The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-04-25
Cir 0aAahbmm anu sontlron.
w-EDNEsDAY, APRIL IS. 1894.
Fertilizers for Cotton.

E6IG1ll&G1S 1SI SOOVOAS
FERTILIZERS for Cotton" is the title of
armers' Bulletin No. IA Opp. S2) of
the q. S. Department of Agriculture,
prepared by j. NJ. McBryde. Ph. D.,
President Of Virginia Agricultural aud
Mechanical College and Director of
Virginia Agricultural Experiment
Station.
The purpose of the bulletin is to
disseminate more correct ideas regard
ing the manuring Of cotton and thus
prevent as far as possible. the lavish
and ;pindicious use Of fertilizers. which,
there is reason to believe, results in the
waste of hundreds of thousand of dol
lars by farmers of the South every
year.
A brief discussion is given OF the
results of careful experiments carried
ont under the direction Of DR.. McBryde
At the South Carolina Experiment
Station. These experiments extended
over three years and were conducted
an two farms located in different parts
Of the State.
The questions studied were docs
cotton require potash, phospbor!c acid,
aud nitrogen? If SO, il. what amounts
and in what forms? Does it need
lime? Will copperas prevent its rust
ING? At What time or times should
nitrate Of soda be applied? How
should the fertilizers be applied T"
Carefully studied in all their bearings
the result Of the experiments warrant
the following conclusions, which low.
eYer in practice must be modified
according to the special requirements
Of different soils. Cotton requires a
eomnlete fertilizer, !. e.. D containing
All three of the elements of plant food,
nitrogen, phosphoric acid. and potash.
Of these. :.phosphoric acid is relatively
the most important and controls the
action Of the other tvo." that is, With
eiyen amount of p~hosphoric acid
onls certain amounts Of nitrogen and
potash can be probably used.
The proportion Of the three elements
should be i part Of nitrogen to Il parts
of phosphorus acid and ( part Of potasb.
a crop yielding 800 pounds of liot per;
acre requires a fertilizer supplying ~
mounds of aisrogen, 50 pounds of
phospboric acid, aud Is pounds Of
potash.
Potash can be as effectively supplied
bv nuriate Of potash or KANT as BY sui
plate Of potash.
Phosphoric acid should be used in the
form of acid phospha.es containing con-
siderable amounts Of soluble p%hosphoric
acid. Iusoluble phospboric acid 10
Stag. floats, or mari is OF little direct
v.iue to cotton and the use of these
materials is in any case Of doubtful
economy.
Inorganiic nitrogen in tbs form of
nitrate Of soda ; organic nitrogen IN the
form Of cotton-seed, cosson-seed meal,
dried blood, or stable manure; and
mixed nitrogen in the form OF q COM
bination of stable manure and nitrate
Of soda, we're of very nearly equal value
for cotton, the slight difference being IN
favor of the last two.
..Stabie manure containing organic
nitrogen is the best fertilizer OF it's class ;
and is lasting or cumulative IN its
efects." Where the supply OF the man
ure is limited its organic nitroges may
be economically replaced to the extent
of so per ceot by inorganic nitrogen Id
the form of nitrate of soda.
.sOf the commercial forms of nitrogen
among which the farmer has to choose,
the organic nitrogen Of dried blood is
perhaps the best. aud at present prices
cheapest. AS between ~cotsou-seed meal
and cotton seed there is a slight differ.
ence in favor of the former.
s.Wholc cotton seed is as ehcacious
as ground cotton seed.
USED alone. or in combination with
commercial fertilizers the lime of mari is
Of no direct value to Gotten. Mixed
With acid phosphate it may even act
ipiuriously by retarding or preventing
it's solution in the soils. Applied upon
legurninous crops, such as cowpeas,
vetch, etc., which are to be turned
under as a preparation for cotton, its
indirect value is great.
Applications Of copperas are without
effect upon cotton.
..Nitrate of soda should generally be
applied along with the other fertilizers
at the time of planting.
FERTILIZERS may be indiferently
drilled or broadcasted where they are
literally applied, but drilling is to be
preferred where small amounts are