The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-09-08


growing section in the word. both in
extent and in production. is located
IN the southern and southeastern parts
OF the United States. 1t includes
small portions Of Virginia, Kentucky.
Missouri, Kansas, and New Mexico,
ana the States lying to the south. This
cottOn-producing area is about 1900
mlleS long, from east to west, and
about 500 miles in width. Within
the past few years the cultivation of
cotton has been undertaken in Ari-
zona and California, on irrigated
land, with considerable success, es-
pecially in the latter State. The
growing Of other valuable crops, how
ever, will likely prevent any apprecia-
Die increase in the production in these
States.
Some idea of the importance of cot
ton production in the United States
from an economic standpoint may
| be had when it is considered that
! ext to corn, cotton is the most valua-
| bic crop grown in the country and
that cotton is the largest single item
! Of export. The value Of the cotton
crop of 1909 represented Is per cent
| of the total value OF all the crops of
the country. The value of cotton ex-
| ported during the fiscal year 1911
amounted to $547.357,195, or 225
| per cent of the total value of all ar
ticles Of domestic merchandise ex-
ported during the year. These large
exports, combined with the more than
| 100000 bales consumed in domestic
manufacture, strikingly indicate the
| Importance of cotton in the economic
| affairs of the Nation.
1t is therefore not surprising that
the Federal and State governments
are giving so much attention to this
he inv c>trr Ei1N,c
| mentS have covered every phase OF
| the subject and have aided greatly
not only in increasing the production
of cotton but in propagating varieties
suited to the varying conditions Of
soil, moisture, insect life, etc, found
throughout the cotton belt.
India.
Cotton has long been an important
agricultural product of India, where il
in making cloth for garments. Until
has been used from time immemorial
in comparatively recent years the
fiber was used almost entirely fol
home consumption. and therefore in
formation as to the quantity produced
is not available. The crop of 1890
however, has been estimated at 26O,
900 equivalent 500-pOund bales; thai
OF 1859, at 1,316,SO0 bales; that ot
1865, at 2,09O,40 bales; and that o-
1913. at 4,160,80O bales.
|
Memorandum on the cotton crop O.
1913-14 issued by the Indian Govern
ment on February 25, the total out
turn is estimated at s.16O,SOO bale:
Of 500 pounds each. AS rule, th'
government estimates are too lov
, when considered in connection will
: the figures of cotton exported and O
, cotton consumed While the esti
) mates in some years closely approx
mate the movement. in other year
they are very much below 1t.
There were 24,595,000 acres plant
, ed in cotton in India in 1918, an IN
| crease of 2,567,000 acres over 19lZ
cotton in that country. The crop o
} 1918 was 472,S0O bales larger thai
that of 1912, and exceeded that G
1906, the second largest crop, p
4 234.4OO bales. and the average TO
the period covered by the table o:
I 100000 bales. This increase il
: production was due, in part. to tn
! relatively large increase in the ares
e | planted and in part to more faVorapi
. conditions during the growing season
a | The average yield per acre IN l9i
t | was 50 pounds, an amount "oeIuli
. small when compared with the aver
e age production in other countries
4 This seems all the more strange Whel
n consideration is given to the fact ina
n the population of the country as
S whole is very dense and that the vaiu
: Of the land for the raising or Ioou
h stuffs must be cOrrespondlnSiy grea'
V 1,he average production per acre 70
d the different provinces varies sisa.a
: ranging from "A pou2ds in Hydera
0 had and 7e pounds in Madras to Il
mounds in the United Provinces an
S $50 poAnds in Sind. Ralnfai IS oe
: nended on very largely for the sup
0 nly of moisture in CROWNS the co.
ton crop. The dry seasons IN it, so,tio
y the provinces are sothe''"7'