BULLETIN NO. 22, NEW SERIES. RIULTURAL EXPERIMSTATION, OF TilE Agricultural and Mechanical College, AUBURN, ALA., - JANUARY, 15 9. EXPERIMENTS WITH QOTTON. REPORT OF ALABAMA WEATHER SERVICE. .The Bulletins of this Station will be sent Free to State, on' application to the Director. any, citizen of the Smith, Alired &Co., State Printers and Binders, 24 Commerce St., Montgomery, Ala. BOARD OF VISITORS. COMMITTEE OF TRUSTEES ON EXPERIMENT STATION HON.J. G. GILCHRIST, lION. R. F>L GON, HON. J. B. MITCHELL. BOARD OF DIRECTION. W. L. BROUN............................ ................. President. J. S. NEWMAN........................Director N. T. LUPTON........Vice-Director P. H. MELL........ ..................... G. F. ATKINSON ..... ...... .... ..... and Agriculturist. and Chemist. Botanist and Meteorologist. Biologist. ................ ASSISTANTS: ISAAC Ross .. First Assistant Agriculturist, charge Live Stock and Dairy. J AS. CLAYTON .......................... J. T. ANDERSON, PH. D..................... .......... L. W. WILKINSON, M. Sc ....... J. F. WILKINSON, B. Sc....................Third A. M. LLOYD, Second Assistant Agriculturist. First Assistant Chemist. Second Assistant Chemist. Assistant Chemist. B. Sc...................... ..... Assistant Botanist. W. B. FRAZER... .............................. Clerk and Accountant, EXPERIMENTS WITH COTTON-1890. J. S. NEWMAN-JAS. CLAYTON. Comparison of Varieties. Seven varieties of cotton were planted April 28th, 1890, for the purpose of comparing their productiveness, yield of lint from seed cotton and quality of lint. The Cook and King varieties were received from the ecretary of Agculture at Washington, Storm Proof was. planted from seed presented by W. J. Smilie, Baileyville, Texas, who originated it ; Southern Hope and Peterkin were from seed grown on the station in 1889, Peerless and Truitt were presented by Mr. James Clayton from his farm near Opelika, Ala. The soil upon which the first five varieties were grown was a uniform piece of sandy creek bottom which has been gradually brought up to an excellent state of productiveness during the last seven years. The comparison is perfectly accurate and reliable in every respect. The following tabulated statement shows the comparative yield per acre in seed cotton and lint, and the per cent. of lint. The King and Cook varieties were on a somewhat different soil from the others 'and upon smaller areas, and hence, are not comparable with them as to yield per acre, but are compared with each other. As the seed cotton was picked, each variety was securely stored in a bin to itself and at the time of ginning all were weighed under like conditions and ginned separately. A sample of the lint of each was taken, numbered and sent by express to Mr. H. C. Parker, an expert at Montgomery, for classification and valuation. His report contains matter of much interest to producers of cotton. Mr. Parker, as is shown in his report, knew the samples by number only, but he seems to have had no difficulty in separating the longer stapled varieties from the short in grading them. The season for gathering cotton was not favorable for good samples. RESULTS. Yield in CottonSer acre. 1 Peerless........... 2650 Plot Name of Varieties. Yield in Per lbs. Lint cent of per Acre. Lint. Value per Acre. Priced by Mr. Parker. 876 331-17 35%2 $76 65 84 914 2' 3 4 5 6 Peterkin...... .... Southern Hope. 22112 2239 786 638 717 7S3 385 580 72 70 70 18 60 94 67 53 53 90 49 30 2812 331-24 32%, 2713 331-5 11 8/ 8 Storm Proof..:.....2170 Truitt............ W. A. Cook..... 7T. J. King......... 2400 1405 1745 %g 14 8'% These were on poorer soil than 1 to 5 and compare only with each other except in price. REPORT OF MR. HENRY C. PARKER, CLASSIFYER OF COTTON FOR LEHMAN, DURR & Co., MONTGOMERY, ALA. No. Classification. Length in Inches. Price. REMARKS. 1 4 Shy Midling........ Strict Low Midling.. Fully Str't Low M'd'g Strict Low Midling.. Midling ............ Midling ........... Strict Low Midling.. 7 84 8%( % 5 7 2 3 6 5 7A 7)( These have nothing specially to recommend them. The price is Smainly a question of 8 handling. 91/ ( ) c for length, stronger and longer. 