BULLETIN No. 1021 FEBRUARY, ERAY 1899. 89 ALA BAMA Agricultura Experiment OF THE Station AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE, AUBURN. CO-OPERATIVE FERTILIZER EXPERIMENTS WITH COTTON, 1898. J. F. DUGGAR. MONTGOMERY, ALA.: Tine BROWN PRINTING COMPANY, PRINTERS 1899. COMMITTEE OF TRUSTEES ON EXPERIMENT STATION. I. F. CULVER.. ........... ...... ... Union Springs. Auburn. J G. GILCuRIST...........................................Hope Hull. H. CLAY ARMSTRONG ......................................... STATION COWNCIL. WM. LEROY BROUN.......................President and Botanist. Chemist. Agriculturist. Biologist and Horticulturist. Entomologist. Associate Chemist. ............................................... --............. P. H. MELL...................................Director B. B. Ross. J. F. DUGGAR.. C. A. CARY, D. V. M................................Veterinarian. F. S. EARLE ............................. *C. F. BAKER. ........................................ J. T. ANiDER5ON.................... ....................... ASSISTANTS. (;. L . HARE .......... ......................... J. Q. BURTON................ .................... First Assistant Chemist. Second Assistant Chemist. T. U. CUrLVER ................................ Superintendent of Farm. .D'The Bulletins of this Station will be sent free to any citizen of the State on application to the Agricultural Experiment Station, Auburn, Alabama. *Absent on leave. CO-OPERATIVE FERTILIZER EXPERIMENTS WITH COTTON IN 1898. BY J. F. DUGGAR. SUMMARY. Under the direction of the Alabama Experiment Station fertilizer experiments with cotton, or "soil tests, were made in forty-one localities in the State. The object was to learn the best fertilizers for the different classes of soil. Two hundred pounds per acre of cotton seed meal was used to furnish nitrogen, 240 pounds of acid phosphate to supply phosphoric acid, and both one hundred and two hundred pounds of kainit to afford potash. These fertilizers were applied singly, in pairs, and all three together. Of these experiments thirty afforded definite indications as to the manurial needs of the soils on which they were made. Acid phosphate was effective on a greater number of soils than was any other single fertilizing material. The great majority of soils needed a mixture of either acid phosphate and cotton seed meal, or of acid phosphate, cottonseed meal and kainit, that is, a complete fertilizer. Of two complete fertilizers compared, the one containing 100 pounds of kainit (besides acid phosphate and cotton seed meal) was in most soils more profitable than the complete fertilizer containing 200 pounds of kainit per acre. Averaging the results of the 30 conclusive tests made in 1898, the largest net profit was afforded by the same fertilizer which was most profitable in the greatest number of localities in 1897. This fertilizer consisted of 200 pounds cotton seed meal per acre. 240 pounds acid phosphate per acre. 100 pounds kainit per acre. 24 This fertilizer mixture contained 2.59 per cent. of nitrogen, 7.75 per cent. of available phosphoric acid, and 2.93 per cent. of potash. The average yield of the unfertilized plots in 30 localities was 506 pounds of seed cotton per acre. The average increase in the yield of seed cotton was, for the two complete fertilizers, 392 and 435 pounds; for the phosphate and cotton seed meal mixture the average increase was 339 pounds; the average increase for the five other fertilizers or mixtures ranged between 113 and 287 pounds of seed cotton per acre. Generally fertilizers were profitable, but in some cases loss occurred when material not needed by the soil was supplied. In a number of localities the most suitable fertilizer mixture afforded a profit of more than $5 per acre. Soils on adjoining farms, even in the same soil belt, vary greatly. The formulas here given are suggestive only. The history of the land and size of plants may help towards an intelligent guess at the probable needs of the soil, but a local fertilizer experiment is the best means of determining this question. The lime soils of the Tennessee Yalley Region and the reddish lime soils of the narrow valleys of the northeastern part of the state seem to need for cotton little or no potash. For these soils the following formula is tentatively suggested : 160 to 240 pounds acid phosphate per acre. 80 to 120 pounds cotton seed meal per acre. 240 to 360 pounds, total per acre. This contains about 2.2 per cent. of nitrogen, 8 to 10 per cent. of available phosphoric acid, and per cent. of potash. In that region in Central and Northwest Alabama lying between the Central Prairie Region and the Table Lands and Coal Fields, the chief need of the soil in most localities where tests have been made has been for phosphate; cotton seed meal was also needed. As a fertilizer for cotton in - 25 this region, the above formula is suggested, with the addition of 80 pounds of kainit per acre on the poorest sandy soils and on those where cotton habitually rusts. For the red clay lands of the central part of East Alabama the above mixture of acid phosphate and cotton seed meal is suggested; for the poorest gray or sandy soils of the same region, it seems advisable to add to this mixture 80 pounds of potash per acre, or to use the formula recommended below for the Southern Long Leaf Pine Region. In the Southern Long Leaf Pine Region, cotton almost invariably needs phosphate, and to a less extent nitrogen. In some of the soils of this region potash seems to be quite deficient. The following formula is suggested for cotton on these soils: 60 to 120 pounds cotton seed meal per acre. 120 to 240 pounds acid phosphate per acre. 60 to 120 pounds kainit per acre. 240 to 480 pounds, total per acre. This fertilizer contains about 1.7 per cent. of nitrogen, 6 to 7.5 per cent. of available phosphoric acid, and 3.5 per cent. of potash. The lime soils of the Central Prairie Region need drainage and vegetable matter rich in nitrogen rather than the usual commercial fertizers. Melilotus, or tall sweet white clover, used for hay or pasturage and the stubble afterwards plowed under, answers, together with stable manure and cotton seed, the main fertilizer requirement of these soils. OBJEOTS AND METHODS OF THE EXPERIMENTS. The soils of Alabama differ widely. Hence they require different fertilizers. For most profitable results the fertilizer must be suited to the soil. Misfits are frequent and costly, especially in a State spending several millions of dollars for commercial fertilizers. To decrease such losses is the object of the "soil tests," or local fertilizer experi- £6 ments conducted under the direction of the Alabama Experiment Station by farmers in different soil belts. To map the State, even roughly, according to the fertilizer requirements of the prevailing soils, must necessarily be the work of years. The number of co-operative fertilizer experiments provided for in 1897 was 41, from which 37 reports were received. Thirty of these reports give definite indications, and are discussed at length in this bulletin. The others, deemed inconclusive, are more briefly tabulated. Small lots of carefully weighed and mixed fertilizers were supplied to each experimenter. Detailed instructions as to how to conduct the experiments and blank forms for reporting results, were also furnished. 27 The following is the list of those who made the fertilizer tests in 1898 and reported results: NAME POST OFFICE. COUNTY.PAGE. Autrey, A.............. Berneys..........Talladega.. 35 & 50 Anderson, J. P........ Thomaston........Marengo.......72& 75 Beeson, Prof. W. J.....Blountsville.......Blount........32 &.50 Borland, T. M.......... Dothan..........Henry........65 & 67 Bevill, W. C. .......... Bevill...........Choctaw.......59 & 62 Ballard, J. L...........Jackson..........Clarke........48& 51 Carmichael, D., Jr...... Newton..........Dale..........92 & 94 St. Clair.68 Collins, D. K........Coosa Valley. Brundidge........Pike..........92 & 94 Conner, G........... 53 & 56 Daffin, E. J...........Tuscaloosa.......Tuscaloosa Dill, C. C. L..........IDillburgh.........Pickens.......52 & 56 Bullock.......73 & 75 Dykes, J. W............Union Springs. Hartford.........Geneva.......77& 78 Fulton, D. T.......... 31 & 50 . Larimore.........DeKalb Fulton, W. F........ Funkey, F. ......... Tuscumbia.......Colbert........93 & 94 Harbuck, W. T.........Hurtsboro........Russell.......38 & Horn, C. D..........Coatopa..........Sumter.......41 & 49 Cuilman.......76 & 78 Hayes, E...........Cullman......... Marvyn..........Russell........54 & 56 Ingram, W. N........ Jackson, J. C........Sulligent..........Lamar.......33 & 50 Jarrett, R. H........Sterrett..........Shelby........57 & 62 70 & 75 .......... Greensboro ........ Jones, T. K........... 49 Logan, J. A ........... Hale Gordo ............ Pickens ..... 45 & 56 Meadows, T. T ........ McLendon, J. R. ...... Naftel............ C usseta........... Chambers ... Montgomery. 37 & 50 63 McIntyre, Prof. P. M.,. Abbeville......... Boligee ............ McAlpine, J. A ........ Purifoy, W. M........ Snow Hill......... ...... LeGrand... Robertson, J. T . .... Sellars, G. 0.......... Lumber Mills...Butler..... Henry......... 92 & 94 92 & 94 Greene ........ 40 & 49 Wilcox ........ Montgomery... 58 & 62 44 & 48 Slaton, J. P........... Tuskegee.........Macon......... Taylor, Prof. B. A....Wetumpka........ Brewton.... ....... Terry, J. W.......... Thomason, Judge T. J.. . Kaylor Elmore...... Escambia ... Randolph.. 39 & 49 92 &94 60 &62 36 & 50 .. ............ Watkins, J. C ......... Wilco, J. *%Wilson.............Escambia....46 H......... Burnt Corn ........ Monroe........ 42 & 49 & 48 28 The directions sent required each plot to be one-eighth of an acre in area. Rows were 3- feet apart, and each experimenter was advised to so thin the cotton as to leave the same number of plants on each plot, preferably at distances of 18 inches between plants. The directions stated that land employed for this test should be level and uniform, not manured in recent years, and not new ground, 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. The following data, recorded separately for the northern and southern portion of Alabama, are taken from the records of the Alabama Section of the Weather Bureau for 1898: Northern. Rainfall for April, inches..........4.77 " " May, " Southern. 4.11 .58 ...... 1.05 " " " " " " " " " " " " June, July, Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov., " " " " " " .......... ........... .... . ....... ........... ........... ............ 3.00 5.98 5.46 3.22 5.29 4.17 .19 6.15 9.40 3.94 3.16 7.02 A severe drought in May and part of June was general throughout the State. In July and August an excess of rain fell. The records show that there was more than the average amount of sunshine in 1898. Frost occurred earlier than usual. Black rust seems to have occurred in a smaller number of the experiments than in 1897 and to have done less damage where it did occur. 29 THE FERTILIZERS USED. The following prices are used, as representing the usual cost of fertilizers delivered in Auburn: Per Ton. Acid phosphate (High grade)......... $12 50 Cotton seed meal.................... 9 00 Kainit ............................. 13 75 Prices naturally vary in different localities. Any one can substitute the cost of fertilizers in his locality for the price given above. The above prices for high-grade acid phosphate (dissolved bone) and kainit are a little below the usual price in most localities. The phosphate used was from the Edisto Phosphate Company, Charleston, S. C. Most of the kainit was donated by the German Kail Works, New York City. In each experiment two plots were left unfertilized, these being plots 3 and 8. The following table shows what kinds 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: 30 Pounds per acre o fertilizers, nitrogen,.phosphoric acid, and potash used and composition of each mixture. FERTILIZERS. MIXTURE CONTAINS. U O KIND. . bE o oU C) 5.76 200 Cotton. seed meal....... 13.58 In 100 lbs. c. s.meal.* 6.79 2.88 2 240 Acid phosphate........ 36.12 In 100 lbs. acid phos.......15.05 4 200 Kainit...................... In 100 lbs. kainit..13.75 200 Cotton seed meal 13 58 4t88 240 Acid phosphate. 9.52 3.09 In 100 lbs. above mixt 200 Cotton seed meal. 358 576 57 ...... 1.8 6 200 Kainit.. ;..... 1.44 In 100 lbs. above mixt. 3.39 7 Acid phosphate. A240 1 Lbs. Lbs. Lbs Lbs. 3.54 1.77 24.60 $ 19.00 12.50 354 .80 28.14 81 7.03 5.59 28.14 15.45 16.38 13.09 S200 Kainit.......................... 