The Washington herald., 1920-12-26
GERMAN FARMS
MAKING POTASH
756,000 Tons Last Season,
Against $4,000 Last Pre-
War Year.

BERLIN, Dec 25.-The German
farmer has passed the peak Of his
difaculties in securing fertilizer to
restore his impoverished acres, so
far as the potash ingredient is con-
eerned, though the problem of pro-
viding nitrates and phosphates for
farm needs remains to be solved.
His supply of potash for the season
peace time consumption 756.00o
tons against $4,000 tons in the last.
pre-Nar year-and the output for
the coming year is dependent only
on an adequate supply of coal for
the German potash mines.
Z The supply of nitrates, even
though the factories manufacturing
nitrates from the atmospheric nitro
gen are freed from the necessity of
deyoting their output chiefly to the
manufacture of war explosives, was
still below the pre-war standard,
only 15s, 900 of the 100000 tons, con-
sidered essential in the days when
Germany was dependent on inn
ports of saltpeter from Chile hav-
ing been supplied to the farmers for
the 1920 crop year. The nitrate in
dustry hopes to be in a position to
turn out approximately 10000 tons
of nitrogsnops fertilizer during the
coming year by enlargement and
Improvement of existing plants. but
IL remains to be seen how far these
expectations will be realized A
maximum output of 100000 tons
seems nearer the mark.
shortage Chief Problem.
The shortage Of phosphates, for
which Germany is almost entirely
dependent. except for limited
amounts of phosphoric slack from
fits blast furnaces, upon imports OF
phosphate rock from the United
States and other sources, remains
the acute problem for German agri-
culture. It is purely a financial
problem, ample supplies of crude
phosphate for the superphosphate
factories being available to finance
the imports, but in spite OF the op-
tfmism of the ministry of agricul-
-ture, which promises the necessary
imports during the coming winter
IL is doubtful whether this can be
done in Germany's present crippled
financial condition. Germany con-
suned, in the year before the war
$4,000 tons of phosphoric acid fer
tilizer; only 147,o00 tons were avail
able for the 1880 crop year
The difference between the two fig'
ures indicates strikingly the difficult
tes of the problem.
Fertilizer Scarce and Dear.
Consumption of fertilizer is Slm'
tied not alone by the short supply
but by the almost prohibitively higf
prices. The supply which In peact
cost 7o.ooo,0o9 marks would nov
cost 5,250.000,o0 marks. Farmer
hesitate to apply the necessary
quantities, particularly since tn
cash return from the crops is helt
down by officially fixed prices 70
their grain and several othe
staples. The ministry promise
that all steps will be taken to STAB
ilize fertilizer prices and preven
a further increase A reduction
however, seems out of the question
while the cost of coal and auxiliar'
products and the level of wages re
mains SO Nigh and 1t is feared tha
many small farmers will again b
unable to afford the purchase o
sufficient fertilizer and the yiel
again affected seriously.
Many schemes have been sug
gssted to relieve the difficulty, tn
most radical being a Socialist pro
posal that the government furnis
the necessary fertilizer and take II
pay in a percentage of the increase
yield. This proposal, avowedly
step toward socialization of tn
land. stands little chance Of accept
ance. Even were it not fought b
the anti-Socialist parties, the gov
eminent with all its other financis
ohligations can scarcely undertak
to provide the millions to finant
the transaction from the time tn
fertiliser is applied In the sprin
until the crops are sold In the IA
and bear the risk of crop failures.
(cepyright, lseo. By Public Ledger Coz
The Massachusetts, Minimum Was
Board has handed down decisic
granting scrubwomen a minimu
wage Of $3.50 per week. This is q
the rate OF 81 cents an hour. fix,