11 14 Like Allen variety. Touch of Sea Island...... "These last require particular attention as to their prolificness and yield of lint. The light lands are hardly adapted to them without continual renewal of seed as they lose in strength and length. Fertilizers aid considerably in keeping them up." The numbers of samples above correspond to plot numbers in table of results. These varieties of cotton were all planted in checks four feet each way. The plants were thinned by hand and plowed both ways, thus entirely dispensing with hoeing. This was too thick for the long limb varieties which so completely shaded the early fruit as to cause rotting of the bolls. The stalks of the Peerless variety fell over with their weight of fruit and suffered from rotting where the bolls rested upon the ground. It was not practicable to ascertain the comparative loss by the different varieties from this ,cause. The season was very favorable for production but very unfavorable for picking. The following statement of rainfall from April to October, inclusive for 1890, kindly furnished by Mr. J. M. Quarles, assistant in meteorology, compared with the average precipitation for twelve years as given in Bulletin No. 18, Climatology of Alabama, shows an 6 abnormal precipitation in May, August, September and October. Since the cotton boll is opened by the drying and consequent contraction of the exterior of each lobe of the bur, long continued wet weather during September and October is disastrous, not only to the quantity, but the quality of the product. PRECIPITATION FROM APRIL TO OCTOBER, 1890, AND AVERAGE. AVERAGE 12 Y'RS. 1890 INCHES 1855 51889. INCHES. April............................................... .1.5 May................................................6.1 8 June............................................ .... 3.82 July................................................4.80 September................................ August............................................ 5.75. 5.53' October................................... ..........7.24 3.82 3.17 5.28 4.37 4.20 3.2~9 2.48 It will be observed that there were 12.74 inches of rain during September and October of last year against 5.77 inches as the average of twelve years, or more than twice the normal quantity. EXPERIMENT WITH PHOSPHATE. Question-Will the vegetable matter in freshly cleared land supply all the nitrogen needed by the cotton plant? This experiment was conducted upon land from which the lrge timber, principally longleaf pine, had been removed many years before, but was cleared for the plow during the winter of 1889-90. It was very thoroughly broken for "new ground," was very uniform in character and, as shown by the yield where no manure was used, was naturally very poor. As shown by the results of the "soil test of fertil- izers" conducted on an adjacent acre, the soil is decidedly deficient in phosphoric acid. In addition to the above question, an inquiry as to the quantity of phosphate that can be profitably applied upon such laud is made. The results show that the plant was not commensurately profited by the additional 500 lbs. and that the decomposition of the vegetable matter did not furnish all of the nitrogen needed by the cotton plant. PHOSPHATE ALONE, AND PHOSPHATE AND NITROGEN ON NEW GROUND. Yield in pounds Seed Cotton per acre. Names Pounds Cost of Fertilizers per acre. Profit from 00 profit Plot No. of Fertilizers, used per acre. 1st picking 2d 212 Sept. 1st. Sept. 18. 382 picking 3d picking 4th picking 5th picking Total. Oct'. 15. 168 Nov. 10. 25 Nov.25 32 819 Fertilizers $ 6 67 use of from use of Fertilizers. 1 Acid Phos 500 $4 12Y2 48; C. S. Meal, 2 Aid Phos. 3 Aid Phos. 500 500 1000 310 270 453 400 152 150 47 29 55 34 1017 883 9 55 8 25 7 19 4 47 52 1-5 3.2'., 54 Acidomnr..9 1000 Phos.el 10 226 .. 4066 3494 1196 113 4 1213 49..S 10 19 3 52 2 5' Floats vs, Acid Phosphate. In several experiments, previously conducted to ascertain the comparative agricultural value of the phosphate rock, ground to impalpable powder, known as floats, with that of acidulated phosphate, the results have indicated, that used in conjunction with cotton seed meal, floats were more prfitable than the acid phosphate, taking into consideration the fact that floats contain nearly twice the percentage of phosphoric acid. Thc soil used in this experiment was sandy drift that had been lying out many years. No commercial fertilizer had been previously applied to it. It had been closely depastured for seven years. The floats were at some disadvantage in comparison of costs, since they were purchased at ton rates, while the acid phosphate was bought at car load rates. The results are so plainly set forth in the table that comments are unnecessary. 