38 COTTON CULTURE 



is applied in a fresh or rotted condition. In cold, dry 

 climates, however, the use of decomposed manure is much 

 preferable. 



The following three methods of applying manure on the 

 field are in common practice, viz.: 



Applying in Heaps. By this method the manure is 

 distributed in heaps over the field and permitted to stand 

 some time before being spread. This method is objec- 

 tionable for several reasons. The labor of handling is 

 increased; there is danger of loss from decomposition and 

 leaching; the manure is not uniformly distributed, the 

 spots immediately beneath the heaps being more thor- 

 oughly manured on account of the leaching. Storing 

 manure in very large heaps is less objectionable, provided 

 the heap is carefully covered with earth, kept moist, and 

 not allowed to stand too long. 



Applying Broadcast or in the Rows. When the crop is 

 one that is grown in rows, as is the case with cotton, 

 also corn, drilled peas, sugar cane, sorghum, etc., the fer- 

 tilizer should be deposited underneath the rows and bedded 

 on, although where large amounts are to be applied, it is 

 safer to broadcast the excess above the ordinary amounts 

 supplied in the rows, in just the same manner as with crops 

 which grow broadcast; as, for instance, the smaller grains 

 (not planted in drill), cow-peas, grasses, etc. Repeated ex- 

 periments at the Georgia Experiment Station have resulted 

 in securing double the increased yield of cotton where one 

 thousand pounds of concentrated fertilizers were applied 

 in the cotton rows as compared with the increased yield 



