SERVICES IN COTTON MARKETING 
COSTS OF GINNING AND BALING 
The cost of ginning to the farmer consists of the money charge, 
the time lost, and any damage that may be done to the cotton in the 
process. The money cost varies in different localities, although in 
most of the States there is an association of gin operators which is 
doing much to standardize rates. In some sections charges are 
made on the basis of 100 pounds of seed cotton delivered and in 
others on the basis of 100 pounds of lint ginned. The prevailing 
charges in 1924 ranged from $1 to $1.20 for 100 pounds of lint cot- 
ton, or from 30 cents to 40 cents per 100 pounds of seed cotton. Bag- 
ging and ties are usually sold by the ginner to the farmer and are 
not included in this cost of ginning. Their prevailing cost is $1.50 
for each bale of cotton. 
The time cost in the rush season is an important item. A grower 
frequently has to wait 8 or 10 hours for his turn. 
Ginning machinery is so constructed that it would cause much 
trouble and delay to return to each farmer the exact lint and seed 
he brings to the gin, but each grower is given as much as he brings 
and as nearly his own cotton and seed as possible. To the extent 
that exact returns are not given, there is mixing of seed and plating 
of bales. A plated bale is a bale with a layer of cotton on one side 
that differs from the class of the main part of the bale. This often 
occurs when a part of the lint from one farmer's seed cotton is put 
with that of another, because the lint flues are not properly cleared 
between lots. In a community where several varieties of cotton are 
grown and all are ginned at one custom gin, it is impossible to keep 
varieties pure, owing to the mixing of seed. 3 
The bulk of the ginning is done in September, October, and 
November. Gins usually are idle the rest of the year. A few gin- 
ners try to use their plants for other purposes, as grinding corn or 
feed. 
COMPRESSING 
If the bale of cotton is to be shipped or stored for any length of 
time, it is compressed to reduce its size, and lower the freight, storage, 
and insurance charges. The standard compress makes a bale of a den- 
sity of about 24 pounds per cubic foot. The high density- press makes 
a bale of a density of 33 to 35 pounds per cubic foot. Only the square 
or plantation bales are compressed. Bales are compressed at the rate 
of about one per minute. When cotton is compressed, the owner has 
the sample holes covered with patches, partly for protection but 
mainly to have as much tare as is deducted in the market in which 
he expects to sell. Two or three more ties are put on the compressed 
bale if destined for shipment to Europe. 
The standard compress bale indorsed for American cotton by the 
English spinners is one which weighs 500 pounds, compressed to a 
density of 30 pounds per cubic foot, with dimensions of 54 by 27 by 
20 inches, covered with a strong closely woven cloth and tied by nar- 
row light steel bands, the bands and cloth not to exceed 20 pounds 
weight, the cotton to be pressed so that it can be taken off in lavers 
3 U. S. Dept. Agr. Bui. No. 288, Custom Ginning as a Factor in Cottonseed Deteriora- 
tion. 
