| States. | Usual date to begin Preparing the Land. | Usual date to begin Planting. | Usual date to finish Planting. | Usual date to begin Picking. | Usual date to finish Picking. |
| N. Carolina | Feb. 25 | April 15 | May 10 | Sep. 1 | Dec. 10 |
| S. Carolina | Mar. 5 | April 15 | May 7 | Aug. 15 to Sep. 1 | Dec. 1 |
| Georgia | Feb. 1 | April 10 | May 1 | Aug. 15 to 20 | Dec. 1 |
| Florida | Jan. 20 | April 1 | May 1 | Aug. 10 | Dec. 1 |
| Alabama | Feb. 1 | April 5 | May 10 | Aug. 10 to 20 | Dec. 15 |
| Mississippi | Feb. 1 | April 5 | May 10 | Aug. 10 to 20 | Dec. 15 |
| Louisiana | Feb. 1 | April 1 | May 10 | Aug. 1 to 15 | Dec. 15 |
| Texas | Jan. 15 | March 15 | May 10 | Aug. 1 | Dec. 20 |
| Arkansas | Feb. 15 | April 15 | May 15 | Aug. 15 to 20 | Jan. 15 |
| Tennessee | Mar. 1 | April 15 | May 15 | Sep. 1 to 10 | Jan. 15 |
Other Cotton-producing Countries in America.—In addition to the States, which have already been named, there are other cotton-producing countries in the Western Hemisphere, among which are the following:—
| Brazil. | Mexico. | |
| West Indies. | Peru and the South Sea Islands. |
Cultivation of Cotton in Brazil.—From a very remote period, cotton has been cultivated in Brazil. Early in the sixteenth century historians refer to the uses to which cotton was put at that time. Seguro, in his work describing the customs of the ancient people who lived in the Amazon valleys, says that the arrows used in connection with their blowguns were covered with cotton. It is probable that, before the dawn of the eighteenth century, the cultivation of cotton was practised more or less throughout the country. Up to thirty years ago, it looked as though the cotton-growing industry in Brazil was likely to be an increasing and profitable business. Owing, however, to many causes, the trade has not grown as was to have been expected.
Among the chief of these causes are:—
1. Laxity of method in cultivating.
2. Poor means of transmission.
3. Severe competition by the United States.
4. Disturbed condition of the country.
All these have helped to keep down an industry which at one time bade fair to be a source of great income to the country.
Tree Cotton and Herbaceous Cotton are both cultivated in Brazil. The best kinds of Sea Islands have been tried, but have not succeeded.
Compared with the United States, the methods of cultivation pursued in Brazil are exceedingly primitive and irregular. No such thing as ploughing or preparing of the soil is adopted.
The only preparation seems to be to rid the land of cotton stumps, and this is done in a somewhat careless and indifferent manner. It would seem that as little labour as possible is expended upon the land in preparing it for the reception of seed. Hilaire's aphorism—"Nothing in this country is less expensive, or more productive, than cotton culture"—would seem, when the facts of the whole case are known, to be perfectly warranted so far as Brazil is concerned. Certainly, from a climatic point of view, this country is exceptionally well favoured, an equable and suitable temperature together with an adequate supply of earth and air, moisture and rich alluvial soils, a long dry season for picking extending over many weeks—all point to an ideal cotton-growing area. In fact, there is no reason why a crop of at least 40,000,000 bales should not be obtained annually in Brazil, if needed. At present, only about one three-hundredth part of this is grown. The cotton-growing centres are Minas Geraes, Bahia, Fernando de Noronha, Rio Janeiro, Sao Paulo.