4 BULLETIN 733, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
QUALITIES REQUIRED FOR SPINNING. 
The heavier-producing and well-recognized staple-producing sec- 
tions of the country show an increase in production. This was be- 
cause of the premiums previously paid for extra-length cotton and for 
the reason that early maturing strains have been propagated in re- 
cent years which have been found to be about as early and prolific as 
the shorter varieties of lint. Length of staple does not always deter- 
mine spinning quality. Buyers pay a considerable premium for cot- 
ton combining both length and strength of fiber over cotton of con- 
siderable length but of poor strength. For this reason certain local- 
ities in which years of experience have demonstrated the power to 
produce this extra-quality staple receive a considerable premium over 
new staple districts or over sections where weather conditions tend to 
unfavorably affect the length or strength of fiber from year to year. 
Spinners, being satisfied with results from a certain section, offer 
premiums for cotton from the same point of origin year after year. 
Mills are willing to pay an extra price for " hard cotton " or " extra- 
hard cotton." Ordinarily there is less waste in spinning this cotton, 
and it is sometimes used to mix with soft lint to lessen spinning waste 
and to improve the strength of the fabric. After a mill finds by 
actual experience that cotton from a certain section invariably meets 
its requirements, that from other sections apparently just as good is 
view with suspicion until it is thoroughly tested. In some sections 
liVinch cotton brings a premium over 1^-inch cotton grown in other 
sections of the same States. 
The style and hardness of staple of equal length is very im- 
portant to the Manchester and American mills, and the man who 
passes on staple should be a good judge of staple cotton, taking into 
consideration that even, smooth staple cotton is worth considerably 
more than uneven cotton. 
DIFFERENCES IN CLASSIFICATION OF COTTON ACCORDING TO 
LENGTH OF STAPLE. 
There is a considerable difference between the American and 
Liverpool ideas as to length of staple. Much of the Texas crop, 
which averages around 1 T V inches, is sold in Liverpool on types vari- 
ously described as " good 1-J," " full 1-J," " hard 1J,' 1 etc, when most of 
this cotton would probably not staple over 1^ inches, American 
standard, or measured by .rule. Because of this great confusion in 
stapling, the millimeter standard is gaining ground, as there is a 
general understanding of what is meant, for instance, by 32 -milli- 
meter cotton, whereas a reference to lj-inch cotton brings forth the 
query, "What kind of inch-and-one-eighth? " It is for this reason 
that the millimeter standard is gaining friends, especially by the 
exporters of staple and many of the cotton manufacturers. 
