BULLETIN NO. 23. NEW SERIES. OF THE AgricuIturaI and MechanicaI CoIIee 1 AUBURN, ALA.,-----l FEBRUARY, 18919 CCoOperative of Fertilizers. Report of Alabama Weather Serviee. The Bulletins of this Station the State, on application to the Director. will be sent Free to any citizen of THE BROWN PRINTING CO., PRINTERSp MONTGOMERY, ALA. BO.AEII Off' -VISITORS 5 COMMITTEE OF TRUSTEES ON EXPERIMENT STATION : 11ON. J. G. GILcIIsT, ... HON. R. F. LIGON,... HON. J. B. MITCHEL. BO0.ED QOF DIP EC'TIOTh President. Director and Agriculturist. Vice-Director and Chemist. Botanist and Meteorolgist. Biologist. W. L. BIIOUN.......................................... J. S.' NEWMAN ........................... N. T. LUPTON ......................... P. H. MELL ............................ GEO. F. ATKINSON ...................................... ASSISTANTS : ISAAC Ross, 1st Assistant Agriculturist, in charge of Live Stock &Dairy. Assistant Agriculturist. JAS. CLAYTON.........................Second First Assistant Chemist. J. T. ANDERSON, PH. D................... Second Assistant Chemist. L. W. WILKINSON, M. Sc ................. Third Assistant Chemist. B. Sc................... J. F. Assistant Botanist. .......... A. M. LLOYD, B. Sc................ Clerk and Accountant. W. B. FRAZER................... .......... WuILKISON, *Deceased. 82 CO-OPERATIVE SOIL TESTS---189, So great is the variety of soils in Alabama and -such the demand for knowledge of their needs, that a call for volunteer experimenters was issued in January, 1890, through the official organ of the Farmer's Alliance of the State. The response was prompt and the desired number-thirty-soon secured. The results printed in this bulletin show how faithfully and intelligently they have discharged their duty thus voluntarily assumed for the general good of the tillers of soils similar to their own. Notwithstanding the fact that the first shipment of chemicals to the experimenters was lost in a railroad wreck, and some two weeks passed before the loss was reported, rendering it necessary to duplicate the order for the chemicals, as well as all of the labor of mixing and labeling them, thus delaying their reception by the experimenters, the number of reports as well as the manner in which the experiments were conducted leave no room for complaint. Indeed, the number of satisfactory reports is most gratifying. The following extract from Bulletin No. 12, New Series, illustrates the plan of the experiments and embodies the detailed instructions then furnished each experimenter: DIRECTIONS FOR CONDUCTING SOIL TESTS WITH FERTILIZERS, 1890. SELECTION OF LAND. The area upon which the experiment is made should be level, or nearly so; should represent in character of soil and subsoil the section in which the experimenter lives, should not have been fertilized for several years, or better still, never at all, but should not be new or fresh land; the object being to learn what fertilizer the ordinary cultivated lands of the section need. ARRANGEMENT OF PLOTS. The accompanying diagram shows the arrangement of the plots. There will be fifteen plots of 1-15 of an acre each. For convenience, the "farmer's acre," seventy yards square, is used. Each plot is, therefore, 210 feet long and 14 feet wide, admitting of four rows of cotton 32 feet apart. All of the experiments will be made with cottonthis year. 33 4 DIAGRAM OF EXPERIMENT PLOTS. ...1...210 FEET.......... .1 2................... ... 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia.. 13 lbs. Dix. Bone Black. 2 .3 . 1.:.... ........ ............ 4.."..... . ..... ... .......... ....... 2 .,........... 3.. ..................... 4.................. ..... No Manure. 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia. 10 lbs. Kainit. 5 .. 1 ...................... 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia. 13 lbs. Dis. Bone Black. 13 lbs. iDis. Bone Black. 10 lbs. Kainit. No Manure. 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia. 13 lbs. Dis. Bone Black. 10 lbs. Kainit. 20 lbs. Floats. 20 lbs. Floats. 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia. No Manure. .. .1............... .. .. 1....................... *.1 .. . ....................... 3 . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 10 ..... 11 .. ................. .. . .. . .1.........."............ .... 1........ ............. . ....................... 53 lbs. Green Cotton Seed. 53 lbs. Green Cotton Seed. 20 lbs. Floats. I ............................. 1 b0 a0 2........................ 265 lbs. Stable Manure. 34 The fertilizers are sent, freight prepaid, to the depot designated by each experimenter. That intended for each plot bears two labels-one showing its contents, the other the number of the plot to which it is to be applied. As shown in the diagram, each fertilizer is to be applied to four rows. Each row should receive as nearly as possible the same quantity. Numbers 4, 8 and 12 are to receive no fertilizer. The experimenter is expected to furnish the cotton seed for plots 13 and 14, and the stable manure for 15. Apply the cotton seed in a deep furrow and distribute the floats over the seed in plot 14. In plots 13 and 15 distribute the cotton seed and stable manure respectively, and bed upon them as on the fertilizers in the other plots. PREPARATION. First break the land " flush," deeply and thoroughly after accurately measuring the area 210 feet square. Lay off rows exactly 31 feet apart, distribute the fertilizers and bed with a good turn plow, making a high bed. Then draw a harrow or heavy brush across the beds. It is important to secure a perfectly uniform stand of plants, and hence the seed-beds ahould be thoroughly prepared. PLANTING. Use the same kind of seed upon the whole area and plant all of the plots the same day. If a part was planted before and the rest after a rain, the experiment would be worthless. Use every precaution necessary to secure a full stand. If a uniform stand is not secured at the first planting, plow up promptly and plant again. CULTIVATION. As soon as the plants are large enough "side" with a scrape or sweep and, several days after, chop to two stalks every two feet. As soon as danger of loss by cold or cut worms has passed reduce the stand to one stalk in the hill. Rows 2 and 3 of each plot are to be gathered to determine the yield from each fertilizer. This reduces the "test area" to 1.30 of an acre. One missing stalk on this area would therefore represent 30 to the acre. To make the experiment reliable, therefore, there must be the same number of stalks upon each such "test area." To insure this, when the plants are eight or ten inches high, count carefully the stalks in rows 2 and 3 of each plot. A perfect stand would give 105 stalks to the row or 210 on rows 2 and 3. 35 suppose the count shows that the number of stalks range front 210 to 190 to the test areas. Reduce the number of plants to 190 in all of the test areas (rows 2 and 3 of each plot), by pulling from each the number of stalks it was found to contain above 190. This is the only reliable way to secure uniformity of stand, without which the experiments cannot be accurate. Replanting, the method often resorted to, will not answer. Let all the plots be cultivated on the same day and in exactly the same manner through the season. See that no tree stands within 100 feet of any of the plots. MEMORANDA. Record in a book kept exclusively for that purpose the time and manner of performing every operation connected with the experiment, from the preparation of the land to the gathering of the crop. Make weekly or bi-weekly notes on the appearance of the cotton on the plots. Note especially the effects of either excessive moisture or drouth upon plants of the different plots. Record any changes in the weather likely to affect the growth or fruitfulness of the cotton plant, such as unusually high or low temperature, excessive rain-fall or continued drouth, and note the different effects, if any upon the plots; keep a careful record of the "seasons" and their apparent effects upon soil and plants. GATHERING. Before the crop matures printed blanks upon which to record results will be furnished. The slightest mistake in gathering or weighing the seed-cotton will destroy the value of the experiment. The utmost care is necessary to prevent such mistakes. The picking and weighing of the product of the different plots must be done under uniform conditions. Picking should not be commenced until the morning dew has disappeared from the cotton. If some plots are picked and weighed in the early morning and others in the afternoon, accuracy will be sacrificed. Each experimenter must exercise a sound judgment in these matters of detail, looking constantly to securing perfect accuracy in the comparison of the effects of the fertilizers. Experiments, like statistics, unless full and accurate, are misleading. No account need be kept of the production of rows one and four, as they being only 3- feet from the adjacent plots to which different fertilizers are applied, receive, by the spread of their roots, the benefit of both fertilizers. The product of rows two 36 And three will be used to oompare the effects of the different ettilizers. The plants in these rows being seven feet from those to which a different fertilizer was applied, only the "extremities of their longest roots will reach it, and hence will not be materially affected by it. Pickings should be made with sufficient frequency to avoid risk of having the experiment vitiated by storm. Record the weight and date of each picking. Record the average height of the stalks upon each "test area," rows two and three in each plot. Note the character and extent of injury to the plants by any casualty, such as storms, boll worm, caterpillar, rust or blight. When the plants are sufficiently advanced in growth to show plainly the effects of the fertilizers, invite the farmers of the neighborhood to inspect the plots at intervals during the season. This is important, since the object of the experiment is to be benefit the farmers who cultivate the character of land upon which the experiment is made. The chemicals were sent in the spring of 1890, to the following named gentlemen for experiment. Several of them failed to receive the chemicals or received them in such a mingled condition as to render them unfit for experimental use. One who received two sets of chemidals for different types of soil was prevented from giving the work such personal attention as he deemed necessary to secure accuracy on account of protracted illness. Twenty-four reports, however, out of thirty, is very satisfactory. The results of several years of such inquiry must prove profitable to the farmers of the State, since there will be but few who cannot find in some of the reports a counterpart to their soils and indications of their chemical deficiencies. 37 ipm~t~ NAMES. COUNTY. 80 POST-OFFICE. .Cusseta, Aday, L. C., Rev. Beasley, E. J........ Brown, D. L......... Bishop, M. A........ Compton, Geo. W. Cross, R.H. Davis, E.-M.,Ma..... Davison, J. A....... Tick, R. M......... Ewing, R. T......... VEubank, A. H....... Ellison, J. M........ Gordon, John, Dr. Hobdy, J. M........ Askew, B. F.......... Chambers...... Alabama. Franklin..............Newburgh. Covington............Red Level. Bibb...............Randolph. Madison..............Madison. SMarengo....... Hall, S. M.......... Jeter, 0. 'I ......... Killebrew, J. C.... Miller, W. H......... Greene...............Union. McEwin, G. W....... Coosa ................ Rockford. Martin, William. .... Hale................ Greenshorough. Newman, W. H..... Perry ................ Uniontown. Newman, C. L ........ Limestone ............ Athens. Oliver, J. P............ Tallapoosa ............ Dadeville. Perkins, J. W......... Marshall............. North. Reeves, W. M........ . Wilcox ................ Stroud, Z. T..... Bullock ............... Stephens, A. B....... Etowah ............... Watlington, T. M ... Henry...........Abbeville. EXPERIMENT BY REV. L. Lowndes............Letohatchie. Autauga.............Prattille. Choctaw............Yantly Creek. Etowah.............Attalla. Cherokee............Centre. Montgomery........ Pine Level. Macon.......... Creek Stand. Washington..........Healing Springs. Barbour............Louisville. Marion.............Hackleburgh. Chambers........ .... Boyd's Tank. Dale......... ....... Newton. Dixon's Mills. Nellie. Aberfoil. Keener. FRANKLIN and one-half miles east of iRussellvile, Alabama. Mr. Aday's report shows very thorough preparation of the soil and cultivation of the crop. He used the sweep throughout the cultivation. He remaks that, "Owing to the amount of rain from August 1st, to about October 1st, the plants went too much to weed and became so rank that the bottom bolls rotted. An early frost cut off the top crop to a large extent." The results obtained from plots four, eight and twelve indicate a want of uniformity in the soil to the disadvantage of the plots adjacent to four, The general indications from the results are that the soil needed nitrogen and phos. acid. Further inquiry, however, is needed, since the loss from rotting of the bottom crop was probably greatest where the plants matured the largest per cent. of early fruit, and with the fertilizers which the most luxuriant growth. Mr. Aday remarks that the season was very unfavorable for cotton in his section, and hence he was desirous of repeating the experiment. The following tabulated statement gives results as reported by Soil-Red cedar land with clay subsoil. 0. ADAY-NEWBIJG, 00. Mr. Aday lives seven duced Mr. in- Aday: 3 COTTON EXPERIMENT WITH FERTILIZERS-RESULTS. F~b 10 _3 POUNDS FERTILIZER PER C POUNDS FERTILIZER PER :ACRE. b 0o ZPLOT. ~ C0 P ~ 0, ~ 28. 26 28 1912 REMARKS, 6 lbs. Sul. pct. 15. Ammonia..90 lbs. Sul. Ammonia.. 2212 Nov. 21 750 780 840 585 13 lbs. Dis. Bone Black... 195 lbs. Dis.. Bone Black.. .22 24 1612 4 4 Plot No. 1 very promising till Rust appeared onfruitthen, and 1st of Aug.[ it caused thee to fall off. leaves and small Plots Nos. 3, 7 and 11 turned yellow owing~ to a dry spell from June 1st to 24th, whichi caused co 3 10 lbs. Kainit......... 4 No Manure........... 5 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 10 lbs. Kainit......... 6 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 13 lbs. Dis. Bone Black... 7 10 lbs. Kainit, 13 lbs. iDis. Bone SNo Manure....... .. . 6 lbs. 9 10 -lbs. Sul. Ammonia, Kainit, 13 lbs. Dis. Bone Black... . 1020 lbs. Floats .......... 11 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 20 lbs. Floats .......... 12 'lo Manure ........... 1353 lbs. Green Cotton Seed. 1420 lbs. Floats, 53 lbs. Green Cotton Seed. 15, 265 lbs. IIStable Manure... ~I1A I~ I Black.. 150 lbs. Kainit......... No Manure.......... 90 lbs. Sal. Ammonia, 150 lbs. Kainit......... 90 lbs. Sal. Ammonia, 195 lbs. Dis. Bone Black.. 150 lbs. Kainit, 195 lbs. Dis. Bone Black.. No it to shed the forms to some extent. 2612 28'2 6 6 7%' 3212 975 34%2 1035 90 lbs. 150 lbs. 195 lbs. 300 lbs. 90 lbs. No 795 300 795 lr Manure........... 26 23%2 . 612 5'% Sul. Ammonia, Kainit, Dis. Cone Black.. . Floats .. Sul. Ammonia, 30 334 1005 900 31 24 30%2 7 8 8 121'2 21 712 36%2 1095 31 930 300 lbs. Floats . Manure ........... lbs. Green Cotton Seed lbs. Floats, lbs. Green Cotton Seed L^ I/ --- - u .......... 24 20 24 3812 1155 31% 945 24 32 960 _ 3,975 lbs. Stable Manure.. 32'2 975 I 26%2 795 I I I7 10 .iXPiERIN T O~ g 3. BEASL E. .). LY-RD LEVEL, OOVIINGTON do. Soil-Red sandy; subsoil, clay. The effects of phosphoric acid are especially marked upon Mr. Beasley's soil. While neither potash nor nitrogen, used singly with the phosphoric acid, materially increased the yield over that of phosphoric acid used alone, when the proper allowance is made for the difference in the soil indicated by the unfertilized plots, still their combined effect upon plot nine to which the complete manure was applied, shows that their presence materially increased the productive power of the phosphoric acid. The three elements combined upon plot nine produced 330 lbs. of seed cotton per acre more than phosphoric acid and nitrogen, without the potash, and 300 more than the phos. acid and potash, without the nitrogen. The three combined produced 390 lbs. seed cotton per acre more than the phosphorie acid alone, and 770 lbs. more than the production of the unaided soil as indicated by the average yield of the unfertilized plots. The complete manure used on plot nine nearly quadrupled the average production without manure. The effect of the phosphoric acid in hastening the maturity of the cotton is most strikingly illustrated by the weights gathered in September. The complete manure matured 62 lbs. in September, while the average from the unfertilized land was only 6- in that month. The indications drawn from this experiment are that phosphoric acid is the element especially deficient in this soil, but that its efficiency is increased by combination with potash and nitrogen. So far as can be judged from this one experiment, the results correspond very closely to those obtained from similar inquiries made upon the soil of this station. Attention is invited to the tabulated statement : 40 COTTON EXPERIMENT WITH FERTILIZERS-RESJLTS. b aaa - POUNDS +z FERTILIZER PER PLO. POUNDS FERTILIZER PEE ACRE. .R "3 - o ~ca Q4 r.Q x, ~ Oct. 8 8 8 0 0~ 1 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia. 2 13 lbs. Dis. Bone 3 10 lbs. Kainit......... 4 No Sept. Black... Black... Black... 5 6 lbs. 10 lbs. 63 lbs. 6 13 lbs. 7 lbs. 710 13 lbs. Manure........... 195 lbs. Dis. Bone Black.. 150 lbs. Kainit .... 90 lbs. Sul. Ammonia Sul. Ammonia, Kainit.......... Sul. Ammonia, Dis. Bone Kainit, Bone ..... No Manure. 90 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 150 lbs. Kainit........ 90 lbs. Sal. Ammonia, 195 lbs. Dis. Bone 150 lbs. Kainit, 195 lbs. Dis. Bone 42 8 6 4 48 42 8 62 6 6 6 14 8 12 14 10 8 8 Nov 4 2 6 6 6 2 2 6 4 4 6 6 6 4 2 Dis. ..... 8 No Manure........... . No Manure ....... 90 lbs. Sal. Ammonia, 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 150 lbs. Kainit, 10 lbs. Kainit, 195 lbs. Dis. Bone Black 13 lbs. Dis. Bone 300 lbs. Floats...... ... lbs. Floats..... ..... 90 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 11 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 300 lbs. Floats ......... . lbs. Float*~...... ... . . No Manure ........... 12 No Manure .......... 13 53 lbs. Green Cotton Seed. 795 lbs. Green Cotton Seed 300 lbs. Floats, 14 20 lbs. Floats, lbs. Green Cotton Seed. 795 lbs. Green Cotton Seed 15265 lbs. Stable Maure... . 3,975 lbs. Stable Manure. ~? ~a Black Black.. 270 I Prepared the land as instructed in BulletinI regularly, 780 No. 12-planted April 330 had six weeks drouth in the last of June and 270 July, then had four weeks rainy weather. The cotton threw off all but the grown bolls. About 240 the 20th of August the blight struck it and it did, no more. I gave it a fair test aud was very care840 ful in cultivating it. 15-cultivated t 870 330 78 M17 1020 .?0 Black.. 14 22 6 22 30 40 32 480! 38 570 20 300 36 540 501 _r-X 53 IU -akl~r rrl K l~ r I L% 1 16 10 IL I % 52i 780 ?7P 750 tXP RIMENPT OF Mn. D. P, ti ROW1, Rt ANIOt 1m Com . Soil-Light Sandy, Subsoil Clay. The land had been cultivated in cotton for three years previous to 1890, and the results indicate that phosphates had been applied. The crop was cultivated with sweeps, * The results indicate that the soil was reasonably well supplied with phosphoric acid and potash, but deficient in nitrogen. Having been subjected to clean culture in cotton for three years previous to 1890, it was natural to expect results from the application of nitrogen, which readily leaches or volatilizes, while phos. acid remains in the soil. A decided increase results from the use of manures containing nitrogen or ammonia in every instance, while neither phos. acid nor potash meets with appreciable response. Attention is invited to the tabulated statement following. * Since writing the above a card received from Mr. Brown states that 200 pounds of acid phos. was used per acre in 1888-9. 42 COTTON EXPERIMENT WITH FERTILIZERS-RESULTS. +' rep m / CD a 4s C-oa u ~ -a . 2 3 4 5 C~7 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia. 13 lbs. Dis. Bone Black. 10 lbs. Kainit...... No Manure....... 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 10 lbs. Kainit....... 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 13 lbs. Dis. Bone Black. 10 lbs. Kainit, 13 lbs. Dis. Bone Black. No 90 lbs. Sul. Ammonia.... 195 lbs. Dis. Bone 150 lbs. Kainit........ No Manure........ 90 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 1.50 lbs.Kainit......... 90 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 195 lbs. Dis. Bone Black.. Black.. Black.. Sept. 15 Oct. 8th Nov. 1st 6 2 60 900 '3 2 30 540 13 1 12 3 32 480 4 2810 427%2Died 10 6 13 '3 worse than any. 21 25 18 3 1 3 4 60 78 900 1170 I-a Sul. Ammonia, Kainit, Dis. Bone Black. 195 lbs. Dis. Bone 12 21 1 1 Floats ..... 300 lbs. Floats...... ... . 19 11 4 90 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, Sul. Ammonia. 5 Floats....... . 300 lbs. Floats.......... 30 No Manure ........ No Manure......... 12 19 5 1Y2 13 53 lbs. green Cotton seed 795 lbs. green Cotton Seed. 27 4 300 lbs. Floats, 14 20 lbs. Floats, 9 lbs. green Cotton Seed. 4 53 lbs. green cotton seed 30 19 9 26 15 265 lbs. Stable Manure .. 3,975 lbs. Stable Manure . NOTE.-Comparing results from plots 4, 8 and 12 it will be seen that there was of the fertilzers adjacent to number 12. 6 10 13 20 6 20 9 lbs. lbs. lbs. lbs. lbs. lbs. Manure........ 150 lbs. Kainit, 195 lbs. Bone Black. No Manure........ 90 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 150 lbs. Kainit, 4 14 X48 720 3612 54734 68 48 76 49 74 71 1020 Suffered from drouth. 