The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1897-05-29
COTTON ACREAGE.
Willis 1t is Practically Settled, BE Sure and
Look Out for the Minor Crops.

LOOK Out Tor the Minor Crops.
The question of cotton acreage is al
ready practically decided and nothing
that we might say here would material
ly alter that decision. But we would
urge the Importance of putting in
full area of all these minor crops. If
we take this precaution, and our cot
ton crop should prove disappointing in
either yield or price, we are at least
secured against overwhelming failure.
The benefits of our last year S pea fields
will be seen this year, in the increased
yields OF the crops planted on them, and
this should encourage us to persevere in
the system of rational farming. BY adj
herring strictly to the plan mapped out,
we shall gradually establish paying ro-
tation. That plan is. first year grain,
then, the same year, peas on the grain
stubble, these cut for forage, the
stubble turned in and allowed to lie
until spring, or sown in crimson clover,
manfred with acid phosphate and
potash, this cut for forage and the
stubble turned in. This brings us to
the spring of the second year. Where
have been, pillow thoroughly and plant
cotton, manuring with far less than
the usual proportion of nitrogen, as
the peas and clover have furnished
large part of the needed quantity,
and about three hundred pounds
acid phosphate and two hundred
pounds kainit to each acre. When the
cotton is taken off, subsoil this land as
deeply as possible with subsoil pillow,
and let it stand until ready for plant
ing. This is done not SO much to pro-
vide deep bed for the corn roots,
which under most favorable conditions
scarcely go down into the ground more
than six inches, as to store up moisture
ready for the demands of the crop,
when the dry season comes ON and the
needed rains SO often fail. The land is
now in the condition for corn crop,
which should occupy the third year in
the rotation. Experience has shown that
corn produces much better after heavi-
ly-manured cotton crop, with moderate
application of fertilizers, than if plant
ed on land which has been cropped af-
ter the usual plan, and heavily fertil-
lied at the time of planting. 1t has
also been shown, that for some, as vet,
unknown reason, although corn re-
quires large per cent. of nitrogen, it
is not profitable to apply 1t in the pro-
portion which this fact would indicate.
One reason for this is. that the crop
makes its principal growth during the
very hot season, when the nitrifcation
in the soil is taking place very actively.
Thus it can secure large portion from
this source. 1t has also been supposed
that by some unexplained processk the
corn plant may have the power of appro-
priating some of the free nitrogen of
the atmosphere. Therefore, while corn
requires rs much nitrogen as potash, it
has been found that it pays to make
the proportion of potash large than the
nitrogen.
Barnyard manure is the exception.
1t has, almost without fail, soincreased
the yield of grain that it ought to be
applied whenever it is possible. When
the corn is laid by sow peas, and this
completes our three years rotation.
BY some such plan as this we ought to
be able in two or three years to produce
at least bale of cotton and fifty BUSH
els of corn to the acre. When farmers
can do this, the cotton area question
will very easily right itself.-Georgia