Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-01-03

acid plants in connection with the cop
per, zinc. and lead smelters using sui
phide ores. The concentrates of the ores
may be roasted in furnaces independent
of the smelter plants or the fumes may
be delivered direct to the acid chambers.
The erection of acid plants of sufficient
capacity to convert the smelter gases
would involve an outlay of at least sew
eral million dollars. Under normal con-
ditions 1t would take four months to
complete the plants. In the present sit
uation, at least six months would be re-
quired. The Bureau of Soils estimates
that sulphuric acid could be made by
some of the western smelling plants at
approximately one-half the normal cost
Of producing the acid in the East where
pyrites is used. The saving in cost of
manufacture in the West, however. would
be partly offset by the long haul neces-
sary to bring the acid to the eastern
market.
the production and utilization of sui
phuric acid for fertilizer purposes, the
Bureau Of Soils has endeavored to de-
velop a commercial method, involving the
use of the electric furnace. for manufac-
turing phosphoric acid, which can be
used as substitute Through this method
double super-phosphate, which will con-
tain 40 to 80 per cent. of water-solubie
phosphoric acid, or the still more concen-
trated form Of ammonium phosphate.
could be secured But the use of the
electric furnace for the purpose is COM
mercially feasible only where phosphate
rock coal and cheap water power are
readily available. The Department is in
vestigating this matter toe ascertain
whether there are localities where these
conditions exist and where, therefore
double super-phosphate may be made.
The Nitrogen Situation.
The nitrogen situation is OF less press
ing concern Cottonseed meal forms the
bulk of the heterogeneous substances enter
ing into commercial fertilizers. The
amount available for fertilizer use is de-
pendent upon the annual production of
cotton and the demand for the meal for
feeding stuffs. The supply of dried blood
and tankage, also sources of heterogeneous
material, is dependent upon the number
of animals slaughtered. Only a few
large packing concerns conserve these
i products, which are now used to con-
as for fertilizer purposes. Investigations
of the Bureau of Soils have shown that
there is a large amount of waste from
the fisheries and fish canneries, espec-
iaIly on the Pacific Coast and in Alaska.
This material could and should be made
into fish scrap. which would have value
of about 81 10000 for fertilizer purposes.
Owing tc the demand for nitric acld for
muntion purposes, the price of nitrate
of soda advanced approximately Slio per
hundred pounds during the year prior to
November, 1915. Only a very small per-
centage of the nitrates imported from
the Chilean beds goes into fertilizers, be
ing mainly incorporated in special brands
for greenhouse and trucking purposes,
This item alone therefore, will not cause
much embarrassment to American far
mers.
One of the most important sources or
nitrogen for commercial fertilizer pur-
poses is ammonium sulphate. This is pro
duced as a by-product in the destructive
distillation of coal for the preparation
of coke. The nitrogen contained IN the
coal is evolved as ammonia and is caught
and neutraliZed with sulphuric acid.
Formerly all coke was made in the bee
hive oven which did not provide for the
confinement of the combustible gases
produced. These were burned as evolvet
and the ammonia carried by them was
likewise lost. The domestic production OF
ammonium sulphate from the coke even
is only one-ffth of what ii could be We're
the beehive oven entirely displaced by
more modern types. During the past few
her sin tra nm
from the use of the beehive oven. 1t is
not imperative, therefore, TO resort to
extreme measures to increase the pro
duction of ammonia.
The Bureau of Soils is studying also
the problem of the fiXation of atmos-
pheric nitrogen with a view TO develop a
method for the production of ammonium
phosphate and other forms of concen-
trated fertilizers. No ammonium phos-
phate is being made in this country at
the present time. If cheap water power.
phosphate rock, coal, and limestone can
be found in accessible localities, the pos
sibility Of making this material on
commercial scale is considered entirely
feasible. The greatest difficulty here is
to discover cheap water power at points
where phosphate rock, coal, and lime
stone are readily available. The Depart
ment is making every effort to locate
available sources of developed water
power which can be used in the manufac-
ture of ammonium phosphate and other
fertilizers.
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 are a number of techni-
cal problems which have to be 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 private or public sources,
considerable time necessarily would be
required for the erection of the plants
and for their full operation.
Save All Available Fertilizer Elements.
In the unusual conditions existing In
the fertilizer trade, it is important that
all fertilzing materials on the farm es-
pecially those containing potash, should
be conserved The fertilizer ingredients
already existing in the soil should be
utilized and developed to the fullest ex-
tent. A great deal can be accomplished
in this direction by deep blowing, con-
slant cultivation. and thorough tillage.
There should be a proper system Of ro-
tation. Especially where one crop has