The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1916-03-29
WARNING TO PRODUCERS OF
PLANTING SEED OF INFERIOR
VARIETIES OF COTTON.

Washington, D. c., March 22-The
Department of Agriculture, on April
9, 1914, and again on March 2, 1915,
issued warnings to farmers of the
Southwest against planting varieties
of cotton that usually produce a
staple of less than seven-eights inch
in length, especially such varieties as
are said to produce half seed and
half lint. In view of the approach
ing season, the Department wishes
to reiterate these warnings for the
benefit of the entire cotton belt. The
producers of cotton, for their own
welfare, should heed this advice, and
should exercise judicious care in the
selection of planting seed.-
The following reasons are given
for warning cotton growers against
planting any variety that usually
produces a staple of less than seven
eighths inch in length:
/. Cotton of less than seven
eighths inch staple is of approximate
ly the same spinning value as the
bulk of the cotton in India. On
economic principles, the American
higher level of intrinsic worth than
that of India in order that the Amer
lean crop may not be forced to COM
pete in the markets of the world with
the cotton of India.
2. Cotton of less than seven
eighths inch staple is inferior to the
average American quality, and To-
calities that produce such cotton in
appreciable quantities soon estab-
lish regulations for an Inferior pro-
duct. The price of all cotton In
such markets will suffer on account
of the poor reputation of the market.
8. Competent cotton buyers dis
criminate against extremely short
staple whenever such cotton is dis
covered. They should be equally
careful to discriminate in favor of
cotton of good staple. The farmer
who produces inferior cotton is like
ly to find that his product brings a
price materially lower than quota
lions would lnolcate as its true value.
The seller commonly looks upon
such discrimination as penalty,
while the buyer considers that he is
paying the full value for an inferior
commodity.
4. Under the common practice of
the cotton trade, the price of spot
cotton is governed largely by future
quotations. In order that future
quotations might more accurately
reflect the value of spot cotton. Con-
gress, in the United States Cotton
Futures Act, provided a form of con-
tract, exempt from the tax imposed
by the Act, on which cotton of ex-
tremely low grade or which is less
than seven-eighths inch in length of
staple is not deliverable. This ac-
ton by Congress was intended prim-
arily for the benefit of producers.
One of it's results was the adoption
by the New York and New Orleans
Exchanges of the exempted form of
future contract, so that cotton of
less than seven-eighths inch in length
of staple cannot be delivered there
on. This legislation in no way af-
fects any sale of spot cotton.
S. AS the variety of seed planted
is the primary factor in determining
length of staple, and as there are
early maturing prolific varieties
which produce a staple of at least an
inch in length, no farmer or COM
munity is justified in planting an in
ferior variety, or in expecting the
full market price for debased ar
ticle of commerce.