Excerpt from the report: For many years it has been clear that grade and staple length alone do not provide a fully satisfactory basis for selecting and processing cotton. As increased attention has been given to certain measurable properties such as fineness, strength, and length distribution, concern about the failure of prices to more adequately reflect the effect of these and other properties on the true value of American cotton has grown. This report was designed to provide information that would be useful in more effectively pricing cotton on the basis of quality elements other than grade and staple length.