126 PRODUCTIVE FARMING 



pound? (Consider the extra work of picking and ginning as 

 balanced by the increased seed yield.) 



Preparation for Market. A public ginnery is usually 

 found in any section where cotton is raised. The seed cotton 

 is hauled from the field to the cotton gin. The suction pipes 

 lift it from the wagons and take it to the gin stand, where 

 it is taken over fine-toothed revolving circular saws. These 

 saws separate the lint from the seeds, T^hich are kept from 

 passing along over the revolving saws by means of long 

 stationary teeth or combs. The seeds may be stored in a 

 seed room of the ginnery or may be returned directly to 

 the grower's wagon. The white lint (Fig. 63) is carried by 

 the machine into a large hydraulic press, wnere it is covered 

 with coarse bagging and bound by iron bands into bales of 

 about 500 pounds each (Fig. 64). 



Baled cotton is too often exposed for months without 

 shelter from the weather. This may darken and weaken the 

 outer layers and reduce the selling price of it all. 



Most cotton intended for shipment a long distance is put 

 through a compressor to reduce the size of the bales. 



Market Grades of Cotton. The price paid for cotton at 

 any time is governed by the grade or quality. The grade 

 is determined by samples taken from the bales. When a 

 grower sells his cotton, the buyer usually does the grading. 

 The seven principal market grades of cotton in order of 

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

 middling; (5) low middling; (6) good ordinary; and (7) ordi- 

 nary. There are sub-divisions of these principal grades which 

 are designated by prefixing such terms as "strict," "fully/' 

 or "barely." Most of our American cotton is poorer than 

 middling fair, and grades as high or higher than middling. 



By=products of Cotton. The chief by-product of the 

 cotton crop is cottonseed. This is now used for several 

 purposes. The hulls are removed by machinery. Oil is 

 extracted from the kernels by cooking and pressing. Cotton 

 oil is used in making salad oils, cottolene, oleomargarine, 



