The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1897-03-26
COTTON !FARMING.
How Two to Four Bales Per Acre
Are Made on Very Poor Land.

Are Made on Very Poor Land.
We have not the slightest desire to
assist in any manner in bringing about
an increaee in the number of bales
annually raised throughout the Sunny
South in general nor in Mississippi in
particular, bu. We do desire that
Southern farmers everywhere should
realize the fact that the same 6,OOO, 900
to 10, 900, 900 bales that are now raised
annually may be just as easily, just as
surely and far moro economically and
profitably raised on one-fourth the
area it Is to-day, leaving the other
three-fourths to be put in provision
crops, fruits or grass. We have had
the good fortune to see and walk over
many Georgia farms-farms, too, that
wero worn out and washed away many
years ago-that are now made to pro-
duce from one to four bales of cotton
per acre. This condition of things is
made possible and actually brought
about by the Intensive" system of
culture and liberal yet economical
fertilization.
AS early in the new year rs the
weather Will possible admit of, the old
cotton stalks are "knocked," or cut,
tho roots are then Flowed up
with straight shovel; green cotton
seed are then strewn in this shovel
furrow ut the rate Of ten to twelve
bushels per acre; two half-shovel fur
rows are next thrown on the seed to
prevent the loss of ammonia; in few
weeks this small bed is opened with a
long, narrow scooter and 200 to 800
pounds of some good commercial fertil-
izer distributed in this furrow; phos-
phate and potash being nll sufficient,
the cotton seed furnishing the
necessary nitrogen; the land is then
bedded out and out with straight
shovel and is now ready for the
reception Of tho seed. Under this
plan, persistently followed, Georgia
farmers have succeeded in so in
creasing the fertility of the soil that
with slight increase in amount of
fertilizer used and favorable season
four bales per acre have rewarded
their efforts.
A good heavy cow-pea stubble
turned under will be found to be fully
rs beL eficial to the coming cotton crop
as the cotton seed; either one will
supply all the nitrogen needed; but
IN the absence OF n cow-pea stubble,
the cotton seed should by no means be
neglected. Stable manure may be
used instead of either of above, but
the fact should be kept in mind that
all three of above are Heterogeneous"
fertilizers, and are used mainly for the
amount of nitrogen they contain and
either one, or all three need the addition
Of phosphates and potash in liberal
quantities (seventy- five pounds of Mu-
riate Of Potash or 800 pounds of Kainit,
with 200 pounds of Acid Phosphate)
per acre in order to make complete
fertilizer that shall be Mt once proper
ly balanced and duly proportioned. If
the peas have been properly fertilized
with 300 to 300 pounds Acid Phos.
phatc and 200 to 800 pounds of Kainit),
which they always should be when the
object N raising them is that may be
turned under rs fertilizer, it would be
hardly necessary to apply any cddi
tional fertilizer directly to the cotton.
Georgia farmers break their lands
deep eight to ten or even twelve
inches) once about every three years !;
they say it does not pay to break them
deep any oftener. In this deep break
ing, the land is broken with two
horse turning pillow, plowing about one
inch deeper than the surface soil, thus
gradually deepening the soil. No crops
are planted here at all without fertili-
zer being applied, and in tho sander
portions of the State the farmers seem
to be unanimous in the declaration
that ''Potash is the element that is
most needed" and that "any fertilizer
that does not contain as much rs four
per cent. of it is not worth applying.
Cotton here is planted in four foot
rows. barred off with balf-shovels and
cultivated the entire season "wIth
cotton scrapes"-l. Q. "heel. sweeps"
Burgess. Miss. G. Fl. TURNER.