Los Angeles daily herald. [volume] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1873-1876, 1874-03-17
The California Cotton Crop.
The Bulletin of n late date saws:


The greater portion, if not all, of the
cotton crop of this State for 1873 has
been marketed and shipped. The re-
ceipts of cotton in this city from the
interior since the commencement of
the last contemplating season,
amount to about 100000 pounds.
These figures probably represent the
total quantity of cotton raised last
year, and show considerable gain as
compared with the cotton crop of 1872,
which did not exceed over 10000
pounds. This is remarkable increase
and makes an exceedingly favorable
showing for this particular branch of
of our agricultural interests. 1t evinces
how well founded have been the con-
victions of those who have staunchly
maintained the adaptability of the soil
and climate of this State to cotton
culture. During the year 1872 there
was a large area of land planted with
cotton in the vicinity of Bakersfield,
upon which fibre was raised. The
venture proved disastrous to the per-
sons engaged in it, partly owing to
late planting and partly in conse-
quence of their own ineXperience, and
the experiment was not renewed.
The business of cotton-planting dur
ing the past year was confined to the
experiments made on the banks of
Mariposa creek and MERGED river,
and which embraced an area of about
900 acres. There were between 800
and 400 acres in the vicinity of Center
vile, Fresno county, planted with cot
ton last Spring, but grasshOppers de-
stroyed most of the plants at an early
stage in their growth. The yield was
Consequently about $50 pounds ginned
cotton to the acre, about the same per
acre as the greatest yield obtained in
any of the plantations during the pre-
vious year. The crop was sold in this
city at an average of ISL cents per
pound, which, after deducting COM
mission and brokerage, would leave
very handsome profit to the planter.
Thus, everything considered, the crop
picked was a much better one last
year than that of any previous year;
and although the quantity of cotton
raised was small as compared with
other native products, yet it was suffi-
cient to establish the feasibility of sue
cessfully cultivating it. There are
many localities in the State besides
those in which cotton ia already Gull
tivated where experts in cotton-plant-
ing believe 1t can be raised with profit,
and which are regarded as being bet
ter adapted for cOtton-culture than for
the purposes to which they are de-
voted. Notwithstanding the unsuc-
cessful experiments in cotton-planting
at Bakersfield, experienced planters
maintain that the low lands of Kern
and Tulare counties, particularly that
part known as the Kern river delta, is
better adapted for cotton than the very
best lands thus employed in the South
ern States. There are various sections
in the southern counties where it Is
believed cotton can be cultivated with
greater profit to the planter than any
other product, Experiments have
been made in small way so far down
as the lower boundary line of the State
and the most satisfactory results OBJ
tanned. Some of the valleys adjacent
to the great Colorado Desert, through
which Texan immigrants travelled on
their way hither, are, during the
proper season of the year, white with
blooming cotton growing wild, which
has sprung up from seeds dropped by
these immigrants while on their jour-
ney. This is particularly the case in
the Cabezon valley. The staple is long,
fine and firm. Those who have trav-
eled over the country surrounding the
desert are unanimous in the opinion
that there are extensive tracts which
can at any time be turned to profitable
account through the cultivation of cot
ton. The development of the industry
may be slow. but it is by no means
improbable that before very many
years shall have passed, cotton will
cut quite prominent figure among
the agricultural productions of the
State, Already we hear of arrange
ments being made to plant an extern
sivs tract on the banks of Jurapa
creek, San Demanding county. with
cotton next year, experiments made
there during last year having resulted
in the production of a staple represent
ed to be las soft as thistle-down and
as fine as gossamer thread"