200 9 240 Acid phosphate........13.58 -Cotton seed meal..... In 100 lbs. above mixt..........8.21 41.88 10 ____ 200 Kainit .......... ... ) I n 100 lbs. above mixt.- 2.12 200 Cotton seed meal .. 240 Acid phosphate....... 13.58 100 Kainit ............ InlO00lbs. above mixt. 2.59 *Average 6.54 41.88 4.39 15.84 2.93 14.94 7.75 15.11 of many analyses. t Counting all the phosphoric acid in cotton seed meal as available. Those farmers who are more accustomed to the word ammonia than to the term nitrogen, can change the figures for nitrogen into their ammonia equivalents by multiplying by 1 3-14. Unless explained, the term "profit from fertilizers"~ as used in the following tables, might be misunderstood. Profit or loss, as there used, is simply the. difference between the value of the increase attributed to the fertilizer 31 (after paying 3 cent per pound for picking) and the cost of the fertilizer. To make this more exact, the careful reader may subtract from the apparent profit the cost of applying fertilizers. The price assumed is 5 cents per pound for lint and $6.67 per ton for seed. This is equal to 1 8-9 cents per pound. Deduct from this the cost of picking, 3 cent per pound and we have 1 5-9 cents as the net value per pound of increase of seed cotton; this last figure is used in the following tables. In determining the increase over the unfertilized plots, the yield of the fertilized plots, Nos. 4, 5, 6 and 7, 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. This method of comparison tends to compensate for variations in the fertility of the several plots. It should be remembered that seasons, as well as soils, determine the effects of fertilizers, so that to be absolutely reliable a fertilizer experiment should be repeated for several years on the same kind of soil. GROUP I. PHOSPHORIC ACID MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THAN POTASH; LATTER NOT NEEDED OR USED AT FINANCIAL LOSS. EXPERIMENT MADE BY W. F. FULTON, LARIMORE, DEKALB COUNTY. Dark gray valley soil ; subsoil red clay, with lime-rock below. The field .has been in cultivation about seventy-five years. Recent crops were corn in '97, oats in '96, and corn in '95 The original growth was white oak, post oak, red oak, black walnut, hickory, poplar and cedar. (The reader should consult the tables on pp. 48, 49 & 50 as he reads the report of each experiment.) Increase of seed cotton per acre when cottonseed meal was added: 32 To To To To unfertilized plot .................... acid phosphate plot ................ kainit plot........................117 acid phosphate and kainit plot ....... 88 lbs. 175 " " 230 Average increase with cotton seed meal ..... 152 Increase of seed cotton per acre when acid phosphate was added: To unfertilized plot .......... ..... ... .. 50 lbs. To cotton seed meal plot .............. To kainit plot .............. 591 324 " To cotton seed meal and kainit plot.......437 Average increase with acid phosphate ...... 464 Increase of seed cotton per acre when kainit was added: To unfertilized plot ................... 142 lbs. To cotton seed meal plot ...... ... 171 " To acid phosphate plot ...........38 To cotton seed meal and acid phosphate plot 17 Average increase with kainit ............. 73 Phosphate was much more important than any other material for this soil. It was profitable to add cottonseed meal to phosphate, this combination leading in point of profit, $7.16 per acre, closely followed by acid phosphate alone, with $6.36 per acre. Kainit was not greatly needed. EXPERIMENT MADE BY PROF. W. J. BEESON, SCHOOL, ON FARM OF NINTH DISTRICT AGRICULTURAL BLOUNTSVILLE, BLOUNT COUNTY. Dark loam lime soil; subsoil clay. This field had been used for grass and clover for the two years previous to this test, and in the spring of 1898 was subsoiled. The land had been in cultivation for about twenty-seven years. 33 Increase of seed cotton per acre when cottonseed meal was added: .... 328 lbs. To unfertilized plot ........ 104 To acid phosphate plot ................ To kainit plot...... .................. 248 264 " To acid phosphate and kainit plot ........ Average increase with cotton seed meal ..... 241 Increase of seed cotton per acre when acid phosphate was added : To unfertilized plot ................. 608 lbs. To cotton seed meal plot... ............ 384 " To kainit plot ................ ........ 440 To cotton seed meal and kainit plot......456 " Average increase with acid phosphate......472 Increase of seed cotton per acre when kainit was added: To unfertilized plot ........ 64 lbs. To cotton seed meal plot ............. 16 To acid phosphate plot ..............110 " To cotton seed meal and acid phosphate plot 56 " Average decrease with kainit ............. I The main need was for acid phosphate, which used alone afforded a profit of $7.97 per acre. Cotton seed meal increased the yield to an extent just about sufficient to pay for the meal. Kainit was not needed J. E. WEST OF EXPERIMENT MADE BY JACKSON, TWO MILES SULLIGENT, LAMAR COUNTY. Gray clayey valley land; subsoil yellowish clay. The preceding crop was cotton; the crop of 1896 was corn. The original growth of post oak and short leaf pine had been cleared about thirty years before. 34 Increase of seed cotton per acre when cottonseed meal was added: To unfertilized plot .................... 72 lbs. To acid phosphate plot................. .278 To kainit plot ....................... 104 To acid phosphate and kainit plot ....... 285 " Average increase with cotton seed meal ...... 185 Increase of seed cotton per acre when acid phosphate was added: To unfertilized plot .................... 208 lbs. To cotton seed meal plot................414 " To kainit plot ............... ....... 80 To cotton seed meal and kainit plot.......261 " Average increase with acid phosphate........ 241 Increase of seed cotton per acre when kainit was added: To unfertilized plot..................... 19 lbs. To cotton seed meal plot ................ 51 " To acid phosphate plot..............--109 " To cotton seed meal and acid phosphate plot..... .. ... .......... .... 102 " Average decrease with kainit ............... 38 " Both acid phosphate and cotton seed meal were important and these two in combination afforded a profit of $4.16 per acre. Kainit was unnecessary or even harmful. EXPERIMENT MADE BY A. AUTBEY, 4 MILE EAST OF BERNEYS TALLADEGA COUNTY. Soil and subsoil stiff red clay. This field had been in cultivation more than forty years. The original forest growth was oak, hickory and pine. Increaselof seed cotton per acre when cotton seed meal was added: ....... 192 lbs To unfertilized plot......... To acid phosphate plot..................192 " " To kainit plot...........................296 168 " To acid phosphate and kainit plot ........ Average increase with cotton seed meal........212 " Increase of seed cotton per acre when acid phosphate was added: lbs. To unfertilized plot..................128 seed meal plot................128 " To cotton 416 " To kainit plot ....................... To cotton seed meal and kainit plot....... 288 " Average increase with acid phosphate.......240 " Increase of seed cotton per acre when kainit was added: To unfertilized plot......................-64 lbs. 40 " To cotton seed meal plot................. To acid phosphate plot.................104 " To cotton seed meal and acid phosphate plot.200 " Average increase with kainit.................. 70 " Acid phosphate and cotton seed meal were more effective than kainit, but the largest profit was afforded by a complete fertilizer, 36 EXPERIMENT MADE BY JUDGE T. J. THOMASON, 2 MILESNORTH OF KAYLOR, RANDOLPH COUNTY, ALA. Dark gray upland ; subsoil below. This field had been cleared about forty years. The original growth is reported as oak, hickory and long leaf pine. The preceding crop was wheat; cotton occupied the land in 1895 and 1896. Increase of seed cotton per acre when cotton seed meal was added: To unfertilized plot...................312 lbs. 98 To acid phosphate plot ................. To kainit plot........................155 To acid phosphate and kainit plot........271 Average increase with cotton seed meal...... 209 Increase of seed cotton per acre when acid phosphate was added: To unfertilized plot..................368 lbs. " To cotton seed meal plot...............154 22 To kainit plot........................ To cotton seed meal and kainit plot.. . . ... 338 " Average increase with acid phosphate.... .. 270 " Increase of seed cotton per acre when kainit was added: To unfertilized plot....................107 lbs. To cotton seed meal plot................-50 " To acid phosphate plot. .........39 " To cotton seed meal and acid phosplate plot.134 " Average increase with kainit... .............. 38 " Acid phosphate and cotton seed meal were both highly beneficial. Kainit was of little or no value except when combined with these other two and was then only of secondary importance. 37 EXPERIMENT MADE BY T. T. MEADOWS, J MILE NORTH OF CUS- SETA, CHAMBERS COUNTY, ALA. Soil and subsoil red with flint stones. The field was cleared of the origninal growth of oak and hickory about forty or fifty years ago. The crop of 1896 was corn (whether with or without peas is not stated) and that of 1897 was cotton. Increase of seed cotton per acre when cotton seed meal was added: To unfertilized plot. .................. 120 lbs. To acid phosphate plot................228 " To kainit plot....... ................. 115 To acid phosphate and kainit plot ...33 " Average increase with acid phosphate.......107 Increase of seed cotton per acre when acid phosphate was added: To unfertilized plot..................152 lbs. To cotton seed meal plot................260 '" To kainit plot.........................261 To cotton seed meal and kainit plot.......117 " Average increase with acid phosphate......175 " Increase of seed cotton per acre when kainit was added: To unfertilized plot..................... -8 lbs. To cotton seed meal plot..............-13 " To acid phosphate plot........ ........ 107 " To cotton seed meal and acid phosphate plot ............................ -156 " Average decrease with kainit............... 15 " Phosphate was the material chiefly needed. Kainit was of no value. Cotton seed meal was useful. The results for two years agree in indicating that the best fertilizer for this soil was a mixture of acid phosphate and cotton seed meal. 2 38 EXPERIMENT MADE BY M. T. HARBUCK, 1 MILES NORTH EAST OF HURTSRORO, RUSSELL COUNTY. Light gray soil; yellow retentive subsoil. The land had been cleared about twenty-five original forest growth was long leaf pine. The crop in 1897 was corn and peas, in 1896 corn and peas. No rust was noticeable on any of the plots. was dry until the 13th of July, after which excess. years. The cotton, 1895 The season rain was in Increase of seed cotton per acre when cotton seed meal was added : To unfertilized plot...........................111 lbs. To acid phosphate plot................199 " To kainit plot.... .................... 63 To acid phosphate and kainit plot.......131 Average increase with cotton seed meal..126 Increase of seed cotton per acre when acid phosphate was added : To To To To unfertilized plot.....................111 lbs. cotton seed meal plot.................199 " kainit plot..........................99 " cotton seed meal plot............... 167 " " lbs. " Average increase with acid phosphate.... 144 To unfertilized plot .................... To cotton seed meal plot..............-38 10 Increase of seed cotton per acre when kainit was adUd To acid phosphate plot...............-2 To cotton seed meal and acid phosphate plot ..............................70 " " Average decrease with kainit..........25 " 39 Although phosphate was chiefly needed, no fertilizer was very effective. Potash was not needed. Preceding pea crops reduced the effect of cotton seed meal. EXPERIMENT MADE BY J. P. SLATON, 7 MILES NORTHEAST OF TUSKEGEE, MACON COUNTY. Rather compact gray sandy soil; subsoil red clay. This field was cleared of its original forest growth of oak, hickory, gum, maple, long and short leaf pine about 75 years ago. The land was pastured in 1896, and planted in corn in 1897; it is not stated whether or not peas were grown between the corn rows. There was very little rust on any of the plots; however plot 5 seemed to be the worst affected. Increase of seed cotton per acre when cotton seed meal was added: 92 lbs. To unfertilized plot.......... .......... To acid phosphate plot.................322 " 5 To kainit plot .......................... To acid phosphate and kainit plot........149 Average increase with cotton seed meal...192 " Increase of seed cotton per acre when acid phosphate was added. To To To To 332 lbs. unfertilized plot..... .............. seed meal plot...............362 " cotton " kainit plot........................204 cotton seed meal and kainit plot.....348 " Average increase with acid phosphate........311 40 Increase of seed cotton per acre when kainit was added: To To To To lbs. .. unfertilized plot................. " cotton seed meal plot.............