Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-10-20
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~ AND SUCCESSFUL EARRING
ZZZsz (" ANDREWMc oUIE
Electricity as q Factor an Providing
Cheap Nitrogen and Potash

The extent Of the fertilizer industry
is not appreciated by the great mass
OF our people. In 1914. when conditions
were probably not far from normal. the
tonnage turned out, according to the de-
partment OF commerce OF the bureau OF
the census. was S.4I4,959 tone with u
value Of S159. $500. This repre-
scented an increase since 1909 OF 49-S per
cent in tonnage and 52.7 per cent IN
value OF the amount Of fertilizer pro-
duced in 1914. Ass, 465 tons were
classed as complete fertilizers and l.
1853 tons as nitTogenOus fertilizers.
In other words, over 100000 tons OF
the fertilizer used that year contained
nitrogen. In the season 19I3-l914 Geor-
gia alone sold fertilizer tags represent
ing a production Of 1.292.S6S tons of
fertilizer and 1S5, $40 tons of cotton seed
meal. In the states OF Alabama. Mis-
sissippi, Tennessee. North Carolina and
South Carolina large quantities OF fer
tilizer are manufactured. but Georgia
manufactures more than any other
state in the union and may be regarded
as the center OF the fertilizer industry.
She is touched on all sides by states
consuming large quantities of CONNER
cial plant food. Hence, If nitrogen were
produced in large quantities at rea-
sonable cost at some point situated
within her borders, the farmers %
Georgia and the nation at large.
through the increased production of coz
ton and other staple crops at a les.
sened cost. would be the benefciaries
Of such an enterprise, and il would DC
a simple and economical matter to pro-
vide the needed supplies of nitrogen TO
farmers living in the adjoining states
That this is a matter of the gravest
concern is shown by the fact that IN
1918 when conditions were normal, the
farmers Of the United States paid about
S4SS3J,0 10000 for heterogeneous sub
stances. The greater part of this, OF
course, was used i'm the south, and \
very considerable proportion in Georgia
and neighboring states. The materials
from which the nitrogen was derived
were as follows: Nitrate OF soda, TO-
600 tons; ammonium. sulphate, 2l5,OO1
tons; cotton seed meal, 100000 tons;
dried blood. 10000 tone: taskage, 100000
tons, and fish scrap. 10000 tons. All
of the nitrate of soda and a very con-
siderable amount of the ammonium sui
phate were imported. Dried blood AMI
tankage are chiefly the products OF
slaughter houses, while FISK scrap is 4
by-prOduct Of one Of out most important
maritime industries. Observe that one
million tons OF cotton seed meal were
used as a source OF nitrogen at an es-
timated value of $3.50 10000. This meal
is invaluable TO feed under proper con-
ditions. to horses and mules, beef and
dairy cattle, sheep, and in a limited way
10 swine and poultry. \ more grievous
or wasteful method OF disposing Of this
product could hardly be instituted or de-
vised than that OF using IL in the soil as
a fertilizer. Undoubtedly, this meal IS
so rich in protein that If utilized under
the best practice its value could be In
creased TO s5O.O10. 10000. the number of
farm animals which the south is ca
pable Of maintaining greatly increased.
and the thirty million people residing
IN the south supplied with cheaper
meat
IL is needless to point out that the
dearth OF fertiliZing material, and espe-
cially OF nitrogenOus substances, has in
duced the southern farmer and fertil-
fzer manufacturer TO use cotton seed
meal I'm the manner indicated above. 1t
is equally obvious that If a large guam
tity Of commercial nitrogen could be
made at a reasonable cost and placed at
the disposal OF the farmer and manu-
facturer that the destructive and waste
full practice Of using meal as fertiliZe~
would soon be corrected. At the present
time many forms Of heterogeneous fertil-
izers are almost prOhibitive in cost. Wa"
conditions have caused the price of acii
phosphate TO be materially enhanced
Potash is not Obtainable at prices
which justify the farmer in applying
it. Therefore. the fertilizer industry