16 BULLETIN 324, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



tive attitude toward the cotton industry. It is taken for granted that 

 the banker is concerned in the permanent prosperity of agriculture 

 and Of the agriculturist. He should look beyond the integrity of the 

 individual grower patron and beyond financing him temporarily to 

 the general prosperity of the industry. 



THE MANUFACTURER AND STABILIZATION. 



A few years ago, shortly after the boll weevil invaded the long- 

 staple regions of Mississippi and Louisiana, manufacturers using 

 long-staple cotton were disturbed seriously because of the reduced 

 supply. Steps were taken by them to promote its rehabilitation in 

 the old long-staple centers. The Department of Agriculture had pre- 

 viously recommended measures for the extension of long-staple cot- 

 ton growing, and as a result several new centers have been opened up. 



A temporary increase of the supply, however, merely adds compli- 

 cations to the situation for the user. The assurance of a regular 

 supply of staple cotton is much more important to the manufacturer 

 than an increased supply temporarily. 



The stabilization of the supply of long-staple cotton desired by the 

 manufacturer involves the stabilization of the growing industry in the 

 new centers. Stabilization can be brought about if the industry can 

 be maintained on a basis profitable to the grower. The alteration of 

 marketing methods to insure the grower full returns for his product is 

 essential to the stabilizing of the long-staple industry in these new 

 centers. It is a severe arraignment of present marketing methods to 

 state that the practices of private buyers have formed one of the 

 greatest obstacles to the establishment of long-staple cotton produc- 

 tion, but such is the case. The system rather than the individual 

 buyer is at fault. 



Manufacturers have urged the extension of long-staple cotton pro- 

 duction to increase and insure a steady supply of raw material with- 

 out taking constructive action to make the growing of long-staple 

 cotton profitable to the producer. The manufacturers can contribute 

 much to the extension and stabilization of long-staple cotton by 

 studying the problem from the growers' point of view. This does not 

 mean that the manufacturer must pay prices beyond the market or 

 that the growing of a long-staple cotton must be subsidized in any 

 way, but it does mean that the manufacturer must know something 

 of the problems of long-staple cotton production. The manufactur- 

 er's interest in the supply of superior cotton must extend beyond the 

 broker and he must do his share to get a fair market price into the 

 hands of the producer. The two principals in the stabilization of 

 long-staple cotton growing are the grower and the manufacturer. 



WASHINGTON : GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1915 



