--------------+-----------+

In 1905 the world's crop closely approximated to 16,000,000 bales,
whilst in 1904 it was nearly 19,000,000 bales and in 1906 nearly
20,000,000 bales. The United States produced very nearly seven-tenths of
the total "visible" cotton crops of the world. This, however, is quite a
modern development, comparatively speaking. "During the period from 1786
to 1790 the West Indies furnished about 70% of the British supply, the
Mediterranean countries 20%, and Brazil 8%; whilst the quantity
contributed by the United States and India was less than 1% and Egypt
contributed none. In 1906 the United States contributed 65% of the
commercial cotton, British India 19%, Egypt 7%, and Russia 3%. Of the
countries which were prominent in the production of cotton in 1790,
Brazil and Asiatic Turkey alone remain" (_U.S.A. Bureau of the Census,
Bulletin No. 76_). The actual figures for the chief countries for
1904-1906, taken from the same source, are as follows:--

_The World's Commercial Cotton Crop._ (In 500 lb. Bales.)

+-----------------+------------+------------+------------+
| Country. | 1904. | 1905. | 1906. |
+-----------------+------------+------------+------------+
| United States | 13,085,000 | 10,340,000 | 13,016,000 |
| British India | 2,843,000 | 2,519,000 | 3,708,000 |
| Egypt | 1,258,000 | 1,181,000 | 1,400,000 |
| Russia | 554,000 | 585,000 | 675,000 |
| China | 468,000 | 415,000 | 418,000 |
| Brazil | 210,000 | 258,000 | 275,000 |
| Mexico | 114,000 | 125,000 | 130,000 |
| Peru | 40,000 | 55,000 | 55,000 |
| Turkey | 100,000 | 107,000 | 107,000 |
| Persia | 45,000 | 47,000 | 47,000 |
| Japan | 16,000 | 15,000 | 11,000 |
| Other countries | 70,000 | 100,000 | 100,000 |
+-----------------+------------+------------+------------+
| Total | 18,803,000 | 15,747,000 | 19,942,000 |
+-----------------+------------+------------+------------+

This title serves to indicate the principal countries contributing to
the world's supply of cotton. The following notes afford a summary of
the position of the industry in the more important countries.

_United States of America._--The cultivation of cotton as a staple crop
in the United States dates from about