4 BULLETIN 1438, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
usually absorbed rapidly. In the tests described later it is show] 
that practically all of the damage occurred on the bottom of the 
bales. This part of the bale has ordinarily little opportunity to di 
out. 
In some instances owners have been known to expose baled cottoi 
to the weather intentionally, to increase the weight. This practice 
is not honest and sooner or later it results in damage to the bale if it 
is exposed long enough. 
All of the tests show a direct relationship between the amount of 
moisture absorbed and the resulting damage. Since the fungi 
responsible for the discoloration and decay of the fibers thrive best 
under temperate conditions, the cotton in the tests damaged at a 
much more rapid rate during the spring and summer months. 
Too much emphasis can not be placed upon the desirability of 
placing baled cotton in a properly constructed warehouse, under 
responsible managment, as soon after ginning as possible. When 
this practice becomes established, the annual loss from weather 
damage will be largely eliminated. 
If it is impracticable to place the bales in a commercial ware- 
house, they should be stored in a dry place out of the weather or, 
as a last resort, they should be edged up on poles and turned at least 
once each week. 
PRACTICAL TESTS 
Six tests have been conducted by the United States Department of 
Agriculture at five representative points in the Cotton Belt to deter- 
mine the seriousness of the damage that baled cotton suffers when 
exposed to weather. To determine as far as possible to what extent 
there is a sectional variation in the extent or degree of weather 
damage, the tests were made at representative points in the Cotton 
Belt. 
The location and dates and duration of the several tests are as 
follows : 
(1) Little Rock, Ark., November 25, 1918, to June 7, 1919. 
(2) Raleigh, N. C, November 20, 1918, to June 9, 1919. 
(3) Dallas, Tex., December 23, 1919, to August 3. 1920. 
(4) Raleigh, N. C, Januarv 15, 1920, to August 24, 1920. 
(5) Jefferson, Ga., Januarv 10, 1920, to August 26, 1920. 
(6) Dunn, N. C, December 13, 1921, to July 31, 1922. 
The bales were kept under close observation and weighed after 
each rain or once each week to determine the rate of absorption 
under varying weather conditions. 
Seven bales of cotton were used in each test. One bale was stored 
in the warehouse and the remaining six were exposed to the weather 
(fig. 2). The positions of the bales and the conditions of exposure 
were as follows: 
Bale No. 1. Fully protected in a warehouse. 
Bale No. 2. Uncovered on poles, edge up, and turned after each rain 
or once a week. 
Bale No. 3. On poles, covered by tarpaulin, without further 
attention. 
Bale No. 4. Flat on the ground during entire test; same surface 
down at all times. 
