Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1916-03-27
WARNING GIVEN ON
SEED FOR PLANTING

WASHINGTON, D. c., March 81
The Department of Agriculture, on
April 8, 1914, and again on March 2,
1915, issued warnings to farmers of
the southwest against planting varie>
ties 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 hale
| lint. In view of the approaching plant
ing season, the department wishes to
reiterate these warnings for the bene-
fit of the entire cotton belt. The pro
duccers of cotton, for their own well
fare, 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 plant
ing any variety that usually produces
staple of less than seven-eights
inches in length:
1. Cotton of less than seven-eights
inch staple is of approximately the
same spinning value as the bulk of the
cotton of India. On economic princi-
Piles, the Amedican product should be
maintained on a higher level of in
tcinsic worth than that of India, in or
DER that the American crop may not
be forced to compete 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 localities that
produce such cotton in appreciablo
quantities soon establish regulations
foI an inferior product. The price OF
all cotton in such markets will suffer
on account Of the poor reputation OF
the market.
8. Competent cotton buyers discrim
mate extremely against short staple
whenever such cotton is discovered.
They should be equally careful to dis
criminate in favor of cotton of good
staple. The farmer who produces in
iferior cotton is likely to find that hts
product brings price materially lower
than quotations would indicate as its
true value. The seller commonly looks
upon such discrimination as a penalty,
while the buyer considers that he ~
paying the full value for an inferior
commodity.
4. Under the common practice of
the cotton trade, the price of spot cot
ton is governed largely by future quo.
tations. In order that future Quota
tons might more accurately reflect the
value of spot cotton, congress in the
United States cotton futures act, pro
vided form of contract, exempt from
the tax imposed by the act, on which
cotton of extremely low grade, or less
seven eighths inch in length of staple
is not deliverable This action by con
gress was intended primarily for the
benefit of producers. One of it's re
suits was the adoption oby the New
York andNew Orleans exchanges Of
tie exempted form of future contract,
so that cotton Of less than seven
eighths inch in length of staple can
not be delivered thereon. This legis-
lation in no way affects any sale OF
spot cotton.
5. AS the variety of seed planted is
the primary factor in determining the
length of staple, and as there are early
maturing prolific varieties which pro-
duce a staple of at least an inch in
length, no farmer or community is JUS
tilted in plantinkg an inferior variety
" in expecting the full market price
for debased article of commerce.