♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO GPB'S LIVE EXPLORATION GEORGIA COTTON.

I'M YOUR HOST JANEANE WASER.

WE ARE COMING TO YOU LIVE FROM 1888 MILLS IN GRIFFIN, GEORGE A THE NATION'S NUMBER ONE TOWEL MANUFACTURER, WHO KNEW?

AND TODAY WE'LL BE EXPLORING THE STATE'S COTTON INDUSTRY FROM FARMS TO FACTORIES.

DURING THE SHOW YOU'LL HEAR FROM A VARIETY OF EXPERTS AS THEY TAKE YOU ON IN-DEPTH TOURS TO SHOW YOU WHY GEORGIA IS CON ARE ONE OF THE TOP COTTON-PRODUCING STATES.

SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS BY SENDING US YOUR E-MAIL AT EDUCATION@GPB.ORG AND SEND US A TWEET USING THE QUESTION COTTON LIVE.

WE'LL BE ASKING YOU A FEW QUESTIONS, IT'S ONLY FAIR.

DURING THE PROGRAM WE'LL HAVE POP QUIZZES FOR YOU TO ANSWER AND OUR EXPERTS WILL EXPLAIN WHICH OPTION IS CORRECT.

WHY NOT FLUFF UP OUR COTTON KNOWLEDGE RIGHT FROM THE TOP, EH?

GO AHEAD AND GET THOSE DEVICES OUT BECAUSE HERE IS YOUR FIRST POP QUIZ.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> YOUR FIRST QUESTION IS WHICH EARLY VERSION OF THIS INVENTION USED COTTON?

IS IT ONE, THE CAR KEY.

TWO, KEYBOARD.

THREE, THE FAUCET OR FOUR, THE LIGHT BULB.

YOU ONLY NEED TO CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING WAYS TO VOTE.

IT'S SUPER SIMPLE.

JUST GO TO GPB.ORG/COTTON AND SELECT YOUR ANSWER OR SUBMIT YOUR VOTE TO THE PHONE NUMBER.

>> TEXT TO 430-206-3591.

NOW THAT THAT'S OUT OF THE WAY WHY DON'T WE TAKE A LOOK BACK AT THE HISTORY OF COTTON.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> THE COTTON PLANT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

SOME OF THE EARLIEST FIBERS OF COTTON HAVE BEEN FOUND IN MEXICO AND IN PARTS OF EGYPT.

NATIVE AMERICAN GROUPS IN NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA IN ADDITION TO OTHER KINDS OF PLANTS LIKE SQUASH.

THEY ALSO DYED COTTON BECAUSE IT'S A FIBER THAT HOLDS COLOR REALLY WELL.

FOR EXAMPLE, THEY WOULD BOIL DANDYLION LEAVES TO MAKE A YELLOW.

AND BECAUSE IT'S A VERY DURABLE FIBER, NATIVE AMERICANS WOULD USE IT FOR BLANKETS OR FOR CLOTHING.

IT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A VERY, VERY LONG TIME.

>> COTTON HAS HAD A STORED HISTORY IN GEORGIA.

GEORGIA WAS THE FIRST TO COMMERCIALLY PRODUCE COTTON.

SEA ISLAND COTTON WAS THE FIRST ORIGINAL COTTON THAT WAS GROWN IN GEORGIA.

IT'S GOT RELATIVELY LONG FIBERS THAT ARE MORE EASILY EXTRACTED FROM THE COTTON BULB.

IT CAN BE PICKED BY HAND AND IT CAN ONLY GROW IN CERTAIN AREAS.

SO THAT PROVED REALLY, REALLY FRUSTRATING FOR MANY GEORGIANS WHO WANTED TO TRY TO GROW COTTON IN OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE.

WITH REMOVAL OF THE CREEKS IN 18 1810s AND THE 1830s LAND WAS OPENED UP FOR GEORGIA TO PLANT COTTON IN OTHER PARTS OF THE STAY.

SO WHAT WE HAVE NOW IS UPLOAD COTTON BECAUSE IT DOESN'T NEED TO HAVE THE COOL ENVIRONMENT FOR IT TO THRIVE.

IT GROWS RELATIVELY QUICKLY.

ITS FIBERS ARE MUCH SHORTER THAN THE SWEET ISLAND COTTON, BUT IT ALSO HAS TO BE PICKED BY HAND AND BEFORE THE CIVIL WAR, MOST OF THEM WERE PICKED BY SLAVE WORKERS AND IT WAS AN ARDUOUS PROCESS AND VERY DIFFICULT TO BE ABLE TO EXTRACT THAT FLUFFY FUBER FROM THE BOWL WITHOUT CUTTING THEIR FINGERS AND BECAUSE THE COTTON PLANT IS ONLY THREE FEET HIGH, YOU WOULD HAVE TO OFTEN TIMES BEND OVER AND STOOP TO EXTRACT THE CAN THEON FIBERS FROM THAT BOWL.

PEOPLE WOULD WORK UPWARDS OF 13 HOURS PER DAY IN THE HOT SUN.

IT WOULD TAKE EIGHT HOURS TO PICK THE NEW SEEDS, AND SO IT WAS AN INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT AND PAINSTAKING PROCESS.

>> THE INVENTION OF THE CAN THEON GIN FACED ANYTHING.

IN 1793 ASK HE DID SO WHILE HE WAS TRAVELING TO GEORGIA AND LISTENED TO PLANTATION OWNERS EXPRESS REAL FRUSTRATION ABOUT HOW LONG IT WAS TAKING TO SEPARATE IT FROM COTTON AND SO, ALTHOUGH HE WASN'T FAMILIAR WITH COTTON PRODUCTION, HE WAS ALWAYS INTERESTED IN TINKERING WITH MACHINES AND FINDING WAYS TO MAKE THINGS MORE EFFICIENT.

IT WILL TAKE HIM SIX MONTHS TO INVENT WHAT THE FIRST COTTON ENGINE OR COTTON GIN AS IT WAS MORE COMMONLY KNOWN.

IT WAS A RELATIVELY SMALL WOODEN BOX WHEN IT WAS ROTATED, THE CYLINDER WOULD EXTRKT THE SEED ASK THEN THERE WOULD BE A CYLINDER AND TAKE THE COTTON FIBERS FROM THE WIRE TEETH AND SUDDENLY PEOPLE WOULD PICK CAN THEON, AND TO DEEIGHT SEEDLESS FIBERS THAT COULD BE TRANSPORTED.

THE COTTON GINA, LOUS FOR THE RAW MATERIAL OF COTTON TO BE PROCESSED MUCH MORE QUICKLY UPON IT HAD AN IMPACT ON THE INSTITUTION OF SLAVERY IN PART BECAUSE IT CREATED AN INCREDIBLE NEED FOR ENSLAVED LABORERS OF THE LAND THAT ALLOWS COTTON TO BECOME THE MOST IMPORTANT KRP IN THE SOUTHERN PRODUCING STATES.

BY THE END OF THE 18 HUNDREDS THE SOUTH WAS PRODUCING MOST OF THE WORLD'S COTTON BECAUSE OF THE COLON GIN.

>> ANOTHER CHARACTER IN THE HISTORY OF COTTON IS THE BOLL WEEVIL.

IT ENDED UP DESTROYING COTTON CROPS.

IT ORIGINATED IN CENTRAL MEXICO AND IT EMIGRATED TO COTTON-PRODUCING AREAS IN THE UNITED STATES.

IT ARRIVED IN GEORGIA IN 1915, AND SO WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE BOLL WEEVIL IT NOT ONLY INFECTS THE SEEDS, BUT ALSO THE COTTON FIBERS AND IT MOVES VERY QUICKLY THROUGH THE COTTON FIELDS AND SO IT CAN DESTROY A WHOLE CROP.