-172 13 acid phosphate plot.... ........... cotton seed meal and acid phosphate 115 plot............. ............-186 Average decrease with kainit............64 " The chief need of this soil was for acid phosphate. Cotton seed meal was also important, but kainit was worse than useless. The largest profit, $6.77 per acre, followed the use of a mixture of acid phosphate and cotton seed meal. EXPERIMENT MADE BY W. M. PURIFOY, 2 MILES NORTHEAST OF SNOW HILL, WILCOX COUNTY, ALA. White bald prairie; subsoil white or yellowish rotten limestone at depth of three inches. The preceding crop was sorghum. Mr. Purifoy notes that this soil was especially liable to rust but that there was none in 1898. Increase of seed cotton per acre when cotton seed meal was added: To To To To 128 lbs. unfertilized plot...... ........... 27 " acid phosphate plot ................. kainit plot........ ................. 227 " acid phosphate and kainit plot......141 " " Average increase with cotton seed meal.....131 Increase of seed cotton per acre when acid. phosphate was added: 41 To To To To unfertilized plot....................200 lbs. cotton seed meal plot............ ... 99 " kainit plot... .................... 209 cotton seed meal and kainit plot......123 " Average increase with acid phosphate.... 158 Increase of seed cotton per acre when kainit was added : To unfertilized plot........ ..........To cotton seed meal plot ............... To acid phosphate plot...................18 27 lbs. 72 " To cotton seed meal and acid phosphate plot ............................ 96 Average increase with kainit...........41 Both phosphate and cotton seed meal increased the yield. Some of the results with kainit are also favorable, especially on plot 10, where with the complete fertilizer containing the smaller amount of kainit there was the largest profit of any plot. EXPERIMENT MADE BY C. D. HoRN, COATOPA, SUMTER COUNTY. Darlc sandy soil; subsoil, red sandy clay. The field had been cleared about 25 years. The original forest growth was red oak, post oak, black jack, hickory, and short leaf pine. The land had been in cotton for three years previous to the beginning of the experiment. Increase of seed cotton per acre where cotton seed meal was added: To unfertilized plot... ... ............ 140 lbs. To acid phosphate plot................ 44 To kainit plot.167.....................167 To acid phosphate and kainit plot......- 39 Average increase with cotton seed meal.. " " " 78 Ibs. 42 Increase of seed cotton per acre where acid phosphate was added: To unfertilized plot..................190 To cotton seed meal plot................91 To kainit plot.................. ........ To cotton seed meal and kainit plot..... lbs. " 192 30 " Average increase with acid phosphate..... To unfertilized plot.... To cotton seed meal plot........ III Ibs. Increase of seed cotton per acre when kainit was added ............. 8 lbs. 30 " To acid phosphate plot................. To cotton seed meal and acid phos. plot.Average decrease with kainit............ 6 " 89 18 lbs. On every plot there was either a financial loss or only a very small profit. Kainit especially was unnecessary, while acid phosphate and cotton seed meal, used alone, and in most combinations, afforded some increase in yield. There was no rust in 1893; in 1897, on the other hand, rust was severe and kainit, which checked it, was then the most effective fertilizer. EXPERIMENT MADE BY J. C. WATKINS, 2 MILES BURNT CORN, MONROE COUNTY. NORTH OF Gray, sandy and rocky soil; red clay subsoil, 6-8 inches below 8surface. The field on which this test was made had been in cultivation about thirty years. The original forest growth is reported as short leaf pine, red and white oak and sweetgum. No note is made of injury from rust. This field was in cotton in '97, in corn in '95 and '96, and had received little or no fertilizer in recent years. Planting occurred April 28. 43 The same plots were used for the experiment in 1898 that had been employed in the exactly similar experiment in 1897. The number of plants per eighth-acre plot was 990. The weather was abnormally dry from planting time until the middle of June; then for two months rains were entirely too frequent and heavy. Increase of seed cotton per acre when cotton seed meal was added : To unfertilized plot. ..... .... ... 292 lbs. To acid phosphate plot.................. 6 To kainit plot .......................... 151 To acid phosphate and kainit plot........341 " Average increase with cotton seed meal... 198 lbs. Increase of seed cotton per acre when acid phosphate was added: To To To To unfertilized plot .................... 3 4 lbs. cotton seed meal plot..............158 " kainit plot......................... 92 " cotton seed meal and kainit plot. . 282 " .. . Average increase with acid phosphate.... 219 Ibs. Increase of seed cotton per acre when kainit was added: To To To To unfertilized plot...................13 lbs. cotton seed meal plot............. -154 " acid phosphate plot...............-265 " cotton seed meal and acid phos. plot... 70 " Average decrease with kainit........... 90 Ibs. Both acid phosphate and cotton seed meal were highly: important, while kainit was useless. The largest profit $3.85 per acre was obtained when acid phosphate was used alone. 44 EXPERIMENT MADE BY G.. 0. SELLARS, 32 MILES SOUTHWEST OF LUMBER MILLS, BUTLER COUNTY. Gray sandy soil 8 in. deep ; red clay subsoil. This field, on which the original growth had been long leaf pine and blackjack oak, had been cleared about ten years. In 1896 the crop was cotton; in 1895 and The stand was good, 8216 stalks per acre, and there was no rust. 1897corn, Increase of seed cotton per acre when cotton seed meal was added: To unfertilized plot...................272 lbs. To acidphosphate plot...............233 To kainit plot.........................227 To acid phosphates and kainit plot......250 Average increase with cotton seed meal.-.245 228 Increase of seed cotton per acre when acid phosphate was added: To unfertilized plot.......... ...... 92 lbs. To cotton seed meal plot ............... 153 " To kainit ... ....... To cotton seed meal and kainit plot........ plot.....251 ... " Av rg of seed cotton percdp when kainit was n raewt acre. added : op ae ..26Increase 10 lbs. 35 " To unfertilized plot..................... plot. . ...........- To cotton seed meal To acid phosphate plot ... .............. 146 To cotton seed meal and acid phos. plot ... 63 " Average increase. with kainit ..... .. 21 Cotton seed meal and acid phosphate were decidedly beneficial. Kainit was unnecessary. The largest profit, 45 $3.10 per acre, was obtained by the use of a mixture of cotton seed meal and acid phosphate. In 1897, when rust prevailed, kainit was of somewhat more value than in1898 when this disease did not appear. EXPERIMENT MADE BY J. A. LOGAN, 12 MILES NORTHWEST OF GoRDO, PICKENS COUNTY. Dark ashy second bottom; subsoil red clay. The field had been cleared probably thirty years or more. The original forest growth was oak, mulberry, hickory, and some short leaf pine. The preceding crops were cotton. Rust was not present on any of the plots. The season was very dry until June 1, after which time the rainfall was abundant. The stand was reported perfect on all plots. (See Table, page 56.) Increase of seed cotton per acre when cotton seed meal was added: To unfertilized plot.,.................... 56 lbs. To acid phosphate plot.................. 78 To kainit plot....................... ... 35 " To acid phosphate and kainit plot........100 " Average increase with cotton seed meal.... 67 " Increase of seed cotton per acre when acid phosphate was added: To unfertilized plot......................360 lbs. To cotton seed meal plot.............. 382 " To kainit plot ............... ........ . 46 " To cotton seed meal and kainit plot........110 " Average increase with acid phosphate.... 224 " 46 Increase of seed cotton per acre when kainit was added To unfertilized plot................... 59 lbs. To cotton seed meal plot....... .. 38 " To acid phosphate plot..............-255 To cotto a seed meal and acid phos. plot...-231" Average decrease with kainit............ 68 The chief need of this soil was for acid phosphate. Kainit was not needed. Cotton seed meal was somewhat beneficial, bat apparently a much smaller amount of cotton seed meal would have sufficed, say 50 to 100 pounds in combination with 240 pounds of acid phosphate. The largest profit, $4.10 per acre, was obtained by the use of acid phosphate alone. Next in point of profit followed a combination of acid phosphate and cotton seed meal, with a profit of $3.40 per acre. EXPERIMENT MADE BY , J. H. WILCOX, WILSON, ALA. Clay soil, with some sand and gravel. 1808 was the second year of cultivation, the first crop having been corn. The field was subsoiled before Christmas and planted April 28th. As a result of unfavorable weather many of the plants on the unfertilized plots and to a less extent on plots 1 and 6, died before fruiting. (See Table, page 48.) Increase of seed cotton per acre when cotton seed meal was added: To To To To lbs. unfertilized plot.................64 acid phosphate plot................. 37 " 45 " kainit plot ......................... acid phosphate and kainit plot.......134 " Average increase with cotton seed meal.. 70 " 47 Increase of seed cotton per acre where acid phosphate was added : To unfertilized plot.................. 56 lbs. To cotton seed meal plot.............229 " To kainit plot ...................... 236 To cotton seed meal and kainit plot .... 325 Average increase with acid phosphate....261 Increase of seed cotton per acre where kainit was added: To To To To unfertilized plot ........... ....2 lbs. cotton seed meal plot.............-21 " acid phosphate plot ................ -22 " cotton seed meal and acid phos. plot,.............................. 75 " " Average increase with kainit.............7 Evidently acid phosphate was the chief need of this soil. As usual on new ground, cotton seed meal wa3 of but slight benefit. On this new ground, doubtless still abundantly supplied with potash from the recently burned timber, kainit was not needed. Wilson, Lumber Mills and Jackson experiments y..._. ._. _. with cotton. JACKSON. FERTILIZERS. WILSON. W0 LUMBER MILLS. CO 0 U I) c0 oU z 0 0 0 O KIND. N U o'r C ).N O c o COrir d.' P 0 ) -1) C.Lbs. 64 . 1 2 3 Lbs. 200 Cotton seed meal............. 240 Acid phosphate............... No fertilizer................ 200 200 Kainit........................ Cotton seed 240 200 Acid Cotton seed meal phosphate............... meal ............. 9. 10 200 Kainit....................... 240 Acid phosphate.......... ... . 200 Kainit .. ............ .. No fertilizer...... ............. . 200 Cotton seed meal ............. 240 Acid phosphate.............. 200 Kainit....................... 200 Cotton seed ............ Lbs. 64 256 00 00 296, 48 240 8 376 376 256 $.91 2.48 -1.41 1.15 -2.61 293 Lbs. 648 568 376 368 766 560 544 288 776 720 Lbs. 272 192 10 425 237 238 $ 2.33 1.48 -1.23 3 10 .40 .82 1016 1280 1008 1160 1464 1160 1368 1088 1704 2.41 Lbs. 8 272 136 424 .104, 296 -l 78 2.73 .73 3.08 . -1.67 1.72 3234 .76 368 368 .94 1.64 488 2.81 616 784 5.91 8.11 240 Acid phosphate .......... 100 Kainit ........................ meal ............ ... . ) 432 1 2.64 1872 27 . Hurtsboro, Tuskegee, Burnt Corn, Snow Hill and Goatopa experiments with cotton. FERTILIZERS. 0 0 U H URTSBORO. O C TUSKEGEE. H BURNT CORN. SNOW HILL.' :EUR~U Lbs.U Lbs. II COATOPA O 0 O J ci5TU aa KIND. .S r: 1 SO r 44 .6 92$ 72 ~Lbs. 6835 034 cLb 2 .8 4 og 30 624 0 534 2 0 4. 111 ,, -. 18 Lbs. 1 2 3 200 240 Acid phosphate ......... 00 No fertilizer ...... 200 Kainit........... 200 Cotton seed meal ... 240 Acid phosphate ... 200 Cotton seed meal..... . 200 Kainit ..... ..... ... . 240 cid phosphate.. Cotton seed meal .... Lbs. 384 384 273 280 576 LI Lt)5. Lbs2Lbs. Lbs. 111 10 310 73 4E .22 28 319 ~~38 3E )88 115 -1.23 1.42 10 FI 20 9 458 1 508 318 0 326 3 - . Lbs. 2.0 40 140 $ .26 190 . 