1140 735 65 975 1110 795 I I. I I _ 19 I I G F 1065 [any. Suffered from drouth almost as badly as lack of uniformity in the quality of the soil in favor 14 EXPERIMENT OF MR. M. A. BISHOP, MADISON, MADISON COUNTY. Soil-Deep red, with stiff, red subsoil; the typical red soil of the Tennessee Valley. Mr. Bishop says the soil is "destitute of gravel," and has only "a trace of sand." "It has been planted in cotton twenty-four years consecutively, and vegetable matter apparently, entirely exhausted from it. No fertilizer of any kind had ever been applied to the land previous to 1890. Twenty years ago the land produced in favorable seasons 800 lbs. seed cotton per acre without manure. "A perfect stand was secured May 10th. May 22nd, sided vith Barton harrow-fine season in the ground. May 31st, chopped to two stalks every two feet. June 17th, cultivated shallow with Syracuse stock cultivator, run twice to the row and thinned to one stalk every two feet-195 stalks to the test rows. Cultivated every two weeks with cultivator or sweep until July 17th, when rain stopped all farm work for the season. "The early part of the season was unfavorable on account of cold nights in May. June was dry but otherwise favorable. Rains commenced July 13th and continued till August 20th, causing the cotton to shed. "Farmersfrom every portion of the county visited and inspected the crop during the growing season. All were forcibly struck with plots 6, 9, 14 and 15, which showed favorably throughout the season." The results of this experiment indicate the need of phosphoric acid in the land under investigation, as shown in plots to which the disolved bone black was applied. It indicates also the need of nitrogen and potash as shown by the increased productive power of the dissolved bone black, when combined with these, over its use alone. The nitrogen and potash, however, though needed, were powerless without phosphoric acid. See plots 1, 3, and 5, and compare them with 6, 7 and 9. Cultivators of red valley lands may profit by an examination of these results. 44 COTTON EXPERIMENT WITH FERTILIZERS-RESULTS. ) 'U 0 'U POUNDS FERTILIZER PER 4 PLOT., POUNDS FERTILIZER PER AR ARE J PUao REMARKS. -a ,,5a 41 H H ~ 1 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia.... 90 lbs. Sul. Ammonia... 6% '73 64 202'% 23212 2 13 lbs. Dis. Bone Black.. 195 lbs. Dis. Bone 150 lbs. Kainit....... . 3 10 lbs. Kainit......... 4 No Manure........... 5 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 10 lbs. Kainit......... 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 13 lbs. Dis. Bone 7 10 lbs. Kainit, 13 lbs. Dis. Bone NoManure......... 90 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 150 lbs. Kainit........ Black. 4 3 3%1 {' {' 312 ,14 195 120 3 3 14 14 7 7 312 1 4 Black.. Black.. Black.. . 195 lbs. Tis. Bone Black. 150 lbs. Kainit, 195 lbs. Dis. Bone Black. No 90 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 614 187' 21 630 21 630 5 2312 ing, 3 weeks late in blooming, branches small. Height 2 ft., green foliage, good stalks, formed well, but shedded during wet weather in Aug., bloomed early. Stalk small, in., foliage yellow, fruit small. 3Stalks to i6 in. high, very yellow, retained the forms, late, some unmatured at frost, like No. r. 5 Height to ins., foliage yellow, fruit medium, grew late, matured slowly. Height 2 ft., early fruit, good size, foliage green, good stalk, shedded some during the wet weather in & Aug. {Height 2z ft., foliage dark green, fruit small and scatter- 1416i 16 18 No Manure.......... . .9 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 10 lbs. Kainit, 13 lbs. Dis. Bone 150 lbs. 90 Manure.... Kainit, . 16 150 705 225 465 150 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 195 lbs. Dis. Bone Black . 10 20 lbs. Floats.....:... 11 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, .... 300 lbs. Floats 90 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 20 lbs. Floats.......... . 300 lbs. Floats ......... ... 12 No Manure.......... . No Manure ....... 13 53 lbs. green Cotton Seed. 795 lbs. green Cotton Seed; 9 300 lbs. Floats, lbs. 14 20 lbs. Floats, green Cotton Seed. 1795 lbs. green Cotton Seed 11 53 15 265 lbs. Stable Manure... ,3,975 lbs. Stable 16%. 2 J) 2 712 5 5 5 3 15%N {'3bloom, {'3frost, 18 fGrowth TAppearance No. 4 was short by accident, a few hills which is shown in yield. {The July Growth resembled No. 6 at all stages, result equal. g owth ot 1Nos. 4, 8 and 12 was about the same, only first 5 2 1 16 480 1742525 23'2 Manure.. 705 to Height 21 ft., foliage dark green, very stockey, fruit large, retained it well, matured early. in., fo'iage light, rather late, grew until Height few bolts frosted. like No. io, retained its fruit well but rather late, some green fruit when frost came. Like No. 8. 2-j ft ,foliage dark green, fruit not so thick, set a~sNos. 15 and 9, later onfll1 matured, started slow, caught up. like No. only started off more promptly. All matured in Oct, good picking Sept. 15th. The appearance of No. 9 2 or 3 days earlier. {Height 13, only 16 EXPERIMEMT OF MR. G. W. COMPTON, DIXON'S MILLS, MARENGO COUNTY. Soil---Sandy, with clay subsoil; has been in cultivation sixty years. Original growth, oak, hickory, dogwood and pine. The land was sown in oats in 1888 and 1889, and fertilized with 40 bushels cotton seed in 1888, and 30 in 1889. Pastured after the oats were harvested in 1889. Preparation--Laidoff rows with eight inch shovel, applied the fertilizers in these furrows; bedded with one-horse turn-plow; opened bed with scooter ; sowed the seed, and covered with a board. The seed were planted 25th of April. May 6th, a good stand was up. off" with turn-plow May 15th and folThe cotton was lowed with 14 inch solid sweep. Chopped to a stand May 28th and plowed with solid sweep ; subsequent cultivation done with wider sweeps. Seasons were good 'till August 24th, then a drouth of six weeks. "Plots to which nitrogen and phosphoric acid were applied shedded most, having most to shed." "Plots with kainit shed less because they did not have much to shed." Mr. Compton concluded his report with the remark: "Will send copy of my report to our county paper, as a good many farmers have asked me to do so. Our people seem to be very much interested in the experiment, and some have come many miles to see it, as it is a new departure in this county." An examination of the following tabulated statement reveals the plain indication of the need of phosphoric acid in the soil under experiment. The producing power of the phosphoric acid is, however, much increased in every instance by association with nitrogen, but not at all by adding kainit. See and compare plots two and seven with six, nine and eleven. The effect of phosphoric acid in hastening the maturity of the crop is plainly shown by the weight of the first pickings in plots two, six, seven and nine. *"barred * "Barring off," was not included in the "directions." 46 COTTON EXPERIMENT WITH FERTILIZERS--RESULTS. e i ! F POUNDS FERTILIZER ZPLOT. PER b0 . O'ff' + O . r.., 2, O I)O POUNDS FERTILIZER PER ACRE. -1I°- °--I .m1 21.. { IMARKS .* 0 . O _ _ _ _ _______ __lI__ - Ammonia... 512 13 512 1 25 375 Greenest all the season. lbs. Dis. Bone Black. 1114 151 1114 3734 56614 Greener than No. 3. 19%2292%2 Yellow all the time. 514 9 5% lbs. Kainit........ Greener than No. 3. 14%4 2'2 934 2%2 Manure lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 1 24 360 Not as green as No. 1. lbs. Kainit........ 534 1Y lbs. Sul. Ammonia, lbs. Dis. Bone Black 22 17 22 133 6214 933%4 Came up best and remained in better health. lbs. Kainit,v 710 lbs. Kainit, lbs. Dis. Bone 10%4 1614 10%4 37% 56614 Little better than Nos. 4, 8 or 12. 13 lbs. iDis. Bone Black. 2014 303%4 Improved by a spot from which I dug up locust 414 Manure ........ . Manure .......... 4'4 [about five years ago. lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 9 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, lbs. Kainit, lbs. Kainit, 59Y2 ,9212 About same as No. 6. 195 lbs. Dis. Bone Black. 20%4 20% 13 lbs. Dis. Bone 2614 39334 Little better than Nos. 4, 8 or 12. . 300 lbs. Floats.. 6 146/ 6 10 20 lbs. Floats ......... 90 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 11 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 114 12%4 14 4214 Not good as 9 & 6, better than where no ammonia was. 20 lbs. Floats.......... 300 lbs. Floats.......... No Manure.... ..... .... 12 No Manure... 3%4 3416%4 25114 Greener than No. 3. 3:4 First came so late I used value of green seed in 1318 lbs. Cotton Seed Meal. 270 lbs. Cotton Seed Meal 14%215%414%4 4434 [fearing seed would not come up-iS lbs. meal. 300 lbs. Floats, 14 20 lbs. Floats, 14 4512 Used meal instead of seed--18 lbs. 18 lbs. Cotton Seed Meal. 270 lbs. Cotton Seed Meal 15 15%415 3,975 lbs. Stable Manure 9 14 32Y2487%2 Stable manure used was at least 14 pine straw & leaves 9 lbs. Stable Manure.. *Remarks refer to the appearance of the cotton until it was knee high. 1 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia 213 lbs. Dis. Bone 310 lbs. Kainit........ 4 No Manure.......... 5 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 10 lbs. Kainit......... 6 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 13 lbs. Dis. Bone Black. Black.. 90 lbs. Sul. 8 No 10 Black.. 195 150 No 90 150 90 195 150 195 No 90 150 ~f 4 Black.. stump meal, **...... plot 15265 2 18 EXPERIMENT OF MR. R. H. CRoss, LETOHATOHIE, LOWNDES COUNTY. Soils-Sandy Loam, with Yellow Clay Subsoil. Mr. Cross. says: "The area upon which the tests were made was nearly level, had been in cultivation more than sixty years, and had never been fertilized before. The soil was of the character which generally prevails in this section, viz: sandy loam with yellow clay subsoil. It had not been in cultivation for several years. This gave me a pretty good crop of grass aid weeds to plow under the first of January. The acre was broken, fallowed with two-horse Avery plow, turning under the vegetation to rot. The 10th of April it was again broken with onehorse plows across the original fallow. It was then laid off into plots according to your instructions. The 2nd of May the fertilizers were distributed in furrow of a long scooter plow and covered with single Avery plows at least eight inches. The 12th of May planted with an Avery planter in Ozier silk cotton. In a few days had up a fine stand, which was preserved throughout the entire year. The land being well pulverized to a depth of ten or twelve inches, in the outset, it was only necessary to cultivate the crop with wide winged sweeps, never running them deeper than an inch. Hoed only twice-25th of May chopped to two stalks two feet apart-12th of June thinned to one stalk and quit it so far as hoeing was concerned. "Laid it by" the last of June flat and clean of grass and weeds. The seasons were very favorable, except slight drouth about the middle of July. This soil plainly needed all three of the elements, but the effect of phosphoric acid are less marked than usual upon sandy soil while that of potash is more conspicuous than usual. 