EXERCISE 56 



GRADING COTTON 



Statement. Cotton is graded on the market on the basis of the length, body, color, and strength 

 of the fiber, and also on its purity or freedom from foreign substances. Fixed grades have been estab- 

 lished by the United States Department of Agriculture and 

 by the cotton exchanges of the country on which all com- 

 mercial cotton is bought and sold. 



Materials. Samples of fiber of different grades, copy of 

 the Cotton Standards of the United States Department of 

 Agriculture. 



Directions, i . In examining the fiber, attention should 

 be given not only to the length and purity of the sample, 

 but also to the maturity and strength of the fiber and its 

 color. Examine also the body of the fiber and observe 

 whether it is firm and solid or fluffy. 



2. If there is a cotton gin or warehouse in the vicinity 

 ask the cotton buyer to give the students one or more 

 demonstrations in cotton grading and then take the class 

 to the gin or warehouse and give the members one or more 

 laboratory exercises in grading under joint supervision of 

 the teacher and buyer. 



The grading exercises should be made to embrace all the 

 types and grades commonly produced in the country and 

 especially all those usually grown in the neighborhood. 

 Compare the market prices of the different grades and 

 estimate the proportion of the normal crop of the commu- 

 nity that will fall into each class. This work should be 

 of recognizing with a fair degree of accuracy each of the 

 on them 



\merican-grown cotton fibers 



The four principal commercial types are shown as fol- 

 lows: a, sea island; b. Egyptian; c, long staple upland; 

 d, short staple upland ; the fibers are combed to show 

 the relative lengths of the staples. (Courtesy of the Bu- 

 reau of Plant Industry, United States Department of 

 Agriculture) 



continued until the students are capable 

 principal grades of cotton and of placing 

 their approximate market value. 



Questions. How many grades of cotton are 

 recognized in the United States standard ? Name 

 them in the order of their commercial value. 

 What grades are recognized by the cotton ex- 

 changes above this list ? What grades are recognized 

 by them below this list? Ascertain the market 

 value of the principal grades produced in the com- 

 munity. Of what grade is most of the cotton 

 produced in the community ? How may the plant- 

 ers most easily and profitably improve the grade of 

 their cotton ? 



References. Duggar, J. F. Southern Field Crops. 

 The Macmillan Company. Cotton score card pub- 

 lished by the State agricultural college; Department Bulletin 62 ; Farmers' Bulletin 302, 364, 5gi. Office of 

 Experiment Stations Bulletin 33, pp. 351-360, 381-384; United States Department Agriculture, Office of 

 Markets and Rural Organizations, S. R. A. 1. 



[112] 



Fig. 76. Baled cotton being taken to market 



