Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-04-26
ESTABLISHING ALFALFA IN GEORGIA

available to the plant. or how, long be-
fore il is leached out Of the soil The
assimilation Of form of nitrogen would
depend much on its availability and
on weather and crop conditions as well.
For instance, nitrate of soda applied TO
the surface Of ground well supplied with
moisture would be dissolved almost Inn
mediately by the capillary water brought
TO the surface, and then If the roots of
the crop were near to the surface OF the
ground and the plants growing rapidly,
the assimilation OF the nitrogen would
take place very rapidly. Unless an ex-
cessive amount were applied to the soil.
IL would be assimilated by the crop very
,quickly, apd there would probably be no
loss in the drainage water; but If the nj
tTate were put on the land just before a
heavy rain, IL is possible that a good
part of IL might be washed away before
the plant could take it up. Since dried
blood and cotton seed meal must undergo
fermentation before the nitrogen they
contain becomes available to plants, they
are not so likely to be washed away,
because they should be incorporated with
the surface soil. OF course, the service
they will render the gN1p will depend
much on seasonal conditions. Cotton seed
meal relatively speaking. is more Slow
~ available than blood. The relative abil-
ity Of some of the materials about which
you inquire is about as follows; Nitrate
of soda 100. blood 20. with cotton seed
meal ranging below blood
WHICH FORM OF FERTILIZER is
CHEAPEST?
Z. D., Augusta, Ga, writes Kindly
tell me which is the cheapest and best
guano 1864 at $3.50. or S-S-S at S23 40?
Which one of the above will pay the
best on sandy land, and how about Is
per cent acid and kainit for corn and
cotton?
In our judgment the 1864 fertilizer at
s29S0 is considerably cheaper than the
S-3-S at S2340 A 1864 is an unusual for
mula and would be one difficult to make
even from the highest grade materials.
II seems to US that this formula must be
stated incorrectly. and that IL refers
to a 10-4-f6, the 4 representing the nitro
gen and the the potash. II the formula
is incorrect. as we have suggested. the
high-grade mixture is still the cheapest,
and the most desirable to use on sandy
pine land which is relatively low nat
urally in phosphorus and available
nitrogen as well. 1t would be difficult
to make a sufficiently high-grade mix
ture from l6 per cent and kainit for corn
and cotton on sandy land. For cotton
you might find a 9-S-4 TO answer very
we'll but the 10-4-6 would be much better
for corn. These formulas should be used
at the rate of 500 to zoo pounds for cot
ton, and from 100 to 1000 pounds for corn
on the character Of land described in
your letter. Put from 300 to 500 pounds
under the drill row at the time of plant
ing and use one or two side applications
OF 100 to 300 pounds each during the
early stages OF the growing period for
both corn and cotton.
A SOUTH CAROLINA FORMULA.
]. Z. S, Yorkville. S. c., writes: I am
thinking OF mixing my fertilizer at home
this year, using the following formula:
1000 pounds acid phosphate 600 pounds
cotton seed meal. 400 pounds of kainit
Is it advisable TO let cotton seed meal
furnish the only source of nitrogen?
can mix my guano cheaper than / can
buy it, and wish to know il the above
formula would he good for cotton?
The formula which you propose to use
would contain. if made of 16 per cent
acid phosphate. kainit and high-grade
cottonseed meal, that is. a meal con-
tanning not less than per cent of nitro
gen. about IL pounds OF phosphorus. A
pounds of nitrogen and 81 pounds of pot
ash III ADAA- II MOutu AltlAS dMdlNEe 90
per cent OF phosphOric acid, 81 per cent
of nitrogen, and IS per cent of potash.
This formula would, in our judgment, be
somewhat improved by adding 200 to 800
pounds of cotton seed meal. and re-
placing the kainit with muriate of pot
ash. 1t would then furnish a. good for
mula which should prove satisfactory
under both corn and cotton. While the
nitrogen i'm cotton seed meal is not. so
rsnrs .-n~N s1ran,Ts
forms Of nitrogen carriers. it WILL in my
Judgment, always become available with
sufficient rapidity to serve the needs of
most crOhs which may be grown on our
southern lands, as we have a relatively
long period during which they may de
velop. In place of putti.,g all the cotton
seed meal in your fertilizer, you may
add 100 pounds Of nitrate of soda, blood
tankage or fish scrap, or even add 100
pounds of two of these materials and Sc
cure the same variety and relative avail
ability of the nitrogenous material as
you could secure through the applica-
ton of any other formula.
PREPARING STANDARD GRADES OF
FERTILIZER.
J. c. B.. Osierfeld. Ga, writes: 1
would like to have a formula for maxi
ing the following grades of fertilizer:
S-3-4 9-2-3 and 1922. I will appreciate
this very much, as ] am teaching and
have not the information that desire.
II you will mix together 900 pounds of
high-grade acid phosphate, 1000 pounds
of cotton seed meal. containing not less
/ than Sis per cent Of nitrogen and the
j proportions of phosphOric acid and pot
ash ordinarily found in this material.
and 100 pounds of muriate of potash, YOU
IahAzEeizaz -
a-4Is-AlAs..AAA n. ., Eccsc! 70,