BULLETIN No. 78.FERAY187 FEBRUARY, 1897. ALABAMA Agricultura1 Experiment Station OF THE AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE, AUBURN. Go~operative Fertilizer Ekpetirnents u itb Cotton in 1896. J. F. DUGG-AR, Agricultu~rist. MONTGOMERY, THE BROWN PRINTING COMPANY, PRINTERS, ALA.: 1897. COMMITTEE OF TRUSTEES ON EXPERIMENT STATION. I. F. CULVER....................................Union Springs. Hope Hull. J. G. GILCHRIST ................................ H. CLAY ARMSTRONG.............................Auburn. STATION COUNCIL. WM. LEROY BROUN...................................President. P. H. MELL.........................................Botanist. B. B. Ross............... ........................... Chemist. C. A. CARY, D. V. M..........................Veterinarian. J. F. DUGGAR................................................Agriculturist. F. S. EARLE...............................Biologist and Horticulturist. C. F. BAKER...........................................Entomologist. ASSISTANTS. J. T. ANDERSON ............................ First Assistant Chemist. Second Assistant Chemist. C. L. HARE ............................ R. (G. WILLIAMS............................ Third Assistant Chemist. Superintendent of Farm. T. U. CULVER .......................... W"The Bulletins of this Station will be sent free to any citizen of the State on application to the Agricultural Experiment Station, Auburn, Alabama,. CO-OPERATIVE FERTILIZER EXPERIMENTS WITH COTTON IN 1896. BY J. F. DUGGAR. S UMM A]RY. In 1896, in addition to experiments on the Station Farm, there were conducted under the direction of the Agricultural Department of this Experiment Station 27 fertilizer experiments with cotton in as many localities. Reports were received from 21 experimenters; 14 of the most conclusive of these reports constitute the basis for the greater part of the results here presented. Florida soft phosphate, also known as "Natural Plant Food," proved inferior to high grade acid phosphate, pound for pound. When both phosphates were applied with cotton seed or cotton seed meal the average yield of seed cotton was 43 pounds per acre greater with acid phosphate than with the Florida soft phosphate. The nitrogen contained in crushed cotton seed and cotton seed meal was equally valuable, pound for pound. The relative prices of cotton seed and cotton seed meal, which fluctuate considerably, must in each particular case determine which is the cheaper source of nitrogen and hence the more profitable fertilizer. On an average one pound of cotton seed meal proved as effective as 2 1-16 pounds of crushed cotton seed. In other words 922 pounds of cotton seed meal proved equal in fertilizing value to 2,000 pounds of crushed cotton seed. According to these results, which however may have been influenced by the unusual season, a farmer cannot afford to 38 sell cotton seed and buy cotton seed meal until the ton price of seed is at least 46 per cent. of the ton price of the meal; for example, with cotton seed meal at $20 per ton, crushed seed are worth on the farm $9.20 for fertilizing purposes. In testing the needs of the cotton plant, 200 pounds per acre of cotton seed meal was used to furnish nitrogen, 240 pounds acid phosphate to supply phosphoric acid, and 200 pounds kainit to afford potash. These fertilizers were not as a rule applied singly, but by twos and threes. The chief need of the soil was apparently phosphoric acid in three instances, potash in three cases, and nitrogen in five soils; on three of these fourteen soils, phosphoric acid, potash, and nitrogen were all about equally effective. A complete fertilizer, containing all three of the above mentioned fertilizer materials, was more effective on nine out of fourteen soils than was any combination of only two fertilizers. Averaging the resuls for the fourteen tests, the increase over the yields of unfertilized plots were as follows: With a complete fertilizer, an increase of 454 pounds of seed cotton per acre; with a mixture of cotton seed meal and acid phosphate, an increase of 378 pounds; with a mixture of cotton seed nimeal and kainit, a gain of 375 pounds; and with a mixture of acid phosphate and kainit, 322 pounds. The average profits per acre from fertilizers were respectively $6.04, $5.63, $5.78, and $4.70. The work of testing the manurial needs of different soils is being continued with cotton in 1897. OBJECTS OF THE EXPERIMENTS. The most careless observer cannot fail to notice that there are numerous distinct classes of soil within this State. These differ not only in chemical composition and in physical structure, but also in their ability to utilize for the benefit of crops growing on them the various kinds of commercial 39 fertilizers. Indeed there is no process by which one can positively determine the best fertilizer formula for a given soil until actual tests on it or on similar soils have thrown some light upon its needs. There are general principles, the application of which will usually be highly advantageous in compounding a promising formula, but an actual test is the only final and positive authority. Hence it is that in fertilizer tests this Station, in 1896 and in previous years, has secured the co-operation of careful and progressive farmers located on the different soil belts of the State. In the spring of 1896 small lots of carefully weighed and mixed fertilizers were sent to parties in twenty-seven localities. Accompanying the fertilizers were detailed instructions as to how to conduct the experiment. Blank forms for reporting results were furnished. Some of these experiments were visited as time could be spared. The King variety was used in all tests. The three main objects of the experiment were as follows: (1) To learn if Florida soft phosphate can be profitably substituted for acid phosphate when used in connection with cotton seed or cotton seed meal. (2) To ascertain the relative fertilizing values of cotton seed and cotton seed meal. (3) To obtain information regarding the best combinations of fertilizers for cotton, growing on different classes of soil. In order to make the work of caring for the experiment as light as possible, only eight plots were used in each test, except in cases where the experimenters volunteered to care for a larger number of plots. The small number of plots in most experiments rendered it impracticable to test each fertilizer separately and alone, which, however, will be done in future tests by discontinuing the use of Florida soft phosphate and cotton seed. 40 The directions sent to those having eight plots required each plot to be one-eighth of an acre in area, the width being sufficient for eight rows. Rows were 3- ft. apart and each experimenter was advised to so thin the cotton as to leave the same number of plants on each plot, preferable at distances of 18 inches between plants, a point which was not observed in all cases. However, the reports indicated that in general no wide differences existed in the number of plants growing on the several plots. The directions stated that land employed for this test should be level and uniform, not manured in recent years, and not newground, or subject to overflow, and that it should be representative of large soil areas in its vicinity. The