Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-01-03
FARM EDUCATION
BY DR.. ANDREW M. SOULE

interest in producing cotton can be
discussed is very effective means
of bringing all parties concerned to
a proper understanding OF the re.
quirements of our basic industry
cotton production.
Through the courtesy Of Mr.. P. z
Glenn, secretary of the Georgia
Manufacturers association, a ques
tionnaire was recently sent to the
cotton mills in Georgia. The infor
nation sought was in regard tc
grade and staple used and preferred
class of goods manufactured, source
OF cotton and total amount used, de
fects in Georgia cotton and when
they first became serious, and the
cause for this deterioration. Re
plies were received from seventy
four mills. The total consumption
Of the mills replying was 1925
bales, or approximately so per cent
of the total consumption of the
state.
1t was found that these mills
bought 136,775 bales out Of the
state, or approximately 25 per cent
of the consumption of the seventy.
four replying. Most Of this cotton
brought from other sections was one
and one-siXteenth inch staple that
was formerly very abundant in
north Georgia. Other mills used
Georgia cotton, but were not sat
isfed with the quality and the ten
dency seemed to be towards buying
more and more cottons from other
sections.
The principal defects in Georgia
cotton as noted by the spinners
were short and mixed staple. This
condition is quite serious and unless
corrected will result in a severe loss
to the cotton industry of the state.
Different lengths of staple in the
same bale was a very serious com
plant; boil weevil stains, weak sta
pie, poor ginning and uneven grades
were other defects noted. The poor
quality first became noticeable
about 1918 and has been quite Sc
rious in the last few years.
The bulk of cotton used has a
staple of from seven-eighths to one
inch, but &his mixed staple is not
satisfactory for many purposes and
one inch staple is preferred in
greater quantities than any other
length. A few mills manufacturing
coarse goods and yarns desire no
better staple than -eighths
inch, but 80 per cent of the demand
is for one inch staple, or better,
From the best information available,
| this figure is representative of the
demands Of the cotton trade over the
entire country as we'll as the export
1 trade. There is some demand for
Is inch to l IA inch, or better cot
! ton, but this demand is limited and
it is probable that Except under GER
tain conditions this class OF cotton
can be produced in other sections to
better advantages than in Georgia.
One inch and one and one-sixteenth
inch staple is in greatest demand
not only in this state, but in all
/ other sections.
At the present time, the quota
lions give a relatively low premium
for the longer staple. During the
past season, the premium quoted Ia.
one and one-siXteenth inch staple
ranged from % to q points and
for one and one-fourth inch from
200 to 800 points. There has been
a good demand for staple of one
and one-sixteenth inch but longer
than this has had a slow sale.
In many communities. all cotton
is bought on a flat basis with no
premium for better staple and no
discount for poor staple, but efforts
are being made to correct this sys-
tenn of marketing. The cooperative
cotton marketing associations are
proving a strong factor in remedy
ing this situation.
Community production of a supe-
rior staple has proven very effec-
tive means of securing better prices
as where cotton is bought on basis
of the average cotton better staple
in quantity means a better price
generally for the community.
The average premium for strict
middling over middlinS during the
past season was around one-quarter
cent per pound and the discount on
strict middling about one-third cent
per pound In many cases, it is prob
able that this premium will more
than pay for any extra expense of
picking as soon as open and eliminat-
ing as much trash and tinged cotton
as possible. Labor conditions are
often such that it is impossible to
keep up with the pickings, but any
effort to this end will probably be
profitable.
Tests made at the Georgia State
College of Agriculture show that the
medium early maturing varietieies
as College No. l and Cleveland Big
Boil with a staple of about one-inch
give the highest yields and the great
est total value per acre.
Varieties are often judged by the
per cent lint, out this is a poor meas
ure Of the value Of "a cotton, and the
total yield of lint cotton per acre
sold strictly on it's merits for grade
and staple is the only reliable index
to the true value of variety.
The average yield per acre and
value per acre for varieties tested
during the years 1921 and 1922 have
been assembled. The varieties have
been arranged according to length of
staple. Of the cotton with seven
eighths inch or less staple, Half and
Half and Coo SIX give the best yields.
but neither of these has given as
high yields as College No. and Pied
mont Cleveland. both of which us
ually have one-inch staple and, UNI
Ger very favorable conditions, one
and one-sixteenth inches. In very
untavorable seasons. the staple of
any variety may fall below the length
given. Other varieties that have
given good yields are Wannamaker
Cleveland, Steinheimer Cleveland
Poulnot, Texas Burr. and Culpepper.
Petty's Toole is one of the best wilt
resistant varieties tested and has
given excellent yields in south Geor-
gia.
Acala has given the best Sields of
the one and one-siXteenth-inch cotton
tested. but the yield and the value
fall below most of the inch cooton.
Lightning Express with staple of
Is inches is a good variety as is
Delfos with staple Of l IA inches
WY ~