Arizona republican., 1920-07-14
VALLEYS CROP OF. WHITE GOLD" |S. NEARING HARVEST.
Picking of Long Staple Cot
 ton Will Start Early Next
 Month-65, ,000 Bales Ex- pected from 100000 Acres

Preparations are now being made for the harvesting of the Salt River val Iey's $40. .0OO, 900 crop of long staple cotton.
 With the white goldn blossoming in field after field. promising flood of yellow gold later in almost unbeliev- able measure, this valley is preparing 10 reap a harvest, the story Of the re- cent development of which reads like a romance.
 From a total of 9O,OOo acres last year which brought a yield of approxi- mateIy 37,00O bales of long staple cot ton. the present seasons acreage has jumped to 190,000. with a probable yield of 65, 900 bales, an increase of 1oo,- GOO acres in a single season with cor responding increase in the wealth that will be derived from this wonderful crop.
 The average yield last year was about one-third of bale to the acre. Whether, through experience in plant ing, cultivating and picking, and by reason of the educational campaign carried on among the farmers the average yield tIis year will be fn- creased to half a bale to the acre or even more is highly problematical. ex- perts say.
 Mo Guess As To Opening Price
 The price received last season for the crop of long staple cotton ranged rom 50 cents to $1-2 per pound. EX- perts will not even hazard a guess as to the probable opening price of the market this year. Cotton growers are confident. however, that there will be no 50 cent cotton this year. and some insist that it will go beyond $1. 25 per pound
 While the first picking of Salt River valley cotton may be made early in August, with the picking of the volun- teer crop well under way by the latter part of that month, it is considered probable that picking will not be in full sway throughout the valley until October, according to a statement made yesterday by A. E. Hinkle, Jr, gin superintendent of the Southwest Cot ton company The first bales will be picked. MT. Hinkle says, by growers who take pride in bringing in the first of the seasons crop, but there is all ways an appreciable interval between the appearance of the first of the long staple and the time when picking be- comes general.
 The condition of the crop at present is considered better. especially as far as fruiting is concerned, than has been the case in any other season since cotton has been grown in the valley. The chief reason for this, according to MT. Hinkle, is the fact that while the stand this year was rather poorer than in the last season, growing condi- tions have been almost ideal, with the result that the poor stand has been compensated for by exceptional fruit ing
 Entering Critical Period
 The crop, however, is now entering the critical period of the growing sea- son. Untimely summer rains, may cut the production by causing shedding especially where the growers are irri- gating lavishly. To prevent shedding. the county agent and other experts are now directing their efforts to the pre- vention of over irrigation especially in view of the fact that last year the ranS were comparatively early and while copious in some sections of the valley, they may lead growers to be- lieve that the conditions brought about then are identical with those of this year, which is not the case