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POINTERS FOR
SPRING TIME
Sound Doctrine Promu’g’ated by
Commissioner Nesbitt.
TOUCHES F4F.M AT IVERY POINT
Th© Importance of Thorough Preparation
For riastlng Ably Advocated—Fall
Planted Grain, Vineyard*, Orchard* and
Garden*—WlUtewasli For the Home.
March a Busy Month.
Department of Agriculture,
Atlanta, March 1, 1697.
As was pi cdicted and expected the
rainfall in February has been very
heavy, which in view of the previous
deficiency is fortunate for the coining
year’s crops. But the recent continued
wet weather has somewhat delayed the
final preparations for planting. Where
there has been thorough fall and winter
plowing the farmer is relieved of
much of the vexation and worry of hur
ried preparation now. In such cases it
is a comparatively easy matter to com
plete all preliminary work.
PLOWING LANDS WHEN TOO WET.
The great danger is that farmers, who
did not take advantage of the fine days
of the fall and winter to keep the plows
going, may be tempted now to plow
their lauds when too wet. In view of
the short time before the crops are to be
planted their anxiety to get their lands
in condition to receive the seed, is par
donable, but no more grievous mistake
was ever made than that of plowing
when the soil is reeking with moisture.
On the light sandy lands we may ven
ture sooner after heavy rains than on
our stiffer clay soils, but even there the
greatest discretion should be exercised.
We know the temptation, when time is
pressing and the sun shining, to do this
work at all hazards, but we have seen
fields so injured by such injudicious
plowing that the effects could not be
eradicated for months afterwards, and
the crops showed a corresponding falling
off. It were better to reduce the in
tended area and put the remainder in
thorough condition than to hasten over
a greater number of acres at such man
ifest injury to the land and loss to the
crops, not to mention the additional
annoyance and worry in the subsequent
cultivation of such injudiciously plowed
fields.
MARCH IS A BUSY MONTH
with the farmer in many other respects
besides the preparation of the land.
There are terraces and ditches to be kept
in order. After each heavy rain they
should be examined, all breaks repaired
and all weak points strengthened. All
fences not in repair should be righted,
the fence rows cleared out and the trash
burned. The growth from successive
years should not be allowed to accumu
late, nor should it be allowed to encroach
further and further each year on the
cultivated land. The fences and fence
corners should be kept clean. By this
plan we not only preserve an appearance
of greater neatness, but many destruc
tive insect and fungus agents, which
are becoming a menace to our agricul
ture, are checked.
FALL PLANTED GRAIN.
If the full planted grain is not vigor
ous but shows a silky, yellow appear
ance, it should receive a top dressing of
some nitrogenous fertilizer, nitrate of
Soda or cotton seed meal, the former to
be applied just before a rain, from 50 to
100 pounds to the acre; the latter at any
convenient time, about 200 pounds to
the acre.
VINEYARDS, ORCHARDS AND GARDENS
also need looking after. All pruninga,
accumulated trash and refuse should be
gathered up and burned, for the samo
reason that we destroy these harbors for
insect life and fungus diseases m our
fence corners. The fruit grower and
gardener should wage a perpetual war
fare on these enemies, which too often
are allowed to gain a firm foothold be
fore we are aware of their presence, and
then the troubles and expenses from
their depredations are inevitable. A
touch of
WHITEWASH
here and there, as opportunity occurs,
should be also regarded as one of the
duties of this early spring month. It is
astonishing the power which is in one
barrel of lime, to add to the cheerfulness
and the neatness of a farm home, and
its effect goes through the entire year.
It is a purifier as well as a beautifier.
Where stables, out houses and even the
dwelling receive a thorough coat of
whitewash, inside and out, once a year,
sanitary conditions are much improved
and the risk from contagious and infec
tious diseases much lessened. Through
out the state March is the
CORN PLANTING MONTH.
In the more southern sections planting
is already under way. Necessarily the
most favorable time for this work in
any particular locality must vary some
what with the season, and with local
conditions as to drainage, exposure,
quality of the soil, etc. Well drained,
heavy lauds with a southern exposure
are known to warm up more rapidly,
and are therefore more suited for early
planting than where opposite conditions
prevail, and of course the planting sea
son opens earlier in the southern than
in the northern sections of the state.
