36 A STORY OF COTTON 



sealed by the fibres having been laid very closely together in 

 the bale even when pressed to this density. 



If such were NOT the case, and there was NO air, each 

 individual fibre would adjust itself to its proper position, and 

 if the air was ALL, or NEARLY ALL, expelled, the bale, 

 instead of being a STANDARD BALE or 27 inches x 54 inches 

 X 48 inches, would become a GIN COMPRESSED BALE OF 

 COTTON. 



The air, that is sealed, in the present standard gin-pressed 

 bale, acts as a water resister or deflector, and it is the air 

 that is so sealed in a loosely packed bale of cotton that pre- 

 vents the water from occupying the space between the fibres, 

 as rapidly as does a compressed bale where much more air has 

 been expelled. 



All bales of cotton that are damaged by water under usual 

 conditions should show evidence of damage, as a rule, in the 

 following order: 



FIRST: The bale becomes damaged under the laps at the 

 ends of the bands, where the air is not permitted to quickly 

 enter, and evaporate the moisture. 



SECOND: Damage soon begins to manifest itself, on the 

 twenty-four points on each edge or corner of the bale where 

 the bands surround the bale and sink into these corners, which 

 points are where the greatest density exists, and where, imme- 

 diately under each band, the air has been expelled and the 

 capillary attraction of the fibre is exercised more rapidly and 

 acts uninterruptedly. 



After a bale of cotton has absorbed quite a good deal of water, 

 and the moisture has penetrated into the bale some distance, 

 and the bale is still exposed to the elements, a solid cake, 

 similar to a pie crust, forms on the outer surface of the bale 

 at the damaged points, and prevents even the partial entrance 

 of air, to assist in the evaporation of the moisture in the bale 

 at the damaged points. 



While this cake or crust, on the exterior of the bale dissolves 

 when being rained upon, and absorbs more moisture, imme- 

 diately upon the sun shining, this outer cake on the surface 

 again becomes hard, and prevents evaporation, and all of the 

 moisture that penetrated in and about this cake during the 