>> THE BOLL WEEVIL NEARLY DESTROYED THE INDUSTRY AND THE BIOLOGY OF THIS PARTICULAR BEETLE WAS CONTROLLING THE PESTICIDE.

TO ERADICATE THE BOLL WEEVIL IT TOOK A CONCERTED EFFORT FOR THE ERADICATION PROGRAM AND BASICALLY THAT'S A TRACKING PROGRAM THAT MONITORS FOR THAT PRESENCE AND NOWADAYS WE STILL MAINTAIN THAT TRAPPING PROGRAM JUST IN CASE AND THERE WILL BE A BOLL SWAZ WEEVIL TRAP.

IT WAS SO SUCCESSFUL BY THE 1990, THE BOLL WEEVIL HAS BEEN LARGELY ERADICATED IN THE U.S. SOUTH.

>> COTTON HAS ALWAYS BEEN REALLY IMPORTANT TO GEORGIA FIRST AS A COLONY AND GEORGIA RANKS IN THE TOP COTTON-PRODUCING AREAS OF THE UNITED STATES AND SO EVEN THROUGHOUT THESE UPS AND DOWNS.

THESE INNOVATIONS AND THE INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF HUMAN LABOR AND ONCE YOU CREATE COTTON, COTTON REMAINS AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT CROP FOR GEORGIANS.

>> YOU CAN SEE HOW COTTON IS WOVEN INTO THE FABRIC OF GEORGIA'S HISTORY, BUT WHAT ABOUT COTTON TODAY?

JOINING ME NOW IS KEITH RUCKER, A FAMILIAR FACE IN THE LIVE EXPLORATION WORLD.

WELCOME BACK.

>> IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU.

LAST TIME YOU WERE HERE YOU WERE TELLING US ABOUT THE PEANUT, AND NOW IT'S COTTON.

>> IT IS CROP PRODUCTION SO I GET TO WORK WITH ALL DIFFERENT CROPS IN GEORGIA.

>> THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE AND I UNDERSTAND YOU KNOW A LET ABOUT THE COTTON INDUSTRY IN GEORGIA, BASICALLY, SO PLEASE TELL US ABOUT THE GEORGIA MUSEUM OF AGRICULTURE AND NOT ONLY DO THAI HAVE THIS REALLY COOL, HISTORIC VILLAGE ASK IN MY WORLD.

I GET TO WORK WITH ANTIQUE MACHINERY.

RESTORE THEM AND GET THEM TO HOW THEY WORKED BACK IN THE DAY.

>> SINCE YOU HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH THE INVENTIONS YOU ARE THE PERFECT PERSON TO HELP US ANSWER THE FIRST POP QUIZ QUESTION.

EARLIER IN THE SHOW WE ASKED THE AUDIENCE THIS QUESTION.

TAKE A LOOK.

WHICH EARLY VERSION OF THIS INVENTION USED COTTON?

NOW HERE IS WHAT OUR AUDIENCE SAID.

>> OH, YEAH.

>> MOSTLY WITH THE WHITE BULB AND YOU KNOW THE ANSWER HERE.

I THINK THEY'RE HAVING A LIGHT BULB MOMENT.

>> THE LIGHT BULB IS THE CORRECT ANSWER.

>> INTERESTING.

>> BACK A LONG TIME AGO WHEN THEY WERE FIRST INVENTING THE LIGHT BULB THERE WAS A FILAMENT IN THERE.

THERE WAS A WIRE AND NOW WE HAVE METAL, BUT BACK A LONG TIME AGO IT WAS COTTON.

IT WAS A QUOTON FIBER THAT WOULD HEAT UP.

>> COTTON FILAMENT, THAT MUST HAVE BEEN THE ORIGINAL SOFT LIGHT.

SPEAKING OF EARLY INVENTIONS, I SEE YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT YOU BROUGHT TODAY.

WHAT DO WE HAVE HERE?

>> THIS IS A REPLICA OF THE ORIGINAL COTTON GIN INVENTED BY ELI WHITEN AND THIS IS THE KIND OF SMALL GIN THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN ORIGINALLY USED ON THE FARM.

>> WE HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THIS FROM MS. SOLVENT'S FOURTH GRADE CLASS.

THEY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW WOULD THIS COTTON GIN WORK?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

INSIDE OF THIS THERE IS A DRUM AND A SILL INDER WITH THESE TEETH ON IT.

WHEN YOU TURN IT THE COT KNOW PULLS IT, EXACTLY AND PITS IT DOWN.

IT'S TOO NATION NARROW GETS TO ONE SIDE AND IT IS JUST HARD TO REMOVE THE COTTONSEEDS FROM THE FIBER ESPECIALLY BEFORE THIS INVENTION.

>> YOU HAD TO DO IT BY HAND.

YOU HAD TO PICK IT ALL UP BY HAND.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING FOR.

>> EVEN THIS EARLY INVENTION OF THE COTTON GIN CAN CLEAN UP 50 POUNDS OF COTTON A DAY COMPARED TO ONE POUND BY HAND.

>> CORRECT.

>> THAT IS JUST INCREDIBLE.

WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM MARK IN GEORGIA.

MARK ASKS HOW HAVE THE COTTON GINS CHANGED OVER TIME.

THEY'RE ASKING ABOUT THIS STEAM POWERED.

>> ORIGINALLY IT WAS HAND OPERATED AND A VERY SMALL GIN LIKE THIS AT THE DAWN OF STEAM, WHEN THEY STARTED TO COME BACK INTO PLAY THEY STARTED ASKING FOR LARGER AND LARGER GINS.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE A STEAM-POWERED GIN IN OUR MUSEUM.

>> IT WENT FROM MANUALS TO STEAM.

WHAT ARE WE USING TODAY JUST BECAUSE I'M CURIOUS.

THE GIN THAT STANDS IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE ONE INVENTED BY ELI WHITNEY, BUT NOW THEY'RE POWERED BY ELECTRIC MOTORS.

>> THE MODERN AGE.

I LOVE.

>> THIS IS AN IMPORTANT, HOW DOES A BOLL SPAUZ WEEVIL.

FIRST OFF THSHGS IS AWE VERY CLS ITD CHAD, BUT THESE ARE ATTRACTED TO THAT COLOR AND THAT WAS IMPREGNATED WITH SOMETHING THAT WE CALL A PHEROMONE AND IT'S A SMELL, AND THAT ATTRACTS THE BOLL WEEVIL THEY COME THROUGH THE BOTTOM AND THE TOP AND THEY COME THROUGH THE ONE-WAY DOOR AND ONCE THEY GO THROUGH THERE THEY'RE TRAPPED AND WHEN THEY GO AROUND AND CHECK THESE THINGS THEY CAN SEE IF THERE ARE BOLL WEEVILES IN THE AREA.

>> THEY WANT TO KNOW IF OTHER PETS ALSO HAVE TO BE CONTROLLED FOR THE COTTON CROP.

BESIDES THE BOLL WEEVILES ARE THERE OTHER KNOW SECTS?

>> THERE ARE WEEDS AND WE HAVE TO KEEP THEM IN CHECK OR IT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT AND KEEP THE GROWERS FROM GROWING IT.

>> JACOB, AT BUCKLEY COUNTY ELEMENTARY ASKS DOES COTTON LOSE ITS FLUFF AS IT AGES?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE COTTON WILL LAST A VERY, VERY LONG TIME IF IT'S KEPT DRY AND KEPT IN GOOD SHAPE.