48 COTTON EXPERIMENTS WITH FERTILIZERS.-RFSULTS. L Lb.- -lo. rilie dlI o p e ba " bo b1 b ~ o Ls.Frtlze.prAceo '" I I~ so ..sn a ~ u~~ a0 C1 adElc a an n ~C~~H o c H I~0~4 , 1 6lbs. Sul. Ammonia... 90 lbs. Sul. Ammonia.... 7 9 10 6 8 9 12 6 12 11 12 8 10 11 13 4 6 5 6 3 9 12 11 7 4 3 5 .2 5 4 6 2 6 3 10 1 4 29 435 28 420 33 495 19 285 32 36 {Average height 21 2 13 lbs. Dis. Bone Black.. 3 10 lbs. Kainit......... 4 No Manure........ 5 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 10 lbs. Kainit... .. P 6 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 13 lbs. Dis. Bone 7 10 lbs. Kainit, 13 lbs. Dis. Bone Black. . 8 No Manure......... 9 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 10 lbs. Kainit, 195 lbs. Dis. Bone 150 lbs. Kainit........ No Black.. Black.. Black.. 90 lbs. 150 lbs. 90 lbs. 195 lbs. 150 lbs. 195 lbs. No Manure........ Sul. Ammonia, Kainit......... Sul. Ammonia, Dis. Bone Black.. Kainit, Dis. Bone Black..I {Average {Average 480 {Average 540 IAverage IAv. I 31 IAverage I injuredheightJulyfeet. Didn't rust at all. Drouth it in 21c very little. Pods large, and well developed. Average height 2 ft. 8 in. No perceptable change in this except it stood the droutit a little better.! feet. Stood the drouth very! well. Pods large and well matured. Average height 2 feet 2 inches. Rusted. height 2 ft. i inches. Grew off at first and held its o en throughout. height 3 feet. An excellent composition for our soil. nicely . 10 20 lbs. Floats ......... 11 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, . 20 lbs. Floats ......... No Manure........ . 12 Cotton Seed. 131 53 lbs. green 141 20 lbs. Floats, 13 lbs. Dis. Bone 90 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, lbs. X150 Kainit, 1195 lbs. Bis. Bone Black.. Manure...... .. . 300 lbs. Floats .......... 13 8 16 6 16 12 14 9 19 9 13 10 6 14 4 10 73,975 lbs. Stable Manure.. II ~I-I I 151265 lbs. Stable Manure.... I ~r\r ll~N rr TI -~ 1 Vl~~lr 1II1; ~ U~~rh 53 lbs. green Cotton Seed. 795 lbs. green Cotton 90 lbs. Sul. Ammonia 300 lbs. Floats... ....No Manure........ . 795 lbs. green Cotton Seed. 300 lbs. Floats, Seed. 7 6 8 I I6 I I~ I 2 2 I nr L-~ this growing and vigorous thi oughout the entire season. 285 height 2 feet 2 inches. Rust killed all {No Manure plots dead. h't 3 ft. 2 in. Grew off at first, and 43 645~ was done making earliest of any. 26 390 Average h't 2 ft. Pods well grown ; no rust;! drouth in July parched it severely, 59 885 Av, h't ft, Seems best composition for our soil.! 20 300 Average height 2 feet. Rusted. height 3 feet 2 inches. Made on after all: 43 645 {other plots seemed done. 27 405 Average h't 2 ft. io in. Plot 15 seemed to injure, this, it fired badly in July. same as plot i5. 23 345 Average height 31 ft. Parched badly in July. 42 630 {Average hit 3 feet. The kainit evidently kept) 19 finely 20 EXPERIMENT OF MAJ. E. M. DAVIs, PRATTVILLE, AUTATGA, Co. Soil-Red Sandy, with Stif Clay Sub-soil. This experiment was in part vitiated by previous applications of manure, as is explained by Mr. Davis as follows: "You notice that No. 1 is better than No. 2, and that No. 2 is better than No. 3, and then No. 4, without manure, is better than any of them. This I account for in this way: I had last year a compost heap of about ten or twelve feet in diameter on the land, where I had composted cotton seed, stable manure and acid phosphate, and plot No. 4 ran right through that spot, and I found that the cotton grew much larger and was much better there than anywhere else. No. 5 also got some of the benefit of that spot. Then Nos. 7 and 8 ran through a spot where I had a similar heap two years before. The last unmanured plot, No. 12, as compared with the plots immediately around it, is about the only correct list that I had. None of the plots, from eight up, had any advantage of any excess of manure for the past two years. The whole acre was manured in checks, 3 feet by 3 feet, for two years previous to 1890. "What astonished me most is that No. 15, with such an application of stable manure, is not as good by a little over 100 lbs. as No. 12 without manure, though I noticed that that plat grew off more rapidly than the others at the start and seemed to quit earlier. All of the manured plots quit fruiting earlier than the unmanured plots. The manured plots seemed to have been affected more by a little dry spell in July than those without manure. "I conclude from this experiment that my land doesn't need any kainit and not much acid phosphate; that is, unless the phosphate is combined with a good share of nitrogen. No. 6, you observe, is the best plot. No. 9, which has the same manure as No. 6, with kainit added, is not so good. "The floats seem to be a poor form of phosphate, as it seems to have been a disadvantage. "Another thing I think I have proved, and that is that a thin stand is not better than a thick one. The outside rows of the plots were not thinned to one stalk, as the test rows were, but two stalks were left to the hill, wherever there were two, and I gathered 74 lbs. cotton more from the outside rows than from the test rows, making a difference of 148 lbs. to the acre in favor of the thick stand. "I wish you would send me the cost of the different fertilizers 50 21 used, so that I can tell the actual advantage that one has over another." Mr. Davis was unfortunate in the selection of his soil for experiment. Besides the influence of the compost heaps, the whole having been manured for two years previous to 1890, caused an element of uncertainty in interpreting the results. Since nitrogen disappears from the soil more promptly than phosphoric acid the influence of the residue from previous applications would supply more of the latter than the former, and hence, in the results, would be misleading, since the unmanured plots would not correctly measure the producing power of the unaided soil, as shown in plots 4 and 8, and would prove less favorable to applications of phosphoric acid than to those of nitrogen.. The observations mentioned in regard to the low yield from the stable manure, may be explained possibly by the injurious influence of the drouth in July, resulting from the firing effects of the manure. One of the effects of manure is to hasten growth, and the more fruit cotton produces previous to a drouth the more it suffers from its effects. Conclusions drawn from this experiment are premature. This is especially true as regards the influence of the thickness of stand in the outside rows of the plots. The reason assigned for not using these outside rows in the test of the fertilizers, applies here. These rows have the advantage, by the spread of the roots of the plants, not only of the manure applied to them but of that applied to the adjacent plots also. This influence is often very marked in favor of the outside rows. The prices of the chemicals used are given in this bulletin in connection with the soil test experiment made on this station. 51 COTTON EXPERIMENT WITH FERTILIZERS-RESULTS. POUNDS FBRTILIZER PER POUNDS FERTILIZER PER C) 1 4 . 0 ,10 F.-C. C .-' ZPLOT. ACRE. 0 EMRS 0 0 1117%2 The land was prepared and cultivated 1 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia. 13 lbs. Dis. Bone Black... 3 10 lbs. Kainit......... 4 No Manure........... 5 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 10 lbs. Kainit.......... 6 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 13 lbs. Dis, Bone Black... b~7 10 lbs. Kainit, 2 90 lbs. Sul. Ammonia '195 lbs. Dis. Bone 150 lbs. Kainit.......... No Manure............ Black.. Black.. . Sept. 16. Oct. 28 23 13 19 11 12 114 371 31 930 directed in Bulletin No. 12. 90 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 150 lbs. Kainit, ,13 lbs. Dis. Bone Black... 195 lbs. Dis. Bone Black. 24'2 10 20 lbs. Floats.......... . 300 lbs. Floats ..... .... 12 11 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 90 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, Sept. 17. 20 lbs. Floats .......... . 300 lbs. . 17 12 No Manure........... . No Manure........... . 13 53 lbs. Green Cotton lbs. Green Cotton Seed 20'2 14 20 lbs. Floats, lbs. Floats, 53 lbs. Green Cotton Seed. 795 lbs. Green Cotton 2012 15 265 lbs. Stable Maure... 16 / ( r\L~ 1LL1 ~ K- ~~1IT 3,975 lbs. Stable Manure. . ~I\~T I- -1L~K~n~~ K ~I~IT U 6 9 10 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, lbs. Kainit, 8 No 13 lbs. Dis. Bone Manure. . .. . .. . . . . Black... 90 lbs. 150 lbs. 90 lbs. 195 lbs. 150 lbs. 195 lbs. No Sul. Ammonia, .. Kainit......... Sul. Ammonia, Dis. Bone 15 18 25 182 1412 13%2 1%4 26%4 802%2 21%4 112 3734 113212 23 19 1512 2%4 43%4 129712 Manure........ .... Kainit, Dis. Bone Black.. 1 45 1350 1065 18 12 1 '2 X34%4 1027%' 16% 1%r2814 847% 1112 1%429% 15 1%4 2814 1114 1 32%4 982% Floats,......... Seed. 795 300 Seed _A - - _ --- 9 1114/ C- 907 1 4128/ / 840Il Jk ~L The effects of stable manure and green cotton seed are again disappointing. EXPERIMENT OF MR. J. A. DAVISON, YASTLEY CREEK, CHOCTAW COUNTY. Soil-Sandy, with some lime, Clay Sub-soil. The results of this experiment point to the need of phosphoric acid, the effect of which is, however, improved by the addition of itrogen and potash in 6 and 7, but not in plot 9a As is usually the case, the activity of floats is developed by the addition of nitrogen. COTTON EXPERIMENT WITH POUNDS FERTILIZER PER POUNDS FERTILIZER PER A Q'I -a. a Q0Q FERTILIZERS-RESULTS. " -t 0 o i p.~o~o~ RMRS ZPLOT. 0 ~ 14 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia.... 90 lbs. Sul. Ammonia... 17 195 lbs. Dis. Bone Black. 13 lbs. Dis. Bone 11 150 Kainit........ 10 lbs. Kainit......... 8 No Manure.......... No Manure............ 90 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 12 150 lbs. Kainit........ 10 lbs. Kainit......... 90 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 24 13 lbs. Dis. Bone Black.. 195 lbs.ils. Bone Black.. Sep. 15 150 lbs. Kainit, 10 lbs. Kainit, 20 13 lbs. iDis. Bone Black.. 195 lbs. Dis. Bone Black. No Manure........... No Manure.......... 90 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 150 lbs. Kainit, 10 lbs. Kainit, 17 195 lbs. Dis. Bone Black 13 lbs. Dis. Bone 9 20 lbs. Floats_........ . 300 lbs. Floats. ...... 90 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 11 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 18 20 lbs. Floats........... 300 lbs. Floats....... . 6 .... No Manure.......... . No Manure ....... 12 53 lbs. green Cotton Seed. 795 lbs. green Cotton Seed 300 lbs. Floats, 14 20 lbs. Floats, 12 795 lbs. green Cotton Seed 53 lbs. green Cotton 17 3,975 lbs. ' 'I Stable Manure... I~C~11 TTStable Manure. lr( LI~265 lbs.TI lrl Black.. lbs. 11 10 10 11 11 10 13 2 27 810 855 12 28% 660 22 12 20% 60 7 24% This acre of cotton was showing up remarkably' well until about the 12th July; at that time we had a cool north wind which seemed to poison the and but little has been. made since that time. 12 12 10 12 13 11 9 12 10 I 1 2 with plot No. 15, and. picked up to plot No. 7 (inclu-J' sive), wxhen there came up a very unexpected rain, 35 1050 and it was not dry enough to finish picking 'tillf Sept. 19th, when the remaining plots were picked. 