Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-11-18

tween 10 and Is bushels the cost was
IS cents; when the yield was 20
bushels the cost was 73 cents: over
20 bushels, sc cents. 1t was also
necessary in that county to raise
30 bushels or more of corn to Sc
cure a profit on the transaction, and
even then only 1854 net return was
secured by the farmer. When the
yield remained at 10 to Is bushels
there was an actual loss in the pro-
duction of corn. In the Piedmont
section the cost of producing
bushel of corn varied from II cents
up to $1.4S, as the yield dropped
from 29.1 bushels per acre down to
9.5 bushels.
We cannot permit conditions Of
this kind to pertain any longer in
our agriculture, because we cannot
have a prosperous state unless all
the farmers are making sufficient
money from their agricultural oper-
atoms to provide an adequate living
for themselves and their families.
To bring this about we must in
crease production, which can evil
IDENTIFY best be accomplished through
more intelligent handling and
management of the land, and the
more skillful use of commercial
plant food when this is applied.
Crop rotation will no doubt help in
the attainment of the end in view.
The following table shows the food
requirements of a three-year rota-
ton, where a yield of 80 bushels of
corn, 800 pounds Of lint cotton and
the seed, 80 bushels of oats and two
tons of cowpea hay are anticipated.
Effect Of Crop Rotation on Pant Food
Supply
Nitro Phos. Pot
Crop and Yield gen. Acid. ash.
Corn, 80 bushels with stover. 40 Is 46
*Cotton, 300 lbs. lint and
Oats, 80 bus. and straw. 20 10 "a
Cowpea hay, 2 tons ......,. p SO
*Does not include food requirements TO
produce stalk and leaf.
observe in this connection that
the oats and cotton make a re1s-
Ntl-ely light draft on phosphoric acid
ana potash. Corn makes the heaviest
dratt on nitrogen and corn and
cowpeas on potash. The total amount
OF plant food necessarily removed
from the land. by these crops in
three years would be Sc pounds Of
nitrogen, So pounds of phosphoric
acid and 1879 pounds Of potash. If
corn were grown on this land for
three years in succession the nitro
gen removed would amount to 1876
pounds, the phosphoric acid to a.
pounds, and the potash to 1873
pounds. Hence in a comparatively
short time the nitrogen supply of
the land would be depleted, and
this would become the limiting
factor in crop production. By bring
Ing legume into the rotation the
nitrogen supply is conserved, though
the draft on phosphoric acid and
potash may be slightly increased.
Altogether, however, the combina.
ton of crops suggested will result
in the largest possible maximum saw
ing of essential plant food supplies,
will keep the food supply of the
soil in better equilibrium and re-
lationship than where one crop, is
grown, and will enable the farmer
to increase the supply Of humus in
his land and preserve a desirable
physical condition of his soil to
better advantage.
1t is evident from the foregoing
that study of soils in relation to
crop production is fundamental to
the continued prosperity of our ag-
riculture. 1t is evident that all in
dustries are concerned in the well
fare and prosperity of the farmer
and especially is this true of the
fertilizer industry. Our soils vary
so materially in their composition
and physical characteristics that an
accurate knowledge of their pecu-
liarities is basic to the intelligent
and skillfuI use of fertilizers. That
commercial plant foods are essen
tial to the prosperity and success
Of our agriculture is se1f-evident.
That we all have much to learn
about this problem cannot. be gain
said. In view Of the situation by
which We are confronted and the
advent of the boil weevil, it should
be the duty as well as the privi-
lege of every good citizen to lend
his aid and effort to the promotion