COTTON HARVESTING 



371 



bales should be kept continuously under shelter. If it 

 becomes necessary to leave them uncovered, they should 



FIG. 161. COTTON BALES LEFT UNPROTECTED FROM RAIN. 



rest on poles or timbers laid on the ground, so that no part 

 of the cotton bale touches the moist soil. 



345. Compressing. Most cotton that is to be ex- 

 ported, or transported great distances, is first shipped to 

 " compresses," where the 

 size of the bale is still 

 further reduced by the 

 application of enormous 

 pressure (Fig. 162). 



In some processes now 

 coming into use, cotton, 

 as soon as ginned, is 



immediately compressed FIG. 162.- SIDE VIEW OF COTTON BALES. 



into bales of very great ^^pS^SS^ 1 ^^ 



density ready for export, right, ordinary compressed bale. 



