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concerning the influence of different methods of sampling cotton and of close- 
ly associated practices on the representativeness of samples drawn. The study 
has furnished information also for use in making effective the provisions of 
Public Resolution 73, 72nd Congress, approved March 4, 1933, enacted "to au- 
thorize and direct the Secretary of Agriculture to provide additional facilities 
for the classification of cotton under the United States Cotton Futures Act." 
The study was based on a survey of sampling methods employed in all of 
the cotton-producing States except Arizona, California, Florida, Kentucky, New 
Mexico, and Oklahoma. With the time and funds available, it was not possible 
to include these States in the survey, but there is no reason to suppose that 
sampling practices prevailing in these States differ sufficiently from those 
employed in other cotton-growing States to affect materially the usefulness of 
the information obtained. 
Consideration was given not only to the different methods of drawing 
samples from cotton bales and the distinguishing characteristics of the dif- 
ferent types of samples, but also to (a) ginning and baling practices that 
affect representativeness cf samples, such as plating of bales at the gin, 
and (b) handling of samples after they are drawn, such as trimming, rolling, 
and packing. These factors have an important bearing upon the proper class- 
ification of cotton bales. It is possible that comparison of the different 
methods of sampling employed in the different parts of the country, and cf 
handling and caring for them after they have been drawn, might lead to bet- 
ter and more uniform practices. 
Procedure in Gathering Data 
For the purpose of obtaining data regarding methods of sampling and re- 
lated practices, 148 compresses and warehouses, 161 cotton buyers, and a large 
number of ginners were visited in various parts of the Cotton Belt. To obtain 
information on ginning practices affecting representativeness of samples, a 
number of gin-manufacturing companies, ginners, and the experimental cotton 
ginning laboratory of the United States Department of Agriculture at Stone- 
ville, Miss., were also visited. The compresses and other establishments vis- 
ited and the ginners and buyers interviewed were designated by officials in 
charge of the several field offices of the Grade and Staple Statistics Section 
of the Bureau as most likely to furnish a representative body of data. No at- 
tempt was made to provide for weighting the data obtained on the basis of cot- 
ton handled by the compressmen, warehousemen, buyers, and ginners interviewed 
as compared with total cotton compressed, stored, sold, or ginned in the var- 
ious States. Care was taken, however, to include in the survey all types and 
sizes of agencies performing the services indicated. Inasmuch as a large part 
of the cotton handled in each State is represented by the agencies from whom 
information was obtained and in view of the comparatively narrow range in sam- 
pling practices within individual States, it seems unlikely that the results 
of the inquiry would have been materially different if a more comprehensive 
survey had been made. 
