Discussion to Reduce U. 8. Cot ton Crop: Possibility of creased Foreign Competition Washington, Dec. 3, 'The possibility of increased for! eign competition in cotton produc tion is discussed by Mr. W. Jardine, Secretary of Agriculture of the United States, in his annual report, just made' to President Coolidge.
"It should be noted that produc tion outside the' United States has increased rapidly in the Inst. twe seasons, ax a result, no doubt, the stimulus of favourable economic weather conditions rathe than of concerted effort, though there has been much of the lotte stated Mr. Jardine, "A further crease of foreign "producti bear careful stady, which the advantage will rest with] the producer whose costs of pro duction are lowest or who produces} cotton of a quality most in demand. Under such conditions, the short staples grown in this country would probably feel the competition of eot-
China and elsewhere, he Department of Agriculture is giving close attention" to the possible competition which foreign cotton production may force upon our short staples. It is particularly} concerned with cotton breeding, an esting, so that a more general pro duction of prolific cotton of high} quality may he facilitated, Studies have been made of produc tion costs in 15 counties typical of as many distinctive areas Cotton Belt. Scientific investigate has been made of the less obvious properties of cotton fibers which contribute to their spinning value. The results of this work have be made available to breeders of se and to other cotton growers. Spi ning tests are being carried on determine the relative waste content and the strength and evenness. yarns from cottons of various Varicties and from cottons of th same verities grown under various} conditions of soil and elimatel Tests of the same sort have been made of cotton of different grades, These tests have demonstrated th relative superiority of higher grades over Tower grades, from the stand: point of waste percentages Values, yarn st bleaching. finishing tion properties, machine operation, "Intensive studios of the problema causes of gradual deterioration inf the quality of the fibre and lowe yields per acre that have no necessary relation to boll-weevil injury although they have frequent developed seriously in the sam region where boll-weevil injury hast been serious. The planting of see of soversl varieties of cotton. in the same neighbourhood, the inter: crossing of there varieties in. thei fidds, the mixing of the seed al the public gins, and the general us of xinerun seed for planting, ar especially important causes of th deterioration. Production also ist being improved by now cultural methods, based on the discover) that the restriction of the size the plants will shorten the growing season and often will greatly crease the yields in the presence the boll-weevil, and under short-season conditions along the north om rim of the Cotton Beié, Leaving the plants closer together in the rows increased the yield 50 per cent. or more in some test cases, and general estimate of at Toast 100
15 per cent. would be justified illustrate the value of Dee. 27, The American Cotton Association has convoked a meeting of farmers merchants and bankers to be held on January 7 at Atlinta, Georging te discuss methods of reducing. tho} 1926 crop te insure profits Mr. John King, secretary of Producers' Association, stated that the price of 25 cents por pound was} to ensure n profit, Tt tat estimated that $40,000,000 was} Toston the 1923 crop.—Reuter's American Service.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.