The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1870-11-24

This principle, I claim, is main.
tanned in the fertilizer in question.
1t is the foundation on which it
rests. Cotton seed meal certainly
does make restitution in kind" to
large extent, for what has been
taken from the soil in the growth
of a crop of cotton; and the con-
clusion is therefore irresistible that
for cotton there cannot be better
fertilizer than cotton seed, with
the oil abstracted and ground fine,
so as to be Immediately available
to the use of the plant. But, al.
though nearly one-half of the ash
of cotton seed is composed ofphos-
phoric acid, still analysis shows
that there is an undue proportion
of nitrogen as compared with phos.
phate, and hence, to supply due
proportion of this most essential of
all the properties of cotton, corr,
etc., a large addition of bone phos-
phate is indispensable. The formula
therefore, which at your request I
furnished you, contains cotton seed
meal and soluble bone phosphate
in about equal proportions, with,
in smaller quantities, gypsum, or
land plaster, and common salt, to
supply the minor but still impor-
tant constituents of plant food.
The merits I claim for this pre-
paration are
/. 1t contains more fully and
completely than any other, the
elements necessary for the produc-
ton of Southern crops aud the
renovation Of Southern soil.
2. Its exceeding simplicity, there
being nothing mysterious or COM
| plicated about it, and any planter
can prepare it at home with his
own hands, although as its efficien.
cy can never be complete, or its
full benefits be uniform and thor
ough, it is better, aud doubtless
cheaper, that the manipulation be
done by machinery.
8. 1t is a home preparation. The
principal ingredients-cotton seed
and bones-are here at our own
doors, and on our own plantations;
and the minor articles, plaster and
salt, are easily obtained at low
prices. Therefore, another i'm.
portant recommendation is,
4. Its cheapness. l am fully
| convinced that at the price now
fixed by you, to wit: $50 per ton
it is much the cheapest fertilizer
in our market. Pound for pound,
I consider it more valuable than
the preparations that are selling
at SIS to $50. For my own use l
would greatly preferit to Peruvian
| guano at the same price.
S. Assurance of its purity. This
is a most important consideration.
The planters ofthe South have
been shamefulIy imposed upon by
adulterated preparations that have
proved of no value. Some ofthem
subjected to analysis, have been
found to contain 40 to so per cent.
of sand, and in one instance recently
as high as go per cent. of sand and
other insoluable matter. Ofcourse
all preparations are valueless. This
is one Of the great evils of the
times, and should be remediedeby
legislation, as it is already being
done by some of the States of the
Union. When we can get a Legisla.
turet hatwe can call our own, trust
it will be doce in our own State.
Until then, our reliance must be in
the character of the manufacturer.
In the present case I know there
will be no adulteration, and feel no
hesitation in gu .ranteeing it's uni
form purity. And the fact that it
is prepared here where all the
material used, and the whole pro-
cess of manipulation are open to
the inspection of all; where redress
can he promptly secured in case
any wrong be'done, furnish an as
surance Of protection from fraud,
that l trust will inspire our plant
ers with confidence in the uniform
purity of the article. s
And now few words on the
mode of application and the quan.
tity to be used. One Of the princi.
pal causes of disappointment in the
effect of fertilizers arises from their
improper or injudicious applica.
ton. I insist, as of the very first
Importance, that they should al,
ways be thoroughly incorporated
with the soil. The commonplace.
tice Of dropping a handful in the
bottom of the bill or drill, covering
lightly with soil. planting the seed
over the fertilizer, and then COW
ering, will never produce satisfac.
tory results. 1t may do some good
in giving the plant start, but as
it grows, and the roots reach out
in every direction to gather food