phosphate, applied without composting, afforded a slightly 

 larger yield than did exactly the same materials made into 

 compost about one month before using. 



Composting increased the efficiency of Florida soft phos- 

 phate, but not of acid phosphate. 



Slightly larger yields were obtained by bedding on all the 

 fertilizer than by reserving one-fourth and applying this por- 

 tion in the seed drill at planting time. 



One hundred and fifty pounds per acre of cottonseed meal 

 afforded a larger yield of seed cotton than 316 pounds of cot- 

 tonseed or 70|- pounds of nitrate of soda. These amounts of 

 the above-named fertilizers contained equal quantities of 

 nitrogen ; hence cottonseed meal was the source whence the 

 most effective form of nitrogen was obtained. 



Acid phosphate was more effective pound for pound than 

 Florida soft phosphate, except when the crude phosphate was 

 employed in compost. 



A mixture of acid phosphate and Florida soft phosphate 

 was less effective than an equal weight of acid phosphate, and 

 more valuable than an equal weight of Florida soft phosphate. 



Acid phosphate alone failed to increase the yield. Cotton- 

 seed meal was highly beneficial. Kainit, alone and in com- 

 bination, greatly increased the yield. Kainit decreased the 

 injury from "black rust," and this is apparently the explana- 

 tion of the large increase in yield on the plots receiving kainit. 



The Weather in thk Growing Skason of 1897. 



The rainfall for each month is recorded in Bulletin No, 88. 

 There were several periods in May and in the first half of the 

 summer when cotton suttered greatly from dry weather. 

 However, up to the latter part of July there was every pros- 

 pect for large yields, A severe drought, ending about the 

 middle of August, followed by a week of rainy weather, resulted 

 in great damage in shedding of forms and in the rapid spread 

 of " black rust " on the leaves, 



A second growth was made later in the season, but on the 

 Station Farm a large proportion of the bolls then formed failed 

 to open. 



