9S 



THE AGRICULTUEAL NEWS. 



/ )'R1I. 



1919. 



peculiar valu.- f-'i ccitaiiisjiinning purposes, a very large 

 quantity of Kg\ ptian cotton has boon annually imported 

 intothr I'liilc-d Stales- no k-ss than :]3fi,S:54 bales of 

 ■>001b. each in the year 1915-1(1. In recent years, how- 

 ever, after many expeiinionts in plant selection and 

 meth.ids of cultivation, it has been found that by the. 

 application of scientitic principles, a grade of cotton 

 quite equal to Egyptian— indeed it is claimed to be supe- 

 rior, except with respect to the very finest Egyptian- 

 can be produced in Aiizona and California. In these 

 Stales no less than ir),tHUi bales of this superior type of 

 cotton, valued at S,5.48-2,()0(), were produced in 1917. 

 It will thus readily be seen that Egyptian cotton on the 

 American maiket has to (ace nowadays a very serious 

 I'impetitor. 



The following extract from BulUtin No.742 of the 

 United States Department of Agriculture sums up the 

 ■conclusions reached as to the methods whereby this 

 in^lustry has attained its present position, and where- 

 by it is likely to be very widely extended. The advice 

 given deserves to bo carefully studied by all those inter- 

 ested in the cotton industry of those islands: — 



'The experience gained in connexion with the 

 establishnoent of the community growing of Egyptian 

 •cotton in the Salt Itiver Valley makes it possible to 

 formulate the conditions which appear to be indispens- 

 able to the successful production ot this crop in the 

 United States. These are, briefly, (1) a growing 

 season of about nine luonths, or .several weeks linger 

 than is rei|uited to mature a full crop ot Upland cotton: 

 (2) a reliable su(..j)ly of water for irrigation; (o) labour 

 sutticient to pick ibc acreage planted; (4) absence of 

 other t.ypes of cotton in the locality, as otherwise pure 

 seed and a uniform fibre cannot be maintained: {.5) an 

 acreage sufficient to warrant the puich.ise of roller gins 

 nnd other equipment and the employment uf a compe- 

 tent elafsei' in order to mai'ket the cotton in even- 

 running lots of commercial size: and (t!) thf- co-opera- 

 tive oi-ganizaiion of the growers for the puipoae of 

 maintaining the seed supply, operating the gins, and 

 marketing the crop. 



■Th<- history of thc( stablishmeiit of Egyptian cotton 

 production in tho Salt IJiver ^'alley is believed to have 

 more than a special or local intorost, since it efifors a 

 good illustration of the numerous biological, agronomic, 

 social, and oconomic difficulties encountered in develop- 

 ing a new agricultural irdusliy, and furnishes sugges- 

 tions as to how these complex and diversified problems 

 may le .successful!} sob ed. That co-op ration is the 

 ke\n(.le (,ffucc(ss has become very clear in the pro- 

 j^ufs ol the pre.-eiit l•ntcrpri^o. In this instance 



Co-operation has been maintained along the following 

 lines: — 



'(1) Co-operation among the investigators has 

 brought to ihe solution of the special problems ditler- 

 ent equipmonts of technical training and knowledge, 

 and different points of view, while their collective judg- 

 ment has been focusseJ upon matters of general policv. 

 The cordial and effective co-operation of the aomini.s- 

 trative officers of the Department of Agriculture has 

 also been an important factor ni this connexion. 



(2) Co-operation among the growers has made it 

 possible to produce and market the crop cconomicaHv, 

 and to maintain the uniformity and high cjualily of the 

 variety grown. 



'(o) Co-operation between the growers anel the 

 investigators has made it possible to put into efiftet, 

 without delay the most improved methods of produc- 

 tion and marketing This co-operation has been 

 maintained by personal contact, since, in addition to 

 the field agents of the department who have worked 

 Constantly in the community, members of the Com- 

 mittee on South-western Cotton Culture have made 

 li'equent visits u. the Sah. River Valley. The attitude 

 of the officers and ineiui)ers of the growers" associations 

 in their co-operation with the Department of Agricul- 

 ture has been of ihe most cordial and helpful character, 

 and has been a very inipeut.ant factor in the estab- 

 lishment of the industiy. 



'(4) Cooperation with the cotton manufacturers 

 on the part of both ir.ve^stigators and growers has also 

 contributed largely to the development of the industry. 

 iVlanulacturers have assisted most willingly and 

 effectively in making spiiming tests of the product 

 fmm time to time, and in funn'shing both to the 

 Department of Agriculture an<l to the growers' 

 associations, useful information concerning the cot- 

 ton. This information l.as guided the growers to 

 better methods of handling the product, and has 

 given the investigatius helpful suggestions in cem- 

 nexion with the breeding work. Some of the manu- 

 facturers intcrosu'd in this type of cotton have , visited 

 the Salt River Valley in order to learn at first hand 

 the condition .uid prospicts of the industry, while 

 representatives of the growers' associations and the 

 Department have been welcome visitors at mills where 

 the cotton is being utilized. 



'The policy of the Department of Agriculture 

 in encouraLing the production of long staple cotton on 

 the community basis is beginning to be appreciated ly 

 manufacturers and buyers, many of whom i;ow realize 