9 ACID PHOSPHATE AND FLOATS COMPARED. RESULTS. Fertilizers used per Acre. PLOT. Seed Cotton gathered per Acre. Pick1st Pick- 2d Pick- 3d Pick- 4th Picking ing ing ing ing Sept. 1. Sept. 17. Oct.-15. Nov. 1. Nov. 25. Pounds. i Names. Floats.................... Floats................... No manure ............... 5th Total Yield per Acre. Cost of fertilizer per Acre. Profit from Fertilizers. Per ct. profit from Fertilizers. 26%4 511 2 No. 1.. 400 800 40.0 72.0 167.2 220.0 218.4 319.2 73 6 42.41 43 2 541 731 344 $3.14 $2.77 6.28 5.33 No. 2.. No. 3.. No. 5.. No. I .. I 76.8 800 800 II II 400 Floats, 400 C.. S. Meal.... 208.0 389.6 172.8 38.4 24.0 24.8 21.6 833 814 7.48 7.64 7.19 69.3-5 6.46 623- 341.6 400 C. S. Meal, 400 Acid Phos. 344.0 83.2 I CIIT\OT n 1 11 1 I I 1 11 -~ I - l~LII 11 Cotton at D~ferent Distances in Row and Drill, With same quantity of manure per acre and same distance, with different quantities of manure. This experiment was conducted upon land, of almost exactly uniform quality, which had been somewhat improved by rotation of crops and fertilizing during six years. It produced without manure, in 1884, 3z bushels of corn per acre, under the influence of a favorable season. After thoroughly preparing and bedding the land, a Thomas harrow was drawn across the beds to reduce their height and leave them in good condition for the planter. Owing to the difficulty previously experienced in securing and maintaining a stand when planted in hills, the seed were sown in the usual way along the row with the planter. In order to secure perfect accuracy and insure a stand, lines were stretched across the rows at the desired distances apart, and the cotton chopped between them, leaving two stalks to the hill, under or as near as practicable to the lines. By this means a perfect stand was secured. After danger of attack from cut worms was past, the stand was reduced to one stalk to the hill. Besides the comparison of the effects of giving different areas to the plants, the effects of doubling the quantity of manure per acre is tested in plats 1 and 5 and 2 and 6, which are adjacent, and have the plants at the same distance each way, 1 and 5 being planted 4 ft. by 5 ft., and 2 and 6, 4 by 4 ft. To half of plat 8, 200 lbs. of kainit were applied,* August 13th, and to the other half, 200 lbs. of cotton seed meal. The object of these applications was to prolong and thereby increase the fruitfulness of the plants. Each of these is compared with plot 4, which had the same quantity of manure, applied before planting, that plot 8 had, and received no additional application. The labor of applying them, as well as the additional manures, seems to have been wasted. * Owing to the continued rains this application was made later than intended. 11 12 It will be observed that crowding the plants as in plots 7, 10 and 11, hastened maturity, as is shown by the yield at the first picking. Half the crop on these plots was gathered September 7th. As appeared in similar experiments in 1889, 4 by 2 seems to be the best distance for such land as was used for this experiment. Doubling the fertilizer was not profitable. 12 COTT( )N AT DIFFERENT DISTANCES AND Fertilizers Used per Acre. PLOT -WITH DIFFERENT QUANTITIES OF, MANURE. Distance Planted. .Pounds. =i No. Names. 1 _Yield in lbs. Seed Cotton per Acre i 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Picking Picking Picking Picking Sept 7. Sept. 19. Oct. 20. Nov. 10 i Total. 11I 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 4x5ft. 4x4 ft. 4 x3 ft. 1000 1000 500 500 500 500 500 500 lbs. Cotton Seed Meal, 500 lbs. Acid Phos ........ 198 4 273.2 574.0 580.0 509 2 557.6 460 8 472 8 374 8 487 .2 465 6 398.8 293.2 268 0 260.4 I 297.6 219.6 198.0 176.0 382 0 166 4 61.4 231.2 140.0 198.8 111.2 115.2 270 .0 62 0 28 0 16 0 24.8 65.6 20.0 8.4 30.4 1132 1101 1014 1131 1039 851 250 lbs. Cotton Seed Meal, 250 lbs. Acid Phos ........ 290.8 372.8 130.4 192.0 4x2 4 x 5 ft.! ft.! ft.4x ft 4x4 4 x 1 ft. 700 84 4 x 2 ft. 700 9 10 11 *12 3x3 3x2 4x5 ft. ft. 500 500 500 500 lbs. Cotton Seed Meal, 250 lbs. Acid Phos., and f 200 lbs. Cotton Seed Meal, extra, August 13th. S250 lbs. Cotton Seed Meal, 250 lbs. Acid Phos.,a 200 lbs. Kainit, extra, August 13th .............. . 250 lbs. Cotton Seed Meal, 250 lbs. Acid Phosphate.. S250 430 4 284.8 321.6 407.2 410.8 404.8 1 034 0150 23 2 24.8 84 15.2 13 2 1030 824 803 686.4 3 x 1 ft. ft. 1 1 142 8 _ *This compared with plot 5. 14 DIAGRAM 11 OF 5. PLOTS. 