18 CIRCULAK NO. 110, BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY. 



The question of the soil best adapted for cotton has been raised 

 many times. Any land that will grow good crops of alfalfa and grain 

 will also grow good cotton. The heavier class of soil will as a rule 

 grow a smaller and more fruitful plant with shorter nodes, and hence 

 more numerous fruiting branches. While some raw land will make 

 good cotton, it has been clearly demonstrated that land previously 

 in alfalfa will produce a higher grade of cotton and the crop can be 

 produced more economically, for new land as a rule requires more 

 frequent irrigations and it will be found necessary to irrigate hi spots 

 owing to the uneven way it will take water. 



A great deal of the best land in the Salt River Valley is overrun with 

 Bermuda and Johnson grasses. The badly infested area comprises 

 much of the land that was under cultivation prior to the completion 

 of the Roosevelt Dam. There are, conservatively speaking, fully 

 10,000 acres of land on the south side of the river alone that would be 

 greatly benefited by cotton. This is the best land for cotton in the 

 valley, since most of it is level and rich from previous crops of alfalfa. 



PREPARATION OF THE LAND. 



In preparing this land for cotton the best plan would be to plow 

 about 2 inches deep during August, allowing the soil to dry out 

 thoroughly. This should be followed by thorough disking and har- 

 rowing, using a long-tooth harrow and dragging as many of the roots 

 to the surface as possible. A spring-tooth harrow might be used to 

 advantage hi this work. During November or December the land 

 should again be given a shallow plowing and pulverized by disking 

 and harrowing. 



At this time it would be well to plow the land both ways with an 

 orchard cultivator or similar tool with long teeth. This work will 

 bring a great many of the roots to the surface, and if hi sufficient 

 quantity they should be raked up and burned or hauled off the field. 

 The land may then lie fallow until the latter part of February, when 

 borders should be thrown up about 2 rods apart. Just before planting 

 time, which is between March 10 and April 1, the land should be 

 flooded and then disked and harrowed until in perfect tilth. At this 

 time, if the soil is a very heavy clay, in some instances it may be 

 advisable to throw up beds from 4 to 4^ feet wide and 8 inches high, 

 with the idea of dragging off fully half of this height before planting. 

 A drag can be easily constructed of 2 by 4 inch or 2 by 6 inch scantling 

 that will take two or possibly three beds at a time. It should be 

 weighted down until it drags off enough of the surface clods to get 

 down to the moist soil. If a lighter soil is used it will not be necessary 

 to throw up beds. It is advisable to bed some classes of heavy soil 

 because it may be necessary to irrigate in order to germinate the seed, 



[Cir. 110] 



