Can a variety of cotton be developed that would thrive in Pennsylvania? This research project explores that question. Several types of cotton were grown in Pennsylvania fields over two years and various observations were made of growth, development, and agronomic and physiological characteristics. During the second year, attempts at crossbreeding the different cotton types were made. Desirable traits were isolated in certain plants. In order to integrate two or more of these traits into one plant, crosses were made between plants possessing or lacking certain traits.

In addition to breeding plants to improve the cotton's characteristics, several tests were conducted on the various cotton fiber types. These cotton types included white cotton grown in Arkansas and Mississippi, naturally colored cotton (green, brown, natural, red, and mocha) grown in Arizona and Texas, and both naturally colored and white cotton grown in Pennsylvania (descendants from the plants grown in the other states mentioned). The tests were as follows: seed index, wax content, carding and drawing sticky test, staple length comparison, fiber strength, and micronaire (fineness and maturity). All of these tests are essential to the cotton industry, required for registration of breeds, valuable in ensuring that specific cotton varieties meet the strict standards for spinning, and useful for improving the crop.

Analysis of fiber characteristics (Pearson's correlation) suggests that wax content and Micronaire index have a negative correlation (R²=0.2708), wax content and fiber strength have a negative correlation (R²=0.4073), and fiber strength and fiber length have a positive correlation (R²=0.5148).