6 



gen varies so as to give tlie followiug ratios between the nitrogen and phosphoric 

 acid from the two sources, dried blood and cotton-seed meal : Nitrogen 1 pound to 

 phosphoric acid 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 pounds. 



The smaller quantity of nitrogen applied seemed to furnish as much as the plant, 

 with its environments, could take up, and the plant seemed indiflereut as to the 

 sources from which it derived it. There seemed to be a certain degree of cumulative 

 force in 1887, which was lost by failure to renew by additional applications in 1888. 

 The quantity of nitrogen applied seems not to have affected the relations between 

 the weight of seed and that of the lint. 



Three forms of phosphoric acid. — Soluble i^bospboric acid iu English 

 superphosphate, reduced (citrate soluble) in reduced phosphate, aud in- 

 soluble (acid soluble) in floats, were used separately aud in combination 

 with cotton-seed meal or air-slaked lime. Eight plats were manured 

 and one left uumanured. In 1886 the effect of each of the three forms 

 of phosphoric acid was tested on duplicate plats side by side. The 

 yield of the duplicates varied widely in each case ; in some cases the 

 differences were larger than between j)lats with different fertilizers. 



In 1886 each of the forms of phosphoric acid was applied to two adjacent plats 

 without nitrogen. In 1887 the same quantities of the phosphoric acid in the three 

 forms * * * were applied each to one plat, and nitrogen in cotton-seed meal to 

 each of the other i)lats. In 1888 all of the plats were planted without manure. 

 These results indicate very little leaching of the phosphoric acid and a cumulative 

 effect of the floats. The results in 1888, without additional application, uniformly 

 exceed those of 1886, when the phosphates were first applied ; and in No. 1, to which 

 only floats have been applied, they yielded more as the effect of the reserve force than 

 in either previous year. 



Will lime increase the efficiency of the 2)hosphat€s ? — Air-slaked lime 

 was mixed in the drill with floats aud with acid phosphate, and the 

 yields of cotton compared with those produced when the floats and acid 

 l)hosphates were used without the lime. The experiment was begun in 

 1886, repeated in 1887, and again, but without manure, in 1888. The 

 results were inconclusive. Trials with floats, combined with nitrog- 

 enous fertilizers, and with floats and acid phosphate in combination 

 with nitrogen and potash iu different forms, are included in the experi- 

 ment. 



Can improved methods and the use of fertilizers increase the profits of 

 cotton culture upon very poor ^ sandy lands? — The experiments reported 

 were made on 10 acres of very i)oor sandy soils, taken without regard 

 to topography of the land or the quality of the soil. 



The soils were thoroughlj' prepared, well fertilized, aud carefully cultivated. The 

 fertilizers applied were 1,000 pounds of compost of cotton-seed, stable manure, and 

 phosphate, and 200 j)ounds of cotton-seed meal and acid phosphate, equal parts of 

 each per acre, at a cost of $7 per acre. These were applied in the drill. One acre, 

 of the same average quality as the 10 aud adjoining the latter, was planted without 

 manure for comparison. The cotton on the 10 acres grew off beautifully, but in con- 

 sequence of heavy leaching rains upon the coarse, deep sand it began to blight in 

 June, and was dead upon 9 acres early in August. About 1 acre lying near a branch 

 continued to fruit until September. 



An examination of the statements [which are given in tabular form] will reveal 



