which the operations ordinarily…

"This hygrometer consists of two thermometers a and b similar to each other in all respects except that one of them has a piece of muslin tied closely over the surface of its bulb c, and kept constantly wet by a few threads of cotton which connect it with the water in the vessel d. the water then which rises from the vessel by capillary attraction spreads over the muslin, and evaporates from its surface with more or less rapidity according to the dryness or moistness of the air; and the greater the dryness of the air the greater is the difference between the observed readings of the dry and the wet thermometers." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Bulb Hygrometer

"This hygrometer consists of two thermometers a and b similar to each other in all respects except that…

The side view of a cotton worm.

Cotton Worms

The side view of a cotton worm.

The top view of a cotton worm

Cotton Worms

The top view of a cotton worm

Also known as the Cotton-plant louse, is a great nuisance to the planters, especially when the plants are very small, as then they are more liable to succumb to the attacks of these insects, as by sucking out the sap they distort the stems, and in fact frequently kill the plants before they have attained sufficient maturity and strength to withstand their repeated attacks.

Aphis Gossypii

Also known as the Cotton-plant louse, is a great nuisance to the planters, especially when the plants…

From the well known nocturnal habits of moths, and the certainty of their being destroyed by a light, a cheap and effective mode of destroying them, shown in the annexed figure. It consists of a pan of viscid matter placed upon a stake, which is set in the field of cotton at suitable distances. A block of wood is placed in the center of the pan, upon which is placed a lighted glass lantern. The moths, being attracted by the light, dash against it and fall into the pan, and are thus destroyed before depositing their eggs upon the tender leaves of the growing plant.

Moth Lantern

From the well known nocturnal habits of moths, and the certainty of their being destroyed by a light,…

Eli Whitney's cotton gin, which made the production of cotton many times more efficient.

Cotton Gin

Eli Whitney's cotton gin, which made the production of cotton many times more efficient.

Cotton is a soft fiber that grows around the seeds of the cotton plant. The fiber is often spun into thread to make a soft breathable fabric.

Cotton

Cotton is a soft fiber that grows around the seeds of the cotton plant. The fiber is often spun into…

A Dysdercus Suturellus pupa.

Cotton Stainer

A Dysdercus Suturellus pupa.

A Dysdercus Suturellus adult.

Cotton Stainer

A Dysdercus Suturellus adult.

Aletia argillacea with wings expanded.

Owlet Moth

Aletia argillacea with wings expanded.

Aletia argillacea at rest.

Owlet Moth

Aletia argillacea at rest.

The pod or boll of cotton.

Cotton

The pod or boll of cotton.

"Tie one end of a soft cotton rope about 20 feet long to a fixed support, and hold the other end in the hand. Move the hand up and down with a quick, sudden motion, so as to set up a series of waves in the rope, as shown, in which each curved line may be considered an instantaneous photograph of a rope thus shaken." -Avery 1895

Form of Waves

"Tie one end of a soft cotton rope about 20 feet long to a fixed support, and hold the other end in…

"Suport a soft cotton rope several yards long between two fixed supports, as the opposite sides of the room, or the floor and the ceiling. With a ruler, strike the rope a blow near one end so as to form a crest, as shown. Vary the tension of the rope if necessary, until the crest is easily seem. Notice the crest, c, travels from A to B, where it is reflected back to A as a trough, t." -Avery 1895

Fixed Wave Reflection

"Suport a soft cotton rope several yards long between two fixed supports, as the opposite sides of the…

Cent (1 cent) United States coin from 1856. Obverse has a left-flying eagle and is inscribed - UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 1856. Reverse shows the value surrounded by a cotton, tobacco and grain wreath.

Copper-Nickel Cent Coin, 1856

Cent (1 cent) United States coin from 1856. Obverse has a left-flying eagle and is inscribed - UNITED…

Five Cent (5 cent) United States coin from 1883. Obverse has a left-facing profile of Liberty wearing a coronet surrounded by 13 equally-spaced stars with 1883 inscribed beneath the profile. Reverse shows V in the center of a wreath of cotton and corn surrounded by the inscription - UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CENTS.

