George Washington Carver: A National Agricultural Library Digital Exhibit

1916

National Agricultural Library

In the majority of cases, when the farmer sells his cotton in the seed he loses his money, yet a large part of the crop is so marketed in many local markets. A much larger proportion of the total crop of cotton is sold in the seed in Missouri and Virginia than in any other States, while the largest number of bales so sold is in Oklahoma. Of the entire crop, 8.5 per cent, equaling 937,000 bales, was sold in the seed during 1915; and 8.6 per cent, equaling 1,203,000 bales, was sold in the seed during 1913. The percentage for 1914 was less than during these two years because much cotton was held by producers on account of the low prices resulting from the European war.

In January, 1916, the U. S. Department of Agriculture estimated the number of bales of cotton sold in the seed in the several cotton-producing States.

Losses From Selling Cotton in the Seed