.COTTON PROBLEMS IX LOUISIANA. 11 



this cotton in South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida have had difficulty 

 in selling- their recent crops.^ 



If the tendency to substitution can be resisted by educating the 

 public regarding the superior strength and durability of long-staple 

 cotton the prospects of long-staple production in Louisiana and else- 

 where will be greatly improved. The general use of inferior fiber in 

 all of our ordinary clothing and household fabrics represents in the 

 aggregate an enormous tax upon the consuming public. Indeed, it 

 would be difficult to mention any other element of industrial waste 

 that affects so many people and in so many ways as the use of inferior 

 cotton fiber. That means of protection will be found eventually can 

 hardly be doubted, but it is impossible to tell in advance how long 

 it will take or to give any assurances regarding the immediate future 

 of the long-staple industry. Although good prices have been realized 

 in the last few years, the recent tendencies of the market have been 

 distinctly downward, for no apparent reason unless it be that the 

 success of further steps in the direction of substitution of short 

 staples has resulted in a further reduction of the demand. A slight 

 increase of production of long staples has occurred in the Carolinas, 

 but hardly more than enough to supply the neighboring mills. 



THE RELATION OF COTTON TO OTHER TROPICAL CROPS. 



Cotton having become less reliable as a single crop on account of 

 the boll weevil, there is greater need of combining it with other crops, 

 in order to make the agricultural system stable as a whole. Hence, 

 the possibility of introducing other profitable crops should receive 

 attention. It would be a mistake to consider cotton alone if any 

 special investigations or experiments are to be undertaken in the 

 interest of the Louisiana cotton industr3\ A full development of 

 the agricultural resources of Louisiana is likely to require the adop- 

 tion of special crops as well as special methods of farming. In view 

 of her fertility of soil, abundant moisture, and long gi'owing seasons 

 Louisiana must be considered as one of the richest, potentially, of 

 the agricultural areas of the United States. The summer climate of 

 Louisiana is really tropical and some of the tropical crops may be 

 found useful. 



While many tropical crops have been planted experimentally in 

 Louisiana it can not be said that there has been any adequate canvass 



^ The possibility of establisliing Sea Island cotton in Louisiana is often suggested, but 

 the danger of weevil injury would probably be greater, and the Sea Island cotton does 

 not seem likely to become a profitable crop on account of low yield, late maturity, and 

 small size of bolls that increases the difficulty of picking. Some of these objections 

 would also attach to the Egyptian cotton in Louisiana, though perhaps to a less extent. 

 If grown at all, these cottons would have to be taken up by separate communities where 

 no Upland cotton was planted. Another consideration with the Sea Island cotton is 

 that active competition is being developed in some of the West In,dies, where there arc 

 no boll weevils. 

 [Cir. 130] 



