CULTURE OF DURANGO COTTON IN THE IMPERIAL VALLEY. 7 



class Durango fiber from their mixed crop in order to increase the 

 outturn of high quality cotton from the valley. This can best be 

 accomplished by removing the short-staple plants from the mixed 

 Durango field previous to picking time. 



The eradication of the Mebane plants and plants of other varieties 

 of cotton from plantings of mixed Durango is entirely feasible, as 

 Durango plants display characteristics of leaf and other features 

 wPdch distinguish them throughout theh growth fi'om plants of 

 other varieties. Durango leaves have narrower and more sharply 

 pointed lobes than Mebane leaves, and appear more definitely five 

 lobed. Growers should take the first opportunity presented to 

 compare Durango and Mebane cotton plants in order to become 

 acquainted with these differences. It will be possible to distinguish 

 and cut out many of the plants of other varieties at chopping time. 

 By persistent effort all short-staple plants can be eradicated from 

 the mixed Durango fields. This will leave in the fields only Durango 

 and some hybrid plants which wall yield much higher quality fiber 

 than fields from which the short-staple plants have not been removed. 

 There is no reason why fields of mixed Durango, if handled in this 

 manner, should not yield fiber this season of as good character as 

 that from fields of clean Durango. 



PAST EXPERIENCE GUARANTEES PROGRESS. 



A distinct advance has been made by the cotton-growing com- 

 munity of the Imperial A^ alley since the planting of "Georgia" 

 cotton in 1909. The advance thus far accomplished amounts to the 

 estabhshment within a period of four years of a short-staple industry 

 based practically on the best obtainable variety of short-staple 

 cotton. The experience alread}^ gained through the ehminating 

 from the industry in the Imperial Valley of numerous varieties of 

 cotton which have been tested and proved poorly adapted to the 

 conditions should make it possible for the cotton growers to take the 

 necessary steps in connection with a long-staple industry for main- 

 taining clean stocks of seed of one accepted variety and of providing 

 proper culture to produce superior fiber. 



PROPER CULTURE TO PRODUCE GOOD FIBER. 



Good Durango fiber, 1-|^ to 1^ inches long, of even length and of 

 good strength, can be grown by providing the plants with normal 

 growing conditions through the season. Water should be apphed 

 in such a way as to allow the plants to grow and fruit normally with- 

 out being subjected either to drought or overwatering or to undue 

 checking or acceleration of growth. Either checking or accelerating 

 growth has a direct effect in causing diversity in the length and 



[Cir. 121] 



