Arizona republican., 1919-02-20

IhShttu III IhNS o-2 ittl apart NiiG plants being thinned eight to r. inches apart. From the plantings of March 5, 1,SO6 pounds of seed cotton was har- vested; from that of March l5. 1.54S pounds were harvested; from that of April 1. 1924 pounds; from that Of April 15, l,5S3 pounds; from that of April 20, 1899 pounds: from that of May |, ], l63 pounds; from that of May 15, 9SS pounds. The experiment to determine best results from narrow or close spacings, resulted as follows: This was land under similar conditions tO that of the experiment noted above and was planted March Is to 20.
 Two feet in rows. 1850 pounds of seed cotton was produced to the acre. From cotton planted 2i5 to . feet, 1850 pounds of seed cotton was produced and from cotton planted March 15 to 20 and spaced three to four feet apart, 2,Ol2 pounds of seed cotton was pro- duced on one acre. These results, which seem to show that wide spacing will result in higher production to the acre is commented upon by Superin- tendent Woods as follows:
 Cotton that is fairly wide spaced will stand more punishment than cot ton which is thicker in the row. If ideal conditions were always attain able, that is, if an expert cotton grower was always at hand to say just when the plants should be irrigated and if water was immediately available when it was needed, the thicker paintings would be desirable, but with many who have had little experience and when. as with nearly all farmers water can not be applied at a few hours notice. l believe that the wider snacings will produce the best general results, particularly upon rather heavy soil" Mir Woods emphasizes the very important point that no crop grown in the Salt River valley requires so much personal judgment in cultural methods as does cotton. "No general rule, he says which will apply broadly , can be given in the growing of cot ton" The slope and depth of the ! water table are factors which must be taken into consideration in order to i produce a maximum crop.
 Mir. T. B. Pullins who has a 20-acrs ranch north and west of Glendale pro- duced a little more than 1h bales of | cotton per acre on 4 4-l0 acres. This is tho usual type Of soil found in tho Glendale district. technically known as Glendale loes and is similar in rrany respects to the sandy losm type. ] The field on which this was produced was old alfalfa and bermuda sod. l. was plowed in February. four or five inches deep. disced, narrowed thor oughly, bordered. flooded and disced again. This left the seed bed in a | fine shape. The seed was planted on a level, about the first week in April, | 25 pounds of seed per acre being used. | After planting. it was narrowed lightly | with a drag harrow. The rows were | spaced three feet. eight inches apart and the seed was planted 2is inches to moist ground. Cultivation began as soon as the rows could be seen and followed throughout the season about every week. with shovel cultivators. It
 was thinned to about 10 to IS inches apart in the rows. Land in this dis
 trict is about 90 feet above the water
 table, but this field was irrigated only
 three times-the first time when the plants were about IS inches high. There
 was very little hand hoeing. In the
 matter Of irrigation. Mir. Pullins. like
 most other cotton growers, notices the
 condition of the 7lant and when ther,
 is an apparent need of water, he irri.
 gates. but not otherwise. He believe,
 certain amount of water is necessar,
 to produce cotton, corn or any othel
 crops. while on the other hand. he re-
 cognizes the fact that too much wateI
 would make crops that arc not profit
 able.
 In passing, we might mention tha
 this was a small acreage and Mir
 Pullins did a large part of the worl
 himself. He paid out only about $20.
 for labor aside from picking ant
 picked a portion of the crop himself
 This field of 4 4-10 acres brought hin
 $1.694.94.
 The above does not by any mean
 constitute the experiences of all in tn
 Salt River Valley who have produce,
 more than bale of cotton to the acre
 There are many others of whom W have heard that have produced extra
 ordinary crops. J. F. Lewis of Glen l dale is credited with having produce. , l-4 bales on part of his acreage. Thi was on old alfalfa land. but the exac figures of this particular field coul not be obtained. This cotton wa , planted about the middle of March an , was irrigated three times. It wa thinned to one foot apart.
 } Panl Baxter Beville has also pro duced more than one bale to the acr, r planted between the rows of trees i l his orange grove. He has had tw . crops in succession. both of which hay l yielded more than one bale to tn , acre.
 3 There are a number of grower l north of Phoenix who have produce