COTTON 
105 
grow (and with profit) any agricultural plant in- 
digenous to America in almost any State in the 
belt. But though other crops are grown, cotton 
here is indeed king, and with improved soil con- 
ditions and wiser cultural methods will become 
recognized as the most powerful plant monarch 
in all the world. 
For profitable production, cotton requires: — 
A relatively high temperature 
A long growing season 
A moderate and well-distributed rainfall 
throughout the growing season 
A small amount of rain at maturing time 
A great deal of sunshine. 
These conditions are found in the Cotton Belt 
to a greater degree than anywhere else in the world. 
When they are prominent as features of any sea- 
son a maximum yield is produced. But let the 
growing season be short, the rainfall excessive, the 
amount of sunshine small, or the summer cool and 
cloudy, and the whole world will know in advance 
of the harvest that a small crop has been produced. 
RELATIVELY HIGH TEMPERATURE REQUIRED 
Broadly speaking the mean temperature is from 
15 to 20 degrees higher in North Carolina, Georgia, 
Alabama, and Texas than in Massachusetts, 
Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Illinois. 
In winter the mean temperature is from 20 to 
25 degrees higher in the South and in summer from 
10 to 15 degrees higher. This climatic condition 
is especially favorable to cotton culture, since it 
means a long season free from frost or low temper- 
atures. Cotton enjoys a warm atmosphere, or even 
a hot atmosphere provided it is moist and reason- 
