14 



BULLETIN 476, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



that his cotton had good staple, he never before had received more 

 than the ordinary short-staple price. This producer received about 

 $20 a bale more than he would if his cotton had not been classed, 

 amounting to about $400 for his entire crop. At this rate he has suf- 

 fered a total loss of about $2,000 during the last five years by not 

 knowing the class of his cotton. While this case is probably excep- 

 tional, it indicates the possible loss to the farmer of not knowing 

 the class of his cotton. 



It may be concluded, therefore, that the higher prices that many 

 producers were able to secure for cotton that had been classed, as 

 compared with unclassed cotton, were largely due to the application 

 of differences that were approximately correct. Were there no eco- 

 nomic gain to the producers as a whole in having cotton classed before 

 sale the fact that mairy individuals would secure more nearly that 

 to which they are justly entitled is ample reason for rendering class- 

 ing service. 



COMPARISON OF SALES MADE AT PRIMARY MARKETS WITH SALES MADE AT 



NORFOLK, VA. 



Considerable cotton is shipped by producers in the eastern part of 

 North Carolina to Norfolk, Va., to be sold there by brokers, and 

 data were received and compiled for about 1,000 bales of classed 

 cotton sold there. 



The data for the 1914-15 season tabulated by the department show 

 that the average price received for cotton sold at Norfolk was 7.09 

 cents, while the average price at which the same grades were sold 

 on the same dates at Fayetteville, Scotland Neck, and Tarboro was 

 6.56 cents, a difference of 53 points, which was partly offset by an 

 average freight rate of 28^ points, leaving a net discrepancy of 24 

 points. 



A similar comparison is shown in Table IX for the 1915-16 sea- 

 son for all of the towns from which data were secured, covering co- 

 inciding grade and date sales. This table shows an average difference 

 in favor of Norfolk of 43 points, which is subject to a deduction on 

 account of freight rates of 32 points, leaving a net difference of 11 

 points. 



Table IX. — Average prices received for the same grades of cotton on the same 

 dates in North Carolina primary markets and Norfolk, Ya., 1915-16 season. 



[Prices in boldface figures apply to town in boldface type. Prices in llghtface figures 

 apply to towns in lightface type.] 





Ahos- 

 kie. 



s- 1 si" 



ton - ville. 



Jack- 

 son- 

 ville. 



Kins- 

 ton. 



Laurin- 

 burg. 



Red 



Springs. 



Scot- 

 land 

 Neck. 



Tar- 

 boro. 



Aver- 

 age. 



Norfolk 



Cents. 

 11.59 

 11.84 



Cents. 

 11. G3 

 12.00 



Cents. 

 12. 00 

 11.50 



Cents. 

 11.55 

 12.01 



Cents. 

 12. 50 

 12 13 



Cents. 

 11.07 

 11.83 



Cents. 

 10. 35 

 11.91 



Cente. 

 11.33 

 11.95 



Cents. 

 10.88 

 11.54 



Cents. 

 11.43 

 11.86 















