CHAPTEE XI. 

 COTTON 



Inteoductory. — Eecords seem to show that cotton was 

 first used in India, whence its use spread to China. The 

 Chinese cultivated cotton extensively during the 6th century. 

 It is known to have existed in Egypt at a very early date, but 

 apparently its cultivation was not general there until compara- 

 tively recent times. Diuring the 10th and 11th centuries the 

 Moors introduced cotton into the European countries of the 

 Mediterranean. With regard to the Americas, Burkett' states 

 that Cortez sent Charles V. exquisite cotton fabrics dyed in 

 various colours, and he quotes Handy as follows : " Every- 

 where between the parallels 40° north latitude and 40° south 

 latitude, with the exception of our present American ' Cotton 

 Belt,' cotton, either in its wild or cultivated state, was known 

 and used at the date of the settlement of America." 



Cotton growing was started in South Africa as early as 

 1846 by Dr. Adams, of the American Mission. At 



Amanzimtoti, Natal, it gave good results, neighbouring farmers 

 were impressed with the experiment, and four years later 6^^ 

 tons of lint were exported. However, on account of the 

 economic difficulties of the times, the cultivation was discon- 

 tinued. At a later date the American Civil War cut off the 

 principal source of cotton, consequently the high prices offered 

 for the small quantity available from other sources stimulated 

 its cultivation in other parts of the world, and in 1863 Natal 

 produced 3,414 pounds of lint. By 1883 cotton growing in 

 South Africa had again practically ceased. In 1907 its cultiva- 

 tion was revived, and since then the acreage devoted to cotton 

 in South Africa has increased markedly. 



Cotton is the most important of all fibre crops, and provides 

 the major part of our clothing. Silk, flax, and even wool are 

 being rapidly superseded by cotton. The crop is easily grown, 



167 



