Cotton in the Economy of Mexico

ATIN America produces 21.51 per cent of the cotton grown in the Western Hemisphere. Mexico, that land to the south of us so closely associated with corn and oil but so seldom with cotton raises 9.57 per cent of the total Latin American production. Cotton is the most important commercial crop in Mexico and it is the second crop in money value, being surpassed only by corn. Cotton has been cultivated in Mexico from time immemorial. Prior to the advent of the Aztecs into the Valley of Mexico, their predecessors knew and practiced the art of cotton spinning. The discovery of cotton fabrics in tombs and temples of earlier races indicates that cotton was known and used by these peoples. It seems probable that in Mexico, as in Asia, cotton clothes were worn at a time when they were unknown in Europe. Cotton is believed to be native to Mexico, for it was found growing wild in many parts of the country, and early Spanish settlers found Indians growing and using cotton. In 1519, when Cortez invaded, he found the cotton fabrics of the Aztecs to be of such a degree of excellence that he sent some of their handiwork to the King of Spain. The Aztec women had two hundred methods of manufacturing cotton. Cotton was first cultivated in Mexico on the Gulf Coastal Plain in the state of Vera Cruz. Later its cultivation was extended to the Pacific Region into the states of Oaxaca, Guerro, Jalisco, and Colima. These regions were the only producers until the middle of the nineteenth century. In 1840, cultivation began in the Conches, and in Laguna between 1840 and 1860. The other regions were much later in developing; Matamoros in 1892, Mexicali in 1901, although the Region did not attain importance until 1928, Juarez in 1922, Don Martin in 1925, and the Yaqui in 1928. Until 1916, the cotton produced supplied only the factories of the cotton producing regions. With the increase in the Laguna production, cotton was shipped to factories all over Mexico (Table I). In modern times, cotton was cultivated from 1860 on, but up until 1892 it was Mexican cotton. The native cotton plant had a life of about eight years, the first two of which gave a small yield, the third, fourth, and fifth years were good years but in the later years, production declined. The acreage was then estimated at from 12,500 to 50,000 acres, and production was about 50 bales per lote. The native plant flowered late and picking did not start until September so that the crop was frequently ruined by frost. Not until American seed, with its early fruitage and large yield was introduced about 1892 did the crop become profitable. The manufacture of cotton in Mexico dates back to about 1835. Among the earliest mills still operating are those of Cocolapan, founded in 1840, and of Vista Hermosa, founded in 1844. The industry increased slowly until 1894. During the nineties, the mills made big profits but confined themselves entirely to coarse goods. By 1899, the market had become so over

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