The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-02-23
The Farmers in Convention.

respondent. ]-The spring session Of the
State Agricultural Association closed
yesterday. President Livingston held
the association nicely in hand, and con-
tributcd largely to the dispatch of bust
ness. The programme was thought
fully arranged and strictly adhered
to.
Professor White, Of the State Uniyer-
eity, in charge Of the experimental farm
at Athens, gave a very interesting and
Instructive address, based on the results
of his experiments, observations and
readings. Prof. White, spoke without
notes, and made splendid impression.
Whether or not his experimentation
will he utilized and his wise suggestions
adopted remains to be seen. Too many
of our farmers regard all such rs Every
nice on paper" bvt Of no real value to
themselves or any one else. And yet,
experimentation Us one Of the things
most nccdcd-t1,e one thing that is most
intimately allied to profitable farm
ing.
Experiments were made with cotton
and corn. With cotton, to determine
lst. Whether the cotton plant de-
qives the nitrogen necessary for its
growth from the atmosphere or from the
soil.
I'd. If In whole or in part from the
soil, which of the following nitrogen
Gus materials it tprcfers, viz: Nitrate Of
soda, sulphate Of ammonia, drled blood,
cotton seed meal. raw bone.
Sd. The relative economics or money
value Of the materials used
Prof. White gave the facts and re-:
suits in detail.
The conclusions reached were rs fol-
dOws:
That nitro senous nanures increased
the yeiid. thus demonstrating the fact
that the cotton plant requires that n
portion Of its nihsgen be supplied
through the soil; that cotton seed meal
as superior to raw bone, dried blood,
nitrate of soda or sulphate Of ammo
mia: that two and quarter per cent.
Of ammonia is safe average prolor-
ton in mixed fertilizer; that cotton
seed meal may be regarded as the best
and cheapest nitrogenous fertilizer for
cotton.
The experiments established the fol-
lswing additional facts:
That all forms Of phosphate manurcs
Increased the yield.
That, in order Of excellence, the
forms of phosphate stood as follows:
Steamed bone and 0rehilla guano, solu-
ble phosphate, reverted phosphate and
Aoats.
That the use Of floats was attended
with actual money loss.
That kainit is superior to muriate of
potash rs source Of potash for cot
ton.
That cotton seed is not good ma
nure for oats.
The experiments with corn demon
Strated the fact that nitrogenous matter
ander corn does not play. ~
An interesting experiment WAS made
to test the advantage Of pulling fcd-
der" and allowing the blades'ta remain
on the stalk until the cropsis made
From one plat (half-acre) the fodder
was pulled ia the usual manner August
24th, cured and weighed. From the
plat, the fodder was not pulled at all.
October l4th the corn was gathered
from both plats, shuckcd and weighed.
Results:
Plat ], fodder pulled:
Fodder 1853 pounds, shucks 100
pounds; corn (ear) GA pounds, which
shelled gave 5o4 pounds, cob 110
pounds.
Plat 2, fodder not pulled:
Shucks 1875 pounds. eur corn 9O1
pounds, which shelled 729 pounds cob
HI pounds. :"
The plat from which the fodder was
not pulled yielded el6spodnds ear corn
nore ne plat L nom which the fod-
Asr gaas pm, The Joss of 158
peands ) 81 fosiidef wss Intended by a
gtin Of 2e6 pounds ear corn or 225
pounds shelled corn. Briefly, the far
tser who pulled his fodder loses $3.50
per acre in addition to the cost Of gath
ering tho fodder. Now here arc grad
grind, money facts. How many farmers
viii test the experiment next summer?