1. PLOT 9. PLOT PLOT 3 x 3 feet. 4 x 5 feet. 4 x 5 feet. Meal. C. C. Meal. 1250 lbs. C. S. Phosphate 250 lbs. AcidS. Phosphate 500 lbs. AcidS. Phosphate Meal. 250 500 250 Acid per acre. per acre. per acre. PLOTr 10. PLOT (. PLOT 2. 3 x 2 feet. 4 x 5 feet. 4 x 4 feet. 250 lbs. C. S. Meal. 500 lbs. C. S. Meal. 250 lbs. C. S. Meal. 250 Acid Phosphate' Acid Phosphate 500 Acid Phosphate per acre. per acre. per acre. 250. PLOT 11. PLOT 7. PLOT 3. 3 x 1 feet. 4 x 1 feet. 4 x 3 feet. 250 lbs. Acid Phosphate. ~250 lbs. C. S. Meal.. 250 lbs. C. S. Meal. 250 " C. S. Meal. 250 Acid Phosphate 250 Acid Phosphate 250 " Acid Phosphate per acre. per acre. per acre. i PLOT 8. PLOT 8%. PLOTS 14 acre each except 8 and 8%, which are 18 acre each. 4x2feet 4 x2 ft. 250lbsC.S. 2501bs.C. S. PLOT 4. Meal. Meal. 250lbs. acid 2.50 lbs. acid 4 x 2 feet. phosphate phosphate per acre. per. acre. 250 lbs. C. S. Meal. 200 lbs. of; 200lbs.C. S. ~250 Acid Phosphate kainit ad- Meal added S per acre. ded 13th August. I1 reec. iFX I :13th Aug. ~eet. 14 15 Plot 12 extends along the side of plot 5, and partly by 1 and 9, and is compared with plot 5, the object being to test the effect of so-called rest while closely pastured. During 1883 the land occupied by both 5 and 12 was cultivated in cotton by a negro tenant without fertilizer. During the winter of 1883-'4, that occupied by 12, was turned out into a standing pasture, and has been since very closely pastured. Plot. 5 has been in cultivation continuously. The question, therefore, is, does such rest improve land? Plot 12 had the same treatment in every respect as plot 5 in 1890. Plot 5 has produced profitable crops each season since 1883, plot 12 has produced no crop since that year. Plot 5 produced 1,039 lbs. seed cotton and 12 produced 686 a difference of 353 lbs. per acre in favor of the land continuously cultivated over that supposed to have rested seven years. The value of the difference in production is more than the market value of the land. Soil Test of Fertilizers With Cotton. For the purpose of learning the chemical needs of the various soils of the State, chemicals already prepared and weighed, ready for application, were furnished thirty volunteer experimenters cultivating typical soils of as many sections of the State, with the request that they be applied, as far as practicable, to soil upon which no commercial or othe.i fertilizer had ever been used. In order to compare the soil of this section with those in the different parts of the State, the same chemicals in character and quantity were applied upon an old field which had been lying out for many years, and for the last seven closely pastured. No commercial fertilizers was ever applied to this soil previous to 1890. It had been cleared so long that even the long-leaf pine stumps had disappeared. The following diagram of the plots will convey a clear idea of the arrangement for securing accuracy of results. The two centre rows of each ,plot were used since the outside rows are influenced by the manure in the apjacent plots: lbs., 15 DIAGRAM OF EXPERIMENT PLOTS. 1..210 FEET.......... 6 lbs. Sul.Anm Zmonia. 2..................... 3............ .... 1j .. . 13 lbs. Dis. Bon( Black. e .1....................... 10 lbs. Kainit. .13..................... No manure. 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia. 10 lbs. Kainit. 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia. 13 lbs. Dis. Bone Black. . . 6 . { 4.. .. ..... 1................ 3 .................. 4.... .... 1....................... ... ... 2....................... .... 13 lbs. Dis. Bone Black. 10 lbs. Kainit. 2..... I.. ..< +.L+ .13....................... ................ ...... No manure. 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia. 13 lbs. Dis. Bone Black. lbs. Kainit. 10.................... 8 ........ 10 . ...... .3 ........................ .2.......... ............. 12 20 lbs. Floats. 20 lbs. Floats. 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia. .. ... . . ._.. . . . No manure. .1........... ........ 13{..: . ... u ............ 53 lbs. green cotton, sec ed. ed. 14 .... ... .... 3 . .. 15 .... ... . .. ... ... 20 lbs. Floats. 4 .1........................5 ......... ..... :: : 265 l bs . stable manure. 