The dispatch-news. [volume] (Lexington, S.C.) 1919-2001, 1921-12-28
Judicious Fertilizing.-A liberal ap

Judicious Fertilizing.-A liberal ap-
plication Of commercial fertilizer is
also advisa BILE, and this fertilizer
should contain an abundance Of phos-
phoric acid, as this ingredient hastens
the maturity of the crop up to point
where the plant has all it requires in
it's growth. On most oils in this state
about 800 pounds Of acid phosphate
per acre will give most profitable re-
suits. A liberal amount Of ammonia
hastens the maturity Of the crop up
to a certain point. Too much am
monia delays the crop as does too
little, hence the Importance Of hay
ing the correct amount of ammonia
for each soil. Each farmer should
study the needs Of his oils and use
the amount Of ammonia which he
finds bets for his land. Potash is nee
essary on most Of our sandy soils and
on some Of our Piedmont soils. Where
a good system of farming is practiced
in the Piedmont section where the
crops are rotated and organic matter
supplied, no potash should be re-
quired. An excess Of potash also
tends TO delay the maturity Of the
crop, and for this reason moderate
will generally give best
results. A wel baanced fertilizer
which supplies the needs of the soil
to which it is applied gives the earli-
est crop an dthe largest crop.
All Of the phosphorus and the pot
ash and most Of the nitrogen should
be applied by the time the first
squares begin to form. On very light
sandy: soils it is advisable to apply
more Of this nitrogen after. the cotton
is up, but in no case should this ap-
plication be delayed until late in the
season. Where large applications of
fertilizer are made at planting time, 1t
is important to mix the fertilizer with
the soil thoroughly so that 1t will. not
interfere with the termination and
early growth of the cotton.
Rapid Cultivation.-From the very
start, cotton should be cultivated in
tensively to prevent weeds and grass
gettin ga start. To accom-
pills hthis, frequent shallow cultiva-
ton is advisable. Cotton should
never be cultivated so deep as to de-
stroy the roots of the plants and un-
der no conditions should weeds and
grass be allowed to get a start in the
cotton ,as they will delay the growth
Collecting Weevils.-It may be
helpful to pick weevils from the
young cotton plants before the
squares appear whenever cheap labor
that costs practically nothing in cash
is avai,aDi.. If weevil collecting is
done with the utmost care, giving
special attention to places where the
greatest number of weevils hiber-
mated, the majority Of the weevils may
he caught before they lay their eggs.
It is estimated that weevil collecting
whcr upon tlorCuh search less than
so weexils psr acre are found, is not
profitable.
-CollIr tlng Squares.-When low
priced labor is available. square COL
lectins will be helpful if properly
done. Collecting should be begun
about ten days after the first bloom
is seen in the, field. But unless 1t is
done thoroughly it is Improbable.
About everyfive days every square
must be picked, not only those on the
ground, but also those that have dried
on. the plants, as wellas those which
show yellow color or are flared. This
should be continued during the first
weeks Of the square-forming period
During wet seasons when cult
is impossible, plow labo1
until cultivation c1
Special attentic5(
places whersl
bisb