need of perfect uniformity of treatment for all plots (except as to kinds of fertilizers used) was emphasized. Fertilizers were applied in the usual manner, that is drilled, ridges afterwards being thrown up above the fertilizers. In the few instances where lime was used, the directions required it to be spread broadcast after forming the beds. Notes on the weather show that in most localities the season was abnormally dry, a circumstance which materially lessens the value of the results. Many of those who conducted this the test made special note of the damage done by unusually hot weather in July and August. THE FERTILIZERS USED. The fertilizers used in this experiment cost, delivered in Auburn in less than car load lots, as follows: Per Ion. Acid phosphate, Cotton seed meal, Kainit, - - - - - $15.00 - 20.20 15.70 Florida soft phosphate, Slaked lime, - - - - 13.92 Crushed cotton seed, (estimated) 8.56 5.00 - 41 The above prices for acid phosphate and cotton seed meal are considerably higher than the prices paid for the same class of goods in 1897. The separate fertilizer materials contained the following percentages of essential fertilizer ingredients, that is, nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash. Composition of fertilizers. Phosphoric acid. Per cent. Nitrogen. Per cent. Acid phosphate.......... ............. Florida soft phosphate......... .......... .......... Kainit....................... 6.79± Cotton seed meal.............. 83.13± Cotton seed............... Potash. Per cent. 16.26 ...... . 29. 26tt . 12.80 .......... 2.88 1.77 1.17 1.27 this superphosphate was guaranteed to contain 14%.. available phosphoric acid, which is more than the percentage in. most brands. t Average of many analyses. ±tChiefly acid-soluble or "insoluble." *Available;. 42 All the fertilizers employed are in common use and well known except Florida soft phosphate. This is ground phosphate rock which has not been treated with sulphuric acid, as have the acid phosphates or superphosphates. It contains a much higher percentage of phosphoric acid than acid phosphate because it has not been "diluted" by the addition of sulphuric acid, but this phosphoric acid is nearly all in such a condition that it is not easily dissolved. Other terms applied to Florida soft phosphate are raw phosphate, crude phosphate, and "Natural Plant Food." In the eight-plot experiments, two plots were left unfertilized, these being plots two and six. The following table shows what kinis and amounts of fertilizers were used on certain plots; the number of pounds of nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash supplied per acre by each fertilizer mixture; and the percentage composition and cost per ton of each mixture, the latter being given in order that these mixtures may be readily compared with various brands of prepared guanos: 43 Pounds per acre of fertilizers, nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash used and composition of each mixture. Mixture contains Fertilizers per acre. PhosphorNitrogen. ic acid. Plot 1 200 lbs. cotton seed meal 240 lbs. acid phosphate In 100 lbs. of mixture... Plot 3 200 lbs. cotton seed meal 200 lbs. kainit In 100 lbs. of mixture... Plot 4 240 lbs. acid phosphate ........ 200 lbs. kainit In 100 lbs. of mixture........... Plot 5 200 lbs. cotton seed meal) 240 lbs. acid phosphate 200 lbs. kainit In 100 lbs of mixture... 13.58 2.12 44.78 6.97 28.14 4.39 $16.84 32.52 8.87 28.14 6.39 $15.32 13.58 3.39 5.76 1.44 28.14 7.35 $17.95 Lbs. 13.58 3.08 Lbs. 44.78 10.18 Potash. Lbs. 3.54 .80 $17.36 Cost of mixture per ton. The above table shows that the mixture applied to plot 1 was rich in nitrogen and phosphoric acid; that applied to plot 3, in nitrogen and potash; that used on plot 4 was rich in phosphoric acid and potash; and the mixture applied to plot 5 contained considerable quantities of all three of these valuable ingredients, and hence is properly called a complete fertilizer. Those farmers who are more accustomed to the word am- monia than to the term nitrogen, can change the figures for nitrogen into their ammonia equivalents by multiplying by 1 3-14. 44 Unless explained, the term ' profit from fertilizers" as used in the following table, might be misunderstood. Profit or loss, as there used, is simply the difference between the value of the increase attributed to the fertilizer and the cost of the latter. To make this more exact, the careful reader may subtract from the apparent profit certain small items, which, because variable, could not be incorporated in the table,-for example, cost of applying fertilizers and cost of picking and ginning the increase. Again the actual profit per acre from cotton culture may be greater or smaller than the "profit from fertilizer." When on the unfertilized plot cotton is produced at a loss of say $3 per acre, and when the tables show say $10 as the profit from a certain fertilizer mixture, a part of this profit must go towards offsetting the loss that would have occurred without fertilizers, leaving the farmer in this case only $7 in actual profit, although the fertilizer may have been beneficial to the extent of $10 over and above its cost. On the other hand when cotton is produced at a profit on unfertilized land and when fertilizers also show a profit, the sum of these two items is very nearly the farmer's actual profit. In determining the increase over the unfertilized plots the yield of each fertilized plot is compared with both unfertilized plots lying on either side, giving to each unfertilized plot a weight inversely proportional to its distance from the plot under comparison. When the fertilized plot has an unfertilized plot on only one side of it, this single unfertilized plot is used as a standard. This method of comparison tends to compensate for variations in the fertility of the several plots. 45 GROUP I. PHOSPHORIC ACID MOST EFFECTIVE. EXPERIMENT MADE BY MR. D. CARMICHAEL, NEWTON, DALE COUNTY. JR., Soil for six inches, grey sandy loam; subsoil, red sand. This piece of upland had been cleared for ten years, the original growth having been pine and scrub oak. In 1895 it was in cotton, in 1894 in watermelons, and in 1893 in sweet potatoes. Mr. Carmichael states that planting was done too late for best results. The rainfall was reported as sufficient up to August 12, after which it was deficient. "The seasons were unpropitious; heavy rain on August 12 with storm damaged cotton one-third." The stand was uniform. The height of stalks on the different plots was as follows: On plot 1 " " " 2 3 4 - - - 30 in. 20 in. 26 in. 26in. Onplot 5 " " " " " " 6 7 8 - - - 33 in. 19 in. 39 in. 41in. The average yield of the unfertilized plots was 384 pounds per acre. 46 Newton experiment with cotton; results calculated to one acre. FERTILIZERS. Seed cotton. Financial results. Value of in- Cost of Profit crease fertilifrom at 212 c. zers per fertiliper lb. acre. zers. Plot No. Amount KIND per acre Lbs. 200 00 . 200 Increase overunper acre fertilized plot. Yield Lbs. 592 400 480 88 Lbs. 192 1 2 3 Cot. seed meal. No fertilizer Cot. K200seed meal.. Kainit.........." 4.80 $ 3.82 $ 0.98 2.20 3.59 -139* 4 240 200 200 240 200 00 200 240 200 472 240 200 Acid phosphate. Kainit.......... Cot. seed meal.. Acid phosphate. Kainit........ No fertilizer... Cot. seed meal.. Fla. soft phos... Kainit....... Crushed cot se'd Fla. soft phos... Kainit.........._ 608 224 264 5.60 6.60 3.37 5.39 2.23 1.21 5 6 7 640 368 776 408 10.20 5.27 4.93 8 888 520 13.00 5.27 7.73 * Loss. Whatever may be the explanation, the figures show for the plot receiving Florida soft phosphate a yield which is 136 pounds greater than that of the plot rEceiving an equal weight of acid phosphate. Crushed cotton seed was here a better fertilizer than cotton seed meal to the extent of 112 pounds of seed cotton or $2.80 per acre. This soil was apparently more responsive to acid phosphate than to either cotton seed meal or kainit. The most 47 profitable mixture appears to have been the one consisting of crushed cotton seed, Florida soft phosphate, and kainit. Tests had previously been made in three different years by Mr. J. C. Killebrew in the same locality. His results in two of the tests suggest a deficiency of all three valuable fertilizer ingredients, especially nitrogen, while in the third year they indicate that in the soil subjected to the test there is a greater need for phosphoric acid than for nitrogen and potash. EXPERIMENT MADE BY MR. A. A. MCGREGOR, TOWN CREEK, LAWRENCE COUNTY. Soil, red loam upland; subsoil red. The subsoil is reached at a depth of about five inches. The original forest growth of the neighborhood is reported as hickory and oak, including post oak. Cedars are common and pines spring up on uncultivated land. Directions were carefully followed in thinning the plants so as to leave one about every eighteen inches. When the plants were counted June 30, there were 1004 stalks on each of plots 3, 7, and 8, 996 on plot 5, 973 on plot 1, 945 on plot 4, 944 on plot 2, and 886 on plot 6. The following table gives the actual yields and the yields as corrected for a uniform stand of 1004 plants on each plot, the-latter being used in determining the increase. Even as early as June 8, decided differences in growth on the fertilized plots could be detected, the plot receiving the complete fertilizer (No. 5) being then ahead, a lead which it had lost before July 7, when the plot receiving only acid phosphate and cotton seed meal showed the best growth. At this date all plots which had received kainit had acquired a yellowish cast, which color was especially marked in the case of the plot having only mineral fertilizers. In Mr. McGregor's judgment the dry hot weatbher of the 48 first half of August damaged the first four fertilized plots much more than the unfertilized plots, and injured them even more than it did the two plots receiving Florida soft phosphate, etc. October 22, the height of four typical stalks in each plot was measured, the average height then being as follows: On the plot without kainit 35 inches; with complete fertilizer, including acid phosphate, 33 inches; with raw phosphate, cotton seed, and kainit, 30 inches; without cotton seed meal, 30 inches; with raw phosphate, cotton seed meal, and kainit, 27 inches; without acid phosphate only 24 inches; and without any fertilizer 20 and 18 inches. This crop seems to have had sufficient rain till the middle of July, from which time till August 23 the drought was severe. The careful and detailed report rendered had been sufficient evidence of the thoroughness and accuracy of Mr. McGregor's test, even though opportunity to make a personal examination of the plots had been wanting. 49 Town Creek experiment with cotton; results calculated to one acre. FERTILIZERS. Seed cotton. Financial results. ~Il ~~~M ?n/lAln A~Y 7T~ Plot per No. acre. Lbs. Ain't KIND. CorValue Cost from of Actual rectadcreaseof inover crease fertiyield yield unfer- at 212lizers ers. per zr acre. poe, tilized c. per per ar.plots. lb. acre . rt Lbs. * 748 * 380 Lbs. 771 Lbs. 368 $ 9.20° 3.82 $ 5.35 200 Cotton seed meal.., 240 Acid phosphate.. 2 00 No fertilizer .... .. . '403 .528 125 172 3.13 3.59 -0.46k 200 Cotton seed meal 200 Kainit .... ....... * 528 240 Acid phosphate. 200 Kainit ............. 200 Cotton seed meal 240 Acid phosphate. 200 Kainit ........... 6 ... 512 650 268 542 657 4.30 7.88 3.37 5.3 0.93 2.49 319 00 No fertilizer....... 200 Cotton seed meal 240 Florida soft phosphate 200 Kainit ........... 472 Crushed cotton seed 305 558 253 6.32 5.27 7{ *Loss. 558 1.05 240 Florida soft phosphate 200 Kainit .......... 636 636 331 8.27 5.27 3.00 The average (corrected) was 354 pounds of seed cotton per acre. yield of the unfertilized plots Florida soft phosphate was decidedly inferior to acid phosphate. Crushed cotton seed proved a better manure than did cotton seed meal, for this field which was cleared about 70 years before. The most profitable mixture consisted of acid phosphate and cotton seed meal, which increased the crop sufficiently to pay for the fertilizers and leave a balance or profit of 50 $5.35 per acre. When to the above mentioned mixture kainit was added, not only did the latter fail to return a profit, but it also failed to increase the yield. It is evident that this soil -required chiefly phosphoric acid and that it also needed nitrogen, but that no potash was needed in addition to the small amount (about 3 pounds) contained in 200 pounds of cotton seed meal. EXPERIMENT MADE BY MR. J. R. NAFTEL, MONTGOMERY MOLENDON, COUNTY. Soil, sand, 15 inches deep; subsoil, clay. This piece of upland was cleared about 70 years ago. The original growth was oak and pine. The crop preceding cotton was peanuts. 51 Naftel experiment with cotton; results calculated to one acre. FERTILIZERS. Seed cotton. Financial results. Cost of Ai't Plot per No. acre. Lbs. KIND. Yield Incrase Value overun- of inper fertili- crease acre. zed at 2;2ce - t Profit fo eti acre. 3 82...... ers. Lbs. 200 Cotton seed meal... 240 Acid phosphate. 178* 140 472 520 - Lbs. 2 3 4 00 No fertilizer.......... 200 Cotton seed meal.... 200 Kainit............... 307 330 345 $ 67 3 59 $ 4'08 4 88 223 5 240 Acid phosphate ....... " 200 Kainit............. 200 Cotton seed meal.. 240 Acid phosphate....... 200 Kainit........... 00 No fertilizer........ 200 Cotton seed meal. 240 Fla. soft phosphate... 200 Kainit........... 472 Crushed cotton seed.. 8 25 862 3 37 539 5 6 7 560 240 440 200 500 527-027 8 Kainit............. *Plot 1, and possibly plot 2, was injutred by a hedge and wood, near which this plot was located. (200 240 Fla. soft phosphate... 472 222 5 55 5 27 0 28 Where acid phosphate was used the crop was larger than where Florida soft phosphate was substituted. The difference between the yields of the plots receiving cotton seed meal and crushed cotton seed is slightly in favor of cotton seed. Both acid phosphate and cotton seed meal increased the yield. The former more than the latter. The effect of kainit cannot be measured on account of the injury to plot 1 from the presence of an adjoining hedge and wood. 52 GROUP II. POTASH MOST EFFECTIVE. EXPERIMENT CONDUCTED ON FARM OF MR. F. C. MCDONALD, M MILE FROM RUTLEDGE, CRENSHAW COUNTY. Soil, grey sandcy upland; subsoil, yellowish. The soil is reported as about 10 inches deep. This field has been in cultivation about 35 years, the original growth being pine. The land is nearly level and appears uniform, although the yields of the 2 unfertilized plots indicate considerable variation in fertility. Butledge experiment with cotton; results calculated to one acre. FERTILIZERS. Seed cotton. Financial results. Profit from Am't Plot per No. acre. Lbs. KIND. KID. [ncr'ase Value Cost of Yield over un- of in- fertili- per acre. fertili- crease zed at 2'%c, zers per fertiliplots, perl. acre. zers. Lbs. 200 Cotton seed meal..... 240 Acid phosphate...... 