PERUVIAN COTTON 69 



PERU AND PERUVIAN VARIETIES 



The greater part of the Peruvian cotton crop is 

 grown in the deep alluvial soil of the river-valleys 

 situated between the sea-coast and the Andes. This 

 region is characterised by an exceedingly low rainfall, 

 and elaborate systems of irrigation have therefore 

 been established. During recent years the produc- 

 tion has undergone a rapid increase. The crop 

 amounted to about 13 million Ib. in 1899, and to 

 nearly 48 million Ib. in 1909. The approximate 

 production in 1910 was estimated at 47 million Ib. ; 

 in 1911,48 million Ib.; in 1912, 53 million Ib.; and 

 in 1913, 71 million Ib. The principal varieties grown 

 are " smooth " Peruvian and " rough " Peruvian, 

 but Sea Island and Egyptian Mitafifi are also culti- 

 vated to a small extent. The relative quantities 

 of these cottons produced may be illustrated by 

 reference to the amounts exported in 1909, which 

 were approximately as follows : " smooth " Peru- 

 vian, 30,800,000 Ib. ; " rough " Peruvian, 15,700,000 

 Ib. ; and Sea Island and Mitafifi, 1,200,000 Ib. 



"Smooth" Peruvian. This cotton is of a type 

 resembling ordinary American Upland, and is about 

 i'O 1*2 inches long. The plants are usually cut 

 down after the first crop has been picked and allowed 

 to grow up again for a second year. The second year's 

 crop is about 20 per cent, smaller than that of the 

 first year. 



" Rough " Peruvian. This is the true Peruvian 

 cotton (Gossypium peruvianum) and is only grown 

 in the regions of Piura and lea, where the atmosphere 

 is warmer and drier than in other parts of the coastal 

 area. The plants are grown as perennials, being left 

 in the ground for five or six years. The seeds 

 of this tree-cotton are of the " kidney " type, being 

 thus designated owing to those in each cell of the boll 

 being united to one another to form a kidney-shaped 

 mass. The fibre is of a peculiarly harsh and crinkly 

 nature, and is much prized for these qualities which 

 render it particularly suitable for spinning in con- 



