﻿EFFECT OF BORAX ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF CROPS. 23 



Borax caused the greatest injury to cotton in the early stages, 

 either preventing germination or in lesser amounts merely retarding 

 growth and preventing chlorophyll formation. A record of observa- 

 tions three weeks after planting is given in Table 14. 



The quantity of borax required to produce a noticeable injury to 

 cotton receiving fertilizer in the row was 20 pounds. Fifty pounds 

 were necessary to appreciably lower germination and cause the death 

 of any very large percentage of the plants. Where the fertilizer was 

 used in the row and planting delayed for 10 days the injury seemed 

 to be decreased about 50 to 75 per cent. Distributing the fertilizer 

 broadcast decreased the injurious effects as much or possibly slightly 

 more than delaying planting. It is shown that any method employed 

 which decreased the concentration of the borax around the plant 

 roots markedly decreased the injury. 



During the 10 days preceding planting, May 1 to 10, 2.06 inches of 

 rain fell, and for the 10-day period following planting 3.34 inches of 

 rain fell. The second day after planting 1.6 inches precipitation 

 occurred, which was followed by light showers for several days. The 

 seventh day after planting there was a rainfall of 1.56 inches. The 

 total rainfall for the month was 5.70 inches. 



Even with this great depth of rainfall there was unquestionable 

 injury from the borax with 30 pounds per acre. With 50 pounds per 

 acre germination was low, and many of the plants died after germi- 

 nating when the fertilizer was put in the drill and seed planted imme- 

 diately. When the borax was sown broadcast the plants were 

 stunted. With 100 pounds of borax per acre and over there was 

 practically no germination. 



PLANTINGS ON CLARKSVILLE SILT LOAM. 



An experiment at Muscle Shoals, Ala., was also made on Clarks- 

 ville silt loam located on a gentle slope and well drained. The 

 soil is fairly retentive of moisture and does not become compact. The 

 plan of the experiment differed somewhat from that at Arlington, 

 Va., with cotton in that the fertilizer was applied only in the drill 

 and the seed planted immediately, as in section 2 of the Arlington 

 test (see Table 7) . The 4-8-4 fertilizer was used at the same rate of 

 application per acre, namely, 1,000 pounds, and borax applied at 

 5, 10, and 20 pounds per acre. The test was repeated six times; the 

 first test was started on June 12, and the others followed at intervals 

 of about one week. The separate plats are designated as series A, B, 

 C, D, E, and F. The Cleveland Big-Boll variety was used. 



Table 15 shows the results for this set of plats, including the height 

 of the cotton plants at intervals during growth, the number of bolls 

 which formed, and the green and dry weights of the plants, including 

 the roots. Table 16 shows the weekly record of rainfall, so that the 

 relation of the rainfall to the degree of harmfulness of borax in the 

 different series can be compared. The effects of borax on germina- 

 tion, growth, and boll formation are noted. The cotton did not 

 mature, so no yield records were obtained. 



