DUBANGO COTTON IN THE IMPERIAL VALLEY. 13 



perial Valley is commonly of a brighter and more " bloomy " color 

 than the staple cotton grown in the South; it contains less leaf in 

 the early part of the picking season, but more fine or pulverized 

 leaf during the latter part of the season than is found in cotton 

 of similar grades grown in the Mississippi Delta. 



The actual tagged samples representing the grades and staple of 

 the lots of cotton classed were sent to cotton-mill brokers and direct 

 to the spinning mills that manufacture fine yarns. Each list of 50 

 bales sent out, as shown by samples, represented cotton of a certain 

 length of staple and grade. For example, lot No. 1 (50 bales), 

 marked "will," represented Strict Middling and Good Middling, 

 1-J-inch staple ; lot No. 2, marked " mike," Good Middling and better, 

 1^-inch staple; lot No. 3, marked " tomy," Strict Middling and 

 Good Middling, 1 T % inch ; lot No. 4, marked " time," Good Middling 

 and better, 1 T 3 ¥ inch; lot No. 5, marked "edge,' Strict Middling and 

 Good Middling, 1| inch; and so on. In this way types were estab- 

 lished which represented all combinations of grades and staples 

 raised in the valley. 



After types were established and recorded as a basis for trading 

 between the association and the brokers and mills, it was a com- 

 paratively simple matter to class the cotton equal to the types. This 

 method of classing was carried on throughout the season, and proved 

 satisfactory. The spinner who possessed types knew exactly the 

 staple, grade, and character of the cotton he was buying when he 

 ordered cotton equal to a certain type. 



When samples were "sent to the association's sample room for 

 classing, each bale was graded, stapled, and given a mark. These 

 marks were entered in the type book as being equal to an established 

 type of similar grade and staple. 



During the early fall Durango cotton which was picked with care 

 was of a superior grade, much of it being Strict Good Middling. 

 Even to the time of the first heavy frost, November 12, 1915, which 

 occurred from 15 to 20 days earlier than usual, the cotton was of a 

 very good quality and grade when care was exercised in its picking 

 and ginning. After this frost, which killed the cotton plant, the 

 grades were much lower on account of the difficulty of picking the 

 cotton free of leaf. Cotton which was still in the boll was lowered 

 in grade by the effects of the frost, which caused discoloration -from 

 light tinged spots to a deep yellow tinge throughout the cotton. 



LENGTH AND CHARACTER OF DURANGO STAPLE. 



The Durango cotton varies in length of staple from 1-^ inch to 1 T % 

 inch. Its character is very good ; the fiber is silky and has consider- 

 able spirality, it is exceptionally strong and even in length, and free 



