Fertilizers for Various Special Crops 343 



As sources of at least part of the nitrogen and potash 

 in the southern states particularly, cotton-seed meal and 

 cotton-hull ashes are recommended, because readily 

 obtainable. These forms have been found to be good, 

 and they may be obtained as cheaply as other forms as 

 well as more conveniently. 



SUGAR-BEETS 



The purpose in the growth of sugar-beets is to obtain 

 the largest total yield of sugar to the acre ; and inasmuch 

 as the sugar content of the beet, as well as its right growth 

 and development, is very largely influenced by the char- 

 acter of the fertilization, this matter becomes of very 

 considerable importance, in view of the promising devel- 

 opment of the sugar-beet industry in this country. Thus 

 far, information concerning the use of fertilizers is derived 

 largely from the results obtained in other countries, 

 where it has been a prominent crop, and where great 

 attention has been paid to this factor in its production. 



The demands of the crop for plant-food. 



The sugar-beet draws heavily upon the soil for the 

 nitrogen and potash constituents. A minimum yield of 

 10 tons of topped beets contains 44 pounds of nitrogen, 

 20 of phosphoric acid and 96 of potash. On medium, 

 loamy soils, which by their character are well adapted 

 for the growth of the sugar-beet, heavy fertilization 

 with potash, however, has not been found to be desirable ; 

 while on light soils, which are also well adapted for the 

 crop, liberal manuring with potash becomes absolutely 

 necessary. 



As in this crop, the object of the growth is to secure 



