Arizona republican., 1917-02-15
EGYPTIAN GRADE
 COMMANDS HIGH MARKET PRICES

pounds to the acre, is ordinary, and 500 to TOO pounds per acre is obtained by most farmers. Seed selection and changing and improving methods of cultivation have accomplished this splendid result.
 Farmers that produced 250 pounds per acre eight years ago have, during the past season, produced 700 pounds lT.der general farm practice
 The problems that are presented to the cotton grower are: cost to pro- duce; soil and climate: labor. and markets The cost of producing has been estimated from actual instances, and is about as follows:
 Cost Per Acre
 Farming operations to time of
 plChlAS ..----..-. .$l5.JO Seed .-........... 200 Picking. cents per pound ..... 5O.4O Ginning .....-............ 12.00
 s7s.4O An easy way to estimate cost per acre fs to figure the lint cotton at about F cents per pound to produce. , bout 1900 pounds of seed cotton are required to make 800 of lint.
 Soil and Climate
 We nave shown that this cotton has made wonderful strides since it was introduced eight or ten years ago, and it is found that the several pc, ruliar conditions needed for it's proper growth exist hardly anywhere else on the globe outside of the Salt River valley. Of course, Egypt raises this type, but since the Introduction of the variety into Arizona the cotton has improved to such a great extent 1t is probable that when Egypt is again ready to grow cotton, Arizona's lead will be too far for Egypt to catch up. trsr. lN free from pests. Egypt. unfor tunately is seriously troubled with the pink cotton boil weevil. and the dam age each year is enormous. sometimes amounting to half the crop. Again. in Egypt the special area that is suited for growing this cotton is small, and land there sells for S100 an acre. What chance has the grower in Egypt when a better cotton can D grown in Arizona on land at s200 an acre and the Arizona soil produces twice as many pounds per acre? The de- partment of agriculture states it's pre- ference for the Salt River valley, as the locality best suited both as to soil and climate. for the future source or the long staple cotton supply of the United States
 Labor
 Here again we are favored. In different parts Of Arizona are great reservations where Indians in large numbers make their homes They are peaceful, and in the majority are good workers They are inclined to agricuI- ture and to the raising of cattle. They find the cotton picking to their liking They can camp sat convenient places and all the family can work, and they do. These Indian tribes come when the cotton is ready for picking; they leave as soon as the picking season IS over. and in this way solve the problem of labor in both ways; on hand when there is a lot of work to do and back on their Inearvat'~,. farms, or cattle ranches, when the work is completed.
 Market
 There is indeed q market for all the cotton that the Salt Riveh valley can grow. It is pointed out by those in authority that reasonable acre age is necessarV to keep the ma rlcnts assured for the Arizona products. The spinners like to know to cea- tainity that the necessary quantities can be obtained. The special cotton requires special machinery, and goes into special fabrics and so con- siderable acreage must be grown each year to keep mills supplied and the choice product on the market. The high prices received this year are an indication of the demand and the market possibilities, but if only half the present price was received the crop is assured great future.
 One more important advantage must be kept in mind. The true farmer knows the value of crop rota- tion. First as a method of increas- ing the yeild second, as a means oi improving the quality of the crop, an6 third, as a method of enriching tn. soil. Cotton with alfalfa make ar ideal rotation system. and alfalfa als6 Eorws here to perfection. The grow ing importance of the dairy industry there are s0.10O cows in the Sal River valle!, at this time. insures permanent and steady demand for al alfalfa raised. It grows the yea round; six cuttings of alfalfa are com mon and eight to ten tons to tn. acre can be easily grown with goo' farm methods. Keep in mind tn value of rotation when ccnsiderin any crop or any locality.
 Pima Cotton
 Much is being said of Pima cotton This is a further developments of tn Egyptian or Arizona long staple cot ton. This fibre is very long and commands the highest price of al cottons. The seed from this variet is selected from choice plants and i about two years the entire acreag in cotton in the Salt River valley wi be planted in this most valuable va riety. Agricultural officials who ha most to do with the development (
 Continued on page Three)