The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-04-22
CHASING COTTON
BEFORE ITS SALE
Investigations Show Producers Would
PROFIT BY Adoption Of This
Practice.

Washington, d. c.. April 2i.-The
Advantages OF CHASING cotton before
sale are emphasized in a report OF
the study of market conditions in
North Carolina recently conducted by
the U. s. department of agriculture.
from this investigation 1t appears that
the average producer who knows the
class of his cotton obtains about $1.15
per bale more than the farmer who
does not possess this information II
this holds true for the entire crop.
the CHASING of cotton before sale
would save North Carolina producers
over million dollars. In those coun-
ties which produce 5000 or more
bales, the report states. 1t would be
financially worth while to take ed-
vantage OF the North Carolina law
which authorizes county commission
erS to employ county classers.
The CHASING of cotton would pro-
mote an Improvement in the charac-
ter OF the crop and in this way add
still more to the producers income.
The relative value of different grades
and ienaths o! stapio. II was found.
receives greater attention from the
buyer when the producer knows the
class of his cotton. and II Is reason
able to suppose that when the pro-
Queer becomes thoroughly aware Of
This fact he will exercise greater care
In Choosing varieties and in picking
and handling. In this way he will i'm
prove the grade and staple and re-
ceive the premium to which his i'm
proved product is justif,abiy entitled
Chasing. 1t Is said. would also aid
the Mariners to obtain the higher
prices secured at the present time by
thoce who are able to sell cotton In
large lots. The investigation showed
that producers who disposed OF 10
or more bales at a time obtained from
IS cents TO s145 q bale more than
those who sold only I or bales
FOR this there seem to be two rea =
sons. % the natural tendency Of the
buyer to grade the large lot care
fully snd 10 buy # at smaller profit
per bale, and CD the possibility open
TO the producer TO ship his cotton
elsewhere IL he does not receive an
advantageous offer
For these reasons cooperative sell
ing organizations are recommended
IN the report already mentioned. Bull
ieun 4'e of the department Of agri-
culture. The operation OF such or
CARNATIONS obviously viii be greatly
facilitated II the cotton supplied hv
each member IS properly classed and
ne receives due credit for tts quality.
The chasing of cotton will also prove
advantageous il Is said. in sales made
not for cash but in settlement of &C
counts with merchants A merchant
who knows just what class or cotton
ne Is buying will he able to sell II
himself at better prices and 10 pay
the farmer more nearly what the
crop is worth. In this connection the
report points out that cotton received
IN payment OF accounts frequently
orinE5 higher prices than when sold
for cash. The advantage to the farm
sr, however. in this la more apparent
than real. because this fact unques-
uonably is taken into account in the
prices charged the farmer for supplies
he secures in return.
Another matter OF importance to
North Carolina producers OF cotton -
brought out in this report. II ap-
pears that more than thrAe-ffths Of
she cotton consumed In tho mills Of
the state is raised outside Of North
Carolina. This IN not due 10 the fact
that the North Carolina crop is in