3& 1020 20 Besides the apparently poisonous wind, rust[, cotton, Commenced picking on Sept. 15th, in the afternoon, Black.. $40 1 1%4 2214 1 1 28 32 18 0 0 6 "I~ PI and struck it, also the boll-worm, both doing much~ damage. 1 960 540 22 660 22712 Seed. , . . - - 1 .v! I 735 825 lrl 24 EXPERIMENT OF MR.R. M. DICK, ATTALLA, ETOWAH COUNTY. Mr. Dick writes as follows: "Land nearly level; soil, gray sandy, 3 to 5 inches deep, with yellow sandy clay sub-soil. It has made twelve crops. First corn and then eleven cotton crops in succession, without commercial fertilizers, since 1884, and very little of other manure. Rows formerly ran east and west; the test rows were planted north and south, to give each fertilizer the benefit of manures remaining in the soil. Instructions were closely followed. The first planting, made April 29th, was destroyed by frost May 6th. Planted again May 15th; stand a little irregular (caused by east winds eight days in succession), but made reasonably uniform in all of the plots. The cultivation was thorough and shallow with harrow, sweeps and Planet, jr., cultivator. Each working was done on all the plots the same day and when the soil was in good working order. Cotton all picked from one to five p. m., perfectly dry. There was excessive moisture during June and July to August 5th. Plots Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 had some advantage in soil for twenty feet at the north ends of the rows. With this exception the plots were of very uniform fertility." Description of Plants on Dferent Plots. "No. 1 passed through the rains and cool nights with moderate growth, very good color, and at the end of the drouth a little yellow, throwing off but little. No. 2, vigorous grower, fine color, fruited well, but fired at the end of the drouth. No..3, yellow cast through the entire season and grew slowly, did not fruit well but retained its fruit better than any other. No. 5, like No. 1, only more yellow through the growing season and at the end of the drouth. No. 6, the best for dry soils, fired but little. "Bone black to push through the water and cool nights and ammonia to pull through the dry is what I tell my neighbors." No. 7, good for damp soils-did well with excessive moisturefired considerably. No. 9 "lead the troop" in everything until the drouth, when it fired and threw off terribly. No. 10, "if this is good for anything I have not found it out." No. 11, no better than No. 1, but a little earlier. No. 13 grew slowly throughout the season and was yellow at the close of the drouth. No. 14 more yellow than No. 13. No. 15 did a little better through the moisture than No. 6, but not so well through the drouth. The appearance of the plants upon the different plots at the first of the months of June, July, August and September is recorded under the head of "Remarks." It will be observed that plot nine, upon which the complete manure was used, was graded No. 1 for the first three months, while No. 6, having the same manure, except the potash, ranked next during June, July and August and one in September. These results indicate that the soil needs phosphoric acid and nitrogen. 54 COTTON EXPERIMENT WITH i, 1 . FERTILIZERS-RESULTS. r , ! POUNDS FERTILIZER PER POUNDs FERTILIZER PER C~" Oa nO REMARKS. 0. - 0 PLOT. O .- ACRE. 0 0 ad a H 5 o Illro~~~i~~rr C i I.t~ -~ r Appearance of from to 11. dates named gradeplants 1on the F)I~ plots at the N O .i. DROUTH FROM AUGUST THE 5TH TO 28TH. -- 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia.... 90 lbs. Sul. Ammonia.. 13 lbs. Dis. Bone Black.. 195 lbs. Dis. Bone Black 10 lbs. Kainit........... 150 lbs. Kainit........ No Manure....... .... No Manure.......... 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 90 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 10 lbs. Kainit............150 lbs. Kainit........ 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 13 lbs. Dis. Bone Black... 195 lbs. Dis. Bone Black 10 lbs. Kainit, 150 lbs. Kainit, 13 lbs. Dbis. Bone 195 lbs. Dis Bone Black . 14 9 9 6 190 10 9 S 5 9 9 4 7 6 4 4 24 720 29 870 21 630 15 450 24' 720 30 900 21 630 11 330 29 870 13 390 24 720 11 330 19 570 20 6001 I June 6 4. 9 1st. July 1st. 7 6 11 8 3 4 Aug. 5th. Sept. 1st. 2 6 10 4 1 5 3 11 12 4 6 4 5 3 15 9 5 2 7 1 No M~anure 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 10 lbs. Kainit, Black.. ........ ... No Manure ..... 7 1. No good . 8 10 10 U 9 ...... r. 11 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 20 lbs. Floats ......... 300 lbs. Floats........ . 12' No Manure ... ........ No Manure .. ..... .. . 13 53 lbs. green Cotton Seed. 795 lbs. green Cotton Seed 14 20 lbs. Floats, 300 lbs. Floats, 53 lbs. green Cotton Seed. 795 lbs. green Cotton Seed 15 265 lbs. Stable Manure... iiwn Inn ii1n Kni Manure. lbs. Stable 13 lbs. Dis. Bone Black.. 195 lbs. Dis. Bone 10.20 lbs. Floats. .. . . . . . .300 lbs. ....... 90 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 150 lbs. Kainit, 2 4 Floats. Black. . 90 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 1S 6 9 10 14 5 7 4 2 5 2 4 1 11 6 8 6 6 10 13,975 4 6 1 130II1 11 llr 1~13~1~~ 900 ) 7 1I ;111 )~1 9 2 9 3 i~r 7 4 fnmtt n ME. IL . Soil-Black Sandy, with Sti'&Red Clay Sub-soil. Preparation.-The land was thoroughly broken with scooter 20th March, and again with same plow 20th April and harrowed. May 7th and 8th applied the fertilizer, bedded, harrowed off the beds and planted Jones' improved seed. As soon as the cotton was up harrowed three times. June 9th, sided with scooter and scrape and chopped to two stalks, two feet apart. June 10th, after cultivation done with scooter, scrape and hoe. July 2d, counted stalks and got 102 to each test row. Completed the 1 Nl, UNR1 , dmnoiti 6U6" U y. cultivation August 2d with harrow. A drouth of six weeks, commencing 20th June, injured the cotton somewhat. There was then too much rain until growth of weed. No difference could be discovered in the appearance of the plants upon the different plots at any time during their growth. The stalks averaged from 31 to 4 feet in height. October 1st. This caused excessive 56 COTTON EXPERIMENT WITH FERTILIZERS-RESULTS. yF n 1 ' r Lbs. Fertilizers per Plot. Lbs. Fertilizer per Acre. U ;, " a) 0 REMRK$ 1 2 3 4 5 6 ,c i A " 7 8 9 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia.... 90 lbs. Sul. Ammonia.... 13 lbs. Dis. Bone Black.. 195 lbs. Dis. Bone Black.. 10 lbs. Kainit .......... 150 lbs. Kainit......... No Manure........ No Manure............ 90 lbs. Sul. Ammonia 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia 10 lbs. Kainit........... 150 lbs. Kainit........ 90 lbs. Sul. Ammonia 6lbs. Sul. Ammonia 13 lbs. Dis. Bone Black.. 195 lbs. Dis. Bone 150 lbs. Kainit, 10 lbs. Kainit, 13 lbs. Dis. Bone Black.. 195 lbs. Dis. Bone Black.. . No Manure ...... No Manure........... 90 lbs. Sul. Ammonia 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia 150 lbs. Kainit, 10 lbs. Kainit, 33 32 30 24 33 30 36 27 39 32 35 27 33 16 17 25 29 38 30 24 27 32 17 17 18 23 735 735 825 795 1065 900 900, 810~ Black.. 300 10 20lbs. Floats .......... 90 11 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 300 20 lbs. Floats ......... No Manure........ .. 12 13 lbs. Dis. Bone Black.. 195 lbs. Dis. Bone lbs. Floats..... .... . lbs. Sul. Ammonia lbs. Floats.... ..... . . No Manure .... Black.. 71 1065 49 735 13 53 lbs. green Cotton Seed. 795 lbs. green 15265 14 20 lbs. Floats.......... 300 lbs. Floats, 521 7801 19 53 lbs. green Cotton Seed. 795 lbs. green Cotton Seed.~ 33 lbs. Stable Manure.... 3,975 lbs. Stable Manure.. aI~ia CClnr~ll I 591 885' I 44 I 15 '- H H REMARKS. o4_ 4-a -W a 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia... 13 lbs. Dis. Bone Black. 10 lbs. Kainit......... No Manure......... 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 10 lbs. Kainit......... 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 13 lbs. Dis. Bone Black. 10 lbs. Kainit, No Manure..... 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 10 lbs. Kainit, 13 lbs. Dis. Bone 20 lbs. 90 lbs. Sul. Ammonia.... 195 lbs. Dis. Bone Black 150 lbs. Kainit.......... No Manure........... 90 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 1.50 lbs. Kainit............ 90lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 195 lbs. Dis. Bone Black. 150 lbs. Kainit, No Manure.......... 90 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 150 lbs. Kainit, 90 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 300 lbs. Floats............ No Manure.......... 13 111% 8%3 712 8 21 630 7 1812 555 7%16%2 495 5%i2%43.2%2 2 131/ 23j2 Foliage green; growth large; fruit scattering. Not so green, and one-fourth smaller. Alike in foliage and color. co, 10 16 912 705 705 300 Greener, and continued so longer than 3 and 4. Rusted or burned badly. 7/2 23' 8 13 lbs. Dis. Bone Black. 195 lbs. Bone Black. ... 17'2 525 5%'4%4 12 7 8% 10 11 12 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia. 20 lbs. Floats.... No Manure . ........ Floats....... Dis. Bone Black Black.. 195 lbs. Floats....... .... 300 lbs. . 20%4 607'% 5'% 12'% 375 8 4 13 14 53 lbs. green Cotton seed 795 lbs. green Cotton Seed. 300 lbs. Floats, 20 lbs. Floats, 53 lbs. green cotton seed 795 lbs. green Cotton Seed. 10%4 912 ~ 7 15'% 465 (6 tO 300 690 12%4 23 ) Continued green and growing after all others except No. 1, were dead. _____________________ 102,20 600 COTTON EXPERIMENT WITH FERTILIZERS-RESULTS. POUNDS FERTILIZER PER POUNDS FERTILIZER PER Q - up o .HI^ . "PI - W 0 < - 4' N.0,; o c a o , REMARKS. Z PLOT. ACRE. - .o22 E4% H 3112 H 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia 13 lbs. l)is. Bone Black 10 lbs. Kainit .. ........ tiro Manure. 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 10 lbs. Kainit 6 lbs. SuI. Ammonia, 13 lbs. Dis. Bone Black.. 10 lbs. Kainit, 13 lbs. Dis. Bone Black No Manure.......... 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, 10 lbs. Kainit, 13 lbs. I)is. Bone Black . . .. Floats .. 20 6 lbs. Sul. Ammonia, ... 20 lbs. Floats ..... No Manure .5 lbs. green Cotton Seed 20 lbs. Floats, 53 lbs. green Cotton Seed 265 lbs. Stable Manure 90 lbs. Sul. Ammonia. 195 lbs. Dis. Bone Black 150 lbs. Kainit No ........ Manure.......... 5 9 4 4 7 10 S 22 19 16 17 10 6 7 7 11 29 27 :1 39 945 1230 870 810 EXPERIMENT OF MR. W. H. MILLER, UNION, GREENE COUNTY. 90 lbs. 150 lbs. 90 11s. 193 lbs. [50 lbs. 193 lbs. No Sil. Ammonia, Kainit. Sul. Dis. Bone Black Ammonia, Ammonia, Kainit, 150 lbs. Kainit, Manure 90 lb s. Sul. Dis Bone Black ... 20 17 SonS 39 1L~ 6 11 4 5 14 lbs. 19-) lbs. Dis. Bone Black :00 lbs. Floats. 7 3 4 31%j 20 22 21 21) :3:3 90 lbs. Suil. Ammonia, 303 lbs. Fhs.is 22 D1o% 421231275 300 13 10 6%4 12%4 15%2 412 222 19 24%4 675 570 315 742'2 3 1 3 . 