16 



applied in the fresh condition. The result for a somewhat 

 similar comparison between composting and mixing in the 

 furrow was made on lighter soil in 1896, and the result agreed 

 with those of the present season in showing a decreased yield 

 on the plots receiving compost. 



The figures in the table show that when composted a 

 pound of the cheaper Florida soft phosphate was slightly more 

 effective than a pound of the more costly acid phosphate. 

 Doubtless the decaying vegetable material of the stable ma- 

 nure has made the raw or crude Florida soft phosphate more 

 soluble and hence of more value to the plant than it would be 

 if used without an abundant supply of vegetable matter. The 

 raw phosphate contains about twice as much total phosphoric 

 acid as acid phosphate, but most of it is classed as insoluble. 



One-fourth of Fertilizer in Seed Drill. 



This is a repetition with slight changes of an experiment 

 conducted in 1896. For each of three plots equal quantities 

 of fertilizers were weighed out, viz : 



150 lbs. cottonseed meal per acre. 

 240 lbs. acid phosphate per acre. 

 30 lbs. muriate of potash per acre. 



Total, 420 lbs. complete fertilizer per acre. 



From the fertilizers intended for two plots there was- re- 

 served one-fourth to be applied in the seed drill in immediate 

 contact with the seed. On the middle plot all the fertilizer 

 was drilled as usual in the " marking off" furrow, under the 

 seed bed ; three-fourths of the fertilizers for the other two 

 plots was also placed in that position. 



The plot receiving all its fertilizer in the " marking off" " 

 furrow yielded 1,132 pounds of seed cotton per acre ; the plots 

 with one-fourth of the fertilizer in the seed drill averaged 

 1,098 pounds per acre, a loss of 34 pounds of seed cotton per 

 acre following a division of the fertilizer. A similar result 

 was reached in 1896. 