THERE'S ACTUALLY CLOTHING THAT HAS SURVIVED FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS OPINION SO AS LONG AS IT IS STORED PROPERLY AND YOU'RE NOT LETTING IT GET INTO A SITUATION WHERE IT CAN ROT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT IT CAN LAST A LONG TIME.

>> IT CAN MAINTAIN ITS INTEGRITY.

>> KEEP YOUR QUESTIONS COMING, AUDIENCE.

SPEAKING OF CHECK WE HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION FOR YOU AND GET YOUR DEVICES OUT BECAUSE IT'S TIME FOR ANOTHER QUIZ QUESTION.

HERE IT IS.

>> TRUE OR FALSE, COTTON IS NOT ALLOWED TO BE GROWN IN HOME GARDENS.

IS NOT ALLOWED.

IS THIS ONE TRUE OR TWO, FALSE.

ONLY TWO CHOICES.

REMEMBER TO CAST YOUR VOTE ONLINE AT GPB.ORG/COTTON OR TEXT 1 OR 2 TO 420-306-3151.

WELL, I THINK IT'S TIME TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT COTTON FROM THE GROUND UP.

TAKE A LOOK.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >> MY NAME IS CAROL ANN.

I'M A COTTON PRODUCER AND WE HAVE A COTTON GIN.

I WAS ABLE TO JOIN MY FAMILY FARMING OPERATION AND IT ATTRACTED ME TO GET INTO FARMING BECAUSE OF THE PROCESS OF PRESERVING THE LAND AND BEING A STEWARD OF THE LAND AND CREATING A PRODUCT THAT HAD SO MANY PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS AND USES TO SUPPORT DAILY LIFE.

GEORGIA IS A GREAT PLACE TO GROW COTTON BECAUSE OF ITS WEATHER.

IT HAS A LONG GROWING SEASON AND THE SOIL, WE HAVE A LOT OF SANDY SOIL AND SOME CLAY AND THAT'S WELL DRAINING SOIL.

EACH CROP YEAR WE WILL DO A SOIL SAMPLE TO CHECK THE NUTRIENTS OF EACH FIELD AND SEE WHAT NEEDS TO BE ADDED AND THINGS THAT BENEFIT ESTABLISHING A CROP.

AND THEN YOU GO TO PREPARE THE FIELD AND DEPENDING ON THE LAND ITSELF AND WHAT YOU'RE PLANTING YOU MIGHT DO ONE OF TWO WAYS.

YOU CAN RUN A FIELD AND IT MAKES IT SOFTER.

AND YOU COME THROUGH AND PUT A RAISED BED WHICH IS JUST A LITTLE BENCH, ALMOST FOR THESE TO GO IN OR YOU CAN DO SOMETHING THAT WILL SLIGHTLY CARRY THE LAND AND SOFTEN IT AND THE SEED WILL BE PLANTED DIRECTLY INTO THAT ROW.

SOMETIMES THE BEST PRACTICES FOR A DIFFERENT LAND BECAUSE YOU WANT TO BE SURE THAT THE SPEED DOESN'T GET TOO WET.

YOU WANT TO DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO HELP THAT SEED GERMINATE.

SO THESE ARE PLANTED WITH A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT, AND IT HAS SPEED AND LITTLE HOPPERS AND IT WILL DROP A SEED AFTER IT.

AND PLANT IT IN A FEW DAYS AND THE SEED WILL GERMINATE AND YOU'LL SEE A LITTLE SPROUT POP UP OUT OF THE GROUND AND IT WILL BEGIN TO GROW AND PUT ON LEAVES AND THE COTTON PLANT PUTS ON SQUARES.

THOSE ARE GOING TO BE THE FLOWERING BUDS AND IT IS A SQUARE AND EACH SQUARE WILL TURN INTO A FLOWER.

SO THE NEXT STAGE IS YOU'LL FEEL A NOWER AND IT WILL BE WHITE AND IT WILL TURN PURPLE AND THEN THE FLOWER WILL WILL FALL OFF AND A BABY BULB WILL BE LEFT AND THAT BULB WILL START TO GROW AND IT WILL BE GREEN AND EEFBTS ALLY IT WILL START GETTING DARKER AND IT WILL START CRACKING OPEN AND THAT'S IN THE FALL.

THOSE BULBS WILL OPEN AND THEN YOU WILL SEE THE LINT AND THE SEED INSIDE.

COTTON IS A VERY INTERESTING PLANT.

IT CAN RESPOND TO ITS ENVIRONMENT BASED ON THE HEAT, WATER REQUIREMENTS AND THE COTTON PLANT AND CONSERVE ENERGY TO STILL BE ABLE TO PRODUCE LATER TO PROTECT WHAT IT HAS AND THAT'S SOMETHING THEY THINK IS VERY INTERESTING ABOUT COTTON.

THE GENERAL LIFE CYCLE OF A COTTON PLANT CAN BE 160 DAYS FROM THE TIME THE SEED IS PLACED INTO THE GROUND UNTIL THE TIME IT IS READY TO BE PICKED.

PLANTS TYPICALLY HARVEST AROUND OCTOBER, NOVEMBER AND AS YOU'RE GETTING TO THE END OF THE LIFE CYCLE OF THAT COTTON PLANT THE BULBS ARE STARTING TO OPEN AND YOU HAVE THE BULBS FULLY OPEN AND YOU WILL SEE THEM POP OUT.

THEY HAVE SPINDLES OR LITTLE TEETH THAT AS IT GOES THROUGH EACH ROW THE TEETH WILL PULL THE LINT OUT OF THE BULB.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> WE'RE NOT BIG INTO THE PLANT.

THE PLANT STAYS AND WE COME THROUGH WITH THE COTTON PICKER.

WE'RE NOT PICKING THE COTTON BY HAND.

WE'RE KNOCKING IT OFF, AND WE TRY TO LEAVE TRASH AND NOBODY WANTS IT LIKE THAT.

>> THE REST OF THE COTTON PLANT IS THE STALK AND THE BRANCHES.

THAT IS LEFT IN THE FIELD.

YOU HAVE TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF PICKERS.

SOME OF THE NEWER MODELS WILL ACTUALLY CREATE A MODULE WITHIN THE PICKER AND IT HAS THE LENS AND THE SPEED AND HOW THE PLANT WOULD GET IN THERE, TOO, AND IT WILL GO AROUND AND BUILD A MODULE AND IT WILL BE WRAPPED IN PLASTIC AND HELD THERE IN THE TICKER UNTIL IT IS DROPPED IN THE FIELD OR A CONVENTIONAL TYPE OF COTTON PICKER WHERE IT'S THE BASKET AND YOU SEE ALL OF THE COTTON IS IN THE BASKET AND IT WILL BE POSITIVE WITH A MODULE BUILDER IN A HYDRAULIC PRESS.

IT PRESSES IT DOWN AND IT WILL PROTECT IT FROM THE WEATHER AND IT WILL BE POSITIVE AND SO IT CAN BE PICKED UP AND SOMETHING WITH COTTON HARVEST.

COTTON CAN BE HARVESTEDED AND IT CAN REMAIN IN THE FIELD FOR A PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE IT GOES TO THE GIN.

THE TIME AFTER COTTON IS HARVESTED THERE IS A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT WILL COME THROUGH AND THE PULLBACK TRACTOR THAT WILL PULL THE STALKS OUT OF THE GROUND AND CHOP IT SO IT WILL GO AHEAD AND BREAK DOWN.

IT WILL PUT THAT PLANT MATERIAL ON TOP OF THE GROUND TO BEGIN DECOMPOSING SO YOU GET THAT ORGANIC MATTER, BREAK DOWN THE SOIL AND THAT HELPS WITH EROSION CONTROL OVER THE WINTER.

