The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1911-03-04
NEWS NOTES OF
NATIONS CAPITAL
(From F. J. DYER.)
Especial to Silver State)

WASHINGTON, March 4.-The de-
partment of agriculture in a recent ex-
pertinent station bulletin refers to the
attempts that are made from time to
time by means of articles in news
papers and periodicals and by adver-
tising literature to exploit various
naturally occurring rocks and mineral
deposits as fertilizers and states that
such of these propositions as he has
been able to investigate are totally
without merit.
1t says that it should be borne in
mind that few materials have any fer
tilizing value until refined or other
wise treated with view especially
to making their constituents readily
quently been advanced that certain
common rocks, notably those contain
ing potash feldspar, should be of
value as fertilizer because of their
contents of potash. Although many of
these materials are relatively rich in
potash it is combined in such insolu-
BILE forms that it is difficult to see
how applications of such materials
would result in any immediate or i'm
portant crop increase.
me W6ll huOWu ldct tudt ldN6 TuChS
have frequently broken up into fertile
soils within very limited period is
used as an argument to prove that
lavas should make a good fertilizer.
This, however, does not follow. A
mineral fertilizer to be worth the cost
of application should contain relative
ly large amounts of one or more of the
so-called "plant foods in a com
paratively easily soluble condition. To
furnish an amount of actual potash
equivalent to that in an ordinary ap-
plication of sulphate of potash would
require relatively enormous quantity
of ground lava of average composition.
In addition, the condition in which
potash, the essential constituent is
combined with the other rock con-
stituents is such as to justify little
hope of its being utilized by plants
within a reasonable period of time.
Potash insoluble in water, as it oc-
ours in such materials, has no standing
among reputable agriculturists.
In brief, if these unusual materials
have any agricultural value at all it
is likely to be only under exceptional
conditions, and therefore the average
farmer will find it safest to depend
upon the standard, well-known sources
of supply for his fertilizing materials
These are subject to state inspection,
which affords a guarantee of compost
ton and protection to the purchaser.
Consular Notes.
Consul Julean II. Arnold writes from
Annoy, China, that to the millions
north of the Yangtse rice is much OF
a luxury and that there are millions
of people in central and north China
who have never even tasted rice
Wheat was grown here centuries be
fore Columbus discovered America
The consul estimates the amount OF
winter sown wheart at 200,00000C
bushels. 1t sold at harvest time fol-
25 and 80 cents, gold, bushel but
transportation is so high as to make
it impossible to find profitable markets
for the wheat, which brought last sum
mer in Shanghai rs cents, gold, per
bushel.
The exports of tea from Calcutta and
Chitagong during the first half OF
January, 1911, show an increase over
the corresponding period of last year
of more than 100000 pounds, or about
3 per cent.
There are only four electric light
signs in the city of Melbourne, Aus
tralia.
American made locomotives are
having large sale in South Africa
Tenders were recently asked for 80
more of United States manufacture.
Nearly twice as many women as
men are engaged in the industries OF
Japan. They usually work twelve
hours day. The wages paid males
over IA years of age range from about
16 to 25 cents day, and under IA
wears from to 10 cents a day. Fe-
males over IA receive from 10 cents to
IA cents a day, and under IA years
from 5 to cents a day. With this
advantage over most nations, Japan s
export trade has grown from $7O,OOO,-
600 in 1891 to $450,000,000 in 1910
Japan is seriously discussing the ad
visibility of passing laws to regulate
labor in its factories, and more partic
ularlv the hours of labor of women and
girls.
An American manufacturing concern
has lust colsed $500000 contract fol-
machinery and other equipment for a
ship repair yard for Brazilian steam
ship line which operates between
Brazil and New York, and also carries
on an extensive Brazilian coastwise
service. The contract specifies ex
pressly that all of the material and
machinery and equipment shall be OF
American manufacture. After this
plant is in full operation acomplete
ship building yard will be installed
and American manufacturers will have
the preference in supplying the equip
ment for this plant also. The repair
yard under this contract will be the
most important in South America
Heretofore any repairs and overhaul
ing have required the sending of the
ships to British yards. The success OF
! this plant, it is believed, will lead tt
more favorable consideration of Amer
lean equipment in other industrial es
tabishments, such as cotton mills
sugar mills, canning factories and the
like.
Germany is manufacturing Chinese