The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1895-01-22
FACTS ABOUT COTTON.

The advent of five cent cotton
may ultimately work a vast advan-
tage to the South by compelling a
greater diversity in the crops grown.
The farmers of New England and the
Middle States have been for some years
past undergoing a similar process. OF
tuition not less severe, to the effect
corn, wheat and hay can be grown on
a margin only barely profitable under
the most favorable conditions. The
future of successful agriculture in the
North is now regarded al a matter OF
intensive culture and exacting econ
omy of materials, coupled with an in
telligent use of artificial manures. The
South has practically the same prob
lens to solve. Not only must a greater
variety Of staple crops be grown, but
also greater care is necessary in the
use of the fertilizing elements.
Many correspondents of the South
ern press have stated that the reduced
cotton acreage of 1895 will lessen ex-
penses by a corresponding reduction
in fertilizer purchases. This is a most
absurd proposition. Restricting the
elements of plant growth is precisely
the same as reducing the rations of a
horse or other farm stock. Fertilizers
n food to plants as corn, oats, and
hay r food for stock; without them
no useful purpose may be gained. The
cultural cost of growing an acre of
ORR is practically the same, whether
twenty or sixty bushels are produced,
the latter may be accomplished only
by proper fertilization. However thor
ough may be the tillage, it cannot re-
place the elements of fertility-potash,
nitrogen, and phosphoric acid.
The experiment stations have re
peatedly shown that the soils of the
South are almost universally deficient
in potash, and yet fertilizers having
this element relatively deficient as
compared with phosphoric acids, con-
tinually find sale in this section of the
country.
DR. @. w. Dabney, Assistant Sec.
rotary of Agriculture, has shown
a recent paper in the American
Fertilizer, that the average potash re-
.quirement of the whole plant of the
several staple crops of the country is
about three and a half times the re-
quirement of phosphoric acid. To
illustrate In detail the whole cotton
plant contains 8 pounds of potash to 1
pound of phosphoric acid; tobacco, 10
pounds to /; corn, 4 to 1; cow-pea, 4 to
1. The proportion of potash is inva-
greater than that of phosphoric
acid, yet commercial fertilizers reverse
these proportions. When it is consid-
cred that the value of a fertilizer is
measured by it's, relatively most de-
component, it is readily seen
many thousands of dollars are
spent annually by farmers for mate
they do not need. A safe proper
ton is to insist upon a potash percent
age, not less than that of the phos-
phoric acid and preferably greater.
~~"
The Populist legislative caucus has
nominated Hon. Marion Butler for the
long term U. 8. Senatorship. Hon.
Jeter Q. Pritchard was nominated for
the short term by the Republican eau
Gus. A joint caucus was held last
Tuesday evening and the two nomina-
tons ratified. Both will be voted for
day and elected without opposition.
Both gentlemen are so we'll known that
anything in the way of a sketch at this
time would be superfous. The Demo
Gratis held a caucus Friday night and
nominated Hon. T. w. Mason and Hon.
Lee s. Overman. Doubtless they will
get the full Democratic strength, but,
Of course, the Democrats are simply
Senator" and have no possible
chance to get their nominees elected.
THOSE GAY DECEIVERS.