2 00 No fertilizer...... ... 3 200 Cotton seed meal... S200 Kainit ............. 4 Lbs. 6 552 864 . 8 2 128 290 2 6 7 25 6 9 3 59 7 3 66 3 5 240 Acid phosphate... .. 200 Kainit .............. 200 Cotton seed meal.. 5 240 Acid phosphate ...... 200 Kainit........... . 6 7 1080 462 11 55 5 39 6 16 00 No fertilizer.......... 640 200 Cotton seed meal.... (200 240 Fla. soft Kainit........... phosphate... . 1080 440 11 00 5 27 5 73 8 ___- 472 Crushed cotton seed.. 240 Fla. soft phosphate 200 Kainit ............. 984 344 8 60 5 27 3 33 __________._____ * Loss. 53 Florida soft phosphate, in a mixture containing cotton seed meal was almost as effective and economical as acid phosphate, pound for pound. A mixture containing cotton seed meal afforded a larger crop than one containing crushed cotton seed. A complete fertilizer was more profitable than any other. The soil responded more freely to kainit than to either phosphate or cotton seed meal, though both of the latter profitably increased the yield. EXPERIMENT CONDUCTED BY JUDGE T. J. KAYLOR, TIIOMASON, RANDOLPH COUNTY. Soil, grey to a depth of 4 to 6 inches, slightly sandy; subsoil, yellow clay, and below this. stiff red clay. The field used is described as a kind of table land nearly level and about 60 feet above river bed, and retentive of fertilizers and moisture. It was in cultivation in 1892, and how much earlier was not known. The original growth was oak and hickory, chiefly white and red oaks. The figures representing the height of plants indicate that there was a good growth of stalks on the unfertilized as well as on the fertilized plots. Corn occupied the land in 1895 and 1893, (whether with or without cowpeas is not stated), and oats in 1894. "July and August were very unfavorable for cotton and nearly all the forms of these months were shed. During first of'month of August cotton was almost scalded by excessive heat." 54 Kaylor experiment with cotton; results calculated to one acre. FERTILIZERS. Am't Plot per No. acre. KIND. Seed cotton. Financial results. Incre'se Value Cost of Profit Yield over of infertilifrom per unfercrease zersfertiiacre. tilized at 2%c. per ze r s. plot. per lb. acre. zers. Lbs. 1016 800 1077 1067 255 223 6.37 5.57 3.59 3.37 2.78 2.20 Lbs. 216 Lbs. 200 Cotton seed meal.. 240 Acid phosphate ...... 2 3 4 00 No fertilizer. ........ 200 Cotton seed meal 200 Kainit .............. 240 Acid phosphate...... 200 Kainit ............. 200 Cotton seed meal .... 240 Acid phosphate ...... 200 Kainit .. ......... 00 No fertilizer .......... 200 Cotton seed meal .... 240 Florida soft phosphate 200 Kainit............... 472 Crushed cotton seed.. 240 Florida soft phosphate 200 Kainit............... * Loss. 5.40 $ 3.82 $ 1.58 5 6 7 1125 888 976 259 6.47 5.39 1.08 108 2.70 5.27 -2.57* 8 1117 229 5.72 5.27 0.45 The yield with Florida soft phosphate fell below that with acid phosphate, involving a financial loss when raw phosphate was used. Crushed cotton seed was more effective and profitable than cotton seed meal. A mixture of cotton seed meal and kainit was as effective and more profitable than a complete fertilizer, the acid phos- phate in the latter being added at a financial loss. It should be remembered that this soil, which seems to have failed to profit by an application of acid phosphate was already in a fairly fertile condition as shown by an average yield of 844 lbs. of seed cotton on the unfertilized plots. 55 EXPERIMENT CONDUCTED BY MR. J. 3 MILES S. N. THOMPSON, W. OF PRIDE STATION, COLBERT COUNTY. Soil, dark clay, with red subsoil. Four or five feet below is flint rock, not solid. This piece of upland has been cleared for 50 years; the original growth was hickory, gum, dogwood, and maple. It appears that no good rain fell after the land was broken till May 23. "The weather was entirely too dry and hot for very good result from fertilizers." The stand was poor and the plants died early. The number and arrangement of plots in this experiment is explained in the table. 53 Pride Station experiment with cotton ; results calculated to one acre FERTILIZERS. Seed cotton. Financial results. Am't Plot No. per KIND. acre. 472 Crushed cotton seed... 200 Cotton seed meal..... 00 No fertilizer......... 240 Acid phosphate....... 200 Kainit ............... S20 ~to seed 200 K200 .............. (ottone, meal... ainit Incrase Value Cost of Profit overun- of in fertili- from per f crease pr fertiliacreacre. plo per zers. ed Lbs. -Lbs.______-____ 1 570 30 $ 0.75 3.75 $2.02 2.02 $-1.27 1.73 2 8 4 5 6 7 8 690 540 630 735 825 150 102 219 318 213 2.55 5.47 7.95 5.32 1.80 1.57 3.59 3.37 0.75 3.90 4.36 1.95 240 Acid phosphate........705 200 Kainit ............... 00 No fertilizer ......... 400 Cotton seed meal.... . 240 Acid phosphate.. 480 735 540 285 120 105 7.12 3.00 2.02 5.84 3.82 5.39 1.28 0.82 -2.77 10 11 200 Cotton seed meal... 240 Acid phosphate....... 200 Cotton seed meal..... 240 Acid phosphate........495 200 Kainit........ ...... 12 13 5200 240 ( Cotton seed meal.. 510 330 150 3.75 5.27 -1.52 Florida soft phosphate 200 Kainit .............. 00 No fertilizer.......... 200 Cotton seed m~eal.... . 240 Acid. phosphate. . 200 Kainit............. 14 585 255 '6.37 41 6.89 -0.52 L600 Slaked lime ....... . 15 200 Cotton seed phosphate 15 240 Florida soft 16 meal. 45 45.6 15 41 4.12 ___ 37.04 .0 3.70 04 472 Crushedsoft phosphate____ 495 240 Florida cotton seed. . 165 0.42 57 GROUP III. NITROGEN MOST EFFECTIVE. J. H. BRASWELL, EXPERIMENT MADE BY MR. CASTLEBERRY, CoNECUH COUNTY. Soil, gray sand; subsoil, red sand. The original growth was pine, which was removed about 25 years ago. experiment with cotton; results calculated to one acre. FERTILIZERS. Castleberry Seed cotton. I Financial results. Plot Ai't per acre No. 1 2 8 KIND. Yield per Incre'se Yalue Cost of Profit over of in- fertilifrom unfer- crease zers fertiliper acm,e. tilized at zers. plots, per lb. acre. 2,4c. Lbs. Lbs. .... Lbs. 7 240 Acid phosphate. 200 Cotton seed meal 376 368 624 .$9.40 3.82 1$5.58 2.86 1.13 2.16 00 No fertilizer..... .... S200 200 Cotton seed meal Kainit ............ ... 584 664 360 560 3( 258 220 302 6.45 5.50 7.55 3.59 3'37 5.39 4 240 Acid phosphate ... . ... S200 Kainit ............ . 200 Cotton seed meal .... 5 240 Acid phosphate....... 200 Kainit........... . 6 00 No fertilizer...... ... 200 Cotton seed meal... 7 240 Florida soft phosphate 200 Kainit............ 472 Crushed cotton seed . 