285 



two by two. each mixture in two diffVrcMit quantities; and all three 

 toofc^tlier. each niixtui-e in four ditf'creut quantities. Three plats were 

 IcFl uniiianui'cd. and two were treated Avitli stable niamnv. 



The ex])erinients seem to haA'e Iieen vitiated to a oreater or less 

 extent hv unfaA^orable elimatie influences, one with potatoes and 

 three witli cotton Ixmul'" discontinued by reason, in part, of the dis- 

 asti'ons season. Marked unt'venness of the soil also seiMus to be indi- 

 cated by the produce from the unmanured plats of a number of the 

 experiments, and this fact will ])robably account in lariic uicasure for 

 the wide variation of results obtained. These are presented in tabular 

 form, and convenient summaries are o-iven of the experiments with 

 potatoes, coi-n. and cotton. Deductions from the results are intended 

 to a])ply lo the avei'aoe soils embraced in these experiments. " Pota- 

 toes responded well to all fertilizers." With corn " all ap]>licationR, 

 with few insignificant exceptions, proved total losses." 



Application of fertilizing material on cotton seems, with few excep- 

 tions, to have been profitable. Acid phosphate alone was for the 

 most part unprofitable; cotton-seed meal alone profitable in (he ma- 

 jority of cases, and kainit alone nnprofitable in most cases, though 

 a]:)parently serving to some extent as a preventive of rust. Next to 

 stable manure, the mixtures of all three materials w^ere most effica- 

 cious. " The best ])roportion of these ingredients was 200 pounds of 

 acid phosphate, 100 pounds of cotton-seed meal, and 50 pounds of 

 kainit to the acre of average soil." On poor land " this application 

 might well be increased." It is to be observed that this mixture is 

 similar in composition to some of the commercial fertilizers most com- 

 monh'^ used in the State. Of course, soils differ widely, and the fer- 

 tilizers best adapted to each differ in like manner. 



BULLETIN No. 66. SEPTEMBER 15, 1S80. 



Stock feedixc as practiced ix Xortti Carolina, F. B. Dancy, 

 B. A. (p]^. 68-80). — This is the second of a series of bulletins on cattle 

 foods and cattle feeding. The Station sent out to farmers in all sec- 

 tions of the State blank forms to be filled out, " asking for informa- 

 tion as to the amount of daily rations (in weights or measures) 

 f\irnished horses, nudes, oxen, shec]), milcli cows, and hogs, for pur- 

 poses of light, ordinary, or heavy Avork, or for purposes of fattening, 

 milk and butter production, or avooI prodiiction." It was hoped in 

 this way to get light on the question whether the farmers Avere over- 

 feeding or underfeeding. Only thirty-eight of the one hundred 

 blanks sent Avere returned, and of these only tA\^enty-seven contained 

 information Avhich could be used for purposes of comparison. A 

 good many of the farmers to whom these blanks were sent had " never 

 Aveighed or measured a ration." ScA^eral wrote letters merely stating 

 their inability to furnish exact weights or measures, but giving some 

 general observations based on their experience as to stock feeding. 

 18493— No. 5—05 m 4 



