Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-01-14

legislation is also needed to protect investor be-
present the kelp beds are, public property.
and the builds factory would have no
guarantee that his material would not be taken
away Some system of leasing patches of the ocean
is imperative and real estate the Pacific viii soon
include choice lots well as rose-gardens
Summing up the situation, experts say that even
under favorable conditions of law and labor
the kep beds could not possibly be put working
basis help the 1916 crop. The possibility
again importing potash from Europe before that
time obviously slim The situation is distinctly I'D
to the farmer.
All the potash-containing materials the farm
will have carefully The potash con-
the soil brought up by deep blowing
utilized the fullest extent by careful cultivation
Manure should be wasted. Rotting leaves and
their value which is especially high when
grain prices they doing Wood ashes
of all kinds contain varying proportion of potash
sometimes as much as 10 per gent By burning all
odd bits Of wood and and chips the tired soil
may be REINFORCED. Playing the carefully and
overlooking possibilities. American farm can
squeeze through the temporary tight place.
Potash is not the only indispensable constituent OF
fertilizer but 1t is the that are having the
trouble in getting today. Phosphates are also
essential to plant growth but they still on the
market, though quotations have jumped since the be-
ginning of the 1t is peculiar fact that each Of
the three fertilizer stuffs Is also used In the
manufacture of gunpowder and other high explosives
that not only cuts OF imports, but creates
and Unsuitable demand demand that does not
stop the cost. long ii gets the goods.
There is plenty of phosphate rock in the United
States-more than in any other country earth The
government has withdrawn immense deposits of the
rock in western states from private USE pending egs
lation for their utilization and without those
there remains than enough The trouble Ia that
phosphate in its original form is about indi-
gestibde for a plant it would be for To
it soluble sulphurc acid is required.
And here the steps in again, for sulphuric acid
is the basis of innumerable chemical in the
munftion industry from the making OF poison gas TO
production of the deadly illuminate that sets off
explosive shells Naturally the price % sulphuric
acid jumped until 1t is worth just Ave times
it in July, 1914. So America has noun
phosphate rock, and little acid to 1t into
fertilizer.
We could increase output of sulphuric acid
immensely if capital would back the enterprise Thou
of of sulphur in the form OF smoke and
fumes into the air from the stacks of the big
SHELTERS If these concerns had proper ap-
paratus turning the gas acid they would be
making big money But such apparatus is expensive.
and the business would only be profitable while war
conditions last.
Nitrates third essential fertilizer.
With these fairly well supplied but the price
already doubled This scarcity is reflected in the
by the Department OF Agriculture that
municipality its garbage and convert 1t into
fertilizer. Garbage ricn nftrates. Most
heterogeneous material in commercial fertilizer
from cotton seed meal, and still have cotton
plantations Large quantities Of nitrate imported
from Chile but this grade Is well fitted for the
manufacture of explosives that little of 1t goes
rich the fields.
that process has just been put into operation for
making nitrates from the air. Air is almost three
quarters nitrogen. The significance of this proc
lies in the fact that we shall soon be making nj
trates for explosvse at home. In the event OF
which should cut us off from Chile, the muniton
plants would not be nampered. The development Is,
less interest to the farmer because nitrzhe the
fertilizer stituentsof which supply is
short Phosphate and potash--especially potashare
the need a.- e@s-e~
This need may be not wholly bad thing. It is
embarrassing, worse. for time but eventually 1t
may force to develop potash resources
There is no reason why the United States should not
little country produce everything necessary
support a large population and carry on a great
war With inventive and scientific genius just as
highly developed, and resources vastly richer,
United States SHOULD be able carry all pro-
of civilization without calling any nation for
materials.