24 



and receiving only ordinary care. In all cases there was a ready 

 response to the application of complete fertilizers, both in earliness 

 and increased production. 



SUMMARY REMARKS CONCERNING THE USE OF FERTILIZERS. 



From three or even several years of tests with fertilizers the writ- 

 ers would be entirely unwarranted in making other than certain 

 general statements regarding their use. The decided variability in 

 the soil constituents, even upon the same character of land, and the 

 variation in weather conditions during different seasons render 

 specific recommendations inadvisable. 



Many of the Texas soils have been found to be benefited by phos- 

 phoric acid. As the chief object of these experiments has been to 

 increase early fruit production, and as acid phosphate influences and 

 hastens fruiting, the general plan has been to supply an abundance 

 of this element along with the other elements in which the various 

 soils are supposed to be deficient. 



The question is still open as to whether the general use of fertilizers 

 upon the rich bottom lands and strong, black waxy lands of northern 

 Texas will prove of value. However, there seems to be no doubt 

 that the application of fertilizing elements to many of the soils of 

 northern Texas and Indian Territory will increase the earliness and 

 prolificacy of cotton. The experiments at Ardmore, Ind. T., and 

 New Boston, Tex., indicate that the use of complete fertilizers with 

 a large percentage of phosphoric acid will give best results upon the 

 sandy loam soils of those types. Experiments conducted upon the 

 gray or mixed soils, as in the case of the plats on the farms of 

 Mr.* C. E. Keithly at Wolfe City, Tex., and Mr. S. W. Kanady at 

 Denton, Tex., indicate that soils of this type respond freely to the 

 application of acid phosphate. The addition of a small percentage 

 of potash to an acid phosphate fertilizer seems also to give beneficial 

 results. In general, fertilizers containing large percentages of 

 nitrogen should be avoided, as they tend to produce a large and 

 succulent growth of stalk and foliage which favors bollworm as well 

 as bollweevil depredations. In order to secure the best results from 

 the use of fertilizers it is necessary that the soil be kept in good 

 physical condition. 



It is to be hoped that the data obtained during the investigations 

 of the past three years may serve as a basis for experimentation on the 

 part of planters in various localities to determine which of the three 

 principal elements of plant food — namely, phosphoric acid, potash, 

 and nitrogen — and what proportions and amounts of each, will give 

 the best results on their respective soils. 



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