- 21 - 
in packing gives the sample drawn from the top of the bale the appearance 
of loose cotton. If the sample is trimmed rather deeply, however, this is 
not so noticeable, especially if the last layers of cotton distributed to 
the bale were folded smoothly. The layers of cotton in the sample from the 
top side of the bale are not so long, as a rule, as those in the sample from 
the bottom side of the bale. The shorter layers and the greater roughness 
are two useful indicators of the top side of the bale. Notwithstanding the 
rough appearance that is sometimes noticeable in the sample from the top 
side of the bale, it is usually the more representative of the two portions 
of the sample. It is of the same origin, presumably, as the major portion 
of the cotton in the bale, for the bottom of the bale may be plated with 
cotton of different quality from the load of seed cotton previously ginned. 
Table 2.- Estimated percentages of two-sided bales among 
cotton bales handled by buyers interviewed in 
specified States, crop of 1932-33 
State 
Buyers 
interviewed 
Average 
percentage 1/ of 
two-sided bales 
handled 
Total 
Number 
161 
Percent 
12.7 
Alabama 
11 
15 
19 
8 
9 
2 
11 
13 
6 
64 
3 
11.8 
Arkansas 
15.3 
Georgia 
7.2 
Louisiana 
2/ 
14.2 
Miss -5 ssippi 
Mi ssouri 
17.5 
North Carolina 
13.9 
South Carolina 
12.7 
Tennessee 
4.4 
Texas 
Virginia 
18.3 
11.8 
1/ Unweighted average of buyers' estimates. 
2/ No data. 
Gin-manufacturing companies and ginners vary in their opinions as 
to the cause of the rough top side of a bale. Some manufacturers of gin 
machinery state that when the top side is rough, the picker roll is not prop- 
erly timed. Mr. Bennett gives the following explanation: "Frequently, dur- 
ing the final minutes in the ginning of a bale of cotton, the chutes lead- 
ing to the feeders are irregularly filled and the seed cotton is not uniformly 
spread over the entire length of the stand. This results in dribbles of 
seed cotton feeding down on one side of the gin only, and consequently the 
saws are delinting one portion of the seed roll while ginning at a varied 
