he more frequent changes that it undergoes.
The former, therefore, must devote more time than the latter to keeping
his order book and the productive power of his shed in close
correspondence. The minute care of this kind that must be exercised in
some classes of businesses explains why the small manufacturer still
holds his own while the small spinner has been crushed out. It also
explains to some extent the prevalence of joint-stock companies in
spinning, and their comparative rarity in manufacturing. Here we should
notice, perhaps, that the only combination of importance in the cotton
industry proper (apart from calico-printing, bleaching, &c., and the
manufacture of sewing-cotton) is the Fine Cotton Spinners and Doublers
Association, founded in 1898, which is practically coextensive with fine
spinning and doubling.

Localization of branches of the industry.

The specialism of the two main branches of the industry has been
followed by the specialism of sub-branches and by the localization of
specialized parts. Of the localization of certain sections of the cotton
industry the late Mr Elijah Helm, who spoke with the authority of great
local knowledge, has written as follows:--

"Spinning is largely concentrated in south Lancashire and in the
adjoining borderland of north Cheshire. But even within this area
there is further allocation. The finer and the very finest yarns are
spun in the neighbourhood of Bolton, and in or near Manchester, much
of this being used for the manufacture of sewing-thread; whilst other
descriptions, employed almost entirely for weaving, are produced in
Oldham and other towns. The weaving branches of the industry are
chiefly conducted in the northern half of Lancashire--most of it in
very large boroughs, as Blackburn, Burnley and Preston. Here, again,
there is a differentiation. Preston and Chorley produce the finer and
lighter fabrics; Blackburn, Darwen and Accrington, shirtings, dhooties
and other goods extensively shipped to India; whilst Nelson and Colne
make cloths woven from dyed yarn, and Bolton is distinguished for fine
quiltings and fancy cotton dress goods. These demarcations are not
absolutely observed, but they are sufficiently clear to give to each
town in the area covered by the cotton industry a distinctive place in
its general organization."[40]

The present local distribution of the cotton industry, as far as it is
displayed statistical