The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1898-01-27
FARMER ANDPLANTER.
COTTON CULTURE.


and no "Decrease in Acreage" Necessary.
In our former articles we have ad-
yised the southern cotton raisers who
have either a semi-eXhausted or nat
urally poor soil to contend with, and
which he desires to build up until one
to two bales can be harvested from
each and every acre, at least in favor
able seasons to lay off rows three feet
apart in both corn and cotton, planting
every other row in peas and giving
the corn and cotton the benefit OF
four and half or five feet of soil, and
reserving but from 10 to * inches for
tie peas. If peas, corn and cotton are
each fed literally, the one to two bales
of cotton per acre and 80 to 100 bushels
of corn per acre mark can be speed
lily reached. There is nothing on
earth to prevent it, and we
challenge the doubling Thomases
of the whole united world
to prove the contrary. We come now
to a consideration Of lands that are
richer, more fertile and productive
than those above described; lands that
are already we'll supplied with humus,
hence don't need the pea vines; lands
that, without the assistance OF fertil-
izers of any kind, will make from
three-fourths of bale to one and one
fourth, or one and one-half bales per
acre. 1t is on such lands as these that
fertilizers put in their best work and
are used with greatest profit. 1t is
here also that fertilizers can be used
in the greatest quantities. and, strange
and unreasonable as it may appear to
| the uninitiated, and to those who
have had no experience in their use.
the greater the quantity used (within
| the bounds of reason and common
| sense), the more profitable they become,
| and the more satisfaction and gratif-
| cation is derived from their use. 1t
| is on such lands that the two to four
| bales per acre become a possibility,
| and if our advice Us to appropriate and
| liberal feed, good distance (not less
than four feet by two, and never more
than one stalk in place., deep prep
aration, and thorough, frequent, shall
low and comparatively level culture
is followed, it becomes not only a pos
sibility, but, other things being equal,
au absolute certainty. 1t is just as
sure as that effects follow causes, and
that is sure enough, or should be sure
enough, to please anybody and to con-
vince the most skeptical. In Missis-
sippi the yield on an average is about
one bale to three acres, and the cost of
raising fully as much as if two or more
bales grew on a single acre. Now the
question arises, can we afford to plant
and cultivate year after year three
acres of land in order to get what
could have been obtained from one
sixth of the amount? l for one
say no, and am determined not
to do it. don't have to, and
l will not. AS previously stated
some of our cotton is planted in rows
six feet apart, and thinned to two,
three and four feet apart in drill, one
stalk in a place. 1t is now august u
as high as my head, and gives promise
of locking in the midddles in the
course of the next two weeks. There
is not spindling stalk in the field
but every stalk is stocky, standing up
like a tree, and wei! formed from bot
tom to top. Not a single shape OF
form has shed as yet, and this in spite
of the fact that we are undergoing 6
serious drought that is parching uI
corn all around it. This cotton has
had applied to it 40 pounds of Thomas
Flag (phosphate) and 100 pounds of nj
trate OF potash per acre. On some o.
the land l used acid phosphate in lier
of the Thomas Flag, but see no per
ceptible difference in favor of either
one or the other. No nitrogen wa.
used on this land, as there is already
an excess of it present. as evidenced
by an excess of stalk or weed growt tn
The phosphate and potash wer,
applied for the purpose of correct
ing this excess, to increase the fruit
tulness OF the plant, and to force i
into an early maturity. This cottor
was not planted until the sth day 0
May. For long time the season wa
cold and backward, and ever since i
turned warm, has been altogether too
dry for any kind of farm crop. 1t i
not planted i'll the fertile lands Of tn,
Mississippi bottom, as might be sup
posed by those unacquainted with til,
geography of this country, but it is il
one of the Oldest, poorest and mos
badly-worn counties in the state 40 o
, 50 miles from the bottom. What W.
claim can be done here can be don,
equally in any and every other section
s. of the cotton belt There is no paten
) upon the process. 1t is open alike t
Y all and within the reach of all, and al
are cordially invited to participate, 0
I give a good and all-sutticient reason
why they do not wish to do So W
! know it is practical for the reason tina
we are practicing it, aud intend to con
Time SO doing as long as our mean
will allow Or until a better plan is OF
fered by some one slse.-G. II. Turner
|. in Texas Farm and Ranch.