THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 191 



I have not enumerated the many varieties tried, as such a list would 

 be of no particular value. The data given are the result of the various 

 trials made in Imperial Valley and elsewhere in Cnlifornia. In recom- 

 mending cotton, I wish to urge this point: That no large planting 

 should be made until small experimental plantings have proved the 

 adaptability of the particular section to cotton. Such experimental 

 plantings not only give a gcod idea of the suitability of the variety 

 under trial, but give the grower and those interested a chance to see 

 how cotton acts under the treatment given. 



CULTURE OF COTTON. 



Much must be learned first hand about the needs of cotton under 

 irrigation in our rich soils. Too much water promotes a vigorous vege- 

 tative groAvth at the expense of fruiting. There are two kinds of 

 branches on the cotton plant, the vegetative bi-anches which come from 

 the axillary buds on the lower part of the nuiin stem and which bear 

 no fruit except on secondary branches, and the fruiting branches which 

 come from the extra axillary buds on the middle and upper portion of 

 the plant. The vegetative ])ranches are upright and often rival the 

 main stalk for length, while the fruiting branches are short and hori- 

 zontal and when loaded are often quite pendant. The cultural treat- 

 ment of the cotton has much to do with the development of these two 

 kinds of branches, and care during the early stages of growth is there- 

 fore (piite important. It is well to plant fairly thick, using as much as 

 20 to 25 pounds of seed per acre, and then let the plants go as long as 

 possible without irrigation. This tends to send the tap root down and 

 does not promote rapid growth with the development of the vegetative 

 branches. Thinning should be postponed longei- than is customary in 

 order than one plant may shade the other, which also tends to retard 

 the vegetative growth. Irrigation should begin after the thinning, and 

 the cotton should be kept in a good growing condition from then on. 

 Wilting during the day is not necessarily a sign that the plants are not 

 getting enough water, but wilting of the growing tip, and excessive 

 wilting from which the plant does not recover early in the evening, 

 should not be permitted. Any sudden change from a very dry to a 

 very wet soil, as in the case of irrigating cotton that is quite dry, will 

 invariably cause a loss of squares and a relative loss in yield. Egyptian 

 cotton suffers less in this respect than the other types of cotton, which 

 gives it an advantage. 



Short staple and i3urango cotton are planted in rows 30 inches apart, 

 ^^^d are thinned to about 18 inches in the row. Egyptian cotton 

 recpiires more room and is therefore planted in rows from 3i to 4 feet 

 apart. The best way to plant, judging from trials so far made, is to 

 irrigate the land thoroughly in furrows until the soil is well saturated, 

 then drag the field Math a "harrow and plant on the ridge in the moist 

 soil. No further irrigation should be necessary until the plants are 

 from 4 to 8 weeks old. In sections where late spring rains occur, it 

 would be well to plant as soon after a rain as the seed bed can be pre- 

 pared. The necessity for further irrigation depends upon the character 

 of the soil, the amount of cultivation, and the rainfall. The main point 

 to keep in mind is that the supply of moisture should be kept as even 



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