14 BULLETIN 985, U. 8. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. _ 
THE GENERAL LEDGER. 
The form of general ledger sheet is usually kept in stock by station- 
ers. The posting is done from the cash journal into the general 
ledger once a month or as often as is desired. No individual items 
are posted into the general ledger, except those found in the general 
ledger columns of the cash journal. The totals of the special columns 
are posted direct from the cash journal to the proper account in the 
ledger. The debit totals are posted to the debit side and the credit 
totals to the credit side of the account. Since the debits are equal to 
the credits in the cash journal, and since no posting is done from any 
other book, the two sides of the ledger must be equal and the trial 
balance should be easy to obtain at any time. The accounts found 
in the ledger are charted and described on pages 21 to 35. 
HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS. 
Sample entry of actual transactions showing the operation of the 
system will be found on the forms illustrated at the end of this bul- 
letin. In studying the system or in actually using it, these sample 
entries should be referred to until it is thoroughly understood just 
how the entry should be made. 
THE GINNING RECORDS. 
The ginning records are the bale tag (Form 1), the ginning ticket 
and register (Form 2), and the ginning ledger (Form 3). The sole 
function of the bale tag is to identify the bale as it passes from the 
producer to the consumer. The ginning ticket and register is the 
original detailed and serial record of the bale and all the information 
relating to the ginning operations, while the ginning ledger is the 
book of personal accounts of patrons. The debit side of the ginning 
ledger and the total ginning charges in the register should be equal 
when the posting is completed. The net total of the balances in the © 
ginning ledger should agree with the balance of the accounts receiy- 
able account in the general ledger. 
RECEIVING THE COTTON. 
As the grower drives on the scale, the weigher takes the next 
numbered bale tag (Form 1) and on a ginning ticket (Form 2), of the 
same number as the tag, he records the gross weight; then the cotton 
is drawn into the gin, after which the tare or the weight of the wagon 
and driver is deducted; the difference is the net weight of the seed 
cotton. The weight of the bale multiplied by the rate gives the 
charge for ginning. Adding the value of the bagging and ties gives 
the total charges if the charge for bagging and ties is not included in 
the ginning charge. By subtracting the weight of the bale from the 
net weight of the seed cotton the weight of the cotton seed from the 
bale is found. Except when the seed cotton is of a very low grade, 
is unusually dirty, or contains hulls and bolls in large quantities, no 