8 240 Florida soft phosphate 200 Kainit............. *Loss. 200 5.00 5.27 --0.27* 536 176 4.40 5.27 -0.87' 58 The average yield was 364 pounds of seed cotton per acre. The land appears to have been remarkably uniform. Florida soft phosphate was of far less benefit than acid phosphate, the use of the former involving a financial loss. C)tton seed meal afforded a yield higher by 24 pounds per acre than did crushed cotton seed. The most effective and profitable fertilizer was a mixture of cotton seed meal and acid phosphate, which returned a profit of $5.58 per acre. When to this mixture kainit was added the yield was reduced, indicating that potash was either useless or harmful. While both cotton seed meal and acid phosphate were needed, the former was somewhat more effective than the latter, as may be seen by the comparison below: The increase with the complete fertilizer (plot 5) exceeds the increase on the plot having no cotton seed meal (plot 4) to the amount of 82 pounds per acre,-a gain attributable to cotton seed meal. In the same way the increase on plot 5 exceeds that on plot 3 by 42 pounds per acre, an increase ascribable to acid phosphate. The increase on plot 5 falls short of that on plot 1 by 74 pounds, a loss which appears to be due to the presence of kainit. EXPERIMENT MADE BY MR. JNO. P. WATKINS, BURNT CORN, MONROE COUNTY. Soil, (4 to 6 inches deep), gray and sandy; subsoil dark red. This test was made on upland which had been cleared for about 30 years. The original growth was "oak, hickory, etc., with a sprinkling of pines." The late date of fertilizing and planting, May 7-8, may partly account for the average yield of only 132 pounds of seed cotton per acre on the unfertilized plots. It is also evident from this yield that the land was in a very impoverished condition. 59 Burnt Corn experiment with cotton; results calculated to one acre. FERTILIZERS. Cotton seed. Financial results. Profit from zers. Am't Plot per No acre. cracre. KIND. Inc'asVau a Cost of fertiliYield over un of in per fertili- crease zed at 2/cz acre. plots, per 1 Lbs. 768 Lbs. 624 Lbs. 200 Cotton seed meal,.... 240 Acid phosphate...... 2 00 No fertilizer..........144 200 Cotton seed meal..... 200 Kainit............ 688 558 452 566 1395 11 30 1415 359 3 37 539 1036 7 93 876 4 3 240 Acid phosphate..... . . 584 200 Kainit ............. 200 Cotton seed meal..... 240 Acid phosphate...... 200 Kainit ............... 00 No fertilizer......... 692 120 572 5 6 7 200 Cotton-seed meal.... 240 Fla soft phosphate ... 200 Kainit............ 452 11 30 5 27 6 03 472 Crushed cotton seed . 8 240 Fla. soft phosphate ... 500 380 9 50 5 27 4 23 200 Kainit,.............___________________ The land appears to have been fairly uniform. All combin ations of fertilizers returned a profit. Florida soft phosphate proved decidedly inferior to acid phosphate. With cotton seed meal the yield was 72 pounds greater than with crushed cotton seed. The most profitable mixture consisted of cotton seed meal and acid phosphate. On the plot receiving kainit in addition to the above named mixture, the yield was reduced. Analyzing the increase in crop we find that with cotton seed meal added to the other two fertilizers there was a gain 60 of 114 pounds; with acid phosphate added to the other two, an increase of only 8 pounds; with kainit added to the other two, a loss of 58 pounds. The above figures show the effects of the several fertilizers when all used together; the showing made by plot 4 is decidedly more favorable to acid phosphate and kainit for on this plot these two fertilizers without nitrogen afforded a fair profit, which, however, was not equal to the profit obtained on either of the plots receiving cotton seed meal. EXPERIMENT MADE BY MR. J. T. ROBERTSON, LEGRAND, MONTGOMERY COUNTY. Soil, yellowish, or reddish clay, with a little sand. The surface had suffered from washing, and the soil was quite shallow. This experiment was conducted on gently sloping upland, which had become much impoverished by about 70 years of cultivation. The original growth was oak, hickory, and pine. The crop suffered for want of rain after the middle of July. The stand was defective. 61 Le Grand experiment with cotton; results calculated to one acre. FERTILIZERS. Seed cotton. Financial results. Ai't per acre. KIND. Incr'ase Value Cost of Profit Yield over un- crease fertili- from per fertiliz-a c zers per fertilied plot, per1lbacre. zers. acre Lbs. 00 No fertilizer........ 200 Cotton seed meal... 240 kcid phosphate.... 1200 Cotton seed meal... (200 Kainit ............. j240 Acid phosphate.""" Lbs. 112 704 680 408 Lbs. 592 568 296 $14.80 14.20 7.40 $3.82 359 3.37 $10.98 10.61 4.03 ~200 Kainit.......... . ( 200 S200 Cotton seed meal.. . 240 Acid phosphate... 200 Kainit ............ Cotton seed meal.. . 240 Fla. soft phosphate. 200 Kainit............ 7.12 600 15.00 5.39 9.69 664 552 13.80 5.27 8.53 S472 Crushed cotton seed 240 Fla. soft phosphate. 200 Kainit_.._______ 648 536 13.40 5.27 ___ 7.13 ___ The yield with Florida soft phosphate fell slightly below that with acid phosphate. The yields with cotton seed meal and crushed cotton seed were practically identical. As regards the needs of this soil, the speak plainly. Nitrogen was the element chiefly needed by this soil. Wherever cotton seed meal was used there was a large increase in yield, and this increase occurred whether the other ingredient of the fertilizer mixture was phosphate or kainit. figures 62 EXPERIMENT MADE BY MR. C. C. DILLBURGH, Soil, dark L. DILL, PICKENS COUNTY. red clay. sandy loam; subsoil, This test was conducted on high table land which had been cleared for 50 or 60 years. The original growth was oak, hickory, and-pine. In regard to rainfall Mr. Dill writes: have had droughts before but none that did so much ;injury.'' "We. Dillburgh experiment with cotton; results calculated to one acre. FERTILIZERS. Seed cotton. Financial results. Profit from zers. Plot Ain't per No. acre. Lbs. 3240 Yield Incrase Value Cost of KIND. per acre. Lbs. overunfertiiLbs. crease zed at2 2 .esprfriplots, r acre. 360 of in-. fertili- 200 Cotton seed meal... IAcid phosphate ....... 60 240 592 $900$882$ 518 .2 3 00 No fertilizer ......... 200 Cotton seed meal... 200 Kainit. ............. A 148 870 359 5111 43 8 4831 240 Acid phosphate......56 200 Kainit...........337 200 Cotton seed meal.... 240 Acid 38 82 9 70 337 5 39 -5 C200 Kainit...... ... 00 phosphate ... 640 388 .. 256 632 376 9 40 5 27 4.13 6 No fertilizer........ .7 .8 200 Cotton seed meal.... 240 Fla. soft phosphate... (200 Kainit ............. 472 Crushed cotton seed. 240 Fla. soft phosphate 200 Kainit . .......... 560 304 ______________ 7 60 5 27 283 The land was apparently uniformily poor, the yields of the unfertilized plots being 2410 and. 256_ pounds of seed cot- ton per acre. 63 Florida soft phosphate, when combined with cotton seed meal, was practically equal to acid phosphate, pound for pound. Cotton seed meal afforded a larger yield than did crushed cotton seed. Cotton seed meal had a greater effect than any of the other fertilizers. The increased yields obtained by adding each fertilizer in turn to the other two were 60 pounds of seed cotton per acre for cotton seed meal, 40 pounds for acid phosphate, and 28 pounds for kainit. While the complete fertilizer gave the largest yield, it did not afford the largest profit. A mixture of acid phosphate and cotton seed meal was most profitable. EXPERIMENT MADE BY MR. W. T. WEBB, ALPINE, TALLADEGA -COUNTY. Soil, (4-6 inches deep), brown; subsoil, red. This valley land had been in cultivation 50 years or more. The original growth was pine, oak, and hickory. The preceding crop was corn and cowpeas; it is notable that the crop of cow peas of 1895 did not furnish sufficient nitrogen for the following cotton crop. The most unusual point in the care of the crop was the use of a two-horse harrow in the first cultivation. The smoothing harrow, run obliquely to the rows, and covering a space of eight or ten feet has been elsewhere found useful in the early cultivation of cotton as well as of corn. However, with cotton it should be used with judgment, since under some conditions it may seriously damage the stand. Plot 1 was more seriously troubled with "rust" than any other plot, although no plot was exempt. The stand was quite uniform. (64 Alpine experiment FERTILIZERS. with cotton; results calculated to one acre. Cotton seed. Financial results. Ai't Plot per No. acre.acre. Lbs. KIND. Yield per Incre'se Yalue Cost of Profit from over of in- fertiliunfercrease zers fertilizers. tilized at 2%c. per plot, per lb. acre. Lbs. Lbs. 1 200 Cotton seed meal .... 