The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1881-01-20
S9yitaltural
oorroN Sc ZOE MANURn.
Dixie Farmer.


By all odds, The cotton seed on
cotton pIantation are the most yalu-
able Domestic manure. Their value
is almost always underesiimated,
chiefly because they are wasiefully
handled. We trust that none Of our
readers will cling to the old practice
Of throwing them out from the gin,
and exposiog them throughout the
winter to the weather. This is quite
q sure way 10 destroy their vitality,
and to prevent them from sProuting
The strength Of the cotton seed as
manure is also made moro readily
available to the crops By thorough
rotting, as is shown BY the prompt
aud vigorous growth Of the young
corr that has been manfred in the
hill, as compared with that planted
or beds thrown over the green seed.
But while the seed are decompos
ing and becoming available as food,
they are also losing . large portion
of their virtue through the escaping
gases. The pungent smell given off
by pile or pen Of rotting cotton
seed is the very essence OF their
ler.iIizing value, to wit: the ammo
MIA. The drier the sasd pile is-if
onIv moist enough 70 heat the
greater the loss Of ammonia as water
absorbs and retains a large volume
of this gas, especially if kept COM
paratively cool.
We have several times tried the
plan Of bedding on green cotton seed,
both for corn and for Gotten, but with
rather unsatisfactory results. The
green seed DO not seem to act with
sufficient promptuess 10 the early
stages Of the crop, though coming
out very yell in the eud.
In our climate, where early plant
ing of corn is so desirable, it is very
important that the plants should be
vigorously pushed at the start by
tho application Of ready soluble
and stimulating manure or fertilizer.
This is not aforded BY green cotton
seed recently buried in the soil.
The decomposition in this case does
not seem so thorough as when the
seeds are rottea in mass, with gem
Grafton of some heat, and in the
presence of sufficient moisture
Years ago. before acid phosphates
came into general use, we followed
the plan Of composing the seed ia
January or February, with land
plaster and stable manure, with sat
isfactory results. Bat it soon oc'
CURED to us that land plaster alone
at the price it then commanded
Twenty dollars pes toy lid not
b. probably used as an ingredient
il composts, its chief value being
due to its power of absorbing orhx
ing ammonia
Acid phosphate of lime YVES then
substituted most successfully. It's
absorption or fixing power is due
chiefly 10 the presence Of sutphste
of lime Cand pIasteD which com
prises about one half It's weight, and
is incident to ito manufacture.
Bus tn pho5phoricIacid contained
il the acid phosphate is worth all
tba. is charged for the whole, and is
the very element which reeds to be
added to the cotton seed aad stable
manure. SO the suiphate of lime
(ahieh i4 the scientific name of land
plas.er) serves 10 prevent he es-
cape Of The ammonia, "hl!e the !
pbosphoic acid is an additional and
al most important clement,
Che best farmers, uow>a dayc. |
css fully preserve their cotton seed |
under shelter anti early ia the new
year or as late as March, when they |
compost, as bias otteo been describ |
ed 10 theoa columns, With acid phos !,