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16 BULLETIN 324, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
tive attitude toward the cotton industry. It is taken for granted that 
the banker is concerned in the permanent prosperity of agriculture 
and of the agriculturist. He should look beyond the integrity of the 
individual grower patron and beyond financing him temporarily to 
the general prosperity of the industry. 
THE MANUFACTURER AND STABILIZATION. 
A few years ago, shortly after the boll weevil invaded the long- 
staple regions of Mississippi and Louisiana, manufacturers using 
long-staple cotton were disturbed seriously because of the reduced 
supply. Steps were taken by them to promote its rehabilitation in 
the old long-staple centers. The Department of Agriculture had pre- 
viously recommended measures for the extension of long-staple cot- 
ton growing, and as a result several new centers have been opened up. 
A temporary increase of the supply, however, merely adds comph- 
cations to the situation for the user. The assurance of a regular 
supply of staple cotton is much more important to the manufacturer 
than an increased supply temporarily. 
The stabilization of the supply of long-staple cotton desired by the 
manufacturer involves the stabilization of the growing industry in the 
new centers. Stabilization can be brought about if the industry can 
be maintained on a basis profitable to the grower. The alteration of 
marketing methods to insure the grower full returns for his product is 
essential to the stabilizing of the long-staple industry in these new 
centers. It is a severe arraignment of present marketing methods to 
state that the practices of private buyers have formed one of the 
greatest obstacles to the establishment of long-staple cotton produc- 
tion, but such is the case. The system rather than the individual 
buyer is at fault. 
Manufacturers have urged the extension of long-staple cotton pro- 
duction to increase and insure a steady supply of raw material with- 
out taking constructive action to make the growing of long-staple 
cotton profitable to the producer. The manufacturers can contribute 
much to the extension and stabilization of long-staple cotton by 
studying the problem from the growers’ point of view. This does not 
mean that the manufacturer must pay prices beyond the market or 
that the growing of a long-staple cotton must be subsidized in any 
way, but it does mean that the manufacturer must know something 
of the problems of long-staple cotton, production. The manutfactur- 
er’s interest in the supply of superior cotton must extend beyond the 
broker and he must do his share to get a fair market price into the — 
hands of the producer. The two principals in the stabilization of 
long-staple cotton growing are the grower and the manufacturer. 
WASHINGTON : GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1915 
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