COTTON FERTILIZERS 323 



(Fig. 147). Under unfavorable conditions, — as on prairie 

 or waxy lime land, or with unsuitable fertilizer, or with the 

 use of excessive amounts, — the increase was much less. 

 These estimates are for appropriate mixtures of high- 

 grade chemicals. 



Smaller figures would probably represent the increase 

 from a ton of ordinary cotton guano, or ready-mixed fer- 

 tilizer. 



If all the fertilizer experiments made by the experiment 

 stations be averaged, including those on soils not needing , 

 fertilizers, the average increase drops far below one bale 

 for each ton of fertiUzer. (Bui. No. 62, Bur. Soils, U. S. 

 Dept. Agr.) 



291. Profit returned by fertilizers. — Assuming an in- 

 crease of one bale (say 1500 pounds of seed cotton) for each 

 ton of well-proportioned and appropriate fertihzer appUed 

 to four or five acres of land, an estimate can be made as 

 to the profit, under favorable conditions, afforded by a 

 judicious investment in fertilizer. Thus : — 



Dt Ct 



To one ton complete fertilizer, estimated cost 



in cash . $22.00 



To extra cost of picking and ginning the in- 

 creased yield, 1500 pounds, at 60 cents per 

 hundred 9.00 



By value of increased amount of seed, 1000 



pounds, at 75 cents per hundred .... f 7.50 



By value of one bale of cotton, 500 pounds at 



10 cents per pound 50.00 



Possible profit, from use of one ton of fertilizer . $26.50 



$57.50 $57.50 



292. Advantages of high-grade fertilizers. — Among 

 either factory-mixed, or home-mixed fertilizers, those of 

 higher grade, that is, containing higher percentages of 



