442 ANNUAL REPORTS OP DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



printers' forms, will have a tendency to bring about uniformit}^ of 

 receipts, standardization in methods of keeping accounts, and im- 

 provement in the general business methods of cotton warehouses. 



The study of State warehouse laws has been continued. Confer- 

 ences have been held and advice given to State officials in regard to 

 proposed warehouse laws. Work under the United States ware- 

 house act is reported under the regulatory activities of the bureau. 



MARKETING COTTON SEED AND ITS PRODUCTS. 



Under the supervision of Mr. Fred Taylor, studies in the market- 

 ing of cotton seed and its products have followed three definite lines. 



STUDIES OF ECONOMIC CONDITIONS OF THE INDUSTRY. 



A thorough study is being made of the conditions surrounding the 

 cottonseed industr3\ Such phases are included as the railroad move- 

 ments of seed, the percentage of seed purchased directly from the 

 farmer, and the percentages of foreign matter, oil, meal, hulls, and 

 linters contained in commercial lots of seed in various sections. It is 

 generally conceded that probably the most serious of the bad prac- 

 tices existing in the marketing of cotton seed are the large amount 

 of trash which, annually, is purchased wdth cotton seed, and the prac- 

 tice of buying cotton seed on a basis of averages which now prevails 

 to a considerable extent. Enormous aggregate charges in freight and 

 handling expenses, wear on cleaning machinery, and danger to the 

 health of workmen in the oil mills result each year from the presence 

 of foreign matter in cotton seed which should be eliminated at the 

 cotton gin. 



COTTONSEED STANDARDIZATION. 



As a means toward the elimination of wastes and the improvement 

 of marketing, the feasibility of establishing practical grade stand- 

 ards for cotton seed has been investigated. Many data have been 

 secured and tentative standards have been formulated. 



A circular letter suggesting a basis of standardization and solicit- 

 ing the views of the trade has been sent to all oil mills, as well as 

 many producers and seed merchants, and it has been found that a 

 general desire for the standardization of cotton seed prevails. Rep- 

 resentatives of this bureau have attended the annual convention of 

 the Interstate Cotton Seed Crushers' Association, as well as the con- 

 ventions of the several State crushers' associations, and conferred 

 with committees and members of those bodies regarding practical 

 standards for cotton seed. As a result of these conferences, a basis 

 of standardization has been officially adopted and incorporated in 

 the officialrules of various associations. 



COTTON LINTERS INVESTIGATIONS. 



The conditions existing in the handling and marketing of linters 

 have been investigated, special attention being given to the different 

 qualities of linters and to the practicability of standardizing this 

 commodity. Owing to the great demand for linters as munition 

 stock, the oil mills have increased the cutting of linters from about 



