The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-12-28
HOW TO INCREASE COTTON PRODUCTION
BY F. ]. MERRIAM, Editor Southern Ruralist

600 pounds cotton seed meal. and 500
pounds lsainit to make a ton. This fer
tilizcr will analyze about per cent phos-
phoric acid, per cent ammonia and 3
per cent potash. This formula will be
found well edaptcd to loan aud sandy
loan soils where there Is goo 'lay
subsoil and is especially recommended
where cotton is affected by rust. which the
kainit seems In great measure TO pre-
vent. On sandy COLL the potash should
he still further Increased. SO that the
fertilizer will anelyze about per cent
phos lorlc acid 3 per cent ammonia and
q per cent potash
Personally we believe that large crops
os cotton. as well as other crops. shoula
he grown by making the whole land rlch
through systematic rotation in "hleh
leguninous crops find their regular place
II would be folly to abandon such ro-
tation IN order to plant more cottoh-
for fertility OF the land must always be
OF first Importance to the succeSS'u i
,ermnr IN this article. however, we are
trying to point out how best to increase
next seasons cotton crop, and must
take the land as we find it Whlle 1t
Is undoubtedly better farming To hist
huild IN the land In order to make DIX
crop. still, this takes time, tor Which
in the present instance, we cannon wait
An increase In the amount OF fertlii"e'
used per acre will increase the crop we
know for we have tried 1t. We also
know that Il will yield q handsome mar
gin OF profit. In 1900 we made. with Zoo
pounds Of fertilizer per acre, 3Io pouhos
OF lint cotton, while where we appiieo
500 pounds of fertilizer per acre we made
,
additional fertilizer made an increase
or 1875 pounds Of lint cotton, which Is
worth at present prices about SIS 1t
will cost no more to cultivate an acre
where the larger amount of fertilizer IS
used II gives n much larger margin OF
profit and Is tn our opinion the most
practical way to Increase the crop. Ii
you will look around we think You VIII
admit that the farmers Who prepared
their land best and used the most fer
tilizcr made the most cotton the past
season
Now. II we arc going TO use more Yer
tilizer We want it 10 bring us the best
possible results, and to thiS end we must
use care H. applying It. open a iurroW
Inches dep. and put tho fertilizer IN
the ground under the seed, where there
viii be plenty OF moisture to dissolve II.
BE CAREFUL that IL does not come In d.
rect contact with the seed as It VIII be
likely to injure Thorn. Where largo
quantity OF fertilizer IS used Il Is best
to mix it with the soil by running
through the furrow with a scooter. We
must also be careful that It does not
blow away and when applying by hand
should uso "A tin guano horn. rhore ar"
also several excellent horse fertilizer
drills on the market which VIII apply
the fertilizer moro evenly than can be
done by hand
Whether you plant your cotton IN the
furrow or on tho he'd he sure your land
is broken deeply and PIT in good physical
condition So it will retain moisture.
Plants take up all their food in a liquid
form. and We must have water TO make
tho fertilizer soluble, Much can also be
done to aid the soil in retaining moisture
by Keeping the crust broken, and a line
earth mulch on the surface. thus pre-
venting evaporation. This after cultiva
ton is Just aS important as tho prcpara-
don We must learn 10 cultivate our
crops Ia make them grow and not simply
10 Kill grass.
We will make more cotton by planting
only what We can fcTtil2e and cultivate
properly than by trying to increase the
acreage.