The log cabin Democrat., 1916-04-03

Owing to the demand for nitric acid for intuition purposes, the price of nj trate of soda advanced approximate ly $1.10 per hundred pounds during the year prior to November, 1915. Only very small percentage of the nitrates imported from the Chilean beds goes into fertilizers, being mainly incor- porated ir special brands for green house and trucking purposes. This item alone, therefore, will not cause much embarrassment to American farmers
 By-Product of Coal.
 One of the most important sources of nitrogen for commercial fertilizer purposes is ammonium sulphate This is produced as by-product in the de- structive 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, 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 monium sulphate from the coke oven is only one-fifth 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. It 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- tion of 30,000 and over were converted into garbage tankage, the product would be worth for fertilizer purposes at least $3,500,O00. In view of the present situation, immediate steps should be taken by all municipalities to conserve the garbage and to make it available for use in the fertilizer trade.
 The bureau of soils is studying also the problem of the fixation of atmos- pheric nitrogen with a view to develop method for the production of ann monium phosphate and other forms of concentrated fertilizers. No ammoni- um phosphate is being made in this country at the present time. If cheap water power, phosphate rock, coal, and limestone can be found in accessible ha of ly; this material on a commercial scale is considered entirely feasible The greatest difficulty here is to discover cheap water power at points where phosphate rock, coal, and limestone are readily available. The department is making every effort to locate avail able sources of developed water power which can be used in the manufacture of ammonium phosphate and other fer tilizers
 It must not be understood that the suggestions which have been made, CT 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 te solved if these fertilizers are to be produced on a commercial scale, and, even if the funds for the necessary plants were provided, either from pri- vate 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, it is important that all fertilizing materials on tue farm, especially those containing pot ash. should be conserved. 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- tivation, and thorough tillage. There should be 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.
 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 quanti- ties varying ordinarily from three to ten per cent All tree trimmings, brush cuttings, etc, should be burned and the ashes derived therefrom util- ized.
 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 it's use, the resulting improvement in physical and bacterial