November 2, 1918 



flORTT CULTU RE 



4-19 



sulrhate of ammonia, cyanamid and 

 nitrate of soda. 



Sulphate of ammonia is a by-product 

 from coke ovens, containing about 

 25% ammonia, in a highly available 

 form, and has been used more exten- 

 sively in Germany and England than 

 any other ammoniate for years. It is 

 now rapidly coming into use in the 

 United States, but, as it is a most 

 valuable explosive ingredient, the 

 government has taken it entirely out 

 of the market for use in fertilizers. 



Nitrate of soda is, as you know, im- 

 ported from Chile and practically all 

 importations are consumed as war 

 material. 



Cyanamid (or air nitrogen) has 

 been taken out of the market by the 

 government, in that its production has 

 been discontinued in changing the 

 process to nitric acid. 

 Potash. 

 Potash, as a plant food, is one of 

 the important and essentials, how- 

 ever, if our available supply of phos- 

 phates and nitrogen was sufficient, we 

 would suffer less from the loss of pot- 

 ash than we would from either of the 

 other two. 



The potash in our soils is largely 

 confined to the clay sub-soil, and by 

 deep plowing and the use of the wood 

 ashes that we can find we can get 

 along with a much less quantity than 

 formerly used with equally satisfac- 

 tory results. 

 H There are certain crops, however, 

 such as potatoes, tomatoes, strawber- 

 ries, watermelons, and a few others 

 that should be fertilized with a mate- 

 rial containing from 3% to G% potash, 

 to get good yields. 



Cotton on low lands should have 

 from 2% to 3% potash to prevent rust 

 and all cotton and com on sandy lands 

 should be fertilized with a goods car- 

 rying not less than 2% potash. 



We are all familiar with the fact 

 that we have drawn our potash mate- 

 rials from Germany up to the begin- 

 ning of the war, and we also know 

 that the German potash on hand at 

 the beginning of the war has been en- 

 tirely used up; therefore, it has been 

 necessary to turn to our home produc- 

 tion, which has been very much stim- 

 ulated by the increasing demand. 



Plants have been put into operation 

 in Nebraska, Utah and California, 

 producing a very excellent grade of 

 potash from the salt lakes of these 

 states. 



In 1911) 35,739 short tons were pro- 

 duced, having a mean content of about 

 27% potash -K-2-0 and a total content 

 of 9,720 short tons of potash K-2-0. 

 This^ is almost exactly ten times the 

 production quoted for 1915. Practl- 



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cally one-half of this quantity was 

 produced from natural salts, or 

 brines, while about 15% was produced 

 from kelp, a sea-weed that is gathered 

 on the coast of California. Little of 

 the latter, however, goes into the 

 eastern markets because of the fact 

 that it is needed in California. 



While our domestic potash is equal- 

 ly good in plant food value to the Ger- 

 man potash, it is more expensive both 

 to the manufacturer and consumer. 



■RHien the potash deliveries from 

 Germany were uninterrupted, the 

 manufacturer was enabled to sell pot- 

 ash in mixed fertilizers on a basis of 

 $1.00 per unit. However, the cost of 

 production of the domestic potash is 

 so much greater that it is necessary 

 to obtain from $6.00 to $7.00 per unit 

 to avoid sustaining a loss. 



Much of the present production of 

 potash is maintained by war prices, 

 and cannot continue after these prices 

 fall. Some of the projects may be 

 permanent but, unfortunately, the 

 output is yet small. 



Summary. 



In summing up the conditions that 

 may be expected to obtain in the fer- 

 tilizer industry, it can be said with 

 almost certainty that there will be a 

 great scarcity of plant foods while the 

 war lasts. 



There will be a scarcity of phos- 

 phate, because of the fact that the 

 consumption of sulphuric acid is now 

 reaching its maximum by the govern- 

 ment. 



There will be a scarcity of nitrogen, 

 because of the fact that the mineral 

 sources, such as sulphate of ammo- 

 nia, cyanamid and nitrate of soda are 

 being kept off of the market by the 

 government for use in making explo- 

 sives. 



There will be a scarcity of animal 

 ammoniates for reasons stated in the 

 earlier part of this article. 



There will he a scarcity of cotton 

 seed meal to supply ammonia in fer- 

 tilizers, because of the rapid deterio- 

 ration of the cotton crop within the 

 last thirty days and the anticipated 

 demand for that commodity for feed- 

 ing purposes. 



The use of all other materials, such 

 as substitutes for the materials enum- 

 erated above, is limited to the very 

 small quantities of these materials 

 that are available — viz.: such as vel- 

 vet bean, soya bean and peanut meal 

 substitutes. These materials, also be- 

 ing food products for cattle and hogs, 

 will be offered only in a limited way 

 for fertilizing purposes and the 

 chances are that the price per unit 

 will be so high that they cannot be 

 used in fertilizers. 



TEN LITTLE U-BOATS 



Ten little U-boats found a floating mine- 

 One was too Inquisitive and, and then there 



were nine. 

 Nine little U-boats full of kultured "hate;" 

 One was rather too full, and so there were 



eifflit. 

 Eisiht little U-boats, off the coast of Devon, 

 Roused a lively hornets' nest, and soon be- 

 came seven. 



Seven little U-boats, up to all the tricks, 

 Came across a new one— then there were 



six. 

 Six little U-boats just about to dive. 

 Didn't do It soon enough; the sis became 



live. 

 Five little U-boats, sinking ships galore, 

 Tiiid it on a t. 1>. d., and then there were 



four. 

 F.mr little U-boats put their helms a-lee. 

 II should have been starboard, and so there 



wore three. 

 Three little U-boats stealing through the 



blue 

 Were spotted by a seaplane survivors, 



two! 



Two little U-boats nosing round for fun. 

 Met a modern Captain Kettle— HE got one. 



One little U-boat, thinking matters over. 

 Signalled : "I'll come quietly ■ They took 

 It In to Dover! E. L. R. 