17 The manures were applied with the utmost care, and almost a perfect stand secured. The cultivation throughout was perfectly satisfactory. When the cotton was large enough to be exempt from attack by the cut worm, the stalks in the two last rows in each plot were counted and reduced to the same number in each by pulling out from those having the largest number, down to the last number found in any plot. This is the only practicable plan by which an absolutely uniform stand can be secured. Observations were made, as shown in the table, upon the height, condition and appearance of the plants on the different plots, June 14th, July 8th, August 11th, and September 11th. The quantity gathered at the different pickings was recorded and is printed to show the effects of different manures in hastening the growth and maturity of the crop. It will be observed, that while from some plots more than ninety per cent. of the crop was gathered by the 15th of October, from others less than sixty per cent. was gathered. This is often a very important effect of manures, since the price is usually better during September and October than later, and a laborer can gather fully one-third more per day in September than in November or December. Besides, by reference to the table giving the average rainfall it will be observed that September and October are generally compar atively dry months, and hence favorable for maturing and gathering cotton. In order to have a check upon the accuracy of the field weights, the seed cotton from each plot was kept separate, tied up in sacks and suspended from the joist of the gin house, where it was exempt from liability to be disturbed by either men or mice. At the time of ginning, the cotton was re-weighed under like conditions. The columns in the table headed " field weights " and " gin house weights" show the loss of each plot up to December 17th, when it was ginned. The results indicate that the soil upon which the experiment was conducted was especially 17 18 deficient in phosphoric acid, since a marked increase in production results from its application in every instance, whether used alone or in combination with potash or nitrogen. The results from kainit and sulphate of ammonia used either singly or together, indicate that the plant was unable to utilize these without phosphoric acid. That the soil needed both potash and nitrogen is shown by the increased yield where these are combined with phosphoric acid. That these, potash and nitrogen, were to some extent available in the soil is shown by the fact that phosphoricacid alone gave good results. The indications from the results of this experiment are therefore, that the soil needs all three of the principal ingredients, nitrogen, potash and phosphoric .acid but is most deficient in the latter. Attention is invited to the per centages of increase from the use of the different manures, as shown in the table. It is interesting also to note the cost of fertilizers applied per acre, the actual profit and the per cent. of profit. As the profit and per cent. are calculated upon and due to the increase resulting from the fertilizers and as all other expenses are the same on the unfertilized land as upon the fertilized the effects of the fertilizers alone are considtered. While the stable manure produced the largest increase and the largest profit per acre, attention is called to the fact that it was applied at the rate of nearly two tons per acre or half a ton more than the amount annually saved from each mule kept. There is no question about the efficacy of good stable manure properly used but the available supply is too small. The late fall was favorable to the plots which produced little since a larger per cent. of the fruit on these was produced late in the season than upon the plots upon which the plants grew off more promptly in early summer. 18 19 Attention is invited to the effect of kainit in retarding the appearance of blight as well as to the fact that early growth and heavy fruitage was favorable to its attack-see and compare plots 2, 3, 5, 7 and 9. 19 20 Sall-, Fer rtilizers used per Acre. June 14th. TEST OF August 11th. July 8th. h.U Condition of 0 Names. 0 CoA Condition of u.r Condition of Plant. Plant. Plant. a B 1 90ISulphate ? a . Ammonia, Yellow, 2 195 Dissolved Bone Black, D'k green i 3 150 Kainit, 4 No manure, Green, Yellow, & SGreenvigand 7 to 16 Free. rapidly (Gr'n and fruit 15 to 30 B vig'rrn 5 to 10 Color good vigi 11 to 24 Sing ended.ad. vig. and 10 to 18 Free. 2 to 6 612 to 14 1 mak'g rapidly 2 to 5 Yellow, not vig. 7 to 13 2 to 9 2 to 5 Yellow, not 'rig. "4 to 1112 & ~fruit'g Gron, "4 " 5 240 150 Kainit, 90 SulAm. 