The purpose of this research was to evaluate the ability of two-year college students and faculty in one area of activity and to gain a more adequate understanding of them. A dearth of taxonomic literature on plant populations at the local level prompted this study. It has been observed that amateur botanists have accomplished satisfactory and commendable work in plant taxonomy. Also, it has been observed that a high percentage of students in two year colleges commute considerable distances. These disparate observations led to a potential solution to the botanical dilemma.

"This study concerns the examination of the historical importance and achievements of a small cotton mill located in the agrarian Texas community of Itasca, Texas. Newspaper clippings and numerous interviews with former mill employees and Itasca citizens supplied factual material pertaining to the Itasca mill; however, company records provided the basic research material for this paper... The company offices have since been destroyed, and most of the records are now in the Southwest Collection at Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas...In the final chapter, the author concludes that this mill, like numerous other southern mills, fell under the influence of northern companies because of undercapitalization which severely limited available operating capital. Even though the mill eventually prospered, it never managed to free itself from the influence of northern commission companies. In the final analysis, the Itasca company proved to be different from other cotton duck mills in the South in its development of a line of unique decorative fabrics sold by mail as well as through thirteen company-owned stores."-- leaf 1.