COTTON 229 



With good prices the custom is now fast passing 

 away. 



STORING COTTON 



At harvest time not all cotton is sold at once; 

 some is hauled back to the farm or stored in the 

 warehouse, and held for the expectant advance in 

 price. The farmer who has borrowed on his crop 

 usually stores in the warehouse that the cotton fac- 

 tor may have an eye on the bale. The storage 

 cost varies from ten to fifty cents per bale, depend- 

 ing on the length of time it is kept in storage. In- 

 surance must be considered as well, for much loss 

 follows as a result of fire. The total cost for selling, 

 storage, and insurance varies from $1.00 to $2.00 

 for each and every bale. 



Where cotton is taken back to the farm, there 

 are, of course, no storage charges, and insurance is 

 usually at the owner's risk. While many farmers 

 do store their cotton in places of shelter, the major- 

 ity do not, but simply pile it out in the open or under 

 the home-yard tree. 



Remember that cotton, although not a perishable 

 product, is susceptible to deteriorating influences 

 of weather and the elements, just as other field 

 crops are, even if in a less degree; and when long ex- 

 posed to weather, the quality suffers to such an 

 extent as to make a material difference in price. 

 This loss, when measured for the entire cotton 

 crop, assumes enormous porportions. 



This, too, is one of the most unnecessary and 

 inexcusable leaks on our cotton farms. If you 

 protect your cotton thoroughly from the time it is 

 delivered at home in the bale to the delivery time 

 on the market, you will save enough to cover all 



