Arizona republican., 1918-02-17

in good condition, 1t should De gone over a second time as soon as possible. In any event the crop should be cul- tivated again in ten days or two weeks. 1 nder ordinary conditions it will not be necessary to irrigate again for three or four weeks, when the field should be given another light irrigation fol- lowed by thorough cultivation. These two irrigations should be enough to carry the crop until about July l. It is understood that cultivation should always follow any rains that may come
 It may De necessary to irrigate more frequently on new land, owing to the fact that such land will not retain moisture so well as land that has been in crop, particularly alfalfa. In all probability new land will have to be irrigated at least three or four times between the date of planting and July l. Certain types of old land may also require an extra irrigation during this period. Willing of some of the plants in the middle of the day sduring the tarly stages Of development is not conclusive evidence thht a general ir- rIgation is needed.
 The reason for irrigating sparingly during the first part of the season is to prevent the too rapid growth of the plants. If given frequent heavy irriga- tions, the plants will grow woody and they will be apt to maintain this ten deEcy throughout the season at the expense of fruitfulness. The fOunda- tion for maximum production will be laid if only sufficient water is given the 1 plants during the early stage of deVel- l opment to keep them in a healthy ] growing condition.
 Thinning
 Cotton should generally be thinned after the second irrigation, when the plants are between and F inches high. On land which has been en- riched by previous crops of alfalfa and where the rows are four feet apart, | the crop should be thinned so as to have the plants from to 16 inches apart in the row. On new land or land that has previously been in cotton, where the rows are three feet apart, the plants should be thinned to from four to six inches apart, depending upon the richness of the soil.
 Usually the grower can contract for the thinning or chopping at q cost of $l per acre, which will allow the work man fair wages. The thinning may be done in one or two operations. While the productiveness of the individual plants does not seem to be increased by thinning twice, this is likely to re- suit in d more uniform stand and hence in larger total yield.
 If the cotton is to be thinned twice the plants may be thinned after tbe first irrigation and cultivation to a distance of Or inches apart in the row. This distance will give the re- maining plants room to grow and vii
 insure plants enough to replace those which may be killed during the latel cultivations. By thus leaving the
 plants somewhat crowded the ten dency to develop large limbs or vege-
 tatiVe branches will be checked anC
 the development of fruiting branches
 will be favored. The final thinning
 may in this case be delayed until tho
 plants are larger and stronger thar
 when the thinning is done in one opet-
 aton Thinning should be conducted
 SC as to obtain a uniform stand O.
 plants properly spaced in the TOW. Fo
 example, if the nature of the soil re
 quires that the plants be thinned to
 distance of six inches apart, the larges
 possible yield will be obtained if ther,
 is plant in every six inches of tn
 row in all parts of the field.
 Late Cultivation
 Cultivation should continue at inter
 Vals Of from 10 to 15 days as long a
 a horse can get between the rows O
 cotton without breaking the plants. 1
 Will be found more economical to us a riding cultivator until the plants ar 2 too high.
 l When the plants have to 10 leaves
 it is desirable to begin to draw tn 9 earth toward the plants. This may b l continued very gradually at each cul l tivation until the plants are on ridg , 5 to inches high and r to If inchc t wide. The advantage of having tn l cotton plants ridged in this manner i y that in the later irrigations a nor . even distribution of the water can D 1 secured. This practice also helps { G conserve the moisture in the soil i'm e mediately around the plants and { t cover up any weeds and grass tha | may start between the cotton plants. l After the cotton plants have becom n so large that two-horse cultivate 0 con no longer be used, the crop may b
 cultivated once or twice with a single
 row 7-shovel cultivator or with a spike n tooth cultivator. These very late cul t tiVations will of necessity be in tn n middle of the rows anG thus will nc t disturb the small ridge that has bee ONll up lile cotton plant e Having the cotton plants on a sma = ridge will also greatly facilitate han e ding the late irrigations after th It plants have become too large to GU Il tivate.
 l, Late Irrigation
 After July 1 on most soils the ere
 will probably require an irrigatio e every ten or fifteen days. At this tin e the cotton plants will be Towering an l. should be given enough water to pr, It vent any serious willing during u IT middle of the day Some willing ear n in the season does little or no harr n but after the Towering begins u e plants must not be allowed to vii W When the flowers can be seen aboN IS the crowns of the plants and a decide O yellow color is noted in looking ol l. over the field, it is evident that irr l. gation has been postponed too lon y. This rule holds good until after Il d first of October
 To obtain maximum yield it is in \ perative that strict attention be pa ii to late irrigation. Late irrigation ( soil that will take water evenly shou m J