Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1916-01-05
FERTILIZER OUTLOOK.
Secretary Houston Issues 8 State
ment. Nitrates Plentiful.
Potash and Phosphate
Very High.

Washington, January "A
gloomy view of prospects fol fer.
tilizing next years crops is present.
ed in statement issued to-day by
Secretary Houston, of the DEPART
ment of agriculture.
Relief measures undertaken by
the department since the European
war disrupted the American plos-
phi tie industry and cut off poash
imports from Germany will help,
the statement says, but they ofer
slim possibilities that the American
farmer will get small part of The
fertilizing materials necessary Tor
his needs. heterogeneous fertilizers
alone will be available in the guam
titles needed.
The Secretary takes up first the
potash supply, long since exhausted
in the United States by the German
embargo on shipments. Investiga-
ton, says his statement, has shown
four sources of supply in the coun-
try, but none Immediately availa-
BILE. These are the help of the Pa
cific coast, alunite deposits in Utah,
feldspathec rocks in the East and
the mud of Searles Lake, California.
Manufacture from feldspar has
been found to be feasible, but the
cost is high. Development of
Searles Lake deposits presents tech
nical difficulties and title to the
property is involved. Manufactur-
ers are experimenting now, the
statement says, with alnnite. Kelp
is offered as the best material.
Three large concerns have begun
manufacture from kelp and Gov
erpment experts will be sent to the
Pacific coast to aid in the expert
mental,work. ~. -
Slow rrouuction.
Production will be slow for
long time, the Secretary points out,
and demand for potash in other in.
dustries is 90 great that none manu-
featured in the United States
will be available soon for agri.
cultural purposes. His statement
says:
''The prices offered under exist
ing conditions by the manufactur
ers of articles will cause practically
the entire output of these concerns
to be diverted from the fertilizer
industry. 1t would require ninety
or more plants, costing approx
mately $4,000, and having an ope-
rating capital of $4,000 each to pro,
duce the quantity needed for agri-
culture. This would involve the
assumption that commercial phases
OF the problem were satisfactorily
solved. The department is con-
sidering all phases of the situa-
tion."
The crippled state of the phos-
phate industry is attributed to the
high price of sulphuric acid, much
of which is being used now in the
manufacture of war munitions. The
price has jumped from IS to $25
ton. demand for the acid is 81
heavy that abandoned plants are be-
ing reftted for its manufacture.
The bureau of soils meanwhile is
experimenting with the manufac-
ture of phosphoric acid as substi-
tute for sulphurlc.
Nitrite prices have advanced since
the war began, but there is an abun-
dant supply of nitrogenous fertiliz-
ing material and the department Is
endeavoring to find methods to
cheaper the cost of manufacture.
The Secretary concludes with a
warning to farmers to conserve all
fertilizing materials on the farm.
He urges crop rotation, proper
use of fertilizers and also use of
lime to increase productivity Of the
soil.