St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1898-01-29
ANDPLANTER,
COTTON GROWING.



Coaditlons On which suceesssal Cs1sea
Growing Depend.
Hardly any tiller Of the soil prac
tees rotation as little as tae cotton
grower. The ease and almost mechanical
manner in which . crop Of cotton can be
cultivated tempts tho planter to keep
every available aero in this crop "a
well suited TO 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 ia
see his pomp and splendor somewhat
allotted 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 10 not soimperative as in most 9TH
er crops, yet IL is beneficial, and under
most conditions even necessary. But,
either with or without rotation, am
confident that from p to IS per cent
ut least can be added to the yield OF
cotton per acre, aud 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 and manuring will not only
maintain the fertility of the cotton
fields, but actually improve them /
know to be true. Sow and turn under
at least every third year crop of cow
pea vines. This maintains 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 kainit, or
in case muriate of potash, which is
cheaper and more concentrated, is sub
stituted for kainit. Is 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 m acre.
Rust and many kindred diseases seem
to be mainly an indication that the
given the plant is either
not sufficient, or else that the ingredi-
ents of the nourishment are not in the
right proportion.
In no system of tillage on earth is
there more need for care. economy and
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
care is indispensable to
it in q 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
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 maintained but increased. Hand
IN hand with this liberal aud judicious
must be strenuous and I'M
efforts to prevent the soils |
being washed of by our heavy rains.
4 system of terracing, as it is termed,
in this immediate section
las been en- tirely successful. With it |
he heaviest rains do no harm.
This system has. we believe. been
'ully described in publications ON the
Iubject No farmer can afford to neg
ect it for another year.
o. w. BLACKWELL.
K;ftro1l N n