Fitzgerald enterprise. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1895-1912, 1908-08-04
Important To Farmers
Press Bulletin No. 8.
Ga. State College of Agricul-

hlSuU Il IulUAuS OOoOOH
Since the nutrition Of the Gotten
seed is intimately associated with
the formation of lint and deter
mines largely the quality and per
cent of it obtaind from the crop,
the Importance of fertilizing the
land so as to stimulate the produc-
ton of numerous, large and Wig
orous seed is matter that needs
no farther elaboration. Exper-
fence indicates the need of a larger
amount of mineral matter in soils
where light fruiting Gotten is grown
and those who have tried the ex-
pertinent of fertilizing at the rate
of 500 to 1900 pounds and comb
nations of plant food containing
6 to 10 per cent of potash and
phosphoric acid have obtained
great benefit from the practice.
The small amounts of plant food
so frequently used can have but
comparatively little effect on crop
production. Let us reflect for a
moment. There are 43, $50 square
feet in an acre of land. Distri
buting 10 to Is pounds of phos-
phorus in this area of soil means
that the roots of the crop must
work over every inch of it in order
to obtain and utilize it. Since
washing and teaching will play
their part, particularly in sandy
soils, a part of the phosphorus
applied may be lost per manently,
and if the land naturally contains
but little of this essential food, it
is not surprising that the crop
should fail to fruit satisfactorily.
Years of experience an d research
have demonstrated the great i'm
portance of both phOsphates and
potash to southern farmers, and
wherever the condition to which
reference has been made is Observed
these elements should first be lib
orally applied to the soil. The
sources of phosphate and potash
are not so impo rtant, though MUIR
late will probably supply the avail
able plant food in the cheapest /
form. Kainit will be useful where
lower grades of fertilizer are ap
piled and where it is desired to
avoid the purchase of low grade
materials or the use of filler in
home mixing. Acid phosphate is
most likely to give satisfaction on
thin lands devoid of vegetable |
matter as a cheap and reliable |
source of phosphoric acid while
Gotten seed meal can be depended |
on to provide the nitrogen in al
form which will become available |
with sufficient rapidity to meet the
needs of the crop, while it's being
readily leached from the soil.
We would suggest that farmers
who are troubled with light fruit
ing Gotten try the application of
phosphates and potash directly to
the soil. Mixtures containing 8
per cent of phosphoric acid and 6
per cent of potash; 10 per cent of
phosphoric acid and 6 per cent of
potash; and ID per cent of phos
phoric acid and s per cent of pot
ash will be order. These fertil
izers should be applied at the
rate of 500 up to 1000 pounds in
order to determine the best amount
to apply from the standpoint of
profit. 1t will then be clearly
apparent which clement the soil
is most deficient in and which
gives the best results, and since
many who are troubled with light
fruiting Gotten claim to grow adit
ional light on this important and
vexing problem It should be
stated in conclusion that great
care should be taken to select the
seed Gotten used, for it is clear
ly evident that where this import
ant matter. iS neolocfad the mere