STANDARD GRADES FOR AMERICAN COTTON LINTERS O 



instance, illustrates linters desirable for absorbent cotton, siir<^ical 

 dressings, spinning, high-grade battings, etc. Another illustrates 

 linters suitable for certain nitrating purposes, and another, the most 

 desired form of linters for munitions. Each meets the requirements 

 for particular types of mattress feltings. 



These seven boxes of samples representing a new plan for the 

 grading of linters were presented by the department to a special 

 meeting of the linters standardization committee held in Memphis, 

 Tenn., on January 9, 19ii5. All members of the connnittee were 

 present at this meeting, together with the representatives of the 

 Better Bedding Alliance and the American Cotton Linters Associa- 

 tion. After a tliorough discussion, the plan presented for the grad- 

 ing of linters was approved and later, after the positions of two or 

 three samples had been interchanged, the boxes as a whole were also 

 unanimously approved as grades. 



On January 13. 14, and 15, 1925, the proposed grades were ex- 

 hibited and discussed at the annual convention of the Better Bedding 

 Alliance of America held in Chicago, 111. This convention passed 

 a resolution approving the boxes as standard grades. 



Following this the boxes were presented to the convention of the 

 Interstate Cotton Seed Crushers' Association held in New Orleans 

 May 13, 14, and 15, 1925. After a thorough discussion this conven- 

 tion aj)proved the grades and recommended their adoption as oflicial 

 standards. 



GRADES PROMULGATED 



With its work so iuWy indorsed, the department proceeded with 

 the legal phases of establishing the proposed grades as part of the 

 official standards of the United States. This was accomplished by 

 an order of the Secretary dated July 7, 1925. establishing them im- 

 mediately as tentative standards and giving public notice that on 

 August i, 192G. they would become the official standard grades of 

 the United States for American cotton linters. 



Since that form of linters known as hull fiber is composed al- 

 most exclusively of the fuzz type of iibei-, most of which is itself 

 broken or cut, it is not possible to put up permanent samples of it in 

 the form of physical tyi)es. Therefoi-e. the order of the Secretary 

 simply describes such linters in the following tei-ms: "^Vmericun cot- 

 ton linters, the fiber of which is below that shown in giadc 7 heiein 

 (>-.!;ibli'-]n'd. -li!ill )>(' designated as 'hull liber.''" 



USING THE STANDARDS 



The construction of the boxes containing the samples of physical 

 types rejn-esenting the standard grades is simple and yet so com- 

 ju-ehensive as to permit of a very wide range of subdi\ision for trad- 

 ing purposes. In each box or grade the samples are placed in three 

 rows of four samples each. JSamples 1, 2, 3. and 4 in the ton tier of 

 each box represent the character and foreign matter of southeastern 

 linters. Samples 5, 0, 7, and 8, the middle tier, represent valley 

 linters. The bottom tier, samples 9, 10, 11. and 12, represent western 

 linters. Samples 1, 5, and 9 of each box repres<>nt the blends, for 

 each character, having the gicatest j)r()|)<»rii(»n of long libers included 

 in each grade; and samjiles 4. S. and 12 rei)n\M'nt the blends havini.' 

 the smallest portions of lonir filters in each grade. In adjacent grades, 

 samples 4, 8, and 12 of the higher grade arc the equal, respectively, 