54 4.8 .7 280 275 82 -8 -1.50 234 175 1.45 .. .24 18-11 3 584 .7542 A 200 Kainit .... 8 336 368 256 -2.15 78 3t92.0 515.2 79-16 880 420 1.7 -. 56 1.09 ......... 00 No fertilizer ........... 1091--1.19 41 240 I-1.05, 8E 280 1 5568 184 88..... 264 200 Cotton seed meal .. 240 Acid phosphate... ....... 200 Kain it......... ) 496 10 200 Cotton seed meal... 536 240 Acid Phosphate... 100 Kainit...............5 ) 14 448 !8518 *416...... 142 102 2.53 .271 91 Ii 624 -. 82 IYIIIY II1IIIL: III 1II1-1IC (1 5=9 plus!'%c'.) V'Seed cotton rated at 1. 5-9 cents. This is net price, or price after paying 13 for seed cotton is equivalent to cents per pound for lint and $6.67 5 per cent per lb. for picking;1 8-9 cents 408 ton for 72....... seed. U Lbs U Lbs. I 48 --2 Lbs. - 1. 534 32 18 200-. 1.8 200 18 4. 0 0k BRerneys, Sulligent, Blountsville, Larimore,' Uu~seta and. Kaylor experiments wit/i cotton. FERTILIZERS. O 0 4-4 )U BERINEYS. O SULLIGENT. BLOUNTSVILLE. LARIMORE. 9 0 CUSSETA. O KAYLOR. U 0 za ) a) N a .N c73) O a N 0 al) a). 0 a) 0 0 .0 a) KIND. 0 0 ".H"- 40 d) 670 .8f 0 Lbs. 1 3 4 200 240 00 200 200 M~ 200 Cotton seed meal... Acid Lbs. Lbs. phosphate.. No fertilizer ... Kainit ....... Lbs. Lbs. Lbs. 328 608 62 Lbs. Lbs. Lbs. Lbs. 53 416 120 6.34 448 152 S384 296 1.53 290 -8 7.16 680 380 .75 408 107 4.37 560 257 ... 304 6.04 528 224 I.684 ..... 600 192 536 128 108 712 320 232 728 352 368 888 520 792 421 $1.08 536 72 .49 672 208 $3.20 464 1.58 952 486 -64 -2.37 480 i19 -1.09 448 .32 616 123 2.59 560 4~48 3.31 832 !384 2.511 824 392 200 8 9{ 10j 240 200 00 200 240 200 200 240 100 Cotton seed meal. Acid phosphate.. Cotton seed meal.L Kainit....... .. . Acid phosphat.e. .L Kainit ......... No fertilizer... Cotton seed meal.) Acid 4.16 1096 707 1.37 696 305 7.97 960 504 456 . .42 616 142 7.59 116 679 1.46 768 259 4.80 992 466 544... 6.96 1240 696 7.49 ~544' 88 $-. Lbs. 312 $ 2.95 368 4.23 .27 466 262 1 800 329 376 3(.1-1 2.5] 2 720 3.96 .79 2.23 1. 99 -1.34 888 491 396 1.1911552 phosphate . 756 0 976 600 4.55 ... Kainit......... Cotton seed meal, Acid phosphate.. ..... Kainit ..... 2.01 1140 744, 3801 3 1.81 960. 584, 5.00 51 GROUP II. PHOSPHORIC ACID MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THAN POTASH; LATTER OF SECONDARY IMPORTANCE, BUT NEEDED. EXPERIMENT MADE BY J. L. BALLARD FOR SOUTHWEST ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL, JACKSON, CLARKE COUNTY. Red soil, 5 inches deep; subsoil red clay. This upland field had been cleared about ten years, the original growth having been long leaf and short leaf pine, oak, sweetgum, dogwood, etc. It was in cotton in 1597 and in corn in 1896, whether with or without cow peas is not stated. (See Table, page 56.) Increase of seed cotton per acre when cotton seed meal was added : To unfertilizcd plot ............. ..... To acid phosphate plot................152 To kainit plot................-32 To acid phosphate and kainit plot.......320 8 lbs. " " Average increasewith cotton seed meal ...... 112 Increase of seed cotton per acre when acid phosphate was added: To unfertilized plot...................272 lbs. To cotton seed meal plot; ............. 416 " To kainit plot 160 " To cotton seed meal and kainit plot .... 512 " ..................... Average increase with acid phosphate.... 340" Increase of seed cotton per acre when kainit was added: To To To To unfertilized plot....................136 lbs. cotton seed 'meal plot. .............. 96 " acid phosphate plot................. 24 " cotton seed meal and acid phosphate 192 " ............ plot ......................... " Average increase with kainit.............112 Phosphate was more important than either of the other fertilizer materials. However it was profitable to add both cotton seed meal and kainit to the phosphate. A complete fertilizer containing only 100 pounds of kainit per acre gave the best results and afforded a profit of $8.11 per acre. The year before cotton seed meal had given best results. EXPERIMENT MADE BY C. C. L. DILL, DILLBURGH, PICKENS COUNTY, ALA. Crayish table land ; subsoil red clay. The field had been cleared about 45 years of the original growth of oak, hickory and short leaf pine, but had grown up in old field pines, which were removed in 1890. Corn with cowpeas between the rows constituted the crop in 1897. See Table, page 56.) Increase of seed cotton per acre when cotton seed meal was added: To unfertilized plot...................672 lbs. To acid phosphate plot..................83 " " To kainit plot........................643 To acid phosphate and kainit plot........170 Average increase with cotton seed meal added: To To To To Increase of seed cotton per acre when acid phosphate was .... 392 " unfertilized plot.....................736 lbs. cotton seed meal plot..................147 " kainit plot..........................572 " 99 " cotton seed meal and kainit plot ....... Average increase with acid phosphate....388 " Increase of seed cetton per acre when kainit was added: To unfertilized plot......................298 lbs. To cotton seed meal plot.................269 " To acid phosphate plot..................134 To cotton s. meal and acid phosphate plot..221 Average increase with kainit...........230 " " " 53 Both phosphate and nitrogen were of prime importance kainit was also effective, but to a less extent. All fertilizers returned a large profit whether used alone or in combination. The largest yield was obtained by the use of a complete fertilizer. EXPERIMENT MADE BY E. J. DAFFIN, 2 MILES EAST OF TUSOA- LOOSA, TUSCALOOSA COUNTY, ALA. Red sandy upland soil 3 in. deep; subsoil stiff red clay. The time since clearing was more than 60 years. The original growth was short leaf pine, oak, hickory, gum, beech, mulberry, sassafras, persimmon, cherry, poplar, locust, hackberry and ash. The preceding crop was cotton. There was no damage from rust. (See Table, page 56.) Increase of seed cotton per acre when cotton seed meal was added: To To To To unfertilized plot..................... 40 lbs. acid phosphate plot.. .. .............253 " kainit plot.........................197 " acid phosphate and kainit plot.. ...... 158 " Average increase with cotton seed meal.. 162 " Increase of seed cotton per acre when acid phosphate was added: To unfertilized plot....................136 lbs. To cotton seed meal plot ............... 349 " To kainit plot ........................ :292 " To cotton seed meal and kainit plot......253 " Average increase with acid phosphate....257 " 54 Increase of seed cotton per acre when kainit was added: To unfertilized plot...................62 lbs. To cotton seed meal plot................219 " To acid phosphate plot................218 To cotton seed meal and acid phos. plot 123 Average increase with kainit........5 Acid phosphate was the chjef need of soil. Cotton seed meal and kainit were also necessary and about equally effective. These results agree with those of 1897. Both years the greatest profit was obtained by the use of a complete fertilizer. this EXPERIMENT MADE BY W. N. INGRAM, MARVYN, RUSSELL, COUNTY. Gray sandy soil 6 in. deep; subsoil yellow clay. This hillside had been cleared 25 or 30 years. The origi.nal growth was long leaf pine and oak. All recent crops consisted of cotton. Assuming that the yield of Plot 9 was reduced by some inequality in the land or in the number of plants, we have this plot in drawing conclusions. ,omitted was Increase of seed cotton per acre when cotton seed meal added: To unfertilized plot .................... To acid phosphate plot..... 352 lbs. 266" ............ To kainit plot......................... 88 Average increase with cotton seed meatl.235 55 Increase of seed cotton per acre when acid phosphate was added: To unfertilized plot .................. To cotton seed meal plot ............. To kainit plot.........................450 456 lbs. 368 " " Average increase with acid phosphate....425 Increase of seed cotton per acre when kainit was added : To unfertilized plot.................256 To cotton seed meal plot ............To acid phosphate plot..............152 8 lbs. " " Average increase with kainit.............138 " The chief need of this soil was evidently for acid phosphate. Cotton seed meal was also advantageous. Kainit was less important than the other two materials, but somewhat useful. The largest profit, $7.80 per acre, resulted from the use of a mixture of cotton seed meal and acid phosphate. This was closely followed by a complete fertilizer containing 100 lbs. of kainit per acre. Dillburgh, Gordo, Tuscaloosa and .ZMarvyn experiments with cotton, FERTILIZERS. _______ _______ ______ _______ ___ DII.LBURGH. ___ ____ - GoRno. (GrouplI) - TUSCALOOSA. _ _ _ _ MARVYN. _ _ _ KINDS. r"of t)-C) 0 0 1 2 Lbs. 200 Cotton seed meal ............................... 240 Acid 3 4 5 200 Kainit.............. ............................ 976 298 3.25' 724 59 -. 960 62 47 ~200 Cotton seed ma. 1488993114483412039 ~20Cidtosph mae...................48 4191934110448340120239 00ONo fertilizer... phosphate..... 6 00to Lbs. Lbs. Lbs. Lbs Lbs. Lbs. Lbs. Lbs. 1360 672 $ 8.55 720 56.$-1.08 944 40 $-1.28 952 352 3.57 1424 736 9.95 1024 360 4.101040 136 -. ............................ .61 1054 42 888 ............................... 688 ........ -- 664. ........901... 60 ...... 261347278 .61847070 4545.56 256 2.6( edma................60911.7 760 94 -1 82114 5 .78 1040 3442 .07 ............ ............ ...... 200Kainit .... ONo fertilizer............ .................. (200 Cotton seed meal.....160141138720-1613452 . . . . 9 ~240 Acid phosphate..~ . (200 Kainit........... (240 Cotton seed meal. 10 ~240 Acid phosphate . ............... (100 Kainit ........... ........................ 8 1520 870 10 65 772 105 -1.25 1232 354 2.62 1334 606 6.51 640 .......... 668 ......... 872 .......... 760 . .. .810040.5 1 .810 420 1882241618 1814 1600 960 10 85 1000 332 1.08 1280 408 2.26 1480 720 7.12 _______________ 57 GROUP III. PHOSPHORIC ACID AND POTASH BOTH IMPORTANT AND ABOUT EQUALLY EFFECTIVE. EXPERIMENT MADE BY J. W. JARRETT, 11 MILES SOUTHEAST OF STERRETT, SHELBY COUNTY. Gray sandy branch bottom, shallow soil; subsoil yellow. The field was cleared at least fifty years ago of its growth, of oak, hickory and gum. The field was used for cotton-in 1897 and for, corn in 1895 and 1896. (See Table, page 6'2) Apparently the very large yield on Plot 1, was due to some irregularity in the soil; in the first set of averages below this plot is included, in the second set it is excluded. Increase of seed cotton per acre when cotton seed meal was added : To unfertilized plot...........584 lbs. To acid phosphate plot .......... 93 " 93 lbs. To kainit plot ........... ...... '240 To acid phosphate and kainit nlot..114 " " 240 114 Average increase with cottons. was meal. .[211] " 87 Increase of seed cotton per acre when acid phosphate added: To unfertilized plot. .......... .... 392 lbs. " " 392 lbs. To cotton seed meal plot..-.285 To kainit plot................373 To cotton seed meal and kainit plot ........... 373 lbs. 247 247" " Av. increase with acid phosphate.[182] 337" 58 Increase of seed cotton per acre when kainit was added; To unfertilized plot............249 lbs. 249 lbs. To cotton seed meal plot......-95 To acid phosphate plot ....... 230 " 230 To cotton seed meal and acid phospate plot............437 " 437 " increase with kainit.[205] " or 305 " Acid phosphate and kainit were both effective and to about the same extent. The largest profit resulted from the use of a complete fertilizer, containing one hundred pounds of kainit. It is not stated whether cowpeas were grown between the corn rows in 1895 and 1896; if they did this would afford an explanation of the rather slight effect of cotton seed meal. In 1897 the experiment in this locality was made on fresh land, the main requirement of which was phosphate. EXPERIMENT MADE BY J. T. ROBERTSON, LEGRAND, MONT- GOMERY COUNTY. Dark gray soil three inches deep; subsoil red clay. The field had been in cultivation about seventy years. The last three crops were cotton. The original growth was oak, hickory and short leaf pine. (See Table p. 62.) Increase of seed cotton per acre when cotton seed meal was added: To unfertilized plot .................... 240 lbs. 386 " To acid phosphate plot .................. 522 " To kainit plot .......................... 359 " To acid phosphate and kainit plot ....... Average increase with cotton seed meal .. .... 377 " 59 Increase of seed cotton per acre when acid phosphate was added: To unfertilized plot ................... 