Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-04-22
QUESTIONS ANSWERED
USING NITRATE OF SODA ON COT
TON

. USING NITRATE OF SODA On CUT
TON. ...
J. w, Stillmore, Ca, writes: I have
on hand one ton of nitrate of soda to
use on my cotton crop or portion there
of. It was my intention to use 70 pounds
per acre about the 18th of June by drill
ing about II inches from the stalk or
drill. What is your experience in this
line? VIII this method be advisable or
would II be preferable to mix some 1928
goods with the soda and form a top
dressing in that way?
Nitrate OF soda is one Of the best ma
terials which can be used for top dress
ing crops, the growth of which 1t is de-
sired to stimulate. Nitrogen, as you
know, is a plant developer, and supply
OF It is needed whenever the plants show
a sickly, yellow color or are deficient in
vigor and growth. For most crops 1t is
better to apply 100 to $50 pounds per acre;
- pounds is rather light application for
crop such as cotton or corn. II should
be applied on top OF the ground alongside
the drill row, and after a rain, or when
the weather is fairly well settled If pos
slble. The nitrogen in the nitrate of soda
is Immediately soluble in water. and is.
therefore. available to plants at once. In
a very dry time, nitrate of soda may be
covered lightly. In this case il is gener-
ally best to put II on the surface of the
ground and cover lightly with some sur
face working implement which will at
the same time stir the soil and effectually
cultivate the crop. The phosphoric acid
and potash should be applied literally be-
fore seeding since these elements are not
readily leached out of the soil, and Will
require a longer period for absorption by
the plant. II you have applied only a
light application OF fertilizer at the time
Of seeding. Il may then sometimes be de-
sIrable to use some phosphates and pot
ash. We are rather inclined TO think.
however, that one application of these
elements as a rule will prove sufficient.
THE KIND OF FARMER THE SOUTH
NEEDS.
q. G.. Decatur. -.--sS, writes: 1 am GO
ing To compete Tor l.rlze
glad to receive a litI.- information in
regard to my guano. 1 broke the land
good in the winter; have put four tons
Of top soil broadcast to the acre, and
two tons of stable manure in the drill
WHAT fertilizer would it pay best to use
on Jnis land for corn? Would it pay TO
use nitrate or soda? II is red stuff land,
and made 80 bushels OF corn to the acre
last year. We take Inc Journal and
find it very helpful.
You do not state whether you put any
fertilizer under the drill row at the time
OF planting or not. This would have
been the propeTpolicy to pursue. In adj
ditiOn to the use of stable manure, 500
pounds Of at least S-S-3 could have
been used advantageously under the drill
row. Stiff. REQ land is not
as likely to be deficient in phosphoric
acid and potash as sandy soils There
fore. smaller amount or these two ell
ements has been suggested than would
be advisable to use on land that contains
more sand. II you have not used phos-
phoric acid and potash under the orr,
rows. you should make an application of
at least 500 pounds of the above mix
, ture at once. 1t may be scattered broad
/ cast and covered with harrow if the
corn is not very hign. If some growth
has already been made. the cultivator
. may be used to mix the fertilizer with
the top soil. You may. OF course, put
this fertilizer in alongside the drill row
with a distributor, but our experience
does not indicate IN at this is an advan-
age over distributing 1T more generally
/ in the soil. and this rs especially true
! where the land has been thoroughly pre-
] Jared. second application of the 3-S-3
should hardly be necessary; n so. t
should be applied within three days OF the
Z first application. Nitrate Of soda can
; often be used as top dressing on corn
, to good advantage, and this is especially
{ true where a sufficient amount of stalk
is not made. The nitrate OF soda shout
; Re applied as a top dressing a the rate
Of $50 pounds per acre. IT should he
scattered On top Of the ground and not
covered with soil except in a prolongei
{ dry spell. Constant and shallow culti-
I walton of. your crop will have much to
p 10 with the yield secured.
: CONTROLLING RID WORMS on
CORN
Q J. r. C. Wayside. Ga. writes: Will
bud worms modest corn that is soaked
in six gallons Of water containing IL
pound OF blue stone and n box of chlor-
ide OF lime? have a field planted to corn
with no manure or fertilizer under it. 1t