4 
EFFECT OF BORAX ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF CROPS. k5 
COTTON, 
Experiments with the Cleveland Big Boll variety of cotton similar 
to those with corn just described were also made and some interestin 
results obtained. Cotton planted as late as June at Arlington patil 
not mature. The effects of borax, however, were noted on ger- 
mination, growth, and boll formation. In these tests each treatment 
occupied one row or an area of one two-hundred-and-seventieth of an 
acre. The 4-8-4 fertilizer was used at the rate of 1,000 pounds per 
acre. Thé cotton was planted thick and thinned to 45 hills per plat, 
with 2 plants to each hill. The complete data are given in Table 7. 
TaBLE 7.—LHffect of various quantities of borax on the growth and fruiting of cotton on 
silty clay loam at Arlington, Va.; in 1920. 
{The measurements of height of plants were made in experiment series A and B, for sections 2 and 3 
on 
July 27; for section 1, on August 3; those for experiment series C, sections 2 and 3, on August 3, and for 
section 1, on August 10.] 
Yield per plat. 
Sec. 1.—Fertilizerappliedin| Sec. 2.—Fertilizer applied | Sec. 3.—Fertilizer applied 
eerimont drill 7 days before planting. | in drill at time of planting. |broadcast at time of planting. 
date started, 3 a 
and horse per | Plants. + at. 2 Plants. | 3 a. 2 Plants. | 2 . i) 
Bie 42 Sees oe tee ee Se Nee 
eo sme cae 8 S earl ese rel en ics 3 | oa Ses ey ESS tes a 193s 
was ~Y - n n wn ro) » we wn oO n wn ® + »~ AD n AD 
4 (m8 35 )/oe/35 | 5 les) $5 (25/85 | 3 ee 8s |sa| 35 
Tah OS OF. 65 ‘3 (S21 6 erate ta OMS ES) oO Fats 
scl AEaa hg © fea) Paualene Segaetec pelea aaWteleeIei-ayumiglt sara lejsc(Wll- acu Shea ij=ey INS 
Series A, June 2: | Ins.|Lbs.| P.ct.| No. | P.ct.| Ins.|Lbs.| P.ct.| No. | P.ct.| Ins.|Lbs.| P.ct.| No | P.ct 
Jone). 5522. 1G Sipe Gl 2 aes. = 1 680525. PEO (Ula sBoEe LSTA AS ARE 14,8) 73)...... 1,435)...... 
5 pounds. 12.4) 56/— 8.2) 1,295;—22.9) 11.6) 59)/— 1.7) 1,000|—43.7| 14.1) 80)+ 9.6) 1,252;/—12.7 
10 pounds 11.2} 58)— 5 | 1,315)—21.7| 10.1) 61)4+ 1.7) 967)/—45.6) 11.0) 55)—24.7; 901|/—37.2 
Series B, June 9 
Ono. fost" Sst ez. 2 147g SA HL. 57h 1 P4Ad) 081 13: Os 72s 1,595) 2225 
5 pounds 8.1} 69/+ 3 | 1,400\— 5.3) 7.3) 62;—14 | 1,305)\— 9.4) 10.0' 79\+ 9.7) 1,503\— 1.4 
10 pounds 6.9| 67) O | 1,302,—11.9) 6.5) 58/—19.5) 1,361;— 5.6) 8.8) 68/— 5.6) 1,600/+ 5 
Series C, June 18 
None.......- 9.6{ 62).....: Mi OOO Fs acizye's 10! 2) - 69)... LOO die22ee2 LOS GS eee TG92 seta 
5 pounds....| 7.0! 62; O | 1,590+ 6 9.6) 70)+ 1.4 1,750,+ 3.1) 9.1) 71/+ 4.4) 1,800)/+ 6.4 
10 pounds. ..| 6.7| 57/— 8 |1,490— .7| 8.7| 72/+ 4.4] 1,505|-11.3| 7.8] 64|— 5.9] 1,613/— 4.7 
a 20 ones .-| 6.5) 56|— 9.7) 1,380 — 8 6.8} 49|—29 | 1,480,—12.8) 7.2) 53)—22 | 1,520)—10.2 
eries yeu! 
ma tel ae illes weep TehOOletey Lome AB eee L5a0l.. ect Bale te L610 ee 
5 pounds. .-.|--:.- 37|— 7.5} 1,000)— 9.1]..... 49|+ 8.9) 1,392|— 9.5]....- 51/— 5.6} 1,630/+ 1.2 
10 pounds. ..|...-- 29|—27.7! 760)/—30.9)....- 33|/—26. 7) 1,050)—31. 7)|....- 41|—24, 2) 1,210)—24.8 
, 20 ce el ere 21|\—47.5| 597|—45.7]....- 29|—35. 5}  930/—39. 5)..... 35|—35. 2) 1,030)—36 
eries E, July 15: r 
“eto eel ae ilies OES CHM ae tiee Nae iF Bo rte. 1146 
5 pounds a is ssp 26| O 680/+ 9 |..... 24;,—14.3) 822;— .1)..... 36/— 2.9) 1,137)/— 0.8 
10 pounds. ../....- 21|\—19.2| 585)— 6 |-.... 23|—18 78 |\—12s-7)\ 5. oe 33/— 5.8] 1,005|—12.3 
a 20 pends ee eres 21|—19.2} 560\—10 |..... 18|/—36 434|—47,2)..... 30)/—14. 3) 1,020)—11 
eries ugust5d: 
a TO acy Ob Faneoes eile see iTbeametce ae 5 ini eee Qs. 
5 pounds....|....- 10/ O Ue els oe a 11/—15. 4 Oats oees 14;—17.6 Uaacho 
10 pounds...|.--... 8|—20 OSs eles: 12/— 7.7 0) .fea-ca|tese 14/—17.6 ipeeses 
20 pounds. ..|..... 9|—10 Se S984 Oooo | fal Moana «ey Olk coke 
An examination of the data given in Table 7 shows generally that 
the growth was checked and the fruiting decreased by the borax. 
A record of the height of the plants, made when the crop was young, 
shows that the growth was checked in the very beginning by the borax. 
The degree of injury, however, varies with the different plantings and 
with the different methods of applying the fertilizers. ‘The germina- 
tion was rather irregular where 20 pounds of borax were applied, 
and in spots the young cotton died. The use of 10 pounds of borax 
had a decided effect on the color of the foliage in each experiment, 
