THE FIBER CROPS 



346 



PRODUCTION AND ADAPTATION 



363. The world's production. — The world's production 

 of cotton for the five years 1907-1911 shows an average 

 annual production of approximately 20 million bales, or 

 about 9500 million pounds. Of this amount the United 

 States produces approximately 12 million bales, India 

 3 million, and Egypt about 1300 thousand bales. Much 

 smaller amounts are produced in South America, princi- 



PRODUCTION OF COTTON 



1850- 1910 



MILUIOhJS OF BALES 



I E 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 II 



1910 

 1900 

 1890 

 1880 

 1870 

 I860 

 1850 



Fig. 123. 



pally in Brazil and Peru, Mexico, Turkey, and China. The 

 United States is, therefore, the leading producer of cotton, 

 not only producing more than any other country, but more 

 than all other countries taken together. The mills which 

 furnish the world with cotton fabrics draw their supply 

 largely from the United States and smaller amounts from 

 India, Egypt, and other countries. The United States, 

 therefore, to a considerable extent, controls the cotton 

 industries of the world. Much of our production is ex- 

 ported to supply the foreign mills. For the five years 1907 

 -1911 almost two-thirds of the cotton produced in this 

 country was exported, much of it going to England where 



