UNITED STATES OFFICIAL COTTON GRADES. 1 



By N. A. Cobb, Agricultural Technologist in Charge of Agricultural Technology and 

 Cotton Standardization and Grading Investigations. 



AUTHORIZATION AND SALE OF STANDARD COTTON GRADES. 



The appropriation bill for the Department of Agriculture for the 

 year ended June 30, 1909, authorized the fixing of a standard of 

 middling cotton and, using the same as a basis, the establishment 

 of nine grades of cotton, to be designated — 



Middling fair. Strict good middling. Low middling. 



Strict middling. Middling. Strict good ordinary. 



Good middling. Strict low middling. Good ordinary. 



The Secretary of Agriculture was authorized to call to his assist- 

 ance expert cotton classers, and he was directed to prepare copies 

 of the official standard in practical form for distribution at cost. 



The Secretary convened in Washington a committee of prominent 

 cotton growers, dealers, manufacturers, and experts in February, 

 1909, and after due deliberation the committee submitted a unani- 

 mous report, together with a set of grades which they had prepared 

 in accordance with the wording of the appropriation act. This 

 report was approved by the Secretary. 



To familiarize the public with the official grades, copies of them 

 were temporarily placed with a number of associations, exchanges, col- 

 leges, and other organizations for examination. Within six months 

 after their promulgation sets had been purchased by cotton exchanges, 

 cotton mills, and textile schools in 21 States, as well as in England, 

 Germany, and Mexico. The sales of the grades have doubled in 

 each succeeding year, so that at the present time they are distrib- 

 uted in 40 States and 10 foreign countries, and have been officially 

 adopted by the following cotton exchanges and associations: 



New Orleans. Little Rock. New England Buyers. 



Memphis. Galveston. Arkwright Club. 



St. Louis. Macon. Southern Cotton Buyers. 



Charleston. Mobile. Fall River Cotton Buyers. 



Natchez. Oklahoma. 



i Issued Jan. 4, 1913. 

 [Cir. 109] 3 



