COTTON

 

Cotton is native to tropical and sub-tropical areas around the world. It was developed from as early as 5 000 B.C It is used to make terrycloth, denim, chambray, corduroy, seersucker, cotton twill, socks, underwear and most T-shirts. One third of cotton is produced in Queensland while two thirds are produced in northern New South Wales. It is also ginned to produce cottonseed oil. Australia produces 1806 kilotonnes of cotton a year on almost 1500 mixed farms. Cotton grows for about six months from mid-spring to mid-autumn. There are also not one, but two types of cotton, those being organic and genetically modified cotton.