The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-06-22
COTTON REPORT ISSUED.
Increased Demand for Upland Cot-
ton Has Resulted in the Devel
opment of Better Grades.

Washington, June 1S.-Daniel C.
Roper, of the United States census
bureau. has just prepared a compre-
hensive report on the cotton industry
in the United States last year.
In reference to the cultivation Of
sea island cotton this reports says ::
The. cultivation Of sea island cotton
in the United States at the present
time, as shown by returns of ginners,
is confined to II counties in Florida,
26 in Georgia, and 4 in South Caro-
lima, or a total Of II counties. It is
not grown, however, throughout the
counties from which it is returned.
The area given to this culture in
1899, as returned at the 1900 census,
and which has probably not changed
materially, was 3l7,445 acres,
distributed as follows: Georgia
170,756: Florida. l22,7S7, and
South Carolina, 23,902 Experiments
have been made in many other parts
of these States. and in other States,
10 grow this cotton but 50 unsatisfac-
tory have been the results that all ef-
forts to grow it outside Of certain
well-defned areas in the States named
have been abandoned. Farmers who
grow sea island cotton in the interior
secure new seed frequently from the
coast regions in order to preserve its
identity. as the fiber degenerates rap
idly into that Of upland cotton. The
distribution Of sea island cotton by
counties for the last FIVE years will be
found in table Is, and the localities
producing it are represented on map
!, page "a.
Demand Brings Improvement.
The increased demand in recent
years for superior staples is Develop
ing better varieties Of upland cotton
by seed selection and more careful
cultivation. The United States de-
partment of agriculture has been and
is now rendering very valuable se:-
vice in assisting the growers along
these lines. The long staples grown
chiefly in the portion Of the MiSsiS-
sippi Valley. which extends from
Vicksburg to Memphis. region about
81 miles wide and 200 miles long. are
receiving more attention than hereto
fore. The fiber Of much Of the cotton
grown in this territory measures from
one and one-fourth to one and seven
eighth inches in length, and the av-
erage yield is about one bale to the
acre. The seeds Of these fancy varie-
ties have been planted in localities
outside Of this region the Hast two or
three years with gratifying results,
as the staple not infrequ@ntly COM
mands preminm Of from 5 to 10
cents pound over middling upland.
Unfortunately, few of the localities
producing this cotton are supplied
with the ginning facilities best suited
for the proper treatment Of the fiber;
saw gins, which cut and break the fi5-
er, are generally employed. In con-
trast with this practice attention Is
directed to the fact that the Egyp-
tian and sea island cottons are treat
ed by roller gins. which contribute to
regularity and uniformity in the fb-
er.
The increase in the imports Of for
eign cottons which come in competl-
ton with sea island and other super
ior cottons grown in this country has
aroused the American growers, as IS
evidenced by the fact that, when the
Payne tariff bill was recently under
consideration. representatives Of the
growers Of sea island cotton and OF
the best varieties produced in the
Mississippi Valley petitioned congress
for the speedy enactment OF an
amendment to the tariff laws, by
which an import duty Of not less than
20 per cent. would be imposed on the
market valuation Of all foreign grown
cotton imported into America, which
can be used as a substitute or compet-
itor bv American mills against SINH