200 



EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Influence of fertilizers on composition of cotton, .T. T. Anderson 

 (Alabama Caliche Sta. Bill. :j7,irp. i^).— ('ottou stalks from small plats 

 differeutly tVi tiliz<'d were analyzed early in June when in the early 

 flowering stage, and about 3 months later when the plants were full of 

 unopened bolls. In the last case the immature seeds were not included 

 in the analysis. One series of plats was located on a soil too poor for 

 the profitable cultivation of cotton, the other on a garden soil. The 

 following table gives a summary of results obtained: 



Effect of fertilizers on composition of the dry matter of cotton plants. 



In flowering stage. 



Field. Garden. 



:j. 254 

 :!. 240 

 0. 430 

 0.856 



In boll-bearing 

 stage. 



Field. 



Garden. 



Per cent. Per cevf. Per cei)f. Per cent. 



2. 208 



1. 151 



96. 530 



0. 527 



2. 610 

 2. 238 

 10.620 

 0. 761 



Pota.sh in crop -n-hen pota.sh was applied ' 2. 356 



Potash in crop when potash wa.s not applied j 2. 062 



Increase with potash [ 14. 250 



Pho.sphoric acid in crop when phosphoric acid was applied . . ' 0. 807 

 Phosphoric acid in crop when pho.sphoric acid was not 



applied 0. 828 



Increase with phosphoric acid — 2. 530 



Js itrogen in crop when nitrogen was applied 3. 773 



l«irrogen in crop when nitrogen was not applied 3.618 



Increase with nitrogen I 4. 280 



In both poor and rich soils potash fertilizer increased the percentage 

 of potash in the dry matter of the plant. The nitrogen content of the 

 plants in the flowering stage, both in field and garden, was increased 

 by nitrogenous fertilizers. The effect of a nitrogenous fertilizer on the 

 composition of the older i^laiit was not so marked. The influence of 

 phosphoric acid was not clearly indicated. 



"Where we have high percentages of two or more constitneats in the floweriug 

 stage, aud a relatively low decrease of those iierceutages in passing to the boiling 

 stage, we have, generally speaking, a large yield. On the other hand, low, or even 

 average, percent.Tges in the early, and a large decrease of the same in the latter stage, 

 showing an insufficient supply from the soil, means a relatively low yield." 



Analyses of the soil of field aud garden and yield of seed cotton in 

 ounces are given. The yield was greatest when a complete fertilizer 

 was applied. 



Experiments with grasses and potatoes, C. A. Goessmann [Mas- 

 sachusetts State Sta. Rpt.l89o,pp. 193-1'J'J). — An experiment with Ken- 

 tucky blue grass, meadow fescue, timothy, and vari(ms mixtures of 

 grasses, continued through a number of years, led to the following 

 conclusions: 



"(1) Italian rye grass is less liable to be winterkilled with us than English rye 

 grass. 



"(2) Meadow fescue furnishes a valuable grass, as far as a continuation of a 

 healthy growth during a series of years is concerned, and excels in that respect the 

 herds grass. 



"(3) Grass mixtures as a rule yield larger crops than the same varieties when cul- 

 tivated by themselves." 



