Arizona republican., 1919-07-22
PROPER SPACING
 MEANS A LARGER
 CROP IF COTTON
Government Expert Sees Better Yields as Result of Best Spacing and Irriga- ton = Will Accompany Cotton Growers Inspec- ton Tour Today

Much greater yields and consequent profits would be derived from Arizona i Egyptian cotton growing in this sec tion if growers were better acquainted with proper spacing methods, and if more exact irrigation were given, in the opinion of s. H. Hastings, super intendent of the government experi- n,ent station at Sacaton. MT. Has tings, who is at present in the city, and who will accompany a party of cotton growers on trip of inspection of fields in vatious parts of the valley, to beeheld today under the auspices of the county agricultural agents office, said last night:
 While the most desirable space to be allowed cotton is dependent upon soil conditions of the farm, greater possibilities are met in closely spaced cotton. At the same time. extremely closely spaced cotton is especially cas- | fly injured by improper irrigation. Our best yield of cotton last year on the Sacaton farm was better than l 4 bales per acre on cotton spaced 2E feet between the rows and four inches between plants. With plants so nu merous the tendency toward excessive weed growth is very much reduced and it takes but few bolls per plant to make an enormous yield. Of course the grower must understand when to irrigate and when not to.
 Best Way to Irrigate
 Our experience has taught us to irrigate heavily before planting, thus storing the maximum amount of water in the soil and assuring a good seed bed. Many make the mistake of at tempting to form seed bed after the crop has been planted After planting, cultivation should be as frequent as necessary to keep a good mulch and to prevent growth of weeds. Water should then be withheld for a long time, dependent upon the condition of the plants and not upon the calendar. The purpose of withholding water is to prevent excessive development of | vegetative branches and to encourage deep roofing of the plants. Plants treated in this manner frequently are small enough in the early stages of growth to frighten the growers and cause too early application of water Late thinning also tends to discourage the development of vegetative branch es. The time to put thrifty growth 1 1TulLl1S well under way
 MT. Hastings has promised to spend today with the cotton growers of the valley inspecting fields and criticiz < ing in constructive way, the genera
 nature of the plants on the expert. ments which are visited.
 Another Expert to Be on Trip With MT. Hastings on the trip vii be T. H. Kearney, who has long beer connected with the U. & departmen of agriculture, in charge of plan
 breeding work on alkali and through resistant plants. Mr Kearney ha. bred up both Yuma and Pima vari cities of Arizona Egyptian cotton anc is at present engaged in rogueing anC inspection work in order to insure continuous supply of the best grade O : seed for valley growers. Mir Kearne,
 has had probably more experience il the growing of Arizona Egyptian cot ton than any other one person, hi connection with the industry begin , ming with the trip to Egypt r year [ ago. MT. Kearney modestly insists tha
 he is a plant breeder, not a commer cial cotton grower, but Salt River val l ley farmers are looking forward eager t ly to his visit
 3 It is impossible to find two men il the United States who have had nor
 experience with Arizona Egyptian cot 7 ton than Messrs. Kearney and Has
 tings and it is exceedingly fortunat
 that all growers in the valley vii
 have the opportunity to personal.
 discuss cotton problems with thes
 men on the cotton tour which leave
 the county agricultural agents office
 room s, Central school building, Phoe
 nix, at 9 o'clock this morning. Tn,
 first stop will be on the farm of Wal
 ter P. Smith at Scottsdale, the re
 mainder of the trip taking in field
 on the southside in the vicinity o
 Tempe and Mesa