Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-01-25

The farmers OF the southeastern states
are naturally interested in the existing
fertilizer situation. For years il has
only been necessary TO call up a dealer
and place an order for what was needed
and secure prompt delivery of almost
any class or character of fertilizer which
the farmer considered necessary for the
proper stimulation and development Of
his crop. The European war, however.
has changed conditions very materially.
The embargo on the shipment of potash
from Germany has practically cut off
the available supply of this material,
and hence farmers must look to other
sources for this element The manu-
facture OF explosives has increased the
demand for sulphuric acid to such an
extent that this substance which former
ly brought $500 or 5000 a ton is now
selling at $500 a ton. There is so
much call for sulphuric acid that it is
difficult to obtain enough of it to make
the usual quantity of acid phosphate
which has been applied in previous years.
and naturally the cost of it has been
greatly increased by the higher price
which sulphuric acid now commands.
The interference with transportation by
reason of the war has largely cut of the
supply of sulphate of ammonia which
formerly came from Great Britain, and
nitrate of soda previously obtained in
large quantities from Chilli, and hence
nitrates have also advanced consider
ably in price.
The farmer is therefore confronted
with one of the most difficult situations
which he has faced in many years, and
it will tax his resources and ingenuity
10 meet II successfully, but by taking
forethOught and exercising good tudg-
ment he can meet the conditions which
the war has thrust upon him with \
fair degree of success. and should still
be able to raise bumper crops unless
seasonal conditions are extremely I'M
favorable. OF course, he will probably
have to invest a larger amount in ferti-
lizers than he has for last year or two
but he will have to face the situation
in this respect as best he can for practi-
cally every industry is suffering more or
less from what may be termed war
prices" OF course, the farmer should
not plunge into debt and buy carelessly
or excessively of fertilizers, but should
exercise caution and good judgment and
select those elements which are most
likely TO meet the requirements of his
crop and soil TO the best advantage ana
at the least cost. He will hardly find
it profitable to run of after false gods"
have something to sell, and are now
seizing upon this opportunity when the
farmers mind is distraught to make him
buy something of uncertain value so far
as crop production is concerned.
Among the sources of potash which
can be used to some advantage are cot
ton seed meal, tobacco stems and wood
ashes. All the trash, and stumps and
limbs in the wood lot should be gathered
up and burned and the ashes saved AMI
applied to the soil at the rate of 500 to
1000 pounds per acre. This material
may be brOadcasted over the land or
placed under the drill row and well mix
ed with the soil other sources of pot
ash will not be available TO any appre-
ciable extent and will be too costly for
utilization. Felderspar and Searles
Lake deposit in California promise to
provide a considerable amount of potash
in the future when land titles and other
troubles have been overcome, but very
little material from this source will be
available at the present time. Feldspar
may be made to produce as much as 10
per cent Of potash, but unless the other
constituents in feldspar can be sold and
utilized to advantage. thereby making
the potash a by-product, the plant food
material derived from this source win be
so costly apparently as to make its use
in agriculture practically prohibitive.
Alunite, a deposit found in Utah, fur
nishes about IL per cent of potash. 1t
is decOmposed at temperature of about
200 per cent i a electric furnace. The
manufacture of this material has only
begun. however, and none of IT will be
available for agricultural purposes this
year.
The giant kelp beds Of the Pacific
will furnish considerable amounts of
potash. and this material If dried and
ground is In fine mechanical condition
end combines well with commercial
plant food. Only preliminary work in
its harvesting and manufacture has been
undertaken, and il is safe to say that
very little If any of il will be avail
able for agricultural purposes this
year.
With regard to phosphate, there is an
abundance of raw material in this coun-
try out OF which to manufacture acid
phosphate. II is only a question of OBJ
tanning an adequate supply Of sulphuric
acid for this purpose. 1t is possible,
Of course that through the stimulation
which has been given the, production OF
this material that large amounts or
acid phosphate will be made available,
though, as already pointed out the price
may he somewhat higher than has been
true in the past rev years. NeNtTNhe-
less. this will probably be one Of the
best sources from which to obtain phos-
phoric acid. and particularly is this true
in the southeastern states where the
supply Of organic matter in the soil is
relatively low, and rock phosphates are
not likely TO give very quick returns.
Naturally. the phosphoric acid In bone
should all be conserved and used as In
the past Basic Stag can also be APP
piled to advantage, though probably not
over one-half to two-thirds of the total
phosphoric acid IL contains will becom'
available the first year. This materi?
is now on the market in larger quaint
ties than heretofore. and will help
solve the phosphate situation TO cor.
Siderable extent. Where lands are very
rich I'm organic matter through rotation
OF crops the blowing under of greer
manures or the use of large quantities
OF ward manure, rock phosphate can pos
sfbly be utilized to some advantage
Areas of this character. however, are
comparatively scarce in the southeast
ern states, and hence this material will
only have a limited use.
All sources of nitrogen should he
utilized AS completely as possible. Blood
and tankage will be available in usual
quantities There is no reason why the
amount Of fish scrap should not be In
creased There will probably be the
usual supply OF cotton seed meal as
source Of nitrogen, phosphoric acid and