6 BULLETIN 733, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



-hurt cotton heretofore in Arizona will be largely planted to Egyp- 

 tian in 1918. 



LOCATION OF AREAS OF THE PRINCIPAL PRODUCTION OF EXTRA- 

 LENGTH COTTON. 



The areas or tne principal production of extra-length cotton — that 

 is, where year after year the lint retains its uniform length and 

 strength of fiber, texture, etc. — are well known to the trade. Cotton 

 from these long-established staple sections always brings a premium 

 over that grown in areas not so well known or where the season has a 

 marked influence on the quality of the staples. The most important 

 of these areas are the alluvial sections of Mississippi, between the 

 Mississippi and Yazoo Rivers, known as the Delta; and similar 

 soils in Arkansas along the Arkansas, Mississippi, and other large 

 streams; in eastern and northwestern Louisiana; in northeastern 

 Texas and eastern Oklahoma. In South Carolina there is much 

 extra staple grown in the northeastern portion of the State in the 

 counties of Darlington, Marlboro, Florence, Chesterfield, and a num- 

 ber of others. Mississippi and Arkansas showed a heavy increase of 

 production of staples in 1917. In fact, all of the staple-producing 

 areas showed an increase except Louisiana, where there was a slight 

 falling ofF. 



AVERAGE PRICE RECEIVED BY GROWERS. 



The average price received by growers for upland long-staple cot- 

 ton in 1917 varied considerably. In the sections w T here much of the 

 extra-length staple was above 1-| inches, the average price received 

 was considerably higher than in those sections where the bulk of the 

 crop was scant 1|. Prices for cotton above 1| inches in length are 

 more uniform than for cotton from 1^- to 1£ inches. In Mississippi, 

 Arkansas, and South Carolina the average is much higher than in 

 Texas and Oklahoma, where not so much attention is paid to length 

 and where the bulk of the crop will run from 1 inch to 1^ inches in 

 length. These prices are those prevailing about December 1, and, 

 while they represent the price differences for long and short staple 

 prevailing at that time, they do not represent the averages for the 

 entire crop. Prices for staples around December 1 were consider- 

 ably higher than later in the season. The planter realized a good 

 price for his extra-length cotton, but much of it is now being held at 

 a loss by factors at concentration points. 



YIELD PER ACRE. 



Extra-length cotton shows a heavier yield per acre than short cot- 

 ton. This cotton is planted on the most fertile lands and is raised 

 largely by the best class of farmers. Planted on the same class of 

 soil and cultivated alike, short cotton will yield more lint per acre 

 than long. Extra-length cotton usually requires from 100 to 300 

 pounds more of seed cotton to make a 500-pound bale than short 

 cotton. 