208 lbs. To cotton seed meal plot...............354 " To kainit plot ..... ......... 363 To cotton seed meal and kainit plot ... ... 202 " Average increase with acid phosphate.......382 "" Increase of seed cotton per acre when kainit was added: To unfertilized plot .................. 205 lbs. To cotton seed meal plot ........ 487 " To acid phosphate plot ................ 360 " To cotton seed meal and acid phosphate plot.335 " Average increase with kainit ......... 347 Cotton seed meal, acid phosphate and kainit were all decidedly beneficial and to about the same extent. The complete fertilizers gave the largest profits, nearly $10 per acre. EXPERIMENT MADE BY W. C. BEVILL, NINE MILES SOUTHEAST OF BEVILL, CHOCTAW COUNTY. Dark mulatto table land; subsoil clay. This field had been cleared fifty years. Long and short leaf pine constituted the principal forest growth. The two preceding crops were corn. Rust was present to some extent, especially on Plot 5. The season was extremely dry until June 20th, after which time there was an excess of rainfall. There was a perfect stand of about 1,500 plants to each eighth-acre plot. (See Table p. 62.) 60 Increase of seed cotton per acre when cotton was added: To unfertilized plot....................96 lbs. To acid phosphate plot.................312 To kainit plot.................... 22 To acid phosphate and kainit plot.......296 seed'meal Average increase with cotton seed mel. 3 Increase of seed cotton per acre when acid phosphate was added: To unfertilized plot.................... 8lbs. To cotton seed meal plot...............224 " To kainit plot..................... 44 To cotton seed meal and kainit plot.......120 " Average increase with acid phosphate......124 Increase of seed cotton per acre when kainit was added: To unfertilized plot....................40 lbs. To cotton seed meal plot...............168 " To acid phospha~te plot ................. 80 To cotton seed meal and acid phosphate plot 64 Average increase with kainit ......... .... 88 The most profitable fertilizer was that used on Plot 10, which was a complete fertilizer that contained a half ration of kainit. EXPERIMENT MADE BY J. W. TERRY, 24 MILES)NORTH OF BREWTON, ESOAMBIA COTJNTY. Dark gray soil; subsoil red clay. The field had been in cultivation. about 12 years ; the crop in 1896 and in 1897 was corn with cow peas between the rows. The forest growth was long leaf pine. 6i Increase of seed cotton per acre when cotton seed meal was added : To unfertilized plot...................172 lbs. To acid phosphate plot.................67 116 To kainit plot .................. To acid phosphate and kainit plot.......66 Average increase with cotton seed meal.....130 Increase of seed cotton per acre where acid phosphate was added ; To unfertilized plot...................160 lbs. To cotton seed meal plot...............53 " To kainit plot.......................133 To cotton seed meal and kainit plot......183." Average increase with acid phosphate.......132 Increase of cotton per acre when kainit was added: To unfertilized plot...................169 lbs. To cotton seed meal plot................113 " To acid phosphate 'seed plot ................. 142 241 To cotton seed meal and acid phosphate plot ............................... in yield obtained on the two Average increase with kainit........... .. .166 unfertilized difference The results are not entirely conclusive on account of the plots, and because of unfavorable seasons. complete fertilizer needed, profit, which was by no means large. -was Apparently a_ greatest this giving the Sterrett, Le Grand, Bev ill and FERTILIZERS. STERRETT. Brewto'n experiments with cotton. f I. LI ) U n.., LEGRAND. BEVILL. BREWTON. Ord a 6-O'er I 6I Ord T U . OLyI /1. I)U 1 0a "r y _r1 O PKIND. 4. oot Poo PP. Lbs. 1 2 3 4 6 Lbs. Lbs. Lbs. Lbs. Lbs. Lbs. 8 240 $ 1.83 584 $ 7.18 568 200 Cotton seed meal......... ...... 1328 208 1.73 392 4.59 536 240 Acid phosphate.................. 1136 00 No fertilizer...... ............. 744........2....... 1.80 2.49 496 205 249 200 Kainit ......................... 992 5 84 299 1.25 848 594 20 edma.....~.1040 to 240Acid ............. 20 otnse el.......... ~ ". 1228 489 4.33 944 727 8.02 ant................ 20 2400Acidnit......................:. 1360 67658532.520 5.95 58 24.Aidphspat.62848..~ ... 736.........143 0(.No fertilizer .................... 20 Acid phosphate...... otnse el.....9240 . 1472 736 6.67 1072 929 9.67 S ...... 200 Kainit ................. phosphate $-.41 880 544 8 -1.38 768 456 448....... 608 488 40 -. 76 744 58 768 768 320 -96 Lbs. Lbs. 172 $ .77 1.00 160 ...... 1.25 169 227 .13 85 26 15 15 1.81 . 2.61 1.14 __ 1. 712 56 264 .82 792 1517'76 88 448.............440 .. 302 468 336 832 952 384 504 __ 1.16 3.76 __ 808 776 __ 200 Cotton seed meal 10 240 . ...... .... Acid phosphate............... ............ 1374 638 6.95 1048 905 9.99 lUG Kainit ...... _____________________ __ 63 GROUP IV. POTASH MORE IMPORTANT THAN PHOSPHORIC ACID; LATTER OF SECONDARY IMPORTANCE, BUT NEEDED. EXPERIMENT MADE BY J. R. MOLENDON, 2 MILES EAST OF NAFTEL, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, ALA. Light sandy soil 12 inches deep; red clay subsoil. The field had been in cultivation more than forty years. The original forest growth was short leaf pine, red oak and hickory. Cotton was the crop in 1896 and in 1897. Mr. McLendon reports that there was no rust and that the rainfall was sufficient. Through an oversight the fertilizers were applied upon tenth-acre instead of eighth-acre plots, making the rate of application, and consequently the cost of fertilizers, twentyfive per cent. greater than in any as the other experiments. (See Table p. 64.) Increase of seed cotton per acre when cotton seed meal was added: 90 lbs. To unfertilized plot.. .................. To acid phosphate plot.................. 208 " To kainit plot.........................168 " To acid phosphate and kainit plot.......274 " Average increase with cotton seed meal.......185 " Increase of seed cotton per acre when acid phosphate was added: To unfertilized plot.....................90 lbs. To cotton seed meal plot...............208 " 2 " To kainit plot ........................... To cotton seed meal and kainit plot ....... 108 " Average increase with acid phosphate......102 " 64 Increase of seed cotton per acre when kainit was added To unfertilized plot..................184 lbs. To cotton seed meal plot..............262 To acid phosphate plot.................96 To cotton seed meal and phosphate plot..162 " Average increase with kainit............176 Naftel experiment with cotton. FERTILIZERS. NAFTEL. +, 48 KIN~D. a) ~4Lbs 1 Lbs. Lbs. 90 $-.97 2 3 4 - 250 Cotton seed. meal.......................250 250Kainit................................350 250 Cotton seed meal... .......... 7 ........ 40 300 Acid phosphate.......................250 90 00 No fertilizer........................ 160...... 0 300 Acid phosphate......... .... 9 29 -. 47 1.13 3 3 1.37 184 352 186 .... . ,6 250 Cotton seed meal.............. .. .. . . . .530 250 Kainit.............................. Q, 300 Acid phosphate....................... 8 00 No. ................. 19..... 0 9 10 fertilizer...... 250 Cotton seed meal .................. 370 -.74 .18 .12 300 Acid phosphate....... .............. 250 Kai nit............................ .. . 650 590 460 400 _____ 250 Cotton seed meal ................. 300 Acid phosphate ....................... 100 Kainit................................. Each of the fertilizers, whether applied singly or in combination increased the yield to a considerable extent. A complete fertilizer afforded the largest yield. As in 1897, kainit was somewhat more important than either of the other materials. In 1897 when rust prevailed, the favorable effect of kainit was attribnted to its rust restrain- ing tendency, but the results obtained in 1898, when there was no rust, indicate plainly that this soil is notably deficient in potash. No single fertilizer or combination afforded any considerable profit, although each increased the yield. EXPERIMENT MADE BY T. M. BORLAND, MILE SOUTHWEST OF DOTHAN, HENRY COUNTY. Dark gray upland ; subsoil yellow clay. This field had been in cultivation for about ten years. The original growth was long leaf pine. The crop of 1897 was corn, whether with or without peas is not stated. Cotton was planted April 6. There was no rain until June 2, on which date the experimenter noticed that the plants fertilized with kainit, alone or in combination, had resisted drought better than other plants. (See Table p. 67.) Increase of seed cotton per acre where cotton seed meal was added: 32 lbs. To unfertilized plot.................... ... 22 " To acid phosphate plot..'........... 32 " To kainit plot.......................... 228 " To .acid phosphate and kainit plot ........ Average increase with cotton seed meal....... 78 66 Increase of seed cotton per acre where acid phosphate was added: To unfertilized plot..................... 40 lbs. To cotton seed meal plot................. 30 " ...... 20 To kainit plot.................... To cotton seed meal and kainit plot.......216 " Average increase with cid phosphate........ 76 Increase of seed cotton per acre when kainit was added: To To To To lbs. unfertilized plot...................136 cotton seed meal plot...............136 " acid phosphate plot................116 cotton seed meal and acid phos. plot...322 " 127 Average increase with kainit.............. All fertilizers were needed, kainit giving slightly the best results. No fertilizer afforded much profit, which was doubtless due to the unfavorable season. Mr. Borland writes that 1898 was "the most unfavorable year for cotton that we have had in this country in twenty years. I did not gather more than half the cotton made as the bolls cracked and the cotton rotted." For this reason the experiment is not conclusive. 67 Dothan experiment with cotton. FERTILIZERS. DOTHAN. o KIND.o r, e-1 Lbs. 1 Lbs. Lbs.$ 32 2 3 4 6 8 300 Acid phosphate....................... 00 No fertilizer.... ....... 250 Kainit....... ........................ 5 250Cotton seed meal.........." 300 Acid phosphate................. 2500Cotton seed meal ...................... ............. :......: 320 328 40.88 288..... .... . 416 136 .73 344 62 -2.43 168 156 - -1.41 250 Cotton seed meal ................ .. ..432 250 Kainit............................ 7 300 A.Cid phosphate . ....... 408 .67 250 Kainit .................... 00 No fertilizer .................. 248... 632 66 .46 .... . 1.19 2i50 Cotton seed meal................... 9 300 Acid phosphate............ 250 Cotton seed meal................ 10 384 10 l0 KAid 00 Acind................ ...... ............ phosphate 38 14 616368..1.64. 69 GROUP V. POTASH MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THAN PHOSPHORIC ACID; LATTER NOT NEEDED OR USED AT FINANCIAL LOSS. EXPERIMENT MADE BY D. K. COLLINS, 11 MILES SOUTHEAST OF COOSA VALLEY, ST. CLAIR COUNTY. Dark sandy second bottom soil; subsoil yellowish clay at depth of five inches. This river bottom had been in cultivation about twenty years and was considered good cotton land, but with a tendency to rust. The preceding crop was corn; in earlier years corn and cotton alternated. The original growth was oak, hickory and gum. Rust appeared and on some plots did great damage, especially on the plot receiving acid phosphate alone, and to a less extent on plot 5. Increase of seed cotton per acre when cotton seed meal was added: To To To To unfertilized plot..................... 64 lbs. acid phosphate plot.................454 " kainit plot........ '................ 19 " acid phosphate and kainit plot........ 31 " Average increase with cotton seed meal......142 Increase of seed cotton per acre when acid phosphate was added: To unfertilized plot...................-116 lbs. To cotton seed meal plot............... 274 " To kainit plot...................... -162 To cotton seed meal and kainit plot ....-150 Average decrease with acid phosphate........ 38 " " 69 Increase of seed cotton per acre when kainit was added To To To To 412 lbs. unfertilized-plot .. ............... cotton seed meal plot..............398 acid phosphate plot........... 397 cotton seed meal and phosphate plot.-26 Average increase with kainit............02 All results of this experiment seem to be governed by the amount of damage from rust, hence kainit, which restrained the rust, was the most effective fertilizer, the other two materials exerting slight effect. There was less rust with the complete fertilizer containing 200 pounds of kainit than with the one containing only 100 pounds of kainit. The largest profit, $5.51 per acre, was afforded by kainit used alone. Coosa Valley experiment with cotton. FERTILIZERS. COOSA YALL1iY. KIND.'