Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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CORRESPONDENCE CONTINUED.^ Extracta from J. M. SUTHERLIN'S ADDRESS to .the Agricultural and Mechanical Association of Butler County, a, November 2 iii, 1870, viz: It is, I think, obvious to every one, who thinks on tho subject, that fertilizers are now a necessity for this country. In order to show the superiority of a thorough system of culture with fertilizers, and comparatively small body of land, over the old system of a large body of land of first-rate quality under the most la vorable conditions, I will now give you my experi? ence fully and fairly carried out, with a desire to arrive at the best result of which both were capable. I purchased a large plantation of eighteen hundred acree, about one-fourth of which I put in cultivation for cotton and corn, under the able superintendence .>f my partner in the concern, wbo has the rcputa ion of being one of the best and most successful Ranters in the country. "We had eighteen hands md thirteen mules for working it, and laid down ?bout two hundred and fifty acres of excellent land n cotton. Tho season was favorable and neither worms nor .Hst affected the crop. Wc obtained sixty bales of jotton as the result, and I believe this is a/air avcr ?ge return under the old system. Let us now look at the other side of the question, i tried the experiment with sixty-seven acres of poor land, cultivated it with four mules and four hands, with some additional help in picking, fertilized with $010 worth of manure, and obtained a crop of fifty bales of cotton. This, however, docs not end the comparison; the cost of the land in one case, say two hundred and fifty acres, involved ac outlay of $3,125 in purcliaso money, in thc other case the quality of land cultivated could have been got nt $.'> per acre, in any agricultural district, being a total of $335, etc., etc. I have already told you what I produced with fer? tilizers under v/hat I have named as the 9sw system of things. I must now give you a statement of the fertilizers used, and the practical conclusions I came to in regard to them. I tried 1st. Crushed colton sc-d alone. 2d. Crushed colton seed with flour of bone in equal parts. 3d. Cotton seed meal (oilextracted.) 4th. Cotton seed meal and flour of bone in equal parts. 5th. Gillum'* fertilizer. 6th. Langdon s fertilizer. 7th. Creighton & Son's fertilizer. 8th. Solu le Pacific Guano. ' 0th. Peruvian Guano, dissolved bones, plaster and salt, loth. Compound Acid Phosphate of Lime and green colton seed composted together, llth. The latter composition, with an equal part stable manure added to the compost heaps. ' On a careful comparison of results, I found that the 11th or last composition gave the most favorable results, j ielding nearly one bale and a half of cotton per. acre, and at much less cost comparatively than any of the others. BRIDGEPORT, Ala. River, Sept. 19,1870. Messrs. MARSHALL & CONLET, Agents Pacific Quana Co., Mobile, Ala. : In response to your polite note 6cnt to me recently, relative to the use of Soluble Pacific Guano, and other fertilizers, on cotton, I would say that my lands are very old and pretty nuich worn out, of a loamy gray soil with a good clay*subsoil, aud twen y-fiveyeurs ago were very fine cotton lands. The yresent has been a remarkably dry season in my im hediate neighborhood, not having had my land thor )ughly wet since my crop was planted up to this 5me. My cotton weed is small, but notwithstand? ing the severe drought and unusually hot sun, it ihed off but little of its fruit. Owing to the dryness Df thc season I gave my cotton but one thorough plowing. Having no rain to produce grass, I let it alone, and iu this way I account for it holding its fruit. I expect to gather about five bags to the hand this season ; last year I gathered three bales to the hand from the same land not fertilized. (Signed) AMOS JONES. Increased Yield 150 per cent, from 80 lbs. Guano and 25 bushels Cotton Seed per acre. Net Profit at least 210 per cent, on Investment, GREENEVILLE, Ala., Nov. 28,1870. Hon. JOHN K. HENRY, Agent Pacific Guano Co., Greenville, Ala. : I am much pleased with tho Soluble Pacific Guano purchased of you. My sons applied 80 lbs. with 25 bushels cotton seed per acre, on 27 acres of land that would not have mude more than 400 lbs. cotton per acre without manure, and they have gathered from this land