Copper-Nickel Five Cent Coin, 1883

Five Cent (5 cent) United States coin from 1883. Obverse has a left-facing profile of Liberty wearing…

Leaves - simple; alternate; edge somewhat irregularly toothed. Outline - broad egg-shape (approaching triangular-shape). Apex - long, taper-pointed. Base - squared, slightly hollowed, or slightly pointed. Leaf/Stem - long and slender and much compressed sidewise. Leaf - two to three and a half inches long (much larger on young shoots); length and width nearly the same; smooth; ribs distinct and whitish on both sides, irregular, and branching. Bark - of trunk, light "granite-gray," smooth on young trunks, becoming somewhat rough with age, and with rounded up-and-down furrows. New and vigorous shoots are green, and marked with short white or brownish lines. Seeds - covered with a white, cotton-like fibre. Found - from Western New England southward to Western Florida, westward to the Rocky Mountains. The common "cottonwood" of the West, bordering all streams flowing east from the Rocky Mountains. General Information - A tree eighty to one hundred feet high. The very light and soft wood is largely used in making paper pulp, for light boxes, and for fuel. Experiments have been made in separating and weaving the cottony fibre of the poplar seeds. It can be manufactured into cloth, but not in paying quantity and quality.

Genus Populus, L. (Aspen, Poplar)

Leaves - simple; alternate; edge somewhat irregularly toothed. Outline - broad egg-shape (approaching…

"False bud worm or cotton boll worm (Heliothis armiger): a, adult moth; b, dark full-grown larva; c, light-colored full-grown larva; d, pupa- natural size." -Department of Agriculture, 1899

False Bud Worm

"False bud worm or cotton boll worm (Heliothis armiger): a, adult moth; b, dark full-grown larva; c,…

"Rootstock of Cotton-Grass (Eriophorum)." -Bergen, 1896

Cottongrass

"Rootstock of Cotton-Grass (Eriophorum)." -Bergen, 1896

A pie graph of "Proportion of World's Supply of Cotton contributed by each country" labeled with country names and percentages.

Pie Graph

A pie graph of "Proportion of World's Supply of Cotton contributed by each country" labeled with country…

Invented by Eli Whitney, the cotton gin is a machine that quickly separates the cotton from the seeds.

Cotton Gin

Invented by Eli Whitney, the cotton gin is a machine that quickly separates the cotton from the seeds.

"Cotton is a downy substance produced on the seeds of he cotton plant, Gossypium, which is herbaceous, and of a height varying from four to twenty feet." -Lupton

Cotton Plant

"Cotton is a downy substance produced on the seeds of he cotton plant, Gossypium, which is herbaceous,…

"The modern system of cotton manufacture dates no further back than back 1760. Prior the mechanical inventions of Hargeaves, Arkwright, Crompton and Cartwright, the arts of spinning and weaving were entirely domestic, and the instruments of manipulation much the same as those which had been in use in the East for centuries before." -Lupton

The Spinning Jenny

"The modern system of cotton manufacture dates no further back than back 1760. Prior the mechanical…

The cotton plant is a shrub that produces a downy fiber, called cotton. This material is then woven into high quality textiles.

Cotton plant

The cotton plant is a shrub that produces a downy fiber, called cotton. This material is then woven…

This caterpillar builds a case around itself using bits of cotton taken from clothing. If it does not find good cotton, it will carry its case on its back.

Larva of Woolen Moth Walking (Tinea Tapezella)

This caterpillar builds a case around itself using bits of cotton taken from clothing. If it does not…

An illustration of a cotton press which presses the cotton into compressed bundles which is helpful in transporting.

Cotton Press

An illustration of a cotton press which presses the cotton into compressed bundles which is helpful…

An illustration of a cotton chute in Savannah, Georgia.

Cotton Bundles

An illustration of a cotton chute in Savannah, Georgia.

An illustration of African American slaves picking cotton in Alabama.

Cotton Picking

An illustration of African American slaves picking cotton in Alabama.

An illustration of the cotton plant.

Cotton Plant

An illustration of the cotton plant.

An illustration of a cotton mill in Columbus, Georgia. A cotton mill is a factory housing spinning and weaving machinery. Cotton was the leading sector in the Industrial Revolution, as a cotton spinning was mechanized in mills.

Cotton Mill

An illustration of a cotton mill in Columbus, Georgia. A cotton mill is a factory housing spinning and…

An illustration of a river boat stacked with bundles of cotton.

Transporting Cotton

An illustration of a river boat stacked with bundles of cotton.

