The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-06-14
FARMERS ARE USING
MORE FERTILIZERS
Demand for Both Domestic and
Foreign Is In
creasing.
IMPORTATIONS ARE HEAVY
Nearly All the World Drawn
On for the Incrcas-
ing Needs.

wAsHiNGroS, June 1a.--That American
farmers are using constantly Increasing
quantities OF fertilizers is evident both
from the rapidly growing production OF
soil foods IN tho United States and from
the marked Increase in importations Of
that class.
steady increase In the available
supply Of fertilizers liz indicated by the
latest statistics of the Government. The
domestic manufacture Of fertilizers, for
example, as reported by the Bureau of
the Census In 1903. amounted to $780,
100000, or nearly double the total re-
ported for 1904. OF phosphate rock the
domestic production has doubled since
1902. the total for 1912, according to the
uited states Geological Survey. being
about 100000 tons OF which I, 900. 600
tons were exported. OF cottonseed oil
cakc about oue-fourth OF the total con-
sumption OF 100000 tons IL used for
fertilizer purposes. recent estimates plac-
ing the value OF the oil cake thus en-
ploycd without first feeding II to ami
mails Mt from 5000. 900 to s., 900, 900 per
annum. The domestic production of sui
phur. which yields sulphuric acid. an inn
portant material In the manufacture OF
fertilizers, has Increased enormously in
recent years, from 3,147 long tons in
1900 To 303.412 tons In 1912. exclusive OF
about $4,000 tons OF pyrites also n source
OF sulphuric acid About 30 per cent %
all the sulphuric acid made In this coun-
try IL used in the preparation of super
phospates and other artificial fertilizers
Imports OF fertilizer materials have also
increased. data compiled 10y the Bureau
OF Foreign and Domestic Commerce. De-
partment OF Commerce, for the period
ended with April. 1914, indicating greatly
enlarged arrivals OF nitrates potash salts
and other similar materials. The inn
pOrtant exceptions relate TO those art 'cles
the domestic production Of which has 80
increased MS to obviate the necessity Of
large importatlons. az In the case OF phos-
pilates, and to those, the supply OF which
has diminished. as in the case of guano
formerly abundant in South America
South Africa and certain Pacific islands
but yearly becoming more scarce as an
article Of commerce.
Nitrate OF soda ranks first In value
OF Imports of fertilizer materials. the
total imports thereof In the last fiscal
year having exceeded 500. 600 tons, value
az over S2O.Opo. 900. About Is per cent.
OF this is used FOR fertilizer. or sui
phatc uf ammonia the imports Increased
from 1900 tons In 1908 20 $1,000 tons,
valued mt nearly s4,000,oo0, in 1913. and
in the July-April period ot the current
year have already reached 1000 tons
We also imported 1900 tons Of calcium
cyonrmd. popularity known as 'a!r Miro
gen compound"
Kalnit, a potash salt OF very low price.
was imported last year to the extent of
$4,000 tons. valued at s2,0O00OO; sui
phatc OF potash. $4,000 tons. valued at
nearly s2.0O0.O00; and other fertilizer
salts, 10000 tons, valued at 5000. Gao.
About 90 per cent. OF the imported potash
Is used for fertilizers and only about
10 per cent. in the manufacture of glass,
soap making and other chemical indus.
tries. The Imports Of hOih tn" nitrates
and the potash salts nave more than
doubled In the last ten years.
other important fertilizers imported last
year included 80. 600 tons OF bone dust or
animal charcoal $4,000 tons OF Thomas
meal. derived from basic Stag. a phos-
phorus bearing by-pruiuct Of the Thomas s.
C;ichrst process oc making steel and
$4,000 tons Of miscellaneous substances
used only FOR manure. our imports Of
/ guano which amounted 10 l7.2lS tons IN
t9O3. amounted 70 only IL, ii2 tons ~
/ 1913 and hose Of crude phosphate have
/ fallen from $4,000 tons In 1903 20 2@,i7S
/ tons IN 1913 decrease of 50 per cent
/ In the decade
! TIE United states obtains practically
all It's potash salts from Germany. rs
nitrate of soda from Chile, It's bone dust
chiefly from Europe. Canada and India
and its miscellaneous fertilizers mostly
from Canada. Germany, Belgium and tn,
United Kingdom