﻿STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



In Cooperation with the 

 Clemson Agricultural College 



DEPARTMENT BULLETIN No. 1148 



Washington, D. C. 



V 



February 1, 1923 



COMPARATIVE SPINNING TESTS OF SUPERIOR VARIETIES OF COTTON 



(GROWN UNDER WEEVIL CONDITIONS IN THE SOUTHEASTERN 



STATES; CROP OF 1921) 



By William R. Meadows, Cotton Technologist, and William G. Blair, Specialist 

 in Cotton Testing, Bureau of Agricultural Economics. 



Page. 



Purpose of tests 1 



Importance of pure varieties 1 



Varieties of cotton tested 2 



Origin of the cotton 2 



Classification of the cotton 2 



Mechanical conditions 2 



Percentpges of waste 2 



Moisture conditions Z 



Breaking strength of yarns 4 



Irregularity of yarns 5 



Manufacturing properties 5 



Summary 6 



PURPOSE OF TESTS. 



The spinning tests herein described were conducted to determine 

 the relative spinning value of cotton commercially thought to be of 

 superior character with that of a number of pure strains of superior 

 varieties of cotton. All were grown under boll-weevil conditions in 

 the southeastern cotton States during the season of 1921. 1 



IMPORTANCE OF PURE VARIETIES. 2 



Pure stocks of cotton seed produce larger and better crops because all of the plants 

 in the field are alike, while in mixed stocks many of the plants are degenerate and 

 unproductive and the lint is mixed and therefore of mediocre value. The use of 

 pure seed means larger crops and better fiber. 



The fiber from pure stocks is better not only because of its greater length or strength, 

 but also because the fibers are more uniform, which is the first essential of high 

 quality in cotton fiber. 



Good cultural conditions simply give pure seed an opportunity for the expression 

 of the full possibilities of the variety. 



By superior varieties we do not necessarily mean long staples. There are superior 

 short staple varieties as well as superior long staple varieties. Superiority consists 

 of uniformity — uniformity of plants, uniformity of fruiting habit and of fruit: all of 

 which results in uniformity in the length and in the character of the cotton, the most 

 valuable spinning qualities to be had. 



Pure seed is the first essential to a superior fiber. 



i These spinning tests were conducted under the general supervision of William R. Meadows, cotton, 

 technologist, and under the direct supervision of William G. Blair, specialist in cotton testing, who was 

 assisted by H. B. Richardson, C E. Folk, and E. S. Cummings, assistants in cotton testing. The tests 

 were made in the textile department of the Clemson Agricultural College, Clemson College, S. C 



2 From a paper read by G. S. Melov, investigator in cotton marketing, at the conference of the cotton 

 division, New Orleans, La., June 23, 24, 25, 1920. 



27782°— 23— Bull. 1148* 



