I have had more trouble gathering my thoughts on the word cotton than on any word of the week so far. This has caused some research on the topic that has, by its sheer numbers, boggled the mind. 14 million acres of cotton are grown in the United States. Cotton is grown in 17 states from Virginia to California. Cotton creates 340,000 jobs, and generates 60 billion dollars worth of business in the U.S., which is more than any other crop.
In the early sixties, when I can first remember the gin in the bottom, on Washington street, cotton had the nickname white gold. When I read that one five hundred pound bale of cotton could produce 325 pairs of denim jeans, that name became very real.
Jean and I heard that 600 acres of cotton were being grown in the McKenzie portion of Henry County, so that was a good road trip for us Saturday. We saw many, many fields full of cotton, in the blooming stage. Come mid October, we will pick the perfect day to take the perfect picture of the perfect cotton patch. We absolutely cannot wait! We are glad we live in the land of cotton!
3 comments:
Like all inventions, with the ability to seperate the seeds from the cotton, Eli Whitney gave some a better life, some, not so good.
What he should be remembered for also was credit for the idea of interchangeable parts. Until his efforts were accepted everything was hand-made with variation. This made things easier to fix which is good, also then , assembly lines which aren't so good.
I love cotton but my sister says the reason I do is because I never had to pick it. In 2006, my Mother & I drove many, many miles through country back roads looking for cotton patches. I took 100's of pictures. One Saturday, my sister was with us. I was just having the bestest ole time finding those beautiful white fields of "white gold" and taking pictures. My sister looked at my Mother and said, "I think my sister has gone cotton pickin' crazy." I am looking forward to Oct. and hopefully I can get even more pictures - maybe that perfect one!!
First the blooms, then bolls and then my beautiful white cotton!
Synthetic fabrics were making their big debut as I was growing up. I didn't like them then and I don't like them now. If a piece of clothing is not 100% cotton or wool, it rarely gets my attention or a spot in my closet.
There's a store on the square called Maggies. They have a line of clothing that's line; it reminds me why I love natural fibers. It breathes. Plus, while it's not an inexpensive line, it wears like iron and will probably be around long after we're all dead and gone.
From the field to our backs, it's hard to beat cotton.
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