BEFORE THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION COTTON PRODUCTION WAS MORE OF A COTTAGE INDUSTRY WHERE YOU HAD SMALLER PLANTS BECAUSE EVERYTHING WAS DONE BY HAND.

MODERN EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY HAS ENABLED FARMERS TO WORK THE LAND, HARVEST FACTOR AND IT WAS A BIG FACTOR OF FARMING AND YOU CAN WORK FASTER AND MORE EFFICIENTLY TO BRING THAT PRODUCT TO MARKET WHICH IS BEING USED AT A FASTER PACE.

I LOVE THE VARIETY OF FARMING.

IT IS NEVER THE SAME DAY TWICE.

YOU'LL OFTEN FIND IT IF SOMEONE IS A COTTON FARMER AND THEY ARE A FARMER OF OTHER RED CROPS AND PRIMARILY ARE THREE MAJOR CROPS THAT WE PREDICT ARE NUMBER TWO CORN, PEANUTS AND COTTON AND WE WILL ROTATE THOSE THREE AND IT HELPS WITH PESTS, WEEDS AND STERILIZATION.

GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER FOUND ROTATING CROPS WOULD NOT DO COTTON ON COTTON AND HAVING OTHER NITROGEN CROPS INTO THE ROTATION.

SO THEY INCREASE IN YIELDS WHEN IT WAS MIXED IN WITH OTHER CROPS.

OFTEN, YOU'LL FIND WHILE COTTON COULD BE A PRIMARY CROP THEY ARE FARMING A VARIETY OF OTHER CROPS.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> NOT GOING TO LIE, I'M TEMPTED TO DROP EVERYTHING AND BECOME A COTTON FARMER.

JUST KIDDING.

IT DOES LOOK FUN.

JOINING ME IS AN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA.

WELCOME, KEN.

>> THANKS, ASHLEY.

EXCITED TO BE HERE.

?

WE ARE GLAD YOU'RE HERE.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT WHAT YOU DO IN THE COTTON INDUSTRY?

>> I WORK FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA AND CONDUCT RESEARCH EVERY YEAR TO TRY TO KEEP OUR PRODUCERS PROFITABLE AND SUSTAINABLE.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR IS WHEN OUR COTTON FARMERS FIRST BEGAN PLANTING THOSE SEEDS.

NOW WE'RE IN FULL SWING PLANTING COTTON.

>> WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM JAMMIA IN AT THIS POINTON GEORGIA.

THEY WANT TO KNOW IF IT MERTS HOW THE SOIL IS BEFORE YOU PLANT THE SEED.

>> THERE IS A LOT TO DO BEFORE WE PUT THE SEED IN THE GROUND AND ONE OF THEM IS RIGHT HERE WITH US.

?

ONE IS LYME, NITROGEN, LIKE IT'S A PHOSPHOROUS AND POTASSIUM.

>> SO THE FIRST PART OF THE FIELD IS LINE AND THAT HELPS HER CORRECT THE PSHTHS H OF THE SOIL AND THAT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT SO THE REST OF THE NUTRIENTS ARE AVAILABLE AND THEY CAN BE TAKEN UP AND USED BY THE PLANT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

NITROGEN IS THE NEXT ONE AND THAT HELPS KEEP THE PLANT GREEN AND GROWING.

PHOSPHOROUS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR THE PLANT TO COME UP AND GET A GOOD START AND START A STRONG FOUNDATION AND POTASSIUM IS IMPORTANT TO THE STALK AS WELL AND IT HELPS WITH FLOWER, FRUIT AND THE COTTON ITSELF PRODUCTION, BUT ALSO THEY GIVE THE PLANT A STRONG IMMUNE SYSTEM AND HELP FIGHT DISEASES.

>> DYNAMIC DUO.

JUST LIKE PEOPLE NEED STRONG IMMUNE SYSTEMS.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

WHAT ABOUT AT-HOME GARDENS?

DO THEY NEED ALL OF THESE NUTRIENTS, AS WELL.

>> THESE ARE MAJOR NUTRIENTS FOR EVERY PLANT AND ALL PLANTS USE THESE, BUT IT JUST DIFFERS ON THE SCALE AND I CAN BUY FERT LIEDZER AND THAT CAN LAST ME A LONG TIME AT HOME AND THAT 40-POUND BAG IS NOT GOING TO LAST VERY LONG IN A COTTON FIELD.

>> NO, IT'S NOT.

NOR SHOULD IT.

>> RIGHT.

THAT MAKES ME THINK OF THE POP QUIZ QUESTION AND LATER WE ASKED THE AUDIENCE THIS QUESTION.

TRU OR FALSE, COTTON IS NOT ALOUD TO BE GROWN IN HOME GARDENS AND HERE ARE HOW THOSE WATCHING RESPONDED.

LET'S WATCH.

>> PLEASE.

♪♪ ♪ >> WE'RE PRETTY EVENLY DIVIDED.

THANK GOD I HAVE A -- >> FOR THOSE AT HOME, IT IS NOT ALLOWED TO GROW COTTON IN YOUR HOME GARDEN?

>> WHY?

IT SEEMS SO INNOCENT.

>> IT IS INNOCENT, BUT IT GOES BACK TO WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE BOLL WEEVIL.

IT TOOK A LOT OF TIME AND MONO TO ELIMINATE THAT PAST.

IT WOULD MAKE IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MONITOR AND WHEN YOU GROW COTTON YOU HAVE TO APPLY TO THE DEPARTMENT OF AG.

>> IT WOULD DECIMATE THE CROP.

>> WHERE CAN WE SEE IT?

>> GEORGIA IS THE SECOND LARGEST COTTON PRODUCING STATE IN THE COUNTRY.

1.2 MILLION ACRES EVERY YEAR.

I CAN GUARANTEE YOU FOLKS AT HOME THAT THERE IS A FIELD THAT YOU CAN GO LOOK AT IN THE SUMMERTIME.

>> I WILL BE ON THE LOOKOUT ON MY NEXT ROAD TRIP.

SIGN US UP FOR THAT AND WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM BEAU.

BEAU WANTS TO KNOW HOW COTTON SPREADS ITS SEEDS.

UPON.

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

FIBER PRODUCES THE FIBER AND THE FEED AT THE SAME TIME INSIDE THAT PAT BOLLAND IS IF THE COTTON FALLS TO THE GROUND.

THAT'S A BAD THING.

YOU DON'T WANT THE COTTON TO HIT THE GROUND AND IT DOESN'T HIT THE PICKER AND YOU CAN'T MAKE MONEY OFF OF IT.

?

WE HAVE QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE.

DANIEL FROM WITMER ELEMENTARY, DOES IT MAKE IT EXTINCT?

>> THEY HAVE IT IN SOUTH TEXAS AND STILL RESIDES IN MEXICO.

WE HAVE TWO MORE LIVE QUESTIONS AND WE HAVE SOME GOOD ONES.

>> JOSE FROM FROM THE FIFTH GRADE CLASS ASKS HOW LONG DOES IT USUALLY TAKE TO TAKE COTTON FROM THE GROUND AND MAKE IT INTO CLOTHESING?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

THAT IS AN INCREDIBLE QUESTION.

FROM PLANTING THE SEED TO HARVESTING THE CROP IS 150 DAYS.

AFTER THAT, IT TAKES LONGER TO TURN IT INTO CLOTHES AND DEPENDING ON WHAT HAPPENS IT MIGHT TAKE LONGER AND IT MIGHT BE SHORTER AND REAL FIRST BEINGLY IT COULD BE EIGHT TO TWEFRL MONTHSES FROM PLANTING THE SEED.

MRS. MARK ASKS IF THEY NEED TO BE POLLINATED BY BEES LIKE OTHERS DO?

