The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-09-08

ed to remain in the weather until the
first Of March, will have about half as
much country damage us the same
bale would have if it remained in
the weather until May the first, and
when the manufacturer opens this
bale, he will find that the cotton
sticking to the bagging and extending
inward is practically without any
strength of staple, and as Il result all
Of this effected cotton will go in
waste or be found in the shaftings
overhead. Should the buyer detect
this country damage, the farmer, is
the looser; should the buyer not de-
tcct it, the buyer is the looser; in any
event, dissatisfaction is the result, all
of which could have been avoided by
housing the cotton. The amount of
country damage varies in proportion
to the time the cotton lies out in the
weather, and will vary from three to
twenty-five pounds per bale. I have
ll,00o,o00 bale crop produced, the
producer, the carrier, and the COM
press together, allow 25O,000 bales to
be destroyed by rot and country dam
age, and when you figure this at ten
cents per pound it amounts to $12,-
100000, nil Of which could be saved
to the producer, the buyer, and the
manufacturer, should they exercise
the proper prccaution against dam
age. Three years ago farmer brought
twenty bales of cotton to the ware
house for storage in March, which
had been out in the weather since it
was ginned in the fall. Some Of the
bales were so badly damaged and
water sobbed that they weighed one
thousand pounds per bale. I asked
him why he allowed his cotton to get
i'll that condition; he replied. that he
was SO busy making PREPARATION for
another crop that he had not cared
for what he had already made. When
this cotton was conditioned for
market, he had about ten bales of
merchantable cotton left out Of the
twenty. A bale Of cotton ginnei dry
and housed until ma -kct ed will hold
out better than one allowed to re.
main in the weather subject t, ell
matte conditions, and Will not possess
the element Of damage, and will also
retain its strength Of staple. even to
the bagging.
Travel where you will, and ycu
will sec cotton sitting at railroad
stations in the mud and rain, OF YOU
will see it lying on the ground around
farm houses, where it will remain un-
til ready for market, and when
marketed, the bagging will be so rot
ten that you cannot handle the co.
ton.
Owing to the seeming negligence
displayed in the care Of cotton after
ginning, Tie buyer, when purcha sing
il Lot Of cotton, has to take into con-
sidcration the element oc damage, or
he would rather send is classa" t.
receive Ike cotton, thereby cstabi .sh-
ing The amount Of damage before
payment is made. Where you find 4
| section Of country wlie'c great cTlr
Is taken with the cotton after GIN
ming, and before marketing, there
you will find cotton sought after by
the buyers, and everything else be-
! ing equal, premium will be paid
for same.
The manufacturers will pay better
| prices for cotton free from rot and
country damage, because his perccn-
| taec Of waste will be decreased.
The point I desire to impress is !;
take care Of your cotton, handle it as
though you thought something of it.
If you cannot put it III a warehouse
where ii is insured and You can use
the receipt, put it in your barn, or
shed room, or anywhere to keep it
from climatic conditions until you
market it, and by doing this every
pound will be spinnable and no dis
satisfaction between producer, buy
er, and manufacturer will result.
There are some places in South
Carolina where warehouse facilities
are adequate, but are unfortunately
not utilized. My own experience is
that four lots Of cotton out Of every
five shipped from places where cot
tom is not warchouscd are badly dam
aged, due to the fact that it is allow
cd to sit on one end for weeks and
months in the open before il is Offer
cd for sale, and as result, heavy
claims are made, and yet The best