^5- 



The Cotton Crop 213 



production of the corn crop. If the peas that follow the 

 wheat are heavily fertiUzed with acid phosphate and pot- 

 ash the cotton that follows them can be produced without 

 direct fertiKzer application, though in the earlier rounds 

 of the rotation it will pay for a time to use some acid phos- 

 phate and potash on the cotton also, if spread broadcast. 

 But, finally, if stock enough are kept to consume all the 

 roughage, such as pea hay, cotton-seed hulls, and com 

 stover, it will be found that it is only necessary to fertiHze 

 the peas. 



Then, as the humus increases in the soil, and it becomes 

 more retentive of moisture, it will be found that the phos- 

 phate and potash can be used more liberally, since the 

 moisture will dissolve it and the peas will get it. Then it 

 will soon be found that the peas will grow too rankly 

 among the corn and they may there be omitted so that 

 the land can be more easily prepared for the oats crop in 

 the fall. The clover and manure turned under for the 

 com will abundantly feed the oats, and the fertilized crop 

 of peas following the oats will restore any loss of nitrogen 

 that has taken place, so that the wheat will have an 

 abundance of plant food. 



Following this practice rigidly, lands that now make 

 less than a quarter of a bale per acre can easily be brought 

 up to the production of two bales per acre on one-fourth 

 the land, or fully as much if not more cotton than is now 

 made on the whole area, while the increasing crops of oats 

 and wheat will become equally profitable with the cotton, 

 and the stock fed on the abundance of food will bring in 

 cash at a time when cash is badly needed for the cotton 

 crop season, and will thus, through putting the farmer on 



