The leader., 1903-01-03
FARMER ANDPLANTER.
THE WORLDS COTTON CROP.
Eleven states md Territories of
This Country Produce the Larg-
err Portion of II.

Cotton is the most important vege-
table fiber in the world, commercially
and intrinsically. The cotton crop of
the world, of which the American crop
is the larger portion, at present yields
and prices. has money value of more
than billion of dollars. The Ameri-
can crop alone grown in eleven states
and territories, is worth to the pro-
ducers about 5000. 900. 600 This great
staple was grown and utilized in India
before history had begun to chronicle
passing events. 1t was also grown in
China at the same time The plant
IS supposed to be a native of the sub
tropical and tropical portions of Asia.
Africa and South America, and con-
slsts OF numerous species and endless
varieties. The great commercial i'm
portance of this plant began with the
invention of the saw gin, by Eli Whit
ney, in 1893. Up to that time the fiber
was separated from the seed by hand.
one pound per day being the average
per hand per day. The year in which
the saw gin was invented also saw the
hrst American cotton mill established.
others rapidly following. That was
ITO years ago. From that year TO the
present progress has been rapid both
in the production and manufacture of
cotton in this country. Up to recent
years cotton factories were confined to
the far eastern states but another cot
ton revolution has occurred, and fac
tories are rapidly springing up in the
southern states, in response to an eco
nomic necessity, until now the south
ern mills consume more OF the annual
cotton of the country than those of
the north, and this revolution is de-
stin : to progress until the entire cot
ton growing region of the south will
be taxed to its utmost to supply raw
material 10 the southern cotton mills.
The utilization of the seed of the cotton
has also added largely to the value of
the crop. About 10000 200 gallons of
oil is annually expressed from the seed,
and large amount of seed is returned
to the soil as a fertilizer and another
large amount of seed is fed to cattle.
besides the oil cake and meal and the
hulls The demand for cotton is rap
idly oyertaling the supply, and as
only limited section of the country is
adapted TO its profitable production,
there is an urgent necessity for better
seed, better methods of cultivation and
larger yield per acre. It is some
what remarkable that although cotton
has been grown in the lands of its
nativity for many thousands of years,
but little progress has been made, al
though no defects of climate or soil
are known and cheap labor is abund-
ant. Neither have these countries
made profitable progress in manufac-
turing cotton fabrics, but are good GUS
toners of the American and British
manufacturers. In fact much of the
cotton grown in Asia and Africa is ex-
ported to Europe and America to be
manufactured, and is again exported
to the countries where it was grown,
for sale and use. But while criticising
these countries for their lack of pro-
gressive business methods. we must adj
nit that for nearly century the cot
ton growing states of America did the
same thing. With infinite labor they
grew the cotton and sent it to New En-
gland, or old England, for few cents
per pound and purchased the same cot
ton, after being made into articles
ready for use at several dollars per
pound. But that is changed now, and
in a few years our southern states will
grow the great American crop and ex-
port the finished product, and receive
the financial reward of both the pro-
Farm and Ranch.