Imported Cotton (Zhangjiagang)

Cotton, an annual herb or a perennial shrub of the genus Gossypium of the Malvaceae family, with broad ovate leaves, apex acuminate, base broad, petiole sparsely pilose, stipules ovate-shaped, flowers solitary in leaf axils, pedicels slightly shorter than petiole, calyx cup-shaped, seeds separated, ovoid, with long white cotton hair and short gray cotton hair that is not easy to peel off. The bud of cotton is milky white and gradually turns deep red after flowering. After the petals wither, a green fruit is left, which is the cotton boll. The cotton boll is a capsule with cotton seeds growing inside; the cotton seeds have a layer of fluff on the outside, which will gradually grow over the entire cotton boll. Flowering period: Summer and autumn, June to October.

The origin of cotton is India and Arab countries. Before cotton was introduced into China, China had only kapok for pillow bedding, but no cotton for weaving. According to Song Shu, it was introduced into China at the latest in the Northern and Southern Dynasties, but it was mostly planted in the frontier. It was not until the end of Song Dynasty and the beginning of Yuan Dynasty that a large number of cotton were introduced into the interior. It is now widely cultivated. They prefer light, avoid immersion, and prefer sandy loam soil with fertile soil. Cotton is usually reproduced by seeds, seedlings or sowing.

The fiber made from cotton is white or white with yellow color and can be made into various specifications of fabrics, from light and transparent bali to thick canvas and thick velvet. It is suitable for making various clothes, furniture fabrics and industrial fabrics. At the same time, cotton is one of the most important crops in the world. Cotton has become a major cash crop in China because of its large output and low production cost, which has played an important role in the development of the textile industry and the improvement of people's living standards.