16 nI 3~4 32%4 Commenced to rust August 10. 34k 333 t012Y I 48 EXPERIMENT OF THE STATE STATION, AUBURN, ALA. For the purpose of convenient comparison, the following report of the co-operative experiment conducted at this Station is re-printed from Bulletin No. 22, recently issued: Soil Test of Fertilizers with Gotton. 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 other fertilizer had ever been used. In order to compare the soil of this station 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 plots were arranged as shown in the diagram on page 16 of this bulletin, and the experiment was the same in every respect as those already reported as conducted by local experimenters. The manures were applied with the utmost care, and almost a perfect stand secured. The cultivation throughout was shallow and perfectly satisfactory. When the cotton was large enough to be exempt from attack by the cut worm, the stalks in the two test 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 least 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 the 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, 78 49 by reference to the table giving the average rainfall it will be observed that September and October are generally comparatively 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 from all the plots 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 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 phosphoric acid 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 effect of the fertilizers alone are considered. 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. 4 79 COTTON EXPERIMENTS WITH FERTILIZERS--RESULTS. Fertilzers ued perAcre-Yield FertlizrsAre.Acre. er ued in Poiitid Seed Cotton per Field Weight. ~ 4.2 a Z NAMES..~ -D0 o py 1 2 3 4 .. 5 ao 6 O 7 90 Sulphate ................ 195 Dissolved Bone Black .............................. No Ammonia. ...... 9 6 9 6 33 108 75 39 264 255....$ 3 30... .. 183 270 141 36 18 648 624 72 414 390 88.4 20.3 2 53 1 37 6 59 73 ... 70t 5 64........92 7..... .3 23 5 .5 5 42 150 Kainit ..................................... 285 195 lbs. Dis. 345 195 lbs.. Dis. .... .. Manure........... .......... .................. 240 150 lbs. Kainit, 90 lbs. Sul. Ammonia. ............... 27 174 133 45 138 108 30 123 144 51 351 330 .... ...... 75 378 369 9.9 4 67 ....... 8 9 435 195 lbs. Bone Black, 90 lbs. Sul. Ammonia.......... 180 345 186 66 Bone Black, 150 lbs. Kainit................. 198 411 222 69 No Manure............................. 12 42 129 105 Dis. Bone Black, 90 lbs. Sul. ................... Am., 150 lbs. Kainit ... 36 813 765 136 3 5 83 8 24 80 39 939 900 173.0 3 90 13 135 36 324 309........... .. .... .. 65 55 95, 88... 8 88. 55 91 19S 450 303 63 33 1047 963 204 4 7 20 13 86 134.... 10 11 12 13 300 Floats 390300 lbs. Floats; 90 lbs. Sul. Ammonia................... .... No Manure ....... .................................... 10935 lbs. green Cteed 0975lb.genCto 81 225 162 4" 105 255 258 10.5 9 66 159 93 24 537 510 56.1 36 759 732 120 6 30 215850 167.2 30 91.8 82 7. 2111461119 233.1 357342.......... 5 93 11 29 36.14 35737 109.. 3 97 20 2 36 5 66 3 43 6 79 33 66 8 81 66 . . 15, Sed30ls.Fas.156 Floats...............4828226 ed..... bs. 420 249 U3 345 585 33 3975 Stable Manure............ ................. 162, 09, 194 90 95 .. FertilzedA Names. -oxx OBSERVATIONS UPON THE APPEARANCE AND CONDITION OF THE PLANTS UPON THE DIFFERENT PLOTS. used per cre. June 14th. Condition of Plant. Jul 8th Y August 11th. g Sepember11th 2 Condition of Condition of Plant. to Condition of Plant. Plant. 2 to 5 Yellow, not vig. 4 to 11'2 vigor's and Mak'g small and vig V'y slight fruiting rapidly... 7 to 16 Free Green and fruiting 195 Die. Bone Black. D'k green vig. 5 toi10 Col. g'd and vig. 11 to 24 C 24 15 to 30 Badly.. Matured ......... V'y badly tended .......... '' '' 2 to 6 6'2 ;to14 3 150 Kainit....... Green ...... Green, vigorous Vigorous and mak'g Free. making rapidly... 10 to 18 Free Yellow ...... 2 to 5 Yl'ow, not vig. 42 to 9 7 to 13 SIgt. Vigorous and mak'g. Slight. Nto manure. 2 to 5 C l. g'd and vig. 4'2 to 9 9 to 20 Vigorous and mak'g. Free. 150 k't, 90 sulam Yellow...... 4 to P 7 to 22 SVigorous and fruit285 S195 dis. B. Bi. D'k gr'n and Matured ......... Badly. ing slightly .... 11 to 30 90 Sul. Ammn. 34.5 S195 dis. B. B'k 5toiC0Vig.,col. little 8 to 24 11 to 30 Free. Matured.......... Slight. 1150 Kainit.... tom to 9 3 gor' us and mak2 to 5 Yel. and notv No manure. ... Yellow ....... Vi ing rapidly..... 6 to 13 Free ... Small, vig. and mak. V'y slight S195 dis. B. B'k. Vigor'us and fruit435 90 sulpha. am. Green ....... 4 to 8 Col. g'd and vig. t to 22 5 Matured........... Badly. slightly...... 14 to 30 150 Kainit. I.( '' Light Green... . 2 to 6 7 to 12 Vigor'us and mak300 Floats ....... Matured and small.. Badly. ing rapidly .. 11 to 24 " 393 5300 Floats, It it 8 to 15 5 Vigor'us and mak90 sul. ammo. Light Green.... 2 to 6 Matured.......... Badly. ) ing moderately.. 12 to 26 " 2 to 5 Yellow not vig. 41 to 9 Vigor'us and makNo manure..Yellow ........ Making..........Slight. 7 to 13 ing rapidly.. 12 to 28 Slight.. Matured.........Badly. 795 G2reen cot'n seed Yellow......... 2 to 5 Very yellow.... 9 to 15 795 green cot. 1095 " il to I light.. Matured..........Badly. 30 Light Green ... 2 to 6 Col. g'd and vig. 9 to 20 seed, 300 (Badly. .v 'y vig. & g'n 5 to 10 Col.little off&vig. 12 to 26 Fruiting ended .. 18 to 30 v'y sl'ht Matured. ......... d'k 3975 Stable 90~ Sulphate Ammo. Yellow...... 3Green, & vig i J I ilng Slight. ree... i floats manure. v v v 1 v~ LIST~ Or~ 1a NAMES. COUNTY. CO-OPflATI"VE EXPEIMENTERS FOR 1891. POST-OFFIcE. SOIL. SUB-SOIL. Red clay. Clay. Clay. Stiff clay. Clay. CJlay. Clay. Yellow clay. Red clay. Clay. Red clay. 4 5 6 7 8 9 10, 11 12 N 13 Franklin C., Rev. 1 Aday, L. E. J.........Covington. .. Beasley, 31Brown, D. L..........Bibb......... Newberg, Ala. .. Red cedar loam........... .................... Red Level, Ala.......Red Randolph, Ala.......Sandy. .......... adsn... SBishop, M. A..... Clarke......... F. W... B oMBradley, Brannon, J. M.......Russell....... . Marengo....... G. W . Compton, ... Autauga. Davison, J. A........Choctaw. Dick, 11. M..........Etowah....... Deer, John F.........VI onroe....... Ewing, R. T.........Cherokee. bS14 Ellison, J. M.........Macon........ Washington 15 Gordon, John, Dr. .16 . Goodwyn, A. T.......Elmore...... 17 J. M.........Barbour...... 18 Hall, S. M..........Marion. 19 Hall, Win. B..... ... Lowndes.. ... 20 Inzer, J.- ........... St. Clair.. . 21 Johnson, Uriah ........ Morgan......... . 22 Killebrew, J. C........ Dale ......... Kennedy, J. M....... Clay.......... . 24 Logan, J. A .......... Ohilton ......... 25 Miller, W. H .......... Greene........ . 26 Martin, Wm ........... .... Blount. 27 Mize, J. W............ .. Fayette....... . 28 Melton, W. B ...... 29 Manning, W. S........ Calhoun....... . 30 Newman, W. H....... Perry.......... . . 31 New man, C. L........ Davis, E. M.. Maj ..... Cross, R. H ...... Lowndes. (Hobdy. Madison, Ala.........Clay loam ............... Walker Springs, Ala.Sandy................. Seale, Ala...........Sandy loam.............. Sandy loam........... Dixon's Mills, Ala Sandy loam ............. Letohatchie, Ala Prattville, Ala........Sandy loam............. Sandy, with some lime. Yantley Creek, Ala Attalla, Ala.........Red loam ............... Monroeville, Ala. Gray sandy.............. Centre, Ala..........Black sandy............. Sandy.................. Creek Stand, Ala. Gray sandy loam......... Healing Springs, Ala Robinson Springs, Ala Gray sandy.............. Louisville, Ala.......Sandy loam Clay, Stiff clay. Hale......... Limestone.... Sandy clay. Red clay. Red clay. Hackleberg, Ala......Dark gray.............. Red clay. Black clayey. Lowndesboro, Ala .. Lime prairie.............dnAl...Sdyoa.......... Red clay. Red clay. Trinity Station, Ala. Red satndy loam.......... Ala..........Srandy loam ............... Clay. Red, stiff clay. Oak Lone, Ala..... .. Red ..................... Clanton, Ala.......... Mulatto and sandy......... . Red clay. ........ . Clay. Union, Ala ...... .... Sandy .......... .............. iareensboro, Ala....... Sandy loam Clay. Remlap, Ala.......... Red and sandy.......... . Sticky clay. Davis' Creek, Ala... Gray sandy.............. Clay. Red clay. Mulatto .......... Oxford, Ala .......... Black clay. .Black prairie ............. Uniontown, Ala..... Athens, Ala,.......... Clay loam....... ... :.. . Red clay. Sandy. ............. Newton, LIST OF CO-OPERATIVE EXPERIMENTERS FOR 191--OoNTINuED. NAMES. __ COUNTY. 1 POST- OFFICE. _~_ __ __. SOIL. 1 1 SUB-SOIL. 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 Oliver, J. P........ J. C... ...... Pitts, J. W......... Porter, T. M. J. Pruitt, S. A ....... Radney, J. H ....... Stroud, Z. T........ . Snuggs, T. A....... . Sellers, W. H ...... . Watlington, T M... White,I W. S. I Ott, Tallapoosa ... Lauderdale.. Shelby........ Butler.. ... Pike.. ......... Randolph .. Bullock ....... Cullman..... Geneva........ Lawrence . Dadeville, Ala....... Florence, Ala....... Cresswell Station, Ala . Georgiana, Ala. Chesser, Ala....... Roanoke, Ala....... Aberfoil, Ala ........ Gray sandy ........ ...... Gray, little gravelly,. Red clay loam Henry.......... Pine, light sandy......... Sandy.................... Sandy loam ............ .. Light, gray............. Sandy and gravelly....... Holly Pond, Ala ... andy.................. Geneva, Ala........ Abbeville, Ala....... Sandy .............. .... Hattan. Ala ___ Clay loam. . ............. Clay. Clay. stiff red clay. Yellow clay mixed with sand. Clay. Stiff red clay. Clay. Yellow, sandy. Rcd clay and sanid mixed. Sand and clay mixed. Red clay. 0~t DIRECTIONS FOR CONDUCTING- SOIL TESTS WITH FERTILIZEIS FOR 1891. Selection of Land. The area upon which the experiment is made should be level or nearly so; should represent, in character of soil and subsoil, the section in which the experimenter lives, should not have been fertilized for several years, or better. still, never at all, but should not be new or fresh land; the object being to learn what fertil. izer the ordinary cultivated lands of the section need. Arrangement of Plots. The accompanying diagram shows the arrangement of the plots. There will be 19 plots of% 1-16 of an acre each. plot will be 1724 feet long and 16, feet wide, admitting of four rows of cotton four feet apart: Each . 1...... 172% FEET. ...... 2................ .. ...... 3.................... 4 .CO b.Ntrt.o .... 1 ........................ ..... ....... ............... .Muiat ? .. ...................... 154 lbs.AidPosht. ... 1 ... .......... ... 1 C .. I 4 ...................... ...... .. ...... Maue 4N M urie. l. P tah ........................... 4.. .1 ................... L....................... 2.. 2...........................15 ... ............... 3 4 . 6.... .. . . " 9 . . . ... 3 . . 6lsNtaeoa lbs. AidraPhospa. . .. . . .. l s it a e o a . . .. . . . . .. . . .. .... .............. 