Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1916-03-17
POOR RCOTTON SEED
DEPARTMENT WARNS FARMERS
AGAINST INFERIOR GRADE
OF SEED COTTON

Washington, March 15.--The De-
partment Of Agriculture, on April 0,
1914, and again on March 2. 1915,
issued warnings TO the farmers of
the Southwest against planting va
rieties of cotton that usually produce
a staple Of less tlIaD seven-eighths
inch in length, especially such va
rites as are said to produce half seed
and half lint. In view of the APP
preaching planting season, the De
partment wishes to reiterate these
warnings for the benefit of the en-
tire cotton belt. The producers or
cotton, for their own welfare. should
heel this advice, and should exercise
iudicious care In the selection OF
planting seed.
The following reasons arc given
for warning cotton growers against
planting any variety that usually
produces a staple of less than seven
efghths of an inch in length.
L. Cotton of less than seven
eighths inch staple is approximate
lIy the same spinEing value as Che
bulk ,f the cotton Of India. On ecu
homie principles. TIE American pro-
duct should be maintained on al
higher level Of intrinsic worth thar
that of India, ia order that the Am
eriean crop may not be forced to
compete IN the markets OF she world
with the cotton from India
@ Cotton of less than seven
'eighrhs of an inch staple is inferior
Ito tire average American quality,
.and localities that proddee' such cot-
3ton in appreciable Quantities soon
establish regulations for an inferior
product The price of al COTTON in
such markets WIFI suffer on accuuut
Ca the poor reputation OF the market
3. Competent cotton buyers dis
criminate against extremely short
staple whenever such cotton is dis
covered. They should be equally
careful so discriminate in favor e9
cotton Of good staple The farmer
VINO produces inferior cotton is like
ly TO find thai his prodgct brings al
price materially lower chan quota
tions would indicate as as true val
ue- The seller gcmmonly looks upon
sush discrimination as penalty.
While the. buyer considers that he i.s
pa aging the full value for an iIEerior
commodity.
r. Under tine common pracSice cs
the cottou trade, the price os spuG
cotton is governed largely by future
quotations.. Ira order cnat future
quotations. might more. accurately
reflect the value OF spot cottoa. Corr
gress, ilS the United States Cotton
Futures Act, provided FORM of con-
tiaot, exempt from the tax Imposed
, by the Act, on which cotton Of e1
remedy low grade or which is loss
than seven-eignths of an inch in the
length of staple is not deliverable.
This ExtiDn lIy Congress- was intend
ed primarily for the Denefft of pro-
ducers- One of it's RESULTS was the
adoption by the New York and New
Orleaas Exchanges OF the exempted
form of future contract, so that cot
ton Of less than seven-eighths of an
inch in length staple oaBnot be de-
liveFed thereon. This legislation in
no way effects any sale of spot cot
ton in the country
S. As the variety Of seed planted
is the primary factor fn determining
length Of staples, 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 a debased arti-
Gle of commerce.
See E. NJ. Evans for TypewrIters.