FERTILIZERS, ROTATIONS FOR COTTON 93 



pounds to the acre, they are usually drilled in. Larger 

 applications may be applied broadcast or partly broad- 

 cast and partly in the drill. 



There are three methods of drilling fertilizers for cotton: 

 (1) by hand distribution; (2) by the use of a fertilizer 

 distributor; (3) by the use of a combined fertilizer distribu- 

 tor and planter. In drilling fertilizers by any of the above 

 methods, one should be careful to see that such materials 

 as cotton-seed meal and the .potash fertilizers are not 

 allowed to come in direct contact with the seed, as this 

 is likely to interfere with germination. When fertilizers 

 are distributed by hand, a small shovel plow or other 

 suitable implement should be run in the drill to mix the 

 fertilizer with the soil. In sections where the practice is 

 to ridge the soil for cotton, the fertilizers are first distrib- 

 uted in the drill and the ridge subsequently formed im- 

 mediately over the fertilizer. The ridge is then partially 

 harrowed down and the seed planted, preferably by means 

 of a planter, directly over the fertilizer. The fertilizer 

 distributors usually cover the fertilizer sufficiently to 

 protect the seed. When fertilizers are broadcast they 

 should be thoroughly harrowed into the soil before the 

 crop is planted. 



In case nitrate of soda is to be applied during the grow- 

 ing season, it should be distributed uniformly in the mid- 

 dles and worked in with a cultivator. 



105. Fertilizer formulas for cotton. — Owing to the 

 varying needs of cotton soils for fertilizers one can 

 only generalize in giving fertilizer formulas for this 

 crop. The few formulas given below are to be used 

 merely as guides. They are not to be adhered to 

 strictly. 



The following formula is recommended by Halligan for 