An illustration of Memphis, Tennessee's Cotton Carnival, which consisted of a series of parties and festivities staged annually since 1931 in Memphis, TN by the centralized Carnival Mephis associated and its member krewes during the month of June. Carnival salutes various aspects of Memphis and its industries, and is reigned over by the current year's secretly selected King, Queen, and Royal Court of Carnival.

Memphis Cotton Carnival

An illustration of Memphis, Tennessee's Cotton Carnival, which consisted of a series of parties and…

An portrait of Colonel Henry W. Vick who was known for his experimentation with various cotton seeds and developed the "one hundred seed".

Colonel Vick

An portrait of Colonel Henry W. Vick who was known for his experimentation with various cotton seeds…

A Cotton Gin (short for cotton engine) is a machine that quickly and easily separates the cotton fibers from the seedpods and the sometimes sticky seeds, a job previously done by workers. These seeds are either used again to grow more cotton or, if badly damaged, are disposed of. It uses a combination of a wire screen and small wire hooks to pull the cotton through the screen, while brushes continuously remove the loose cotton lint to prevent jams. The term "gin" is an abbreviation for engine, and means "machine".

Cotton Gin

A Cotton Gin (short for cotton engine) is a machine that quickly and easily separates the cotton fibers…

The typical representation of cotton on a topographical map.

Cotton

The typical representation of cotton on a topographical map.

A cotton press yard of the Cotton Centennial in the 1884 World's Fair in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Cotton Centennial

A cotton press yard of the Cotton Centennial in the 1884 World's Fair in New Orleans, Louisiana.

An illustration of a ripe cotton capsule after dehiscence. Dehiscence is the spontaneous opening at maturity of a plant structure, such as a fruit, anther, or sporangium, to release its contents. Cotton is a soft, staple fiber that grows around the seeds of the cotton plant (Gossypium sp.), a shrub native to tropical and subtropical regions around the world, including the Americas, India and Africa.

Cotton

An illustration of a ripe cotton capsule after dehiscence. Dehiscence is the spontaneous opening at…

An illustration of a cotton seed. Cotton is a soft, staple fiber that grows around the seeds of the cotton plant (Gossypium sp.), a shrub native to tropical and subtropical regions around the world, including the Americas, India and Africa.

Cotton Seed

An illustration of a cotton seed. Cotton is a soft, staple fiber that grows around the seeds of the…

An illustration of a cotton plant. Cotton is a soft, staple fiber that grows around the seeds of the cotton plant (Gossypium sp.), a shrub native to tropical and subtropical regions around the world, including the Americas, India and Africa.

Cotton Plant

An illustration of a cotton plant. Cotton is a soft, staple fiber that grows around the seeds of the…

Cotton Mather was a socially and politically influential New England Puritan minister, prolific author, and pamphleteer. He is often remembered for his connection to the Salem witch trials.

Cotton Mather

Cotton Mather was a socially and politically influential New England Puritan minister, prolific author,…

Eli Whitney (December 8, 1765 – January 8, 1825) was an American inventor best known as the inventor of the cotton gin. This was one of the key inventions of the industrial revolution and shaped the economy of the antebellum South. Whitney's invention made short staple cotton into a profitable crop, which strengthened the economic foundation of slavery. Despite the social and economic impact of his invention, Whitney lost his profits in legal battles over patent infringement, closed his business, and nearly filed bankruptcy.

Eli Whitney Jr.

Eli Whitney (December 8, 1765 – January 8, 1825) was an American inventor best known as the inventor…

An sectional illustration of a carding machine. Carding is the processing of brushing raw or washed fibers to prepare them as textiles. A large variety of fibers can be carded, anything from dog hair, to llama, to soy fiber (a fiber made from soy beans), to polyester. Cotton and wool are probably the most common fibers to be carded. Not all fibers are carded; Flax and bast, for example, is retted then threshed.

Sectional View of a Carder

An sectional illustration of a carding machine. Carding is the processing of brushing raw or washed…

The Hispid Cotton Rat (Sigmodon hispidus) is a small rodent in the Cricetidae family of New World rats and mice.

Hispid Cotton Rat

The Hispid Cotton Rat (Sigmodon hispidus) is a small rodent in the Cricetidae family of New World rats…

An illustration of a modified cotton gin.

Cotton Gin

An illustration of a modified cotton gin.

The cotton rust mite (Tetranychus gloveri) is a spider mite known for causing damage to cotton leaves.

Cotton Rust Mite

The cotton rust mite (Tetranychus gloveri) is a spider mite known for causing damage to cotton leaves.