Cotton picking traditionally involved a labor-intensive process of hand-harvesting ripe cotton bolls from the cotton plants, often requiring multiple passes through the fields.
Here's a breakdown of how cotton picking worked:
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Manual Harvesting: Cotton bolls had to be picked by hand. This was because the cotton bolls on a single plant didn't all mature at the same time.
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Multiple Harvests: Fields were typically picked three to four times each harvest season. This was necessary because leaving the early-maturing bolls on the plant until all were ripe would degrade the quality of the cotton already opened.
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Labor Intensive: The process was extremely labor-intensive, requiring many workers to complete the harvest in a timely manner.
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Quality Considerations: Picking only the mature, open bolls ensured the highest quality of cotton. Immature or damaged bolls were left on the plant.
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Seasonal Work: Cotton picking was a seasonal job, providing employment for many, particularly in the southern United States.
In summary, cotton picking before the advent of mechanical harvesters involved a meticulous and repetitive process of hand-picking ripe cotton bolls from the plants over multiple harvests to maintain cotton quality.
