14 PACKING AND MAEKETING OF COTTON. 



the cotton is thoroughly exposed between the first and second ai^^ 

 second and third bands, and in the center of the bale, about *'"® ?. 

 portion between the second and third band, counting from the bot 

 up. These holes are each about 1 foot in diameter, ^^^'l^.^'^" ^Tg 

 directed particularly to the hole in the center of the bale. -'^'^^^^, 

 evidently cut with a big jackknife in the country by the farmer, wn 

 had his bale ginned, then dumped into a wagon at the gin and carnea 

 to town, where it was offered for sale on the street. Having naa nis 

 cotton newly clothed at the ginnery the farmer cut this hole, drew 

 a sample, and "hawked" it on the streets for sale to the hignest 

 bidder. , . 



No. 6 is simply a bale of cotton ordered pressed without patctiing, 

 resampled by the owner, and the bagging at the upper end torn to 

 pieces. ^ ^ 



No. 7 represents a bale ordered compressed and patched, ana arter- 

 wards resampled twice. , , 



X X represent two gin-pressed bales that never have been sampled. 

 They are in evidence as almost perfectly packed, regarding dimension 

 and density, but the worth of packing has been destroyed by puttmg 

 on the most flimsy burlap that could be bought to cover this other- 

 wise acceptable package. Elxamination under a magnifying glass will 

 disclose that the bagging is about to fall to pieces. It will be shipped 

 in its present form. Each handling with hooks will tear the baggmg, 

 and what could originally have been a model bale will no doubt 

 reach destination in a most deplorable condition so far as covering 

 is concerned. 



A A represent two bales of compressed cotton that had originally 

 one sample hole in each. The owner ordered this cotton compressed 

 and afterwards covered with new, standard bagging. It will be 

 noted that the bagging applied to these bales, the patching from the 

 top to the bottom of the marking, is of better quality than the original 

 that shows just above each marking. But even at that, the bales rep- 

 resent what a perfectly compressed bale would be if standard boxing 

 were adopted in the country and cotton were perfectly covered. It is 

 highly probable that if these two bales were to encircle the globe and 

 have frequent handling they would reach their destination in prac- 

 tically the same form shown in the photograph. 



AETIFICIAL MOISTURE COUNTRY DAMAGE. 



The indifference exhibited in the proper care and safeguarding of 

 this great crop by all who handle it is inexplicable and unjustifiable. 

 Beginning with the farmer, it is treated as if immune to all climatic 

 changes and conditions and invulnerable to damage from any rough 

 treatment that may be encountered. The farmer will deliberately 

 place the bale on the ground, without any protection whatever, and 

 for the avowed purpose of having the weight increased by moisture. 

 In furtherance of this purpose the cotton is often so placed as to 

 acquire the greatest amount of moisture in the shortest time, depres- 

 sions in the ground and similar locations favorable to the end in view 

 being preferred. Exudation under fair-weather influences is almost 

 as rapid as absorption, so that the purpose of the exposure is not fully 

 realized, and as purchasers readily detect excessive artificial moisture 



