HARVESTING AND MARKETING COTTON 121 



insufficient in amount. Where the bales are not of uni- 

 form length the ends of the long bales are sometimes taken 

 off in loading the ships. Such bales usually arrive at their 

 destination in bad condition. 



The round bale, which has been prevented from coming 

 into general use by the opposition of owners of compresses, 

 is usually much better protected. Its weight is approx- 

 imately 250 pounds. 



143. Care of baled cotton. The fact that baled 

 cotton does not absorb water readily has led to very care- 

 less methods of handling it. It is rather common for both 

 farmers and warehouse men to leave large quantities of 

 baled cotton exposed to the rain for, many months at a 

 time. There is no question but that such treatment stains 

 and weakens the fibers, especially in the outer portions 

 of the bale, and thereby decreases the selling price. Cotton 

 bales should be kept at all times under shelter, and, if 

 possible, from direct contact with moist soil. 



144. Compressing. The bales as they come from 

 the gin are too large for economical shipment either by 

 train or over water. For this reason, powerful steam baling 

 compresses are to be found in practically every inland city 

 and seaport in the cotton-belt. These compresses greatly 

 reduce the size of the bales. 



In some cases the cotton lint as it comes from the gin 

 goes immediately into these powerful compresses where 

 it is packed into bales of very great density. 



SELECTION AND CLASSIFICATION OF COMMERCIAL GRADES 

 OF COTTON 



Cotton is bought and sold in accordance with a system 

 of grading that has been agreed on by all of the leading 

 cotton markets of the world. For correctly distinguishing 



