323 



as follows: 41 varieties for 2 years, 37 for 3 years, 25 for 4 years, 13 for 6 

 j^ears, and 7 for 7 years. 



"The old Rio Grande (under the names of Texas Wood, Peterkin, 

 Crosland, etc.) is certainly entitled, from the results of our numerous 

 tests, to the position of honor." 



(2) Fertilizers on cotton. — The tests commenced in 1888 at each of the 

 three farms were continued without change in 1889. Altliough the crop 

 of 1889 was in general unsatisfactory, the indications of the 2-ycars' 

 trial were that — 



Marl and coi)periis produced uo effect upon the crop; separate applications of 

 potash, phosphoric acid, and nitrogen were equally valueless; their combinations 

 produced marked etfects ; phosphoric acid and nitrogen played the most important 

 parts; potash was of relatively less value than the other two ; excessive applications 

 of one or all three gave no adequate returns; the proportions indicated by analysis 

 were not the correct ones; probably one half potash, one phosphoric acid, and 

 one half nitrogen would be nearer ai)proximutions to the requirements of the plant. 

 There is reason to believe, however, that the potash might be reduced to one third, 

 and the phosphoric acid and nitrogen, respectively, increased to one and one half 

 and two thirds Avith advantage. 



(3) Special nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash experiments. — These 

 experiments were in all respects similar to the correspondino- series 

 witli corn mentioned above, and were in continuation of experiments in 

 1888. The data are fully tabulated for each farm, together with the 

 averages for the 2 years. The following summary of the results is by 

 the author : 



[Nitrogen.] (1) Stable manure gave the best average for the 2 years at each of 

 the three farms. The double dose [12 tons per acre] increased the crop, as com- 

 pared with the full dose, by from 75 to 100 pounds lint per acre. At Spartanburg 

 and Darlington the mixture of stable manure and nitrate of soda gave as good 

 results as the equivalent amount of stable manure, and as good a combined average 

 for the three farms. 



(2) The differences between the combined averages of the other kinds (nitrate of 

 soda, dried blood, cotton-seed meal, and cotton seed wliole or ground) were com- 

 paratively slight. The dried blood gave rather the best average. 



(3) Heavy doses of nitrogen were not recjuired by cotton. In nearly every case 

 the half dose gave as good results as the full. 



(4) The point of most importance to our farmers is the remarkably close agreement 

 in the combined averages of cotton-seed meal, whole cotton seed, and ground cotton 

 seed. * * * Seven hundred and forty-five pounds of the cotton seed meal were 

 fully e(|nal in fertilizing value to 2,080 pounds of cottonseed (whether whole or 

 ground), that is to say, 1 pound of the meal was cfjual to 2.79 pounds of seed [the 

 same proportion as was found in the corn experiments]. 



[Phosphoric acid.] The superiority of the acid phosphate is clearly shown through- 

 out. Its average for the 2 years at each farm largely exceeded those of the other 

 tiaee kinds. Keduced phosphate gave the next best averages. The slag and floats 

 gave very nearly the same returns. The half doses proved inferior to the full. 



[Potash.] The agreement in the average results of both the full and half doses of 

 f lie three potassic manures is remarkably close. They abundantly confirm those of 

 the similar tests Avith corn. One source of potash is as good as another and the 

 farmer's choice must be determined by tlie price of the potash in each and the freight 

 charges. As a general rule kaiuit would be preferred for the above reasoua. 



