Imperial Valley press., 1913-04-28

lE11-s-7- b :!ss sI'sI,>| - ~ ~
ed tebss thsa Msbans lsevNs, aaA ap-
sssr mose asAaitsly Ave lobA@. 0Sawe
ere shoy .tsns tss arst eppsstsnaty
bans Gotten Sients u order u bseSnie
acquainted with theae dif1sro1oss. "a
will be possible to distinGuisA end: st,t
out many OF the plants OF other vari.
cites at chopping time. BY persistent
effort al short staple plants can be
eradicated from the mixed DuranRo
fields. This will leave In the FIELDS only
Durango and some hybrid plants which
will yield much higher quality. 6ber
than fields from which the short staple
plants have not been removed. There
is no reason why fields Of mixed Du-
range, Il handled In this ma nusr.
should not Yield nbef Tits ssason of
as good character es that frssn noids
of clean DuranBe. M@sSs
Expsrlsnse ouarastses Prusyvus
A distinct advance has been made
by tho cotton growing community Of
the Imperial valley since the planting
of Georgia" cotton in 1908. The ad :
vance thus far accomplished amounts
to the establishment within . period
of four years Of short staple industry
based practically on the best obtainable
variety Of short staple cotton. The
experience already gained through the
eliminating from the industry In the
Imperial valley OF numerous varieties
Of cotton which have been tested and
proved poorly adapted 70 the condi-
tions should make 1T possible for the
cotton growers to take the necessary
steps in connection with long staple
industry for maintaining clean stocks
of seed OF one accepted variety and OF
providing proper culture to produce
superior fber.
To Produce Good Fiber --.
Good Durango fibsr. one and three
sixteenths to one and a quarter inches
long. of even length and Of rood
strength, can be srown by providing
the plants with normal xrowfns conai.
tions through the season. Water should
be applied In such q way - to elbow
the plants to grow ana fruit normally
without being subjected either to
drought or overwatering or 10 Undue
checking or aeeelsration of growth.
Either checking or acceleratins growth
has direct effect In causing divers
ity in the length and strength Of fiber.
Irregularity Of any sort IS OF much
more serious Consequence In the case
Of long staple than In short staple cot.
tons.
Water should be given the plants as
they require II rather than at stated
intervals. Tho grower should bo able
to tell by tho appearance Of the plants
when they need water. Slight whiting
1T midday during very hot weather Is
not an indication that the plants are
suffering for water II they fresheu up
IN the evening and morning. It should
be kept in mind by all cotton grow
ers tha. overwaterine may cause dam.
age from which the plants will be On
able to recover because Of the destruc.
ton of the tip buds of the stem and
branches, which continue the growth.
Land containing a quantity OF humus.
such as lands which were heavily COW
cred with brush previous to reclame-
ton or old alfalfa sod lands, Will pro-
duce Durango cotton Of better charae-
ter than lands which are poor In humus
or which have been previously over
cropped. The cotton industry Of the
Imperial valley would profit greatly
If all Durango cotton this season could
be planted on alfalfa SOD lana. Not
only would this guarantee a larger
crop and moro clean seed for 1914. but
setter and more valuable dber.
It can be foreseen that not all who
plant Durango cotton this season will
,roduce a satisfactory crop. The best
grown Durango, which will yield over
4 bale per acre Of excellent nber. must
re used as a basis for JudEfns q crop
value of Durango cotton. 1t must not
be lost sight OF that the failure to
plant on good land or the failure to
water In q way to provide normal
growth is conducive 10 the ease OF
long staple cotton not only TO shortage
of he nRn hut
shortness Of the fibar
Preparation Of Land
Success has been attained by follow
ing widely different methods of plant
ting, cultivation and irrigation Of cotton
In tho Imperial valley. This Is largely
due to the great variations In soil and
partly no doubt to the fact that water
FOR Irrigation has been practically un.
limited as yet. 1t has been possible
to apply sufficient water to grow Z cro-
Of cotton without conserving the uaois'
turs by cultivation.
The growing Of upland cotton under
Irrigation Is at best still In the exper'
mental stage. II is highly probable
that meth DDS Of cotton culture In ths
Imperial valley may be materially
changed during tho next few years
Changes which will bring about the
pFOduCtlOu OF unitVEu QnaHJ " SoS'
ton will be Of great value to the To-
dustry. The following cultural sus,
gestions may serve to promote proper
adjustments In tho methods OF cotton
culture under Irrigation.
Plowing.-Irrigated lands should b
thoroughly and deeply stirred in prep
aration for planting cotton In order to
insure necessary aeration and 70 put
them into condition for tho storage OF
water and the proper growth Of the
plants. Some soft" lands containing
an abundance of humus may not re-
quire more than a thorough diskinG
Before being planted for the first time
but after a season Of settling and pack.
ing by irrigation all characters Of soil
will be benefited by thorough plowing
Disking and Harrowing.-Follow
heavy irrigation, soft lands can be put
into condition to plant flat by disking
and narrowing. This saves labor OF
listing. The seed is planted In the
moist soil and germinated without irri-
CATION after planting. It is much more
difficult to handle heavy soils In this
way. Usually following irrigation the
heavy soil Is listed and the seed is
planted on the ridge, and germinated
by running water through the burrows
Further Preparatory Operations
Land that Is to be planted flat should
be mulched by narrowing. to conserve
the moisture and keep the land soft
until planting time. On land that has
been listed the ridges should be pulled
down by cross narrowing. to leave the
tops flat and broad and with tho soil
on top well pulverized. II should be
kept in mind that all the operations OF
land preparation are for the purpose
of securing full and prompt germina'
ton by providing the seed with proper
conditions OF soil ana moisture.
Planting
Planting Time.-As q general rule
the best results will be had from plant
ing after March 20. Earlier planting gs
may be subjected<4 numerous setbacks
amounting in some instances to com
plete loss of thee stand. All cotton
should be planted y the last Of April
though good crops have been grown
from May paintings.
Depth.-Planting Is don with q
one-row or two-Fow machine planter