CROPS FOR DIFFERENT CLIMATES. 11 



the face of the very large crop and extreme low price of cotton in 1897, 

 when our export amounted to $212,640,769 (and similarly in 1894, when 

 we exported $210,000,000 worth), enormous quantities were imported 

 from Egypt. This, while inferior to our Sea Island cotton, is of 

 higher grade than our ordinary product and is used "for goods 

 requiring smooth finish and high luster. It gives to fabrics a soft 

 finish somewhat like silk." During the fiscal year 1896 the value of 

 the Egyptian cotton imported into this country was more than 

 $5,000,000, and in 1897, $4,277,618. This brings up the important 

 question whether we can not, with the aid of irrigation, raise these 

 high-grade varieties in certain parts of the arid Southwest — in south- 

 ern Arizona and the desert region of southern California. 



SEA ISLAND AND EGYPTIAN COTTON FOR NEW SECTIONS. 



The history of Sea Island cotton is interesting, as showing how the 

 intelligent introduction and cultivation of choice crops in suitable 

 climatic areas may yield rich returns. Dr. Walter H. Evans states 

 that the Sea Island cotton, whose fiber is so highly prized, "is indige- 

 nous to the Lesser Antilles, and probably to San Salvador, the Baha- 

 mas, Barbados, Guadeloupe, and other islands between 12° and 26° 

 north latitude. By cultivation it has been extended throughout the 

 West Indies, the maritime coast of the Southern States, Central Amer- 

 ica, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, etc. , southern Spain, Algeria, the islands 

 and coast of western tropical Africa, Egypt, Island of Bourbon, East 

 Indies, Queensland, Kew South Wales, etc. It may be cultivated in 

 any region adapted to the olive and near the sea, the princi]3al requi- 

 site being a hot and humid atmosphere; but the results of acclimati- 

 zation indicate that the humid atmosjphere is not entirely necessary 

 if irrigation be employed, as this species is undoubtedly grown 

 extensively in Egypt." 



Although the area in which Sea Island cotton is produced in the 

 United States is very small, and although a large quantity is manu- 

 factured in our country, still the value of the crop exported amounted 

 in 1894 to nearly $3,000,000, in 1896 to $3,816,216, and in 1897 to 

 $4,078,044. It is quite probable that both Sea Island and Egyptian 

 cotton could be cultivated with profit in parts of southern California 

 and southwestern Arizona. 



PROFITABLE CROPS FOR DIFFERENT CLIMATES. 



But wheat and cotton are not the only crops to be grown with 

 advantage in the South, for the list of fruits, fiber plants, and other 

 agricultural products fit for the climatic conditions of the Austroripa- 

 rian belt is a long one, and a wise selection with reference to home 

 consumption and convenient markets is bound to place agriculture 

 in the Southern States on a very different plane from that which it 

 now occupies. 



