22 
THE COTTON ZONE OF THE WORLD. 
island cotton of the United States soon degenerates. 
The average annual crop is 2,000,000 lbs,, one-half of 
■which is usually exported. All the land on the sea- 
shore is well adapted to the profitable growth of cotton. 
The usual yield to the acre is from 150 lbs, to 200 lbs. 
Planting takes place in April and May, flowering in July 
and August, picking from September to January. The 
range of the thermometer is quite limited, being- from 75° 
to 85°. The temperature of all the months is quite uni- 
form. Severe droughts and heavy, long-continued rains, 
together with a white insect, are disadvantages to the cul- 
ture ; but could scientific culture be applied, with a compe- 
tency of laborers, the yield per aei-e would average 1,000 
lbs. seed cotton. 
12th. La Paz, Lower California. — When this country 
was discovered, a cotton tree was found growing wild, 
in great numbers, over the entire land, and until about 
twenty years ago the inhabitants manufactured thread and 
many other articles for home consumption from the fibre it 
produced ; but the Mexican Government then prohibited its 
manufacture by the people, for the sake of the duties which 
might be obtained on imported articles. If any attention 
were given to collecting cotton from these trees, many 
millions of pounds could be gathered every year ; and, by 
trimming the tree and watering it during the dry season, 
the quality of the fibre might be much improved. 
The sea island cotton of the United States can be 
grown to great advantage here, and the lands of this terri- 
tory are unsurpassed for producing sugar, rice, coffee, and 
grapes. Although the latitude of La Paz is only 24° N., 
the climate is so happily tempered by sea breezes, that 
labor can be performed by any race of men without incon- 
venience or detriment to health. 
