OTHER FARM CROPS 539 



of the soil, the seasons, and other circumstances. For an average soil 

 in fairly good condition perhaps the maximum amounts indicated 

 by Georgia (nitrogen, 20 pounds; potash, 20 pounds; phosphoric 

 acid, 70 pounds), or by South Carolina (nitrogen, 20 pounds; pot- 

 ash, 15 pounds; phosphoric acid, 50 pounds), or an approximate 

 mean of the two would be the maximum limit of profitable applica- 

 tion. The actual weight of the complete fertilizer furnishing these 

 quantities would, of course, vary with the percentage composition in 

 nitrogen, potash, and phosphoric acid of the materials used to make 

 the fertilizer. If the commercial "ammoniated" fertilizer or other 

 concentrated manure intended for use under cotton should be com- 

 pounded (as it might very well be, and in some cases is) to analyze 

 approximately 



Per cent. 



Soluble (available) phosphoric acid 9 



Potash 3 



Nitrogen 3 



then 700 pounds per acre of such a fertilizer would be approximately 

 the maximum amount that could judiciously and profitably be used, 

 under ordinary circumstances, upon soil in good condition. 



(13) The concentrated fertilizer should be applied in the drill 

 (not broadcast) at a depth of not more than 3 inches, and well 

 mixed with the soil. 



(14) All things considered, it is perhaps best in most cases to 

 apply all the concentrated fertilizer in one application at the time of 

 planting. With lands in superior condition, however, or where 

 large quantities of fertilizers are used, it is probably profitable to 

 apply half at planting and half at the second plowing. 



Methods of Manuring Cotton. The method of fertilizing for 

 cotton at present employed by the Southern cotton grower varies 

 somewhat with differences in soil, climate, capital, etc. The greatest 

 variation, perhaps, is in the preliminary preparation of the land. 

 Some cotton farmers practice green manuring, rotation, composting, 

 etc., with regularity, others irregularly, others not at all. There is 

 much greater uniformity observed in the use of concentrated fer- 

 tilizers, although here, again, there are wide differences in usage, 

 particularly as to the amount of fertilizer employed. From the time 

 of their introduction until the present, the method of applying 

 chemical manures to cotton has been essentially uniform and the 

 same, viz., in the drill. They are very rarely broadcasted. Neither, 

 indeed, as a rule, are composts, stable manure, or cotton seed. A 

 shallow furrow, varying in depth from 3 to 6 inches much more 

 frequently 3 than 6- is opened with the plow and the manure ap- 

 plied by hand (generally through a tin tube, known as a "guano 

 horn," 3 feet long and 2 inches in diameter) or by a mechanical 

 "distributer," much like a grain drill planter and capable of being 

 set to deliver fixed and uniform quantities. The manure is then 

 "listed" on, i. e., covered with a thin layer of soil to the depth of 1 

 to 3 inches. The seed are dropped upon this, either by hand or from a 

 "planter," and covered with soil to a depth usually of 3 inches. The 



