Arizona republican., 1918-01-24
Where the People
 May Have Hearing
Cultivation of Cotton
Phoenix, Ariz., Jan. 23, lsIS Editor of The Repuhllcan,

Phoenix, ArlZ., Jan. 70, lSlo. To the Editor of The Republican,
 Phoenix, Arizona.
 Dear Editor:
 A few days ago $. D. Ely wrote very interesting article on cotton growing in the Salt River valley. AS | have made a, study of and had many wears experience in growing crops here, offer a few suggestions to those m terested in growing irrigated crops by furrow irrigation.
 Experience has demonstrated that the ground should be thoroughly cul- tivated when the plants are small and so long as it is practicable to cultivate. This cannot be done when the cotton is planted in rows as there is ground between the plants in the rows, to SIX inches or more wide, that IS never stirred excepting when narrowed as the cultiyator cannot do it and to hand hoe costs too much. Hence the check system of planting to allow cross-cul- tivation is necessary. The crop should be cross ss-cultlvated at least twice when the plants VIII grow better and the water Will more readily get to the plants when the ground has been stirred in the ro" This is a great advantage on neaVy 
 properly irrigate than it does sandy loan soil. I cannot agree with MT. Ely as to the distance apart Of the rows, four feet by four. While this might do on a light soil. it would not on heavy soil. as to make the furrow midway | between the rows would make the Wa ter too far from the plant and unless the water run several hours through the furrow the plant sould not receive 1 sufficient moisture.
 | True, the furrow could be nlaoe closer to one row than the other put the objections to this would be one 1 side only of the row would be lrrlgateu, and the cultivations would not be so satisfactory, consequently I "oulu prefer rows three feet by five feet, l irrigating along rows three feet apart, 1 to cross cultivate it might be neces- sarv to run the cultiyator one side of | the TOW. then the other to get close to 1 the plant. or better still. cultivate diagonally across, then there would De no necessity to do any hand hoelng.
 In applying slacked lime, I would spread it on the land instead Of drill- i ing it in, and if any acidity in the soil apply a much larger quantity. | Adobe soil takes much more laDor than a lighter soil both in preparing | the seed bed ana III lrTlSdlilS- tiie flooding should be done before the planting but narrowing crossway after a cross cultivation before the plants are too high will be found to make a thrifty growth. Narrowing after the plants are a few inches high, works well with peas, beans, tomatoes, corn etc. In irrigating, smaller stream and longer hours should be used or heavy land than a loamy soil Unless flooded before blowing the heavy soi will require two or three irrigatlons tt put the proper amount of moisture 1T the soil before planting.
 Where practicable provisions should be made to carry off the waste wate as it is necessary to run water severa hours through the furrows on heav. land but if the water is handled prop erly. little water will go to waste.
 The land should be sub-soiled befor irrigating, the water will wash dow alkali from the surface soil. In irrigat ing the water should be evenly distrib uted on the land, otherwise the lowe
 part of the land may be too wet to cul tivate when the upper part IS just ar enough.
 w. S. ROWBOTHAM.