The Parker post., 1913-11-22
SAYS PLANT
COTTON FLAT
SUCCESSFUL GROWER GIVES OUT
VALUABLE INFORMATION ON
COTTON CULTURE-REQU
LITTLE IRRIGATION.


ial valley, having successfully expert
mented with the staple before it was
grown on commercial scale. At
the present time he is recognized as
one of the most successful growers
in the southwest Here are some of
the reasons why:
Mr. Whsle began growing cotton
! four years ago. The present crop Is
his fifth. He planted 20 acres the
! first year. This year he has 400
acres which is all Durango. He has
increased the acreage each year be-
cause he made a success of cotton
culture. 1t looks like anything will
grow for Mr.. Whsle Yet it isn't
so much a matter of luck as knowing
how Mr.. Wilsie knows plant life.
He knows when to plant and when
to turn on the water, and how much.
Much as he has accomplished, hOweV-
er, he still says his work with cotton
is largely experimental He expert
ments carefully, Systematically, in
telligently. That is why so many
years he was Horticultural commits
sioner.
This year Mr.. Whsle planted his
cotton late. Some of it, from neces-
sity, considerably later than he de-
sired. 1t is not the purpose of this
article to tell how much cotton will
be picked from the Wilsie acres.
That will be told after the returns
are in. 1t is good cotton and indi-
cations are that the yield will be
entirely satisfactory The great
plants, from five to seven feet in
height, are full of bolls and more
coming. AS many as 25O bolls have
been counted on one plant. The
plants are healthy, strong and green
so full of life that they will prob
ably continue making cotton the rest
of the year
What is the secret of the Wilsie
method? There isn't any secret Mr..
Wilsie wants it. as widely known as
possible
I'm the first place." said Mr.. Will
sic, soak the ground thoroughly af-
ter it is plowed. Let the water stand
on it and go down, down. Then
when the earth is dry enough, make
a loose moist seed bed. Have the
field as nearly as possible in the
condition of a good garden ready for
planting after copious winter rains.
Then as soon as you can get on the
ground, while it is thoroughly moist,
plant the seed.
PLANT it flat All my cotton is
planted flat in the moist earth Then
let it come up and grow. 1t will be
six weeks or two months and the cot
ton will be only six inches or a foot
high before it needs the first irriga-
tiOn''
"How many times will it need ir-
rigation, Mr.. Wilsie?"
''Two, or possibly three This field
had only two irrigations since the
cotton was planted
"How much cultivation will it re-
quire?"
'"There is no definite rule. This
field was cultivated once and then
furrOWed out so the water could run
through. l believe shade is a good
thing for the ground, to conserve the
moisture. SO plant in rows only three
feet, four inches apart. 1t is better
to equalize the distance by making
the rows close together and having
the plants further apart in the row.
It is well to have the ridge broad and
flat rather than high and narrow,
and there should be only enough fur
row to get the water through.
Mr.. Whsle is devoting twenty-five
acres to special experiments. He has
five acres grown from the seed of
one plant that matured a year ago
4dSC ldll tAIOIIeI lieu plduI6Q June
%, stands over five feet high and
is full of bolls. 1t has had only two
irrigations. An experimental field
planted July 7th looks almost as good
and promises fine yield. A field of
volunteer cotton looked so good that
it was permitted to stand. This made
II bales on acres with two irriga-
tions, both after the first of August.
There are some striking results of
the Wilsie method.
1t saves irrigation. Many growers
plant on dry ridge and run the
water about three times a month or
fifteen or twenty times for the sea-
son.
1t saves cultivation Once is suffic-
lent instead of three or four times,
and the ground is loose and moist
throughout the season.