Cotton is tropical in origin but is now cultivated worldwide. It has been spun, woven, and dyed since prehistoric times. Cotton is planted annually by seed. Diseases and insect pests are numerous. For example, the boll weevil is responsible for enormous crop losses, particularly of the highly susceptible, silky-fibered sea-island cotton, which was the leading type of cotton before the onset of this pest. Cotton is separated from its seeds by a cotton gin. Manufacture of cotton into cloth, textiles, and yard goods involves carding, combing, and spinning. Cotton is a source of cellulose products, fertilizer, fuel, plastic reinforcing, automobile tire cord, pressed paper, cardboard, and cottonseed oil (used in cooking, cosmetics, soaps, candles, detergents, paints, oilcloth, artificial leather, etc.), which is pressed from the seeds. Used in Egypt, China, and India in ancient times, cotton has long played a significant role in world industry. Britain's need for imported cotton dictated much of its sea-domination policy as an imperial nation, and in the U.S., cotton was one of the economic issues behind the Civil War.
