The sun., 1916-12-21

ton is not 10 much military Ms inter-
national. Germany must have food
and the people may not care to run the
risk Of trusting to chemistry to pro-
vide 1t. At the beginning. when the
Germans were still under the spell OF
the rush to Paris. the authorities were
able TO demonstrate that no German
need go hungry much longer. A new
turn Of the wheel has been made by
the discovery at the last moment that
moro things go to mako up a food sup
ply than a chemist to study II and Q
| public to read abou. II. The peace
proposals may he due to lack OF staples
and agricultural products on the part
OF the population.
| A most interesting light has been
thrown both on the general situation
and the tactice CT the Chancellor by
the reports OH the state Of Germany's
crops. We hear that the crop OF wheat
and potatoes is above tho average, and
again that the fields ripening to har-
vest have been slow In their advance
this summer and autumn. while hay
making was p%rotracted to a later date
than usual. One report suggested that
sN buh ttItT udu DCtn III
capped by the want Of fertilizer.
This question may well be the sub
ject OF any peace movement. as the
supply Of fertilizers for the soil is an
essential issue In deciding the maintc-
nance Of food supply for the people.
and transccnds all other considera-
items. a good supply of ncccssaries
would alone enable the Germans to
press for better conditions Of peace
when the working o; the Governments
food legislation revealed its weaknesses
and defects. Any ono who knows Ger
many can see the strong military posi-
ton and the weak agricultural one. but
few people as yet in or out Of Germany
know where chances are lost and wha.
can be done to the best advantage.
Agricultural chemistry Is a new
science: it's practical demonstrations
have reached the eye OF the German
farmer through leaflets showing the
way 20 grow richer crops than he has
previously had. and he Is perhaps the
only man o. his class who Is docile
enough to learn these lessons. who
does not put his failures down to the
inclemency Of the weather or to the
stubbornness OF the soil. He is ably
supported by the syndicates and the
chemists.
\. report Of the German potash
syndicate just published in the Chcmi-
cal Trade journal shows what the Ger
mans have been able to do within the
last " years how they have been
able to do IL. II was reported a. the
recent meeting of the potash syndicate
that as a result OF extraordinary efforts
II had been possible -ur the syndicate
works 10 deliver a quantity Of pure
potash greater by 230. 600 tons In the
first ninc months OF tho present year
thai In the corresponding period of
1915. The Germans have also made
good their loss OF about $4,000 tons Of
Chilean nitrates. A fun accoun. of the
German nitrate industry. wonderfully
complete considering the difficulty OF
obtaining the information. has been
published in tn. Non.t'Dr Scicntiic of
October, 1916. l. IL written by "A Rus
sian chemist. VI. Paul Clocss, ana IL
certainly the most illuminative that
could hc wished. II does not bear out
tn" reports Of German shortage OF
fertilizer. Germany. says NJ. Cloess.
has been able to produce not only the
hes. fertilizer, but m quantities
OF potash, nitrate OF soda. carbonic acid
and phosphates from the seaweed Of
the Baltic. And nitrates are furnished
in abundance by the German processes
of extracting nitrogen from the atmos-
phere and OF making synthetic sui
phate OF ammonia. IL Is too early vet
10 say what the effect % these manu-
features will b" on the whole situation
In Germany, |. may alter the si,ua-
ton radically and a laIg. Crup may