338 SOUTHERN FIELD CROPS 



excessive or if a nitrogenous fertilizer be applied very 

 late. It is a common observation that stable manure 

 makes cotton late in opening. This can be overcome by 

 caution in avoiding the use of excessive amounts and by 

 supplementing the manure with any form of phosphate. 



The use of potash usually causes the crop to retain its 

 leaves and to continue growing late into the fall. Hence, 

 potash does not promote early maturity, but in judicious 

 proportions in a complete fertilizer it does not exercise 

 an injurious retarding effect. 



In North Carolina, C. B. Williams found that slacked 

 lime hastened maturity when used in connection with a 

 complete fertilizer. 



Commercial fertilizers, judiciously employed, constitute 

 one of the most effective means of insuring the early open- 

 ing of cotton, and thus of securing a crop before boll-weevils 

 become so numerous as to destroy all young forms. 



By hastening the maturing of the cotton plant, commer- 

 cial fertilizers have enabled farmers to grow cotton in 

 higher latitude and in higher altitudes than was possible 

 before their use became common. 



Effects of fertilizers on quality. — In Egypt, where, a cotton 

 of very long, fine staple is produced, attention has been directed 

 to the effects of fertilizers on the quality of lint. Observations 

 on cotton, growing in the rich soils of that country, indicate that 

 heavy applications of fresh or unfermented barnyard manure, 

 or other fertilizers promoting a very rank growth late into the 

 fall, injure the quality of lint ; while phosphates, which hasten 

 maturity, improve the staple. Partly on account of the more 

 prompt action of nitrate of soda as compared with sulfate of 

 ammonia or other nitrogenous chemicals, the former is there 

 given preference as a supplement to an application of manure. 



