RAW COTTON 



GOSSYPIUM 



TRADE 



Jii.OOO bales ; in the following year the corresponding figures 

 21,072,000 acres and 3,426,000 bales; and to 7 are esti- 



mate 144,000 acres with 4,908,000 bales. These are the actual 



us, as also the estimates for all India (British ami Native States). 



"> the yield of the British districts alone came approximate h to 



illion halts, vvhile the exports and mill consumption to^-ther came 



.590,413 bales. In 1905-6 the Final General \: <lum estimates 



the yield in British districts only at about 2,244,000 bales, while the mill 



umption is said to have been 2,025,733 bales and the exports appro xi- 

 m.itelv L',000,000 bales. Going back to previous years, in 1903-4 the 

 acreage was 18,042,781, the outturn 3,168,113 bales ; the foreign exports 

 7,931,075 cwt. (or 2,220,701 bales), thus leaving a balance (plus 

 tlif produce of Native States) of 947,412 bales as available to meet local 

 demands. But the scarcity of cotton in Europe, then prevalent, very 



. i'ly created a stronger demand for Indian cotton than can be regarded 

 as normal. It may, therefore, be desirable to examine the returns of 



vear previous. In 1902-3 the crop was 16,581,046 acres, yielding 

 3,367,030 bales, and the exports to foreign countries 1,692,545 bales, 

 hus leaving a balance to meet local demands of 1,674,485 bales, or exactly 

 i me- half the production. At the present day the hand-loom weavers 

 rarely spin their own yarn, but purchase supplies either of the imported 

 or of the Indian mill-spun yarn. It may thus be accepted that the balance 

 of production over the demands of the Indian mills is available for the 

 foreign markets. 



Exports. During the past seven years the following were the 

 x{>orts in cwts. and rupee values: 1900-1, 3,575,703 cwt. and Rs. 

 HU:.', 74,007; 1901-2, 5,700,014 cwt. and Rs. 4,42,60,933 ; 1902-3, 

 .<>44,806 cwt. and Rs. 14,75,71,981 ; 1903-4, 7, 931,075 cwt. and Rs. 

 24,37,61,464; 1904-5, 5,657,743 cwt. and Rs. 17,43,46,872; 1905-6, 

 7,399,534 cwt. and Rs. 21,34,15,195; and 1906-7, 7,400,839 cwt. and Rs. 

 21,94,84,609. These figures thus show an average valuation of close on 

 fifteen crores of rupees; and if we assume an equal valuation for the 

 share of the crop retained (well under the mark), the total value of the 

 cotton raised in India would not be far short of thirty crores, or say 

 i"J< '.000,000. 



Low Grade. Reference has already been made to the degeneration 

 that has taken place in the staple grown in India. The cultivators have 

 allowed themselves to be driven into the production of an inferior staple 

 or they have deliberately selected to grow that class of cotton. If the 

 manufacturer would pay no more for a long than for a short staple, 

 the Indian cultivators naturally sought out the plant that could give 

 Them the highest and most profitable yield. It is not surprising, 

 therefore, that within the past thirty years or so the fine long-stapled 

 cottons of India the cottons that at one time were much admired and 



1 a ready sale in Europe have gradually disappeared, and that 

 inferior but highly productive, early ripening and hardy races have taken 

 tl -ir places (or are rapidly doing so). But the change that has come 

 over the cotton industry may be spoken of as a consequence of various 

 influences. The Indian mills having at hand an inferior staple, con- 



-ated their attention on low-count yarns and inferior piece goods. 

 So successful were they that in a remarkably short time they closed the 

 Indian doors to imported goods of that class. England, on the other 



621 



VHM tr, III 



OMfeB. 



il i.'i I--|' 



Exports. 



Total 

 Value. 



Change in 

 Staple. 



Low ooont 

 Yams. 



