The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1916-02-10

of about $1,2OO.OOO for fertilizer pur-
poses,
Owing to the demand for nitric acid
| for munition purposes. the price of nj
trate of soda advanced approximate
ly S1.10 per hundred pounds during
the year prior to November; 1915. Only
very small percentage of the initrates
imported from the Chilean beds goes
/ into fertilizers, being mainly incor-
porated in special brands, for green
house and trucking purposes This
item alone, therefore, will not cause
much embarrassment to American
farmers.
5y-Produet Of Coal,
One of the most important sources
of nitrogen for commercial fertilizer
purposes is ammonium sulphate. This
is produced as a by-prodUct in the de-
structiye distillation of coal for the
preparation of coke. The nitrogen
contained in the coal is evolved as am
monia and is caught and neutralized
with sulphuric acid. Formerly all coke
was made in the beehive oven,7 which
did not provide for the confinement of
the combustible gases produced. These
were burned as evolved and the am
monia carried by them was likewise
lost. The domestic production of am
mopium sulphate from the coke. oven is
only one-fiftb of what it could be were
the beehive oven entirely displaced by
more modern types During the past
few years there has been a slow tran.
sition from the use of the beehive
oven. 1t is not imperative, therefore,
to resort to extreme measures to in
crease the production OF ammonia.
Another source OF nitrogen is found
in garbage. The investigations OF the
bureau of soils indicate that If the
garbage of all cities having a popula
ton of 10000 and over were converted
into garbage tankage, the product
would be worth for fertilizer purposes
at least $3,500,000. In view of the
present situation, immediate steps
should be taken by. all municipalities
to conserve the garbage and to make
1t available for use in the fertilizer
trade. ."& ~r.''H'~
The bureau of soils is studying also
the problem OF the fixation of atmos
pheric nitrogen with a view to develop
a method for the production of am
monium phosphate and other forms o
concentrated fertilizers. No ammoni
um phosphate is being made in thi!
country at the present time. If Ghear
water power, phosphate rock, coal, anG
limestone can be found in accessible
localities, the possibility of making
this material on commercial scale is
considered entirely feasible. Tho
greatest difficulty here is to discover
cheap water power at points where
phosphate rock, coal, and limestone
are readily available. Tho department
is making every effort to locate avail.
able sources.of develop water power
which can be used in,the manufacture
of ammonium phosphate and other fer.
tilizers. '.r .f2"tN'"'
1t must not be understood that the
suggestions which have been made, or
the efforts which are now being put
forth, will result in immediate relief
for farmers. There is a number of
technical problems which have to be
solved If these fertilizers are to be
produced on commercial scale, and
even if the funds for the necessary
plants were provided, either from pri.
waite or public sources, considerable
time necessarily would be required for
the erection of the plants and for their
full operation. >..
Save Fertilizer Elements.
In the unusual conditions existing
in the fertilizer trade, J it is important
that all fertilizing materials on the
farm, especially those containing pot
ash, should be -conserved.I The fer
tilizer ingredients already existing in
the soil should be utilized and devel
oped to the fullest EXTENT A great
deal can be accomplished in this di
rection by deep blowing, constant cul
tiyation, and thorough tillage. There
should De proper system of rotation
Especially where one crop has been
grown for several years a different
one should be planted this year Green
manures and cover crops should be !
used as much as possible In their
proper rotation. zig ..m
OF the organic substances, manure |
both solid and liquid, is the most i'm
portant and should be utilized where |
ever possible. All material OF an or.
ganic nature, such as leaves and bed
ding of various sorts, should be com,
posted and the compost applied to the
soil. Special attention should be given
also to the conservation of wood-ashes
Depending on the character Of the
wood, they contain potash in quaint
ties varying ordinarily from three to
ten per cent. All tree trimmings,
brush cuttings, etc, should be burned
and the ashes derived therefrom util
lied. .-.. -rs-. .r.
The application of lime to many
soils is of undoubted benefit Though
the availability of the fertilizing ele.
ments in the soil may not be greatly
increased by its use, the resulting
Improvement in physical and bacterial
may increase considerably
the productiveness Of the soil.
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