Evening star., 1931-06-13
GOOD PLANT FOOD
is HELD FARM NEED
Fertilizer Association Reminded
That Crops Depend Upon
Proper Cultivation.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS. W
va. June 13.-Need for greater efficiency
in order that farmers can be sunpIied
with even better fertilizers than in the
past IN exchange for the Agricultural
dollar was stressed b. speakers here
at the open session of the seventh
( annual convention of the National
Fertilizer Association.
The associations membership includes
the leading manufacturers of fertilizer.
and many executives from all parts of
the country ere gathered here for the
four-day meeting
Prices of farm products have recedcd
even more than prices Of commercial
plant food. speakers pointed out. OBJ
Vlously, they concluded, the factors
that affect costs of production and dis
trlbution Of nitrogen. phosphoric acid
ana potash are different from and in
dependent of the complex forces that
determine the prices of farm products
L. w. Rowell Of Chicago, president of
the association and vice president Of
Swift & Co., in his annual address
struck the note of industry efficiency.
substantial savings in manufactur-
ing and distributing fertilizer" declar-
ed Mr.. Rowell, could be made by elm
mating unnecessary grades and sell
ing higher analysis. thus giving the
farmer the lowest plant-food cost"
BY way of illustration, Mr.. Roweu
pointed out that one factory manufac-
turing single analysis can prepare and
ship twice as much fertilizer in a dav
as two similar factories making the
ordinary run of fertilizer now demanded
by the trade
In his opinion the average factory
could meet all the needs of the farmer
with from to II analyses Such SIM
plification as he suggested would re-
ouce labor costs. save power, lessen fac
tory supervision and cut down many
other items Of expense.
Because OF the decreased purchasing
power of the farmer and the large ca
pacity CT American fertilizer plants. Mr.
Rowell urged that production should be
adjusted to hte prospective demand.
Charles j. Brand of Washington. ex-
ecutive secretary and treasurer of the
association, described the MANY lines of
work that are being carried on to in
crease yields per acre, lessen costs of
production. and improve the quality of
crops by the use of commercial plant
foods in order that they may bring rela-
lively higher prices. Because of the
depressed condition of agriculture. he
predicted, fertilizer consumption in 1881
VIII probably be as much as 25 per cent
less than in 1880. Mr. Brand pointed
out. however. that there had been an
increase in fertilizer consumption from
the five-year average figure of $780,
600 tons for l910-19l4 to 100000 tons
in 1880.
THE slogan of the industry-fewer
acres with greater profit" Mr.. Brand
said, is intended to direct attention TO
the efficiency of cultivating the best
farm acres, using good seed, good cul-
tural practices modern farm machinery
and efficient plant food in order that
production per acre may be high at low
cost per unit and without increase In
total production. The fertilizer indus
try recognizes that it is poor economy to
achieve decreased production at higher
costs per unit"
Mr.. Brand painted an encouraging
picture as to the future of the plant
food industry. He said that the farmer
could reasonably expect a return of
more than two dollars for every dollar
invested. even at the present depressed
prices Of farm productA