The Monticellonian., 1917-11-16

Prepared by the United States Depart
 ment of Agriculturel
 Guesswork now plays too large a part in determining the value of cot ton. If this crop is to be sold on it's merits, buyers and growers alike must learn to know Its value. Under the present method of selling. the staple of a cotton and Its grade or eleanli- ness are judged casually. Unless cot ton is properly classed the farmer in most instances does not receive full value for bis product.
 Chasing cotton Is an experts job when 1t covers all the grades and quail tiles, but growers themselves can learn to know whether they are receiving fair prices by studying the three prin- cipal grades-low middling, middling, and good middling-and comparing samples of their own cotton with sets of the official cotton standards pre- pared by the United States department of agriculture. Bulletins of the de- standards both for the buyer and the grower.
 For beginners 1t Is easier to match cotton against these standards If types of the cotton to be graded are placed for the time being in box similar to the box containing the standards. The cotton to be classed then may be matched by comparing the samples with the different standard types un- til the class Is determined. This meth cd gives greater surface for com parison and also practically the same light on each box. Difference in light causes the same cotton to appear diff fsrent at times. Classers often dis agree as to the grade or class of a sample even after reference has been made to the standards.
 Official Standards.
 The official cotton standards of the United States were prepared to rep resent the yarious grade or class char aetaristics of cotton grown throughout the cotton belt. In making copies of these standards for sale, cotton has been selected from almost every cot Sldlt. SIbAit LULA contains twelve samples, so as to in dieate the range or diversity allowed within the grade: for example, there may be one type of low middling that Is of a reddish cast with bright leaf. and another that has a grayish or sample the leaf may be in large pieces while in another 1t may be broken up in small pieces known as "pin" leaf The same condition is true to some ex- tent within the grade boxes of each of the nine official grades, the diver sity being less marked above middling than below. Still more latitude has been allowed in the preparation of the standards for color.
 The cotton classer is continually en- countering bales that will pass for a certain grade or class of cotton, al- though they do not resemble identical ly and particular type In the standard. In reality, no two bales of cotton are exactly alike. Many samples must be assigned to certain grade according to their valuation based on the stand ard.
 Skylight Is Desirable.
 A skylight is considered more de- sirable for viewing cotton than a side light. However. when it is not feas- ible to add a skylight, several large windows may be placed side by side preferably In the wall facing north. The table for holding the grade boxes should have top inclined toward the light at an angle of approximately 30 degrees in room where a skylight is used, and at about 45 degrees where the side light Is used.
 In sampling a bale of cotton for chasing, about three ounces should be drawn from each side of the bale. When samples are drawn from a bale of compressed cotton they should be exposed to the air before grading so that the matted condition and dead ened color may disappear. Classers are liberal in grading compressed cot ton because the leaf and dirt are more condensed and become more conspicu- ous than in uncompressed cotton. therefore an allowance of about one half grade should be made when class Ing compressed cotton immediately af- ter samplng.
 Samples from bales should be drawn in smooth sheets and preferably when the bale is dry. The sample being elassed should be unfolded three or four times and examined since the leaf and dirt are not always evenly distributed. The uneveaness is due largely to the fact that the cotton in any such sample came from different parts of the field and was perhaps picked by q number of persons. The ~~~~-~c-~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~-c~~~~-~~~~~~~
 No Worry About Flour.
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