The Thibodaux sentinel. (Thibodaux, La.) 1905-1912, 1912-06-01
(Copyright-)
FERTILIZERS FOR TEXAS SOIL!
STATE CHEMIST TRAPS GIVES
VIEWS ON FERTILIZERS.
How to Mix and Use-Amount Re-
qulred for Different Soils, Etc.
Prof. kyie's Views.

College Station, Tex.-Dr. G. S.
Fraps, state chemist of Texas at the
A. and M. College of Texas. says:
"1n regard to saving blood for fer
tilizer purposes, suggest that the
blood be mixed with freshly slaked
dried lime at the rate Of one pound
of lime to one gallon of blood Hy-
drafted lime could also be used. The
mixture could be run out into a thin
layer and allowed to dry out, or it
could be mixed with sufficient
amount of dirt so that 1t will not
cake This is the most practical
method of saving blood for such use.
Dried blood is quick acting fer
tilizer, rich in nitrogen.
Wood ashes do not have the same
effect as acid phosphate. Acid phos-
phate is rich in phosphoric acid,
whereas wood ashes are rich in lime
with some potash. Wood ashes have
q tendency to make the soil run to-
gether. If the ashes have been ex-
posed to the weather a great deal OF
the fertility has been washed out.
Potash is needed by some of the sandy
soils and on such soils wood ashes
would give good results. 1t would be
advisable to use the ashes anyhow II
they can be secured for the cost of
hauling Would suggest the use OF
two or three hundred pounds per acre
OF fresh ashes and 500 to 1000 or
1000 pounds per acre of leached
ashes.
1T depends upon the character OF
soil what proportions to mix OF cot
ton seed meal and acid phosphate to
give the best results. The mixture OF
800 pounds phosphate and 1900 pounds
meal at the rate of 800 pounds per
acre is good application. 1t should
not come in direct contact with the
seed. In using this fertilizer it should
be remembered that the acid phos-
phate has tendency to promote fruit
ing while the cotton seed meal pro-
notes development of stalk
In discussing irrigation for onions,
E. J. Kyle, dean of the school of ag-
riculture at the A. and NJ. College OF
Texas, says that in humid coun-
try like Laredo and Beeville, the es-
innate is about four applications OF
water for each crop in this manner:
An application of forty thousand gal
Ions of water per acre before the
plants are set out This gets the soil
in good, mellow condition and enables
the plants to start out in good growth.
After this when there is not very
much rainfall three other applications
are made, two of which consist of thir-
ty thousand gallons each and one OF
forty thousand gallons. The total OF
these applications is close to twenty
acre-inches.
"The tomatoes for early CONNER
cial purposes should always be
pruned," is the opinion of Prof. E. J.
Kyle. "The best method is to pinch
out the lateral shoots as soon as they
appear, until three or four clusters
of fruit have set, after which the ter
minal bud should be pinched out. This
allows the plant to give all its energy
to the development of the fruit.
Whenever this pruning is done it is
necessary to stake the plants"
There is no scientific method in
pruning watermelon vines," states
Professor Kyle. Sometimes they are
pruned. but as rule the commercial
growers do not pay any attention to
pruning. When it is done. the custom
is to pinch off the runner after a GER
tain number of melons have set"