The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1916-02-15
FERTILIZER SITUATION
statement Of Secretary Of Agriculture
Regarding supply Of Potash,
Phosphate and Nitrogen.

Washington, d. C.--The Secretary
Of Agriculture has made the follow
ing statement regarding the fertilizer
situations:
American farmers are confronted by
a serious situation in reference to fer.
tilizer materials. AS a result of the
embargo placed by the German gov
crnment on the expectation of potash,
the supply of this substance has been
entirely cut off. Under normal condl-
lions sulphuric acid, which is re-
CURED for making super-phosphates,
Is sold for IS or SO ton. The in
creased demand for it since the break
ing out of the European war has
caused the price to rise to about $25
ton. It is impossible therefore, for
farmers to secure super-phosphates
at prices which they have been ac.
customed to pay The nitrogen supply
is not materially less than usual.
The Potash Situation.
There is practically no potash in
this country at the present time for
fertilizer use. The small quantities
which were held over from former
years are now priced at from eight to
twelve times their normal value. The
investigations OF the department and
the geological survey have shown the
possibility of producing from Ameri-
can sources an ample supply of pot
ash salts for domestic consumption.
These sources are rocks of the east
ern portion of the United States.
The Phosphate Situation.
Acid phosphate is the basis of near
~ all commercial mixed fertilizers.
It is made by the action of sulphuric
acir upon phosphate rock. Our avail
able sources of phosphate rock are
greater than those of any other ma
ton. The main supply for domestic
consumption and for expectation
comes from Tennessee, South Carolina
and Florida The United States gov
eminent owns vast deposits of phos-
phate rock in Utah, Wyoming, Mon
tana and neighboring states. These
deposits have been withdrawn from
private use pending legislation for
their utilization and no supply has yet
been developed from this source.
The Nitrogen Situation.
The nitrogen situation is of less
pressing concern. Cotton-seed meal
forms the bulk of the heterogeneous sub
stances entering into commercial fer
tilizer. The amount available for fer
tilizer use is dependent upon the an
nual production Of cotton and the de-
mand for the meal for feeding stufs
The supply of dried blood and tank
age, also sources of heterogeneous ma
terial, is dependent upon the number
of animals slaughtered. Only a few
large packing concerns conserve these
products, which are now used to con-
siderable extent as cattle feed as well
as for fertilizer purposes. Investi'
cations of the Bureau of Soils have
shown that there is a large amount OF
waste from the fisheries and fish can
neries, especially ON the Pacific coast
and in Alaska. This material coult
and should be made into fish scrap
which would have a value of about ST.
100000 for fertilizer purposes.
Save All Available Fertilizer Elements
In the unusual conditions existing
in the fertilizer trade, it is important
that all fertilizing materials on the
farm. especially those containing pot
ash, should be conserved. The fer
tilizer ingredients already existing il
the soil should be utilizer and devel
oped to the fullest extent. a great dea
can be accomplished in this direction
by deep blowing, constant cultivation
and thorough tillage There should
be a proper system of rotation. Els
lpecially where one crop has beeI
grown for several years differen
one should be planted this year
Green manures and cover crops should
be used as much as possible in thei
proper rotation.
OF the organic substances, manure
both solid and liquid, is the mos
important and should be utilize'
wherever possible. All material o
an organic nature such as leaves an'
bedding of various sorts. should b.
cmposted and the compost applies
co the soil. Special attention shoul'
be given also to the conservation o
wood ashes Depending on the char
acter of the wood. they contain pot
ash in quantities varying ordinarily
from to 10 per cent All tree trim
, mings. brush cuttings. etc, should b
burned and the ashes derived there
from utilized.
The application OF lime to man
soils is of undoubted benefit ThougI
the availability of the fertilizing ele
ments in the soil may not be great
Q increased by its use, the resulting Inn
proyement in physical and bacteria
conditions may increase considerable
the productiyeness OF the soil