South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-08-19
AMERICAN POTASH
SURPRISES GERMAN
Experiment Work Is Showing
Farmer New Ways to Prof
it Through Its Use.

The quality Of American potash
which never was questioned when ii
was hurting shells against the GeF-
man lines-has been definitely es-
tablished by the United States De-
partment Of Agriculture as being as
pure as. if not purcr than. any for
eign potash for use as fertilizer.
Attention given by government
experts TO the production OF potash
in the United States for the enrish-
ment of American farms is one of
several first steps towards reestab-
fishing a great wartime industry.
Federal agriculturists and the eX-
pertinent station stats in several
states are engaged in researches that
are showing the farmer new ways TO
profit and are developing a glamor of
magic as fascinating as the stunts
of a fairy book wizard
Closely connected with the Won
der working potash. the investiga-
tors have found. are the lasting quail
ity of a cotton shirt. the city dwell
er's potash supply and the first
strawberry shortcake of the season.
Employing the magic powers Of pot
ash, the intelligent farmer may per-
form such astounding feats as doub-
ling and trebling the productivity Of
his acres.
When America went to war the al
lies called for supplies OF explosives.
Potash is an ingredient of black pow
der. The industry responded in full
force and when victory came Ameri-
can potash had had its share in the
triumph.
Wartime demands for potash also
taught American farmers. who were
then deprived Of their potash sup
ply, its essential part in producing
substantial yields. Since the war the
American farmer has become
sharply aware of the fact that
farms as well as people die of star
walton.
"If it were not for potash fertili-
ger in the cotton fields the shirts we
wear would be of inferior quality"
says DIR. y. J. Harper, director Of
the Farm Bureau Service of the
South. Il have conducted investiga-
tons TO show that where potash is
used the cotton fibre is strong and
that where potash is lacking in the
soil the cotton leaves take on kind
of brown rust and the bolls at the
top Of the plant do not fill out"
Testifying at a recent cOngression-
al committee hearing. VI. j. Gerathy
a truck gardener of South Carolina.
speaking Of a dirt farmers eN-
perienCes, said:
4 am digging potatoes this year
from soil which ordinarily produces
eighty barrels an acre. Because I
could not get potash. I am getting
only eleven barrels an acre. You
have TO have potash to make a yield
of potatoes"
Responding 10 the call of their
country at war, American potash
producers developed the industry so
extensively as 20 prove a sudiciency
of deposits in many states 20 meet
all requirements for several humid
red years. Following the making OF
peace. however. there appeared the
menace Of foreign monopoly
which. if il succeeds. Will deprice
the American farmer OF the potash
produced In his home land
German laborers perhaps some OF
them men who lodged shells pro-
PEELED by American potash four
years ago are mining potash &c
wages of four TO Eve cents a day.
German potash is being landed IN
the United States at a low price
which. although attractive now is
intended as the foundation OF
that IN a few years would
control the American potash supply
and make the American farmer de-
pendent on foreign dictation