8 BULLETIN 457, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



sells in sniall lots as rapidly as ginned, while larger "round lots" 

 are more common in the east. 



The figures show a remarkably narrow range in prices in the 

 eastern belt, indicating that "round lots" commanded the atten- 

 tion of the buyers and that competition was so keen that the pro- 

 ducer secured the approximate value of his product. In North 

 Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama on given dates the 

 range in prices, when freight rates were considered, did not amount 

 to as much as one-half cent per pound, and when the character of 

 the cotton of the different sections was considered the various markets 

 were shown to be operating on practically the same basis. 



While it is difficult to make definite comparisons between "round- 

 lot" and single-bale sales, still the figures in general clearly indicate 

 the advantage of selling in "round lots." Although this survey did 

 not afford, opportunities for definite comparisons between "round- 

 lot" and single-bale sales, figures of subsequent years are available. 

 Investigations made by the United States Department of Agriculture 

 in cooperation with the experiment station of the North Carolina Agri- 

 cultural and Mechanical College in 1914-15 and 1915-16 furnish much 

 light on the subject. During these two years data were obtained 

 regarding 55,000 bales of cotton sold in North Carolina, and complete 

 records were kept of each transaction. These figures show that in 

 1914-15 the producer received 29 points, or $1.45 more per bale by 

 selling in lots of 10 bales or over, and the following year he received 

 17 points, or 85 cents more per bale. 



These data also tend to show the importance of selling cotton in 

 uniform lots of grade and staple. Since the selling in "round lots" 

 showed a higher price, sales in even-running lots would show equal 

 or even higher premiums. 



AVERAGE STAPLE LENGTHS AND AVERAGE PRICES FOR EACH LENGTH 

 OF STAPLE FOR THE DIFFERENT STATES AND FOR THE ENTIRE 

 BELT. 



To the question of staple, little thought has been given by pro- 

 ducers in short-staple sections, only the most progressive considering 

 it of enough importance for them to devote time to the matter of 

 general cultural improvement. The coming of the boll weevil and 

 the resulting damage to sections producing long-staple cotton has 

 given an impetus to the development of a longer staple in other sec- 

 tions, and through activities of the Federal Department of Agriculture 

 and agencies within the States, considerable improvement has been 

 made. Producers in some localities who a few years ago knew nothing 

 of staple cotton are now devoting time and money to the development 

 of a staple that is specially adapted to their particular locality. In 

 this study attention was given to staple length to ascertain whether 

 it was a factor in determining the price paid the producer for his 



