634 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



One acre produced without fertilizer in 11)0,'}, 320 lbs. of seed cotton, a total 

 of 18.6 tons of alfalfa hay during the next 3 years, an unrecorded yield of 

 cotton in 1907 and 1.942 and 1,542 lbs. of seed cotton in 1908 and 1909, respec- 

 tively. It is calculated that the residue from the 3 years' stand of alfalfa 

 equaled in results the application of 111.4 lbs. of nitrate of soda or 508 lbs. of 

 cotton-seed meal. In 1908, G.3 acres of alfalfa averaged 3.9 tons of hay per 

 acre, while in 1909, an average of 3.4G tons was secured from a meadow 7 or 

 S years old. 



Crushed raw lime rock applied at the rate of 6,400 lbs. per acre was followed 

 by a decreased yield of cotton. With a mixture of 200 lbs. of cotton-seed meal 

 and 200 lbs. of acid phosphate, costing $3.90 per acre there was an increased 

 yield of cotton worth $2.88, Bur clover turned under in the spring was fol- 

 lowed by an increased yield of cotton, valued at $14.58, a net gain of $4.86. 

 Approximately the same results were secured with crimson clover. 



Planting corn land in September to vetches or clovers and cutting for hay 

 before i)lanting the land to cotton the following spring, resulted, except with 

 white clover, in a small cotton crop the first year, but the total crop for the 

 2 years exceeded that from land unfertilized, left bare through the winter and 

 planted early in both years. Land sown to oats or to oats and vetch in the 

 fall failed to give so favorable results. Redtop turned under caused a slight 

 increase in the yield of cotton. 



During 1908, tests of cotton-seed meal, acid phosphate, kainit and nitrate of 

 soda in various combinations were made on a black phase of the Houston clay. 

 Increased yields were secured from all combinations containing cotton-seecl 

 meal or nitrate of soda, except in the case of a plat fertilized with 200 lbs. of 

 cotton-seed meal. 200 lbs. phosphate, and 100 lbs. kainit per acre. Results of 

 similar experiments on these plats in 1909 are also reported. 



On black bottom land, applications of (1) nitrate of soda, (2) 160 lbs. cotton- 

 seed meal per acre, and (3) 160 lbs. cotton-seed meal and 160 lbs. kainit per 

 acre were followed by net profits of $4.22, 66 cts., and 24 cts. per acre, respec- 

 tively, as compared with the net profit obtained on untreated plats. Net losses 

 varying from 69 cts. to $5.19 resulted where there were applications of acid 

 phosjiliate and kainit, singly and in combination with cotton-seed meal. In 

 another fertilizer test on black bottom land, an increased net profit of $5.84 

 was obtained from application of 80 lbs. of nitrate of soda per acre. $2.40 from 

 application of 200 lbs. of cotton-seed meal per acre, $2.05 from 1.50 lbs. fish 

 guano, and $1.48 from 100 lbs. of tankage. Losses resulted from application of 

 (1) 200 lbs. cotton-seed meal and 200 lbs. acid phosphate, and (2) 125 lbs. 

 of dried blood. Fish guano at $44.60 per ton did not take the place of cotton- 

 seed meal at $30 per ton. 



On poor red land, an increased net profit of $9.80 per acre resulted upon the 

 application of 80 lbs. nitrate of soda, $3.60 from that of 240 lbs. cotton-seed 

 meal and 200 lbs. acid phosphate, and $1.74 from 160 lbs. fish guano, while 

 losses of 58 cts. and .$2.74, respectively, resulted upon the application of 100 lbs. 

 of dried blood, either on July 15 or at planting. 



Tabulated data of the results fi-om the application of commercial fertilizers 

 to land planted continuously to cotton for 6 years and receiving no vegetable 

 matter save the crop residue showed that the percentage of advantage secured 

 by the application of fertilizers decreased from 145 in 1905 to 36 in 1909, during 

 which year a profit of $1.52 was secured from an application of fertilizer worth 

 $9.55 per acre. 



In variety tests, Peterkin, Brown Five I^ock, Truitt, and Drake each produced 

 868 lbs. or more of seed cotton per acre, while on upland soil, William Improved, 



