Arizona republican., 1922-01-29

In a farmerlike manner, hence our
Statement above that IL the coming
cron IS to be raised in q like manner
we would say, raise no cotton WhaI-
ever.
Before this 1s20-21 crops was gatn-
cred, the financial depression came
on and the mills that did not snul
down bought only when aosoiutssdy sas.
necessary, hence the demand TOT
Pima cotton was very small and the
market price declined very materl-
ally to a point where, IL sold. the
local growers would have obtained
only about half of the cost OF pro-
duction.
When there was little demand
from time to time the views or tne
owners of the cotton were usualiy
materially higher than the price tne
mills could afford to pay, hence very
few trades were made for some
months, the owners fatal mistake
being that they could not forget the
$1.25 price paid for Pima cotton IN
should, and would, get as much py
holding.
Due to lack of demand at high
prices, unwillingness to sell at the
prices the mills were justified In
paying, and general postwar condi-
tions, the major portion Of the 1920
21 crop remained unsold when time
came to plant the 1921-22 crop.
At this time the farmers of the
valley were very much discouraged,
thinking they had been unjuStly
treated and that they were the only
ones hard hit by the financial de-
preston, from which we are now re-
covering very fast, but such was
\. t. AA
United States was in slump and
very discouraged condition. and
only the ones who realized recon-
struction of business and business
methods were necessary, and ap-
piled same Immediately, were the
ones to recover rapidly.
All lines of business had the books
loaded up with material at was
prices. with the market declining fast
to pr-war levels. The successful
ones today charged off the differ
ence, based on the market price at
the time, took their losses and made
a new start. So with the successful
farmer today: --he sold his 1920-21
crop Of cotton at the best price OBJ
tainable. took his loss, and got ready
to plant his 1922 crop on a real
farmer basis. BY disposing of his
his account at the bank, to a certain
extent. and strengthen his borrowing
capacity.
At the planting time Of the 1921 -22
crop the cotton growers of the valley
fully realized their follv OF the previ-
Gus year and Immediately became
real farmers again. The acreage
planted was slightly more than one
third of the previous year. but was
planted on a strictly farmerlike basis,
with the result that the proper lands
only were planted 90 cotton, proper
attention was given, and very good
yields obtained, and the cost OF the
crop was about half of the previous
wild year, and while the market price
today for Pima cotton is not very
high as compared with the price dur
ing the war time. these prices. never
theless, are the highest the mills are
justified in paying. for they have had
to reduce their selling prices.
Even at the present prices. the sue
cessfuI farmer who is gradually mar
keting his crop at present levels, is
doing SO very wisely, and we believe
1--WE are safe in saying such farmers
are making fair return on their in
vestment, and more out of the 1922
cotton crop than they could have
made out of any other crop planted
during the same period.
Now the planting time for the
1929 crop is fast approaching. and
from the above and other investiga-
tions we have made, we know we are
safe in saying that cotton is a prof
table crop in this valley, and II
handled on the basis of last year, the
grower will obtain profitable returns.
Now comes the question: What
kind of cotton should we plant? And
right here we wish to state. Mr..
Grower, don't let these wild rumors
of so much money being made out OF
short staple cotton turn your head.
In the first place, can short stable
cotton be grown profitably in this
valley? This is an experiment. and
there are so many angles to the pro-
position, so many things to enter In,
and IL you will take our advice you
will let the other fellow do the ex-
perimenting and, in this case. let the
other fellow be the U. s. govern
ment, and let us be guided by the
results obtained. The u. S. govern
ment has an experimental station at
Sacaton, and from information we
have received, they have made extern
sive experiments with the view Of
finding out what staple cotton can be
grown profitably in the Salt River
valley, and we understand their de-
cision has been unfavorable, !. e..
they would not, from their expert
ments, advise the planting of short
staple cotton. If the farmers Of this
valley wish further experimenting
done, we believe they should have the
government make additional expert
ments' at Sacaton.
The Salt River valley is the only
| locality in the United States where
long staple cotton can be grown. as
we have excellent climatic conditions.
sufficient water, and no weevils or
pests to contend with.
We have planted Pima cotton for
some years and we now have things
in shape where we know how to
| handle the growing of this cotton af-
| ter these years OF experiments. so,
| Mr.. Farmer, be careful: do not do
something that would harm and undo
all you have been striving for during
the last few years.
Pima cotton is a peculiar type Of
cotton, but we ell know it is the best
cotton grown anywhere in the world
| today and it is delicate plant, hence
must be properly treated.
If you would plant some short
staple cotton along with, or near,
your Pima cotton, you are going to
ruin the staple of the Pima cotton.
Right here we want to make our
/