The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1858-11-19
From the South Curvijninm.
Letter from Col. Summer.
PoMAnIA, S. e.. Oct. %, 1855


GENrLEMEN: A number Of causes have
prevented my giving YOU the results Of my
experiments with your super. phosphate OF
lime before this. am now prepared to
give the results on all the crops to which i,
was applied, which could not have done
at an earlier date. On the 2l of January,
.fuUy SIR ,cccks too iotr sowed 20 acres
Of wheat, with IN application of | so pouuds
Rhodes super. phosphate and 40 pounds
Peruvian guano. This wheat grew finely
was luxurant the whole season, and, al
though much injured by the frost Of the
27th April. when it was in head, il Welded
about l3 bushels 10 tie acre. Nv wheat.
treated with the usual amount nf Peruvian
guano, costing the same as the super. phos-
phate, did not yield 6 Bushels per acre, and
never looked as we'll at any stage of its
growth. Before the frost, estimated the
wheat treated with super. phosphate as
promising to yield from 90 TO 60 bushels
per acre. This was on exhausted soil, and
the experiment, taking the disasters Of the
season into consideration, has been satisG.c
tory to me.
At the same time, sowed barley and rye,
giving each aero $50 pounds super. phos-
Phate and so pounds guano. These crops
were no better than ii | had not applied The
super. phosphate, and colsi'!cr that it did
them no good. also sowel white Egyptian
wiutcr oats same date, and made the same
application as to wheat. On this crop, the
results were highly satisfactory. for this field
was the only crop which escaped tho ru
in the vicinity, anu WAS certainly the best
oats, both in grain and straw, ever raised.
The crop was the admiration Of all who
saw it, and regret did not thresh given
number Of acres, SO that the result might be
properly chroncled. made an application
Of 200 pounds per acre to Indian corn. The
growth was admirable, until the intense
drought cut it oil, just as it was shooting.
After intense heat, and an absence of rain
for a long time, the clouds promised an
abundant season, and my ovcrSeer irj udi-
ciousl y plowed tho corn. 1t rained only "A
slight shower, and this blowing cut off the
corn fully onefourlh. 1t, however, has
made a fair yield, and the increased crop Of
peas will pay me for the super. phosphate
applied. 1t had remarkable effect OH the
peas, as they grew luxuriantly, even during
the drought, and have borue heavy crop.
On cotton, applied it with an eye to its
relative cost, with Peruvian guano. The
drought SO cut off this crop that it has not
had fair chance. The cotton, to which
the supper phosphate was applied, remained
greener, and is now greener than that man
ured with guano. 1t bid fair, previous to
the drought, to make superb crop. 1t is
superior, for cotton, to the best compost
manure, as it does not cause it TO drop its
forms SO much rs the compost does. find
that on w-penned lands, and that manured
with compos: manure, the crop has suffered
most. Ihare remarked, that not single
stalk ,cas rustcd in the field to which the
super. phosphate was applied. This is wor-
thy Of note, and, if tits preventive, will
enhance its value.
On beans, peas, and the entire pulse
family, its effects have been all could de-
sire.
In spite Of drought, and against difficult
Ties which with the application OF Peruvian
gnano, would have ensured the destruction
OF tha crop, by the application of the super.
phosphate at the rate Of ESQ pounds per
acre, have fine field Of Ruta Bagn tur-
nips. Although the summer drought, in
which they were planted, with the exception
ofa few slight showers still continues, they
arc growing finely. and bid fair to make M
average yield. had a slight season to
bring them up, since which time it has
rained sufficient to enable us to plough but
once. Last year, with similar seasons, and
with Peruvian guano as the fertilizer, did
not save single plant on six acres
planted. I now have ten acres Of fine tur
nips, all attributable to the use of the super.
phosphate.
On Irish potatoes, the result has been
satisfactory. l have not yet examined the
sweet potatoes, to which applied it, but,
from the appearance Of the vines, think
it equally effective for this crop.
Ny experiments have not been on small
scale, as you are aware. used about ten
tons, but the precarious season and int. nse
drought have, no doubt, seriously impaired
its effects on many crops.
I am more and more convinced of the
value Of the phosphate manure over the
highly stimulating guanos. Their effects
on the pea crop, which isdestined to he the
great fertilizer of tie South, would enable
planters TO bring any Of their land into good
heart. and in time to make it extremely fer.
tile Iprsfer'Rkodes' will, his present aualy
N, TO any MANURE ever tried. Very truly