270 COTTON PLANTER'S MANUAL. 



RUSSIA. 



Before the breaking out of the late war, the manfacture of 

 cotton in the Russian empire was progressing with extraordi- 

 nary activity. The number of spindles exceeded 350,000, 

 producing, annually, upwards of 10,800,000 Ibs. of cotton 

 yarns. The barter trade with the Chinese, at Kiachta, stimu- 

 lates this branch of manufacture in Russia, as the article of 

 cotton velvets constitutes the leading staple of exchange, at 

 that point, for the teas and other merchandise of China. In 

 former years this article was supplied almost exclusively by 

 Great Britain ; but the Chinese prefer the Russian manufac- 

 ture, and hence the steady progress of that branch of industry 

 Thus the annually increasing importations of the raw mate- 

 rial, and consequent diminution in the quantities of cotton 

 yarns imported is accounted for. Were raw cotton admitted, 

 as in England, free of duty, the United States would, most 

 probably, supply, in the direct trade, the whole quantity con- 

 sumed in that empire. As it is, the commercial reforms in 

 Russia, already announced officially, and now in progress, 

 comprehending, as they do, the establishment of American 

 houses at St. Petersburg, must necessarily tend to that result. 



There are, at present, in Russia, or there were, previously 

 to the war, 495 cotton factories, employing 112,427 operatives, 

 and producing, annually, 40,907,736 Ibs. of yarns, and corres- 

 ponding amounts of textiles. 



SWEDEN. 



The importation of cotton in 1851, according to Swedish 

 official authorities, amounted to 7,989,428 Ibs., against 1,832,- 

 431 Ibs. in 1841, and 794,434 Ibs. in 1831. In 1843 these 

 authorities show an importation of 2,600,000 Ibs., against 

 9,888,572 Ibs. in 1853 ; which latter amount exceeded that 



