SOILS FERTILIZERS. 517 



Nitrate production, A. B. Easterling (U. S. Dept. Com., Com. Rpts., No. 3 

 (1915), p. Jf8). — The marked decrease in export duties in Cliile during the past 

 year is attributed largely to the decreased production of nitrates. The produc- 

 tion of nitrate steadily decreased during the months of August and September, 

 until in the latter month it was only 51 per cent of the amount produced in July. 

 The export in September, 1914, was 107,238 tons as compared with 208,417 tons 

 in September, l'.)lo. 



Chilean nitrate statistics, J. D. Myees ( U. S. Dept. Com., Com. Rpts., No. 11 

 (1915), p. 196). — Statistics are briefly summarized showing a pronounced de- 

 crease in number of plants and a falling off in production and exports since the 

 beginning of the European war. It is stated that the production during the five 

 mouths July to November, 1914, was 901,405 tons as compared with 1,275,093 

 tons during the corresponding period in 1913. Fifty-four plants were in opera- 

 tion in November, 1914, as against 127 in November, 1913. 



Nitrate of soda in 1914 (Chcm. Trade Jour., 56 (1915), No. lU'h PP- 69, 

 70). — It is stated that the production of Chilean nitrate was 2.432,320 tons in 

 1914 as compared with 2,739,480 tons in 1913; the exports, 1,824,760 tons in 

 1914 as against 2.705,820 tons in 1913; stock on hand in Chile December 31, 

 1,091,700 tons in 1914 as compared with 499,750 tons on the same date in 1913; 

 cargoes in nitrate ports December 31, 1914, 38,700 tons. There was an increase 

 of 122.000 tons in nitrate deliveries during the first half of 1914 over those of 

 the same period of 1913. Of the 170 nitrate plants in Chile, only about 40 

 remained in operation at the end of 1914. "Of the year's total, 1,721,000 tons 

 were produced in the first seven and only 711,320 tons in the succeeding five 

 months, against 1,608,600 tons and 1,130,880 tons, respectively, in the corre- 

 sponding periods in 1913." 



Figui'es for consumption can not be given under present circumstances. 



Sulphate of ammonia in 1914 (Chcm. Trade Jour., 56 (1915), No. I'M, pp. 

 66, 71, 7.2). — Prices of ammonium sulphate were lower in 1914 than in any year 

 since 1905, but as a result of the European war the prices rose in October and 

 remained substantially uniform until the end of the year. The production in 

 England in 1914 was 421,000 tons as compared with 432,000 tons in 1913. The 

 German production is not known, but it was increasing slowly up to August, 

 1914. Figures are also lacking for other producing countries except the United 

 States, in which the estimated output was 183,000 tons in 1914 as compared 

 with 195,000 tons in 1913. Imports by the United States from July to December, 

 1914, were almost equal to those of the same period of 1913. 



[German potash salts] (Oil, Paint, and Drug Reporter, 67 (1915) No. 7, pp. 

 9, 10, 60). — It is suggested that the stiiet enforcement of the German eml)argo 

 on potash may be relieved by permitting shipment of potash salts after they 

 have been subjected to some sort of denaturing process, the nature of which 

 is not disclosed, which will preclude their use for any purpose except as 

 fertilizer. The imports of muriate of potash by this countiy during the 5 

 months (August to December, 1914) were 25,813 tons valued at $904,043; for 

 the corresponding period of 1913 they were 98,781 tons valued at $3,217,847. 

 The corresponding figures for sulphate of potash were 8,499 tons valued at 

 $382,202 for 1914 and 17,890 tons valuetl at $739,327 for 1913. The total im- 

 ports of potash salts during the years ended December 31, 1913 and 1914, were 

 942.442 and 702,810 tons, resi^ectively. 



Potash supplies from Germany (U. 8. Dept. Com., Com. Rpts., No. 32 

 (1915), p. 529). — It is stated that the German potash syndicate on February 1, 

 3915, "decided to form a commission to consider means for denaturizing potash 

 salts so as to preclude the possibility of using them for ammunition and 



