CHAPTER XII. 



THE KING S REALM, THE LAND OF SUNSHINE 



The great cotton producing section of the 

 United States lies a little below latitude 37. This 

 nearly coincides with a line drawn from Norfolk, 

 Virginia, to Cairo, Illinois, and marks the northern 

 limit of profitable cotton culture. (Of course, the 

 cooler mountain region of this section must be 

 eliminated.) 



Here then is the Cotton Belt of America, and 

 to this region the world looks for its annual supply 

 of raw cotton. New areas, favorable to cotton 

 production, will be developed, as time goes on, 

 but for all time to come the present cotton -growing 

 States will likely furnish the greater portion of the 

 world's needs. 



PECULIAR CLIMATE OF THE COTTON BELT 



The Cotton Belt has a somewhat variable climate. 

 From its geographical situation it is naturally of 

 moderate extremes, and favored by the winds that 

 sweep over its territory. That equable tempera- 

 ture which characterizes the zone of Gulf Stream 

 influences has promoted the growth of the various 

 agricultural and horticultural industries. Or- 

 chards and vineyards thrive in the genial climate; 

 trucking crops are nowhere better favored ; one can 



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