240 Acid phosphate ...... 1720 912 1616 1256 808$20.20 3.82 $ 16.38 2 8 4 00 No fertilizer .......... 200 Cotton seed meal.... 200 Kainit.............. 240 Acid phosphate 200 Kainit ........... . 746 428 18.65 10.70 3.59 3.37 15.06 7.33 ( 6 200 Cotton seed meal .... 240 Acid phosphate 200 Kainit........... 1400 614 15.35 5.39 9.96 00 No fertilizer...........744 200 Cotton seed meal .... 7 240 Florida soft phosphate 1248 504 12.60 5.27 (200 7.33 8 93 Kainit.............. 472 Crushed cotton seed . 8 240 Florida soft phosphate 200 Kainit ................ 1312 568 _______________ 14.20 5.27 Irregularities in the soil render a part of the results of this test inconclusive, though the figures suggest the need of nitrogenfertilizers. About one-eighth of the area of plot 6 was struck by lightning for part of the difference between the which probably yields of the 2 unfertilized plots. The heavy shrinkage in yield where cotton seed meal was omitted (plot 4) indicates a need of nitrogen. ,ous accounts 65 GROUP IY.-PHOSPHORIC ACID, POTASH, AND COTTON SEED MEAL ABOUT EQUALLY EFFECTIVE. EXPERIMENT MADE BY DR. JOHN GORDON, HEALING SPRINGS, WASHINGTON COUNTY. Soil, gray sandy loam ; subsoil yellow sandy clay. The soil is 4 to 6 inches deep and very porous. The test was made on pine land cleared 10 years before. This is the only report in which we find that the crop was injured by excessive rains. Healing Springs experiment with cotton; results calculatedto one acre. r FERTILIZERS. Am't Plot per KIND. Seed cotton. Yield Financial results. No. acre. Lbs. over un- of in- Cost of Profit fertili- from fertili- crease zers per fertilized at 2%c. acre. 2 acre. zers. plots. per per Incr'ase Value 1b. 200 Cotton seed meal... 240 Acid phosphate. 2 Lbs. 316* 224* . 660* 704 Lbs. 88 2 220J$ 3 82 I$-1 62t 00 No fertilizer....... 200 Cotton seed meal... . 200 Kainit ............. 434 476 10 85 3 59 7 26 8 53 240 Acid phosphate.. 200 Kainit ............. 11 90 18 05 5 39 200 Cotton seed meal... 240 Acid phosphate.. 200 Kainit........... . 6 952 232* 1160 722 12 66 00 No fertilizer....... 200 ''otton seed meal... . 240 Fla. soft phosphate ... 200 Kainit ............ 932 23 30 5 27 18 03 472 Crushed cotton seed . 240 Fia soft phosphate.. . 1320 200 Kainit....... .... . I * Defective stand. tLoss. 1092 27 30 5 27 22 03 66 The two unfertilized plots agree very closely in yield, the average being 228 pounds of seed cotton per acre. After the second plowing many plants died on the unfertilized plots and on plots 1 and 3. Raw phosphate when applied along with cotton seed meal and kainit, appeared to be more effective and profitable than acid phosphate. Crushed cotton seed afforded a larger yield than did cotton seed meal. The soil responded freely to all fertilizing materials, whether applied in groups of two or three together. A deficient stand on two fertilized plots and the unfavorable season render it impossible to determine which element was most deficient in the soil. This is Dr. Gordon's fourth test of fertilizers on cotton. Previous results were either inconclusive or suggestive of a deficiency of all three essential fertilizer ingredients. EXPERIMENT MADE BY PROF. J. B. ESPY, ABBEVILLE, HENRY COUNTY. Soil, red clay, eight inches deep; subsoil, loam. This piece of upland had been in cultivation about 20 years, yielding in 1895 22 bushels of corn per acre. The original forest growth was oak and hickory. On each plot the same number of plants was left. The crop was injured by drought. Prof. Espy writes in regard to the effect of fertilizers on leaf diseases: "The plots on which kainit was used rusted less than the rest" 67 Abbeville experiment with cotton; results cacclated to one acre. FERTILIZERS. Seed cotton. Financial results. Plot Ai't KIND. per No. acre. tncre'se Value Cost of Profit Yield over of infrom per urfercrease zersfertili acre. tilized at 2%c. per plots, per lb. acre fertili- 1 2 8 4 5 Lbs. 472 Crushed cotton seed 200 Cotton seed meal..... 00 No fertilizer..... Lbs. 900 1140 Lbs. 288 534 $ 7.20 $ 2.02 13.35 2.02 $ 5.18 11.33 ....000 1230 1080 624 468 15.60 11.70 1.80 1.57 13.80 10.13 240 Acid phosphate ...... 200 Kainit.............. 200 Cotton seed meal .... 200 Kainit........... 7 8 9 240 Acid phosphate.......1350 726 18.15 3.37 14.78 200 Kainit........... 00 N fertilizer..........630 o 1530 912 400 Cotton seed meal .... 22.80 20.85 5.84 3.82 16.96 17.03 240 Acid phosphate ...... 10 ( 11 200Cotton seed meal.....1440 phosphate . 240 S200 12 13 Acid 834 Cotton seed meal .... 240 Acid phosphate....... 200 Kainit........... . 1620 1026 25.65 5.39 20.26 {200 F200 240 Florida soft phosphate 1200 Kainit ............ 00 No fertilizer......... Cotton seed meal. 1410 570 828 20.70 5.27 15.43 Cotton seed meal. 119 27.97 6.89 21.08 1 200 Kainit............ . 1. 600 Slaked lime ....... 151 200 .1725 14 240 Acid phosphate ....... ".... soft 240 Florida seed phosphate"1260 Cotton meal 68 68 72 __702 1.0 1.0 __17.55 37 37 .0 25 25 16 472 I6 Florida cotton seed..130 240 Crushedsoft phosphate 1320 7.5 _3.70 1.8 _13_85 -land--a-so f tni{&rrp-cpality"-- Ths.1 il wic i~hd's 4f i dibot onf ijbcat vithout fetfi .Iay 'dsponded b Al 19 t e et! A l com~plete fertilizer carr1q4n,4he d 19$ X25O pr iV ].fth unfertilized plots, turned a -rofit of 20.26- er acres The arnalrs~e 4f ul s of plots 2 to 11,1- foliow~ing ive, shows 'he reh 'tine In rease in yie1cl'of seed cottonu per Cotton seed mi ~al aifit dT4k iil increased th~e° yield' w e11tc ei Qoa Average increi p, to lA 3i 3W4iI . oIkainit an Iacid hosphate -plot; se for o on seed -meal, Acid pl iosphat Sincre~secrtb&'Yiekd When acice%07~ti le nie To k uinit pl A, I " 258 '4SI )ttfn° e To k uinit an d cotton seed 264" wxeallot," a~ed Average Kiiin To gain 'or acid~ phosphate, d8th e yi dn 30ti . thre unfe 4ilized plot, To af id pho To cbtton s ed meal plot, dIcot 3A meal by plot, 468 lbs. 6. WM 1C2I81 0 247 lhb . Average incre4 se for kainit, 69 All fertilizer materials e mqr~n m were ortaut ) an effective, 1c on "s96d acid phosphate i ne p n= l1datfish, uuW kaini 4 The latter appears to have beenmor-6see t h'& i Wh fn As cotn c s }Ioyec i tecid e&PIymore ~ an h fit fv :.1 he ton seed meal when both weld I a_-ore i l u ft~f each Florida soft phosphate was applied, cotton seed exerted pro bable that thiephosphate Idg hastpned the seed and was i aturn ma amotint of nrosing jrg~anic material the decomposition I~he large so u he a or e y the e91,wag, M 4i maix ure of pho lphate std mor than ufflcien, to pa~ the T e resu t of the s exp to a .whin ed at a slight ei4o of cotton seed meal and 240 lbs. bfacd there was ,h de 1l additional 200 lbs. of c~6t n t rhiswm c in yi l 4cAuire r i ir a 2d4. coot of tthe extra fetI4 izer. is, in i~int pePtP6tVWdfc ithW lqo d a po by a~l ge ), tios 189 . f~te t6, jon ;u t bbylJe'iiai1Q o4 Tb eviden e see s quite -suffiient to Iig . South East Alabania ti t nh . t f I E) cro 1484e i elea Agri ultui'~School is increase at order of e ectivei ess is 1) ph spoic acid,. XI ):h!it and (3) po ash. ExPERIMENt MADE) BY MESSRS. FuT . dW. PRA, VILEAUTAPGA COUNTY. This test .I was made on nearly t4.e levetuplandwhieh haid I oi gin&P gro been in cultivation for perhaps 50 years, having been in cotton gilnmost d t-44n past) 6 years. Fhe h was pine, oaRand iiickory. 