Imperial Valley press., 1909-09-18
COTTON PLANTERS
 TELL EXPERIENCES Accidental DryFarming Proves Successful Treatment of
 the Weed
Growers Organize and Make Arrange ments For Employment of Mexican Pickers-.MeIoIand Crop Sold in Ad- vance at Twelve Cents a Pound Better Prices Expected.

The latest step in the development of the cotton industry in Imperial Val ley was effected last Saturday when sixty growers and others directly in terested met at the Holt Opera House in this city and organized the Imper- ial Valley Cotton Growers Associa- tion.
 American Nile Cotton Company, and one of the most extensive cotton growers in the valley, was made pres ident; and l.. E. Srack was made secretary and treasurer.
 A general exchange of experiences took place, and from all sections came the most encouraging reports.
 MT. Srack gave an interesting 1c- count of his accidental experiments in "dry farming of cotton. He had tract of twenty acres which was planted to cotton, but because of a shortage of water and a poor stand he abandoned about half of this tract. Notwithstanding this, the weeds con- tinued to grow and grow, and with out any but the first irrigating the bolls have set freely and are ma turing. The other parts of his cotton field which were cultivated and reg ularly watered have made remarka- ble growth, and taking the field as a whole it will run from thirty six to 2O5 bolls to the plant.
 Numerous other interesting eXper- fences were related and it was thought that this first years knowledge of the crop will be of such benefit that it was decided to secure from each grow CT a written statement of his eXper- fences, and later these will be pub lished in the form of a symposium for the benefit of prospective growers next season.
 MT. Loftus announced that he had disposed of his cotton grown on the Meloland ranch to the Oakland Cotton Mills Company for twelve cents per pound f. o. b. El Centro, and urged that not less than this rate be ac- cepted by the growers of the valley, while predicting that a considerably better rate may be secured.
 Samples of picking bags were shown and some of the old-time Texas cot ton pickers gave illustrations as to their use. These bags are about three feet wide and seven feet long. They are carried suspended from a strap across the shoulder, ana drag along on the ground, protected from wear ing out by a canvas Hopper The bags are made of canvas.
 A committee was appointed to send to each of the cotton exchanges sam ples of Imperial Valley cotton, so that it may be given grading and rating.
 A committee on securing labor was appointed, and 1t was reported that there will be no difficulty in securing all the labor needed, as many Mexi- can families, some of them experienced are ready to undertake the work, and should there be further demand oth- CT Mexicans can be brought in from Texas cotton belts at short notice.
 It was decided that eighty cents per 100 pounds shall be the standard price to be paid for picking,
 A committee to investigate the cot ton markets was appointed. This committee is to collect all available information and disseminate 1t to the valley growers. but is not to have di- rect charge of the selling.
 The prediction was made from pres ent indications that the cotton indus try will receive such an impetus this