Graham guardian., 1910-11-25
Paying Crops Can Be Raised
by the Farmers in VAL
ley and Artesian Belt

coCCon anu aud new crop Tor val
ley products;
After considering the many crops
that the Gila valley farmers have,
and looking we'll into the raising of
cotton as ready-money crop; l, be-
ing raised on cotton plantation
myself, and after consulting dozens
of old cotton raisers from different
parts of the famous cotton belt, and
taking it upon myself to visit the
different ranches, where these same
old cotton men have and are exper-
imenting with the feecy staple this
year, | have arrived at the conclu-
sion that cotton will not only equal
any other crop, but in many cases
double them, when once the farm
ers are prepared 10 raise 1t, as they
will be after the first of the year.
understand the sample exhibited
at the Graham County Fair was be-
yond expectation. Some of our
best citizens, who came from a cot
ton country and since settling here
have planted more or less each year
have CONVINCED themselves that
the crop will pay. 0. N. Williams
came from middle Texas where he
raised cotton by hundreds of bales.
His experiments here have proven
satisfactory. He has no doubt but
what one bale per acre can be raised
on his ranch in the Artesian belt.
1T. Beckham, another Well-to-do
farmer, has also raised cotton in
Texas and has several rows this
year on his ranch in Artesia. He
has had several old cotton raisers
examine it and all are satisfied that
it would yield at the rate Of one
bale per acre, or more. Mr.. Beck
ham planted about May 10th. S. S.
Gish has also had similar experience,
having raised cotton in Texas and
knows what he is talking about
when he declares one bale would be
only a small crop here if properly
cultivated. John Sparks, raised on
cotton farm in Texas, has cotton
growing on his ranch that promises
to yield one bale per acre and was
not cultivated at all, but grew
among cucumber vines. Will Scott,
another Texas cotton man. has cot
ton growing on one of his irriga-
ton bitches this year that has had
no care, but promises yield of one
bale per acre.
| have talked with these farmers
and many other old cotton men and
not one has been dissatisfied with
the yield. S. w. Lard knows what
he is talking about when he says
cotton is paying crop for the Ar
tesian belt.
After seeing these experiments
and knowing the results of the cot
ton business, I have no hesitancy in
saying cotton can be raised here in
paying crops, and while it has not
been planted here for the market,
not one experiment that have seen
would prove discouraging to any
cotton raiser.
Most of the cotton grown here
has had scarcely any cultivation; to
cultivate it as they do in the cotton
belt. would yield more than one
bale per acre, once the farmers
were prepared to cultivate it. To
explain: One bale per acre would
mean at Is cents per pound, $500
per acre for the lint; then $500
for the seed, or $4,000 per acre.
Now, 15 cents Ia the lowest price
paid this fall for anything like clean
cotton. The price has ranged from
Is cents to 32s cents, at Foreman,
Arkansas, which is only common
cotton market.
The above may look large to those
who do not know the cotton busi-
ness, but there is no doubt that the
above can be attained and even
$500 more would only be a fair
price per acre. But suppose we
SHOULD not net over $4,000 per acre
the first year on experiment, the
following year would more than
double it.
Some say the expense Of gather
ing the cotton would be large. but
when you consider that any erdi-,
nary eight-year-old child can pick
one hundred pounds in one day, and
rs cents per hundred, would be
geed pay. A good cotton picker
at Is cents pey hundred can make
from $2.25 to $4.6V pes DAY. This
is about the average price paid ia |
the Cotton Belt. While the hus-
band is working at his job, many
times the mother takes the children
and makes $500 per day picking
cotton, thereby adding more en-
ployment for those that scarcely
make one penny now. This would
mean more cash for the business
people of the valley
To thess who do not know any
thing about the raising of cotton,
1 would refer them to the Aboye
named farmers, who will be only |
too glad TO explain anything about
it. | feel sure we must haye an
other money crop In the valley and
Artesian Belt. One man cannot do
much toward starting the cotton