Methods of planting also vary with
these conditions. We have found,
however, that on the greater portion of
our ordinary corn land the double foot
plow does the most effective work. Pre
supposing that the land has been thor
oughly prepared and laid off, (and un
less the land is rich or very highly ma
nured it is well to give plenty of dis
tance), we would plant in the water
furrow, taking care not to cover the
seed too deeply. Deep covering will do
for later planting, earlv corn should be
covered lightly. The double foot plow,
if properly adjusted, does very satisfa<>
tory work, leaving a slight ridge on the
seed and a small furrow on each side
which will protect the seed from any
excess of water settling on them. By
this method the plants will come up
slightly below the surrounding surface,
and at each plowing a little dirt can be
thrown towards them until, when the
final “laying by” comes, the field is left
practically level This was the method
so strongly advocated by David Dickson,
and from which he realized such won
derful results. He maintained that as
the greatest danger to our corn crop was
our usual summer drouth, all our efforts
should be directed to protecting it
against such a contingency, and that
corn so planted and cultivated was much
less liable to injury from this cause than
when planted on a high bed. Os course
mi bottom or moist lauds the opposite
plan should be followed.
GRASSES AND CLOVERS.
March is the favorite month for
seeding grasses and clovers. As
mentioned in February’s Taik these
may, if preferred, be sown ou the
growing grain fields, in which case a
light harrow should be run over the
fields before the grass or clover seeds
are scattered. To obtain the best re
sults, a roller should then be passed
over the lamb This will settle the
seeds, and the harrowing and roiling, so
far from injuring the young graiu, will
be found a positive benefit. They en
courage tillering, and fields, which
have been so treated, will in a short
while take on a fresh, vigorous growth.
All things considered, it is best to sow
grass and clover on land specially and
thoroughly prepared and fertilized for
their reception, but some times this is
not practicable, and we have known
very good results from the above plan.
preparation for cotton
is also one of the pressing duties of this
busy month. In the southern part cf
the stats cotton planting often begins
during the latter part of the month. In
making preparations for this crop we
should remember that while it responds
promptly to judicious and liberal fer
tilizing, the profits from such fertiliz
ing are much increased by careful prep
aration of the soil, not only by actual
plowing, but by mechanical treatment.
Where lands have had the benefit of
renovating crops as cow peas or clover,
or have been treated with applications
of barnyard manure, they are in much
better receptive condition for commer
cial fertilizers than when they lack or
ganic matter. The usual application of
200 pounds per acre in such land will
be far more effective than double that
number of pounds on well worn
fields. The secret of using commer
cial fertilizers with profit is to
put the land in such receptive condi
tion that it will at once respond to the
use of the concentrated manure, be the
application small or large, and this pre
paratory work is best done by deep plow
ing and renovating crops. In the in
quiry columns will be found several
questions bearing on this subject.
HOGS,
The pigs intended for pork should be
pushed forward rapidly. It has been
said with truth, that the most profitable
hogs are those which never see a Christ
mas. Spring pigs pushed to maturity
not only make the best meat, but show
the most clear profit. They should not
be allowed to lack for food or proper at
tention. Plenty of good wholesome
food, pure water and clean quarters will
almost insure success.
E. T. Nesbitt, Commissioner.
Warning In Regard to Compost Peddlers.
In the “Monthly Talks and Answers
to Questions” for January I took occa
sion to denounce one J. D. Butler,
“President of the Champion Chemical
Process Co.” of Dunn, Fayetteville and
Thomasville, N. C., and published him
as a fraud and a swindler, in that he
was selling a worthless formula for
making a fertilizer, thus robbing our
farmers wherever he could. lam now
in receipt of a Bulletin from the North
Carolina Experiment Station exposing
this same rascal for selling his fraudu
lent formula in North Carolina. In
that state he claims to be from Georgia,
in this he gives North Carolina as his
residence. I have advertised this par
ticular rascal so thoroughly, simply to
put the farmers on their guard against
all vendors of fertilizer formulas. As a
rule they are rascals, and unless they
can show the indoisement of their for
mulas by this department, they should
be promptly arrested and punished.