eighteen bales and I think a bale has been lost. I fina, also, that this superb fertilizer is of great strength ? the second year, in fact, on my fkrm, nearly as much so ns the first. I feel confident, how? ever, that this fertilizer will give the best results on land which has not been kept clear of grass in past years, as the vegetable matter in such soil seems to add to its power. (Signed) . J. A. PERDUE. Increased Yield 200 per cent, from 200 lbs. per acre. Net Profit 387 per ct. on Investment GARLAND, Butler Co., Ala., Nov. 30,1870. Hon. JonN K. HENRY, Agent Pacific Guano Co., Greenville, Ala. : You are authorized- to publish the following state? ment : I bought Soluble Pacific Guano of you last 6pring, and applied it to lands which would not have made, without fertilizing, more than 300 pounds of seed cotton per acre, and I have made about 900 or 1,000 pounds per acre, or three times as much, by thc use of this great fertilizer, nod only used 200 lbs. per acre. I am greatly pleased with the result and hope to bc able to Ute it much more freely in future. (Signed) THOMAS BENNETT. 'jicreased Yield 260 per cent, Net Profit 525 per cent, on Investment. GREENEVILLE, Ala., Dec. 1,1870. Iou. JOHN K. HENRY. Agent Pacijw Guano Co., Greenville, Ala. : I purchased Soluble Pacific Guano of you las* ??ring, and applied to cotton on land that would not ave tuade more than about 250 lbs. of seed cotton er acre without it, and I have gathered 900 pounds iv acre. I also tried Zell's fertilizer, and Langdon's also, but I am very sure the Soluble Pacific Guano is superior to either, at least it gave the best results in proportion to cost, and I expect to use it in pref? erence in future. 'Signed) _ L. A. ROBERTS. PACIFIC GUANO COMPANY'S COMPOUND ACID PHOSPHATE OF Lill,' FOR COMPOSTING WITH COTTON SEED. Manufactured ai the Company's Works, Charleston, S. CV TO PLANTERS. Cotton Seed, as is well known to all who have given attention to the subject, abounds in Ammonia, lt af? fords an abundant and cheap source of that essential element of fertility! It is deficient Ia all the other ele? ments necessary to a good fertilizer ; hence, when ap? plied to crops without the proper addition of Soluble Phosphoric Acid and other fertilizing substances, it is not a complete fertilizer. In order to utilize Cotton Seed as a source of Ammo? nia for the above purposes, the PACIFIC GUAXO COM? PANY bas brought into market an article under the above trado mark expressly for composting,with Cotton Seed. Thc Compound Acid Phosphate of Lime contains Sol uble Phosphoric Acid, and tho other clements required, except Ammonia; hence, when composted with Cotton Seed as directed below, the Ammonia is supplied and a perfect fertilizer is obtained at the lowest cost to the Planter. The Compound Acid Phosphate, for composting, 4c, is manufactured at the Company's \V0rk3, near Charles? ton, S. C., under the personal direction and superin? tendence of Dr. St. Julien Ravenel, Chemist, kc, hence the integrity of its composition may be relied upon. DIRECTIONS FOB COMPOSTING. To prepare the Compost-Take a given weight of Cotton Seed, which can bc readily done by ascertaining the weight of a basket well filled, and using it as a measure for the given weight. Thus : measure out, for example, 400 lbs. ; after veiling it well, empty upon it an equal weight of Acid Phosphate, say two sacks of 200 lbs. each ; after mixing well with hoes or shovels, pack into a heap, and repeat tho operation, enlarging the heap to any desired extent. The Compost heap may bc placed in a pen made with rails to support the sides of the mass, simply covering the top with boards lapping each other to conduct off the rain. Nothing further is required until tho proper time for application arrives. In this manner the Compost may be easily made, and its effects cannot fail to give the highest satisfaction, while its economy must commend it to general use. The most suitable time to make the Compost is when the Seed c'omes from the Gin. Thc longer tbe heap is allowed to lay undisturbed, the better, as it can lose noLe of its value, and the decomposition will be more thoroughly effected. If not convenient to be made at time of Ginning, it will be sutficiently decomposed in from three to six weeks. By decomposition of thc Seed in contact with the Acid Phosphate there can bc no loss of Ammonia, as is the case with thc ordinary rotting of Cotton Seed. Thc whole of its Ammonia