-NN O P -4 Lbs 1 20 otnsed ma&............ Lb. 58 bs 6 9 1568 ".. .. .. ..... 200 Cotton seed meal ......... 240OAcid phosphate ................... "."..14088116-.30 10 ........ 3200 Nofriizer.................. 1928 .... 200Ka finizer................. 4 74 200 Cotton seed meal . .................. 1 2 9 240 42$3.91 443..51. 3.18 3250 Acid phosphate . . 2 ...................... . . . . . . . . . .. 120 200 K ainit . . . 200 Cotton seed meal.............. 90 240 Acid phosphate ................. 200 Kainit .......................... . 31 18 1720 .07 70 GROUP VI. ONLY NITROGEN VERY IMPORTANT; PHOSPHORIC ACID AND POTASH OF SLIGHT OR NO BENEFIT. EXPERIMENT MADE BY T. K. JONES, 2 MILES SOUTH OF GREENSBORO, HALE COUNTY. Mulatto, or yellowish, sandy soil. This land has been in cultivation, chiefly in cotton, for more than forty years. The original growth is reported as hickory, oak and other hard woods. The number of stalks per eighth acre plot was as follows: 681 on plot 1; 941 on plot 2; 1,050 on plot 3; 666 on plot 4; 1,0 on plot 5; 883 on plot 6; S86 on plot 7; 868 on plot 8; 735 on plot 9. In the following table no corrections have been made for a defective stand, for, judging by the fact that the unfertilized plot with 868 plants yielded more than the unfertilized plot with 1,050 plants, the plots planted thickly had no advantage over other plots. The land was level and apparently very uniform. There was practically no rust on any plot, but on all plots there was heavy loss from shedding of "forms" in June and July. For at least three years preceding this experiment, the field had grown cotton. (See Table p. 75.) Increase of seed cotton per acre when cotton seed meal was added: To To To To 304 lbs. unfertilized plot .................. " acid phosphate plot.................74 kainit plot ......................... 49 acid phosphate and kainit plot....... 19 " " Average increase with cotton seed meal...112 71 Increase of seed cotton per acre when acid phosphate was added: To unfertilized plot .................. To cotton seed meal plot ............To kainit plot ............... - 48 lbs. 182 " 82 To cotton seed meal and kainit plot...-110 Average decrease with acid phosphate.... To To To To 81 Increase of seed cotton per acre when kainit was added: unfertilized plot................. .. 29 lbs. cotton seed meal plot ............226 " acid phosphate plot.............-111 cotton seed meal and acid phos. plot.-110 " Average decrease with kainit............105 " Cotton seed meal used by itself afforded the largest yield and the greatest profit. All other fertilizers afforded a financial loss. It is difficult to understand why cotton seed meal gave such poor results when used in combination with other fertilizers, unless we assume that phosphate and kainit, when used with cotton seed meal, exerted a distinctly harmful effect under the rather unusual conditions of this experiment, .viz: (1) late planting (May 3), (2) unusually early frost; (3) continued wet'weather in July and August, causing great loss from shedding of fruit. The experiment, though not conclusive, is suggestive of the special need of this soil for nitrogen; in 1897 the experiment on the same farm indicated unmistakably that the main need was for nitrogen. 72 EXPERIMENT MADE BY. J. P. ANDERSON ON FARM OF DR. THOMAS, THOMASTON, MARENGO COUNTY. Gray, sandy soil, 4 inches deep, with red clay subsoil. This field had been in cultivation for thirty or forty years. All recent crops consisted of cotton. The original growth was oak, hickory, gum and short leaf pine. There was some rust, chiefly on Plots 5 arrd 7. (See Table p. 75.) Increase of seed cotton per acre when cotton seed meal was added: lbs. To unfertilized plot..................426 To acid phosphate plot........146 To kainit plot.......................119 To acid phosphate and kainit plot.......53J Average increase with cotton seed meal..308 Increase of seed cotton per acre when acid phosphate was added : To unfertilized plot To cotton seed meal To kainit ............. 104 lbs. plot...... ......176" plot... .................- 142 " To cotton seed meal and kainit plot.......278 Average increase with acid phosphate .... 16 In cre a sen o f tse ez d op on p e r a cre . e l d c tto . . . . w he n k a in . it w a sl ad d e d:T 9 s . . . . . . . To cotton seed meal plot .... .. .. .. . . .- 316 " " To acid phosphate plot..............-255 To cotton seed meal and acid phos. plot.. 138 85 Average, decrease with kain it........... 73 The chief need of this soil was for nitrogen. Neither phosphate nor kainit was effective except when combined with cotton seed meal. The largest profit, $4.72 per acre, resulted from the use of cotton seed meal alone. The experiment seems to have been conducted on the same plots as the test made in 1897. In 1897 kainit was most effective, phosphate fairly effective. The main reason why kainit was decidedly beneficial in 1897, was probably the excessive amount of rust during that year on the plots without kainit. There was less rust in 1898. The appearance of the plants in 1896 suggested the need for a complete fertilizer and seemed to show, as in 1898, the special importance of cotton seed meal. EXPERIMENT MADE BY J. W. DYKES, 31 MILES WEST OF UNION SPRINGS, BULLOCK COUNTY. Dark sandy soil just above overflow; subsoil yellow clay. This field, which had a soil about eight inches deep and inclined to be wet, was cleared about 13 years ago. The original growth was short leaf pine, dogwood, gum, hickbry and oak. The preceding crop was corn. (See Table p. 75.) Increase of seed cotton per acre when cottonseed meal was added: To unfertilized plot .................... 336 lbs. To acid phosphate plot ................. 189 " To kainit plot ........................ 169 " To acid phosphate and kainit plot ....... 170 " Average increase with cotton seed meal..... 216 " 74 Increase of cotton seed per acre when acid phosphate was added : To unfertilized plot .................... 160 lbs. To cotton seed meal plot ................ 64 " To kainit plot ............ ............. 12 To cotton seed meal and kainit plot........113 Average increase with acid phosphate ........ 87 Increase of seed cotton per acre when kainit was added : To unfertilized plot .................... 118 lbs. To cotton seed meal plot..............-49 " To acid phosphate plot............... 30 " To cotton seed meal and acid phosphate plot 51 " " Average increase with kainit................ 22 The largest yield and the greatest profit, $3.88 per acre, was afforded by a complete fertilizer containing 100 pounds of kainit. In most combinations cotton seed meal, was more affective than acid phosphate. Greensboro, Thomaston, and Union Springs experiments with cotton. FERTILIZERS. GREENSBORO. THOMASTON. UNION SPRINGS. Z O Q C C C 4-~~- 4 a 0 ce OO a , y C ON 0 a :vO , U N Lbs. Lbs. ........................ 760 1 200 Cotton seed meal....... .... 504 24OAcid phosphate........................... 2 3 200 Kainit.......................................... ... 504 ofriie...... 5 ........... " ........ 616 0 Lbs.' Lbs. 304 $ 2.83 1466 76 48 --. 1144 ..29 -.91 1064 004 Lbs. Lbs. 426 $ 4.72 856 .11 680 104 -- -1.52 9 250 110 .48 1.57 640 872 712 Lbs. 336 .$ 3.33 .99 160 349 287 118 .45 2.03 1.19 - 5 20Cidtosph mate... ......... sedmel................... .~ 00Coto 6 20Kii......................592 1 122 --.51 1356 78 -2 07 1248 7 200acinit......................148011. 8 20Cto 00ONo fertilizer................. edma ... .. .......... ........................ 552...... 520 -53 -370u 1020u--151- .53 656 .. 1204.........528 --32 -- 5.27 1592 130 400 52 .86 1.44 38 9 240 Acid phosphate........................... 200 Kainit .............................. ...... 388 1.25 928 12 38 14600 16 35 .... ... 10 240 Acid phosphate ........................ 100OKifit....................................................___________.____ 2:00 Cotton seed meal ........... ........... ........... ....... 56 5..6100 76 GROUP VII. NO FERTILIZER VERY EFFECTIVE. EXPERIMENT MADE BY E. HAYS, ONE MILE WEST OF CULLMAN, CULLMAN COUNTY, ALA. Sandy upland; recently cleared. The original growth was oak'and pine. Apparently the land had been in cultivation only one year before the test was begun. On this "new -ground" no fertilizers were decidedly beneficial. (See Table, p. 78.) Increase of seed cotton per acre when cotton seed meal was added: To unfertilized plot.................152 lbs. To acid phosphate plot...............-86 To kainit plot.......................-31 To acid phosphate and kainit plo....1 Average increase with cotton seed meal......62 Increase of seed cotton per acre when acid phosphate was added: To unfertilized plot......... ... 112 lbs. To cotton seed meal plot...............-126" To kainit plot. .. . ... . . . ............- 170 " To cotton seed meal and kainit plot....... 74 Average decrease with acid: phosphate........ 27 Increase of seed cotton: per acre when kainit was added : To unfertilized plot. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . .45 lbs. " To cotton seed meal plot............... -138 To acid phosphate plot.........237 To cotton seed meal and acid phosphate plot 62" Average _decrease with kainit ............. 67 77 EXPERIMENT MADE BY D. T. FJLTON, HARTFORD, GENEVA COUNTY. Gray sandy loam ; subsoil yellow sandy clay. The field had been cleared only three years and had produced but two crops, one of cowpeas and one of corn. The forest growth was long leaf pine with a few oaks. No fertilizer increased the yield to any great extent, a result ascribed chiefly to the unfavorable year. "Much of the cotton rotted in the field." Increase of seed cotton per acre when cotton 'seed meal was added : To unfertilized plot...................128 lbs. To acid phosphate plot...............32 To kainit plot. .................... 32 To acid phosphate and kainit plot.. ..... 40 Average increase with cotton seed meal.. 58" Increase of seed cotton per acre when acid phosphate was added: To unfertilized plot ................ 112 lbs. To cotton seed meal plot........... ... 16." To kainit plot........................ 48 To cotton seed meal and kainit plot .... 56 c" Average increase with acid phosphate........ Increase of seed cotton per acre when kainit To unfertilized plot...........152 To cotton seed meal plot................. To acid phosphate plot.................. To cotton seed meal and acid phosphate plot 58" was added: lbs. 56 " 88 56" Average increase with kainit............... 88 78 Hartford and Ciullman experiment with cotton. HA 'VFORD. CVULLMAN. FERTILIZERS. a) KIND. N 0 ~ ~ -0 0 0 +) 04U 1 2 3 Lbs. Lbs. Lbs. Lbs. Lbs. 200 Cotton seed meal............ 352 128 $ 0.09 880 152 $0.46. 240 Acid phosphate......... ... 336 112 .21 840 112 .24 00 4 200 Kainit...................... No fertilizer ................ 224 ........ 728........ 376 155 1 03 800 45 -68 6 )200 00 No 240 Acid ....... 320. otonseed meal.....Acdhopae 368 150 -1.07 Cotton seed meal....... . 408 194 213 208......864... 464 256 - 808 26 -3.0& 14 -3.07 ... .27 824 1240 cid hosphate ......... 20..ii...:.424 8 9 (200 Cotton.sgeed fertilizer... ........... meal....... .43 712 -125 -4.82' 80 952 88 10 (200 Kainit........... 200 Cotton seed meal... 240 Acid phosphate...........~ 480 272 100 Kainit phosphate...........~ ) -3.41 .15 912 48 -3.33 _______________________ 79 Do FERTILIZERS PAY AT PRESENT PRICES OF COTTON? We may in part answer this question by showing the average amount. of increase in yield of seed cotton attributable to the different fertilizers. The following table gives the average results for 2'2 co-operative tests in 1897, and for 30 in 1898. The price assumed for a pound of seed cotton, 1 5-9 cents, is the net price of increase, or value of the seed cotton after paying 33 cents per 100 pounds for picking, and is equivalent to 5 cents per pound for lint and $6.67 per ton for seed. Average increase over unfertilized plots in 1897 and 1898. FERTILIZERS. ___ _________________ ____ Average 22 Average 30 tests in tests in 1897. 1898. N Pc k KIND.OO _ _ _ _ _ _ 0 Lbs. 1.90 113 $-.15 205 $ 1.29 Lbs.Lbs. 240OAcid phosphate .... ........ 1.50 194 1.51 230 2.08. GONo fertilizer ......... .... ............ ... . 4 200 Kainit.... ....... ...... 1.88 144 .86 97 .13 5 2000Cotton seed meal....... . .3.40 339 1.87 375 2.43 3 240 Acid 2 1 2000Cotton seed meal........