SUGAR-CANE 497 



soil not previously improved. However, 800 pounds was suffi- 

 cient on a similar soil wiiere the entire growth of velvet beans 

 had been plowed under a few months before planting the cane. 



(2) These quantities of fertilizer were found more effective 

 when divided into two applications, one before planting and one 

 late in May, than when all the fertilizer was used at the time of 

 planting. 



(3) As a source of nitrogen, nitrate of soda was superior to 

 cotton-seed meal ; . the nitrogen in cotton-seed meal was more 

 effective and profitable than an equal weight of nitrogen in the 

 form of cotton seed. 



(4) For land where a crop of velvet beans had been plowed 

 under, the results justified the recommendation of an appUca- 

 tion of 



1100 pounds of high-grade acid phosphate, 



100 pounds nitrate of soda, 



100 pounds muriate of potash, 

 1300 pounds, total per acre. 



This mixture would analyze about 



11.5 per cent available phosphoric acid, 

 1.1 per cent nitrogen, 

 4.0 per cent .potash. 



480. Forms of plant-food for sugar-cane. — It is a 

 common practice among the farmers of the cotton-belt 

 who grow cane on a small scale, to fertilize it with 25 to 

 60 bushels of cotton seed per acre at the time of planting, 

 in addition to some commercial fertilizer. At prices 

 of cotton seed prevailing in recent years, the necessary 

 nitrogen can be supplied more economically in the form 

 of commercial fertilizer, and still more economically by 

 plowing under a preceding crop of cowpeas, velvet beans, 

 or other soil-improving plant. The use of much stable 

 manure, while not unusual, is apt to give the sirup a dark 

 color and inferior flavor. 

 2k 



