Los Banos Rotary Club History
Chowchilla Chemist Talks Of Cotton

King Cotton, an agricultural crop which has contributed immeasurably to the prosperity of the west side and entire San Joaquin Valley, gained new respect amongst local Rotarians Tuesday, as Earl Garner, chemist associated with the San Joaquin Cotton Oil Co. at Chowchilla, told of the development and many uses of this crop that last year contributed nearly $9 million to the agricultural wealth of this county.

Briefly tracing the crop's history, Garner said its record goes back to earliest recorded history, and evidence of its use is still being uncovered in the ancient pyramids. In this country, Garner said the history of cotton can be traced back well before the arrial of Columbus and was known to have been grown and used by the Hopi Indians several hundreds previous to that time.
Garner talked specifically of the newer uses of both the fiber and seed, its use in plastics, rayon, cellophane and other channels that give promise of continued demand.

As to the future of the crop locally, he pointed out that this fertile section of the San Joaquin valley produces a fiber of exceptional quality which is always in demand. The yield at the company's local gin this year averaged 2.2 bales per acre, compared with a national average of less than one bale.
The speaker was introduced by local cotton farmer and Rotarian, Randall Fawcett. Cecil Moore, manager of the Los Banos gin, was introduced as a guest.

December 12, 1958

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