Los Angeles herald., 1910-09-26
WOMAN CONTROLS
ACRES Or COTTON
Mrs. S. F. WiIes Succeeds Re-
markabIy in Extensive I'm
perial. Valley Enterprise
CROP is BEING HARVESTED
Hundred and Seventy Acres Now
Under Cultivation Will Re-
turn Profitable Sum

One of the new enterprises In which
a California woman has achieved sue
cess is that of cotton growing. Since
the development of Imperial valley and
it's possibilities as a field for the in
dustry a great many men have en-
gagged in this occupation but to date
few women have attempted 1t with
profit.
Mrs. S. F. wiles, formerly of San
Antonio, and recently of Los Angeles,
is a notable exception, and has just
begun harvesting the crop from ITO
acres of cotton which she planted IN
February on her ranch near Ell Centro.
With no previous experience beyond
that casually acquired from living in
cotton raising districts in Texas, Mrs.
Wiles went into the valley last spring
to see what she could do with large
farm there which was proving con-
slant loss to her. With the assistance
of A. N Gould, her foreman, she has
practically transferred the balance OF
her ledger from the loss to profit side,
and the results of her first years work
have encouraged her beyond measure.
COTTON QUEEN" OF VALLEY
Mrs. Wiles has been given the So
briquet of Cotton Queen" by the other
ranchers In her vicinity, who delighted
IN nGT nerve Ill lhhAhB inns PAOS.
tically new enterprise. She is an ar
dent lover of California and believes
thoroughly in the future of the valley,
as she does of the entire state.
"The conservative men in the COM
munity now estimate the crop at
about two bales to the acre." said Mrs.
Wiles "but / am a woman and Will
not allow my hopes to carry me SO
far The usual crop throughout the
south-that Is, a good safe, prohtable
yields about one-half bale to the
acre. Consequently, l shall be de-
lighted if l find my own ranch prlng-
ing me an average of one bale.
Mrs. Wiles had many trtbulations
with her plantation, and one of the
most trying of the situations she mad
to face was the shortage of horses and
mules, Finally a brother engaged in
the raising of draught stock of this
sort sent her one carload, so That her
difficulties in that respect were at an
end.
"As for labor" she stated. 81 hire
white men and pay them according to
the quantity of cotton picked, just as
the southerners do, 81 for each nun
dred pounds. Prospects within the
past week have improved materially,
and a letter from my foreman TINS
morning tells me that he has picked
230 full bolls from one stalk on which
many blossoms are still to be found.
INDUSTRY GROWS RAPIDLY
Next year 1 shall plant all of my
land but about eighty acres to cotton,
and this custom will be generally 1ol-
lowed throughout the valley. 1t is
probable that there will be $4,000 acres
of cotton grown in Imperial valley
alone next year, and as there are no
frosts to fear and no rains to 1n1ure
the grade of the product, the outcome
of this industry will undoubtedly have
a decided effect upon the cotton mar
ket."
Samples of the cotton grown upon
Mrs. Wiles ranch have been, sent to
the cotton exchange at New Orleans,
and reports have been returned that
are most flattering concerning quallty,
length of fiber and purity of color.
Mrs. Wiles has been passing the
summer here with her daughter, Mrs.
Ray Cowan, 248 Ardmore avenue, but
will return to Ell Centre this week.
She will remain in the valley until
after the harvest is completed, prob
ably about holiday time, then will visit
in Los Angeles until seeding time.
AS a result of her experience this
year. Mrs. Wiles thinks that she Will
have all her cotton planted in March
and April this coming year, believing
that crops so planted Will prove more
nroftable than those planted either
earlier or later Her ranch is located
within the territory contributory TO
Calexico, Holtville, Heber and I'll
Centre.
PROPERTY IN IMPERIAL
Mrs. Wiles wakes most enthusiastic
when describing her life there. She Is
naturally fond of the out of doors, en-
Joys riding and driving, and the sense
of responsibility which her work there
gives. In addition to that, however,
She finds delightful circle of club
and society women who are fast build
ing up that side of life in the valley
Beautiful homes are going up, ana
women of culture and beauty are fast
bringing metropolitan customs and
costumes both to the erstwhile desert.
Cotton raising for women cannot be
possible without some capital at the
beginning, but 1t is profitable and
pleasant occupation. and one which
will probably be undertaken by many
women as it's advantages become bet
ter realized.