Question

Explain the procedure for making jute and cotton fibres. Mention the climatic conditions necessary for both plants. [5 MARKS]

Answer 1

Cotton procedure: 2 Marks
Jute procedure: 2 Marks
Climatic conditions for both: 1 Mark

Cotton fibre:
The cotton plant bears fruits about the size of a lemon, called cotton bolls. The bolls are fibrous and full of seeds. When they are ripe, they burst open and the fiber is collected by hand from the ripe cotton bolls. This process is called picking. Next, the cotton fibres are separated from the seeds by combing them by a process known as ginning. Earlier, ginning was done by hand, but nowadays, machines have been invented to do that for us.

Jute fibre:
The jute plant is generally harvested when it is in the flowering stage. The stems of jute plants are soaked in water for a few days until they start rotting. Then the fibres are separated by hand from the rotting stems.

Climatic conditions:
For cotton plants, the ideal conditions are warm climates and black soil, like in Gujarat.
For jute plants, it is necessary to have high temperatures and a lot of rainfall, like in Assam.