8 BULLETIN 457, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 
sells in small lots as rapidly as ginned, while larger ‘‘round lots”’ 
are more common in the east. 
The figures show a remarkably narrow range in prices in the 
eastern belt, indicating that ‘‘round lots’’ commanded the atten- 
tion of the buyers and that competition was so keen that the pro- | 
ducer secured the approximate value of his product. In North 
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama on given dates the 
range in prices, when freight rates were considered, did not amount 
to as much as one-half cent per pound, and when the character of 
the cotton of the different sections was considered the various markets 
were shown to be operating on practically the same basis. 
While it is difficult to make definite comparisons between ‘‘round- 
lot’’ and single-bale sales, still the figures in general clearly indicate 
the advantage of selling in ‘‘round lots.”’ Although this survey did 
not afford opportunities for definite comparisons between ‘‘round- 
lot’’ and single-bale sales, figures of subsequent years are available. 
Investigations made by the United States Department of Agriculture 
in cooperation with the experiment station of the North Carolina Agri- 
cultural and Mechanical College in 1914-15 and 1915-16 furnish much 
light on the subject. During these two years data were obtained 
regarding 55,000 bales of cotton sold in North Carolina, and complete 
records were kept of each transaction. These figures show that in 
1914-15 the producer received 29 points, or $1.45 more per bale by 
selling in lots of 10 bales or over, and the following year he received 
17 points, or 85 cents more per bale. 
These data also tend to show the importance of selling cotton in 
uniform lots of grade and staple. Since the selling in ‘‘round lots” 
showed a higher price, sales in even-running lots would show equal 
or even higher premiums. 
AVERAGE STAPLE LENGTHS AND AVERAGE PRICES FOR EACH LENGTH 
OF STAPLE FOR THE DIFFERENT STATES AND FOR THE ENTIRE 
BELT. 
To the question of staple, little thought has been given by pro- 
ducers in short-staple sections, only the most progressive considering 
it of enough importance for them to devote time to the matter of 
general cultural improvement. The coming of the boll weevil and 
the resulting damage to sections producing long-staple cotton has 
given an impetus to the development of a longer staple in other sec- 
tions, and through activities of the Federal Department of Agriculture 
and agencies within the States, considerable improvement has been 
made. Producers in some localities who a few years ago knew nothing 
of staple cotton are now devoting time and money to the development 
of a staple that is specially adapted to their particular locality. In 
this study attention was given to staple length to ascertain whether 
it was a factor in determining the price paid the producer for his 
