84 BULLETIN 1409, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
under the present system is the fact that the cotton picked from 
different fields is sold a bag at a time and is mixed with others at the 
gin, so that a single bale may contain cotton from many different 
fields. Furthermore, there is the greatest lack of uniformity in the 
fiber grown in a single field. Two plants growing side by side may 
show a difference of half an inch or more in the length of staple. 
The only two trade terms in use are those that refer to cleanness, 
whiteness, and color of fiber, and not to its length or uniformity. 
These are known as first and second grades of quality. 
Before cotton production in Paraguay can be developed into a 
large export business the existing transportation facilities by rail an^. 
water from the best cotton-producing areas to the chief markets 
must be extended and improved. Water transportation is available 
for 400 miles along the Paraguay River, for 300 miles along the 
Pilcomayo River, and for 450 miles along the upper Parana. The 
present railroad mileage does not exceed 250 miles. The existing 
transportation facilities, however, could accommodate many times Ijae 
present production. 
It is rumored that the boll weevil was introduced into Paraguay 
in a lot of North American cottonseed imported by a commercial 
firm in 1923, but this rumor is not confirmed. Probably the worst 
insect enemies of cotton in Paraguay at present are the innumerable 
leaf -cutting ants and the army worm. Locusts, which often entirely 
destroy young cotton in Argentina, do not seem to be a serious pest in 
Paraguay. 
The strongest factor for the development of cotton growing in 
Paraguay is the price received by the grower. The only official 
agency promoting the culture of cotton is the Seccion Defensa 
Agricola of the Banco Agricola del Paraguay. No other agency is 
systematically promoting the industry, although there is a general 
sentiment in favor of increasing the production of this crop because 
of the high prices realized during recent years. 
Under the law, the Seccion Defensa Agricola of the Agricultural 
Bank has organized a committee in each agricultural county, which 
collects data with respect to areas, yields and production of the 
various crops grown. The local representatives of the bank are 
usually members of these local committees. Also, the traveling 
field inspectors of the bank serve as field agents to check up and 
supplement the information supplied by the local committees. 
These committees report to the Seccion Defensa Agricolo after the 
planting season as to the area planted, and after harvest as to the 
average yields, production, and prices. Regular crop reports are 
not issued, but from time to time information is published through 
the press, and after the close of the crop year an annual report is 
prepared. The report for 1923 was in the hands of the printer in 
August, 1924. 
Table 56, compiled from statistics furnished by the Banco Agricola, 
gives the area and production of cotton in Paraguay during the past 
nine years. The figures on the yield per acre are simply the statistical 
averages based on the acreage and production figures given by the 
Banco Agricola. 
