Imperial Valley press., 1914-06-23

/ 1906 to 1910, though since then there
has been some increase. In 1906 the
production of the state amounted to
9S7,779 bales, while in 1910 the
amount was only 245,648 bales. This
rapid decline was due largely to the
ravages of the boil weevil and to the
consequent diversion of cotton lands
/ to the cultivation of sugar cane, rice,
and other crops.
4 The Imperial Valley in southern
California seems TO be well suited to
/ the cultivation of cotton. This section
/ has rich soil, warm climate, y
/ long season, and situated as it is on
+ a lower level than the Colorado Riv-
er, the further advantage of being
easiy susceptible to irrigation. The
high cost of labor for picking cot
ton, however, is drawback, while
the suitability of the land for other
crops undoubtedly restricts, to some
extent, its culture. Cotton has been
grown in this locality on commercial
basis for only a few years. There
were 1886 bales gnned in 1910, 9,790
in 1911, S,215 in 1912, and 22,S3S in
1918. 1t has been reported that the
acreage planted to cotton in 1914 in
the Imperial Valley will show large
increase over that in 1913, whie the
probable production is variously esti.
mated from $4,000 to 100000 bales.
There We're 2,299 bales reported as
ginned in Arizona from the crop of
1913. The largest part of this has
the same characteristics as that
grown in Egypt, having been propa-
gated from seed brought from that
country. The cotton is grown on irri-
gated land and the average yield is
high. The area to be devoted to this
staple in 1914 shows large increase
over that of 1913, the amount being
variously estimated from 10000 to
$4,000 acres.
The Sea-Island cotton crop of 1913
amounted to 1853 bales, or 29,S40,-
900 pounds gross weight. While
slightly larger than the preceding
crop, it was one of the smallest pro-
duced since the Inauguration of the
ginning reports of the Census Bureau
in 1899. The average quantity of Sea
Island cotton produced each year is
equivalent to about $4,000 bales of 500
pounds each. Of this amount about
$4,000 bales are exported and $4,000
bales are consumed in this country.
The best Sea-Island ctoton produced
in the United States is grown on the
islands off the scoast of South Caro-
lima, by planters who have for many
years paid the most careful attention
to seed selection The Sea-Island cot
ton now being grown in the West In
dies is said to surpass the average
American product and completes with
that grown in South Carolina rather
than with the less valuable varieties
grown in Florida and Georgia. How
ever, the total exports of Sea-Island
cotton from the British West Indies
for the year ending September 80,
1918, were only 4,309 bales of 500
pounds each.
The Worlds Production of Cotton
AS compiled from various sources,
the worlds production Of cotton in
1913, exclusive of linters, measured
by the factory supply-that is, the
quantity entering commercial chan
rels-was 22,225,00O bales of 500
pounds net. This compares with 2O,-
$4,000 bales in 1912, 21,269, 900 bales
in 1911, and 1924 900 bales in 1909.
The United States is the only coun-
try which has provided an adequate
statistical service to ascertain the
quantity of cotton produced each
year. The governments of India,
Egypt, and Russia compile and pub
lish estimates from time to time dur
ing the season, and it is sad that the
Indian Government proposes to es-
tablish a system of enumerating the
bales at the presses. In arriving at
the production in foreign countries, it
was therefore necessary to rely on
consular reports, trade publications,
special correspondence, and other mis-
cellaneous sources.
Of the total world production Of
commercial cotton in 1913 the United
States contributed 500 per cent; In
dia, III per cent; Egypt, &C per cent;
China, Sd per cent; and Russia, 4.J'
per cent. Some idea of the Importance
of cotton production in the United
States from an economic standpoint
may be had when it is considered that,
EeXt to corn, cotton is the most val
liable crop grown in this country and
that cotton is the largest single item