657 



On the so-called "black prairie " soils a lar<;e mirnber of diftorent fertilizers bavebeeu 

 tried, bnt no deiiuite results have been secured which indicate the proper combina- 

 tion to make such soils productive for cotton. The f^rowth of the plant on these soils 

 is as strouj^ and vigorous as could be desired; the crop usually promises well until 

 August, when the bolls begin to drop without maturing ; the final yield is always 

 very light, and none of the ordinary fertilizers seem to have anj' effect. Work upon 

 such soils will be continued during the coming season both at the station and at 

 another point farther east. 



A thorough chemical and biological study of the cotton plant was commenced in 

 May and was continued until the crop matured, but is not yet finished. Complete 

 analyses were made of the roots, stems, leaves, and bolls once in 10 flays, in order to 

 ascertain the periods at which dilferent fertilizing elements are taken up mostrai)idly 

 and the amounts used by the different parts of the plant. This work will require 

 considerable time, but it is essential to a full understanding of the subject of eco- 

 nomic fertilization and will be continued uutil completed. 



Cotton, methods of culture. — In 1890, as in 1889, shallow cultivation 

 gave a larger yield than deep cultivation. 



Cotton, test of varieties. — Tabulated data are given for 37 varieties 

 grown in 1890. 



The heaviest yield of seed cotton per acre was from King, which gave 1,270 

 pounds. The greatest yield of lint was from the Cherry Long Staple, which gave 

 4'20 i)ounds, or 46.6 per cent of the seed cotton. This is the largest per cent of lint 

 obtained from any of the varieties and nearly 15 per cent higher than the aver- 

 age. Onl}' one other variety, the Petit Gulf, gave over 40 per cent of lint, the 

 average being 31.8 per cent. Both of these were grown from seed 3 or 4 years old. 

 " * ' The six varieties succeeding best were Cherry Long Staple, yielding 141.34 

 per acre ; King, yielding $39.f!l per acre ; Southern Hope, yielding $33.03 per acre ; Ex- 

 tra Early Carolina, $31.0.5 per acre; Truitt's Premium, $31.26 per acre; Tennessee 

 Gold Dust, $30.03 per acre. 



The average weight, of seed cotton per acre was 719 pounds, and the average weight 

 of lint cotton per acre was 231 pounds. 



These results are compared with those of similar experiments 

 recorded in the Annual Report of the station for 1889 (See Experiment 

 Station Record, Vol. II, p. 410). There are also brief notes on 7 varie- 

 ties grown on the college farm and on 3 varieties grown at Holly 

 Springs. 



Field expekiments with corn (pp. 20-26).— These include experi- 

 ments with fertilizers and varieties and in topping and stripping corn. 

 Previous experitnents with corn were recorded in the Annual Report of 

 the station for 18S9 (See Experiment Station Record, Vol. II, p. 411). 



Corn, fertilizer experiments. — Experiments at the station and at Holly 

 Springs are recorded, a number of different fertilizers being used, as in 

 the case of cotton. The results do not admit of general conclusions. 



Corn, test of varieties. — Tabulated data are given for 458 varieties 

 grown on a rich black loam soil. The 6 varieties giving the largest 

 yields per acre were Mosby's Prolific 03, Cocke's Prolific 55, Minter's 

 Prolific 54, Bailey 51, Mammoth Surprise 48, and Evans 47 bushels. 

 The average yield per acre of the Avhite varieties was 37 ; of the yel- 

 low varieties, 34.5; and of the flint varieties, 14 bushels. The results 



