Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-12-24

I tlOn OF DdSlC economic ldClS. IL VIC
could obviate any one OF the prl-
mary wastes in the cotton industry.
of which the foregoing is a fair SAM
pie, the condition of the producers
! of the fleecy staple would be greatly
| improved. Surely it would be worth
our while to give little more at
tention and consideration to factors
| of this character in the future Self
| interest alone should make us ag-
gressive in the direction indicated.
Problems Associated With Market
ing ..
The improved marketing of cotton
is a matter of the utmost Importance.
1t concerns the welfare Of everyone.
This can be brought about in large
measure through the community
production of the same or similar va
rieties. At present a veritable pot
pourri'' of varieties is grown in even
the smalles tot our counties. Some
one is always discovering a new
"sport" in his cotton field, the seed
of which he feels impelled to sell
to his neighborS as the saving
grace" Thus there is hardly a cen
ter in which a well-established and
standardized variety is grown on a
large commercial scale. What is the
result? A heterogeneous admlxture
of line is offered for sale. Often it
is not of good quality. In some in
stances it is below staple; in other
cases injured by diseases. The
losses involved are after all borne
largely by the farmer, and they run
into figures that are literally appall-
ing.
We must then grade and staple
the cotton according to the official
standards set up by the United
States department Of agriculture.
This work should be done by a thor
oughly competent but disinterested
party employed by the community or
some farmers organization. The
general supervision of the work must
of necessity remain in charge of the
United States bureau Of markets.
Sufficient storage facilities should be
provided so that all cotton can be
placed in bonded warehouses and a
negotiable receipt given therefor.
This would do much towards rehev-
ing the credit situation and enable
the cotton crop to be marketed grad
ually. Dumping works an injustice
on everyone concerned but the spec
ulator. Its elimination would do
much towards stabiliZing the cotton
industries. If the cotton produced in
the community were pooled In lots OF
the same grade and staple a much
better price would be received than
is now secured for what is termed
can be attained through the organi-
cation of cooperative community
units of growers who have proper
or6 7,n1o tiOro shin Tn the
bankers and the business men of the
localities in which they reside.
Here as in other fields education
is destined to play a most impor.
tant part. In addition, there must
be a COORDINATION Of effort on the
part of both growers and business
men which is often now unhappily
lacking.
Resume
From this review it is easy to see
that there are many abuses in con-
nection with the cultivation and
handling of cotton. In the aggre-
gate they represent economic losses
totaling millions Of dollars. Waste
is to be abhorred in any capacity. 1t
is particularly undesirable when it
grapples at the vitals of an indus
try so closely associated with the
happiness and prosperity of nearly
one-third of our entire population.
1t is particular yi1nportant that we
eliminate all those factors which in
terfere with cotton continuing to
be one of our greatest national as
sets. Without it the farmers Of fit.
teen of our states would face bank
ruptcy. Of necessity the spindles
in thousands Of cotton mills would
be idle, and the great industrial pop
ulation dependent thereon out Of
work. Certainly our dominating po-
sition in world trade and commerce
would be jeopardized and a stream
of gold, that has brought us much
needed succor on many occasions,
cut out of our revenues for ever.
Through a widespread campaign
Of education and the properly co.or-
dinated effort of the research worker
we can solve and overcome the chief
difficulties which threaten the con-
tinued success and prosperity of our
cotton growers and are, therefore,
holding back production to an unde.
sirable degree. There is no line of
educational work in which greater
rewards can be won in a shorter pc.
riod of time. The fields stand white
to the harvest. Civilization and
world progress wait upon the answer
which our savants make to this call
to service. 80.
Picking and Preserving Beef