Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-09-30

acre, or after a green leguminous crop
plowed under.
Such a fertilizer as has been suggested
may be prepared from the constituents
you mention by mixing together the fol-
lowing materials 100 pounds of 10 per
cent acid phosphate, 500 pounds of cotton
seed meal containing at least Z per cent
of nitrogen, to 2.5 per cent of phos-
phoric acid and per cent Of potash,
$50 pounds of high grade nitrate of soda
and $50 pounds Of high grade muriate
of potash. To determine the percentage
composition of this material we would
multiply 1900 pounds of acid phosphate
by 16, which gives us 1872 pounds of phos-
phoric acid, to which we must add the
amount in the cCttonseed meal amount
ing to 1875 pounds, making total or
about 2O45 pounds of phosphoric acid per
ton, or about 1912 per cent. To deter
mine the nitrogen we multiply the 800
pounds of cottonseed meal by Z, giving
80 pounds of nitrogen, plus the amount
In the $50 pounds of nitrate of soda,
which is approximately 235 pounds, MAX
ing a total of 5S.5 pounds, or approx
mately per cent Of this element. There
would be rs pounds of available potash
in $50 pounds of muriate of potash, Plus
the amount contained in the cottoIseed
meal making in all about So pounds, or
a little better than per cent of this
element.
I trust that this explanation will make
clear to you how a fertilizer is figured
out when the percentage composition If
the materials used is known.
DESTROYING WEEVILS IN GRAIN.
E. C. s., Cullman, Ala, writes: Will
you give me a remedy to keep weevils
out of corn?
Seed corn may be effectively pro-
tected from the ravages of the weevil
IL IL is taken Immediately on gathering
and placed in tight box or Din and
treated with carbon bisulphide. 1t is
desirable to have the box lined with TIN
so as to virtually make 1t air-tight. The
carbon bisulphide should be used at the
rate of one pound to one ton of grain,
or if the treatment is given in an empty
room, one pound to 1000 cubic feet of air
space. The bisulphide should be placed
in a dish or other convenient containe'
and placed on top the grain since the
fumes are heavier than air, The liquid
changes into the gaseous form very
quickly The box should be left tightly
closed for several hours, ard the treat
ment should be repeated at intervals Cf
a few days for two or three times to
make certain that all the weevils from
any eggs that may hatcn out are COM
pletely destroyed. Since carbon bisul-
phide is very infiammable, care should
be exercised in handling it to keep lights
away from 1t.
SELECTING SEED COTTON TO BE
COMMENDED.
L. P. H., Plainville, Ga, writes: l am
interested in buying a small hand gin so
l can improve my cotton. Would like
to have a bulletin on your latest variety
work with cotton.
The gins in question may be operated
by hand or power. Two good men can
operate one sufficiently well to enable
you to delint the seed from a very con-
siderable quantity of cotton. For sep
arating the choice seed which we are
producing in our demonstration field, we
have found it better, however, to oper-
ate the gin with a small gasoline engine
or with a motor run by electricity.
Undoubtedly, the selection of seed from
the choicest and healthiest plants in your
cotton field will tend to improve the yield
and quality of the fiber you are produc-
ing. We all realize the great tendency
of like to produce like, and If seed is
selected from diseased or inferior plants,
we can not hope for the largest yields
We are, of course. improving strains of
cotton in our demonstration field by
means of hybridizing. This work has to
be done by one thoroughly acquainted
with the principles of plant breeding, and
takes time, but we are securing some
results which indicate that varieties of
cotton as commonly grown may be
greatly improved. of course, the variety
tests with cotton for this year are not
available yet We will get out a small
circular on this work about the first of
the year. The publication will be mailed
free of cost to all farmers in Georgia.
We are glad to see you taking an inter-
est in the selection of seed cotton, and
hope that your example will be copied
by many other farmers