CULTIVATION OF PLANTS. J77 



Africa; and the chief clothing of the inhabitants of South Ame- 

 rica and Mexico, was of cotton when the continent was first 

 discovered by the Spaniards. It was probably grown and used 

 largely in Arabia, India, America and Africa by the ancients. 

 In China, its cultivation began in the 13th century, for the pur- 

 poses of manufacture, though previously raised in gardens for 

 ornament. In the West Indies, cotton was grown first in 1776, 

 at St. Domingo, but earlier in other islands. It was first planted 

 or cultivated in Brazil in 1781, for exportation. In 1786, cot- 

 ton was first grown in the United States, and the first exporta- 

 tion, of which we have any account, was in the year 1770, of 

 foreign growth, when five bales or bags were exported. The 

 first exportation of native growth took place in 1791. 



The capital employed in the cultivation of cotton in the 

 United States, is estimated by the Secretary of the Treasury at 

 nine hundred and eighteen millions of dollars. It includes two 

 millions of acres of land devoted to the culture of cotton, at 

 twenty dollars per acre; three hundred and forty thousand field 

 hands, with the lands, stock, and labour necessary to maintain 

 them, &c. The estimate of the number of labourers is based 

 upon the supposition of one field labourer to every six acres of 

 cotton. Some, however, think that as many as five hundred 

 and fifty thousand hands are employed; but all, not constantly, 

 in the cotton culture. 



The quantity exported in 1790, was four hundred thousand; 

 in 1791, two hundred thousand; and in 1792, one hundred 

 and fifty thousand pounds. Its diminution even in the last two 

 named years, furnishing, even in the absence of all other testi- 

 mony, the most conclusive evidence of the difficulty of prepar- 

 ing the commodity for market. In 1795, after the saw-gin 

 had begun to operate to a considerable extent, the export was 

 six millions two hundred and fifty thousand pounds. From this 

 period, the exportation has gradually increased to its present 

 extent being in the year 1835, the last year stated by Secre- 

 tary WOODBURY, three hundred and thirty-six millions five 

 hundred thousand pounds. From other authentic sources we 

 have ascertained that the exports of 1836, was upwards of 

 four hundred and twenty-three millions of pounds. 



The whole of the exportation of cotton from the United 

 States, during the first three years before stated, (1790-1-2,) 

 would hardly suffice for the cargo of a single ship of the size 

 now usually employed in freighting it to Europe; while, in 

 1836, if we add to the quantity exported that used in the 

 middle states for domestic purposes and our extensive manu- 

 factures, which cannot be fairly estimated at less than one 

 hundred and twenty-five millions of pounds, the aggregate 



