The Arizona sentinel., 1908-06-24
Cotton Growing In
 The Southwest

the growing of Egyptian cotton in the Southwestern part of the United States bp government experts, the conclusion has been reached that the product. can be grown in Yuma valley and other portions that is fully equal to the best that is imported. The De, partment of Agriculture has just issued pamphlet on the subject from which we quote the follow ing:
 In the Southwest cotton should be planted early. Without excep- tions the plantings made at Yuma between March 15 and March 50 gave larger returns than later plantings of the same varieties. Of course the proper time tor planting in any locality will de pend largely upon the normal date of the last frost in the spring Cotton seed should be put in as soon as the danger of killing frost is past. In the Colorado River region it is probable that in ordinary seasons planting can be done to advantage between March and March 15.
 The proper distance for plant ing Egyptian cotton in the South west varies somewhat according to the nature of the soil, but 1t always much greater than used in Egypt for the same varieties or in the southern United States for Upland varieties.
 A distance of six feet between the rows, with the plants three feet apart in the row, which gives each plant eighteen square feet, produced very satisfactory results at Yuma during the past season. A yield at the rate of 99O pounds of fibre per acre was oo- tained from the Nit AGti variety planted at this distance, which requires only five or six pounds of seed per acre. It is possible that very close planting in the TOW may tend to check the lux urianca of growth of this type of cotton without decreasing the yield.
 The average amount of seed used per acre in Egypt is forty five pounds. The great difference between the planting distance generally used in Egypt and that which has so far given the best results at Yuma indicates that much allowance must be made for the effect of further acclima'
 tization in reducing the size of
 the plants. Moreover, additional experiments are necessary in or der the most profitable planting
 distance for Egyptian cotton on
 different types of soil in the
 Southwest.
 If the soil has been we'll pre-
 pared and is free from Bermuda
 grass, the ordinary one-horse
 cotton drill is the best implement
 for planting; otherwise, hand
 planting must be restored to ir
 order that the seed may be placed
 III a moist soil.
 The proper depth depends up on the character of the soil anc the date of planting. The earlier the seed is put in, the snallowel
 should be the depth. If colo weather follows deep early plant ing, the seed is likely to rot 1T the ground, or if germinatior takes place the seedlings vii not have sufficient vitality tC force their way through the soil In Egypt the approved depth i' two or threeDinches. At Yuma
 however, rlthough the soils art lighter than most Egyptian cot ton soils and planting has here , tofore been done at later dat' than is usually the case in Egyp , a depth of only 14 inches gave , excellentresults, the seed having ) germinated readily and the plants having become we'll established : in very short time.
 The cotton plant, when once established, will survive rathe
 adverse climatic conditions, bu
 during the first two weeks afte
 examination it is sensitive to ex ! cessive moisture, heat and cold