A SURVEY OF THE FERTILIZER INDUSTRY. 



13 



from molasses-distillery waste, of which 2,846 tons were produced in 

 1917 and 3,322 tons in 1918, according to the Geological Survey 

 estimates. When this quantity is added to the above total, the pro- 

 duction appears to have been about 57,000 tons. It seems likely, 

 therefore, that the total production for the year fell not less than 

 3,000 tons, and probably over 5,000 tons, below the estimate of 

 60,000 tons current during the year. It will be seen that more than 

 four-fifths of the potash is derived from mineral sources and that 

 among these sources lake brines alone account for considerably over 

 two-thirds of the potash. The next most important source in 1918 

 was kelp, the giant seaweed of the Pacific coast, from which over 

 5,000 tons of KjO was derived during the year. Some of the other 

 important sources are alimite, beet-sugar factory waste, cement dust, 

 and tobacco waste. . 



With the signing of the armistice and the cessation of hostilities 

 the question arose whether the American potash industry which was 

 created by the war emergency wiU be able to survive under normal 

 conditions. In prewar years the United States consumed about 

 250,000 tons of potash a year, practically all of which was imported 

 from Germany. When the German supply was cut off in 1914, the 

 United States turned its attention to domestic production, which has 

 increased from year to year, reaching during 1918 the figure of 53,000 

 tons, or about one-fifth of the annual prewar consumption. Some 

 crops probably have suffered during this period from a lack of potash, 

 but the main needs of the country were supplied in spite of this tem- 

 porary decline in the consumption of potash. The price of potash 

 rose from between 75 cents and $1 a imit to between S4 and S5 a imit, 

 and even more, and with this great increase in price the domestic 

 manufacturers entered the field of production. Whether they will 

 be able permanently to compete with European potash is an open 



question. 



PRODUCTION OF MTXED FERTILIZERS. 



Table X shows the production of mixed fertilizer during 1917 and 

 1918. It also shows the quantity of acid phosphate and other ingre- 

 dients sold as such. 



Table X. — Production of mixed fertilizer and fertilizer materials sold as such repor ted hy 



fertilizer manufacturers. 



[2,000-poimd tons.] 



Kind of material. 



1917 



1918 



Kind of material. 



1917 



1918 



Mixed fertilizer produced . . 

 Materials sold as such: 



4,442,528 



2,097,232 

 393 



10,023 

 698 



11,379 

 683 



4,957,799 



2,024,574 

 542 



7,532 



3,249 



15,707 



1,336 



Tankage 



8,114 

 3,126 

 1,749 

 6,682 

 1,152 

 7,241 

 531 

 117 



37,827 



Blood 



2,304 



Acid phosphate 



Fish scrap 



1,889 



Phosphate rock 



Cottonseed meal 



7,987 

 6,266 



Bones: 



Natural guano 



Ravr bones 



Nitrate of soda 



11,334 



Steamed bones 



Raw bone meal 



Ammonium sulphate 



Cyftiftmid . 



2,334 

 4 



Steamed bone loeaL 







