126 KNAPP METHOD OF GROWING COTTON 



his cotton, requiring the ginner to completely 

 cover the bale. The round bale is perhaps the 

 most satisfactory way of putting up cotton. 

 This method has never been popular for various 

 reasons: mainly from the fact that there is so 

 much money invested in the old style press 

 and compress that it is difficult for the round 

 bale companies to compete with the old con- 

 cerns. Thousands of dollars can be saved 

 for the cotton states by a better method of 

 packing, wrapping, and handling the crop. 



Much loss is sustained by allowing the bales 

 to be exposed to the weather after ginning. 

 The cotton bale, when exposed to the weather, 

 absorbs moisture, and the outer edges of the 

 bales will- become discolored and the grade 

 injured The poor covering now used on the 

 American cotton bale is usually torn off by 

 rough handling before reaching the mills. 

 This allows the outside of the bale to become 

 dirty, thus lowering the grade of the outer 

 portion of the bale. 



Marketing. The common practice on the 

 small farm is to haul the cotton bales directly 

 to the warehouse or small town market and sell 

 to the local merchant. This system, perhaps, 