>> THEY DON'T NEED TO BE POLLINATED BECAUSE THEY'RE ON THE SAME PLANT.

>> YOU'RE STICKING AROUND BECAUSE I HAVE PLENTY MORE TO ASK YOU.

AUDIENCE, ARE YOU READY FOR YOUR THIRD POP QUIZ?

HERE IT IS, AS PROMISED.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> IT TAKES ABOUT 375 COTTON BOWLS TO CREATE ONE OF THESE ITEMS.

IS IT ONE, A SLEEPING BAG.

TWO, A PILLOWCASE, THREE, A LARGE RUG OR FOUR, A PAIR OF JEANS.

THINK ABOUT IT.

.

WHATEVER THE PRODUCT IS THE ONLY WAY TO OFFICIALLY CREATE ANY OF THESE ITEMS THAT THAT MANY COTTON BOWLS IS TO USE A MODERN GIN WHICH KEITH TOLD BUS.

I THINK IT'S TIME TO SEE THESE MACHINES IN ACTION.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> NOW IT'S TIME FOR THE COTTON TO BEGIN.

FROM THE MODULES IT WILL BE PICKED UP IN A MODULE TRUCK WHICH IS I SPECIAL TRUCK THAT HAS THE COVERED BEDS THAT WILL LIFT UP AND IT HAS CHAINS AND IT WILL ROLL THE MODULE UP INTO THE TRUCK.

AND IT WILL TAKE IT TO THE GIN.

MANY WILL TAKE WHAT'S CALLED THE MODULE YARD.

FROM THE MODULE YARD AND TO THE MODULE FORM IT IS IN THE FEEDER WHERE WE REMOVE THE TARP AND THERE'S A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT WILL START TO LOOSEN IT UP, AND SO IT WILL GO INTO THE GIN IN LITTLE TUCKS ON A SMALL VEIL, AND SLOWING INTO THE GIN AND YOU'LL HAVE LINT CLEANER WHERE YOU WILL HAVE STICKS AND THINGS THAT DO STICK TO THAT AND START REMOVING THAT FROM THE LINT BEFORE IT GETS INTO THE GIN THAT ARE STALLING THE SEEDS OFF OF THE LINT SO THAT THEN YOU HAVE SEEDS ONLY AND YOU HAVE LINT ONLY WHICH CONTINUES TO BE CLEAN BEFORE IT IS PUT INTO A BAIL.

ELI WHITNEY DREW AN ACCURATE MODEL FOR THE MODERN-DAY GIN.

TO REMOVE THE SEEDS FROM THE LINT IS STILL IN PLACE TODAY ONLY NOW IT'S OPERATED MECHANICALLY AND RUN A LITTLE FASTER.

THROUGH THIS SEED IS A WHOLE COTTONSEED AND WE PUT IT INTO A SEPARATE GEORGE HOUSE AND THAT'S TO DAIRY COWS AND IT CAN BE CRUSHED FOR OIL.

THERE AREN'T DIFFERENT PIECES FOR THE SEED.

THE GIN PROCESS CAN SEPARATE THE SEED TO THE LINT SO THE SEED HAS A PURPOSE.

THE LINT HAS A PURPOSE.

AFTER THE SEEDS HAVE BEEN SEPARATED FROM THE LINT AND THE LINT'S GONE THROUGH THE GIN IT GOES THROUGH A PRESS.

IT'S PRESSED TOGETHER TO BUILD A VEIL AND IT'S TIED TO MAKE UP ONE VEIL AND EACH WILL PULL A SAMPLE OF LINT FROM THAT VEIL AND THAT WILL GO TO THE PRESSING OFFICE AND IT WILL BE GRADED TO DIFFERENT FACTORS, COLOR BEING ONE OF THEM.

ITS STRENGTH, UNIFORMITY AND HOW LONG EACH STAPLE IS.

AFTER IT'S PUT INTO ONE OF THESE BAGS TO COME TO THE WAREHOUSE, ALL OF THE COTTON THAT IS IN THIS WAREHOUSE CURRENTLY WAS ALL GIN AND OUR COTTON GINS WERE PRODUCERS FROM ABOUT THREE COUNTIES AROUND THE AREA SO THERE ARE DIFFERENT COTTONS BROUGHT INTO THE GIN.

THEY'RE LOADED ON TO THE TRUCK OR ARE EITHER SENT TO SAVANNAH TO THE PORT THERE AND PUT ON A SHIP TO BE SENT OVER TO THESE TO BE MADE INTO T-SHIRTS, TOWELS.

OR THEY COULD GO INTO A TRUCK AND GO TO A DOMESTIC SPINNING MILL HERE IN THE U.S.

IT IS VERY EXCITING TO KNOW THAT THERE IS A CHANCE THAT COTTON THAT I GREW I COULD BE WEARING RIGHT NOW.

COTTON HAS A BIG IMPACT ON GEORGIA'S ECONOMY AND THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF JOBS THAT IT CREATES AND EVERYTHING THAT GOES INTO PRODUCT AND THE INPUT AND THE EQUIPMENT AND OTHER SUPPORTING ROLES AS WELL AS COTTONSEED, OIL MILLS AND THE SHIPPING OF COTTON FROM THE GIN TO THE WAREHOUSE.

TO ANOTHER WAREHOUSE.

THERE ARE JUST A LOT OF DIFFERENT AREAS THAT ECONOMIC HAS, COTTON IS PRODUCE NATURALLY, HERE IN GEORGIA AND THE DRIVERS ARE OFF.

FOET ♪♪ ♪ >> WOW.

NOW I WONDER IF MY OUTFIT HAS COME FROM ANY FARMS IN GEORGIA?

I SURE HOPE SO.

JOINING ME IS DR. CAMP.

I AM SO CURIOUS ABOUT THE LAST QUESTION ASKED.

I'LL DIVE RIGHT THROUGH IT.

375 COTTON BOWLS, THESE THINGS TO CREATE?

AND HERE IS WHAT THE AUDIENCE SAID.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

♪♪ ♪♪ THEY HAVE ANSWERED.

THEY'RE VOTING MOSTLY ON THE PILLOWCASE, SECOND FAVORITE BEING A LARGE RUG.

YOU KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER, CAMP.

WHAT IS IT?

>> THE THIRD IS THE RIGHT ANSWER.

>> RIGHT.

375 BOWLS GO INTO A PAIR OF BLUE JEANS AND THAT'S ABOUT 1 1/2 POUNDS OF COTTON LINT.

A BOWL IS THIS LITTLE THING RIGHT HERE.

OKAY, INSIDE OF THIS YOU HAVE THE LINT AND THE SEED AND THESE ARE SOME SEEDS RIGHT HERE.

ABOUT 20 TO 30 SEEDS PER COTTON BOWL.

>> OKAY.

GOT IT.

>> BUT WHEN THAT GOES THROUGH THE GIN IT TAKES OUT THE SEEDS AND SOME OF THE TRASH AND ALL YOU END UP WITH IS THE LINT.

SO ABOUT 60% OF THE LINT THAT YOU GET FROM THIS COTTON AND ONLY 40% IS ACTUALLY LINT.

>> UNUSED MATERIAL COMES OUT OF IT.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

A COTTON VEIL WHICH IS MUCH LARGER.

HOW MANY POUNDS IS IN THAT.

THE BIG SQUARE BALES THAT YOU SAW AT THE END OF THE VIDEO WAS 500 POUNDS.

SO IF YOU DO QUICK MATH, IT'S 25 TO BOWLS AND THE COTTON LINT AND THERE ARE 125,000 BOWLS.

>> YOUR QUICK MATH IS GOOD, BY THE WAY.

