Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-02-17
SEA KELP MAY PROVE
VALUABLE PRODUCT
Found on Beach of Coos County in
Unlimited Qutntities-Is Great
Fertilizer.

Kelp of the Pacific coast is highly
valuable as a fertilizer and the ex-
traction of the potash from it will save
the American farmers many millions
Of dollars a year, according to the
best authorities. One variety of this
kelp is found on the beach off Coos
Bay
1t will be remembered that last sum-
mer a small yacht turned over by the
department of agriculture for the use
Of several experts visited this locality
on the tour of the coast for the pur-
pose Of investigating the kelp fields.
Professor Crandall, in charge, stated
at the time that he found more of the
kelp on the California coast than on
the Oregon coast, this being for the
reason that in this particular part of
Oregon, the coast is unprotected, and
the kelp is more or less damaged by
being broken away by the wind.
Fertilizer at Home.
The variety known as the ribbon
kelp, found on the California coast, is
the best kind for fertilizer, but that
Of the ropy variety on the Coos Bay
beach is also valuable for its potash. 1t
is quite likely that if all the kelp
which goes to waste on the beach of
Coos county was put through the pro-
cess necessary it would fertilize all
the tillable land Of the county. 1t is a
resource which is realized as existing
by but few, and is regarded usually
as waste of the sea, yet the long,
green bull kelp resembling a "black-
snake" whip, seen on the beach, is of
great value as a means of enriching
the land.
What Experts Say.
Dr. Frank r. Cameron, Of the bu-
reau of soils Of the department Of ag-
riculture, in a recent address, gave
some interesting facts regarding this
resource of the Pacific coast
DR. Cameron said that this kelp
would furnish the farmers of the Pa
cific coast with a plentiful supply of |
potash for fertilizer-at least S,OOO,-
900 tons of fertilizer in which, he
said, the potash can be readily and |
cheaply made available for agricul-
ture use. DR.. Cameron said he be-
lleved similar beds of kelp exist off
the coast of Alaska, and he said that
he would explore that part of the
coast during the coming summer.
Would Save Millions.
DR.. Cameron predicted that the
utilization of these beds of potash
would render the farms Of this coun-
try Independent of the German sup
plies. The point of this lies in the
fact that Germany has enjoyed a mo-
Hopoly OF the potash OF the world, II
and has taken full advantage of the
fact in asking all that the traffic
would bear. The trust in Germany is
a government-fostered institution.
Our farmers, Dr. Cameron said, had
been paying between $12OOO,OOO and
100000 annually for German pot
ash This sum, it is expected, will
eventually be saved by making our
potash at home.
Good to Eat, Too.
1t has been found that the kelp of
Coos county beach also has qualities
as a food. For several years past
experiments have been made by a To-
cal man with the kelp, using 1t to
make pickles. and It has proven to be
quite an edible relish, when properly
and quite as good as many
other green products which are usu-
ally put up as pickle.--Marshfiel {
Evening Record.