14 



smaller amount than that usually applied, was followed by an 

 insignificant increase of the first crop and by considerable in- 

 crease of the second crop after liming. The average increase 

 tor the two years is 57 pounds of seed cotton per acre. The 

 combined increase for the two years is 114 pounds of seed cot- 

 ton. 



The better effect of lime in 1897 than in 1896 is probably 

 due to the fact that in 1897 cotton followed broadcast cow 

 peas, thus giving the lime a supply of vegetable matter to de- 

 compose. 



The increase attributable to subsoiling was 139 pounds of 

 seed cotton the first year and only 7 pounds the second year 

 after subsoiling, the average annual increase per acre being 73 

 pounds of seed cotton. The total increase attributable to sub- 

 soiling is 146 pounds of seed cotton per acre, which is sufiB- 

 cient to pay a profit over the cost of subsoiling. 



Light soils would probably not be benefited by subsoiling. 

 If subsoiling is practiced, it should be done early enough in 

 the winter to allow the rains to moisten and settle the deeply 

 stirred soil before planting time. 



Composting versus Mixing in the Furrow. 



April 16, on land previously broken with a turn plow, 

 rows were laid off 3| feet apart with a shovel plow. In these 

 furrows were placed the fertilizer, composts and manure re- 

 ferred to below. 



On each of plots 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 were used, either fresh or 

 in compost, 150 pounds per acre of cotton seed meal and 240 

 pounds per acre of either acid phosphate or Florida soft phos- 

 phate. Each of these plots also received stable manure, fresh 

 or composted, at the rate of 1,500 pounds per acre. To plots 

 2 and 5 the stable manure was applied fresh, being removed 

 from the mules' stills and put in the ground the same day, 

 April 16. On plots 1, 3 and 4 compost was applied. This 

 compost had been made March 18 by taking fresh horse 

 manure at the rate of 1,500 pounds per acre from the same 

 stalls as above, and immediately mixing it with cotton seed 

 meal and phosphate. The three lots of compost were kept on 



