Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-05-03
need OF
NITRATES IN FARM
development n. E,

Inc importance or nitrogen IN all
farm work and the necessity Of get
ting information with regard to the
need for this important element was
greatly stressed Wednesday evening
at a conference between DR.. w. II.
Walker. special agent of the United
States Department of Commerce and
vice president of the American
Farm Bureau Federation. and sew
eral local men who are interested in
farm work and are authorities upon
the various phases of that work.
DR.. Walker spoke to the men pres
ent upon this subject, saying that
the soil of the New England states
is constantly being impoverished by
the manner in which it is farmed,
the farmers taking crop after crop
out of the soil without putting back
the nitrogen which is needed to keep
it at normal. This must be put back
in order that the farms shall not run
out entirely.
That the farms must be kept up is
shown by the fact that according
to statistics, they are becoming on
the whole 10 percent more produce
tive each year. but the demands upon
them are increasing Is percent
every year. Nitrogen is the main
need of these soils and while it can
be drawn from the air it Is not in a
form for fertilizers and must be
, combined with some salt at great
cost. The only other present source
Of this element is in Chile and this
too is very costly.
The United States department of
commerce and the United States de-
partment of agriculture are working
together on this important subject to
see what the present and future needs
CT nitrogen are in The agricultural
field and the various costs OF sup
plying them under the present con-
ditions Of supply. They are asking
the cooperation Of all the foreign Of
fees of the department OF commerce
to supply all the information obtain
able from foreign lands regarding
the supply of nitrogen, the amount
used, cost OF production, increased
Weld and the profit to the farmer in
the use of fertilizer. They are also
asking the various state extension
services to furnish all of the data OBJ
tainabIe in the various states. reia-
tiy eto the use of nitrogen in fer
tilizer. -,
The chambers of commerce are will
inigly aiding these departments in the
work. as they realize agriculture is
basic industry and the more success
full they can make agriculture in their
locality the cheaper they can furnish
raw material and food to their Factory
and laborers in the factory. 1t IS poor
economics to attempt to manufacture
efficiently and neglect home agricul-
ture and buy food from great dis
tances which could be raised IN the VI
cinity of the factory.
New England. for example. is import
ing many agricultural products from
great distances, thereby supporting
communities far removed from their
circle Of exchange when these same
commodities may be produced at home
if cheap fertilizers were furnished the
home farmer.
When all these various agencies have
sent in their report and all of this data
has been compiled it is hoped that con-
illusions will have been reached that
will enable the departments to make
out a program which can be nationally
followed This program. 1t is hoped'
will enable the farmer to use all OF the
fertilizer which the soil demands and
enable him to keep the sold up to its
virgin amount of fertility. This Will
enable each community to produce ag-
ricultural products very much more
e centlyo and use all OF the lands
available for agricultural purposes.
Among those present at this meeting
we're Charles White. chief or the bu-
reau of Markets Of the State OF Maine;
Clarence A. Day. Kennebec county ag-
T;cnItural agent; Dudley Alleman. ed
;tor of the Maine Farmer: Secretary
Hcrhert A, Folsom Of the Augusta
Chamber of Commerce which organized
and promoted the conference.