Imperial Valley press., 1924-03-21

As the present season is The time
for cotton planting, which is done
from the latter part OF February to
the latter part of May depending
upon the weather, County Horti-
cultural Commissioner B. A. Harri-
gan has presented the foilowir :
general article on cotton written by
Argyle McLaehlan prominent grow
er, which will be of interest 20
air cotton men: ~
! t.Impfslal Valley OF California
Ihas prodiiced $4,000 bales of cot
ton in the cotton season just clos
ing 93333 241. This total represents
the product from approximately 80
600 acres an average yield of one-half
bale per acre. The best yields eX
eeeded one-half bale per acre, while
some yields were very low.
Cotton is grown successfully when
Yields are in excess of onc-half bale
per acre. This statement is make
on the basis of the fact, determined
from various authentic sources of
information throughout the valley
during a series OF years, that =
Weld of one-half bale Per acre with
cotton selling at 20 cents per pound
Just about balances the income from
the crop against the expense Of
growing it and preparing it for mar
ket. In other words, grower
breaks even when he produces half
a bale of cotton per acre and sells
1T at 90 cents per pound. From
these basic figures it is possible for
one 70 compute the yield and market
prices required to insure profits. II
will be noted that Yields of half
bale per aero during the past sea
son have been profitable due 10 the
fact that the cotton has sold at 50
cents per pound or better.
Yields in excess of onc-half
bale per acre are insured by use of
land known to bo we'll supplied
with plant food Our new land is
generally of this productive char
acter but new land in Imperial Val
ley is becoming scarce and resort
must be made to rebuilding laudS
which have become somewhat dc
pleted of plant food.
Old Alfalfa Land Good
cold alfalfa lands Glands which
have been in alfalfa for years of
longer will produce an average Of
three quarters of bale per acre
of cotton over a period of four
wears of more. Somewhat increased
production follows the following
of land but this procedure is much
more expensive IN an irrigated
country than in a rain country, due
10 the heavier expense against the
lands. The sowing of sour clover
(Melototus indica) broadcast in the
growing cotton in August, insuriug
eermiuation Of This lcgume - soon
as the weather becomes cooler, pro-
vides n practical cover crop which
will get a good start in the fall and
winter and make heavy green
manure for t1rning under in late
March of early April which is in
expensive and highly beneficial in
maintaining fertility during conti-
nucd cropping TO cotton. BY .urn-
ing under Tie old cotton stalks
depletion of plant food in the soil
is retarded.
"Cotton is planted in the Imper-
ial Valley in the period from late
February to late May depending on
the temperature condition of the
carly spring. Most Of the crop is
planted in April or carly May. II
is wise to plant as early in the
season as possible to insure setting
of the bottom crop by early or mid
June. By the middle Of july and
until about the middle of August,
coimeident with the cxtreme temper
atures and high humidity, some
shedding Of young bolls immediate
~ following Towering occurs, the
amount Of this sltcddieg Of vopns
bis s.ing determined largely by