150 AI^TNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



segregated Pima cotton. American Egyptian cotton was also ginned 

 and pressed under different moisture conditions in order to determine 

 the effect upon its spinning value, tests of which will be made during 

 the next fiscal year. 



Laboratory tests were conducted to determine the strength of in- 

 dividual fibers for other bureaus of the department and outside 

 parties, as well as in connection with the spinning tests. Laboratory 

 tests were also made to determine the strength of the yarn spun and 

 to determine the moisture content of the cotton in the various stages 

 of manufacture. 



The results of the spinning tests of cotton compressed to different 

 densities and of superior varieties of cotton grown under weevil con- 

 ditions in the Southeastern States, crop of 1921, have been published 

 as Department Bulletins No. 1135, Spinning Tests of Cotton Com- 

 pressed to Different Densities, and No. 1148, Comparative Spinning 

 Tests of Superior Varieties of Cotton. 



The spinning tests of superior varieties of cotton showed clearly the 

 desirability, from a spinning standpoint, of fiber produced by pure- 

 bred strains of superior varieties of cotton over that produced from 

 commercial seed even when grown in districts in which the reputation 

 for character in cotton is excellent. 



Spinning tests of cotton exposed to country damage have been made 

 and the results of these tests show that the cotton, remaining after the 

 country damage has been removed, has not been injured by the method 

 of storing. 



CLASSING DEMONSTRATIONS AN AID TO PRODUCERS. 



This project is educational in its nature and is conducted generally 

 in cooperation with the extension service of the several States. A 

 cotton specialist is employed and assigned as a leader of the work in 

 each State. It is his duty to assist cotton growers in organizing into 

 community associations. He is also charged with the supervision of 

 the cotton classers who are employed and placed with each organized 

 community. The classification of the growers' cotton is done as a 

 means of instruction. The factors of value in cotton are explained to 

 the growers and methods of marketing and the improving of the grade 

 and character of the cotton produced are explained and demonstrated. 



These demonstrations have had a very material influence on the 

 recent efforts to organize State-wide pooling associations. In some 

 instances the classification of cotton of such a large percentage 

 of the growers has been undertaken by these associations, for ex- 

 ample in South Carolina, Arkansas, and Oklahoma, that the con- 

 tinuance of the demonstrations seems unnecessary and they have 

 been suspended pending the development of similar work by the 

 associations. 



This work has shown most strikingly the need for a more general 

 adoption by communities of single superior varieties of cotton to 

 replace the present diversity of product, the great desirability of 

 better cooperation on the part of ginners so as to improve the grade 

 and baling, and the need of better facilities for local storage and 

 transportation. Improvement is marked in the average grade and 

 in the character of the cotton produced in communities in which 

 the demonstrations have been conducted for a series of years. The 

 improvement has been commented upon favorably by the cotton 

 dealers as well as by the producers. 



