Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-07-30

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crop Is cause for serious concern. and II
IN rot surprising under the circumstances
that there should be much interest In the
methods OF cultivation and fertilizauon
which should be followed to hasten the
growth and insure the development ana
perfection OF a large number OF hollis
- that the Yields Of previous years mas
be at least eQualed. IL not surpassed
There is much division OF opinion &c 10
the ACCESSIBILITY OF making a second OF
third application Of fertilizer 10 the co.,
ton crop. There is probably more unt.-
nirlity on the point OF using nitrate 81
soda as a top dressing than on the use
az additioaI quantities OF potash and
uhosuhates Those who have studied the
cotton plant carefully. however, realize
that there are really four stages IN the
DEVELOPMENT Of the plant The nrst Pc
Rod NAV be termed that Of termination;
the second period, that between chopping
ana blooming; the third, the blooming and
fruiting period; and the fourth, the ma
turing period. Many have supposed thah
A small amount OF fertilizer, say 100 Ct
100 pounds per acre, put under the cotton
crop at the time OF planting, supplies all
the needs OF the plant. Yet IL Is quite
POSSIBLE that the small amount OF food
used NAV be exhausted In the first period
os growth. leaving nothing for the other
three periods, which make greater drains
on the fertility of the soil than any other
r,arfods I'm the life OF the plant The expe-
rience OF farmers who have made a sec
ond and sometimes a third application
Of fertilizers to their cotton crop tehos
20 confirm the desirabiiity OF this prac-
ttce. especially where small amounts OF
potash and phosphate have been appheo
IN the initial application
a. ur.nrrnf IL Is quite ap-
parent 70 all that from 500 70 LOO
hounds per acre OF a high-grade fertilizer
h not too much 10 use on cotton on
land that has been at all well prepar-
ed. Therefore, II 30 pounds be used at
planting time. 20 pounds should be used
curing the second stage Of growth and
800 pounds during the third stage The
best time to apply the second and third
applications win be shortly before the
plant Is ready to bloom so as to stimulate
the setting on OF fruit. The shedding OF
bolls and leaves so frequently seen dur
4 ing the early fr1iting stage Is undoubted-
iy due In large measure to deficiency
OF available plant food IN the soil. Nature
A wise, far wiser In her ways and her
works than man often recognizes, and the
Giant I'm shedding the bOlls IL simply
throwing or a load which It is not pre-
pared TO carry. The use OF go pounds Of
90 that the phosphates and potash may
have time 20 dissolve IN the soil and be-
come available to the plants Is thus good
practice After the fruitage stage the
plant has By no means ended its labors
as too many CO nlaeduc.s etaoin etaoin
as too many conclude, as Is seen In the
practice OF laying by" and Withholding
fertilizer. This is the period OF maturity
and II there Is any time IN the history
- - W~wN
My OF available plant food containing
those two most essential elements in the
Fastening OF maturity and the perfect
ing of the crop-potash and phosphoric
acid. II at this time. Hence. a second
application II made at all is probably
best made Just about the completion Of
the fruiting period While IL is possible
that nitrate OF soda may be used a little
later than the other two elements, il
should not be forgotten that potash and
phosphates do not become so quickly
available In the soil. and hence should
be applied sufficiently early to give the
plant as much opportunity TO benefit
form their use as possible
As TO the formula to be used. that
will depend somewhat on the soil. In
the beginning the fertilizer may prop
erly contain to per cent OF nitro
gen. TO 10 per cent OF phosphorlc
EGAQ anu 10 cent VI EDAd1ns
the sander the land the more potash,
and the greater the tendency to rust
the more potash. For the second and
third applications. per cent OF nitro
gen. 10 per cent OF phosphoric acid and
20 s per cent OF potash will lie ad-
visable. because the maturity OF the
plant will be determined largely By the
amount Of mineral matter made avail
able during the fruiting and ripening
STAGES
As 70 how the application shall be
made. that will depend SOMEWHAT on
the season We prefer using the fer
tIIizsr distributor. though bro7dcastlng
py hand may be resorted to. The fer
tiliEer should not be covered deeply
IN the soil unless the weather is dry:
then 70 should be put IN sufficiently
deep 20 enable it's ready solution by
the soil water. II nitrate OF soda Is
used as a top dressing. IL should of
course be put On the surface. The
fertilizer may often be distributed and
worked into the soil by q succeei inR
cultivation
In conclusion. the benefits 20 be de-
rived from a third application OF fer
tilizer containing liberal amounts OF
potash and phosphates to a cotton crop
will depend largely on the thorough
ness and efficiency OF the cultivation