is securely held until liberated1 in the soil. By reason of the bulk of Cotton Seed, it is available for fertilizing purposes only on the plantations; and to bc made capable of its highest utility must be used as here proposed. The Compost when made is applied as other fertil? izers, at the rate of from 400. to COO lbs. per acre, or more at the option of the planter. Compost prepared with Compound Acid Phosphate of Lime and Cotton Seed, us above, was used to some extent last season with satisfactory results so far os has orno to our knowledge. Testimony Regarding COMPOUND ACID PHOSPHATE FOR COMPOSTING. "Wc take thc following extracts from thc officia?report made to thc "RUHAMA HOOT-AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY" of Jefferson county, Alabama, published in the Southern Argxis, Selma, Ala., of thc 9th and 11th November, I37C, to which wo nsn attention, ns evidencing tho value of the COMPOUND ACID PHOSPHATE^ compost? ing with Cotton Seed: From the Selma (Ala.) Argus. Thc October meeting of thc Ruhama Horti-Agricul tural Society was calied to, order by O. S. Burwcll, the President. Jas. Wilson being called on to report his experience with Compound Acid Phosphate for composting with cotton seed, desired to bo excused because it might seem incredible. Thc Society not deeming him excus? able he stated lhat two rows with Compound Acid Phos? phate compost jiclded eighteen j.ounds of seed cotton at the first, and thirty pounds at the seec-.d picking; that two rows alongside without fertilizers of any kind, vieided one ana a hali'pounds seed cott( n at thc first and two anda half pounds at thc second picking. Air. Wilson :ninKs that aDout 200 pounds bf Compound Acid Phosphate, composted with nn equal weight of cotton seed, were applied to thc aero in thc drill. W. II. Wood expressed the opinion, that on John T. Reed's farm, the rows of cotton with, and the adjacent, rows without Compound Acid Phosphate composted with cotton seed, exhibit a difference about equal io that reported by James Wilson. W. II. Wood's Homes' Prolific cotton, with Com? pound Acid Phospbnte compostea with cotton 9oed. will vi c. ti aA tba rate of a 'jaie OT more TO -BI acre Dr. J. "W. Scars, distinguished for intelligence and scientific attainments, ascribed the highest merit to the Compound Acid"Phosphate. W. H. Wood attributed a large proportion of his cot? ton where the Compound Acid Phosphate was applied to its agency. Rev. A. J. Wnldrop had used no Compound Acid Phosphate, but observations on his neighbor's crops convinced him of its great value. He mentioned one very good crop that wus almost exclusively attributable to thc Compound Acid Phosphate applied. All the ap? plications were made in n clay soil, and the Compound Acid Phosphate used was bought from John S. Reese & Co., Baltimore, Md., agents for thc Pacific Guano Co. Dr. J. W. Scar's Peeler colton, with Compound Acid Phosphate composted with cottou seed, is several hun? dred per cent, better than thc common cotton without cur.no in the same field. Jus. Wilson's corn and cotton, with two hundred pounds Compound Acid Phosphate composted with cot? ton seed, and ten two-borse wagon loads of stable and stock-lot compost, to the acre, aro from two to four hundred per cent, better than where the same quantity of compost wits applied without the Phosphate. The lice severely injured tho cotton with compost alone, but did no appreciable damage where thc Phosphate was added.. Peeler and Monterey cotton, with Compound Acid Phosphate composted with cotton seed, have restored to tho farm of J. H. Shields, the crop prospects of a quarter of a century ago.- The attention of the indif? ferent is arrested, though passing in a gallop. Geo. Barton's perfect stand.of Ellison cotton, with Compound Acid Phosphate composted with cotton seed, is a case of three-fold increase. The committee, for the farmers of this section and for tue information of farmers elsewhere, testify to the honesty and fair dealing of the Pacific Guano Company, and of John S. Reese & Co., of Baltimore, Md., their agents for the whole country. Correspondence. White Plains, Ga., Nov. 5th, 1870. I Mr. J. 0. Mathewson, Agent Pacific Guano Co., Augusta, Ga. : Dear Sir-In answer to your letter inquiring how. the Compound Acid Phosphate of Lime, bought of you last spring, compared with other fertilizers used by me, I will state that I used ifiu compost with cottonseed, and that it compared