The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-09-10
COTTON LOOMS
AS new CROP
IN CALIFORNIA
Find Long Staple Variety
May Be Grown in San
Joaquin Valley
b. JOHN DUNLAP
United Press Staff Correspondent

Just as rich Imperial valley was
discovered" with the develop
ment of irrigation, so is the ex-
tensiye San Joaquin valley of Cal
ifornia becoming the garden spot
OF the west with an abundance of
new crops and lots of water.
Three cropS-cotton, flax and
sugar beets--are currently being
doomed in the valley, already
known for its rich harvest Of
grapes, peaches, figs, plums and
citrus fruits.
Cotton planting has increased
so rapidly in recent years that
there are hardly enough ginning
facilities to take care of the
bumper crops. Four years ago,
the total acreage devoted to this
crop in the valley was 1885,, 900
acres. This figure jumped to 203,-
$50 in 1885, 34S,500 last year
and an all-time high of 100000
acres this fall.
LABOR PROBLEM
With picking already beginning
and expected to reach its peak in
late September, thousands of cot
ton pickers have flocked to the
valley from the cotton states of
the south and midwest where
drouth, debt and sterile land have
decreased chances for profitable
work. State and local relief of
ficials have been unable TO care
for everyone and an acute crisis
will exist this winter after the
cotton harvest is over.
The chief value of California
cotton is it's extraordinary white
ness and long staple. The national
average length Of the staple is
seven-eights of an inch, while cot
ton grown here averages one and
three thirty-seconds of an inch.
Only a limited amount of Missis-
sippi delta cotton exceeds it in
length.
Virgin soil that has been turn
ed over to cotton is producing
heavy yields. Western cotton pro-
duces an average of sol pounds
to the acre while the national
average is only 200 pounds. This
tremendous yield will bring more
than $40,000,000 to cotton grow
ers of the valley this year, most
of which will be expended in
wages, taxes and new planting.
DESERTS FLOWED
Vast plains that formerly were
barren deserts are being plowed
up with giant tractors. Deep
water wells provide abundant ir-
rigation for the fertile soil. This
has produced not only the big in
crease in cotton but new de-
velopment in flax in two short
years.
l. Only a few experimental patch
es of flax were here in 1885
chiefly on the west side Of the
valley. More than 5000 acres
were planted in Fresno county
alone this year and growers find
it more profitable than grain OF
wheat. Flax yields between ~
and 81 bushels to the acre, which
gives a large amount of linseeo
oil for paints, ink and linoleum
Planting will be doubled or triplec
next year.
| SUGAR BETS THRIVE
Sugar beets grow so well here
that large sugar interests are
sponsoring heavy planting OF
beets. The industry has blossomeo
from practically no planting two
years ago to more than 10000
acres this year. The westslde
plains, particularly in the area OF
Coalinga, have proven ideal fol
beets. This new producing area !:
one reason why national acreage
has jumped to an extent where
some of the beets can be used fol
seed. Formerly all seed was I'M
ported from central Europe.
An all-year Investigation OF
crops and ability to use equip
ment and labor nearly the year
round is bringing prosperity tc
the San Joaquin Valley. In ad
dition to the planting Of cotton
flax and sugar beets, total acre
age on other crops this year are
$4,000 for grapes, $4,000 fol-
peaches, $4,000 for citrus, $4,000
for figs. 10000 for apricots ano
$500 for plums.
Between 10000 and 10000
migratory laborers will be need
ed to pick the cotton crop during
September, October and Novem'
Der. Daily picking wages will av'
erage So to Sd, considerably more
than is received in any other cot
ton area. Most of the big ranches
provide living quarters for the
workers, although the tremendous
influx Of transients this year has
more than filled all available
housing quarters.
A good example of what agri'
culture is doing to the valley cen
tiers around Coalinga, one of the
early oil towns of the state. Agri'
culture was unheard of on the
barren plains and hills far to the
west of Fresno. Yet with the find
ing of water, large-scale farming
has brought a revenue of more
than a million dollars, in Is
months and expectation of fan
more in the next year. There has
been a 500 per cent increase in
farming in the past year, princi'
pally in cotton, flax, sugar beets
grains and alfalfa.
The San Joaquin valley is the
new agricultural frontier Of the
west.