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Washington, D. C. December, 1923 - 
POTASH FROM KELP: EARLY DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH OF THE 
GIANT KELP, MACROCYSTIS PYRIFERA. 
By R. P. Branpt, Cooperator of the United States Depariment of Agriculture. 
With Introduction By J. W. TurrentTINE, Scientist in Soil Laboratory Investi- 
gations, Bureau of Soils. 
CONTENTS. 
Page. Page. 
teil ti 1G. oe A ae Se ee ee 1 | Destruction by natural agencies____ 29 
Life history of Macrocystis pyrifera_ 2 | Methods and effects of harvesting_. 35 
Growth with reference to environ- wo Te bebe seal 38 eae oe 40 
_ || aS eS eee nome See Seeds Ne oO it diterture cited 0s iss i ee 40 
Seasonal variation in condition of 
ibibo ci: eo Ee ee ee 28 
INTRODUCTION. 
In the paper here presented are results obtained by Dr. R. P. 
Brandt in two years’ study of the life history of the giant kelp, 
_ Macrocystis pyrifera. The work on which this paper is based was 
-earried on principally at the Scripps Institution for Biological 
Research under the supervision of Dr. William E. Ritter, director 
of the institution, and particularly of Prof. W. C. Crandall, business 
manager and scientist of the institution and likewise a collaborator 
of the United States Department of Agriculture. The researches 
here were undertaken as a part of the broader study of the economic 
utilization of the giant kelps of the Pacific for the manufacture of 
potash and other chemicals, for which work the Congress of the 
United States made a number of appropriations, principally for the 
erection and operation of the experimental kelp-potash plant at 
Summerland, Calif., as operated by the Bureau of Soils of the 
United States Department of Agriculture. An active collaboration 
Was maintained between the work carried on by Doctor Brandt at 
the Scripps Institution and that at Summerland, and the economic 
_ phases of his studies were accordingly given emphasis. The unfor- 
tunate and tragic death of Doctor, Brandt brought his investigations 
to an immature close. The paper here presented accordingly does 
not represent an exhaustive research on the subject studied, but never- 
theless conveys so many facts of interest and importance that its 
a 56751—23-——1 1 
