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A as compared with D. The closer the graph approaches the horizontal over the major portion of its length the more uniform and, in general, the more desirable is the character of the staple.

An extremely interesting point is suggested by graph 5. Note that as the machinery which made Yarn D was set all the fibres in the raw stock were getting into the finished product in their original proportion except the longer ones. This raises the question in what process the longer and more desirable ones, from a strength point of view, were cut out. Very likely this occurred in the spinning frame and due to some of the longer yarns being broken by the close setting of the rollers. This could be determined by a closer study of the matter than I have been able to undertake in time for this article.

Whereas the stapling of cotton by graphs is done with accuracy, and whereas the labor and time required for doing the work have been materially reduced by several ingenious. devices and methods, it is still attended by too great expense to have wide application and usefulness in everyday practice. The missing link needed to make this the standard commercial method of determining and specifying length of staple, is some device or machine that will enable graphs of any sample to be determined quickly and inexpensively, even if necessarily with some loss in accuracy. It is very much to be hoped that some ingenious mind will bring this about.

A call upon Mr. O. F. COOK, in charge of bionomic investigations, will bring out more clearly one purpose of the work on cotton staple by the technological department and its mutual value to the cotton spinner and grower, and will indicate the further possibility of public benefit through an active interest in the work of this bureau by cotton manufacturing associations. By means of graphs it should be possible to determine more accurately than heretofore what length and in what degree and proportion uniformity of staple are desired or required by spinners and consumers, and the economic difference between different staples, and thus be of material assistance to the bio

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nomic department in its effort to improve the volume and character of the staple grown. In referring to this department of the Bureau of Plant Industry, I cannot do better than include two illustrations of seed cotton. (See Exhibits B and C) B illustrates seed cotton taken from one plant of "triumph" cotton raised last year under somewhat unfavorable circumstances, but still indicating great uniformity in staple. Exhibit C, on the other hand, indicates seed cotton taken from one plant of an inferior variety and growth, showing the extreme variation of length of fibre on the same plant and, of course, indicating an undesirable growth or character of cotton as to length of staple.

Extracts from a conversation between Mr. COOK and the writer may be of interest in bringing out more clearly the value which this Association can be to the Bureau of Plant Industry and other governmental bureaus, and the benefit that would redound to the manufacturer.

Mr. COOK. The particular work of this office is the acclimatization and breeding of cotton.

I think the question of co-operation is very important. When the delegation of long staple spinners was down here a short time ago trying to enlist our co-operation, especially in extending the long staple industry in the Delta region, it was apparent in attempting to consider ways and means for bringing this about that these gentlemen did not view the subject from the agricultural standpoint at all. As a matter of fact there is a very large field that they should be informed about. They should have more adequate knowledge of agricultural conditions and production. One reason why we cannot do what they would like to have us do, viz., advise the people in a wholesale manner to cultivate long staple cotton, is because of the past history of the industry. The price of long staple cotton has fluctuated greatly in the past, the reason being that in some favorable seasons the production of long staple cotton has

extended over a much wider area than in unfavorable seasons, and in districts which are not definitely recognized as long staple districts it has been possible for the buyers to get long staple at a low price, and they fail to buy the long staple from the growers who make a regular business of growing the long staple, and these growers are forced to sell their long staple at little more than the ordinary short staple.

The delegation that came down here had no notion of what the trouble was. They thought they had been buying cotton, and their consciences had been satisfied. To correct this trouble there are a great many things which might be suggested. The cotton could be bought direct from the growers, as is done in Egypt, where the exporters buy the cotton direct from the growers and gin it themselves, and in that way they know the quality of the cotton before it goes into the bale. As it is now, the manufacturers do not know what they are getting; in other words, they have to depend upon the intermediate buyers to sort their cotton for them. If they were very anxious to foster the industry, they could establish their own gins and buy their own cotton,—contract with the growers direct. In this way the people who make a business of raising the long staple cotton would be sure of a market for their crop. As conditions exist today, the manufacturers do not know what the farmer gets for the cotton they buy from the middleman.

We may carry on experiments to breed these superior strains. of cotton, but the question of having these things utilized and these types adopted and grown is another matter, which depends upon the commercial demand.

The trouble is the farmer does not know what the manufacturer wants, and the manufacturer does not know what the farmer gets for his cotton. The trouble is with the middleman. If the farmer knew just what the manufacturer wanted, the manufacturer would have a very good chance of getting it.

Mr. BEMIS. Would it be of any advantage to you if the cotton manufacturers' associations, the National and American, were to