The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-04-06
WITH THE FARMERS
By Prof w. F. MASSEY


double glazed sashes l use on frames no
frost ever gets I'm, no matter how cold
outside. j have sown tomato seed I'M
der these sashes tho middle OF Feb
ruary, and had them como straight
along without any hurt. And one can
get plants of better style and earlier
Inder glass than anywhere else, and
At your bed has not even had n cloth
over. there is no ~onder that tho
seed have not terminated.
Chemists DlsnEree.
l arm III luandary ana want your
help ] have before me a Circular let
ter sent out by the Bureau of Plant
Industry Of the Department OF Agri-
culture In Washington the subject
OF which Is Farmers Co-Operativo
Work 1t says bale Of cotton CON
tains 900 pounds of lint, and that 1000
pounds OF cotton seed will remove
from the soil on which II grows thirty
three pounds Of nitrogen. 1852 pounds
of phosphoric acid and 1877 pounds OF
potash hive also n circular from
the German Kali Works. which says
that Il bale of cotton OF 500 pounds OF
lin; and 1900 pounds OF seed will re-
move ninety seven pounds of nitrogen,
thirty six pounds of phosphoric acid
ana sixty -onc pounds Of potash. This
being an indisputable fact" / do not
figures. or course. they viii naturally
try TO show great consumption OF
potash Tn" best analysis have shows
| that LOCO pounds of cotton seed will
| have 3l.3 pounds OF nitrogen. I'll
pounds OF phosphoric acid and IL
pounds OF potash. This is the aver
age OF fifteen diferont analyses. But
the amour, OF plant foods that any
crop removes from the soil. cannot he
aiken as sure guide for tho applica-
ton Of fertilizers. The special needs
OF the soil must a!so be coneidercd
Now II is impossible for mo 70 know
the needs OF your coil. whether specl-
ally deficient In nitrogen. phosphorlc
, acid or potash. But / assume from
your location that you do need some
potash. And most certainly you need
phosphoric acid which Ia most gem
crafty deficient in our old cultivated
soils. II is the phosphoric acid and
potash which are mainly concerned In
i!e making OF lint and seed. nitrogen
tending TO Increase the vital cnc. ~
OF the plant Now by far tho greater
part OF tho lint comes from the air
and not from the soil at all only a.
minute fraction OF the lint comes from
the soil. ItaIs the seed that makes
the heaviest draft on tho soil. Tho
composition Of cotton fertilizer viii
vary with the character Of tho soil
and the way IL IL farmcd.
! In The upper section of North Caro-
( lima, the Piedmont red clay, "A farmer
"ho maintains the humus In his soil,
and lines IL occasionally, will never
/ need to use an application OF potash
/ At all. but viii need a heavier applt-
cation OF phosphor!c acid than I'm oui.
/ coast country. In your section "a" q
/ general fertilizer for cotton, would
! suggest tho following mixture: 1000
| pounds acid phos phItc. 200 pounds nj
trsie of soda. COO pounds cottonsccd
meal. eco pounds OF muriate OF potash
/ TO make ton. Put 2j0 pounds In tho
( burrows ana 250 pounds broadcast
/ down the middlcs. Tor cotton roots run
/ ALT over the ground. DO not make any
B effort TO put In the soil what any one
says the crop takes out OF IT, for that
/ is not needed You would have e.,
| nse four times much kainit TO get
! NE potash az Of the muriatc. and would
/ lose in freight.