Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1908-03-11
SOUTHERN
AGRICULTURE
USE or FERTILIZERS ON COTTON.
The Increase in Yield Justlfies Help
lnu the Richest Soil.


ing the Richest Soil.
The following will be Of much inter-
est to serious, thinking planters, and
IL carefully studied, will certainly re-
suit in much benefit:
1t Is quite curious to compare the
production and yield of cotton in the
past several years, as shown by the
results obtained in the older States,
like the Carolinas, Georgia and Ala
bama, where enormous quantities of
commercial fertilizer are used, width
the production and yields of the same
years in Texas, where comparatively
little commercial fertilizer Is used
The planters of Texas are so accus-
toned to believe that their lands are
richer than any other section of the
country that they are Of the opinion
that no help is necessary to assist
such land. In other words, they de-
pend entirely upon the land and sea-
son. What is the result? No mat
ter how rich the soil is, unless the
season is absolutely propitious, a large
crop is not realized; indeed, land that
Is very much poorer with bad sea-
son and the use of commercial fer
tilizer, produces great deal more cot
ton than the rich land and a poor sea-
son and no fertilizer under the cot
ton. We see the cotton crop of Tex
as falling off or increasing forty or
a
condition of affairs in the older States,
There is an increase or decrease in
production of some five to ten per
cent, and we attribute this difference
In favor of the older States entirely
to the use of commercial fertilizer,
intelligently applied. There is but
little doubt but that Georgia and
South Carolina raise more cotton to,
the acre on their so-called poor, worn
out lands than the great State of Tex
as, with it's vast acreage of rich soils
Land, like everything in this life, be-
comes worn out. and something must
be done to rehabilitate it.
If the season Is especially dry, the
crop can be helped by the use of Ger.
tain kinds of commercial fertilizer. II
the season is wet, cultivation, togeth-
err with the use of certain commercial
fertilizer, is of great benefit to both
the soil and the cotton crop. An acre
of land that raises bale of cotton or
more to the acre costs no more in
Iob hnt VaicnC
much less, We predict that in few
years the State of Texas will use more
commercial fertilizer on it's various
crops than any other State in the cot
ton-growing belt. 1t is recorded fact
that where man once uses these
fertilizers, he buys again the next sea-
son.
This presentation of facts is writ.
ten in serious vein, and is we'll worth
most careful study and consideration
from anyone who makes his income
from planting.
There is no crop and no land and
no season that can not be materially
benefited and assisted by intelligent
up-to-date cultivation.
In Indian Territory and Oklahoma,
since 1879 the cotton area has in
creased 5,96G,8SS acres, or 269.6 per
cent, while the production has in
creased 285 per cent. The produc-
ton of these State has increased but
1874 more than the acreage. In North
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and
Alabama in the same period the acre
age has increased 45.6 per cent. while
production has increased 96.S per cent.
The production in these States has
increased 51.2 per cent more than the
acreage. Note the comparison.
The rich lands Of Texas, Indian Ter
ritory and Oklahoma have increased
their production, as compared with the
acreage, a little over 10 per cent, while
the production, as compared with the
acreage in the States where enormous
quantities of commercial fertilizers
are used, has been increased over 81
per cent.
These figures are obtained from a
publication of the Department of Com
MERGE and Labor at Washington,
the cotton production and
statistics through the crop of 1905.
Why is this great difference? We
people in this section of the country
claim to have the richest lands. II
this is the case, why have we not
increased our yields per acre in the
same proportion as the older States?
Don't let us be backward. We must,
in this glorious State of ours, lead