You will see at once that measurements of this character enable the spinner to judge accurately of the performance of his machines and at the same time guide him in adjusting them so as to do the most efficient work with a given cotton. I am sure you will not fail to appreciate the importance of such an aid to practice.

Graphs 7, 8, 9, and 10 show the wastes from the different machines when handling Middling cotton of average short staple character. See Figure 6. One notes at once the characteristic differences in the waste from the different machines, and a series of graphs produced from day to day from the different machines would show whether they are performing their

11

FIGURE 11.

Figures 11 to 15 should be compared with each other. They form an interesting series showing how the lint varies on different parts of the same cotton seed. The graphs vary decidedly in passing from one end of the seed to the other, and also in passing round the seed transversely. Each graph represents a single tuft of fiber, which can be located by the accompanying front and side views of the seed. Facts of this character are well worth the breeder's attention.

work steadily and to the best advantage. By means of such a series of graphs, the machines could be adjusted to work with maximum efficiency. The graphs could also be used in setting a value on the waste when it came to be sold.

I have given first mention to these actual instances in the mill because they are points which would appeal to you, as manufacturers, as of value in your work. Needless to say, in all branches of the cotton industry this accurate method of measuring the staple has just as great value as it has in the mill. It is of value to the breeders of cotton, of whom we now have a small army in this country, who are slowly effecting a great change for the good in the quality of American. cotton. Hitherto, the method most in vogue has been that of partially straightening out the cotton on a seed and judging of its length by the contour of the flattened-out mass of fibers. This method does not enable the expert to tell with any degree of accuracy what proportion of the fibers are short.

14 Inches

Com

14

1

14

12

FIGURE 14.

ง

1

14

12

paring one plant with another or one variety with another, he can arrive at fairly accurate notions as to which, on the whole, has the longer staple, but beyond this his judgments have a degree of vagueness that is unsatisfactory.

You will at once see that the method is applicable to the process of ginning. It is now possible to judge with accuracy concerning the best manner of ginning cotton, so far as the staple is concerned. Take as an illustration the matter of speed. It

14 Inches

FIGURE 15.

is possible, using this accurate method of measuring staple, to gin a seed-cotton of a uniform character at different speeds and to tell with accuracy which speed gives the greatest length of staple. By balancing this exact knowledge against the output of the gin it is easy for the party interested to form a reliable opinion as to the best speed at which to run the gin, from his point of view. So with all the adjustments of the gin. Each can be tested out by means of this accurate method of stapling.

15

Such experiments are now in progress in various parts of the country and you may look for the results in publications within the present year or that next following.

opypa} {{

16

16

Hand-picked Cotton

FIGURE 16.

Figures 16 to 19 show an interesting ginning test. No. 16 shows hand pulled staple, the best it would be possible to obtain from the seed-cotton under consideration. Three separate gins gave the results 17, 18, and 19. Result No. 17 shows the longest and best staple, but of course is not so good as No. 16. All gins break the lint more or less.

As already remarked, this method of measuring the staple is too expensive at the present time to be applied to ordinary deals in cotton. One could not afford to spend two dollars in order to know accurately the length of staple in a bale of cotton under ordinary circumstances. In cases of important arbitrations, however, the method could be and, I believe, has been used.