Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-12-17
INCREASE OF COTTON
IN OTHER COUNTRIES
AgriCuIturiStS Have Worked for
Many Years to Increase
the Foreign Yield

the United States prouces such a
large proportion Of the cotton consumed
by the world, that, to secure good
prices for the staple. it has been pro-
posed to establish a mammoth selling
agency to handle the entire crop, in the
same way Brazil. which supplies the
greatest part Of the worlds coffee, dis
poses of IT'S coffee crop. How long the
South will continue to furnish the
greater part Of the cotton of the world,
is a question Of some interest
In 1911 the cotton consumed by the
world was, roughly. 100000 bales. of
which the United States produced 60
per cent; in 1900 the consumption was
13,500.000, of which the United States
produced 20 per cent; in 1880 the con-
sumption was 100000 of which the
United States produced about 80 per
cent. The proportion of the cotton sup
piled by the United States will thus be
seen to be steadily decreasing.
All over the world, wherever 1t is pos
sible to grow cotton, the leading man
ufacturing nations of Europe-Germa-
ny, England. and France, are making
serious efforts to increase the produc-
ton of cotton to free themselves of de-
pendence upon the American supply.
Then years ago experiments of this ma
ture were haphazard; today expert ag-
riculturists are directing operations in
India, Turkestan, Nigeria, the Sudan,
Egypt. Brazil; determining not only
the various conditions of soil and eli
mate to be met and overcome, but also
educating the natives in methods of Gull
tivation. Hitherto the greatest obsta-
Gle to the successful cultivation of cot
ton in Africa, South America, and the
Orient has been lack of transportation,
irrigation and markets. Ambitious pro-
jects of huge scope are now under way
to eliminate these factors. Persia is
being tapped by a Russian; Turkestan
is being opened, and irrigation projects
started; railways are being built in
South America, the Sudan, India and
Turkestan.
The countries from whicvh the South
may expect the most determined compe-
tition are Brazil, India, Egypt, and Tur-
kestan. But Asia Minor, Persia, French
Indo-Cnina, China, British East Indies
South America, Mexico and Central
America, the whole world in fact, are
lining up, and increasing the cotton pro-
duction in great surges. In 1900, the
entire world excepting India, China
Egypt and Brazil produced only 100000
bales; in 1910 the production was $780,
600 bales Brazil in 1900 produced S.
600 bales; in 1910 the production was
500, 900 bales Forty years ago India
raised about 100000; in 1910 the pro-
duction was 4,0O0.0 bales. China has
been growing cotton for centuries, and
is today supplying four-fifths of its do
nestle need, the greater part being
ginned by hand and woven on hand
looms. From 100000 in 1895. Egypt
has increased production to 1,450,000 in
1911.
There is yet an immense area OF
land in the South that might be Guilt
waited in cotton. The South could
easily put in the present acreage once
again. That would mean a $4,000, 00O,-
bale crop per year without improving
cultural methods. The average acre OF
cotton land in the South is not yielding
much better than one-third bale. I'm
der intensive farming an acre has pro-
duced as high as three bales to the acre
Cotton manufacturing in the United
States has increased more rapidly than
production. In 1880 there were TO-
$4,000 spindles being operated; and
in 1911 there were nearly 30,000,000. II
is conceivable that the cotton manufac-
turing interests of the United States
might utilize, at no very remote period
the entire domestic production.