Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1916-12-17
SCARCITY OF CARs|
EXPECTED TO STOP
FERTILIZER SLO vi


freight traffic on the railroads and the
alarming and growing car shortage
will affect the entire country, If ship
ments for spring use by the farmers
are delayed and crops next season de-
layed in planting. fertilizing. spraying
and handling through, the early and
critical stages their growth. Early
ordering and shipping of the supplies
is the only solution offered by the
manufacturers and the railroads, ami
farmers who expect to get their fertil-
izers, lime, seeds, garden and farm
supplies and other equipment areu rgN
cd to do their spring shopping early
Three hundred thousand freight cars
are needed for the moving OF the four
million five hundred thousand tons OF
fertilizer alone that is normally used
on spring crops IN the United States.
and the manufacturers of this import
ant and necessary item in crop produc-
ton find that unless shipments are
ordered early the railroads will not be
able to move their goods promptly.
In past years over ninety per cent. of
the spring fertilizer has been ordered
and shipped over a period of six TO
eight weeks. If farmers will order
their supplies much earlier, thus ex-
tending the shipping season over three
months, the railroads will be able to
use the same cars several times anu
the farmers will be sure of getting
tier plant food and other supplies in
time for spring use. The month OF
January is not a rush month on the
railroads, but the period Just before
the coming of spring is one of the
greatest rush periods of the year. In
creased buying of all kinds of farm
supplies is expected this spring
throughout the country as result of
the high prices which farmers received
for their crops last season.
In statement just issued, Presi-
dent Horace Bowker, of the National
Fertilizer Association, points out that
this year the cooperation of the
farmers, dealers, manufacturers and
railroads is necessary, annd that such
cooperation will help everybody. He
urges the ordering of as near maximum
cars instead of minimum capacity cars
whenever possible as another way in
which the railroads may be helped in
the moving of the spring supplies. By
earlier ordering, the railroads will be
able to use the same cars several
times in moving shipments for the
farmers.
Many farmers find early ordering of
advantage in other ways. In many
parts OF the country, hauling on the
snow is important as after the spring
season opens the roads become muddy
and almost impossible. Labor costs OF
hauling are less before the rush ii
spring work and the farmer Is sure OF
an early start with the first breaking
of spring because he has his supplies
on hand ready for use. If farmers
will realize that shipping conditions
are far worse than ever before and that
the need is urgent not only that they
may secure good crops and profits
which would be impossible without
proper supplies, but that the prices for
food products next fall may be pro-
hibitive to many consumers unless
general large crops are harvested next
foil, their cooperation will be given at
once.
Larger acreage than last year and
more attention and more intensive Gull
tiyation to each acre are other results
OF the higher prices for food products
this year that are also influencing the
buying of larger amounts of fertilizer
an dother supplies this spring. When
prices are doubled, the investments ia
p'antfood, good seed. and other essen
tails pay double, and farmers are
ready to do their part toward getting
larger yields and profits than ever be-
fore. MELVIN RYDER.