2 to 5 Col. gd and vtg. 412 to 9 6 285 195 Dis. Bone Black Dk green & vig'us 4 to 8 7 to 22 92 Sul, Ammonia, $195 Dis. Bone Blacic, 345 150 Kainit, 5 to 10 Vig.,col.little off S to 24 8 9 435 No Manure, 195 ils, bone blk, 90 soll. am., 150 " 9 to 20 " 5 Vigorous 1 Fig and 11 is 30 Slight. fruitg slightly " 11 to 30 Free. Yellow, 2 to 5 Yel. and not vig 4'2to 9 4 to S Col. gd and vrig. 10 to 22 2 to 6 2 to 6 7 to 12 8 to 15 kainit, Green, Light Green, and mak- 6 to13 lng rapidly. 5Vigand fruit- 14 to 30 Slight.. V ig. and mak- 11 to 24 ing rapidly. Fig. and mak- 12 to 26 ing moderat-ly} lung rapidly. i 10 300 Floats, 11 12 390 300 Floats, 90 sul. am. No manure, Yellow, Yellow, 2 to 5 Yellow not vig. 412 to9 2 to 5 Very yellow. 9 to 15 (Vig. and mak- 7 to 13 Free. 13 '795 Green cotton seed, 14 1095 (795 Green cot'n seed Light Green, 1300 Floats. iv r; I Iro- 1210to28 Slight. 15 3975 Stable manure, I -I I ~11 nmmnn~o ~11I 11 to 30 2 to 6 Col. g'd arid vig 9 to 20 Very vigoroue Ito 10 Col. little offeand 12to 26 Fruiting ended. 18 to 30 very sit and dark green, vigorous, -o --I I I 20 21 FERTIIIZBJIS, September 1890.. ,, W0V O V0 0 11th. 4 Yield in Pound Seed Cotton per Acre. Field Weight. bet s ate'. Condition of Plant. bL 0. ¢ b 0 br a o 0a ~ c iel VO 0 t0. 0. a bT! O U baOo E.09 U) 0. j0. a IIc 0 Q. 0. 1 2 Mak'g smill and vig V'y slight Matured, Vy badly 9 33 108 141 174 138 123 186 222 129 303 162 258 159 222 249 162 75 36 135 108 144 66 69 105 63 45 105 93 69 63 33 264 648 414 351 378 813 939 324 1041 537 759 357 588 918 1146 255 624 390 330 369 F1 $3 30 88.4 20.3 2 53 6 59 1 37 13 5 10 1 231 57 92 50 55 183 270 6 9 6 27 45 30 Vigorous and mak'g Free, 4 5 Yig'us and mak'g, Vig'us and mak'g, Slight, Free, Badly, Slight, 9.9 4 67 80 135 3 65 42 88 88 55 6 Matured, 7 180 345 198 12 198 81 105 9 411 42 450 225 255 66 765 136.3 5 83 8 24 900 173.0 309 11 3 90 13 95 8 Small, vigand m'kg Vy slight 9 Matured', Badly, Badly, Badly, Slight, Badly, Badly, Badly, 4 963 204.4 7 20 13 86 E 134 33 66 91 87 10 11 12 Mhatured Matured, Making, and small, 510 56.1 2 36 3 43 732 120.6 5 66 6179 342 570 71.0 3 57 3 75 882 167.2 5 93 11 29 81 66 13 Matured,. 48 228 156 420 35585 36 109 194 85 14 Matured, 15 Matured,- 90 95 1119 233.1 3 97 20 09 v rLUV"""~ I"C~U'J) r ^VVI "'"1 ""I ""I ""I ""' I 21 22 INTERCULTURAL FERTILIZATION. In order to test the efficacy of the application of additional fertilizer during the growth of the plant in prolonging its fruiting period and increasing the yield, two hundred pounds of cotton seed meal per acre were applied at the 2nd plowing of the cotton June 18th, and covered lightly with scrape. Two hundred more were applied in the same way at the last plowing, July 30th. These [were applied to two plots to which two hundred lbs. of cotton seed meal and acid phosphate, mixed in equal parts of each, were applied in the drill before planting, and were compared with a third plot to which the same quantity of cotton seed meal and acid phosphate were used before planting but to which no subsequent applications were made. The results presented in the accompanying tabulated statement show that the average increase caused by the additional applications was 339 lbs of seed cotton. The intercultural applications had the effect of continuing the growth and fruitfulness of the cotton after that on plot 3 had ceased to grow. The results are plainly set forth in the tabulated statement. 22 INT'E"I+RC ULTTRA~LF f ETILIZA.TION. I i r FERTILIZERS PER ACRE. HOW AND WHEN APPLIED. Pounds. r I Names. I i 2nd 1st 3rd 4th 5th Total yield Picking Picking Picking Picking Picking seed cotton Sept. 1st Sept. 17. Oct. 15. Nov. 8. Nov. 25. per acre. 1- I i 200 lbs. C. S. Meal and Acid Phosphate in equal parts before planting. 200 lbs. C. S. Meal at second plowing. 600 'Cot'n Seed Meal and Acid Phos. 200 lbs. C. S. Meal at last plowing. -i I I I 222.3 1 I 288.61 1--f 195 O1 -t 97.5 62.4! 865. 8 200 lbs. C. S. Meal and Acid Phosphate in equal parts before planting. 200 lbs. C. S. Meal at second plowing. 600 Cot'n Seed Meal and Acid Phos. 200 lbs. C. S. Meal at last plowing. I C tcond 206.7 265 2 195.0 81.9 54.6 803.4 ~ - T ~ II~ C I~r \~l( L~ r n II~ 1 ~ 1 1 l~ 200 C. S. Meal and Acid Phos. Sin equal parts......... . 100 lbs. C. S. Meal. 100 lbs. Acid Phosphate mixed and applied before planting. 202.8 175.5 78.0 23.4 15.61 495.3 351 4 Without manure ... ,.... 9 45 138 108 51 24 Recapitulation. 1. The high price commanded by the long staple varieties will justify the most careful effort through selection and breeding to increase their productiveness. 