334 Fertilizers 



Fertilizers for cotton. 



In regard to its need for fertilizing, cotton may be 

 classed with the cereals rather than with the crops already 

 discussed; and like the cereals, its best growth is at- 

 tained when properly introduced into a rotation with 

 other crops, and the annual food supply arranged in such 

 a manner as to contribute to the larger yield of the imme- 

 diate crop, as well as to furnish an unused residue which 

 will provide for an increase in the yield of the succeeding 

 ones. Of the constituents, phosphoric acid seems to 

 exercise a greater influence upon the growth and develop- 

 ment of the cotton plant than any other element, not- 

 withstanding the fact that smaller amounts are contained 

 in it than of either nitrogen or potash. That is, it appears 

 that the plant must have an abundance of available phos- 

 phoric acid at its command in order that the other con- 

 stituents necessary for a full crop may be freely absorbed, 

 though on the soils adapted for the crop, which naturally 

 vary widely both in their general and special physical 

 characteristics, but are poor in the fertility elements, 

 both nitrogen and potash must be applied, in order that 

 maximum crops may be obtained. 



On the whole, therefore, though the "intensive" 

 system is not generally practiced, fertilizers furnishing 

 all of the constituents are superior to those which fur- 

 nish but one or two ; yet when proper rotations are prac- 

 ticed and leguminous crops are grown for the purpose of 

 improving the physical character of the soil, as well as 

 increasing its content of nitrogen, the percentage of this 

 element introduced into the fertilizer may be very largely 

 reduced. 



The conclusions that have been arrived at by the 



