168 TROPICAL AGRICULTURE 



production of the crop. They may, however, be pruned back 

 so as to produce three crops in two years under tropical con- 

 ditions. 



The total world production of cotton in 1915 was about 20,- 

 000,000 bales of 500 pounds each, of which the United States 

 produced 11,000,000 bales. The crop of the United States 

 has varied considerably in recent years, having been as high 

 as 16,000,000 bales in one year. The United States was the 

 first country to engage in the business of cotton' production in 

 an aggressive manner, and has constantly occupied a dominant 

 position in this industry. As an indication of this dominant 

 position of the United States it may be well to quote the figures 

 of the cotton production for 1913. In that year the United 

 States produced 14,157,000 bales, British India 3,857,000, 

 Egypt 1,565,000, Russia 657,000, Brazil 277,000, Mexico 200,- 

 ooo, and Peru 110,000. Texas produces about 31 per cent, of 

 the total cotton crop of the United States. In the order of 

 importance in cotton production, Texas is followed by Georgia, 

 Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, South 

 Carolina, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Sea Island cotton 

 is grown in the United States only along the coast of South 

 Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Egyptian cotton is grown to 

 some extent in Arizona and California. All other cotton dis- 

 tricts of the United States are occupied with Upland cotton. 



The total export of cottonseed oil from cotton-producing 

 countries is about 45,000,000 gallons, of which the United 

 States exports 35,000,000 gallons. Cottonseed oil is further 

 discussed under oils. 



Rather determined efforts are being made in various parts 

 of the tropical and semitropical world to increase the acreage 

 of cotton. Possibilities for a considerable extension of the cot- 

 ton industry exist in India, Egypt, southern Russia, and in the 

 European colonies in Africa. Whether or not the cotton in- 

 dustries in these countries will be sufficiently great to take from 

 the United States the leadership in this industry will depend 