2. While the decomposition of the vegetable matter in the " new ground" did not furnish all of the nitrogen needed by the cotton, the increase from phosphate alone is satisfacfactory, and the increase caused by the addition of nitrogen did not justify its use. 3. A part of the phosphoric acid in floats plainly becomes available to plants the first season. This is facilitated by combining them with cotton seed meal. Floats and cotton seed meal have uniformly equaled acid phosphate and cotton seed in producing power. 4. Of the different distances experimented with, 4 ft. by 2 ft. gave best results in 1889 and 1890. Thick planting hastens maturity. 1,000 lbs. fertilizer per acre was not as profitable as 500 lbs. The addition of cotton seed meal as late as August 13th was not profitable. 5 This experiment indicates that land improves more under continuous, judicious cultivation than uncultivated, in closely grazed pasture. 6. The unfertilized soil of this station needs nitrogen, potash and phosphoric acid. It is especially deficient in the latter. Kainit causes the cotton plant to retain its leaves after they have blighted where none is used. Needed fertilizers hasten the maturity of the cotton plant. The per cent of profit from a judicious use of fertilizers, followed by intelligent cultivation, is most satisfactory. 7. Cotton seed meal, applied interculturally, in June and July, increased the crop more than cotton seed meal and acid phosphate, applied before planting. 24 25 REPORT OF THE ALABAMA WEATHER SERVICE. Co-operating with the U. S. Signal Service. December, 1890. STATE POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE, Auburn, ,Ala., January 15th, 1891. The month began with clear and cool weather, but the temperature gradually rose, and the average for December was 3.02 above the normal. The weather was generally mild and pleasant, but never too warm to prevent the saving of meat. The middle of the period was dry and dusty, almost as much so as mid-summer. Flowers were in bloom during most of ' the month. The lowest recorded temperature was 20 at a few stations, and this low range occurred only on three days, during the first and last weeks of December. The amount of rain that fell during the month was small, the average being 2.19 inches below the normal. A low pressure passed over the State on the 3d that was followed by rain in all sections, with an immediate depression in temperature. Another low pressure occurred on the 24th and 25th that produced a similar result; the rain fall at Auburn being as high as 1.50 inches in less than twelve hours. The temperature fell to 310 at the Central Station on the 27th, while in " North Alabama the reading of the thermometer was as low as 20 . season was excellent for sowing small grain, and the reports from the observers indicate that the farmers have availed themselves of these fine conditions. SThe P. H. MELL, Director. J. M. QUARLES, Assistant. 25 26 MONTHLY SUMMARY. Almosheric pressure (in inches.) - Monthly mean, 30.227; maximum observed, 30.632, at Auburn on 28th; minimum observed, 29.780, at Uniontown on 3d; range for State, .852 Temneralure (degrees F.) -- Monthly mean, 49.8; highest monthly mean, 58 2, at Brewton; lowest monthly mean, 42.4, at Valley Head; maximum, 91, at Brewton, on 5th; minimum, 20, at Valley Head, 4th, 28th and 29th, and at Citronelle on 9th; range for the State, 71; greatest local monthlY range, 68, at Brewton; least local monthly range, 39, at Chattanooga. Precipitation,including melting snow, (in inches).-Average for the State, 2.30; greatest, 3.97, at Double Springs; least, 1.35, at Bermuda. Mean relative humidity, 68, at Auburn; 66 at Uniontown; 86 at Valley Head. Wind-Prevailing direction, N. W. Miles traveled, 5,515, at Chattanooga; 6,332, at Mobile; 4,030, at Montgomery; 3,236, at Auburn. ANNUAL SUMMARY. Maximum barometer, 30.632, at Auburn, 28th of December. Mean barometer for year, 30.110 inches. Minimum barometer, 29.615, at Chattanooga, Tenn., on 29th of October; range, 1.017. Mean relative humidity, 74.6; average temperature, 65.6; maximum temperature, 105, at Opelika, 1st and 3d of July; minimum, 10, at Valley Head, 2d March; range, 95. Clear days, 132; fair days, 117; cloudy days, 116; days of rain, 91; annual rain fall, 50.69 inches, is 1.2 below the normal; monthly rain fall, 4.22; highest rain fall for any month, 12.10, at Fayette Court House, during February; lowest, 0.00, at Bermuda and Columbiana, during November. 