COTTON PRODUCTION OF TEE WORLD. This is dif ficult to more than approximate, as a large proportion and amount consumed is produced m uncivilized or in semi-civilized countries, where no accurate record is kept ; and in many coun tries and districts absolutely no data are avail able—as in China, where soil and climate are favorable and the clothing of the population is largely of cotton, yet the extent of its cultivation is a close secret; and in some parts of India. where the production can be estimated only by the amount in sight and the known or assumed requirements for dress. The amount produced in the vast unknown continent of Africa is even more of a mystery, although native cottons form there a large proportion of the dress.
The commercial crop for the year 1898-99 was 13,110,000 bales of 500 pounds each. This in eludes the total crop of the United States and the known imports into Europe and America from other cotton-producing countries. The prod
uct was divided as follows: United States, 11, 189,000 bales: Egypt, 1,243.000 bales; India, China, etc., 607.000: Brazil, 23.000 bales; Peru, West Indies, etc., 30.000: and Turkey. Asia Minor, etc., 18.000. The domestic consumption in those countries from which only the exportations are given would add very materially to the total production of the world. India leads in the do mestic consumption of cotton among those coun tries not reporting. and in 1900 about 1,1001100 bales were consumed by the local mills. Accord ing to Latham. Alexander & Co., the total pro duction for 1900 was: United States, 9,137,000 bales; East Indies, etc., 1,562.000 bales; Egypt, 1,228,000 bales; Brazil, etc., 250,000 bales, or a total of 12.177,000 bales of 500 pounds each.