Should the aforementioned Butler again
make his appearance iu Georgia. I trust
that he will be promptly arrested. If
an example could be made of one of the
swindlers that sell worthless formulas
for fertilizers, the business would be
broken up, much to the benefit of the
farmers. I again repeat that this de
partment is at all times ready to furnish
good formulas for making composts,
and they can be had by simply writing
to this office. Another point to which
I wish to call the attention of the farm
ers is this: Sometimes guano or cotton
seed meal is offered for sale, either un
tagged or with tags of the previous year
on the sacks. This is a violation of the
law and subjects the manufacturer,
upon conviction, to the penalty of fine
or imprisonment, or both. The manu
facturers should know the law on the
subject, and if they violate it they ought
to suffer. Occasionally a tag will acci
dentally be removed from a sack, and,
of course, the law would not apply in
such a case.—State Agricultural De
partment.
Barnyard Manure For Cotton.
Question. —Is barnyard manure a
good fertilizer for cotton ? I used it
last year, but the results did not come
up to my expectations.
Answer.—We have found that barn
yard manure acts more effectually for
cotton, when used as a soil improver
rather than a direct fertilizer. If barn
yard manure is to be used, it is more
profitable to compost it some time pre
vious to its application to the land, com
bining with it acid phosphate and pot
ash in some form. These not only have
• specific value, but by certain chemi
cal combinations with the elements in
the manure render it more valuable
than when In its natural condition.
This composting may be done directly
in the drill and a list thrown on it to
prevent the escape of ammonia, but
there should always be time allowed
for decomposition. We would not ad
vise the application of barnyard manure
to cotton just at the time of planting.
—State Agricultural Department
ANSWERS TO
INQUIRIES
Questions on All Sorts of Sub
jects For the Farm.
SCIENTIFIC, PRACTICAL ANSWERS
The Best Time to Apply Fertilizers For
Cotton—Garden Truck That Can Ifu
Planted In February—A Remedy For
the “Apple Tree Apiis”—Three Balanced
Kations For Milch Cows.
Question. —Being a newcomer from
Wisconsin. I would like to know what
garden truck can be planted in Febru
ary. Are there any insect enemies to
vegetables at that early season? If so,
how can I prevent their ravages?
Answer. —In South Georgia, where
you live, you can plant in the garden
by Feb. 1 all the hardier vegetables,
such as green peas, onion sets, or onion
seed either, turnips, cabbage, spinach,
beets, lettuce, radishes, carrots, pars
nips, salsify, etc. Should there come
very cold weather when the plants are
just coming up you might protect them
with a coat of leaves or pine straw, to
be taken off as soon as the weather
moderated. Irish potatoes should be
planted at this time, and also mustard
and collards.
About the middle of the month, plant
some good variety of garden corn, and
for a succession, plant a patch every two
weeks until June; also plant successive
crops of garden peas every ten days or
two weeks until the last of April. Many
persons in your part of the state plant
their gardens in January, but from a
long residence in the same latitude, I
am convinced that from Feb. 1 to 10 is
the best time for this purpose. There
is no piece of ground on any farm that
pays half as well, or that affords one
tenth part the satisfaction, that is de
rived from a well prepared and well
cultivated vegetable garden, and yet it
is too much the custom for our farmers
to turn over the garden to the care of
the women folks, grudgingly letting
them have a load or two of stable
manure, all of which, they think,
should go to the raising of cotton. A
half acre devoted to the garden will fur
nish palatable and nutritious food for a
family for the greater part of the year,
and yet how few good gardens do we
meet with in the country.
Be sure to highly enrich your ground,
and break it from 10 to 12 inches, or
even deeper if practicable. Plant in
rows clear across the garden, so that
cultivation can be done with the plow,
then work well, and though accustomed
as you are to the rich soil of Wisconsin,
you will be astonished at the quantity,
quality and variety of vegetables that
can be produced on a half acre of Geor
gia soil.
There are few, if any, insect pests to
contend with so early in the season.
