212 COTTON PLANTER'S MANUAL. 



any great extent, as the quantity of it decreases in plants in 

 proportion to their cultivation, it nevertheless acts as a 

 substitute for potash, in the same manner as magnesia for 

 lime. The composition of the cotton staple, as given above, 

 shows the presence of soda in its ash in no small quantity. 

 This circumstance seems to express, in accordance with the 

 analysis of the soil, that by the scarcity of potash the plants 

 were forced to assimilate soda. In this condition of things, 

 the cotton plant could not be produced in its most perfect 

 form. 



If we now consider attentively first, the requirements of the 

 cotton seed and fibre ; and secondly, the capacity of the soil 

 to meet these requirements, we shall find the chief deficiencies 

 to be these first, a deficiency of lime in the soil ; secondly, 

 a deficiency of potash ; thirdly, a deficiency of phosphoric and 

 sulphuric acid. 



This is taught us by the analysis. How is this borne out 

 by practical experience in the manures of these soils ? It is 

 confirmed to the very letter. The best manure for the cot- 

 ton plant is cow-pen manure and cotton seed both rich in 

 phosphoric acid and potash. The success of these manures 

 proves a deficiency in the soil of their chief constituents, 

 which are phosphoric acid and potash, otherwise they would 

 not act as manures. The first of these sources, the cotton 

 seed, cannot be obtained in sufficient quantities to manure all 

 the land in cultivation, nor can cow-pen manure be applied 

 to all of the soil in cultivation, because of the few cattle raised 

 on the sea island cotton lands. We then must have recourse 

 to a supply of manure, not directly the product of the soil 

 itself. 



This manure should especially contain phosphoric acid and 

 potash, because they are the substances most needed by the 

 cotton plant, and at the same time those least abundant in 



