The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1912-05-31
(Copyright)
FERTILIZERS FOR TEXAS SOILS
STATE CHEMIST TRAPS GIVES
VIEWS ON FERTILIZERS.
How to Mix and Use-Amount Re-
CURED for Different Soils, Etc.
Prof kyIe's Views.

College Station, TeX-Dr. G. S.
Traps, state chemist of Texas at the
A. and NJ. College of Texas, says:
"In 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 it Will not
cake. This is the most practical
method of saving blood for such use.
Dried blood is a 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
tendency to make the soil run to-
gether. II the ashes have been ex-
posed to the weather 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 If
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.
ut 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 pei
acre Is a 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 tendencg 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 M. College Of
Texas, says that in a humid coun
try like Laredo and Beeville, the es
innate is about four applications o.
water for each crop in this manner
An application of forty thousand gal
Ions of water per acre before thu
plants are set out. This gets the sol
in good, mellow condition and enables
the plants to start out in good growth
After this when there is not yer!
Y. much rainfall three other applications
are made, two of which consist of thir
ty thousand gallons each and one o
forty thousand gallons. The total o
these applications is close to twent.
acre-inches.
1.-THE tomatoes for early CONNER
cial purposes should always b.
pruned," Is the opinion of Prof. E. J
Kyle. 1.-THE best method Is to pincl
out the lateral shoots as soon as the
appear, until three or four cluster
of fruit have set, after which the tel
minal bud should be pinched out. Thi
allows the plant to give all its energ
to the development Of the fruit
Whenever this pruning Is done it i
necessary to stake the plants"
There is no scientific method i
pruning watermelon vines" state
Professor Kyle. Sometimes they ar
pruned, but as a rule the commercis
growers do not pay any attention
pruning When it is done, the custor
is to pinch off the runner after a Gel
tain number of melons have set"