Should the cut worms commence theif
work, go over your garden very early
every morning, and wherever you find
a plant cut off, scratch down in the
ground and you will almost certainly
find the worm within 1 inch of the sur
face; when found you can have the sat
isfaction of crushing the life out of him,
or better still, throw him to the chick
ens. There are other plans suggested
for getting rid of the cut worm, but this
is the most effectual and therefore the
best. Should you find any insect at
tacking your young turnips, radishes or
cabbage plants, dust over them some
ashes or plaster, or best of all, some
pyrethreum, or insect powder. The lat
ter being expensive, should be mixed
with four times its weight of common
flour and then kept tightly closed for 24
hours before using. You will find thia
very effective. —State Agricultural De
partment.
“Th© Apple Tree Aphis.”
Question. —I send you in a small bot
tle an app«e tree twig covered with
small eggs, what are they?_ Also a bug
which I wish you would name? If these
are injurious to tree or fruit give me
remedy for them.
Answer. —After a careful microscopic
examination I find the twig covered
with the black, shining eggs of the
“Apple tree Aphis.” They are laid in
the fall of the year, and at first are of a
light green or yellow color, but gradu
ally become darker, and finally black
and glossy. As soon as the buds begin
to expand in the spring these eggs hatch
out small lice, which insert their bills
in the buds and tender leaves and suck
the juices from them. These lice attain
maturity in 10 or 12 days, and then com
mence giving birth to living young at
the rate of two or three daily. They
continue this for two or three weeks
when they die. The young lice repe t
this process of reproduction exactly line
their predecessors, and so it goes on un
til the fall. At that time a stock of
eggs is deposited on the bark of the
limbs and twigs t.» sontinue the species
another season.
Remedies—Scrape the dead bark off
the trees during the winter and wash
the limbs with a solution of soft soap
and soda. This is done to destroy the
eggs. To destroy the young lice syringe
the trees at the time the buds are put
ting out with either strong soapsuds,
weak lye, or tobacco water made by
boiling 1 pound of the stems or leaves in
a gallon of water. A cold spell after
the lice have hatched out will kill mil
lions of them, though no degree of cold
seems to hurt the eggs.
The bug you sent for identification is
called the "Twospotted Lady-bird,” be-
cause of its having two bright orange
colored spots, one on each wing cover
ing. The Lady-bird is the friend of the
fruit grower, as she and her larve eat
great numbers of the lice.
Rotten Fine Straw as a Fertilizer.
Question. —Ou a branch which runs
through my farm is a large deposit of
swamp muck, composed of rotten pine
straw, leaves and other vegetable mat
ter, mixed with soil washed in from sur
rounding laud. Is this valuable as a
fertilizer? If so how shall I use it?
Answer.—Such a deposit as you de
scribe is valuable if you can utilize it by
a short haul. The value of muck lies in
the nitrogen and organic matter, the
amounts of potash and phosphoric acid
being insignificant. The nitrogen be
comes more quickly available by com
posting the muck, which brings about
fermentation. By this means, also, the
organic matter is converted into humus,
so important to the growth of all plants.
It will be best for you to throw the
muck out on the bank and let it become
dry before composting. Either of the
three following formulas will give you
a good compost:
NO. 1.
Muck 4,000 pounds
Cow manure 2,000 “
Green cotton seed 1,000 “
Acid phosphate 1,500 “
Kainit 500 “
no. 2.
Muck 2,000 pounds
Stable manure 1,000 “
Green cotton seed 700 “
Ashes 450 “
Acid phosphate 1,000 “
no. 3.
Muck 1,571 pounds
Acid phosphate 280 “
Dried blood 112 “
Muriate of potash 37 "
In each case after mixing cover with
earth and let fermentation or heating
take place before using.
Amount of Fertilizer In an Acre of Cotton.
Question. —How much fertilizer may
be profitably used iu an acre of cotton ?
I have been trying different amounts,
but so far my experiments are rather
contradictory and disappointing.
