Arizona republican., 1920-01-25
DAIRY TALKS
Farm Expert Gives Detailed Plan for Di- versification of Crops to Get Best Results ra Planted fo Cofton
No. 7S
From Acreage Planted to Cotton.

It is most interesting and encouraging to note the real constructive information which has been developed by the discussion of the Salt River Valley should develop upon a solid and substantial foundation.
 A few months ago but little thought was given the subject, and real plan existed for the future agricultural activities of the valley. The lure of quick and easy money in cotton had led many ranchers and land owners to foresake all previous plans of soil culture and embark in cotton growing to the exclu- sion of all else.
 That such a plan participated in by the great majority of farmers would dis aster was seen by the far-sighted and safe and comprehensive plan of diversified farm ing has now taken the place of the one-crop plan.
 The following from the pen of M. E. Bemis, editor of the Arizona Rural Review" and well-known farm authority, explains very practical plan:
 Alfalfa is the greatest of all legumes. Farmers of many of the eastern and southern states have spent time and money to lime the soil to enrich it and to prepare it that 1t might be made to produce alfalfa, and an annual crop that is half as great are able to produce is considered a wonderful produc- ton. Here grow it with almost effort. We shall achieve our greatest profits as farming community when have settled down to regular rotation, with alfalfa grow ing on at least one-half the acreage. With alfalfa as the great first principle of crop TO- tation, the next step would be the planning of a crop system that will fit in with cotton and alfalfa.
 Alfalfa will reach the maximum production in three years. It is good for a longer period, but with pasturng and with Bermuda and Johnson grass, most fields of alfalfa will pro- duce as much the third season as ever and for maximum results could we'll be plowed up. A practice, not very common, but one which might be followed profitably, would be to cut off two or possibly three cuttings of hay, and then blow shallow to cut off the crowns and allow the roots to decay, blowing again early in July and planting to Mexican June corn. Grain might follow and corn again the next summer, with cotton the following season. Land handled in a somewhat simi- lar manner has produced the maximum crops of cotton. There is no sort of doubt but that land handled in this way will produce maxi mum crops of all things grown. Cotton fol lowing alfalfa is likely to produce too much stalk and leaf and too little fruit, but follow ing two crops of corn and one of grain, there would still be an abundance of humus and fertility to produce a maximum crop of cotton bolls.
 1t has been the experience of cotton grow CTS that land of this kind should be able to produce two or three profitable crops of cot ton in succession. It is questionable, how ever whether it would not be better to feseed after at least the second year of cotton to al- falfa again.
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