The Colfax chronicle., 1904-04-02
FARMER AND PL LANTER.
FOR THE COTTON PLANTER.
Rational Fertilization of the Cotton
Plant ms Opposed to IRA
tionul Methods.

Inc Term TdtlOHdl 10 uScu oy hohy
nous with judicious, intelligent, and
profitable, and as opposed to irrational
methods, practices of any and every
kind and character. For instance,
fertilizers are purchased "irrationally
when bought by the brand name in
stead of by the analysis. The brand
name has nothing to do with it. II
is the stuff inside the sack and not
the brand printed ON the outside that
determines the value. They are pur-
chased irrationally whenever and
wherever low grade t8-2-1 or S-z-z
goods) are bought under the supposi-
ton that they are cheap, because COM
paratively low in price.
On all old, well-worn soils, where
humus is deficient, a well-pEepared
compost will give better results than
the more concentrated, purely chemicai
fertilizer; and the same is equally true
of what are known as "black lands
after they commence retrograding. In
stead of compost, the manure (eltner
stable or lot) may be hauled out dur
Ing the winter and applied literally TO
the land-broadcast, then apply the
moro concentrated chemical fertilizers
Just as If no manure had been applied.
On ordinary upland or well-worn
creek or branch bottom lands( lands
that make an average-sized stalk and
q yield of from 400 to 800 or even LOU
pounds of seed cotton per acre.
complete" fertilizer, analyzing 1858
or 9-3-3 or 1879 will give far better
results than the lower grade S-2-l or
S-2-2 goods. Again, instead of using
paltry 200 pounds of S-2-1 or S-2-2
goods per acre; 400 TO 600 or even 800
or 1000 pounds of the higher-grade
goods may be used per acre with man
Ifest advantage and positive profit.
On all rich lands, making a large
stalk and upward of 1000 pounds seed
cotton per acre without fertilizer, the
nitrogen should be omitted and
bone and potash" fertilizer" analyz-
ing 10-4 should be used at a rate OF
about 1000 pounds per acre. We have
ourselves on this class of soils in
creased the yields from 1000 to 4,2OO
pounds of seed cotton per acre by an
application of 900 pounds acid phos-
phate and 100 pounds of muriate OF
potash per acre, applied broadcast Two
bales per acre.
Although placing great reliance in
fertilizers of any and all kinds, we do
not believe that fertilizers ever did
or ever will put in their very best work
where humus is deficient. An abun-
dance of humus present in the soil is
essential to large crop yields, as two
three and four bales per acre. but
where there is plenty of humus, to-
gether with a liberal amount of ap-
piled fertility, properly balanced, given
deep an thorough preparation, fire.
quent, yet shallow culture, good seed
all work that is done at the right tins
and in the right manner, and favor
able season, the four bales per acre
could be far more common than they
now are. Whenever and wherever
above essentials can be brought to
gether there is absolutely nothing te
hinder these truly enormous croI
Yields being obtained on many thou
there throughout the entire cotton belt
Ii can not be done on every acre, bu
with the right kind Of management
two bales per acre can be made on eacf
and every acre throughout the entire
south that is adopted to cotton culture
Where rust abounds humus and pot
ash are both apt to be deficient, ant
this is the only instance we know o
where kainit acts better than does th'
muriate. Plenty of potash in the sol
induces such a vigorous and health,
growth that it renders the plant large
Iy disease-resistant, or. in other words
rust-proof. At the Alabama expert
ment station IN checking rust, 20
mounds of kainit per acre was bette
than 100 pounds. and 10C pounds bet
ter and more beneficial than % pounds
In 1899 the yield with potash was
least double that of the plots receiving
none of this material. but little o
which increase can be attributed TO tn
rust retaining effect as potash. In us
Ing potash as preventive OF rust,
may be applied Immediately in advanc
of planting, but would be better apple
In the fall or early winter, or at leas
several weeks in advance of planting
30 as to insure their diffusion throug
the SOIL
The more humus present the create
quantity of fertilizer may be profit
ably applied per acre, and conversel,
the less humus present the smalle
uuantity of fertilizer that can be SAFE
ly used, and the greater the necessit
for a thorough preparation and GU
ture that will insure as nearly as prat
ticable a perfect mechanical conditio
Of the Boil.
(The figures S-2-1 used refer to In
percentage of phosphoric acid, nitrt
gen and potash (plant food) pougl
In fertilizers.)-G. II. Turner, IN FAR