WORK OP YUMA EXPERIMENT FARM IN 1912. 21 



of the Southwest to those of the Nile Valley led the Department to 

 believe that Egyptian cotton could be successfully grown in the 

 southwestern United States. Several years of breeding and selec- 

 tion carried on at the experiment farm by the Office of Alkali and 

 Drought Resistant Plant Investigations have resulted in the pro- 

 duction of improved varieties of Egyptian cotton. Seeds of one 

 variety, known as the Yuma cotton, have been distributed to farmers 

 in southern Arizona and California. An area of 550 acres was 

 devoted to the production of the unproved varieties of Egyptian 

 cotton in the Imperial, Yuma, and Salt River Valleys during 1912. 



In addition to the breeding and extension work with Egyptian cot- 

 ton, extensive experunents along cultural lines have been carried on at 

 the Yuma farm by the Office of Acclimatization and Adaptation of 

 Crop Plants and Cotton-Breeding Investigations. It has been dem- 

 onstrated that cotton can be reproduced from mature wood cuttings 

 and that cotton plants can be volunteered by protecting the bases of 

 the stems with soil during the winter. 



A large number of hybrids between Egyptian and Upland cottons 

 have been made and grown and different methods of makmg such 

 hybrids have been studied. Many of these hybrids produce fiber of 

 a very superior quality. A number of varieties of Upland cotton 

 have been tested. 



During the season of 1912 two stands of roller gins were installed 

 at the experiment farm. These were placed at the disposal of the 

 local farmers in ginning the 1912 crop. 



CORN. 



Although corn has not yet proved a profitable crop on the irrigated 

 lands of the Southwest, it has seemed advisable to try a number of 

 varieties not commonly grown in the region. The yield is low and 

 often the crop is a complete failure, due to high temperatures or dry 

 winds at blossoming time. The corn worm is also quite injurious. A 

 large number of varieties have been tested in cooperation with the 

 Office of Corn Investigations, but nearly all have been discarded. In 

 1912, 22 varieties and selections were tested, but the results were not 

 encouraging. Selection 157, a strain of Laguna corn, appears to be 

 better adapted to the climatic conditions than any other variety 

 grown at present. It has an exceptionally tough husk, which greatly 

 reduces the worm injury. Corn yields have varied from 25 to 48 

 bushels per acre. 



DATES. 



The Yuma Project is included in the limited area in the south- 

 western United States where dates can be successfully grown. Large 

 quantities of the date seed have been distributed to settlers on the 



[Cir. 12tf] 



