124 REPORT OF tHE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTUIiE. 



without fertilizing systematically ; and some have learned that such 

 soils may be kept actually improving by the use of cheap and accessi- 

 ble home resources of fertilization. Our correspondent in Geneva, Ala- 

 bama, reports, " In 1870, planted 20 acres cotton in pine-land, without 

 fertilizing, and made three bales ; 187G he i^lanted three acres and ap- 

 plied the manure of two cows, mare, and colt for three months, and made 

 2,970 pounds seed-cotton." 



The tendency of farm practice is judicious and sensible in the direction 

 of a greater use of fertilizers, greater discrimination in their selection, 

 and superior wisdom in the mode and extent of application. In this 

 they are following the teachings of this Department, which are found to 

 coincide with the results of extended and varied experience during the 

 past ten years. While not discarding the use of commercial products, 

 cultivators are learning to use them to supplement their domestic or 

 native supplies, with due reference to the manifest defects of the soil to 

 which their application is made, and generally injudicious combination 

 with domestic manures. The following extracts from correspondence 

 • will give details of this practice in all the States: 



North Carolina. — Anson : Guano and the phosphates are used. Beaufort : Home- 

 made manures are extensively nsed on all plantations and farms ; commercial are 

 applied on one-half. The kinds most used are the ammoniated dissolved bones, about 

 yoO pounds per acre. The amount used has greatly decreased in the last two years. 

 Caldwell: No commercial fertilizers used except on the tobacco-crop. Camden: Home- 

 made fertilizers generally ; cost from $15 to '$2^ per ton. Caiaioba : 100 pounds per acre 

 on cotton and wheat; commercial fertilizers in a limited quantity. Chowan: Very 

 little except home-made and lime ; cost $10 per ton. Some guano need, about 200 

 pounds per acre, costing $50 per ton. Columhus : Home-made fertilizers are used on 

 all iilantations, about 25 cart-loads per acre; commercial, 200 pounds per acre, cost $60 

 per ton. Cumberland : 150 pounds per acre, costing $50 per ton. Duplin : Ammoniated 

 superphosphates, 150 to 200 pounds per acre when used alone, 75 to 100 pounds when used 

 in connection with home-made manures. Acid phosphates are growing in favor, used 

 in the same quantity. A mixture consisting of 250 pounds of line boue dust, 250 pounds 

 of land-plaster, GO pounds sulphate of ammonia, 40 pounds nitrate of soda, 100 jjounds 

 of salt, mixed with enough rich earth to make a ton, costing about $15, is largely used 

 for cotton, 300 pounds per acre, with results equal to the costly superphosphates. 

 Ammoniated superphosphate costs from $40 to .$50 per ton cash, and from $50 to $60, 

 or 400 to 450 pounds cotton, on crop time. Edgecombe : A compost of marl, lime, cot- 

 tou-seed, stable-manure, and earth is largelj'' used, 200 to 750 bushels to the acre. 

 Commercial fertilizers are applied ; 200 pounds per .acre. Franldhi : Superphosphates 

 used ; an average of 160 pounds per acre. Gates : 200 pounds per acre of manipulated 

 guano ; cost $45 per ton. Gaston : Home-made is used on most farms, at a cost of $2 per 

 acre. Commercial used on cotton-lauds ; cost $;J per acre. Greene : Almost every kind 

 used ; about 200 pounds per acre ; prices average $50 per ton. Guilford : The greatest 

 part of the manure used is a compost made in the barn-yard. Tlio dift'orcnt kinds of 

 commercial fertilizers are a))pUed to some extent, about 100 pouiuLs per acre; prices 

 from $50 to $75 per ton. Harnett : For cotton, 100 pounds of guano are used to the acre ; 

 cost $50 per ton. The use of commercial fertilizers is decreasing, and I'armcrs are rely- 

 ing more on home-made fertilizers. Hertford: Various kinds; 125 pounds jier acre. 

 Uydc : Composts of A-arious kinds used. Iredell: All the diflercnt kinds of commercial 

 and domestic used ; 150 to 200 pounds per acre in the row. Without some fertilizer 

 cotton does not pay. Jones : Cotton-soed is used, from 20 to 60 bushels per acre, cost- 

 ing 10 cents per bushel. Lenoir : SevcnA years ago fertilizers were purchased in largo 

 quantities; last year farmers used but little; they lind that it does not pay; about 

 one-tenth use 200 pounds i^er acre ; cost $50. Lincoln : 150 tons used last year in this 

 county ; 150 xiounds per acre. Acid phosphate is composted with cotton-seod and stable- 

 manure. From GOO to 700 pounds per acre of this compost is applied. Moore : Some used 

 on cotton. Nash : 250 iiounds per acre of a mixture of 100 pounds Povuviau guano, 100 

 pounds of dissolved bone, 100 pounds salt, and 50 pounds of i)laster. It is a good manure 

 for cottonor corn ; cost $!i;^ per ton. Orange : Guano and phosphates used, from 100 to 200 

 pounds per acre ; cost $55 per ton. Pasquotank : Home-made manures almost exclusively 

 used. Ferson : Barn-yard and commercial used on the tobacco-crop ; 200 pounds per acre 

 is applied ; cost $G0 per ton. I'erquimans : A number of kinds used ; about 200 pounds 

 per acre; does not pay. Filt : Home-made manures are generally depended upon. 

 Rowan: Home-made are found to be the best and cheapest, llatlierford : All kinds 

 have been used ; about 200 pounds per acre ; cost $50 per ton. Tijrrel : On the largest 



