Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1907-03-16
HOW MUCH FERTILIZER TO
APPLY.

The question, Elbow much fertilizer
Should be used per acre9" cannot be an
swered definitely, but only in q general
way. II is sometimes put In this form:
'Nhat IS the most profitable amount that
may be applied per acre?' Neither can
the question in the amended form be-
exactly and accurately answered. Tho
soil, It's character. condition, preparation,
etc, may be wen known, or comfortable
factors, but we know not what the sea-
Geis may be- says Hon. r. ]. Reddng.
Director Georgia Experiment Station, De-
par,ment Of Agriculture in the YirglnlL-
CarOlssa Fertilizer Almanac,
We know that some crops with bear
larger amounts OF fertilizers with reason
able assurance Of profitable returns than
may be expected Of other solH A crop
that occupies tho soil from the fall season
until spring, or early summer, will hear
heavier fertillzing than Will a crop that
Is planted in the spring and ripens for
harvest In midsummer. The first case Is
Illustrated by oats, wheat, or other small
grain, or grass, especially when sown in
the fall or the year. Such n crop occu-
pies the soil during the late fall and win
ter, ana early spring-during which pc
rlods the rains are usually abundant
ripening for harvest in late spring, or
very early summer. before the burning
summer heat and possible drouths OF
June and July. Oats and wheat therefore
are ideal crops for liberal fertilizing.
Corn is rather an uncertain crop on the
ordinary dry uplands of the South. 1t
has but short period in which to devel-
op It's fowers-tassels and silks-cover-
ing but few days. If very dry weather
shall prevail when this critical period ig
approaching, and for some time after II
Is passed, the crops may prove a greater
OF less failure. There can be no second
effort no second period OF blooming.
II Is different in the case of cotton.
Nrvla oh d. II
fruit in June Cor even earlieD and con-
tinues throughout the summer until
checked by a severe frost In November,
1t has a number of "chances."
Cotton is therefore another ideal crop
for liberal fertilising. A small amount
or Iertllizers applied per acre will no
doubt Yield a larger percentage profit
on its cost than will a larger amount.
To Illustrate: An application OF 81 worth
or fertilizer per acre may cause an In
creased yield Of cotton (at 10 cents per
pound of the value Of Sc to IS, or a profit
OF zoo to 300 per cent. on its cost. l have
frequently had such results. But Il does
not follow that twice as heavy an appli-
cation will produce twice as large re-
Suits or that three times as much would
cause three times as great an increase
IN the yield. In other words, the rate
or increase in the yield of cotton will
not be in proportion to the increase In
the amount Of fertilizers applied. Two
dollars worth OF fertilizer per acre may
yield an increase in the crop OF Sc; but
% worth would not therefore bring an
increase OF SIS.
But careful observation has shown that
an application Of IS to Sc worth of fertil-
izers (properly balanced) Is a safe amount
to apply per acre on cotton. MANY farm
ers in Georgia have secured satisfactory
returns from an application of so much
as 500 pounds per acre
think 800 pounds q perfectly safe limit
on upland in fairly good condition. well
prepared and properly cultivated in cot
ton. For corn, would limit the amount
70 goo to 800 pounds per acre on old up- !