TO THINK THIS RALLY GIVES YOU THE PICTURE OF HOW MUCH COTTON IS PRODUCED IN GEORGIA.

>> IT LOOKS IKELY, WE HAVE ANA AND CHRIS COUNTY YERJA, I'VE ADDED A FANTASTIC QUESTION AND WHENEVER YOU GIN THE COTTON YOU END UP WITH THIS AND THIS IS JUST THE COTTON GIN.

IF YOU WATCH I CAN TEAR THAT APART VERY EASY.

>> RIGHT.

VERY EASY.

>> BUT WHEN YOU TWIST IT WHICH IS WHAT HAPPENS WITH YARN IT IS STRONG AND IT'S HARDER TO PULL APART LIKE THAT.

>> RIGHT.

>> SO THAT IS HOW COTTON IS MADE INTO YARN AND IT STRENGTHENS IT UP SOME AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT LAST SO LONG.

>> MY MIND IS TRULY SPINNING, CAM.

MY AUDIENCE'S MINDS ARE SPINNING TOO, BECAUSE WE HAVE QUESTIONS.

>> PLEASANT GROVE ELEMENTARY WANTS TO KNOW HOW LONG DO COTTON PLANTS LIVE?

>> DANTE, THAT IS A FANTASTIC QUESTION.

COTTON IS ACTUALLY A PERENNIAL PLANT.

IF YOU GO TO ITS NATIVE RANGE OF CENTRAL AMERICA YOU CAN SEE IT GROWING AS A TREE.

WHENEVER WE GROW IT ON THE FIELD WE TREAT IT AS AN ANNUAL CROP WHICH MEANS IT ONLY LASTS FOR ONE YEAR.

TECHNICALLY, IN THE RIGHT ENVIRONMENT AND IF YOU HAD WATER AND NUTRIENTS TO IT IT CAN LIVE A LONG TIME.

>> LONGER THAN WE CAN.

>> COTTON IS SO IMPRESSIVE.

ONE MORE QUESTION, SHALL WE?

>> NOAH IN GEORGIA HAS THIS QUESTION.

HE WANTS TO KNOW, CAN YOU TELL WHEN COTTON GETS OLD LIKE PEOPLE?

>> RIGHT.

THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION, TOO.

IN THE FIELD WHENEVER I LOOK AT A COTTON CROP AND YOU CAN TELL WHENEVER IT RUNS OUT OF GAS.

IT GOES FROM THE DARK GREEN TO SHADES OF YELLOW AND RED AND THE BOWLS START TO POP OPEN AND WHENEVER THE BOWLS ARE A CERTAIN PERCENT OPEN, ABOUT 60%, THAT'S WHENEVER IT'S SAFE TO TERMINATE THAT CROP AND GO AHEAD AND HARVEST IT.

THAT'S HOW YOU KNOW IT'S MATURE.

>> FORECAST LOOKING FOR THOSE SIGNALS.

>> MISS JACKSON'S CLASS IN THIRD GRADE, GEORGIA, WANTS TO FIND OUT WHAT IS COTTON MOSTLY USED FOR.

>> COTTON IS USED IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS AND THE MAIN THING WE THINK ABOUT IS CLOSING ITEMS.

THE BLUE JEANS I HAVE ON AND THE SHIRT I'M WEARING TODAY.

>> RIGHT.

>> THERE'S A LOT MORE THAT IT GOES INTO.

OF COURSE, YOU CAN GET THE COTTON BALLS AT THE STORE OR SOMETHING LIKE DIAPERS.

COTTON IS USED IN DIAPERS.

I FORGOT ABOUT DIAPERS.

>> GOT TO HAVE THOSE.

>> STUDENTS IN MISS OWEN'S CLASS AT OAK GROVE STEAM ACADEMY, RATHER, THEY WANT TO KNOW WHERE IS THE FURTHEST PLACE COTTON GROWS?

THE FARTHEST FROM THE UNITED STATES.

>> PROBABLY THE FURTHEST STATE FROM GEORGIA IN THE UNITED STATES WOULD BE CALIFORNIA.

>> OPPOSITE END, RIGHT?

IT IS GROWN IN SO MANY PLACES.

IT'S GROWN IN EGYPT, INDIA, THE CONTINENT OF AFRICA, INDIA, CHINA.

DIFFERENT PLACES IN SOUTH AMERICA.

I MEAN, IT'S GROWN ACROSS THE WORLD.

>> THAT'S INCREDIBLE AND WE HAVE SAW, GEORGIA.

GLORIA WANTS TO KNOW HOW COTTONSEED OIL IS MADE.

THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

>> I POINTED OUT THE SEED THAT WAS SITTING ON THIS TABLE AND THAT'S WHERE THE COTTONSEED OIL COMES FROM, BUT INSIDE OF THAT SEED IS A LITTLE BIT OF OIL AND SO WHAT YOU HAD TO DO WAS CRUSH THAT AND EXTRACT THE OIL AND THEN IT CAN BE USED TO COOK THINGS.

SO YOU CAN USE COTTONSEED OIL TO FRY POTATO CHIPS OR FRENCH FRIES OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND A LOT OF RESTAURANTS DECIDE TO USE THAT.

>> IF WE HAVE COTTON TO THANK FOR THE TASTE OF POTATO CHIPS I HAVE A WHOLE NEW LEVEL OF RESPECT.

IT'S THE CROP THAT KEEPS ON GIVING.

DO YOU WANT TO DO MORE iPAD QUESTIONS?

>> LET'S DO IT.

>> LAY LANNY WHO IS A SECOND GRADER WANTS TO KNOW IF NATURAL COTTON COMES IN DIFFERENT COLORS.

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

THEY HAVE TRIED TO BREED DIFFERENT VARIETIES TO BREED COTTON.

I'VE SEEN BROWN COTTON.

RED, GREEN, BLUE.

IT WOULD BE EASIER TO PRODUCE BLUE, BUT THOSE EFFORTS ARE LARGELY UNSUCCESSFUL SO WE STICK TO THE WHITE COTTON FOR THE MOST PART.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR EXPERTISE.

>> ANY TIME.

>> IT IS USED TO MAKE A LOT OF DIFFERENT ITEMS AND FOR YOUR FINAL QUIZ QUESTION, LET'S SEE IF YOU CAN IDENTIFY WHAT IT'S NOT.

WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING PRODUCTS IS NOT MADE FROM COTTON.

IS IT ONE?

SUEDE JACKETS.

TWO, DOLLAR BILLS.

THREE, BOOK BINDINGS, OR FOUR, COMPUTERS.

THIS ONE'S TOUGH.

AGAIN, YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THE PRODUCT THAT IS NOT MADE USING COTTON.

ALL RIGHT.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT THAT I THINK IT'S TIME TO TAKE A TOUR NOW AND SEE WHAT COTTON CAN BE MADE INTO RIGHT HERE AT 1888 MILLS.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> WE'RE AT 1888 MILLS IN GRIFFIN, GEORGIA, AND WE USE TOWELS USING THE COTTON MADE IN GEORGIA.

WE ARE VERY, VERY PLEASED TO MAKE THE BEST TOWELS IN THIS FACILITY AND WE CAN FIND THAT TO BE A PART OF OUR HERITAGE WHICH YOU FIND IN OUR NAME 1888.

TOWELS HAVE CONTINUOUSLY MADE SINCE 1888.

290 EMPLOYEES IN THIS FACILITY, WAREHOUSING AND DISTRIBUTION.

ABOUT ANOTHER 40 WERE IN FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS.

RETAIL HOSPITALITY, AND HEALTHCARE.

IN RETAIL OUR LARGEST CUSTOMER IS WALMART.

