SEA ISLAND COTTON" INDUSTRY. 15 



MIXING SEED COTTON A PERNICIOUS PRACTICE. 



There is a practice quite common in these two States, and perhaps 

 in South Carolina also, of selling cotton in the seed in small quan- 

 tities, even in basketfuls. These small lots are supposed to be 

 graded while in the seed-cotton condition and then each grade or 

 lot kept separate until it is ginned. If grading is ever attempted 

 it amounts to little, and it has become the custom to put all the 

 lots in one pile and to gin and bale it, indiscriminately, all at the 

 same time. The resulting staple is mixed and far from desirable 

 to a spinner, but, strange to say, such lots of cotton are frequently 

 accepted by mills at a price equal to or but slightly less than a well- 

 selected and carefully handled cotton could be bought for. Such 

 a statement sounds incredible, but it shows how imperfect are the 

 methods by which many mills determine the character of the cotton 

 which they purchase. It is a confusing situation to both planters 

 and factors and has unquestionably encouraged careless methods 



of handling cotton. 



CONCLUSION. 



In conclusion it may be said that it is certainly desirable to the 

 farmer now growing Sea Island that it should continue to be one of 

 his chief money crops, but only on the condition that it be a profitable 

 one. It is likewise desirable to the American spinner that he should 

 have a double source of supply for his raw material and that he should 

 not be dependent on Egypt for all cottons of extra-long staple. This 

 applies equally to foreign spinners who have not been lacking in 

 appreciation of Sea Island extra staples. Thus, their interests being 

 identical in regard to the desirability of continuing the production of 

 Sea Island, it seems worth while to make an effort to reconcile differ- 

 ences and to reach a working agreement on a "live and let live" basis. 

 In furtherance of this end it might be advisable for the farmers' 

 organizations and spinners' association to each appoint a small com- 

 mittee .to meet in conference at an early date and have a full and free 

 exchange of views and each learn more of the conditions and needs 

 of the other. Doubtless a better understanding could be reached, 

 which would lead to mutual concessions and the forgetting of the 

 deadlock of 1912-13, and the business of both planter and spinner 

 might be greatly benefited by such an interchange of ideas. 



