528 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Improved; those liaviiig smallest seeds, Hawkins and Stoney Hybrid. 

 The results of this test suggest some correspondence between the total 

 yield and the earliness of the variety. 



Distance experiments (pp. 114-117).— In rows 4 ft. apart the stalks 

 were planted at distances of 1, 2, 3, and 4 ft. The largest yield (1,925 

 lbs. of seed cotton per acre) was obtained when the distance in the row 

 was 3 ft. At distances of 4 by 1 ft. the average yield of seed cotton 

 per plant was 0,275 lb. ; when the plants were 4 by 2 ft. the average was 

 0.417 lb. per plant; when the distance was 4 by 3 ft. the average was 

 0.561 lb., and when 4 by 4 ft., 0.60 lb. When only 6 sq. ft. were allowed 

 for each plant the largest yield of seed cotton (1,964 lbs. per acre) was 

 obtained by planting in rows 3 ft. apart, the plants standing 24 in. 

 apart in the row. Every increase in the width of the row with a pro- 

 portionate decrease in the distance of plants in the row reduced the 

 yield per acre and per plant. The author concludes that in general the 

 yield of cotton is larger in proportion as the space appropriated to each 

 plant approaches a square. "It may be safely urged that land that 

 will not produce the maximum crop of which it is capable with rows 

 not less than 3 ft. wide can not be profitably cultivated in cotton." 



J^ffect of increasing the amount of fertilizer (pp. 117-119). — A mixture 

 of 1,476 lbs. of superphosphate, 115 lbs. muriate of potash, and 409 lbs. 

 nitrate of soda was applied at the rate of 500, 1,000, 1,500, and 2,000 

 lbs. per acre. The yield of the unfertilized plat was 1,249 lbs. of seed 

 cotton, of that receiving 500 lbs. of the mixture 1,631 lbs., and of that 

 receiving 1,000 lbs. of the mixture 1,853 lbs. The yield with 1,500 and 

 2,000 lbs. of the fertilizer w^as practically the same as that with 1,000 

 lbs. When 500 lbs. per acre Avas used the financial gain was 79 per 

 cent on the investment for fertilizers; when 1,000 lbs. was used, 41 ^er 

 cent. The larger applications resulted in an absolute loss. 



General fertilizer experiments (pp. 119-122). — In this experiment a 

 mixture consisting of 468 lbs. of superphosphate, 36.4 lbs. of muriate of 

 potash, and 130 lbs. of nitrate of soda per acre gave a larger yield of 

 seed cotton (1,762 lbs. per acre) than any variation of this formula 

 effected by increasing any of the separate constituents of the mixture. 

 The formula just mentioned contains 10 per cent of available phos- 

 phoric acid, 3 per cent of potash, and 3 per cent of nitrogen, and is 

 recommended by the author as the best. 



Green manuring with cowpeas (pp. 122, 123). — The yields of seed cotton 

 following cowpeas. were as follows: When peas were picked and the 

 vines plowed under, 1,873 lbs. per acre; Avhen the peas were mowed 

 and left on the surface to dry and later turned under, 1,849 lbs.; when 

 vines were turned under green, 1,790 lbs.; when vines were made into 

 hay and only the stubble plowed under, 1,731 lbs. In consideration of 

 the value of the hay and of the peas it was found most profitable to 

 make hay of the vines and plow under the stubble, and next to this 

 to gather the ripened jjeas. 



