South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-01-03
GLOOMY OUTLOOK
FOR FERTILIZING
SeC'y Houston Issues Report
on Source of Supply in u.
S. But is PeSSimiStiC.
Associated Press Service +.

Associated Press Service.
WASHINGTON, Jan. "a gloomy
view of the prospects for fertilizing
next years crops is presented in a
statement issued today by Sec'y
Houston. OF the department OF agri-
culture.
Relief measures undertaken by the
department since the European war
disrupted the American phosphate
industry and cut off potash imports
from Germany viii help. the state
ment says. but they offer slim posi-
bilities that the American farmer
VIII get a small part Of the fertiliF
ing materials necessary for his needs.
heterogeneous fertilizers alone viii be
available I'm the quantities needed.
The secretary takes up first the
potash supply. long since exhausted
in the United States by the German
embargo on shipments. Investiga-
ton, says his statement. has shown
four sources of supply in this coun-
try. but none Immediately available.
These are the kelp of the Pacific
coast, alunite deposits in Utah. fields
pathic rocks in the east and the mud
of Searles lake, California.
Manufacture from feldspar has
been found To be feasible. but the
cost is high. Development of Scar
les lake deposits present technical
difficulties and title 10 the property
is involved Manufacturers are eN-
perimenting now. the statement says,
with alunite Kelp is offered as the
best material. Three large concerns
have begun manufacture from kelp
and government experts viii be sent
to the Pacific coast TO aid in the ex-
perimental work.
Production viii be slow for long
time. the secretary points out. and
demand for potash in other indus
tries is so great that none manufac-
tured in the United States viii oe
available soon for agricultural pur-
poses. His statement says:
The price offered under existing
conditions by the manufacturers OF
articles Will cause practically the en-
tire output Of these concerns TO be
diverted from the fertilizer industry.
1t would require ninety or more
/ plants. costing approximately $4,000
D
and having an operating capital or
$685. each. TO produce the quanti-
| tv needed for agriculture. This would
/ involve the assumption that COM
mercial phases of the problem were
/ satisfactorily solved The depart
ment is considering all phases of the
situation"
The crippled state of the phos-
phate industry is attributed to the
! high price ofisulphuric acid. much OF
which is being used now in the man
ufacture Of war munitions The price
/ has jumped from 50 20 S25 a ton
Demand for the acid is so heavy that
abandoned plants are being refitted
/ for its manufacture. The bureau OF
soils meanwhile is experimenting
with the manufacture of phosphOric
acid as a substitute for sulphuric.
Nitrate prices have advanced since
( the war began. but there is an album
dant supply Of heterogeneous fertiliZing
material. and the department is en-
Ideavoring To find methods 10 cheap
en- the cost Of manufacture. The sec
rotary concludes with a warning to
! farmers TO conserve all fertilizing
materials on the farm. He urges
crop rotation. proper use Of fertil-
| izers and also use of lime TO increase
productivity of the soil.