UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
BULLETIN No. 733 
J 4 * IS 
Contribution from the Bureau of Crop Estimates 
Contribution from the Bureau of Crop Estimates 
LEON M. ESTABROOK, Chief 
sifr^mfu 
Washington, D. C. 
September 6, 1918 
LENGTH OF COTTON LINT, CROPS 1916 AND 1917. 
By W. L. Pryok, Cotton-Crop Specialist. 
CONTENTS. 
Distribution of varieties produced 
Damage to crop from weather and insects 
Sea Island cotton 
Qualities required for spinning 
Differences in classification of cotton accord- 
ing to length of staple 
Page. 
1 
2 
3 
4 
Page. 
Egyptian and Durango cotton 5 
Location of areas of the principal production 
of extra-length cotton 6 
Average price received by growers 6 
Yield per acre 6 
Cotton varieties commonly grown. 
DISTRIBUTION OF VARIETIES PRODUCED. 
The data from which figures relating to long-staple cotton and 
the comments which follow are the result of an inquiry made in 
December, 1917. Reports were obtained from the regular crop 
reporters of the Bureau of Crop Estimates, including the aids of 
the field agents and of the cotton-crop specialist of the bureau in the 
following States: Mississippi, Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, South 
Carolina, Louisiana, Arizona, and California. This information was 
supplemented by special reports from buyers, exporters, and dealers, 
from seed breeders and from special investigations of several field 
agents and the cotton-crop specialist of the Bureau of Crop Esti- 
mates. In many sections of several States reporters were unable to 
obtain definite data, for only in districts where the growth of staple 
cotton has been recognized for several years is attention paid to the 
length of lint. In recognized staple-producing sections, cotton is 
ordinarily bought and sold on -types showing quality of staple, 
color, and trash content. Elsewhere many buyers make no effort to 
determine length and character of the staple. Where the latter 
custom obtains, it is not to be wondered at that the farmer knows but 
little of the length of lint grown on his plantation. Neither is it 
strange, where the price for all cotton, regardless of the length of 
fiber, is approximately the same, that farmers grow varieties which 
produce the most lint. It is for this reason that the notorious " half- 
and-half " cotton and other short-lint varieties are being largely 
planted in many sections. West of the Mississippi River this very 
71158°— Bull. 733—18 
