The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1922-12-21

AAut REALIZATION VI the lllUOl AuALt
of phosphate Of lime in nature is ac-
complished when the significant fact
that phosphorus is an element of uni
versal distribution. is understood.
It's widespread occurrence is main
tanned throughout all animal and veg
etable matters as well as in sediment
airy. igneous and metamorphic rocks.
Phosphoric acid varies in amount
from 40 per cent in the bone ash of
animals. so per cent in the ashes of
various grains and plant seeds to an
average of 40 per cent In rock phos-
phate
Essential Plant Element.
Phosphorus in the for moi phos-
pilates represents one Of the most es-
sential elements Of plant food. and as
a consequence none Of the higher or
ders OF plants are enabled to complete
their growth unless supplied with it.
When the phosphoric acid indigenous
to II seed has been utilized the plant
ceases to grow. After a few weeks, it
dies from phosphate starvation UNI
less that plant food is provided along
with the others.
Phosphate food must be made avail
able for young plants. This early need
is demonstrated by wheat taking up so
per cent of its phosphoric acid during
the first half of its growing period
This action is duplicated by other
similar plants, while legumes, such as
clover satisfy their respective phos-
p,ofo ,.,,,,f.o,,.,t- f..r-.. s....
maturity of bloom. An agricultural
crops are so sensitive TO the lack of
phosphoric acid that an insufficient
supply of this essential plant food pro-
duces a light weight or UNDER sized
product
Removal Exceeds Replacement.
In spite of the fact that nature has
endowed some soils with sufficient
phosphate for virgin crops and agri-
cultural activities for few years. and
despite the constant return TO the soil
of phosphoric acid by various plants
and animals. there is a constant re-
moval by cropping and pastlring that
is greatly ineXcess of restoration by
natural methods. Grain crops in gem
pounds per acre of phosphoric acid per
year. Other farm crops extract /
amounts ranging from rs to 2S pounds /
From this discussion it is easily [
seen that phosphoric acid is one of the /
most important elements Of plant food |
and that an imperfect supply of il /
leaves an unproductive soil. The ease |
of exhaustion and necessity for restor-
alton has been acknowledged by peo- (
pies of ancient times and by primitive
peoples of comparatively modern
times Notwithstanding this precoc-
ity of knowledge the cause of its
stimulating effects upon plants was a
mystery until modern research made
il known.
Aneents Paid High Price.
The Roman agriculturists paid high u
prices for natural phosphate compost
and the guano deposits of Arabia at
tanned agricultural Importance at the
beginning of the twelfth century The
Incas of Peru used similar fertilizers
before the sixteenth century The
above history would indicate an APP b
probation of the Importance of such i
deposits unequalled in a comparable 1
way by modern agricultural peoples. ]
1t is well to note, however. that no /
phosphate manures came q
into use until the first part OF the +
nineteenth century and the mining OF {
natural phosphate has been an indus O
try for less than 65 years With the C
of the natural product in
to calculated commodities and super L
phosphate the industry has had a t
great and steady increase in import e
lnce. n
The United States is at present the ID
worlds greatest producer and its de- n
Dosts range from phosphate maris
md limestones with only trace of
acid. to true phosphate d
beds carrying SIS per cent in tri-cal- e,
'ium phosphate. C,
Receives Impetus. nj
The industry received its first inn r,
'etus in the eastern United states $
ince it was first discovered there s.
mother factor that added growth in n
he eastern and south Atlantic states c.
vas the fact that the soils of that re- pi
ion had been the first to be exploited "a,
nd the long period of cropping with
MT plant food replenishment had left III
hem impoverished. h,
With conditions ripe for such an in III
ustry phosphate production develop OF
d to 25,OOOOOO tons yearly in 1907 So Oh
reat was the demand due to increas- in
d knowledge of the plant necessity 'pa
nd so limited were the known re- .of
erves that prominent economists. ed er
Gators and statesmen i'm discussing
he situation made familiar the phase m
nat phosphate is mans weakest hold on
n the universe" is
Phosphate Discovered in West.
The year 1907 opened no more aus ne
iciously than any other year. but er
rought with it the browning agricul- pr
Iral benefit of the twentieth century in.
the discovery of fine tremendous or