18 BULLETIN 476, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



It appears from the investigation that the average producer who 



knew the class of his cotton obtained about $1.15 per bale more than 

 the fa liner who was not furnished such information. Should this 

 hold true for the whole crop, the producers of North Carolina would 

 save over a million dollars by having their cotton classed before they 

 sell it. Counties which produce five thousand or more bales would 

 probably find it practicable and financially worth while to take ad- 

 vantage of benefits of the State grading law referred to in the foot- 

 note on page 2. 



The relative value of different grades and lengths of staple is 

 more nearly approximated in the sale of cotton, the class of which 

 is known to the producer, than in the sale of unclassed cotton. It 

 is reasonable to suppose that when the farmer is assured that his 

 cotton is accurately and impartially classed and bought as classed, 

 he will appreciate the advantage of exercising greater care in choos- 

 ing the variety to be planted and also more care in the picking and 

 handling in order to improve the grade and staple so that he may 

 receive the premium which the superior product will bring. 



Producers who sold in lots containing ten or more bales obtained 

 from 88 cents to $1.45 per bale more than the producers who sold 

 one or two bales. Classing is only the first step and pooling or 

 selling organizations should be formed if the full benefits of classing 

 are to be realized. 



Norfolk, Va., seems an advantageous market for certain towns in 

 eastern North Carolina, provided the shipper knows the class of his 

 cotton. If the farmer does not know the value of his product, he 

 is not only incompetent to dispose of it locally in an intelligent 

 manner but is also unable to tell whether he is receiving full value 

 if he sells it at a distant market. 



Accurate knowledge of the grade of bales enables merchants who 

 buy cotton in settlement of accounts to pay the individual farmer 

 more nearly what his particular cotton is worth and to secure better 

 prices for themselves when selling. 



The sale of classed cotton at a primary market increased the price 

 paid for unbiassed cotton sold at that market about 10 points, or 50 

 cents per bale. 



Investigations conducted in Arkansas by the Office of Markets and 

 Rural Organization during the 1913-14, 1014-15, and 1915-16 sea- 

 sons corroborate the conclusions drawn in this bulletin as to the 

 value of a knowledge of the class of cotton before sale and the ad- 

 vantages derived from selling in large lots. 



