Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1916-03-24


Of about s1,so0,000 for fertilizer pur-
poses.
Owing to the demand for nitric acid
for munition purposes, the price of nj
trate of soda advanced approximate.
ly s1.10 per hundred pounds during
the year prior to November, 1915. Only
a very small percentage OF the nitrates
imported from the Chilean beds goes
into fertilizers, being mainly incor-
porated In 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 suiphuric 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 II could be were
the beehive oven entirely displaced by
more modern types. During the past
few years there has been slow tran
sition from the use OF the beehive
oven. 1t 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 II the
garbage of all cities having popula
ton of 10000 and over were converted
into garbage tankage, the product
would be worth for fertilizer purposes
at least $3,50000O. 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 fxation OF atmos-
pheric nitrogen with view to develop
a method for the production Of am
monium phosphate and other forms of
concentrated fertilizers. No ammoni-
UNI phosphate is being made in this
country at the present time. IL cheap
water power, phosphate rock, coal, and
limestone can be found in accessible
localities, the possibility Of making
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.
1t must not be understood that the
suggestions which have been made, or
; the efforts which are now being put
forth, will result In immediate relief
for farmers. There Is number OF
technical problems which have to be
solved II these fertilizers are to be
! produced on a commercial scale, and
even II the funds for the necessary
. plants we're provided, either from pri
vate or public sources, considerable
time necessarily would be required FOL
the erection of the plants and for theii
full operation.
Save Fertilizer Elements.
In the unusual conditions existing
: In the fertilizer trade, 1t Is importan
that all fertilizing materials on thu
farm. especially those containing pot
Z ash, should be conserved. The fer
I tilizer ingredients already existing II
= the soil should be utilized and devel
oped to the fullest extent. A grea
/ deal can be accomplished in this d
rection by deep blowing, constant Gu
= tivation, and thorough tillage. Their
! should be proper system OF rotation
Especially where one crop has bee
grown for several years a differen
u one should be planted this year. Gree
= manures and cover crops should b
y used as much as possible in thei
proper rotation.
OF the organic substances, manure
y both solid and liquid, is the most In
u portant and should be utilized wher'
D. ever possible. All material of an o
~ ganic nature, such as leaves and BET
d ding OF various sorts, should be con
! posted and the compost applied to tn
!. soil. Special attention should be give
= also to the conservation OF wood-ashe
20 Depending on the character OF II
y wood, they contain potash in quaint
ties varying ordinarily from three
ten per cent. All tree trimming
- brush cuttings, etc. should be burne
90 and the ashes derived therefrom ut
re- lied.
n. The application of lime to mar
q, soils is of undoubted benefit. Thoue
err the availability OF the fertilizing ell
H. ments In the soil may not be great
Id increased by It's use, the resultiI
's- improvement In physical and bacteri
conditions may increase considerab
the productiveness of the soil.