favorably with any I used this year or last year ei Iber. V here I applied thc Compound Acid Phos? phate I did not leave any rou s uumanured, but in the field where I used other fertilizers I left one row with I out manure, which will afford a comparison. From a row fertilized with Compound Acid Phosphate com? posted witli cotton seed, I picked 17A pounds cotton., From a row without manure, of samo'length, I picked 5} lbs. These pickings were made up to the 8th of Oc? tober. I am now picking but have not got the rows to weigh up to this time, but the fertilized row will beat ft this time. (Signed) JOHN JOHNSON. Baker County, Ga., Nov. 8th, 1870. Wm. Henry Woods ? Co., Agents Pacific Guano Co., Savannah, Ga : The Compound Acid Phosphate of Lime for compost ? ing with cotton seed, proved highly satisfactory ; more so than the Guano I used. Thc cotton did not rust as j much where I applied the compost, and the fruitage was heavier. The compost, I think, is preferable to any "Guano." It is cheaper and has the decided advantage of home j manipulation, (Signed) L. H. CARTER. Augusta, Ga., Sept. 8th, 1870. Mr. J. 0. Mathewson, Agent Pacific Guano Co : Dear Sir-You wrote to me to know how I liked the Compound Acid Phosphate of Lime. The reason I have not answered your letter before wiis because my brother in-law used the fertilizer, and I supposed he had writ? ten to you and let you know how it acted, lt was not used as directed, but the colton seed wus put in by band, and the Acid Phosphate was distributed with his cotton seed planter. The land was an old pine field piece of ground, cleared up before the war, red land. The corn grew nneiy and looked like bottom land corn. It never produced a good crop before. The co.-u did well until a drought came on aad injured it a good deal, but it made a good deal of corn. I think the Acid Phos? phate of Lime, for composting with cotton seed, a good fertilizer. / (Signed) J. W. LESLIE. # Crawford County. July 6, 1870. j J. S. Reese <j- Co., lip to the present I am entirely pleased with die ac? tion of tho Compound Acid Phosphate, composted with cotton seed, cn cern. 1 used ?00 lbs. Compound Acid Phosphate and 4 bushels of cotton seed to the acre. My ''ora is fine for Crawford County pine land corn. lt looks now like it would make 25 bushels to the acre (Signed) J. A. AVERA. Fort Valley, Ga., July 18, 1870. Gen. C. D. Anderson, Dear Sir-By your request wc have examined several crops of cotton manured with Compound Acid Phos? phate composted with cotton SPM. We find it at this date with less tendency tc rust, more thrifty and better fruited, than cotton manured wilh anv oilier fertilizer in market. We regard it as a cheap and valuable ler tiJizer. tc. .. WESLEY HOUSER, (Signed) WILLIAM DASHER. Williston, S. C., Dec. 17th. 1870. Mr. J. JV. Robson, Agent Pacific Guano Co., Charleston, S. C: Yours of the 13th ins*., *c hand und contents noted. I put 250 lbs. Compound Acid Phosphate aud '?b oush cls of cotton seed Der acre, and applied i: iu vhe drill on cotton. Soil, gray land. ' The yield was 1,000 pounds seed cotton per acre. Without manure the yield was only 325 ?bs. per r?cre li made the cc tton mature three weeks earlier. I believe it to be thc best and cheapest commercial manure now in uso. I will try it on all my crop the coming year. : (Signed) M. ?AIB... Cross Hill, S. C., Dec. 12th/187?.. Mr. J. JV. Robson, Agent Pacific Guano Co., Charleston, S.C: y In reply io your circular of the 3d inst., I can say, that I purchased 15 tons of your Compound Acid Phos-' phate of Lime last spring, and composted thc 6ame with cotton Bccd ns instructed, that is, equal quantities, and I and. my sous were well pleased with thc result. . We put thc mixture on cotton entirety, 200 pounds to thc acre on upland and bottom land. Dry summer. The upland was poor. Average on thc upland 700 lbs.,1 on bottom land 1500 lbs. seed cotton. Matured earlier. Upland without Guano would have made net more than 350 lbs., the bottom land not more than 800 to 900 lbs. seed cotton per acre. We put the Phosphate in the drill. (Signed) W. A. FULLER. Little Rock, S. C., Dec. 14th, 1870. Mr. J. N. Robson, Agent Pacific Guano Co., Charleston, S..C: I forward you the statement of yield of cotton on the eleven acre lot ns promised. The lot contains just eleven acres, floury gray soil on heavy red clay subsoil, slightly undulating ; had been planted in cotton four years pre' viously. maturing