Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-05-18
ENGLAND Sees
COTTON HOPEINFl''
CROP OF INDIA

LONDON, May y7.-The desire of
British cotton spinners to emancipate
themselves from their dependency up
on American cotton has led to an in
quiry to the Indian cotton production.
The Lancashire cotton industry espec-
| tally desires to use more of the prod
ucts of the empire and prepare for the
time when American manufacturers
will use the bulk of the cotton produc-
ed in the Southern states
For many years the entire depend
ence of the Lancashire mills On the
United States for the average grades
| of cotton has been recognized as a
weakness in the organization of the in
dustry. The rapid increase of the
worlds demand for cotton has at the
same time pointed to the need for de-
veloping other cotton fields. Americas
own requirements are steadily grow
ing and naturally American spinners
are in the most favorable position for
purchasing the American crop. There
must also of necessity be limit to
the production of the cotton belt of
the Southern states, though how far
the limit might be pushed back, with
competition enhancing the price, and
so making it profitable to plant the
less suitable tracts with cotton, is not
matter for exact calculation.
Meanwhile, the average size of the
American crop can only be increased
by the inducement of higher price
sufficient to make cotton users think
seriously. Lancashire has long desir-
ed Empire-grown cotton, and the en-
terprise of the British cotton growing
associations is a practical expression
of that desire. But the Cotton Grow
ing association has been able to do
little beyond pioneer and experimental
work. The real task of production on
a commercial scale in a new country
seems too vast for a private corpora
ton
Relief From India,
India, however, is not a new coun-
try, and cotton growing is one of its
established industries. Among the
cotton growing countries India ranks
second to the United States. A sur
vey- of the cotton fields under the flag
brings the conviction that it is to In
dia we must look for any large addi-
ton, within a reasonable time, to our
supplies of cotton of a grade equal to
the American. Experts state that with
comparatively little trouble the size
The soil on the whole is fertile, the
climate is suitable, and the population
is industrious and the cotton crop is
profitable Scarcely any part of the
plant is waste; the leaves are eaten
by cattle and the seeds, which are us
ually three times the weight of the
fibre, are excellent for cattle feeding
cake.
The necessity also for the alterna-
ton of cotton and grain crops is not to
be overlooked when considering the
needs of thickly populated country
like India.
1t would appear, therefore, that the
interests of Lancashire and of India
can be equally promoted by the extern
sion of cotton growing. An increase
of the cotton acreage alone will not
be of much benefit to Lancashire.
There must be considerable improve
ment of the quality. Before the war
70 per cent. of the Indian crop was
exported and the export was mainly of
the lower grades, the bulk of it going
to Germany During the war Japan
has partially taken Germany's place
as a purchaser. These lower grades
of cotton are valueless to Lancashire
spinners and that is why they desire
an improvement in the quality of the
crop.
A government commission, repre-
sentative of Lancashire and Indian in
terests, made prolonged inquiry into
the subject last year and the publica
ton of its report will be an event of
no small Importance.
staff Increase Needed.
1t is believed to be beyond dispute
that measures for improving the cron
will require a preliminary increase of
the staff of the Agricultural Depart
ment of India. An extension of the