Los Angeles herald., 1909-08-01
SAYS IMPERIAL
IS COTTON LAND
MAN FROM TEXAS APPROVES
LOCAL VENTURE
DECLARES RESULTS ARE EQUAL
TO BOTTOM PLANTS
Valley Now Boasts of 1900 Acres
Planted to Cotton, and Expects to
Demonstrate Its Worth
as a Crop

An expert cotton man from Texar,
who has been interested in getting the
cotton industry started in Imperial
valley, reports that the cotton fields
are looking remarkably well.
He says the cotton plants are equal
to the river bottom plants of Texas
and that there is no doubt that TINS
is cotton country.
There Is in the neighborhood of 1900
acres of cotton planted in the bl Cen
tro district, and this season will DEM
onstrate as to its being paying crop
Mr.. T. c. Hickman of the Joseph X.
LOTUS company who spent some time
in the valley, says:
1.-THE more thought and study ono
gives to the proposition, the more
thoroughly convinced he is that I'M
perial valley is the ideal place for grow
ing cotton; not only the upland, short
staple, but also the Egyptian, Sea
island and other long staple varieties
The report of the government expert
mental station at Yuma is certainly
encouraging for the Egyptian variety
in this valley.
I'm the first place, the soil is the
richest. Nothing better anywhere. IL
is an alluvial SILT and with each irri-
CATION fresh deposit is left on the
ground, consequently the soil VIII
never be worn out or become eX-
hausted
Water Whenever Needed
"Then with the splendid system of
irripation. the crops can be watered
whenever necessary, giving then the
proper amount needed, and at the
time required, which is much better
than having to depend on rains as
they do in the cotton growing dls-
trlcts of the south, where often much
damage is done TO the crops oy 700
much rain. and at unreasonable times.
one instance of too much rain was
the first of June. this year, when re-
ports stated that 80 per cent OF the
cotton crops were destroyed In Texa
Luisiana and Mississippi.
Also we have every reason TO ex-
meet better WELD an acre in Imperial
valley than elsewhere, for a NUMBER
Of reasons, some OF which nave az
ready been given. viz: exceedingly rlch
soil. ability to give crops water at the
exact time needed and in required
amount In Texas 1t is not uncommon
for heavy north wind to almost total
" destroy the growing crops.
"I was told by a friend who raised
cotton in Texas for eleven years that
within twenty-four hours atter one
of these winds his cotton field looked
very much as II a frost had struck II;
The foliage, blossoms and bolls would
drop off. the plants would not be killed
hut would make regrowth which would
make the crop late, and liable TO be
caught by frost There is no danger
Of ANYTHING of this kind in Imperial
valley.
nTbe AnericaI Nile Cotton company
has basket of cotton on exhibition
in its office, In FL Centre. that weighs
twelve rounds net, picked from thir-
teen plants. At this rate an acre
would yield five bales. A NUMBER OF
persons in FL Centre informed me that
thew counted the bolls on plants raised
by them and an average of 100 Dolls
TO the plants is reported-thirty Dolls
TO the plant with an average STAND
means one bale to the acre; lOO oous
10 the plant, three and one-half bales
TO the acre. We confidently expect on
an average stand one one-half bales
an acre.
Two hundred and thirty acres of
cotton at Meloland is making progress.
'The mill at Oakland has agreed to
take all of the cotton raised In the
valley this year.
"Ail have doubtless noticed the
sharp advance in the price OF cotton
the past month. Quotations are now
about 13 cents.
"The Joseph r. LOTUS company was
the sole representative Of Imperial
valley In the Elks' industrial parade,
recently held in Los Angeles. This
company had a float representing the
cotton industry, which created con-
siderable interest and very favorable
comment"