26 27 NOTES FROM OBSERVERS. Livingston, (J. W. A. Wright).-The average temperature for this month was 470, which is 1' warmer than the normal for December. The ° coldest day was 24 ' on 19th, which is 4 higher than the coldest for the past three winters. The entire rainfall for the month 1.59 inches, the smallest amount for December in 20 years with one exception, when in 1873, we had only 1.25 inches. Our average or normal for December in past 20 years is 5.09 inches. Our rainfall by.month, for 1890, has been as follows: January, 1.67; February 6.72; March, 4.73; April, 3.06; May, 4.15; June, 4.50; July 4.80; August, 5.75; September, 5.93; October, 2.60; November, 0.67; December 1.59, making a total of 46.17 inches. Total rainfall in 1889 39.38; 1888, 57.21; 1887, 44,90 inches. Greensboro, (M. H. Yerby).-It has been unusually dry and mild for December. Some days it was as dusty as mid-summer; the street sprinklers were in constant use throughout the entire month. There are a few tender plants still blooming in open air. I have in my garden a young peach tree now in full bloom. There has been a considerable quantity of pork slaughtered in this vicinity. 27 28 TABLE OF SOIL TEMPERATURES-December, 1890. (The observations for this table were taken at Auburn, Ala.) A. M. LLOYD, Observer. NOTE-There are three sets of thermometers-Nos. 1 and 2 are situated on a hill in sandy soil, and No. 3 is placed near a small stream in bottom land. The depth of instruments range from 1 inch to 96 inches below the surface, and the observations are made three times each noon, and evening. day-morning, Set No. 3, in Bottom. 50.6~ 49.9 50.0 50.0 50 7 54.8 56.0 57.3 60.0 Depth in Inches. Set No. 1, on Hill. 50.00 49.7 49.4 49.3 49.9 53 8 56.4 58.7 60.0 Set No. 2, on Hill. 52.1la 51.6 51.1 50.4 50.2 53.9 56 3 58.1 :... 1 3 6 9 12 24 36 48 60 72 84 96 61.0 62.3 63.9 ________ 28 1 1 1 " " . '1l . VIATTT\/n TIT BAROMETERi . z 'STATIONS. COUNTIES. C 0 G Max. Min. TE1MiPERiATURE. Max. Mim. N a'"Se Ua -a a OBSERVERS. -I o a I a) CU a3 N Selma Valley Pine Apple. Head .. Florence.... Chat tanooga Montgomery Marion. Union Spgs. Bermuda Mobile... Carrolton. . Auburn.. Livingston Greensboro M\t. Willing. Uniontown . Citronelle... Fayette C H Opelika.. Guntersville Chepultepec Columubiana Centre. Double Spgs Butler .... Jasper.. Tuscumbia . Fort Deposit . 32.28 87. 1031 34.34 85.37 .. .- 31.35 87. 34.48 87.37 Lauderdale.. Tenn....... 783 35.03 85.30 Montgomery 219 32.22 86.23 33.12 87.4~2 Perry .. Bullock...516 32.12 83.39 Monroe .. " 31.43 87.12 30 30.41 88.20 Mobile.. 88.03 Pickens... " Lee..........826 32.40 85.30 Sumter.. .150 32.34. 8808 220132.41 87.36 Hale . Low ndes .. 32.07 86.45 Perry .,.273 32.28 86 44 Mobile ... 352 31.03 87.30 33 42 83.12 Fayette.... Lee. 32.45 85.28 Marshall.655 34.24 86.18 90 3:3.58 86.20 Blount.... Shelby ... 560 :33 i586.38 34.10 8.3 42 Cherokee .728 Winston 34.08 85.35 .. 32.05 87.24 Choctaw. Walker .. 310 33.49 88.12, 34.42 87.38 Colbert... Lowndes .. 34.42 86.39 Dallas .. DeKalb Wilcox. Calhoun . .. .. 424}53 731.1 29815 30.195330 470 282 29.873 41 8 54 5 35 1 51 1 61 6 41 7 68 2-23 20 4,28,2 9 48 22 4;3 84 65 73 226 5 29 6 125 I 7 NE E. P. -Nicholson. 3 39 34 1i 19. 91.85 113 11 1.35 19.2 1.55 C. WV.Asheraft. Nw L. Pincell. N w L. DLunne. M. 30.212 30.525 2S 30 345 30.632 30.220 30 28 490:28 2 29 2 868 554162 50.76(2 744.5 76 70 72 69 71 74 80 3 7- 2 5 23 5 5 5-6 0 ,52 9 45 9 16 *6i 2 29.950 50. 158 741.4 39 5 29 890 30,190 30.500 2S~i, 19 780 48.3 .95 52 3 60.5 40 1 55.7 68.4 43 341.5 17.3 2.62 16 0 6 9 48 22.5 1.59 14 413 3.37 0 1714 2 8 41 1.50 0 40 15 846 20 4- 2 417 610 '25 4 x.71 15 4 12 9 60 R. J. Grady. Win. Fowler. N A. Pritchard. M, L. 'Stangel. N wx MN'. J. Quarles. W. A. Wright. Nw N wvM. A. Yerby. Wmn. Garrett. Nw W. H. Newman. J. G. Michael. Daniel Collier. .j. 46.559 48 6 34 2 9 47 3 48 25 1.9a 69 .36'.5 5 73 3 97 2.61 21 45 7 . 00 10 Piedmont . Mt S .. i' I .... Home.. . Lawrence. Bessemer . Brewton... Wiggins ... Talladega Means.. Jefferson Escambia. . 1 Covington .. . 47 55.8 38.2 58.2 72 44.4 46.6 ..... 65 91. 68 22 5 4 ..5 2 41 1-1 1 17.6 0 68 . 58 27 6 1.70 Talladega. A. J. Baker. WV. Allgood. B. WV. Lovett. D. Thos. Bradford. A. M. Weller. B. F. Gilder. Howxard Lamnar'. S w L. B. Thornton.; T R. Swaine Perry A. J. Weaver. Win. Swvan. W. J. H-olland. Nxx M. D. Jones. . 30.227I . 491 6. . 3 .44.71 21.52 30 _. 13 1 ... J, 0. Huey.