The Semi Weekly Messenger

COTTON CROP OF INDIA

Official Report on the Crop for Year 1905-06--Increase in Acreage.

The following information of the cotton crop of British India, report "Second general memorandum on the India cotton crop of the season of 1905-6" by the director of commercial intelligence, and is furnished by Consul-General Patterson, of Calcutta:

The memorandum relates to the whole of the early crop and so much of the late crop as has been sown up to the end of September. Provinces representing 87.5 per cent. of the total cotton crop of British India report an increase from 8,957,000 acres to 10,330,000 acres, or an average increase of 18 per cent., the marked increase being in Bombay and Madras. Other provinces representing in all 12.5 per cent. of the total crop report an aggregate contraction of 135,000 acres, or 5 per cent., the noticeable decrease being in the united provinces and the northwest frontier provinces. The net result in respect to all the British provinces is an increase of about 1,246,000 acres, or 12 per cent. As regards the native states, Hyderabad shows an increase of 84,000 acres, or 3 per cent., and the Bombay states including Baroda, an increase of 43,600 acres, or 30 per cent. The October forecasts have not been received from central India and most of the Rajputana states. Taking for these states the figures as reported in August returns, the total area in all the native states is now a little over 5,590,000 acres. Except in Punjab and the united provinces, where unirrigated cotton has suffered badly for want of rain, the present condition of the crop is good and the prospects are generally favorable. However, more rain is required in certain areas, particularly in Bombay.-American Cotton Manufacturer.