7 .. ........................ "" . . . . . ...... z84 1 2 . .................... s _ .. ...---a~ i 4 lbs. Muriate Potash. 15ls cdPopae 1 ls.Acd l s hophte 4 u i t o a h 4 I .. . . . . . . . . . . .... 10 .6 . .. .. 3 ..... '.......... .. .. . . . . .. . .. ...... . . . . . .2 ....................... 1.. Std ) ................. .............. 7 . 4 ... . . . .. . . . .. . . . 108..3...... .4........... .................. .. 6ls irt.o 61 lbs. Nciratehodpa. 4b. uiaePoah 15 lbs. Acid Phosphate. 5 . F lo ts 15o lbs.las 55 .1 ..................... . .... 11 .. 3........... 4 . .15 1.1...............l ...... 1134 1 ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 lbs. Nitrate Soda. lbs. Floats. Ib . 1 .. .53 lbs. Green Cotton Seed. .... 1........................ i .... ........ . 2 .?:::: :: 144 1............... 3 . ............ 16 .. 3.. , 16............ ... ' ........ ........ . 53 lbs. Green Cotton 15 lbs. Floats. Seed. 15.... 265 lbs. Stable Manure. 15 lbs. Acid Phosphate. 15 lbs. Cotton seed Meal. 17 be Toed planted in peas and vines turnturned in green. 18To be hay. planted in peas-vines cutfo 1 19~rot. To be planted in peas--vices left toe The fertilizers are sent, freight prepaid, to the depot designa- ted by each experimenter. Each package bears two labels-one showing its contei ts, the other the plot to which it is to be applied. As shown in the diagram, each fertilizer is to be applied to four rows. To nteefrosdsrbt accurate distribution,etlzr secure an divide each ofteepos h n parcel into four equal parts, by 85 weight, and apply one-fourth to 15I each row. Numbers 4, 8 and 12 are to receive no fertilizer. The experimenter is. expected to furnish the cotton seed for plots 13 14, and the stable manure for No. 15. Apply the green cotton seed in a deep furrow and distribute the floats over the seed, in plot 14. In plots 13 and 15, distribute the cotton seed and stable manure, respectively, and bed upon them as upon the fertilizers in the other plots. Preparation. First break the land "flush," deeply and thoroughly, after accurately measuring the area to be occupied by the experiment, viz.: 1724 feet by 304 feet. Lay off nineteen plots 16 feet wide and 1724 long, and then open four furrows 4 feet apart in each and 56 bed with a good turn plow, making a high bed. Then draw a harrow or heavy brush across the beds to reduce and smooth them and prepare them for the planter. It is important to secure a perfectly uniform stand of plants, and hence the seedbeds should be thoroughly prepared. Planting. Use the same kind of seed upon the whole area, and plant all the plots the same day. If a part of the plots were planted before and the rest after a rain, the results of the experiment would be impaired in value. Use every precaution necessary to secure a full stand. If a uniform stand is not secured at the first planting, plow it up promptly and plant again. Cultivation. As soon as the plants are large enough, "side" with a scrape or sweep, and after several days, chop to "two stalks every two feet." As soon as danger of loss by cold or cut worms has passed, reduce the stand to one stalk in every hill. Rows 2 and 3 of each plot are to be gathered to determine the yield from each fertilizer. This reduces the "test area" of each plot to 1-32 of an acre. One missing stalk on this area would, therefore, represent 32 to the acre. To make the experiment reliable, therefore, there must be the same number of stalks upon each such "test area." To insure this, when the plants are eight to ten inches high, count carefully the stalks in rows 2 and 3 of each plot. A perfect stand would give 86 stalks to the row, or 172 to the "test area," rows 2 and 3. Suppose, for instance, the count shows that the number of stalks range from 172, a perfect stand down to 160 to the test areas. Reduce the number of plants to 160 in all of the test areas (rows 2 and 3 of each plot) by pulling from each the number of stalks it was found to contain above 160. This is the only reliable way to secure uniformity of stand, without which the experiments cannot be accurate. Neither calculating the yield on the basis of a perfect stand, nor replanting is reliable, but both are misleading. Let all the plots be cultivated on the same day and in exactly the same manner throughout the season. See that no tree stands within 100 feet of any of the plots. The Pia-Vine Plots. On plots 17, 18 and 19 plant some variety of peas duces most vine. As soon as a few pods begin to under the vines on plot No. 17, and cut them from cure them for hay, weighing the hay and reporting 86 which proripen turn No. 18, and its weignt 57 and value with other results. When the peas ripen, gather them from No. 19, weigh accurately, and report weight and value with the cotton results. Leave the vines upon this plot until the land is prepared for cotton in 1892. The object of these three plots is to compare effects upon the crop of next year of turning under the vines, cutting them for hay, and allowing them to rot upon the land. Since the size of the plots for 1891 is different from that of 1890, those who conducted the experiment in 1890 will select a different area from that used in 1890. The area used in 1891 will be used again in 1892, and plots 17, 18 and 19 planted in cotton or corn. MEMORANDA. Record in a book, kept exclusively for that purpose, the time and manner of performing every operation connected with the experiment, from the preparation of the land to gathering the crop. Make weekly or bi-weekly notes of the appearance of the cotton on the different plots. Record all changes in the weather likely to affect the growth or fruitfulness of the cotton plant, such as unusually high or low temperature, excessive rainfall or continued drouth; and note the difference, if any, in the effects upon the different plots. Keep a careful record of the "seasons" and their apparent effects upon soil and plants. GATHERING. Before the crop matures, printed blanks upon which to record results will be furnished each experimenter. The slightest mistake in gathering or weighing the products will destroy the value of the experiment, and the utmost care and watchfulness should be exercised to prevent such mistakes. The gathering and weighing of the product of the different plots must be done under uniform conditions. Pickings should not be commenced until the morning dew has disappeared from the cotton. If some plots are gathered and weighed in the early morning and others in the afternoon, accuracy will be sacrificed. Each experimenter must exercise a sound judgment in these matters of detail, looking constantly to securing perfect accuracy in the comparison of the effects of the fertilizers. Experiments, like statistics, unless full and accurate, are misleading. No account need be kept of the rows one and two, since they 87 58 being only four feet from the adjacent plots to which different manures were applied, receive by the spread of their roots the benefit of both fertilizers. The products of the rows two and three will be used to compare the effects of the different fertilizers. The plants in these rows being eight feet from those to which a different fertilizer was applied, only the extremeties of their longest roots will reach it, and hence, will not be materially affected by it. Pickings should be made with sufficient frequency to avoid the risk of having the experiment vitiated by storm. Record the weight and date of each picking. Record the average height of the stalks upon each "test area." Note the character and extent of injury to the plants by any casualty, such as storms, boll-worm, caterpiller, rust or blight. When the plants are sufficiently advanced in growth to show plainly the effects of the fertilizers, invite the farmers of the neighborhood to inspect the plots at intervals during the season. This is important, since the object of the experiment is to benefit the farmers who cultivate lands similar in character to that upon which the experiment is made. Cost of Fertilizers Applied per Acre. In order that the experimenters and other farmers may better understand the inquiry made upon the different plots, the cost of the different materials used is given in the statement which follows. The calculations are made upon the cost laid down at Auburn for all of them, since the local freights upon the packages re-shipped to the depots of the experimenters would produce a false impression, since the average local rate of freight charged upon the amount sent to each experimenter from Auburn to their depots exceeds five dollars per ton. Shipped in quantity, the freight to the various depots of the experimenters would average little more than that from the factories to Auburn. Again, in estimating profits resulting from the use of the different fertilizers, it will be more convenient to have a common standard of comparison. Quantity and Cost per Acre of Fertilizers used by Co-operative Soil Test Experimenters, 1891. Plot 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 96 lbs. Nitrate Soda ............. ....................... 2401lbs. Acid Phosphate............ .......... 64 lbs. M uriate Potash ................................ No manure. 96 lbs. Nitrate Soda..........................$2 64 lbs. Muriate Potash ..... ...... .............. $ ........ 2 13 1 98 1 44 13 1 44 3 57 88 59 Plot 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 96 lbs. Nitrate Soda.......................... 240 lbs, Acid Phosphate........................1 64 lbs. Muriate Potash.............................. 240 lbs. Acid Phosphate ......................... No manure. 96 lbs. Nitrate Soda... .......................... 240 lbs. Acid Phosphate.. ...................... 64 lbs. Muriate Potash........................... 240 lbs. Floats..... ....... ................ 240 lbs. Floats ............... ................. ........ 96 lbs. Nitrate Soda ................... No manure. 848 lbs. Green Cotton seed, @ 45c. per cwt............... " " ........ 848 lbs. Green Cotton seed, 240 lbs Floats ............. .. ................. 4,240 lbs. Stable manure, @ $1 per 1,000 lbs................ 240 lbs. Acid Phosphate.......... ................. 