WE ALSO DO A LOT OF E-COMMERCE.

WE DO SALES WITH HOTELS LIKE HYATT.

WE MAKE ALL OF THE HYATT BATH TOWELS THAT YOU SEE ARE MADE RIGHT HERE IN GRIFFITH, GEORGIA.

WE ARE YARN FOUR.

SO OUR ORIGINAL RAW MATERIAL IN THE PLANT IS COTTON THAT IS SEWN INTO YARN.

>> COTTON IS A GREAT FIBER BECAUSE HOW YOU MIGHT TAKE YARN WHICH IS ULTIMATE HE GOOD-BYE LAID INTO THE TROUBLE AND YOU TWIST IT.

THAT'S WHAT GIVES IT, AND COTTON FIBER IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT BECAUSE TO DO THAT TWISTING YOU'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SOMETHING TO CATCH WITH AND SO YOU PUT THE TWIST IN, AND THE GEORGIA UPLAND COTTON IS CERTAINLY SATISFACTORY FOR ANYTHING THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.

THE YARN COMES AND SO WE KNOW SPECIFICALLY FOR QUALITY PURPOSES HOW MANY YARDS ARE ON THAT CONE.

SO AS IT GOES THROUGH THE FIRST STEP WE CALL IT WARPING AND THAT IS GETTING THE YARN THROUGH THE LINKED DIRECTION TO THE TOWEL AND WE PUT YARN INTO THE WARPING MACHINE AND IT WILL HOLD UP TO 650 CONES AND THAT'S HOW MANY WILL BE ON THAT.

>> WHO MADE IT FOR EIGHT HOURS HERE?

THERE'S A LIGHT THAT COMES ON AND IT BRINGS IT BACK UP AND BRING IT WHERE IT GOES AND START IT BACK UP.

♪♪ ♪ >> THE SECOND PROCESS IS CALLED SIZING.

WE DO TWO THINGS IN SIZING.

WE GIVE IT A LITTLE MORE STRENGTH BECAUSE THE PRESSURE ON THE LIMBS WERE PRETTY SEVERE AND WE USE A BIODEGRADEABLE STARCH THAT COATS THE YARNS KIND OF LIKE SPAGHETTI.

YOU HAD TO HAVE TWO DIFFERENT KINDS OF STARCH.

YOU DON'T HAVE IT, IT WILL BREAK UNEVEN.

>> YOU COAT THE YARN IN STARCH AND IT GOES TO THE SHEET THAT'S VERY SIMILAR.

A SHEET YOU HAVE A LENGTH DIRECTION AND YOU CREATE A SHED AND IT CLOSES BACK AND FORTH AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT.

A TOWEL IS LIKE A SHEET EXCEPT EVERY OTHER END IT WILL BRING IT INTO MATERIAL.

>> WE IS HAVE A SPOOL OF RED ON THE TOP AND A LARGE SPOOL OF THREAD ON THE BOTTOM AND THAT GOES THROUGH THREE DIFFERENT ITEMS AND IT READS.

WHEN IT GOES THROUGH THAT FINAL PROCESS, THE FILLING OF THE YARN GOES ACROSS AND TIGHTENS THE TOWEL UP TO MAKE THE LOOPS OF TERRY IN THE TOWEL.

>> THAT PROCESS, WE CALL THAT BEING IN THE BLADE.

THOSE WILL BE ON HUGE ROLLS.

THE TOWELS, WE CALL THEM GRAY BECAUSE THEY LOOK A LITTLE BIT ON THE GRAY SIDE OF COLOR.

BASICALLY E THAT'S THE NATURAL OILS IN THE COTTON THEMSELVES THAT CREATED THAT COLOR.

>> SO THE FIRST THING WE'LL DO IS BLEACH THEM OUT WHITE AND THAT'S WHAT YOU USE DID IED OXIDE.

?

WHY THE JUST STAY WHITE.

THE RETAIL TOWELS WILL GO TO THE REACTIVE PROCESS.

THESE ARE REACTIVE TOWELS, AND WE DO WATCH ANY RES I UL DIES, WE HAVE SOME OF THE LARGEST TECHNOLOGY IN DRYING AND AIR TUMBLES IN THAT ROPE FORM AND IT BRINGS THAT TOWEL UP AND BRINGS THAT LOT OF UP AND WE TAKE THE WATER OUT AND THE REST OF IT IS BASICALLY TUMBLED DRIED IN THE DRYER TO BRING IT BACK OUT ON THE OTHER SIDE.

THEN IT WOULD GO OUT TO THE FABRICATION OF THE CUT AND SEW.

BASICALLY, THE TOWELS ARE ONE TOWEL WIDE AND THEY'RE ON THE ROLL OF TOWELS AND THEY'VE GONE THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS AND THEY HAVE A CUT LINE THIS IS WHERE THE MACHINES WILL CUT THAT PARTICULAR TOWEL.

THE LASER IN THE MACHINES THAT ARE VERY SOPHISTICATED.

THEY WILL READ WHERE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO CUT.

THEY'LL CUT THE INDIVIDUAL TOWELS AND THEN THEY WILL TURN THE HEM AT THE SAME TIME THEY TURN THE HEM THEY DROP THE LABEL IN IT AND THEN THEY WILL SEW THAT LABEL INTO THE PACKAGING.

>> THEY COME FROM ANOTHER MACHINE AND THEY CUT IT AND HEM IT.

THEN THEY HEM IT AND IF IT DON'T REPAIR RIGHT, THEY PUT IT IN THE REPAIR MACHINE AND THAT'S WHEN I GO AND GET IT AND HEM IT.

ONCE I DO THAT, THEN I FOLD THEM UP AND MAKE SURE I LOOK AT THEM REAL GOOD AND TAKE IT OUT.

>> WE'LL NORMALLY PACKAGE THEM SO IN TRANSIT NOTHING WILL HAPPEN TO THEM SO THEY HAVE A RECYCLABLE.

IT GOES THROUGH THE SCANNERS TO MAKE SURE THE WEIGHTS AND IDENTIFICATION IS CORRECT.

THEN THEY GO ON A CONVEYOR BELT TO OUR WAREHOUSE WHICH IS AN ADJACENT BUILDING AND THEY ARE STORED IN LOCATIONS AND IMMEDIATELY GO TO THE SHIPPING DOCK AND OUT THE DOOR TO CONSUMERS.

>> I AM NEVER GOING TO LOOK AT TOWELS THE SAME WAY AGAIN.

JOINING ME IS LEXY SCHLAYEN THE CHIEF OFFICER AT MILLS.

WILL YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR ROLE OF CHIEF EXPERIENCE OFFICER?

I LOVE THAT TITLE.

>> YES, AS CHIEF EXPERIENCE OFFICER MY JOB IS TO OVERSEE THE INNOVATION, PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, DESIGN, MERCHANDISING AND MARKETING OF ALL OF 1888 MILLS PRODUCTS.

WE ARE JUST ENSURING THAT ANYBODY WHO INTERACTS WITH OUR PRODUCT HAS A FANTASTIC EXPERIENCE.

>> WE'VE HAD A GREAT EXPERIENCE AT 1888 MILLS.

THANK YOU FOR THAT.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

WE KNOW IT IS SOFT AND DURABLE AND THERE IS A THIRD ATTRIBUTE THAT MAKES IT GOOD FOR TOWEL FABRIC.

TELL US WHAT THAT IS.

>> THE THIRD AND MAYBE MOST IMPORTANT IS COTTON IS EXTREMELY ABSORBENT AND IT SOAKS UP A LOT OF LIQUID AND WHEN YOU HAVE A TOWEL THAT IS WHAT YOU WANT IT TO DO, ABSORB.

OKAY.

