Arizona republican., 1920-02-20

not be practiced until the plant shows danger of willing. The scientific ap- plication of water in midsummer after cultivation has ceased. is of vital i'm pcrtance. The plants fruit very heav- ilv under favorable conditions of care IL being no unusual thing to see a Pima plant with 150 well-set bolls and it is to the setting of the bolls of cot ton on the plant. rather than to the amount of the vegetable growth, that the intelligent grower gives his closest attention. In our district it has been found that the cotton plant. to produce d maximum yield of seed cotton, should be from four to five feet in height
 The cotton picking season in Ari zont commences early in September and picking is usually concluded early in February. three picking being cus- tomary. The price paid for picking last year averaged about 31ac per pound. An average picker will pick about 100 pounds in a ten hour day, but under test. an experienced picker has made a record this cotton of an average of 275 pounds per day for five consecutive days.
 The Labor Problem
 The labor problem is naturally a very vital one in the development of this new type of cotton. and for the purpose of meeting this problem and others of the industry from a commun- ity standpoint. the Arizona Cotton Growers Association was formed. and in a systematic way, through the co operation of the gins. has succeeded thus far in furnishing fairly efficient labor at just prices. and has acted s a practical clearing house for labor.
 This additional labor supply has come partly from other cotton growing states in the south, but mostly from the importation of Mexican labor from the northern states of Mexico. under special authority of the Department of bor, and by the use of many Indians from the reservations of Arizona, who are glad to obtain this seasonal labor. Not only have good wages been paid, but there has been a well directed ef fort to see that these laborers are well housed that their living and sanitary conditions are safe guarded and pro- vision is being made for the education of their children. Last wear during the peak load of the picking season it is estimated that in the Salt River valley. this class of labor aggregated over 15,000 individuals. Many of the larger growers have established tent villages for these laborers and in some instances dance floors have been in stalled, providing that recreation so dear to the Mexican.
 Preparation tor Market
 The number and type of gins has naturally been a very important fea- ture in the development of this new type of cotton. It was found that the saw tooth gin, principally used throughout the south. would not effec- tiv ely gin this cotton without tearing the staple and the roller type of gin has been used. the rollers usually cov- cred with walrus hide. This gin is all hot i,, hn Delta of the Nile and has proved most effective. An average gin stand under good conditions turns out about one bale every ten hours. The cotton growD in the southwest reaches the sin in a practically bone dry condi tion and in some of the gins the in- stallation of humidifiers has been adopted, which it is belived slightly in creaSeS the percentage of cotton lint The Egyptian method of spraying is not used.
 The question of the percentage of lint cotton to the seed cotton enter ing the gin is interesting and it has been found in the testing that the aver age percentage of lint to Pima seed cotton, is 2632 100 per cent. which re- quires about 1900 pounds of seed cotton to produce a 500-Dound bale of lint distributed as follows: 300 pounds of lint, per cent waste, 3S pounds cot ton seed, 1852 pounds.
 Continued improvements in the gin ming processes are steadily increasing this percentage of lint. and there were many instances last year where cotton grown under correct cultural condi- tions showed a percentage of lint of from 2S to 30 per cent
 This season in the Salt River valley, our ginning capacity has been mater tally increased and 263 gin stands will be in operation with a daily capacity in two-10 hour runs. of about 450 bales per day.
 One peculiar feature about the Egyptian cotton produced in the southwest is that as it is grown, ginned and handled under practically bone-dry conditions it has averaged in shipment to eastern points of manu- facture a gain of from seven to eight pounds to the bale.
 The Handling of IL
 There has been some difference in