CHAPTER XII. 



COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS. 



Since i860, when fertilizers were used on a comparatively 

 small scale, the fertilizer industry has increased until to-day it is 

 of great importance. In i860 the wholesale cost of the output of 

 the fertilizer factories was $891,344, in 1890, $39,180,844, in 1900. 

 $40,445,661 and in 1905, $50,506,294 or a difference of 

 $49,614,950 between the years i860 and 1905. These figures do 

 not represent what the consumer paid for fertilizer during these 

 years as these amounts cover practically the wholesale cost. The 

 above figures are only approximate at the best and in all prob- 

 ability they should be larger for the years 1900 and 1905, but they 

 will serve to impress one with the magnitude of the fertilizer in- 

 dustry in the United States to-day.* 



Causes for the Large Consumption of Fertilizers. — The causes 

 for the large and increasing use of commercial fertilizers are 

 many. Single crop farming has caused many farms to run down 

 in fertility. Many crops have been principally raised. Legumes 

 have been grown occasionally or not at all. Green manuring has 

 not been practiced enough. Poor drainage has caused losses 

 of fertility. Some farms have lost much of their fertile soil by 

 erosion. Farm manure has not always been saved and when saved 

 it has not been preserved properly. According to Bulletin 140 

 by the Kentucky Experiment Station, it is estimated that the 

 annual production of farm manure in the United States is equal 

 in value to the corn crop at $1.05 per bushel, or nearly two and 

 one-half billions of dollars. The most conservative estimate 

 would put the waste of farm manure at one-third, an annual loss 

 of about $800,000,000.00. This is about eight times the amount 

 spent annually in this country for commercial fertilizers. There 

 is little wonder that so much of our soil is becoming unproductive. 

 The crops have also been sold away from the farm instead of be- 

 ing fed to live-stock. Cover and catch crops have not always 

 been grown. To sum up, we may say that the fertility of the 

 soil has not been maintained, and farms that formerly yielded 



