The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1880-07-30
RUST IN COTTON.


able that it more or less affects about one.
third of all tho cotton fields in the seven
Southeastern States, and according to the
virulence of its attacks, reduces the yield to
only about two,t thirds, or three.fourths of
what it would be otherwis. lfthis estimate
opportunities the truth the loss TO- the plant
ers in these States last year was upwards of
S25, 100000. The disease attacks cotton
only in fields that have been under cultiva.
tion tor some years, seldom or never appear
ing in new ground. This fact leads US to
the conclusion confirmed by other observa-
tions, that it is caused by the impoverish-
rent of the soil and the lack of vegetable
matter therein. -r,o~~r
bast season We planted field Of about
thirty acres IN cotton, all Of which had been
ploughed to the depth Of nine inches in Feb.
ruary. The rows were run north aud South,
Gas cotton rows should always be run if prac
ticable,) and the entire field, with the ex-
ception ofsix rows, about the middle Of it,
was manured with one hundred pounds Of
phosphate and three bushels of cotton seed
per acre. The north end Of the field cover.
ed six acres of poor land that had not been
planted in cotton for some years, because
the rust was there always fatal. These six
acres had been left fallow in 1878, aud the
growth of crab grass thereon was ploughed
under in November of that year. At the
south end were three acres that had been
planted in COW peas the same year, the peas
were picked of, but the vines ploughed un-
der. By the middle Of July the rust ap-
peared in the middle section of twenty. .one
acres, over which it spread 10 the course
Of the rest of the mouth aud August, on
ly very slightly touching the six rows that
had received no phosphate, and entirely
stopping as soon rs the two sections of six
and three acres at opposite ends Of the field
were reached. The middle section of twenty.
one acres produced yield of one hundred
and eighty five pounds lint per acre, while
those ut the two ends averaged two hundred
aud seventy pound. The six rows that had
no phosphate produced more cotton and
remained green longer in the twenty-one
acre section than those on either side of
them. These results demonstrate that
humus in the soil will prevent rust, and
also, that unless there is such humus, the
application of one hundred pounds Of phos-
phate per acre will not repay its high cost.
The problem to be solved, therefore, is,
how to put humus into q cotton field of 100
acres or more. Any thing can be done
with one acre, and from such small patch
enormous results may be obtained, clearly
demonstrating the possible-results very
those intelligent planters who may have am.
pie cash capital, but of not much practical
value to the average farmers of the South,
who do not understand chemistry aud have
no cash capital whatsoever. 1t appears to
US that the only practical solution is the ap.
pication Of COW peas. This is means with
in the reach of all farmers. At the time of
the last working of the crop, about the 18th
or 10Th Of July, furroS should be run be-
tween the rows with a bull tongue plough,
in which the peas should be sown at the
rate ola half bushel per acre. They should
be covered with a sweep, which will also
give the last ploughins to the cotton. The
staple crop will, by this time, be so advanced
that the pea vines canLot injurc it, aud
as c,tton cannot grow sufficiently large in
land in whichit rusts to shade the middles,
the peas will make good vines, which will
supply to the soil the needed humus if al-
lowed to die on the land. Salt is consider
ed by some as preventive Of rust, but like
lime, it is cfficacious only when the soil
contains humus or vegetable matter not yet
decayed
The principles enunciated, and the rem.
edy suggested, are being practically tried
this season by the writer. Last summer
growth of COW peas was obtained over TWEEN.
ty.six acres of the field above mentioned
and a portion Of one adjoining; the vines
died on the land and were ploughed under.
This spring not pound Of phosphate was
used. but the land was manured with one
hundred and ten pounds Turks Island salt,
costing sevcnty.sevcn cents, and four bush.
els of cotton seed per acre. At this mo-
ment, nearly the middle of July, the crop is
the strongest and tealthiest that the field
has produced for several years, and is pro.
ducing an unusual Quantity of fruit
FAMINE, VIOLENCE AND DEATH-A
Protestant pastor in the city of Mosul, Ash
attic Turkey, writes as follows concerning
the famine there:
People eat cotton seed, blood and even the
carcasscs Of pack animals. All business is at
a stand still there is no profit, no employ
ment there is theft and robbery by night and
by day all manner of iniquity abounds, aot
even the fear Of God is left. On every
hanj there is violence, oppression, wicked.
ness, drunkenness, ruin. The poor in the
streets cry out till the middle Of the night,
we are starving y merciiul ones, wo are
starving! The daily deaths from starva.
ton are from five to ten. In thevillagcs
around Mosul they eat kind of earth, also
blood, carcasscs, cotton and hempseed.-