Answer.—The amount of commer
cial fertilizer which may be used on an
acre of cotton varies so widely with the
quality and condition of the soil, the
seasons, previous crops grown, and
many other circumstances, that no set
rule can be laid down. Generally
speaking, if the land has been brought
to a very high state of cultivation very
heavy applications may be made, but
for ordinary Georgia soils in good con
dition, that is, which have been care
fully cropped and improved and not al
lowed to become hard or destitute of
humus, an application of about 700
pounds per acre has been found most
profitable. When this quantity is used
it is advisable to apply half in the drill
and well mixed with the soil at plant
ing and the other half at the second
plowing, in the siding futrow. A
bulletin from the Georgia Experiment
Station says: “It has been shown that
|B.OO worth of well balanced fertilizer
may be expected to increase the yield
of seed cotton on one acre 1,000 pounds.
But such results can only be attained
by concentrating the fertilizer on the
best land, not by scattering it at the
rate of 100 or 200 pounds par acre over
a large, worn out plantation. The mis
take should not be made of applying
large amounts of concentrated fertil
izers on thin, worn out land. The larger
the application the more important it
is that the land be in the best possible
condition.” —State Agricultural Depart
ment.
lhe Proper Proportions of the Different
Element* In a Fertilizer For Cotton.
Question.—Please give me your views
as to the best proportions in which to
combine phosphoric acid, potash and
nitrogen to successfully fertilize a cot
ton crop.
Answer.—ln fertilizing a cotton cron
phosphoric acid is relatively the most
important element and controls the ac
tion of the other two. Its presence is
very important to the development of
perfect bolls, and while it may be used
alone with some beneficial results, it
is much more effective when combined
with the other two. Neither nitrogen
nor potash, when applied alone, produce
any appreciable increase in the yield,
and these only do their best work when
combined with each other and with
phosphoric acid, which latter exercises
the deciding influence as to the quantity
of each, which can be profitably used.
That is, in making up a formula for
cotton, the amount of phosphoric acid
should determine the amounts of the
other two. Potash and nitrogen are
generally used in the same proportions,
and the amount of phosphoric acid
should be from 2% to 3 times as large.
Thus: Potash, 1; nitrogen, 1; phos
phoric acid, from 2% to 3, would be
about the proportion for general use,
and these proportions we would get
from a fertilizer analyzing: Soluble
(available) phosphoric acid, 9; potash,
3; nitrogen, 3. —State Agricultural De
partment.
Is It Best For Cotton to Apply Fertilizer
in the Drill or Broadcast?
Question. —I have decided to make a
heavy application of commercial ferti
lizer to my cotton crop. Would you ad
vise me to apply in the drill or broad
cast? The land is in moderately good
condition. Some of it was in corn last
year, some in grain and some in peas.
Answer. —Our experience has been
that when large amounts of fertilizer
are used it is not advisable to apply in a
single drill. Either two separate appli
cations should be made, one in the seed
drill at planting time and well mixed
with the soil and the other in the first
siding furrows, or if the seed are to bo
planted very soon after the beds are
made, a part of the fertilizer may be
drilled into the center furrow and the
remainder in the two listing furrows.
The experiments at the Georgia station
show that “it is by no meansjnecessary,
nor is it desirable to broadcast the ferti
lizer when less than 1,500 pounds are to
be applied to an acre of corn or cotton
or other wide row crop. Broadcast ma
nuring should as a rule be confined to
crops that are planted broadcast, as
small grains, grass, etc.”
Keep iu mind that cotton following
peas requires a fertilizer running lower
in nitrogen than when put on land
which has been planted in corn or small
grain.—State Agricultural Department.
Proper Soil For the Cultivation of Pecans.
Question. —Will you kindly write me
something about the cultivation of pe
cans? The proper soil, the number of
years before bearing, etc? I am told
they must be planted from the nut. for
the reason that if iu transplanting the
tap root should be broken they would
nut bear. Is this true?
Answer.—The pecan tree requires for
its best development a rich alluvial soil,
being a native of the rich bottom lands
of Texas and the states bordering ou the
lower Mississippi river. They may be
grown successfully on rich uplands of
the cotton states, but will never amount
to anything on thin, thirsty soils, where
many have been planted. On suitable
land the trees should be planted not less
than 40 to 50 feet apart each way, and
they should be well cultivated while
young. It is not true that should the
tap root be broken off in transplanting
the tree would not boar. At the same
time care should be taken to mutilate
the roots as little as possible. Some
growers prefer planting the nut where
the tree is to stand, others prefer to
transplant. Under favorable conditions
the pecan will commence to bear in 13
to 14 years.
