FIELD CROPS. 529 



Field experiments -with cotton, J. G. Lee {Louisiana Stas. Bui. 

 29, 2d ser., pp. 1017-1031). 



Synopsis. — Tests of fertilizers, varieties, and distances. Every form of nitrogen was 

 advantageons, cotton-seed meal taking tbe lead. Phosphates used alone increased 

 the yield 248 lbs. per acre. The use of potash resulted in an aholute loss. 

 Fractional applications of fertilizers Avere unprofitable. In distance experi- 

 ments the largest yield was made by leaving 2 stalks in hills 24 in. apart in 

 the rows. 



Fertilizer experiments (pp. 1017-1029). — In a special nitrogen experi- 

 ment on 35 plats 21 and 48 lbs. of nitrogen per acre were applied iu 

 tbe forms of nitrate of soda, snlpliate of ammonia, dried blood, fish 

 scrap, cottonseed meal, crnslied cotton seed, rotted cotton seed, and a 

 compost of cotton seed, stable manure, and superpliospbates. The aver- 

 age yields of cotton seed per acre were as follows : 



Pouiida. 



Unfertilized plats 680 



Nitrogen alone 1, 090 



Superphosphate and kainit 776 



24 lbs. nitrogen with superphosphate and kainit 1, 113 



48 lbs. nitrogen with superphosphate and kainit \, 328 



The average per cent of increase over the yield of the mixed mineral 

 plats was as follows: With cottonseed meal, 99; lish scrap, 69; nitrate 

 of soda, 49; dried blood, 42; crushed cotton seed, 40; sulphate of ammo- 

 nia, 36, and rotted cotton seed, 32. 



The average increase over the yield of the mixed mineral plats for 

 the 2 mineral forms of nitrogen, nitrate of soda and sulphate of ammonia, 

 was 42 per cent; for the 2 animal forms, dried blood and fish scrap, 55 

 per cent, and for the 3 vegetable forms, cotton-seed meal, crushed 

 cotton seed, and rotted cotton seed, 57 per cent. '' Concurrent results 

 of 4 years now strongly indicate that on these soils 24 lbs. of nitrogen 

 per acre is more profitable than larger quantities." 



In a sjiecial phosphoric- acid experiment in which dissolved boneblack, 

 acid jihosphate. South Carolina floats, and Thomas slag Avere used alone 

 and in combination with nitrogenous and potash fertilizers, the phos- 

 phates used alone on an average increased the yield over the unferti- 

 lized plats 248 lbs. of seed cotton per acre. However, the con)plete 

 mixtures containing phosphates gave 86 lbs. of seed cotton less per acre 

 than the mixtures from which the j)hosphates were omitted. 



In a special potash experiment in which cptton-seed-hull ashes, 

 . kainit, muriate of potash, and sulphate of potash were compared the 

 potash fertilizers used alone and in combination reduced the yield. 



Shallow applications of fertilizers (2 or 3 in.) gave better results than 

 deep api)lications. 



Fractional applications of fertilizers were unprofitable. 



Varieties (pp. 1029-1031). — The yields made by 33 varieties are tabu- 

 lated. W. B. Ethridge Small Seed, Kolb Prolific, Cook Long Staple, 

 Bancroft Herlong, and Gold Dust gave the largest yields of seed 

 cotton. 



12982— No. 6 i 



