The Van Buren press., 1898-01-22
FARMER AND PLANTER.
COLON GROWING.
Conditions ca Which Successful Cotton
Growing Depend.

/
Conditions oa Which Successful Cotton
Growing Depend.
Hardly any tiiler of the soil prae-
| tees rotation as little as the cotton
| grower The ease and almost mechanical
manner in which a crop of cotton can be
cultivated tempts tue planter TO keep
/ every available acre IN this crop SO
| well suited 10 his system OF labor.
Year after year this southern king
waves his white banners in the same
| fields which he has monopolized for q
| generation. True, each year IS apt to
see his pomp and splendor somewhat
aboted and the white banners he
/ throws to the autumn breeze grow
smaller and less abudant But the
soil seems his By right of ancient con-
/ quest and he retains his dominion.
While the rotation IN cotton grow
| ing is not soimperative as in most 9TH
er crops, yet il is beneficial. and under
most conditions even necessary. But
either with or without rotation, L am
confident that from ~ 10 35 per cent
at least can be added to the yield of
cotton per acre, and at little extra ex-
pense, by giving more attention to the
composition of the fertilizers used, as,
for example. the average brand on the
market runs about eight to nine per
cent of phosphoric acid, two to three
per cent of nitrogen and one to two
per cent of potash. The deficiency IS
especially marked in the case OF the
last Ingredient, which should be at
least three to four per cent.
That the following simple system OF
ratation aud manuring will not only
maintain the fertility of the cotton
fields, but actually improve them l
know to be true. Sow and turn under
at least every third year crop OF COW
pea vines This main tains the vege-
table or organic matter in the soil,
lessons the washing effect of heavy
| rains, and furnishes all the ammonia
needed, provided, of course, that the
cotton seed is always returned to the
soil. All that will be necessary will
be to use about 400 pounds of acid
phosphate and 800 pounds OF lainit, or
in case murate of potash, which is
cheaper and more concentrated, is sub
stituted for Isainit, rs pounds. These can
be composted with the cotton seed, add
ing all the stable manure that the
farm affords. OF course much less can
be used with good results. The above
would be liberal but not heavy broad
cast manuring, and will soon get land
in tilt to yield bale of cotton an acre.
Rt1et aud u l. ina Il rod ii igauSnC IN
to be mainly an indication that the
nourishment given the plant is either
not sufficient. or else that the ingredi-
ents of the nourishm ment are not in the
right proportion.
In no system of tillage on earth is
there more need for care, economy and
conservation of fertility, than on the
cotton farms of the south. The profit
is small, and in the proper manuring
lies all the difference between profit
and no profit or even profit and abso-
Lutte loss.
AS stated, the cotton lands are usu-
ally light and sandy. Such soil, sub
ject as it is to the hot suns and heavy
rains of the south, necessarily deteri-
crates very rapidly under neglect and
intelligent care is indispensable to
maintain it in paying state of fertil-
ity.
This can be done only by proper ma
nuring and the prevention of washing
of the soil. Many years experience
has convinced me that the intelligent
use of potash and acid phosphate or
| dissolved bone in connection with
the turning under Of pea
vines is the only practical way Of mai N
tanning this paying state of fertility.
BY this means the fertility can not
only main tanned but increased. Hand
in hand with this liberal and judicious
manuring must be strenuous and un-
renting efforts to prevent the soils
being washed off by our heavy rains.
A system of terracing, as it is termed,
originating in this immediate section
has been entirely successful. With il
the heaviest rains do no harm.
This system has we believe, been
fully described in publications on the
subject. No farmer can afford to neg
lect it for another year
o. w. BLACKWELL.
Kittrull N q