The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-09-06
POTASH SHORTAGE
MAY Be BLESSING
WAR WILL CAUSE TT TO BE MORE
ECONOMICALLY
PRICE TO BE HIGHER
FIELD TESTS MADE IN MANY LO-
CALITIEs SHOW POTASH NOT
NEEDED WITH MIXED
FERTILIZERS.
PRICE TO BE HIGHER

What enect Will the European war
have on the supply of potash required
by the Southern farmer? This ques-
tion IL of especial interest TO the
Southern farmer and more particularly
to the farmers OF the Southern States
east Of the Mississippi. where potash
is most largely used. The spring sea-
son is when most fertilizers are used
and the supplies now on hand in this
country are not likely to be large,
OF course. some fertilizers are used
in the fail and the supply In prob
ably adequate for immediate needs,
but II the war continues until after
the FIRST Of the year there is almost
certain to be shortage for our real
needs.
Naturally all potash now in the
hands Of the manufacturers of mixed
fertilizers will be carefully saved for
use In their mixed goods and II is
doubtful IL any of these concerns will
sell potash until further supply IL
insured. 1t is also likely that the ten
dency will be to reduce the percent
aye of potash in all mixed fertilizers
which may be made from now on to
the end of the war. In short, the sit.
uation ts such that potash Is apt to
auently Higher In price.
In view of these facts the farmers
OF the South should carefully study
their needs for potash. In order tc
avoid its use where not greatly need
ed. or al least. avoid the waste of /,
which we fear has often occurred In
the past.
II this shortage In the supply OF
potash leads to the more inteIligen,
use of II throughout the South this
evil Of the war will not be an entirely
unmixed one for Va, because we have
probably used potash less wisely thar
any other plant food. In fact, we
have put potash in our mixed fertil-
ixers for use on land where the over.
whelmtng evidence obtained by ex.
pertinent station tests and soil analy-
SEES show we do not or. at least. should
not. need potash. In Mississippi. Ten.
nessee. parts of Alabama and the
States west Of these the evidence OBJ.
tained from soil analyses and expert
ment station tests point strongly te
the conclusion that potash is not
needed as a plant food for genera
field crops and possibly is not gener.
ally profitable for any class of crops
In the Southeastern States, on the
other hand. field tests generally shnx
a need for potash and tina. II pays tc
use II more or less literally on prac.
tically all crops But even in those
sections soil analyses show that man,
Of the heavier or clay loan. or clay
soils. have rather large supplies OF
potash But that these supplies al.
ready in the soil are not available
In many cases for the feeding Of crops
In sufficient quantities In indicated by
the held tests and experience of the
farmers. Potash. especially In the
form Of kainit. has also proved Of val.
ne In lessening the effects OF rust on
cotton in practically. all section,
where II has been tested.
These seem to be the facts Of thu
situation. and we must meet them in
the best way possible. In the mrs
place, no potash should be used In
mixed or other fertilizers in the ter.
ritory. as above outlined where there
potash or OF It's profitable use ever
at the prices current in past years
II the laws will not permit this the,
should at once be modified to meet
tho existing condition. Second. as faI
az 1t IL possible, cover crops shoult
he sowed, especially on all lands where
there II now known to be a fair sup,
ply already in the soil--the clay land.
generally--that they may be plowet
uHueE IN Nue spring IN the nope tnAl
their decay will render available adj
ditional quantities Of the potash al
ready In the soil. Third. as stated
the manufacturers OF mixed fertilix-
ers should and probably will reduce
the percentage of potash In Their
ready-mixed goods, in order to make
the supplies now on hand go as fal
a. possible.
The situation. while serious. Is moi
nearly so bad as would be the case
were our supplies OF nitrogen ant
phosphorus to be cut off. and we ma,
hope that by using the supply nj pot,
ash now on hand, with care and In.
telligcnce. the conditions will not be.
come really serious before the wal
closes and our Importation OF pot,
ash from Germany can be resumed
In this connection 1t would be Nell II
our government would consider ser.
iously the development OF our owr
supplies OF potash In the West a.
we'll 40 the providing OF merchant
marine to carry our commerce abroad
which. II we possessed. would not now
b Of value In solving the shortage OF
potash. Raleigh, N. c.. Progressive
Farmer.