pretty well and yielding good crops, viz : About 1,000 lbs. seed cotton in 1866, 1,840 lbs. in 1867, about 1,700 ita. ir. 1 SUS, and about 1,200lbs. in 'i860. I applied in the furrow 1200 lbs. compost (made of 3 bags Compound Acid Phosphate and 600 lbs. cotton seed) per acre. The cultivation was moderately good. Thero was some waste from failure to gather in due, time. Have picked and stripped from the above lot seven thousand four hundred and thirty-seven (7,437) pounds of lint cotton including bagging and ties,- say twenty-two pounds per bale on seventeen bales* There are now in the gin bouse three hundred and sixty-four pounds seed cotton, and perhaps a little Luger amount yet unpicked on the lot. ., ? . All of which I respectfully and hastily uubmit, and I herebv certify to thc facts submitted-. . "(Signed) . E. T. STACKHO?SE. Battlcboro'. N. C., Nov. 7th, 1870. Messrs. TT. IL. McRary $ Co., Agente Pacific Guano Co., Wilmington, ?V. C: Yonr letter, inquiring as to the result of my experi? ence with the ton of Compound Acid Phosphate, bought of you last spring, lins been .'ceived, and would have been answered before this had it not been misplaced and forgotten until now. I composted it with cotton seed n<= directed, only I did not give it time enough to let it remain but about three weeks before drilling time. I applii-d it alongside of other standard Guanos-it did as well as any. Wc have not made full crops here this year with aay kiud of manures, owing to so much rain, kc. I think thc Phosphate a good thing and expect to try it again. (Signed) T. P. BRAS WELL. Lancaster C. H., S.C, Dec. 17, 1870. , Mr. J. M. Robson, Agent Pacific Guano Co., Charleston, S. C. : ^ "We reply as follows to your letter : V fi What quantity used per acre? 400 lbs. Compound Acid Phosphate and cotton seed. How applied, by drills on hills or broadcast? Drills. On what crop? Cotton. ? Ou what kind of land ? Gray land, old field. ' TThat is tho average yield per acre? 1400 lbs. seed cotton. Has thc crop matured! earlier, and to what extent? Two weeks. V| Has the crop been increased by its use, and to what extent? It hus. Has it given satisfaction ? Yes. (Signed) HASSELTINE & CHAFEE. New Market, S. C., Dec. 16, 1870. ifr. J. JV. Robson, Agent Pacific Guano Co., Charleston, S. C. : In answer to your questions in reiation io the use of fertilizers used by me : I used one (1) ton of Soluble Pacific, at tho rate of 135 lbs. per acre, on lands which I suppose would have yielded from 50C to 600 lbs. seed cotton per acre, and with the use of your fertilizer yielded 800 to 900 pounds, and but for the exceeding drough* in cur country 'J am fully persuaded I wdnld have received i,o00 to 1.2u0 lbs. I am much pleased with the Soluble Pacific ; 1 ?ike it better than any I have used. I used one (1) ton Compound Acid Phos pluij with ?0O oushels cotton seed, onjands very poor (at the rato of 2'JO lbs. to the acrej which I suppose would bavo yielded 300 lbs. seed cotton per acre. With the use of your fertilizer, ! made about 600 lbs. per acre. I feel confident to say I jost 100 to 200 lbs. per acre by excessive drought. I think we would do well to use that manure. / (Signed) ROBT. MAJOR. 1 COTTON SEED OIL. * In the calculations wc have published on the first page of this paper, showing the per cent, of profit made from the monpy invested in Soluble Pacific Guano, we left out of view altogether the commercial value of the increased quantity of Cotton Seed, as a product result? ing from the use of the Guano. This is an element of value which, if Drought into the calculation, would largely iucreasc thc per cent, of profit. The. consump? tion ot Cottonseed for the manufacture of oil, is already very great acd is annually increasing, so that Cotton Sod SSA ("commercial value; especially in localities within easy access to thc largo cities of the South.. A bushel of Cotton Seed, say 30 lbs., is worth 25 cents. Now, as it is shown by experience, as recorded in thc corresponoenco published in this paper, ;um in an av? erage season 200 lbs. Soluble Pacific GU JIIO increases the crop from 100 to 200 per cent, over the unfertilized soil, it can be demonstrated that the increased quantity of seta alone, if sold at 25 cents per bushel of 30 lbs., will pay from one-iuu? to one-half the cost of tho Guano applied, thus reducing its cost from an overage of $65 per ton, at interior markets, to say $40 to $45 per ton. ?OxTN" S. RKBSS ic CO>