Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-10-17
THE IMPORTANCE OF CHEAP
NITROGEN TO OUR FARMERS

The diminishing fertility of the soil
in the southeastern part of the cotton
belt has long been a question of public
concern The reasons for this are
self-evfdent. Cotton constitutes the
principal crop raised in that great eN-
tent OF territory commonly denominat-
ed the southeast" II provides the
raw material on which many of the
basic manufacturing industries OF the
south and the nation as a whole are
founded. In its raw and manufactured
condition ii makes up a large part Of
the volume OF our foreign trade. In
the manufacture Of explosives cotton
is essential. Thus, the maintenance OF
soil fertility in the southeast in order
that cotton may be produced abundant
~. economically and of the highest
grade and quality. is not a local prop
osition but one OF national and inter-
national concern
Another phase OF this question calls
for the most serious consideration The
advent of the boil weevil in recent years
has made the production OF cotton in
the sections which IL has infested
dificuIt undertaking. This pernicious
Insect seems TO be able to acclimatize
itself in all parts Of the cotton belt. IL
has infested the southwestern states
for some years and has recently spread
over Alabama and a part OF Georgia
and Florida. II is only matter OF time
until IT will have covered the CARROLL
nos. When this happens every foot OF
land suited TO the cultivation OF cot
ton in the United States viii be subject
TO its destructive effects. In view OF
this situation and the ever-increasing
demand for cotton goods. both at home
and abroad, the ingenuity or the south
ern farmer win be taxed to the utmost
to produce the amount OF cotton noer
and cotton seed needed for the proper
clothing OF mankind and the nourisn-
ment OF man and beast Il is not over
stating the case to say. therefore that
the supremacy of the south in cotton
production is seriously menaced, and
that the existing situation is an alarm
ing one due to the rapid decrease OF
the fertility OF our soils coupled with
the destructive. influences Of weevl in
festation-
The decrease in soil fertility is d.
rectly chargeabIe to two conditions;
First, the careless management OF our
farming lands due to the practice OF
the one-crop system; and second, the
fact that the territory in which cotton
grows with the greatest degree of per-
fectfon was never so richly endowed
with the stores Of plant food essential TO
the growth of cotton as some other sec
lions OF the country. Then, again, the
climate has favored the depletion or
soil fertility, because Of its mild Sea-
sons and the abundant rainfall. In the
south the ground is never frozen and
he temperatures are so high that nitri-
dcation il probably going on at a rapid
rate even in the months of January and
February. Sudden and heavy rainfalls
tend 10 erode the land. thereby taking
away in the surface run of and through
Drainage waters, n considerable portion
of the most quickly available. and,
therefore, serviceable. plant food sup
ply. The one-crop system has tended
TO exhaust the soil because the land is
faIlow, or at least unoccupied for the
most part. during the winter season,
and kept in a state OF clean cultivation
during the spring and summer months.
As a result, IL is not surprising that
the southern farmer should use very
considerable quantities OF fertilizer.
While effort and commendable success
has been made in inducing the farmer
20 diversity, to use cover crops, and to
depend upon legumes as a source from
which to obtain atmospheric nitrogen,
Il is self-evident that the southern
farmer now and in the future must
depend on the use OF commercial fer
filters to a considerable degree. Re-
CARELESS OF the very considerable fer
portions which this business has al
ready assumed, II is safe 10 predict :hat
upon the return Of normal conditions,
such as prevailed before the outbreak