UTILIZATION OF PIMA COTTON. 7 
the Sakellaridis variety can be carded in the same time. These 
figures vary somewhat, depending upon the class of yarn desired. 
It is also found that in some cases if the speed of the licker-in is 
reduced to 350 revolutions per minute more desirable yarns are pro- 
duced from Pima cotton. 
i 7) A considerable quantity of " fly " (short fibers) is experienced 
in the manufacturing of Pima cotton, especially on the drawing 
frames and the roving frames. This is more noticeable in certain 
mills than in others, but with one exception there is more fly in the 
case of Pima than when Sakellaridis is being used. Just what causes 
this trouble is not definitely known. In one particular case the 
writer thoroughly examined the " fly " at the drawing frame and 
it was found to contain many fibers which were at least 1-| inches 
in length. This does not indicate a fault of the cotton, but is indica- 
tive of improper setting and manipulation of the machines. This 
manufacturer has used a considerable quantity of Pima cotton dur- 
ing the last three years, but has found no way by which this trouble 
may be overcome. The fibers seem to be "sticky" or rough, so on 
the drawing and roving frames considerable " licking " is expe- 
rienced: that is. some of the fibers stick to the rolls, in which case 
the fibers are taken up by the clearer instead of being delivered with 
the rest in the form of a sliver or roving, as the case may be. When 
very many of these fibers stick to the delivery rolls uneven work is 
produced. However, in another plant a simple inexpensive device is 
used which materially reduces the quantity of fly. Photographs of 
fabrics and yarns from this plant are reproduced in this bulletin. 
A few manufacturers offered the following less serious objections, 
which are being overcome by many users of Pima cotton : 
1 1 i More twist required, reducing production. 
_ l Uneven yarns and not as strong as Sakellaridis or Sea Island. 
I Does not retain strength in ply yarns. 
(4) Not suitable for threa'd requirements. 
(5) Can not be woven in single warps above Xos. 70 or 75. 
(6) Yarns will not mercerize, though fabrics will. 
(1) It is claimed by some that more twist is required for Pima 
than for Sakellaridis or Sea Island cotton, which reduces production. 
But in the manufacturing plant referred to in the latter part of a 
preceding paragraph (numbered 7) when a change from Sea Island 
to Pima was made 10 teeth of twist were taken out of the fly frames. 
4 from the slubber. 4 from first intermediate, and 2 from the second 
intermediate, which gave an increase in production. This mill, 
which produces some of the finest goods made in the New England 
district, has used Sea Island cotton for many years and has used 
the Pima variety successfully for three years. 
(2) Much is said about the strength of Sakellaridis as compared 
with Pima, and in most cases the strength is reported to be greater 
in Sakellaridis yarns than in Pima yarns. The writer interviewed 
many manufacturers who stated that they get as high a break from 
Pima yarns as from Sakellaridis or Sea Island, while others gave 
the best report for Sakellaridis. According to several tests con- 
ducted by the Department of Agriculture, n- well as others con- 
ducted at manufacturing plants, the difference in the three cottons 
is practically negligible, for yarns from either come up to or above 
the new Draper standard. It is further stated that yarns made 
