BUREAU OF MARKETS. 549 



changed. In addition, in the preliminary sample-classification work 

 2,544 samj)les were classified bv the board at New York and 2,755 

 samples by the board at New Orleans. During the year the sum of 

 $43,027.52 was collected as classification fees, including the proceeds 

 from sales of loose cotton, and was deposited to the credit of the 

 revolving fund maintained for the conduct of the work. Disburse- 

 ments during the year amounted to $45,876.97. During the month of 

 July following the close of the fiscal year the apparent deficiency 

 above indicated was wiped out. It is intended that the classification 

 work shall be self-sustaining, and for the reason that receipts had 

 been running a little lower than expenses the fees charged were 

 increased during the year. Further changes in the fees, either 

 increases or reductions, may be made from time to time as the rela- 

 tion between receipts and expenditures may warrant. 



Effective February 16, 1920, the fee for the classification and cer- 

 tification of cotton, which prior to that date was 30 cents per bale, 

 was increased to 40 cents per bale. Effective May 17, 1920, the fee 

 for the classification and certification of cotton was further increased 

 to 50 cents per bale, and there were minor changes in other fees. 



Prrjxiratwn and disinhiition of the officinl cotton stnndai'ds.- — 

 The work relating to the preparation and distribution of the official 

 cotton standards was directed by Mr. D, E. Earle. Since the stand- 

 ards for grade and color of upland cotton were promulgated, and up 

 to June 30. 1920, a grand total of 1.276 full white and colored sets and 

 515 fractional white and colored sets of practical forms had been 

 sold. Three hundred and seventy-two bales of cotton were pur- 

 chased during the fiscal year for use in the preparation of the official 

 standards. On account of crop conditions it has been increasingly 

 difficult to find suitable cotton for the preparation of the standards. 



Since the establishment of the standards for American Egyptian 

 and Sea Island cotton and the standards for length of staple, which 

 were promulgated in 1918, the following sets of practical forms 

 have been sold : 



American Egyptian, 62 full and fractional sets. 



Sea Island, 11 sets. 



Length of staple, 22 full and 150 fractional sets. 



During tlie months of April, May, and June, an inspection was 

 made of the sets held by the designated spot markets, and revisions 

 were found necessarv in manv cases. 



During tlie fiscal "year ending June 30, 1920, $34,797.69 was cov- 

 ered into the Treasury as mi.scellaneous receipts, $20,859.69 from the 

 sale of rejected cotton and $13,938 from the sale and revision of prac- 

 tical forms of the various standards. 



COTTON HANDLING AND MARKETING. 



f 



Work on cotton handling and marketing was directed by Mr. D. E. 

 Karle and, as at present constituted, is conducted in cooperation with 

 the extension divisions of various States. In a few in.stancos other 

 State agencies join in the cooperative arrangements. A State leader 

 is employed to sujjcrvise the work in an entire State and classors are 

 employed by the Bureau of Markets and the local organizations, the 

 latter paying the greater part of their salaries and other expenses. 

 The Bureau of Markets participates in the employment of these grad- 



