296 



COTTON GROWING 



are: (1) fair, (2) middle fair, (3) good middling, (4) middling, 

 (5) low middling, (6) good ordinary, (7) ordinary. These prin- 

 cipal grades are subdivided into intermediate grades by prefixing, 

 the word ' 'strict" to any of these names. For example, strict 

 good middling is a half grade better than good middling. Quarter 

 grades are sometimes indicated by prefixing "fully" to indicate 

 a quarter better, and "barely" to indicate a quarter poorer than 

 the principal grade. Little cotton is marketed from the southern 

 states of a higher grade than strict good middling. 



In the markets, grading is done by experts who take into con- 



FIG. 196. Square of cotton showing attack of boll-weevil larvSB. 



sideration the length and strength of fibre, the color, the amount of 

 immature fibres, called "nap," the presence of trash, and the 

 presence of damaged cotton, or other sources of loss when the 

 cotton is being cleaned and used by the spinners. The length of 

 fibre influences the price more than it does the grade of cotton. 

 Long staple cotton is of much value for mixing with short staple, 

 and adds much spinning quality to cotton. 



Insect Enemies of Cotton. The boll-weevil and the boll-worm 

 are the worst insect enemies of cotton. The boll-worm has long 

 been an injurious insect in cotton fields, but the boll-weevil, which 

 was known in Mexico for many years, was first found in southern 



