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If the grade of the cotton is low, the edges of a plugged sample are 
likely to show more trash or foreign matter than would the edges of the same 
sample drawn by another method, the density of the cotton at the edges be- 
ing less disturbed by cutting than by grappling with either hook or fingers. 
The plugged sample thus provides an especially correct representation of 
the trash or foreign matter contained in the bale. Several large cotton 
firms in Texas have adopted the practice of requesting plugged samples for 
the classification of their cotton. 
Similarly, v/hen samples are drawn by cutting one edge only with a. 
knife, the pulled edges, where the fibers have been somewhat disturbed, are 
likely to show less leaf or trash than do the cut edges (figs. 3 and 4); 
but these edges look rough, which probably counteracts the favorable im- 
pression due to absence of trash. It must be remembered that, although cot- 
ton is not classed by looking at the edges of samples, the psychological 
effect of attractive samples is to be considered. 
Patching.- The drawing of representative samples may be prevented 
by the size and character of the patches used on bales of cotton. A very 
cheap patch is sometimes made by gathering up odds and ends of bagging, jute, 
and refuse, placing it in a burlap bag that has previously been used for 
fertilizer or cottonseed products, and sewing up the bag. This makes a thick, 
bulky patch that must be cut through in order to obtain a sample. The patch 
may be so thick that the proper depth cannot be attained, and an insufficient 
sample results. 
Trimming the Samp le . - To the extent that the outside surface of a cot- 
ton sample bears evidence of bagging trash, bagging stain, or ground stain, 
it is not representative of the major portion of the cotton in the bale. 
If the bale has been exposed to the weather for a long period, there is likely 
to be some rotten or damaged cotton on the outside of the bale, evidence 
of which may be found on the outside surface of the sample. For this reason 
and for compactness and convenience in rolling and wrapping, it is customary 
to strip a layer of soiled or fiber-impregnated cotton from the outside surface 
of samples and to pull away straggling tufts from other edges. This is refer- 
red to as trimming or "dressing" the sample. 
Although a few of the buyers that were interviewed said that samples 
should not be trimmed because the buyer should be given an opportunity to 
see all the cotton making up the sample drawn, most buyers thought that samples 
should be trimmed to the extent of removing all weather stain and damage. 
The trimming of cotton samples was found to be practiced in all of the States 
and at 95 percent of all compresses and warehouses visited (table 5). Samples 
drawn by plugging usually require little or no trimming or dressing, except 
on the outer surface. Attention is called to the fact that the rules of some 
trade organizations specify that samples shall not be trimmed. 
Rolling the Sample .- The samples taken from the top and bottom sides 
of a bale of cotton should be so rolled and tagged (1) that correct judgment 
concerning the grade and staple of the cotton in the bale, based on these 
