The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-07-25
GOVERNMENT COTTON GRADER.
AZ - NOW Put up to The Cotton
Hr0Wcrs-If They Want Il Grader
They Must Organize Marketing.
Association.

Mr.. Charles j. Brand. chief Of the
Bureau of Marketing OF the United
States Department of Agriculture
writes tho Sumter Chamber of Com
mcrce that government expert cot
ton classer or grader will be on the
Sumter market on September 1st. But
under previous requirements. which
it was thought had been eliminated by
Congressman A. r. Levers influence,
the chief of the marketing bureau in
sists that those who will have their
cotton graded, or some one else, will
provide a suitable grading room, with
northern light, furniture, and clerk
to assist the grader.
Whether these facilities will ever
be provided, which is doubtful re-
mains to be seen. The bureau Of
marketing has all along contcnded
that unless the farmers will organize
| themselves into n selling association,
and also agree to adopt standard va
rioties Of cotton seed. and carry out
tho plans of the government for i'm.
prOvement in cotton standard staples,
cleaner methods Of picking, without
trash. or reducing trash in picking t.
the least possible minimum, more
care in seeing that cotton of different
grades belonging to different owners
is not mixed so that two or moro
kinds of cotton arc packed in ono
bale. elimination Of "gin cut" cotton
because of ginning cotton too green.
full carrying out Of instructions as to
marketing. etc, the go iernment mar
keting system will prove, of little val
ue to cotton growers even whcr
there is an expert cotton classer s.a
toned on a market.
The bureau Of marketing desires
that this association shall be cOmpos-
cd exclusively Of cotton growers, and
that the farmers shall interest them
selves in arranging for the graders
room, organizing the selling or mar.
keting association. and not depend en
tirely upon business men who buy O
are otherwise interested in the cot
ton, either as buyers or creditors O.
the owners or producers Of cotton. In
other words the government feels thai
this is n strictly cotton growers affair
and unless the cotton growers will in
terest themselves and show the gov
ernment that they want governmental
cooperation there will be no govern
ment cotton grader on the Sumter
learned by the Sumter Chamber OF
Commerce.
Congressman Lever and Secretary
Reardon were requested by resolution
at meeting of several hundred
farmers, merchants. and bankers last
spring to secure the government,
grader for Sumter market for 1917
They have landed this official, bu,
the government wants the active CO.
operation and interest Of the cotton
growers. Messrs Lever and ReardOn
are now about out of the game. Tht
government must have tangible results
from now on or nothing doing. EX-
perimenting is over with so far a.
government cotton grading on the
Sumter market is concerned. 1t is
ap to the farmers 10 show that they
want better cotton marketing facilities
better cotton. put up in better market
able shape. SO that cotton buyers can
and will pay more for the cotton, and
that government grading pays the
farmer The better the staple, tn"
cleaner. and the better ginned. the
better the price.