DURANGO COTTON IN THE IMPERIAL VALLEY. 13 
perial Valley is commonly of a brighter and more “bloomy” color 
than the staple cotton grown in the South; it contains less leaf in 
the early part of the picking season, but more fine or pulverized 
leaf during the latter part of the season than is found in cotton 
of similar grades grown in the Mississippi Delta. 
The actual tagged samples representing the grades and staple of 
the lots of cotton classed were sent to cotton-mill brokers and direct 
to the spinning mills that manufacture fine yarns. Each list of 50 
bales sent out, as shown by samples, represented cotton of a certain 
length of staple and grade. For example, lot No. 1 (50 bales), 
marked “witu,” represented Strict Middling and Good Middling, 
14-inch staple; lot No. 2, marked “ mrKe,” Good Middling and better, 
14-inch staple; lot No. 3, marked “Tomy,” Strict Middling and 
Good Middling, 1,3; inch; lot No. 4, marked “trun,” Good Middling 
and better, 1;%; mel: lot No On D5 mayiced “ EDGE,’ Strict Middling and 
Good Nedelling: 1} inhi: and so on. In this way types were estab- 
lished which Me etacénted all combinations of grades and staples 
raised in the valley. 
After types were established and recorded as a basis for trading 
between the association and the brokers and mills, it was a com- 
paratively simple matter to class the cotton equal to the types. This 
method of classing was carried on throughout the season, and proved 
satisfactory. The spinner who possessed types knew exactly the 
staple, grade, and character of the cotton he was buying when he 
ordered cotton equal to a certain type. 
When samples were sent to the association’s sample room for 
classing, each bale was graded, stapled, and given a mark. These 
marks were entered in the type book as being equal to an established 
type of similar grade and staple. 
During the early fall Durango cotton which was picked with care 
was of a superior grade, much of it being Strict Good Middling. 
Even to the time of the first heavy frost, November 12, 1915, which 
occurred from 15 to 20 days earler than usual, the cotton was of a 
very good quality and grade when care was exercised in its picking 
and ginning. After this frost, which killed the cotton plant, the 
grades were much lower on account of the difficulty of picking the 
cotton free of leaf. Cotton which was still in the boll was lowered 
in grade by the effects of the frost, which caused discoloration from 
light tinged spots to a deep yellow tinge throughout the cotton. 
LENGTH AND CHARACTER OF DURANGO STAPLE. 
The Durango cotton varies in length of staple from 1-4; inch to 14% 
inch. Its character is very good; the fiber is silky and has consider- 
able spirality, it is exceptionally strong and even in length, and free 