$ phosphate........ 6 2000Cotton seed meal 7S200 S200 Kainit ........ 8 00ONo 240 Kainit...... .......... Acid phosphate fertilizer ...... ... ....... "...... ........ . 3.28 282 1 1.10 258 1.58 283 .. . .73 .88 2.88 287 200 Cotton seed meal..... 9-, 24OAcid phosphate........... ........... ) 40 ............. 200 seed meal 200Cotton Kainit ......... 240 Acid 4.78 419 7 1.73 392 .045 1.32 28 10 phosphate 40837.17043.28 This table shows that fertilizers, even when used indis-, criminately, or without any attempt to suit the fertilizer to the soil, were, as judged by average results, moderately profitable. 80 Averages however do not do full justice to the amount of increase which fertilizers afford when selected with special reference to their suitability for the soil on which they are to be applied. The several tables on preceding pages which give the yield and profits in each locality show that in a number of localities, the complete fertilizer, the meal and p~hospate mixture, or even the phosphate applied by itself afford profits of more than $5 per acre after paying for cost of picking the increased yield due to the fertilizer. The absolute necessity for using fertilizers in the regions where they are now in general use can also be inferred from the small yields obtained in most tests on the plots that received no fertilizer. In our conclusive tests in 1897 and 1898, the average yields without fertilizers were respectively 474 and 506 pounds of seed cotton per acre. Excluding all tests where the unfertilized plots produced 500 pounds or more of seed cotton per acre, we find that 1I soils in 1897 averaged without fertilizers only 281 pounds, and 17 soils in 1898 averaged, when unfertilized, only 299 pounds of seed cotton per acre, the entire product, including seed, being worth less than $6 per acre. FERTILIZER GENERAL SUGGESTIONS ABOUT SUITING THE TO THE SOIL. There are no positive indications or signs by which the farmer can tell whether his soil needs chiefly phosphate or potash. He can often decide whether nitrogenous fertilizers are needed. As a rule on soils with the proper supply of moisture, and properly cultivated, a very small cotton stalk suggests a need of nitrogenous fertilizers. A very large cotton stalk, too much "run to weed," indicates that an ample supply of nitrogen is present, and if such a large plant is poorly fruited, and late in maturing, a need for phosphate is suggested, (except possibly in the Central Prairioe Region). A light shade of green on the leaves, instead dark, deep luxuriant green, may indicate a need of either of phosphate or nitrogen, or both. But color of foliage is not, to be relied on, for few have an accurate eye for color, the subject has not been sufficiently studied, and the supply of moisture or the presence of leaf disease is apt to determine or obscure the color of the foliage. A black or dark soil usually contains an abundance of vegetable matter and hence of nitrogen, but lime soils may be dark colored and still need additional nitrogen. Next to size of stalks, the history of the field affords the best indication as to whether or not the soil needs nitrogen. For example, recently cleared land contains much vegetable matter and cotton on "new ground" seldom responds profitably to nitrogenous fertilizers. The ashes left in burning the brush, especially if the growth is hardwood, usually make potash fertilizers unnecessary on recently cleared land. When "new ground " needs any fertilizer at all it is usually acid phosphate alone. Cotton following cow peas, needs little if any cotton seed or cotton seed meal if the peas the preceding year occupied all the space. If the peas were grown between the corn rows and made but slight growth of vines, a small amount of nitrogenous fertilizer may be needed. We are able to give no indication by which to determine the need for potash. Where black rust is prevalent kainit is often needed. The best solution of the fertilizer question is for the farmer to obtain the necessary supplies of high priced nitrogen from the air instead of from fertilizers. This can be done by practicing such a rotation as will require a large area of cow peas (and of vetch and crimson clover, when the farmer has learned from the bulletins of this Station how to "inoculate" them and thus to grow successfully these two soil-improving plants. Inoculation consists in sowing with the clover seed some of the soil from a field where clover has been successfully grown; or in sowing with vetelh seed soil from an old vetch field, and so on. 82 For example, the following three-year rotation will furnish to the soil' sufficient nitrogen trapped from the air by the restorative plants to dispense almost or quite entirely with purchased nitrogen, which now in ammoniated guanos or cotton seed meal costs 12 to 15 cents per pound: First year corn, with cow peas between. Second year fall oats, followed by cow peas. Third year cotton as usual, or followed by a "catch crop" of crimson clover or vetch. If half instead of one-third of the farm is needed for cotton, the above rotation is easily changed to a four-year rotation by causing another cotton crop to follow the cotton crop of the third year, thus allowing cotton to occupy one-half the cultivated land. The growth of the renovating plants does not diminish the necessity for buying phosphate, and, where needed, potash, both of which, however, cost per pound only about half as much as nitrogen. Moreover, the adoption of a rotation embracing a large proportion of leguininous or soil-improving crops would not at once, but only after several years, render the purchase of nitrogenous fertilizers unnecessary. This plan, especially if further perfected by growing a larger amount of livestock, will greatly decrease the farmer's expenditure for fertilizers, without reducing the amount of his sales. MEANS OF DETERMINING THE NEEDS OF A SOIL. While the size of stalks, history of land, color of soil, and even color of foliage are helpful in making an intelligent guess as to the needs of a soil, the only certain means of learning the best fertilizer for a given soil is by an actual test of fertilizers. This Station is able to furnish material for only 30 to 40 such tests each year. A much larger number of tests is needed if we are speedily to arrive at a knowledge of the 83 fertilizer needs of the numerous varieties of soil in Alabama. It will pay farmers to make similar experiments or simpler tests at their own expense. If a farmer is willing to take sufficient pains to make a complete test on 10 eighth-acre plots, it would be well for him to follow exactly the plan of the tests described in this bulletin. However, a simpler test on three plots will throw some light on the needs of his soil. Thus on 3 plots lie can determine whether his soil needs potash, and how much increase or profit he gets from a complete fertilizer and from a mixture of acid phosphate and cotton seed meal. The three plots should be either one-eighth or one-fourth acre in area. The middle plot should have no fertilizer; one plot should receive per acre 80 pounds of cotton seed meal and 160 pounds of kainit; the third plot should receive 80 pounds of cotton seed meal, 160 pounds of acid phosphate and 80 pounds of kainit. Any parties agreeing to make this test at their own expense will, on application, be furnished with a detailed plan suggesting dimensions of plots, forms for keeping records, etc. This simple test can scarcely fail to be profitable to the party making it, and if reports are sent to Auburn and edited, these supplementairy tests may serve to confirm or modify the fertilizer formulas suggested in this bulletin for the different soils of the State, and the tests may thus be made useful to many farmers. This is an opportunity for farmers to help each other, and surely sufficient public spirit will not be wanting to make these simpler tests, involving as they do no unusual expense and only a very small amount of extra labor and pains. The names of parties volunteering to give information about local soils, forest growth, and fertilizers in most general use in their neighborhoods, will be gladly enrolled. In time we shall probably be able to furnish such observers with blank forms on which to record information of this kind. 84 Wherever, in the following pages, a formula is recommended which contains cotton seed meal, cotton seed may be substituted, using at least two and one-half times as much seed as the amount of meal recommended. The suggestions in the next few pages are based on experiments extending over a number of years but are in no sense intended as final nor as universally applicable. FERTILIZERS FOR RED LIME SOILS OF THE TENNESSEE VALLEY REGION. Although commercial fertilizers are not generally used in this region the soil responds freely to fertilizers containing nitrogen and phosphoric acid. There is ample data to sustain this conclusion. Experiments made at Town Creek, Athens, Trinity and for several years at Madison show that acid phosphate greatly increases the yield of cotton and that the use of potash is not profitable. As in all other parts of the State, nitrogen, preferably in cotton seed or cotton seed meal, is advantageous on the upland fields that have been cultivated continuously in cotton for many years. To obtain best results, cotton seed meal or cotton seed on these soils should be applied, not alone, but in combination with acid phosphate. The remarks above are not intended to apply to overflowed land. Doubtless the following formula will give profitable results on cotton on these soils Acid phosphate, 160 to 240 pounds per acre. Cotton seed meal, 80 to 120 pounds per acre. Total, 240 to 360 pounds per acre. 85 This formula contains 2.2 per cent. nitrogen, about 8 to 10 per cent. available phosphoric acid and a little over per cent. of potash. Where the cotton stalks grow large enough the cotton seed meal may be reduced or even omitted. If much cotton seed meal is used, the rows should probably be wider than is usual on the uplands in this region. In a region so well adapted to cow peas, clover, etc., these crops should enter the rotation so often as to make it unnecessary to purchase nitrogenous fertilizers. FERTILIZERS FOR CALCAREOUS VALLEY SOILS OF NORTHEAST AIABAMA. The above designation is here tentatively used to include the valley soils, rich in lime, such as occur at Blountsville, Blount County, and Larimore, DeKalb County. In both localities in 1898 phosphate was greatly needed, as was also nitrogen, (in cotton seed meal) when combined with phosphates. Potash was apparently not needed. It is notable that numerous other experiments on reddish land in Northeast Alabama give similar results. For example, on mulatto land with red clay subsoil, apparently calcareous, at Creswell Station, Shelby County, a test extending over two years indicated a decided need for acid phosphate and no necessity for kainit. The same was true in a two-year test at Remlap, Blount County, on soil described as red sandy land, with clay subsoil. At Attalla, Etowah County, on red loam, with red clay subsoil, results for three years indicated that little or no potash was needed, but that the need for phosphoric acid was imperative. For the soils of this class the writer would suggest the use of the formula mentioned as suitable for the Tennessee Valley Region. 