Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-01-18
FERTILIZER SITUATION Is
SERIOUS, PRICE SAYS
State Commissioner of Agri-
culture Issues Statement
to Farmers

Agricultural Commissioner J. d. Price
has addressed to the farmers of the
state the following circular letter on the
subject of fertilizers for crops of this
year.
ITO the Farmers Of Georgia.
The present fertilizer situation is. perhaps,
the most serious that has ever confronted you.
and high price of potash, which makes its use
a fertilizer practically impossible; and the
unusually high prices of practically all mate
rails entering into the finished goods.
Cotton seed meal has advanced 80 per cent
in price, because of the high price brought by
cotton seed this season; acid phosphate is sell
ing at than double the price of one year
ago, because manufacturers of powder have
bought up all the available sulphuric acid.
Naturally, the manufacturers and mixers
who have 10 pay so much more for their ma.
terials, must increase the price OF the finished
product to the consumer OF they would be I'M
able to make it at all; and the result is prices
for a mixture which contains little no avail
able potash.
''This absence OF potash has presented a Sc
rious problem to this department in the mat
ter of constituting the laws of Georgia 30 as
properly to protect your interests and at the
same TIME, doing no injustice to manufacturer
or mixer. II is my purpose to render decision
in this matter within the next week or ter
days-a decision which shall be just as far as
1t is possible to make it, as between all the
interests concerned. You will be duly appraised
it will he of interest to you.
For the present, replying TO inquiries which
are reaching me daily, l am compelled to hold
that the word Potash cannot appear upon .
sack of mixed fertilizer, unless II contains full
! per cent or more Of potash, guaranteed This
is the law, enacted by the Legislature, and moi
ruling of this department.
"In the meantime. with regard to the matter
of fertilizers generally and their use during the
coming planting season. that is a matter which
each farmer must decide for himselw. You know
your own land and just what II will do. You
know what fertilizer it needs and how much
You know what 1t will do without any fertilizer
at all.
''You must, therefore, use your own knOwl
edge and your own judgment as TO how far yoc
will go in using fertilizers at the present prices
il is a simple business proposition--a question
of an investment and return.
~ have been asked for statement as to the
use of lime in the soil. I have gone into this
matter with the state chemist. DIR. Il. Il. Stall
ings, and am presenting to you his views OF
this subject, based upon careful study:
1.-The application OF ground limestone to most
OF our Georgia soils, will result IN materis
benefit. 1t should be used, preferably, preced'
ing the growing of leguminous crops, because
these crops do not thrive In acid SOILS, out ~
would be Of undOubted benefit for most Other
c-)ps The amount to he applied should be
from 600 pounds to tons to the acre, de
pending upon the extent of acidity OF the soil
''The principal beneficial effect to be de-
rived from the use of ground limestone is the
Improvement in the physical and bacterial con
dition of the soil, which may result In largely
increased productiveness. Even should IL mol
increase the fertilizing element in the SOIL C
any great extent, the benetits INDICATED "oui'
h. sufficient reason for its use,
1.-THE finer the limestone Is grond the more
quickly will be its beneficial effects. IL should
be purchased on the percentage Of lime 1t Con
tains. 40 npYcu
ssf,,rnr,issioner Of Agriculture, Georgia"