I HAVE HERE TWO GLASSES FILLED WITH WATER.

WE'VE DYED THEM BLUE SO THEY'RE EASIER TO SEE.

I'VE DRAWN A LINE ON BOTH OF THESE.

>> THEY LOOK EVEN.

>> THEY'RE EVEN.

WE ALSO HAVE TWO FABRICS.

ONE IS MADE WITH 100% POLYESTER AND THE OTHER IS MADE WITH 100% COTTON MADE RIGHT HERE.

>> EXACTLY RIGHT.

>> SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS DIP EACH OF THESE IN THE WATER AND SO HOW MUCH WATER WATER THEY ABSORB.

WE'LL START WITH THE POLYESTER FABRIC.

GET IT IN THERE.

.

SOAK IT UP ON -- >> NO.

>> NO.

HARDLY ANY INSECTS AND NOW WE'LL GO WITH THE ALL-COTTON PRODUCT.

>> WOW.

AS YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCE.

I WOULD SAY FOUR OR FIVE TIMES THE DIFFERENCE AND THAT WOULD ABSORB MUCH MORE WATER THAN IT DID.

>> IT IS 25 TIMES ITS RATE TO MAKE IT A PERFECT POLYESTER AND IT'S PERFECT FOR ATHLETIC CLOTHES WHERE YOU NEEDED TO RIP APE RIP, THAT AND IT'S DRYER, TOO, THAN THE COTTON WAS AS YOU JUST EXPLAINED.

SO FAR WE'VE LEARNED HOW TO USE COTTON IN CLOTHES AND TOWELS.

WE ASKED OUR VIEWERS WHICH WERE USED.

HERE ARE THE RESULTS FROM THE AUDIENCE.

ALL RIGHT.

THEY ARE SAYING BETWEEN THE FOUR OPTIONS THAT THEY THINK COMPUTERS ARE NOT MADE FROM COTTON.

I HONESTLY HAD NO IDEA.

THIS IS VERY TRICKY.

WHAT IS THE CORRECT ANSWER, LEXY, HELP US OUT.

>> THIS IS VERY TRICKY AND I CAN SEE WHY THEY CHOSE COMPUTERS, BUT THE CORRECT ANSWER IS ACTUALLY THE FLEECE JACKET.

>> WHAT?

>> FLEECE LOOKS SOFT AND FLUFFY.

IT IS MADE FROM MICROFIBER POLYESTER WHICH IS A SYNTHETIC FIBER MADE FROM PLASTIC AND IT IS NOT A NATURAL FIBER AT ALL.

>> IT IS MORE SIMILAR TO THIS THAN IT IS THE COTTON STUFF.

>> OKAY, WAIT THEN THAT WOULD MEAN THAT DOLLAR BILLS, BOOK BINDINGS AND COMPUTERS ARE ACTUALLY MADE FROM COTTON?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> I'M OFFICIALLY STUMPED.

CAN YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN HOW THAT IS POSSIBLE?

>> YES.

THE DOLLAR BILL IS MADE FROM 75% COTTON AND 25% LINEN WHICH IS ANOTHER NATURAL FIBER ANDED THE REASON FOR THIS IS IT'S NOT MADE OF PAPER AND IT WILL FALL APART LESS.

I'LL CALL IT FABRIC MONEY BUZZ IT'S MORE ACCURATE.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE BOOK BINDINGS?

>> I THINK I KNOW WHERE THIS IS GOING.

IF YOU REMOVE THE PAPER COVER OFF OF A HARD COVER BOOK, THIS IS ALSO MADE FROM COTTON AND IT HELPS TO PROTECT THE CONTENTS OF THE BOOK.

>> LAST AND NOT LEAST, WHAT ABOUT COMPUTERS?

THIS IS THE ONE I UNDERSTAND THE LEAST, I THINK.

HOW ARE COMPUTERS MADE FROM COTTON?

WHERE?

I DON'T SEE IT.

COTTON, LIKE MOST PLANTS HAVE CELLULOSE.

THE SAME TRAITS AND CELLULOSE MATERIAL IS USED ON THE SCREENS IN COMPUTERS AND MANY OTHER ITEMS.

>> IT'S NOT COTTON.

A DERIVATIVE OF COTTON.

>> WE HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS.

LET'S TAKE THIS NEW ONE FROM GENEVIEVE IN RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

SHY WANTS TO KNOW IF COTTON IS THE ONLY MATERIAL THAT YOU USE AT 1888 MILLS.

THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

COTTON IS OUR FAVORITE TO USE, NATURALLY.

>> WE DO SOMETIMES BLEND WITH POLYESTER AND OTHER NATURAL FIBERS.

ALL FIBERS HAVE NATURAL PROPERTIES AND THEY ENHANCE THE DESIRED RESULTS.

>> MISS GLOVER IN GEORGIA ASKS HOW DOES COTTON STAY SO WHITE?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

>> THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION.

IF YOU REMEMBER THE COTTON WE'VE BEEN SEE BEING IT IS MORE OF A LINEN BEIGE COLOR WHEN PROCESSED.

EXACTLY.

IN ORDER TO SEE THAT BRIGHT WHITE THAT YOU SEE ON A SHELF, IT HAS TO GO THROUGH A BLEACHING PROCESS WHEN WE'RE MANUFACTURING.

MUCH LIKE A T-SHIRT AT HOME AND YOU PUT IT IN THE LAUNDRY TO GET THE SIMILAR PROCESS.

>> OKAY.

SPEAKING OF COLORS WE HAVE THE GREAT QUESTION FROM ONE OF OUR AUDIENCE MEMBERS AND THIS IS FROM MUHAMMAD.

MUHAMMAD UPONS TO KNOW HOW DO YOU LIKE COTTONON FAB RUK.

IN SO AGAIN SIMILAR IF YOU WERE TY DYING A T-SHIRT.

WE WANT ACHE THAT PHAM HIGH, DIP IT IN AND PULL IT OUT.

IT SOAKS IN THERE TO GET THE SATURATION.

>> HOW IMPORTANT IS COTTON IN THE TEXTILE INDUSTRY TO GEORGIA'S ECONOMY TODAY?

>> WELL, IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

AS WE'VE SEEN FROM THE VIDEOS WE'VE WATCHED TODAY THERE ARE A LOT OF INDUSTRIES THAT RELY HEAVILY ON COTTON FROM FARMING TO THE GINS AND TO THE MANUFACTURING LIKE HERE AT 1888 MILLS.

SO IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THE INDUSTRY AND ONE THAT WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO SEE GROW.

>> BUSINESS IS BOOMING!

THANK YOU SO MUCH, LEXY.

WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE THAT IS ALL OF THE TIME WE HAVE FOR TODAY, UNFORTUNATELY, BUT WE WANT TO THANK YOU, STUDENT, FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION AND WE WANT TO SAY A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR LIVE GUEST TRIO, KEITH, CAMP AND LEXY ROADSHOW.

YOU CAN HIT THE ROAD.

IT'S A GOOD IDEA.

WE WANT TO THANK THE COTTON COMMISSION FOR THE PROGRAM AND THE GUESS WHAT?

THE FUN DOESN'T HAVE TO END HERE.

YOU CAN EXPLORE MORE AT GEORGIA COTTON INDUSTRY WITH VIRTUAL REALITY, VR VIDEOS AND FREE LEARNING RESOURCES AVAILABLE ON GPB.ORG/COTTON SO GO ONLINE FOR THOSE.

WITH THE FINAL PLUG, I'M ASHLEY MINGWASSER AND WE'LL SEE YOU SOON WITH MORE INNOVATIVE EXPLORATION.

UNTIL NEXT TIME, GOOD-BYE.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