86 FERTILIZERS FOR OAK AND HICKORY UPLANDS WITH SHORT LEAF PINE. Following the agricultural map of Alabama published by Dr. E. A. Smith, State Geologist, this designation is applied to an area in the northwestern part of Alabama lying between the Central Prairie Region on one side and the Table Lands and Coal Fields on the other, and extending northward from Tuscaloosa and Pickens counties. For this region we have no large amount of data. The experiment at Sulligent, Lamar county, in 1898, on gray valley land shows plainly that phosphate was important and potash unnecessary. The same was true at Gordo, on "dark ashy second bottom." At Dillburgh, Pickens county, in 1398, on high grayish table land, with red clay subsoil, and at Davis Creek, Fayette county, in 1891, on "whitish" soil, phosphate was highly important, and potash was beneficial, but to a less extent. Doubtless on most of the better upland soils of this region where fertilizers are needed at all, a combination of two parts acid phosphate and one part cotton seed meal will be sufficient. (See formula for Tennessee Valley soils.) The thinner, sandier upland soils may be benefitted by the addition to the above of 80 pounds of kainit per acre, especially if cotton on these soils inclines to rust. FERTILIZERS FOR GRAVELLY HILLS REGION WITH LONG LEAF PINE. The term used above is not intended to convey an idea that the soils embraced in this region are uniform. They vary widely. This region, as laid down in Dr. Smith's map, embraces the larger part of Tuscaloosa county, a small par t of Pickens, the northern parts of Hale, Perry, Montgomery, Macon and Russell, most of Bibb, Chilton and Autauga and the southern parts of Elmore and Lee. Numerous tests has been made in this region. The great majority of them agree in showing a decided need for phos- 87 phates. This is particularly true in the experiments several times repeated at Tuscaloosa, Clanton, (Chilton County), and Randolph, (Bibb County), and also in tests made at Robinson Springs, (Elmore County),Marvyn, (Russell County), and between Tuskegee and Notasulga, (Macon County.) In a few tests in other localities in this region nitrogen has been most effective, but in no case has potash been the principal material needed. Most of these tests have indicated that potash fertilizers were unprofitable in the rather large amounts employed in these experiments. In other tests potash has been useful, but always less important than acid phosphate. In nearly all these tests nitrogenous fertilizers have been beneficial, but in most of these counties of less importance than phosphates. The following fertilizer formula is tentatively suggested for those soils in this region where cotton does not usually suffer severely from black rust and where the stalks are not notably undersized: 80 to 120 pounds cotton seed meal per acre. 160 to 240 " acid phosphate. 240 to 360 " total per acre. On soils inclined to rust it will probably pay to add to the above 80 pounds of kainit per acre. FERTILIZERS FOR GRAY ISINGLASS AND RED CLAY LANDS OF EAST ALABAMA. This triangular area extends along the Georgia line from Russell into Cleburne county. Its eastern angle or apex is near Yerbena, in Chilton county, on the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. The soils vary from deep red clay to light gray sand of considerable depth. At Cusseta, on red land, a test continued for two years indicated that phosphate was chiefly in demand, that nitrogen was necessary but less effective, and that potash was not profitable. At Kaylor, Randolph County, 88 on lighter soil, the results on the wlole have been but little more favorable to kainit. Experiments repeated for several years on gray sandy soil at Dadeville agree with those just cited in showing the pre-eminent need for phosphates and afford a somewhat more favorable showing for potash fertilizers, which, however, are, as in all the co-operative tests in this region, less effective than either cotton seed meal or acid phosphate. At Roanoke, Randolph County, on sandy loam soil, phosphate was the chief need of the soil, nitrogen of secondary importance, and kainit of still less advantage, although somewhat beneficial. Without attempting a complete analysis of the numerous experiments at Auburn, which lies in the southern edge of this district, it may be said briefly that on the Experiment Station farm potash fertilizers have been less essential than phosphate and nitrogenous fertilizers on the stiffer, reddish soil, but that potash has been beneficial when combined with the other materials and applied to the lighter soils of this farm. In at least one instance potash was also decidedly beneficial on stiffer, reddish loam, this favorable result occurring in a season when black rust was very destructive. It appears to the writer that the farmers of this region can dispense with kainit or other potash fertilizer on red land not very subject to rust. A. mixture of two-thirds acid phosphate and one-third cotton seed meal is probably the correct proportion for most of the red lands of this region. For example I would suggest Cotton seed meal per acre... 80 to 120 pounds Acid phosphate per acre.... 160 to 240 " Total...................240 to 360 " per acre. This proportion should be modified according to the size of cotton stalks usually produced, according to recent cropping of the land, etc., increasing the proportion of cotton seed meal where the cotton stalks are usually too small and 89 decreasing the proportion of meal on fields on which a thrifty crop of cowpeas has recently grown, and omitting the meal entirely on fresh land. On the gray soils of this region where the sand is deep or where rust frequently occurs, 80 pounds of kainit per acre will often prove profitable. The formula given above and containing no kainit, would analyze about 2.2 per cent. nitrogen, or 2.6 per cent. ammonia, about 8 or 10 per cent. of available phosphoric acid, and about j per cent. of potash. If kainit constituted one-fourth of the fertilizer analysis would show about 1.7 per cent. of nitrogen, 6 to 72 per cent. of available phosphoric acid and 3.5 per cent. of potash. FERTILIZERS FOR SOUTHERN LONG LEAF PINE REGION. As here used, this term is applied to the long leaf pine lands of the southern third of the State, or to the greater part of the land region south of the Central Prairie Region. It is usually sub-divided, and embraces a variety of soils. While many fertilizer tests have been made in this portion of the State, many of the results cannot be considered in detail here because of uncertainty as to the kind of soil and vegetation of the localities where many of the tests were made. Deferring a detailed analysis of the results in the southern part of the State until further data is available and until more is learned about the localities in which the earlier tests were made, it may be said that there is a general need for phosphoric acid in these soils and that nitrogen is also important, especially when combined with acid phosphate. As to potash, the results vary widely. There seems to be a more general need for potash than in the cottongrowing regions north of the Central Prairie Region. In most localities potash, while decidedly useful, is not equally as important as phosphoric acid, and should doubtless constitute a smaller portion of the fertilizer than 90 should phosphoric acid. In some tests potash was not needed, especially where a red clay subsoil was present. The following formula is tentatively suggested for the soils of this region: 60 to 120 lbs. cotton seed meal per acre. 120 to 240 60 to 120 240 to 480 " " " acid phosphate kainit Total per acre. On fresh land the cotton seed meal and kainit may be omitted; on the stiffer soils, especially where the forest growth is largely hard woods, it is probable that the potash in the above formula may be omitted if rust is not feared. The formula given above contains about 1.7 per cent. of nitogen, 6 to 7.5 per cent. of available phosphoric acid, and 3.5 per cent. of potash. FERTILIZERS FOR THE CENTRAL PRAIRIE REGION. In this region there is considerable variation in soils. Leaving out of consideration all the soils within this belt that contain any considerable percentage of sand, we have to deal with soils all rich in lime. These lime soils represent every gradation in color and fertility between white or bald prairie and deep black soils, rich in vegetable matter, and indeed in all elements of plant food. There is a widely accepted opinion that commercial fertilizers do not pay on these lime lands. However the majority of these lime soils are greatly improved by the addition of vegetable matter. The better class of soils need drainage and vegetable matter in order that the physical condition may be improved. The poorer grades all need vegetable matter rich in nitrogen. Cotton seed is here generally preferable to cotton seed meal, by reason of the greater effect of 91 the former in lightening the soil, but on some of the thin uplands small quantities of cotton seed meal can be used to advantage. However, the fertilizer most effective on the lime soils of the Central Prairie Region is a crop of melilotus, or tall sweet white clover. After a field has been occupied for two years by this plant and again put in cultivation, the yield is often nearly double what it was before this restorative crop was grown. This benefit to the soil accrues even though the melilotus may have been almost continuously grazed or frequently mowed during its second year of growth. FERTILIZERS FOR OTHER REGIONS.. The data at hand are not sufficient to permit a discussion of the needs of the soils of the Table Lands and Coal Fields in North Alabama. For the numerous narrow soil belts in the northeastern part of the State, lying between the Coal Fields and the Gray Gneissic (Isinglass) and Red Clay lands we have considerable data, which however is unavailable for lack of accurate information as to the soil and vegetation of the localities in which the tests were made. Another region not discussed in this bulletin is a region of short leaf pines and hard woods fringing the central prairies. Information regarding the boundaries and soils of this region, and indeed of any soil, is invited from readers of this bulletin. In this discussion no reference has been made to soils needing lime, although tests of lime have been made for this Station in several localities. Soils which when moistened and brought into contact with blue litmus paper, cause the paper to turn red, need lime. Paper for this test will be supplied free to parties applying to the writer and promising to report the results of their tests. 92 INCONCLUSIVE EXPERIMENTS. The experiment near Abbeville, Henry county,was started on the farm of the Southeast Alabama Agricultural School, by Prof. S. T. Slaton, and concluded by Prof. P. M. McIntyre. The soil was a brown loam. The land had been in cultivation about fifty years. original forest growth was oak and hickory. The The experiment near Newton, Dale county, was made by Mr. D. Carmichael, Jr. The land had been in cultivation about ten years and consisted of a light, gray surface soil, with a red clay subsoil. The original forest growth was long leaf pine. The experiment at Wetumpka, Elmore county, was made upon the farm of the Fifth District Agricultural School, by Prof. B. A. Taylor. The land was dark gray in color, with a yellowish red subsoil. The original forest growth was pine, both long and short leaf, the short leaf however predominating. The land was infested with nut grass, which obscured the effect of the fertilizers on cotton. The experiment near Brundidge, Pike county, was made by Mr. G. Conner, on land that had been in cultivation about sixty years and which was apparently not uniform, the yields of the two unfertilized plots varying widely. The surface soil was gray with a yellow subsoil. The original forest growth was oak, hickory, gum and short leaf pine. The experiment at Boligee, Greene county, was made by Mr. J. P. McAlpine, on land that had been cleared about fifty years. The soil was dark yellow, with a yellow subsoil. 93 The original forest growth was short and long leaf pine, chestnut, oak, hickoryy, mulberry and persimmon. The experiment at Tuscumbia, Colbert county, was made by Mr. F. Funkey upon land that had been cleared and cultivated about forty years. The land was red with a red clay subsoil. Inconclusive experiments with cotton. FERTILIZERS. ABBEVILLE. NEWTON. WETUMPKA. BIIUNDWDGE. BTOLIGEE. TUSCUMBIA. I 1 2 240 Acid 7 S +QJ 0 N & 0 KIND. 4-. -+ ;-. Q) B 0 a);L4 0 N a0 . 0 N N phosphate.'.............. 840200 fetKainit. ... 240 Acid phosphate 200 Cotton seed meal ............... Lbs.720 440, 12 Lbs. 208 -72 -19 Lbs. 400 416' Lbs. -32 -16 Lbs. 624 Lbs. 216 240 Lbs. 512 480 Lbs. 136 104 Lbs. 720 560 Lbs. 152 648 -8 Lbs. 1220 976 Lbs. 532 288 2400Actonsedea............ 600 20Aiphosphate...... 200 Kaitnt......l............ 440 440 .. .. 6200 Coton..seed meal ...... 4-100-1 2....76....56..8...20......640.......146...40040 416 . 2520 4 641148882642oto95ed 888....206 123 576 189 616 192 696 259 269 976 632 450 126 1192 872 517 203 82 464 408 99 66 456 416 24 -24 (200 8 Kainit. ................. ...... 736 576 648 206 78 440 -45 744 832 720 00 No fertilizer.................. ...... ...... 320....... 448 .... 20Cotton seed meal. 584 136 104 424 424 ... 9 ~240 Acid phosphate. ............. 200 Kainit ................... (200 Cotton seed meal...... 256 7C4 70 392 ... 10 240 Acid phosphate ........ ___ ___ ___ ___ (100 Kainit.........................______ 528...4...... 760 808 ___ 656... 176 64 232 280 ___ 408 440 ___ -.56 -24 _________