Las Vegas age. [volume] (Las Vegas, Nev.) 1905-1947, 1920-07-31
ABSOLUTELY PROVEN"
IS VERDICT ON COTTON
r. p. Davie, Arizona's Cotton
King, Says Vegas Valley Is
Fully Demonstrated

a time of anxiety and suspense to the
people of Clark county, who have at
heart the success of this section as
a cotton growing country Since the
young plants first pushed their heads
above the ground until the present
time, we have had no absolutely con-
elusive evidence that cotton could be
grown successfully on a commercial
scale. We have watched the growth
and general conditions with interest
We nave been encouraged by the fine,
vigoruos growth made by consider
able acreage and have been cast
down by the rather poor showing
made by cotton planted on absolutely
virgin land entirely devoid of humus.
We are now able to say on the very
best of authority that the Vegas Val
ley IS absolutely demonstrated as a
successful cotton growing territory
and that conditions here are just as
favorable as in the Salt River Valley,
Arizona, the Imperial Valley, or any
other of the California cotton Sec
tions.
Mr. R. p Davie, the largest indivi-
dual cotton grower in Arizona, drop
ped off the train this week, enroute
from Denver to Los Angeles, to in
spect the results of the cotton grow
ing experiments in the Las Vegas
Valley. Mr.. Davie only recently sold
most of his Marietta cotton p1anta-
ton and the gin to the Southwest
(Goodyear) Cotton Company, for an
even million dollars. The deal was
widely reported in the Arizona and
California papers. In few words to
the "Age" man, he said:
81 have just inspected the cotton
at the Winterwood ranch and am
greatly pleased with what l saw. In
fact, was surprised. l was in here
last fall with my longtime friends,
Charlie Sprague and Munro Brown,
looking over the situation for cotton
growing and was well impressed.
Still knew there we're handicaps for
the first year and much to learn
about soil and seasons and not sure
what the outcome might be; but my
friends took the chance and you may
quote me as saying that Messrs Spra-
que and Brown have absolutely prov
en- that cotton can be grown in the
Las Vegas Valley on a commercial
scale an dat a handsome profit. Their
experiments demonstrate that this is
a cotton country. The soil must be
right and there must be plenty OF
water. There seems to be an abund-
ance of good land in this valley and
water is easily developed. Although
this has been an unfavorable year
here. as in all the southwest, the
climate nomally is all right. You can
be sure of Mebane and Durango and
possibly of Pima, or long staple, but
it will take another year or two to
absolutely prove the Idltel'
The Durango cotton growing on
the Winterwood ranch is as good cot
ton as you will find anywhere in Ari-
zona at the same stage. The plants
are of average size and vigorous and
of good color. l was astonished to
see them so fruitful, and especially
to see the plants fruiting so near the
ground. Only in one other locality
have | ever seen such thing; that
was near Bakersfield. In Arizona and
Imperial the squares Or fruit rarely
appear closer than foot from the
ground, but here the fruit is thick
from the ground up. 1t must be due
to a popularity in the soil.
unless something unfavorable oc-
curs-some untoward freak of climate
they should harvest at least a bale
to the acre from the long" field
the only field to which they have CIV
en- closest attention. The cotton on
the Sund tract will not mature.
did not have time to closely study
the situation and determine the ex-
act cause or causes. OF course, being
new land and not much humus in the
soil, is one of the apparent reasons
This can be remedied by planting and
turning under green manure.
Now the Messrs. Sprague and
Brown have positively proven by
their own initiative and money that
cotton can be grown here successful'
ly, it is UP to the people of this town
and valley to make the most of their
pioneering. They have blazed the
way and others should follow so that
next year there will be large
enough acreage to warrant Local
cotton gin. Cotton growing is now
and will be for many years. the mos