Omaha daily bee., 1920-02-01
Omaha, Jan. 31.--To the Editor Of
The Bee: The increasing number Of

The Bee: The increasing number Of
editorial comments and news articles
concerning Nebraska's potash indus
try, and especially In its relation to
farming, is most gratifying to those
interested in the upbuilding of our
city and state. Too much promi.
nence cannot be given to the great
est of all our ndustries--agrlcultu
and the heart and soul OF this in
dustry is soil fertility. So long as
that fertility is maintained and in.
telhgent efficiency among our farm
ers pe stimulated, Just so long will
omaha continue it's magnificent ad.
vance toward its = rightful place
among the leading cities Of the ma
tion. for in the soil tributary to Oma-
ma Is value vastly greater than the
wealth OF Inous or of Ind" and by
wise and proper cultivation this
source of wealth man continue for
our children and our children's chill
oren for generations yet tp~some.
IN an acre OF wheat, yielding rs
ousheis OF grain and 5000 pounds Of
straw, there is taken from the soil
out ~ pounds of potash-61s u in the
gram and % u pounds in the straw.
An acre OF corn yielding 100 bushels
taxes from the soil only II pounds
OF potash, instead of $50 pounds.
that Is, 19 in the grain and 81
pounds In stalks and leaves. Without
minimizing the value Of the potash
IN agriculture. would say that in
cost or value 1t is only a small part
OF the three precious and indispens-
aple elements in all fertile soil and
tne only elements Of value in the So
called artificial or commercial fer
tilizers-phosphorous. nitrogen and
potash. To illustrate, an acre Of
corn yielding 100 bushels takes from
the soil each year $27.15 worth of
these three elements-of potash
only S4.26, Of phosphorous and nitro.
gen $22.S9. By field producing 100
bushels OF wheat there is taken from
the soil $36.75 in these three ele-
ments--of potash only S6.96 and of
the other two s29.76. The above are
pre-war prices Of these fertilizers on
the market. They would be approxi-
mately double that now.
Tho figures show the enormous
waste and the soil depletion by
burning the straw and corn stalks
instead Of plowing them under. It
shows that by burning the straw
and corn stalks the soil impoverish-
ment in potash is from 100 per cent
to $50 per cent greater than by the
grain taken off and sold. In the
other two elements the ratio of this
soil impoverishment is not so great;
however, it is clearly within the
truth to say that had all straw,
stubble and corn stalks burned, dur
Ing. the last 25 years been plowed
under. the soil enrichment would
have been 800 per cent greater than
that secured by all manures drawn
from barn yards and scattered upon
the fields during those years.
In estimating the cost Of produce
ing farm commodities. our govern
ment has constantly ignored these
items, although the above facts have
been established for more than a
half century,. recognized by all civ
ifized nations except our own, and
disputed by no reputable soil or ag-
ricultural chemists, so far as I can
learn. AS q result, during 60 years
prior to the great war, there was no
appreciable increase in the acreage
yield Of cereals in this country,
while in all European countries
there has been a tremendous in
crease, SO that during the 10 years
prior to 1914 the average yield Of
wheat per acre in France was SO per
cent greater than ours; in Germany
107 per cent greater. and In England
124 per cent greater than ours. In
fact, the United States has the low
est yield of cereals per acre Of any
civilized country in the world, ek
cept Russia. AS our soils are COM
paratively new, while those of other
countries have been titled for 1000
years. these facts are appalling. They
should challenge the attention and
enlist the interest of every good
American citizen.
In this connection I would call the
attention of the people Of Omaha
and Nebraska to fact Of tremen-
dous Importance; a fact but little