228 COTTON 
done only with reasonable accuracy, subjecting 
the method to some degree of criticism. Since the 
gin and the press are so available now, there is no 
reason why every farmer should not sell his lint 
in the bale rather than in any other form. 
BORROWING ON THE CROP IS BAD BUSINESS 
An interesting economic development has come 
with the rise of the cotton industry. It concerns 
itself with cotton factors who advance money to the 
needy cotton grower, taking as security a lien on 
his crop. The usual advance is ten dollars or more 
on the bale, given at the highest legal rate of inter- 
est. Without this help of the cotton factor, many 
people would be unable to purchase seed, fertilizer, 
feed, teams and stock, and so produce a crop. By 
borrowing on the crop they are able to tide over the 
space of time intervening until marketing of the 
crop arrives. Of course, this is bad business; 
while it is profitable for the cotton factor, it is ruin- 
ous for the grower, and consequently injurious to 
the community. When the crop is harvested it may 
be sold at once, the factor paid, and the balance 
credited in the bank to the cotton grower. 
This balance, during the good year, may besuffi- 
cient to start the tenant or other grower the next 
spring, and even carry him to the close of a second 
crop;or it may be so small, that he will with difficulty 
be able to live through the winter, and begin a new 
crop. Often it is necessary for tenant, or the other- 
wise poor farmer, to begin borrowing early in the 
year to meet bare necessities. When good seasons 
come, this crop lien business is of smaller propor- 
tions, but with poor seasons such advances are 
great and consequently burdensome to the grower. 
