COTTON 105 



grow (and with profit) any agricultural plant in- 

 digenous to America in almost any State in the 

 belt. But though other crops are grown, cotton 

 here is indeed king, and with improved soil con- 

 ditions and wiser cultural methods will become 

 recognized as the most powerful plant monarch 

 in all the world. 



For profitable production, cotton requires: 



A relatively high temperature 



A long growing season 



A moderate and well-distributed rainfall 

 throughout the growing season 



A small amount of rain at maturing time 



A great deal of sunshine. 



These conditions are found in the Cotton Belt 

 to a greater degree than anywhere else in the world. 

 When they are prominent as features of any sea- 

 son a maximum yield is produced. But let the 

 growing season be short, the rainfall excessive, the 

 amount of sunshine small, or the summer cool and 

 cloudy, and the whole world will know in advance 

 of the harvest that a small crop has been produced. 



RELATIVELY HIGH TEMPERATURE REQUIRED 



Broadly speaking the mean temperature is from 

 15 to 20 degrees higher in North Carolina, Georgia, 

 Alabama, and Texas than in Massachusetts, 

 Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Illinois. 



In winter the mean temperature is from 20 to 

 25 degrees higher in the South and in summer from 

 10 to 15 degrees higher. This climatic condition 

 is especially favorable to cotton culture, since it 

 means a long season free from frost or low temper- 

 atures. Cotton enjoys a warm atmosphere, or even 

 a hot atmosphere provided it is moist and reason- 