70 On most plots the number of stalks was 980, and on no plot did the number greatly differ from this. The rainfall was decidedly deficient. A notable point in the cultivation of this crop was that it was grown with less hoeing than usual, a saving in this respect being effected by running a 14-inch scrape across the rows immediately after barring off. Prattville experiment with cotton; results calculated to one acre. FERTILIZERS. Am't Plot No. per acre. Lbs. 1 2 3 4 Seed cotton. Yield Financial results. KIND. Costoff Value Incrase fertiliover un- Profit perzers per at 2ts fertiliz- from acre. acre. pe ed plots. fertiliLbs. 552 344 512 472 196 184 4.90 4.60 3.59 3.37 1.41 1.23 Lbs. 208 $5.20 $3.82 $1.42 0 Cotton seed meal..... 240 Acid phosphate ...... 00 No fertilizer ......... 200 Cotton seed meal . 200 Kainit ........... 40 Acid phosphate....... 200 Kainit ............... S200 4 5 6 7 Cotton seed meal.... 240 Acid phosphate....... ( 200 Kainit............... 00 No fertilizer......... 200 Cotton seed meal... 240 Fla. soft phosphate... 640 232 432 380 9.50 5.39 4.11 200 5.00 5 27 -0.27* 200 Kainit............. 8 472 Crushed cotton seed 240 Fla. soft phosphate. . 440 200 Kainit. ....... ._ *Loss. 208 5.20 5.27 -0 07* In this test raw phosphate was decidedly inferior to acid phosphate. Crushed cotton seed and cotton seed meal afforded practically the same yields. 71 A complete fertilizer, containing cotton seed meal, acid phosphate, and kainit was the most effective and profitable fertilizer used. Whenever any ingredient of this mixture was omitted there was a large shrinkage in yield. Cotton seed meal and acid phosphate were somewhat more effective than kainit, although the last fertilizer made a better show in the dry season of 1896 than it did in previous tests on other Autauga County soils which were apparently quite similar to Mr. Smith's. The difference is probably due in large part to the unusual weather condition in 1896. The following experiments are regarded as inconclusive, although some of them convey suggestions which are doubtless valuable : Experiment made by Mr. E. J. Beasley, Red Level, Monroe County. Experiment made by Mr. J. J. Blackstock, agent for Hirsch Bros., at Hirsch Crossing, Russell County. Experiment made by Prof. Geo. P. Bondurant on farm of North Ala. Agrl. School, Athens, Limestone County. Experiment made by Mr. T. M. Roundtree, or farm of S. W. Ala. Agrl. School, Evergreen, Conecuh County. Experiment made by Mr. G. W. Freeman, on the farm oe the N. E. Ala. Agricultural School, Albertvi]le, Marshall County. Experiment made by Mr. M. W. Borum, Harpersville, Shelby County. Experiment made by the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute, Tuskegee, Macon County. The following tables give the yields of seed cotton per acre in the seven experiments just enumerated. 7'2 Red Level and Hirsch =Crossing experimnts with cotton catlculated to one acre. FER-vTIIZ 1:s. results 1 ed Level. Hirsch Crossing. Ain't Plotpo No. I 2 acre, U . d iiaofIn rea e SCa csittO at LTh. , .b YiE4i of TIncrease over nn seed cot- cy r ji.nfertilized fertilized ton. fots. plots. Ltbs. . 200 Cotton stied meal.. 240 Acid phosphate.. 0 ofril~r . L s. Lbs. -784 576 208 712 40 200 Cotton sed m, S200 Kainit..... ....... 2 0 e0Xcd 95 576 952 260 24 phosphate.... {200 Kainit............ . 5 6 7 (Q 20 200 Kaf ni ... ....... 00 40 Acid phosphate.. ,ottou seed,,weal.... :... 616 424 112 472 154 720 -12k No ferti'izev....... . 200 Cotton seed rneal... . ( 240 soft phosphte ... 200 Kainit.... _........... Fla. --28O0k 472 Cr~shed cotton seerdI.. 8 240 Fla. soft phosphate .. . 200 Kainit . ... .... 560 13.6 784 32 *Loss. 73 lYcUs of eex oltow t.necp~eAA Athens Everdeed t~t eIirren, 4 Albert- Harp- TuskeV74'lle erevlle see. EERTILIZ1Eas. Plot~ pevr K11ND. No. acre. Lbs. 472 Crnu Seed Seed 'See'd Sued cotton cottofl Scotton cotton cotton per per per per. per e a ee acre adre. are. Lbs. Lbs. 2 3 4 5 200 cotton seed. Carton~seed..mea .. Lied -Acid 750 825 870 lOfiS 750. 900 Lbs.. 667 79;[ 600 652 682 731 836 Lbs. 915 675S 495. Lbs. 1230 S28* 945 OQ k. fertil:.. . 240 200 phospbdte... 615 615 .1350 Kafnit............ 900 1110 945 495 480 705 915 907 1050 200 Cotton seed meal. 200 Wii . . 240 Acid phosphate.. 200 IKainit..... .. 8 D 240 otton seed m eal kcid O400 phagp hate. l260 -1350 1275 1335 810 1440 930 ,206' 701 521 806. 630 825. 780 960 6671' . . 10 11 neal240 Acid phosphate .. 200 Cotton seed 20,0 240 &tton Acidhli 200 Kai -seed mesd., .phosphate,. t........... . . 12 13' 200, 'i6Hda 200 '40 Cotton seed meal, st t ph6ophate .. .. 885 765 945 1140 8'0Q Kai n it..-..... 200 Cotton- seed:. meal... 14{ 600 240 Acid phosphate . 200 ainit...... ... Slaved Urnm8'...... seed 1065 900 1480 15 16 200 240 lOotton meal.... phosphare, Yr4aridti dft 975 825 645 705 1125 1057 slightly 690 705 472 Crushed cotton seed. 240 Florida soft phosphate *Average of two plots; arrangement of plots different from that in other experiments. tiInjured by trees standing near. 74 In the experiment at Red Level a mixture of cotton seed meal and acid phosphate was decidedly advantageous, but variations in fertility as shown by the yields of the two unfertilized plots were too great to justify any further conclusions. The wide variation in the yields of plots 3 and 8 at Athens was due to the fact that the first five or six plots were located on higher land than were any of the others. In the experiment at Evergreen we should conclude that nitrogen was chiefly needed, were it not for the figures opposite plots 9 and 10, and for the small yield on plots 15 and 16. At Albertville, manures applied in previous years obscured the results. In spite of this disadvantage, the results of Mr. Freeman's careful work suggest that the soil was deficient in all three essential fertilizer ingredients, especially in nitrogen. FLORIDA SOFT PHOSPHATE VERSUS ACID PHOSPHATE. By averaging the results of the 14 experiments which afford definite indications, we find that the complete fertilizer that contained acid phosphate was more effective than the one in which Florida soft phosphate was used. The average difference in favor of the acid phosphate was 43 pounds of seed cotton per acre. t Viewed from another standpoint, there were 11 experiments in which acid phosphate afforded larger yields, and three tests in which