110 CROP GROWING AND CROP FEEDING 



acid is all insoluble, increased the yield for two successive seasons, and farmers 

 are gradually finding out that this material, when placed in the soil, rapidly 

 becomes soluble enough for plants to get the use of it, and since it can be sold 

 for half the price of the dissolved rock it will be well for farmers to experi- 

 ment with it, and see if the cost of fertilization cannot be further decreased. 

 Several Stations report that the effect of kainit, or crude potash salt, is to 

 prevent rust in the cotton, aside from the value the potash may have as a 

 fertilizer, but it also seems to have the effect of retarding the opening of the 

 bolls. In South Carolina it was found that the application of marl alone, or 

 in connection with the commercial fertilizers, is of no direct value to the 

 cotton crop. But when marl is used as an application to leguminous crops 

 in storing up organic matter in the soil for the cotton, it has a very great 

 indirect value. In Alabama it was found that air slaked lime mixed in the 

 drill with acid phosphate had no apparent effect on cotton ; in fact, it would 

 seem that it might have an injurious effect in making the phosphate 

 less soluble. Nitrate of soda has been profitably applied at two dressings 

 between planting time and June 1st. Better results have been had from 

 fertilizers worked in shallowly than those buried deeply for cotton. From 

 the various experiments of the Stations, the Office of Experiment Stations 

 reaches the following general conclusions, in regard to the cultivation and 

 fertilization of the cotton crop, taking also into the account the experience 

 of successful cotton growers. It is evident that cotton is a plant that 

 responds promptly, liberally and profitably to judicious fertilization. The 

 practice general in the South we do not regard as judicious, since under it 

 the productiveness of the land has gradually been decreased, until the soil 

 is not in the best condition to apply lilberal quantities of commercial fertili- 

 zers, by reason of the exhaustion of the humus supply in the soil, through 

 the continuous planting of cotton aided by scanty supplies of fertilizers. 

 But by judicious fertilization with these same commercial fertilizers in con- 

 nection with proper farming, the maturity of the crop may be hastened and 

 its period of growth shortened so as to materially increase the area northward 

 where the cotton crop may be profitably grown. But this judicious use of 

 fertilizers involves the antecedent preparation of the soil. A soil deficient 

 in humus, or decayed organic matter, is not only in a bad mechanical condi- 

 tion, but is in a poor condition to receive liberal applications 

 of commercial fertilizers, since it is more subject to drought by 

 reason of the absence of the moisture-retaining humus, and hence, 

 cannot dissolve the fertilizers. Therefore, the higher "tilth" we 

 get our lands into, the heavier application of fertilizers we can 

 profitably use. The culture of the cow pea as a renovating crop is essential 



