The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-25
GRADES OF COTTON LEFT STANDING IN FIELD |S LOWERED
FIeecy Staple Picked in Sep tember Grades Higher Than
 November Picking
STATE CAPITAL BUREAU !
 THE AGE-HERAIn Nn,,t~or,a~x Ala March rl


 F. w. Gist, federal and state stat istician for agriculture, today an- nounced that study of cotton re- ceipts of the Alabama Farm Bureau federation had confirmed the idea that the first cotton picked furnished the best grades. MT. Gist said he made a study of 56.01o bales of cot ton. of which 32,1S6 or 57 per cent graded, middling or better and 23.924 graded below middling.
 Taking up cotton receipts by months, Mir. Gist found that in Sep tember S42 per cent of the cotton received graded middling or better, leaving 15.S per cent below middling. In October 65 per cent graded mid ding or better and 35 per cent below middling. In November 43.5 per cent reached middling or better and 56.o per cent was below middling. In December 35.7 per cent was middling or better and 64.3 below middling. In January 3S.i per cent was mid- ding or upward and 61.6 below mid- ding.
 In all analysis of the results of his study, MT. Glst sald.
 Early Cotton Sest.
 .'The slightly better grades shown ill January as compared with De- cember were probably due to those shipments which had been held from the beginning of the season and de- livcred during January. The propor- tionate range of grades in the other months is so distinctive as to be positive proof of the former belief that good grades come in the early part of the season. This is due to the fact the cotton was picked before it had been damaged by either rain or the constant action of sunshine and also before the foliage had be- gun to fall on the lint. Under weevil infestation the latest bolls are sub jeet to damage from the weevil, which attacks the young bolls in the absence of food-producing squares.
 Fortunately last season large portion of the crop was picked dur ing September and October some- thing like S7 per cent of the Ala banla crop having been ginned up to November l. The report from the farm bureau shows that 6S per cent of their receipts were prior to this date. Last season prior to Novem- Der there was less interference by rain with cotton picking than even the previous season. Information re- sarding the progress of picking last season was to the effect that little or no extra labor was used in cotton picking. It is questionable, in view of the showing from the above state ment whether the money which could have been saved in grades would not have paid for the extra labor required to get the cotton out before November l. In addition to this saving, all fields could have then sf ol kS weevils destroyed which went into hibernation.
 Rain DeterjorateS Grade.
 "LtsFfs quite certain that experi- nients would show that cotton picked without rainfall would always show much hi sher grades than, N here it is left to take the rain. Last season grades above middling brought ih to cents premium, while grades below middline Twere penalized F to . cents per pound. The averages pre- mium was $6.25 per bale. and the average penalty was $S.75, making d average above middling and the av craze below.
 Tn the receipts of the farm bureau there was more cotton grading strict middling and better in September than middling, while in Octobe; lHere was more nlluullnS than aDOVe. In the later months the highest grades fell equally in proportion as the lowest increased.
 The receipts of the farm bureau included only Is per cent with d length of staple above one inch. The largest portion of this was received in October and November. Cotton above one inch in staple is not prob ably to be sought after in our aver age soils. The greatest problem in this respect is doubtless to get more of it an inch in length"