Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-12-21


for the Dutchman. 1t is Self-evident
therefore, that he is wise in his day
and generation and the care and skill
he has exercised in the handling Of
barnyard refuse and the materia
from his dairy staples represent en-
ergy we'll expended His liberal ust
of high grade fertilizers has also
proven to be fundamentally correct
In America we have about $4,000,
900 acres of land capable of cultiva
ton. OF this amount approximately
500,000,000 acres have been brought
under the pillow and are cultivated
in a rather crude way or used as pas
| ture. Of the vast areas of unim
proved or uncultivated land we still
possess, two thirds is in forests
are in swamps and overflow areas
The balance represents cut-ovel
lands which can be reclaimed, but
only at considerable expense. There
are about 30,000,000 acres of lant
which will need to be irrigated be
fore it car. be used profitably fol
The fertilizer business in the
United States is, therefore, in its
infancy, especially if we expect tc
maintain and increase the average
yield of our principal farm crops
1t will be necessary for US to dc
this for several reasons, among which
the following are the most impor.
tant. First of all, present yields
are, in many instances, so low as tc
! be Improbable. Doubling the yield
means better cultivation of the land
and the balancing up of it's deficien-
cies with essential food supplies. We
| may increase our holdings of live
stock to the limit. We may use
barn manures and green manure
crops to the best possible advantage
| and we will still need to use inf
nitely more commercial fertilizers
| than we have ever though it neces-
| sary to apply in the past.
| AS we are now world power and
competing with the producers in ev-
pared to provide raw materials at a
relatively low cost to our industries
and to increase our output of food
crops to any extent which may be
found desirable. This cannot end
should not be done at the expense of
the present temper of landowners if
this could be accomplished even were
it tried. To attempt such a thing
would be undesirable and disadvan-
tageus to the nation and the world at
large. On the other hand, one of
larger profits to our landowners is
through the introduction and appli-
cation Of more intelligent methods of
practice on our farms, thereby insur-
ing increased yields at lower costs.
When this is done, the farmer will
labor and the ends to be achieved
on the part of all the interests CON
cerned Will be served to the best ad-
vantage.
At the present time, the south is
credited with using 100000 tons of
fertilizer annually. Even if we as
sumo that only 200 pounds is ap-
plled per acre, this represents the
application of commercial plant food
to only 100000 acres of land. This
is small proportion out of the $780,
oOo'oOO acres under cultivation. There
are those who say we are using 400
pounds OF fertilizer per acre. In
That event, we are only applying
commercial plant food on $4,000, 900
acres OF our present cultivated do
man ma w. In any event, it is clear that
we are are stu growing crops on 400
100000 acres of land to which we
apply no fertilizer whatever.
some attempts have been made to
determine the areas on which fertil-
~ lzers should be used with certain
Eignly specialized crops. These fig
ures were worked UP by DR.. Lipmann
of the New Jersey Station. They
represent at best only general es-
Inmates. In the south, it is presumed
that practically all of our cotton
land should be fortified. We de-
49, 'o',oOo,uOV acres d year TO this
crop: We should also use supple
mental plant foods, let us say on at
least 2O,OO0.000 out of 46,OO0,O 900
acres we devote to corn. In the
mlddle western states, it is believed
6hat 100000 acre sof wheat, To-
oeo,Vo0 acres Of oats, 100000 acres
Atlantic states, 1000, 600 acres res of fo po1
tatoes, 100000 acres of oats. o.
100000 acres of wheat, 5000, 900
acres or corn and 100000 acres of
nay snould be fortified. A summary
fthese, figures indicates $4,000. OOG
acres of land which are definiteiV
IN need of heterogeneous fertilizers. 4
good deal of this land will also no
DOUBT be benefited by applications of
ph0sphorlc acid and of potash as
w "f fert Ii only two hundred pounds
it would take 1880, 900 tons to-
supply our present needs. Even
then, we would have only begun ia
supply a part of the fertilizer which
Will ultimately be consumed each
year on the farms of the United
These facts being true, it would
appear that the fertilizer business is
destined to play a more and more
important part in our agriculture. 1t
IS not going to be an easy matter
Tor instance to secure all the fertil-
izer materials NEEDED and manufac-
ture and distribute them with expe-
dition. The chances are that, prices
will remain relatively high for some
time on account of the long distances
over. which some Of the materials
must be carried, the demand for
fact that the supply of potash in
Germany and France has still to
be transported long distances at
high ocean rates.
The American farmer is intimate.
ly concerned with the prosperity and
success of the fertilizer industry
He will become more and more de-
pendent on it for supplying his soils
with those amounts of supplemental
plant food necessary to keep them in
proper equilibrium. Unless this is
done, there will be no substantial
increase in the average out-turn per
acre of our farm crops. 1t is well
known to every one that the out
turn obtained from a given crop is
measured largely by the limiting
factor in the food supply. Occasion
ally, this may be calcium. AS a
rule, it is either nitrogen, ,phospho-
rio acid or potash The time has
come, therefore, when we need to be
taking forethought for the morrow
when we must study our soils more
carefully and definitely. When we
must determine ana ascertain Ine1r
plant food requirements so that we
can supply these deficiencies more
cheaply and effectively. By this
means we can increase production
and at the same time use more fer
tilizers with greater profit and ad-
vantage.
1t seems clear, therefore, from q
review Of the situation that fertili-
cation is essential to our agr1cui-
tural development md that the sue
cess of the fertilizer manufactures
is dependent upor the progress Of
our farmers. Hence, those concerned
in these two industries should be
associated in a cooperative relation
ship, the one working for the ad
vantage and expansion of the bus
mess Of the other. If a co--ordina.
ton Of this kind could be brought
about, it would be a Fundamental
advantage. Let US hope that oul