COTTON PRODUCTION 71 



other parts of South America, including Colombia 

 and Venezuela. Attempts are being made to develop 

 the industry in Argentina. 



PRODUCTION IN OTHER COUNTRIES 



Mexico. Cotton was extensively grown in Mexico 

 by the native Indians before the Spanish Conquest, 

 and it is estimated that the annual production at that 

 time amounted to about 116 million Ib. Under the 

 rule of the Spaniards the industry gradually declined 

 until in certain parts of the country it was altogether 

 abandoned. Since 1882, however, cotton growing 

 has again received attention, and it is not improbable 

 that Mexico will become an important contributor 

 to the world's cotton supply. There are large areas 

 well adapted to the plant in several of the States, but 

 the principal region of production is the Laguna 

 district in the States of Coahuila and Durango, where 

 about 8p per cent, of the total crop is grown. The 

 cultivation is carried on in this district under irriga- 

 tion, controlled by works on the Nazas river. The 

 fibre produced in this region is about 1*4 inches long, 

 and of good strength, but is finer and less silky than 

 American Upland cotton. 



In many parts of the country, the cultivation is 

 still conducted in a very primitive manner, but in 

 the Laguna country and particularly on the Tlahua- 

 klo estate, owned by English and American capita- 

 lists, modern methods are employed. The cotton is 

 liable to the attack of many pests, including the boll- 

 weevil (Anthbnomus grandis). The crop of 1908 is 

 estimated to have amounted to about 70 million Ib. 

 and that of 1913 to about 75 million Ib. During 

 recent years, an immense manufacturing industry 

 has sprung up, with the result that not only is the 

 whole of the crop consumed locally, but a certain 

 quantity of Texas cotton is imported. 



Asiatic Russia. Cotton is grown on an extensive 

 scale in Turkestan and Transcaucasia. 



Cotton growing is a very ancient industry in 

 6 