the crude phosphate stood ahead of its competitor. In this comparison it should be remembered that equal quantities of the two phosphates were used and that the Florida soft phosphate contained at least 60 per cent. mnore phosphoric acid than did the high grade acid phosphate employed. It may be claimed that the raw phosphate will have a greater effect in the second year after application than will acid phosphate. However; few farmers would be willing to 75 wait so long for a large part of their returns from feritlizers. Crude phosphate has been found to be most effective when used in combination with some organic fertilizer, a condition which has been afforded in these tests by employing cotton seed meal or cotton seed in connection with it. RELATIVE FERTILIZER VALUES OF COTTON SEED AND COTTON SEED MEAL. Frequent letters of inquiry reach the Alabama Experiment Station asking on what terms a farmer can afford to sell his cotton seed and buy cotton seed meal as a fertilizer. One of the objects of the co-operative fertilizer experiment described in this bulletin was to get answers to this question from all of the soils used in the test. In deciding on the amounts of cotton seed and meal to be compared, quantities of each were employed which would afford equal amounts of nitrogen, as indicated by the analyses then available. Ai more nearly complete compilation of analyses published since this experiment was planned indicates that it would have been more strictly accurate to have used 434 pounds of cotton seed per acre instead of 472. Disregarding the tests classed as inconclusive, we find that of the remaining experiments 7 give larger yields with cotton seed and 7 afford heavier crops with cotton seed meal. Combining the results of these 14 experiments we find that crushed cotton seed afforded an average of 10 pounds per acre of seed cotton more than did the meal. This difference in yield in favor of the seed is amply sufficieLt to coun- terbalance the fact that there was used as fertilizer 38 pounds per acre of crushed cotton seed in excess of what was necessary to supply the required amount of nitrogen. After making this allowance, we find that cotton seed and cotton seed meal were on an average equally effective when such quantities of each were compared as contained equal amounts of nitrogen. A pound of nitrogen was just as valuable in one as in the other. go d Lit of 76 b3. i;ff 6 . A + A' Ti iii'' 7i, he fAf W{ itognwhih etin t ber 922o pouds ofImeal; r= r1.ed He e:v?~t h ~'i~~ttt~ ~ ont till fgyres ro ft~te~ fr to1f4o 9pi e i ibf,9Gtst s mwi tr°a _ hl -tgfAyIi~ - seeh~~d wasrequal t aV rtbn d pPtoh6ng do e 922hpous q lie quato d of tiyn nditi ns, . e' i i t t ecsar ythat th S " fertiaz6 ishonld ss ffect q u ly: ina his onet -eke r .ngatl.ti P-iI'~!6fse H enac e aie tot tht f : Ytolijei t ht ~ e6TI eth fei plidi late' tfnr ust i iai = °S ma 3t~g~ dri fth''a b1 pfvifl The'r hn fra1b g2, f 2 ~~yi & ~Lap~itig( a tile i %iomi }er.t{. c th sedxbrrnalah t tider V U it~rgen, outwhicotweton a l; 6d A P-0 vh iileinW~fv A isetilton' of this sutbject the chemical composition of the material =compared. Hence, added: 4%a Phosphoric Acid. Lbs. 25.4 26.5 ME-AL Pot- iiecesgaity t Tlx8largely ,on the following figures calculated from many analyses compiled in illetin No. of the exhperiment Station, U. S. 13 33 Office of Dpar:trme t of Agriitilture, are gen. Lbs. 2,000lbs. of cotton seed contains 62.d 92 lbs. of c, 's. meal 'ontains 62f6 AYFRAGE RESUJLTS ash. Lbs. 23.4 1 WITr PHA1 COTTON R MD rof +AXTh.o ,& 9~the whkJ tab1se tity 'below . AND KA41NIT. the 14 . xperimk~A dld the results give f con clue averaged. T} 0(.figiwes in seed cotton over the unfertilized plots. inoThe ive res-qlkf table represent are summar the increase 78 -Increasedyield inpounds of seed cotton per acre resultingfrom different fertilizer mixtures. INCREASE OVER UNFERTILIZED PLOT WITH LOCALITY . CS. meal) C. S. meal Acid phos. Acid phos. Lbs. Kainit p05 ( Kainit Lbs. 224 Acid phos. Kainit Lbs. 264 C. S. meal Lbs. 88 125 290 255 318 258 558 568 348 746 434 762 307 Newton ............ Town Creek........ 192 368 128 216 172 236 223 319 462 259 Rutledge........... Kaylor............. Castleberry......... -Burnt Corn6...... LeGrand........... .Dillburgh.......... Alpine...... ....... 'Tuscumbia...........120t 376 624 592 360 808 88 8341 213 220 452 296 328 428 476 105 302 566 600 388 614 722 Healing Springs Abbeville....... ... -Kaftel....... ............ 726 330 184 322 1026 345 380 454 Prattville........... Average......... *Average of 13 tests. tPlot 10. 208 378* 196 375 The average amounts of seed cotton by wnich the fertilized plots exceeded the unfertilized 378 lbs. per acre with a mixture of cotton seed meal and acid were: phosphate; 375 lbs. per acre with a mixture of cotton seed meal and kainit; ~322 lbs. per acre with a mixture of acid. phosphate and kainit; and 454 lbs. wit~h a complete fertilizer. 79 Crediting the respective fertilizer mixtures with these increments at 2-2 cents per pound, and deducting the cost of the fertilizers, there remains an average profit of $5.63 for the first mixture, $5.78 for the second, $4.70 for the third, and $6.04 for the complete fertilizer. The largest profit came from the heaviest application of fertilizers, 640 lbs. per acre. By subtracting in turn from the average gain of the complete fertilizer the gain of each plot receiving its fertilizers in pairs,.we find that the. average relative increase attributable to cotton seed meal is 132 lbs., to acid phosphate 79 lbs., and to kainit 76 lbs. of seed cotton per acre. 80 lis ' o PU U l IONS OF JH], Eji]FsaP~~MB NI? AIA$AJMA.AGnLCULTTJRAL SrKa~oE B 1.ulletins N os. 1-10, 1S81- t . -2. Bulletins INos.a1-9, I885-1887. 3. Bulletins 's. 1-8, for 18'7. 4. Bulletins Nos. 1-5, for The above bulletins were issued in the early formative period of the Eperiment Station partly In eon un~c~ton with the Commissioner of Agriculture, -whose office was hen foated at Auburn. 5.]Buletins Nos. 1-77 of thecurrent series. These represent the regular burlethns of Station -since'the -formation under the Hatch fund. 6. Annual Reports of the Agricultural Experiment Station, 1-8, 1888-1896.1 By recent action of the Station Council the above bulletins have been arranged in volumes as Vol. 1. To include all bulletins issued in the first four series and before the foundation under the Hatch Act. Vol. II. To include bulletins 1-21 of'the current series, 1888-1890. Vol. III. To include bulletins Nos. 22-58 of the current series, 1891-1894. Vol. IV. To include bulletins Nos. 59-75 of the current series. Indices of these bulletins have been published and will be sent to parties applying for them until the issues are exhausted. In addition to the early bulletins grouped under Vol. I, the following bulletins and annual reports are out of print and cannot be furnished: Nos. 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 20, 22, 24, 35, 36, 37, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 54, 57, M. 'The follows: 60, 6 1,. 62, 63, 67, 72, 3 , 74. 81 The following annual reports are exhausted: 1, 3, 5, 6, 7. Anyone having copies of the bulletins which are exhausted will confer a favor by returning them to Librarian Alabama Experiment Station.