Coi^n Growers' Association. 173 



as the supplies of nitrogen, of phosphorus, of potassium and of 

 lime in the soil. The exact system of rotation, of feeding, of farm 

 management which will bring this result with the greatest net 

 profit each man must work out for his own conditions. And as 

 time goes on a man's success will depend more and more upon his 

 ability to do this. Shall we not, therefore, train the rising genera- 

 tion with the ideals of a constructive system of agriculture and 

 in so doing make it possible for them to reap the fullest rewards 

 from their labors and to thus insure the future prosperity of this 

 great State? 



DISCUSSION. 



Q. I would like to ask Prof. Miller what he calls an average 

 soil. 



A. The average soil of Missouri, all over the State, would con- 

 tain around 3,000 pounds of nitrogen, 1,000 of phosphorus and 

 5,000 of potassium. In Barton county there are 445 pounds of 

 phosphorus to the acre near Lamar ; and near Adrian, Bates county, 

 there are 698 pounds. But the above is an average for the State. 



Q. How much phosphorus did you say to use on an acre of 

 average Missouri soil? 



A. Sixty to seventy pounds of phosphate rock per ton of 

 manure. 



Q. Would that be enough to supply the needs of a five-year 

 rotation ? 



A. Yes, if you feed everything back except wheat. 



Q. Do you apply manure once in five years? 



A. Yes, once in a five-year rotation, and that before corn. 



Q. Do you have to buy rock phosphate in car loads? 



A. Yes, to get the price of $10. If you buy in small lots 

 it will cost you in the neighborhood of $15 per ton, freight in- 

 cluded. 



Q. Is one form of phosphate rock better than another? 



A. Yes, there is some variation. We have been buying from 

 Tennessee. 



Q. After you have succeeded in getting a crop of cowpeas 

 how do you treat the land to get the best results? 



A. Either "hog" them off or take off with sheep. 



Q. Would you advise burning stubble off of lands? 



A. No; it is never wise to burn off anything. It depends 

 somewhat on the system you are figuring on. If you want a crop 

 the next year it will sometimes pay; but if you are figuring on 

 crops in the future it never pays. 



