COTTON 501 



up as fast as it comes. The difficulty can only be met 

 by increasing- the value of the crop, by raising the average 

 yield, and improving the quality. The only alternative 

 is a higher price, or at least the maintenance of a level 

 of prices which we at present regard as excessive. The 

 time is rapidly approaching, if it has not already arrived, 

 when less than half a bale an acre of 10 or even 12 cent 

 cotton will no longer pay the bulk of the planters. 



That such an improvement, both in average yield and 

 quality, is already possible is fortunately beyond doubt. 

 New types of cotton which give a heavier yield of better 

 staple cotton are now being placed on the market in 

 considerable numbers; but much remains to be done in 

 the way of improving the local conditions under which 

 the crop is marketed in the districts, so as to secure to 

 the enterprising farmer the full market value of superior 

 cotton. This question and the closely allied problem of 

 better baling methods in America are too big to be 

 handled here; but the writer was convinced that the only 

 thing which will lead to serious attempts being made to 

 tackle these questions is the awakening of the spinners 

 to the fact that something must be done, and that they 

 ought to take a hand in the doing of it. What is wanted 

 is closer relations between the producers and the con- 

 sumers. The geographical distance between them has 

 produced a state of mutual ignorance of each other's 

 conditions and requirements, which is not good for either 

 section of the trade. 



If nothing is done it seems almost certain that the 

 extension of the American crop will be seriously retarded. 

 The writer does not wish to be unduly pessimistic, but it 

 is well to remember that there are countries in the world 

 where cotton could be grown to advantage but for the 

 fact that labour is lacking. In the Argentine, for 

 example, cotton growing might have been established on 

 a large scale ere this but for the fact that labour is scarce 

 and dear. Let America take warning if she would escape 

 serious injury to her cotton crop. One cannot help 

 wondering whether the future may not see a great re- 

 distribution in the chief cotton-growing areas in the 

 world. The most striking development during the past 

 thirty years has been the extension of cotton growing 