The “Harlequin” Bug;.
Question. —I am a large grower of
turnip and mustard seed. In the spring
before they ripen much damage is done
the plants by a spotted bug. What is
it? Can you give a remedy?
Answer.—The bug that injures your
crops is without doubt-the “Harlequin”
bug, the worst insect enemy of all cru
ciferous plants. They live through the
winter hidden under leaves or trash of
any kind. They are ready to deposit
their eggs from the middle to last of
March, and then in from four to six
days these hatch out a brood of larvae,
which at once commence their destruc
tive work by piercing the leaves and
sucking the sap. The leaf thus pierced
soon wilts and dies. These insects are
shy and timid, and upon the approach
of a person try to hide behind anything
that will conceal them. They are very
difficult to contend with, as they cannot
be reached by any of the arsenical poi
sons. All rubbish under which the bugs
may take refuge during the winter
should be carefully burned, and infested
fields or gardens should have clean cul
ture. Hand-picking into pans contain
ing water or kerosene is often resorted
to as a remedy. Pyrethrum in decoction
or powder, and kerosene emulsion may
prove effectual when the bugs are young.
Cabbage growers plant mustard be
tween the rows of cabbages, which be
ing preferred by the bugs attracts them
in large numbers, when they are effect
ually destroyed with pure kerosene.
Possibly you might adopt this plan suc
cessfully if your turnips and mustard
are sowed in drills. I hope you will try
it and report result to this department.
—State Agricultural Department.
Rations For Milch Cows.
Question.—l have a variety of feed
stuffs and want you to give me three
balanced rations for milch cows weigh
ing 800 to 1,000 pounds.
Answer.—A balanced ration for a
cow weighing 1,000 pounds should con
tain, according to the Georgia Experi
ment Station, 24 pounds of organic mat
ter, 2.50 pounds of protein, and 13.38
pounds of Carbo-hydrates. Therefore
(quoting from the same excellent au
thority), the following would be the
proper rations for a milch cow of the
above mentioned weight:
no. 1.
Clover hay 10 pounds
Oat straw 12 “
Wheat bran 6 “
Cottonseed meal 2 “
NO. 2.
Crab grass hay 20 pounds
Shucks 10 “
Corn meal 3 “
Cottonseed meal 3% “
no. 3.
Wheat straw cut & dampened. 18 pounds
Cow pea hay 10 “
Cottonseed meal
NO. 4.
Cottonseed hulls 20 pounds
Cottonseed meal 5 “
Corn meal 6 “
In ’ leqjard to Sending; Out Seed.
Question. —If you have any seed for
distribu ion please send me an assort
ment of garden seeds, and also some
King’s Improved cottonseed.
Answer —ln the years 1893 and 1894
this department sent out a great many
rends of different kinds, at a heavy cost,
but the practice has been discontinued
r n'-e J 1, 1895. I receive a great
many letters still asking for seeds of
v ri'iu- 1 Lids, and I give this public no
tice that no more seeds will be sent out
by this department, in order that post
age and the trouble of writing may be
saved to all concerned.
The intention of the department at
first was to send out only new and un
tried seeds that they might be tested by
our most experienced farmers and gar-
deners. but gradually the custom grew
until every one that applied was furn
ished a few choice seed. This
proved very unsatisfactory for many
reasons, and so the practice was entirely
abandoned more than two years since.
The testing of new seeds and new vari
eties is now very carefully and thor
oughly done by the experiment station
near Griffin, and the results are pub
lished in their bulletins and in many of
the papers of the state, thus doing away
with the necessity of this department
sending out any seeds for that purpose.
The Agricultural Department at
Washington distributes a great many
seed to all sections of the country, and
parties desirous of getting them should!
I bo ab.e to do so by writing to the con I
i gressman from their district.—State
Agricultural Department.
