THE CULTURE OF DURANGO COTTON IN THE IMPERIAL 



VALLEY/ 



By Argyle McLachlan, Assistant in Crop Acclimatization, Office of Western Irrigation 



Agriculture. 



INTRODUCTION. 



Diiranojo cotton is a long-staple Upland variety recently intro- 

 duced by the United States Department of Agriculture and appar- 

 ently well adapted to Imperial Valley conditions. A general account 

 of the variety and of its behavior in the Imperial Valley in compari- 

 son with other long-staple sorts has been given in a recent publica- 

 tion. ^ The object of the present paper is to call attention to spe- 

 cial methods and precautions that need to be observed in the devel- 

 opment of a long-staple industry under the local conditions. Most 

 of the planters have grown only short-staple cotton in the past and 

 many are not familiar with cotton culture or with methods of 

 irrigation. 



Durango cotton was first grown in the Imperial VaUey in 1911 by 

 Mr. W. E. Wilsie on 3 acres of land near El Centro. In 1912 about 

 200 acres were planted by six growers from seed grown by Mr. Wilsie. 

 Following the favorable results obtained in 1911 and 1912, it appears 

 that between 6,000 and 7,000 acres will be planted to Durango cotton 

 in the Imperial Valley in 1913. All the available supplies of Durango 

 seed in Texas were purchased. A much larger acreage would be 

 planted if more seed could be obtained. It is also estimated that 

 about 20,000 acres more will be planted to short-staple cotton, 

 chiefly of the Mebane (or Triumph) variety. This total estimate of 

 26,000 or more acres includes acreages to be planted in Lower Cali- 

 fornia adjoining the Imperial Valley, which are operated chiefly by 

 residents of the valley and from which the crops are marketed through 

 Imperial Valley points. 



In undertaking the growing of this greatly increased acreage of 

 Durango long-staple cotton, it should be appreciated at once that 

 better care of seed and more care in cultivation, harvesting, ginning, 

 and handling are required in producing cotton with long and uni- 

 form lint than merely for producing short-staple cottons. 



> Issued Apr. 12, 1913. 



2 Cook, O. F. Durango cotton in the Imperial Valley. In U. S. Department of AgriculUm', liuieau 

 of Plant Industry, Circular 111, 1913. 



[Cir. 121] 3 



