New-York tribune., 1907-01-24
ATMoSpHERTC FERTILIZERS.

NO rASk winch chemists nave SET 1OE lueul-
selves in the last few years has aimed 10 con-
fer greater benefits on civilized man than that
of producing a cheap fertilizer from the air.
Nitrogen, which constitutes about four-lfths Of
the atmosphere is one of the essentials of plant
life, but vegetation is singuarly reluctant to
draw directly on that magnificent store. Very
few crops which the farmer raises-clOver and
alfalfa among them-show much dispOsi-
ton TO absorb free nitrogen. Only in such COM
pounds nitrate Of soda (saltpetre) and nitrate
of lime is the usefulness OF the element usually
manifested, and the productiveness of the soil
Is in large measure determined by the guam
tity OF these substances present in it If this
has been reduced by drawing repeatedly on
the original supply the land will yield less and
less each year until IL has been freshly en-
riched. Other materials can be and should be
employed as fertilizers, the choice being gov
erned by a special analysis OF the soil 20 which
IL Is proposed 20 minister and reference also
being had 10 the crop which is next 10 be
grown. Broadly speaking however, nitrates
may be regarded as the most valuable of these
agents, and the discovery OF a less expensive
article than that for which the world is mainly
dependent on the Chilian deposits would be an
inestimable boon TO agriculture.
In the efforts TO utilize atmospheric nitrogen
two general methods have thus far been en-
ployed. One causes the gas to combine with
the lime which is present in calcium carbide.
In the other the most important stage is the
production OF nitric acid by effecting a more
intimate union than ordinarily exists between
the chief constituents OF the air. The manu-
facture Of a nitrate when the acid is available
is a simple matter The first of these plans
has been tried with some success by German
named Frank whose process is said to be CON
trolled by the great engineering firm of Sic
mems & Halske. The other Is based on the
observation made half century ago by Bun
sen that lightning would cause materials which
were supplied by the air 20 unite and form
nitric acid. The second method seems TO have
proved more inviting than the first TO such elec-
ro-chemists have attempted the "fxation"
Of nitrogen. IL was followed at least five years
ago by MessTs. Charles s. Bradley and D. r.
Lovejoy at Niagara Falls, but proved to be
too costly for commercial use. A modification
Of the same pian proposed by Messrs. Birke-
land and Eyre has been adopted at large
works which were put in operation in Norway
more than a year ago. and while the apparatus
used by Professors Moszicki and Kowalski of
Fribourg Switzerland IS undoubtedly original
in some particulars. II is known that they are
following the clew which Bunsen furnished
Interest in the Swiss experiments, which have
extended over period OF four or five years.
has just been aroused by the statement that
Sir William Crookes. the eminent English chem
list, has visited their laboratory and has a high
opinion of their process. While, as a special
cable dispatch TO The Tribune from London
printed yesterday announced Sir William does
not feel at liberty to describe their methods,
he is convinced that the problem of manufact-
uring nitric acid "at a low cost has been
solved. No doubt It was upon bis recommends
ton that syndicate was formed IN England
for the further development OF the process
An opinion Of Sir William on this subject pos
sesses exceptional interest, for he recently said
In an address before the British Association
for the Advancement OF Science that unless a
cheap fertilizer was discovered the earth might
not be able TO produce all the wheat which the
human race would require generation or two
hence. Besides, Sir William was one of the
pioneers In this class OF research. though Of
late years be has not followed IL up
Until more specific Information about the cost
Of making nitric acid by the Moszicki- II Kowalski
process is available. however it would be wise
TO entertain moderate expectations in regard
To II. Perhaps the authors themselves are I'M
able to furnish exact figures, and If capital is
being raised for the development of the sys-
tenn n is possible that Sir William. while ha
neving That the end is near, does not think
that u has actually been reached.