Harrowing Oat* to Loosen Up Soli.
Question.—-I have a field of volunteer
Oats, very thick, would it do any good
to run through them with a cutaway
harrow to loosen up the soi:? If yes,
when? I want to manure them with
acid phosphate and cottonseed meal,
what proportion of each shall I use?
Should I mix any potash with the meal
and acid?
Answer.—l would advise against us
ing a cutaway harrow on your oats, as I
think it would cut them up too much.
It would be an advantage to the oats to
cross and recross them with a plain
smoothing or straight tooth harrow,
which would loosen the soil to some ex
tent and slightly thin out the oats,
which would probably benefit them. Do
this as soon as the ground is sufficiently
dry.
A liberal top drossing of cottonseed
meal, say 300 pounds to the acre, applied
just before harrowing, would probably
insure you a good yield of oats. As,
however, you doubtless expect to follow
your oat crop with peas, I suggest that
you add 150 pounds of phosphoric acid
and 50 pounds of kainit to the cotton
seed meal. In that case you might ex
pect a fine pea crop after taking off the
oats without any further fertilizing.—
State Agricultural Department.
The Kind of Phosphoric Acid Best Suited
to Cotton.
Question. —Does it make any differ
ence what kind of phosphoric acid is
used for cotton, or are all equally good?
Answer.—The value of phosphoric
acid for cotton is in proportion to its
solubility; hence acid phosphates which
ruu high in soluble phosphoric acid
should be preferred. Insoluble phos
pho: ic acid, such as is found in marl,
floats, slag, etc., are of little direct
value to the crop, though they may ben
efit the land for future crops. These,
to be profitable, should be applied to
leguminous crops, and when the stubble
and roots of these crops are turned un
der and the land is then planted in cot
ton, the indirect value of the marl,
floats or slag, as the case may be, be
comes at once apparent in the increased
yield of the cotton.—State Agricultural
Department.
Time to Apply Fertilizer* For Cotton.
Question. —If I should decide to fer
tilize iny cotton very heavily will it be
best to apply all the fertilizer at one
time or at different periods, say a part
at planting, a second application at the
first plowing, and another later on?
Answer. —The answer to your ques
tion depends very much on the kind of
fertilizer you will use. If the elements
are readily available and highly ammo
niated we have found that to divide a
large amount into two and even three
parts and apply at different periods of
crop development has a marked effect
for good. But in the slower acting for
mulas it is more profitable to make one
application at time of planting, dividing
it between the planting and the two ad
joining furrows.—State Agricultural
Department.
Kainit For Bust Tn Cotton.
Question. —Is kainit a certain pre
ventive for rust in cotton ? Ou some of
my land the cotton rusts badly, but I
have not found that kainit prevents it.
I thought perhaps there was some par
ticular way ot applying it, as I have
seen it very highly recommended.
Answer.—Kainit has been recom--
mended as a specific for blight or rust
in cotton, but further experiment is re
quired to settle this as an undisputed
fact. It is best always to apply it in
connection with the other two elements,
nitrogen and phosphoric acid, and seems
to have the best effect when used in
conjunction with cottonseed or cotton
seed meal rather than other forms of
nitrogenous manures.—State Agricul
tural Department.
Cottonseed and Cottonseed Meal For Ma
nuring o; t on.
Question. —Which is the best manure
for cotton, whole cottonseed, cottonseed
meal or crushed cottonseed ?
Answer. —There is a s ight difference
in favor of cottonseed meal over the
other two. The manorial value of
whole cottonseed uni crul seed is
about the same. As cottonseed is a com
plete fertilizer with an excess of nitro
gen, it is better suited for grain crops
than cotton, because the grain requires a
larger amount of nitrogen, cotton a
larger amount of phosphoric acid.—
State Agricultural Department.
Depth to Apply Feri.i’>z r For Cotton.
Question. —At what depth should
c unmercial fertilizers bn for
cotton? and is it best, u. large
amount is used, to broadcast or put in
the driil?
Answer.—The fertilizer should be ap
plied at a depth of about 3 inches and
well mixed with the soi). The next re
ply answers the latter part of your ques
tion.—State Agricultural