Arizona republican., 1908-03-28
THE COTTON BUSINESS
 ON HE BUCKEYE
A Large Acreage Will Be Devoted to
 the Experiment This Year.

Buckeye. AriZ.. March 24.-tSpecial Correspondence of The Republican.)- The Buckeye and Arlington farmers were yesterday paid visit by Profes- sors Kearney. Swingle and Mason of the bureau of plant industry. depart ment of agriculture. Washington, D. C.. MT. J. $. Day of Phoenix accom- panying the party. They made the trip from Phoenix here in that dis tapcc annihilator. the auto" and came for the purpose of addressing the farmers on the growing of Egypt ian cotton. The gentlemen were quite pleased with our valley and thought We were in q position and had all the climate qualifications for taking up an industry that means pay dirt" from the start.
 At II q. m. Prof kearney addressed the farmers at the Buckeye church, which had been kindly loaned for this occasion. and spoke at some length on the merits and growth of Egyptian cotton and also of the governments experiment with it at Yuma for the past six years.
 Egyptian cotton can not be grown anywhere in the world. with success. except in Egypt. and possibly in south western Arizona. That the govern ment has been successful with it at Yuma there is no doubt as last year the station succeeded in getting yield at the rate of two American bales to the acre, or to be exact 990 pounds. ten pounds short of two bales. Sam pies of that were sent to several diff ferent factories that use this kind of cotton. quoted the government prices that they would pay for that quality of fiber. which ranged from l6 cents to 26 cents, with an average of a lit tie over 21 cents or about twice what common. cotton would bring.
 If Buckeye can make good in grow ing cotton and this year will tell. there is no doubt that it is just on the eve of the greatest boom it has ever known. A few acres planted to cotton and properly tended would easily keep the wolf from the door and make the grower independent. \ question was asked Prof. Kearney about how much per acre he thought could be realized by raising cotton. In reply he said that that was a hard question to an SNti, pul II lilt tpbiu ieiiSN only one bale. just one-half of what had been done at Yuma last year, and could market it at 20 cents, they would realize a total of S10O per acre, allowing s25 for. picking, etc. which would leave $15 per acre profit
 Prof. Kearney has put 900 pounds of seed at the disposal Of the Arizona farmers that wish to make eXperi- ments in growing it. It will he given free to farmers in small lots who ap- ply to the experimental station at Tucson. A good portion of it will bc taken by Buckeye and Arlington ranchers.
 There are at least 5000 acres of till able land under the Buckeye and Ar lington canals that could be planted to cotton without in any way interfering with the dairy and alfalfa seed indus tries that have already got such strong hold on the country.
 Preparations are being made to en- certain the auto club and the business men of Phoenix at Buckeye. April 3. A big barbecue and dinner are con- templatAd at some convenient place, not vet desided upon. With big canal full of water and green alfalfa fields waving in every direction we hope the Phoenix people will come in force and enjoy for one day at least