240 lbs. Cotton Seed Meal ...................... To be planted in peas and vines turned-in green. To be planted in peas and vines cut for hay. To be planted in peas and vines left to rot. 2 13 98 1 44 1 98 2 13 1 98 1 44 1 88 2 13 4 11 3 42 5 55 1 88 4 01 3 81 3 81 1 88 1 98 2 60 5 70 4 24 4 58 Pounds of Fertilizing Elements per Acre. When a farmer purchases acid phosphate he pays his money for the available phosphoric acid it contains. No value is placed upon the sulphate of lime, the water or the sulphuric acid it may contain. By available phosphoric acid is meant that which is in condition to be promptly utilized by the plant. The fertilizer laws of Alabama require the vendor to guarantee the per cent. of water soluble phosphoric acid, the citrate soluble phosphoric acid and the acid soluble phosphoric acid. The corresponding terms used in other States are "soluble phosphoric acid," "reduced phosphoric acid," and "insoluble phosphoric acid.': The water soluble means that which is soluble in distilled or pure water; the citrate soluble means that which is soluble in citrate of ammonia, which is supposed to have solvent power equivalent to soil water. The insoluble or acid soluble means that which is not soluble in either pure water or the water of the soil impregnated with acids and alkalies extracted from the soil and the vegetable matter it contains. Experiment, often repeated, has demonstrated that the citrate soluble and the water soluble are both promptly available to the plant, and hence are together called "available phosphoric acid," and in calculating commercial values are given the same valuation. In the statement following the number of pounds of "available" phosphoric acid is given in one column and the insoluble in another. While the insoluble or "acid soluble" phosphoric acid has a very low valuation, when finely powdered insoluble phos89 60 phates are used in connection with organic matter containing nitrogen, a portion of the phosphoric acid becomes promptly available. The valuable ingredient of the nitrate of soda is nitrogen, and in muriate is potash. The nitrate of soda used in these experiments contains 15.19 per cent. of nitrogen, which is equivalent to 18.44 per cent. of ammonia. The cotton seed meal contains 7.17 per cent. of nitrogen, equivalent to 8.71 per cent. of ammonia. The cotton seed meal contains, also, 2.78 per cent. of acid sol. phos. acid, and 1.43 per cent. of potash. The acid phosphate used contains 12.88 water soluble phosphoric acid, 2.02 citrate soluble and 2.53 acid soluble. The muriate of potash contains 52.31 per cent. of potash. These percentages are as reported by Dr. Lupton, chemist of the college and station. All fertilizing material intended for experiment is submitted to him for analysis before being used. The following table shows quantity of potash, phosphoric acid, nitrogen (and its equivalent of ammonia) contained in the different fertilizers used per acre : 6 NAMES OF FERTILIZERS. c 58 17.70 1 96 lbs. Nitrate Soda...............14 2240 lbs. Acid Phosphate................. 35.96 6.07 3 64 lbs. Muriate Potash.................33.47 ..... ..... 4 No Manure. ....... . ............ .... 5 96 lbs. Nitrate Soda, 64 lbs. Muiriate Potash................ 33.47..........14.58 17.70 ,g6$ 96 lbs. Nitrate Sodat, ~240 lbs. Acid Phosphate................ 35.96 6.07 14 58 17.70 7 64 lbs. Muriate Potash, ~240 lbs. Acid Phosphate........ ...... -8 No Manure................................ 96 lbs. Nitrate Soda, :9 lbs. Acid Phosphate, 33.47 35.96 240 6.07... .... ..... . 64 lbs. Muriate 10 240 lbs. Floats .... 11 Potash...... ......... ............. 33.47 35 96 6 07 14 58 17.70 20 08 46 84 .... .... .... .. 25.74 Floats, Nitrate Soda............... 12 No Manure 13 848 lbs. Green Cotton 1240 lbs. S96 lbs. 20.08 46.84 14.58 17.70 10 ... 6 .10.17 21.2 Seed. ........ 14 848 Green Cotton Seed, ~240 lbs. Floats .............. ......... 10.6 20 08 57 01 21.2 25.74 lbs. 15 4,240 lbs. Stable Manure ............... 28.40 . .13.14 26.71 32.43 4 2 35 96 13 27 16.80 20.35 Phosphate, 16 3240 lbs. Cotton Seed Wleal .... 240 lbs. Acid Nitrogen, Potash and Intercultuiral Experimnents. InadtoToth.ooeaie.xeiet lraymnind 61 A. & M. College, will conduct some special nitrogen, potash and intercultural experiments during the present year. He and others will also co-operate with this station in comparing varieties of cotton, which will be furnished from this station. In addition to the experiments with fertilizers to learn what the different soils of the State need, plants of a few standard varieties of grapes, strawberries and raspberries have been presented to each experimenter in order that the adaptation of these varieties which have proved especially successful on the grounds of this station, are adapted to cultivation on the various typical soils of this State. In order to supply information as to the cultivation and other treatment of these plants and to secure uniformity of treatment in all cases, a bulletin of information upon grapes, strawberries and raspberries will be issued during the next month. 91 REPORT OF THE ALABAMA WEATHER SERVICE. Co-operating with the U. S. Signal Service. January, 1891. STATE POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE, Auburn, Ala., February 15th, 1891. The precipitation for the month was well distributed, and was above the average at all the stations. The continued rains have placed the roads in bad condition, and in some of the counties are rendered, in places, almost impassable. The average rainfall for the State was 0.67 inches above the normal. The temperature has ranged rather high and the weather has been generally mild. With the exception of a few days the atmosphere was sufficiently warm to cause the buds of the forest plants to swell, and in some instances delicate flowers came forth. The average temperature was 2.°2 above the normal. The farmers, however, have been delayed in the preparation of the land by the damp condition of the soil. P. H. MELL, J. M. QUARLES, Assistant. Director. MONTHLY SUMMARY. Atmospheric pressure (in inches), monthly mean, 30.181; maximum observed, 30.556, at Auburn on 7th; minimum observed, 29,519, at Chattanooga, on 1st; range, 1.037 Temperature (degrees F.), monthly mean 45.1; highest monthly mean 51.2, at Uniontown; lowest monthly mean, 39.4, at Valley Head; maximum observed, 80, at Citronelle on 30th; minimum observed, 18, at Jasper on 4th; range for State, 620; greatest local monthly range 53, at Citronelle; lowest local monthly range 38, at Mobile. Precipitation, including melting snow, in inches.-Average for State, 6.03; greatest, 8.11, at Jasper; least, 2.96 at Citronelle. Mean relative humidity, 77.7 at Auburn; 87.3 at Valley Head; 74.5 at Uniontown. Wind-Prevailing direction, N. W. Miles traveled, at Chattanooga, 4596; at Montgomery, 4109; at Mobile, 5829; at Auburn, 3227. 92 NOTES FROM OBSERVERS. Greensborough, (M. H. Yerb).-This month has been unusually wet, raining eleven days, and rainfall amounting to 6.75 inches in consequence of which farm work is very backward; scarcely any plowing has been done in this section. The roads are almost impassable for any kind of vehicle. Livingston (J. W. A. Wright). Our normal temperature for January being 450, the average for this January was 1° colder than usual. The total rainfall for this month (7.46 inches) nearly two inches above the normal. Our first wild flowers for early spring began blooming; the star chick weed (Stellaria media) and Bluets or Innocence (Housatonia ccerulia). On 31st temperature rose to 740, almost summer heat. TABLE OF SOIL TEMPERATURES-JANUARY, 1891. (The observations for this table were taken at Auburn, Ala.) A. M. LLOYD, Observer. NOTE-There are three sets of thermometers. On the Ist of January they were arranged as follows: One set ranging from 1 inch to 96 inches was placed in clay soil on the college campus for the purpose of determining the "frost line" among other problems that will require several years of continued observations. The other two sets were left in their former position, viz. ;--One on the hill and the other in the bottom. They were left their to determine the effect produced upon the temperature of the roots of plants by stirring the soil over one set, and permitting the soil to cake over the other. SET No.]1, DIEPTH IN INCHES. ;aervatins, Th tw SET No. 2, set o SET No. 3, On Hill. iar On Hill. ~~hem (DErs In Botto~m. 1...................45.50 3..................45.5 6................... 45.3 46.3° 45.6 45.8 45.3 45.5 491 50.5 52.4 9..............44.9 45.2 12................ 48.6 24...... .............. 36..:............50.6 52.7 48.. .................. 53.8 60................... ............... 72 ............... 84................ .............. 96............................... ~ecncr ~ " CD54.1 63 Monthly Summary of Meteorological Reports of the Alabama Weather Service, January, 1891. 1 t 1 1 _._ 1 i 1 1 BAROMETER. MAX. MIN. TEMPERA MAX. MIS . . 51 OC STATIONS. COUNTIES. '0 Sd Bx O1 0 l t tnn . n w O NQ .n " ' 0. 4 Isy OBSERVER. a ba i nn cry, ai n Valley JHead.. Florence... Chattanooga. . Montgomery .. Union Springs. Bermuda .... Mobile ... Carrolton.... . Auburn... e. Livingston .... t r _/ l _ r T_ _ Tl r De~aso .. Lauderdale... Tennessee.. Mlontgomery Bullock.. Mionroe ..... _ T 7_ 7 L 1 I fl.1 1. ~.Greenshoro... M1obile.. Pickens... .. Lee. Sumter. . Hale Lowndes .. Perry ... Mioile... Fay ette .... Marshall .. Blount.. Shelby.. Cherokee.. Winston. .... Choctaw... Walker.. se..Tuscumbia . .. . Colbert Bessemer... Jefferson Bewton... Escambia.... Mount'n Home Lawrence.... Edwardsville.. Cleburne.... Talladega... Talladega.... Means.. Mt. Willing .... Uniontowna. Citronelle... Fayette Guntersville. Chepultepec.. Columbiana... Centre. . Donhie Sprigs Butler.... ... . -I 85.37 Z 87 37 83.30 783 35.03 30 519 219 32.22 86.23 30 196 30 .412 516 32 12 85.39 87.12 .31.43 30 30 41 88.20 30.148 30.331 88.03 826 32 40 85 30 30.319 30 556 150 12 34 88 08 30.150 30 440 220 32 41 87.36 32 07 86 43 273 32.28 86 44 30 12 30 480 352 31 03 87 30 33.42 83 12 65.1 34 24 86.18 890 33 58 86 20 560 33 15 86 38 728 34 10 85.42. 34 08 85351 87 24 .32.05 310 33.49 88 12 34.42 87 18 " l A 11 r A 39.~49.1 2.981 31 20 829.519 1929.623 1 42 50.4 34.3 76 21 46-955.7 38.1 457 .... 1 69 ~ 4 49 51 1948 19.3 16.1 17.6 ... 1.34 31 26 30 28 30 . C. ... .15 ..11 .13 .1335W.L.Ashcroft. 1 5I E Sgt. M. Pindell 3W. *Sgt. L. Dunne. 5 8 8 1 60 10 6 15 9 NI 1EE. P. Nicholson. ) 1929 1929 710 49 56 3 41.6 68 73 31 30 21 1452 1938 .. 14 7 5.00... 5 12 14 ... ..... R J. Grady. f. 1C .. *Win. Fowler. 0 15.3 N.. Sgt. A. Pritchard M.H 7 29 764 650 1 4r 253.9 38.4 71 72 43 6 .... 1 68 44 8 74 1 51 254. 37.1 !51.161.5 40.6 80 31 26.1941 31 26 4, 25-2646 4-1942 1-29- 26 209 17.1 28 29.530 [31 ... 30 30 24 27 1950 13 53 20.9 42 553.5 31.4 72657, 31 45 9I.... 52 18 13 24.1 38.4 ..29 31 31 31 30 . 81 5 7 28 25 32 40.849 7 70 40 9 .... 334.4 70 41 .949 4 49.1 60.9 37.2 75 .: 4 52.5 17.7 25 466 4-5 46 19 50 23.7 .... ... . .... 145. 54136:.11. .30.181 ... 53.4 68.7 38.179 17.3 18.9 30.6 20 1 M. INvwvJ.W. Quarles. 1 J A. Wright 7.46 ....... 1: 1Nv *W.HI.Yerhy. Win. Garrett. H. Newman. 2.9631 4I 162 15 wJWV. Michael. 15 " G. " Dan Collier. .1N.. A. J. Baker. W. B. Allgood. 6.37 W. D. Lovette. 2Nv Thos. Bradford. 6.18 A. M. Weiler. P . F. Gilder. 10 8.11 15 Howard Lamar. 5.74 18 w L. B. Thsornton. 7.52 .. Win. H. Swann. 5 80 wW. J. Holland. A. J. Weaver. .3 N.. Dodson Bears. J. 0. Hney. 1 6.03 10 8 13 .20 22 4 4 3.58 12 1 18 7 6 13 12 3S. wrR. J. GradyV. L. Stansel. *Jasper . -Jasper... -Uinion Spri'gs * Delayed Reports. 48.5 58.9 38.2 69 50.3...71 51 12 44 28 39] 29 Howard Lamar. Howard Lamar November, 1890. 1-December.