The Newark journal. (Newark, Ark.) 1901-1959, 1917-02-22
EXCHANGES AGAINST
HALF & HALF COTTON
u. S. Dept. Declares Staple
Short and Cotton is Held
TO be Understandable

sued by the United States de-
partment of agriculture, the
Little Rock Cotton Exchange
has amended its cotton rules so
that cotton known as half and
half" and other varieties the
staple of which is less than sew
en-eights OF an inch, are de-
clared understandable and
may be rejected by buyers.
The warning issued by the
United States department of
agriculture, follows:
Government Warning
THE department of agricul-
ture, on April 9, 1914, and
again on March 2, 1915, issued
warnings to farmers of the
Southwest against planting va
rieties of cotton that usually
produce a staple of less than
seven-eighths of an inch in
length, especially such varie-
ties as are said to produce half
seed and half lint. In view of
the approaching planting sea-
son, the department wishes to
reiterate. these warnings for the
benefit of the entire cot
ton belt. The producers of cot
ton, for their own welfare,
should heed this advice, and
should exercise judicious care
in the selection of planting
seed.
1.-THE following reasons are
given for warning cotton grow
ers against planting anyvariety
that usually produces a staple
of less than seven-eighths inch
in length.
Il. Cotton of less than sew
en-eighths inch staple is of APP
proximately the same spinning
value as the bulk of the cotton
of India. On economic princip-
les, the American product
should be maintained on a
higher level of intrinsic worth
than that of India in order that
the American crop may not
be forced to compete in the
markets of the world with the
cotton of India.
so. Cotton of less than sew
en-eighths inch staple is infer
Tor to the average American
quality, and localities that pro-
duce such cotton in appreciate
quantities soon establish repu-
tations for an inferior product.
The price of all cotton in such
markets will suffer on account
Of the poor regulations of the
market.
g. Competent cotton buy
ers discriminate against eX-
tremely short staple whenever
such cotton is discovered. They
should be equally careful to
discriminate in favor of cotton
of good staple. The farmer who
produces inferior cotton is
likely to find that his product
brings a price materially low
er than quotations would indi-
cate as its true value.
a. Under the common
practice of the cotton trade,
the price of spot cotton is gov
erned largely by future quota
tons. In order that future cot
ton quotations might more ac-
curately reflect the value of
spot cotton, Congress, in the
United States Cotton Futures
Act, provided a form of con-
tract, exempt from the tax i'm
posed by the act, on which cot
ton of extremely low grade or
which is less thanlseven-eighths
inch in length of staple, is not
deliverable. This action by
Congress was intended primar-
ily for the benefit Of producers.
One of its results was the adop-
ton by the New York and New
Orleans exchanges of the ex-
empted form of future contract
50 that cotton of less than sew
en-eighths inch in length of
staple cannot be delivered
thereon. This legislation in no
way affects any sale of spot
cotton.
IS. AS the variety of seed
| planted is the primary factor