HD 34-84- :-NRLF SB 236 ( 1ASH INDUSTRY Gl Ri IAN KA1 , WORKS IV. OF CAL i XJ'-T. :.T; . Lirr, AGRiC, DEPT, THE POTASH INDUSTRY Published By GERMAN KALI WORKS, Inc. 1901 McCormick Bldg. CHICAGO, ILL. Every farmer can obtain, free of charge, a copy of the following agricultural books: Principles of Profitable Farming Potash in Agriculture Farmer's Note Book Cotton Culture Tobacco Culture Orange Culture Strawberry Culture Fertilizing Peaches Tropical Planting Fertilizing Tobacco Muck Lands Sugar Cane Culture Sugar Beet Culture The Cow Pea Plant Food Truck Farming Why the Fish Failed Potash Pays Value oj Swamp Lana I' c < \ Fall Fertilizers State which one of ihe above mentioned publications you desire, and it will be mailed co you free of charge. ADDRESS GERMAN KALI WORKS, Inc. CHICAGO, ATLANTA, GA., NEW YORK, 1901 McCorraick Bldg. 1212 Empire Bldg. 42 Broadway SAN FRANCISCO, CAL., NEW ORLEANS, LA., 260 Hansford Block Whitney Bank Bldg. * *" V - . .;, Preface THOUSANDS of American farmers use potash. Hun- dreds of thousands of them should use it, both for their own present and future profit and to prevent their posterity from receiving a heritage of "worn out" soils. But ashes once the most common source of potash are no longer to be had in quantity. Our forests are now cleared and the ash heap of the pioneer is a thing of the past, while wood as a fuel for factories and railroads has been replaced by coal and oil. Where, then, shall we turn for our needs of potash? Man seldom feels a pressing and continuous need which Nature does not meet and such has been the case with potash. Within the fifty years which measure alike a rapidly increasing demand for it and the practical dis- appearance of the old source of supply, there has been found, in one of Nature's storehouses, an inexhaustible accumulation of potash. To the discovery of the potash deposits the term fortunate can be applied, since it came in time to meet need ; but the storing of the potash, when one considers the importance of this element for the wel- fare of our fields and its necessity in maintaining the food supply for the rapidly increasing population of the world, the storing we rrmst :afi providential. The processes of Nature, by which this accumulation was made possible, are marvelous, and the methods which man has devised to utilize the store and convert it into forms best suited to the diverse requirements of his fellows are ingenious. The many inquiries which arise concerning potash in its varied forms, prove that its users are interested in its history; therefore, this little sketch has been prepared to meet the friendly wishes of those who already appreciate potash. The story is interesting and those who read it will derive pleasure and profit Historical Sketch THE town of Stassfurt, near the Harz mountains in northern Germany, has been, for many centuries, noted for its salt works. There in the early days of his- tory, common salt was obtained by evaporating the water from its salt springs, and later, from its wells, but when mines of rock salt were discovered in other parts of Ger- many, the evaporation process for making salt was aban- doned partly because the brine from the springs and wells generally contained, beside table salt, the salts of potash and magnesia. About sixty years ago, the Prussian Gov- ernment, which owned the mines at Stassfurt, began boring for rock salt, and in 1857 found it in immense quantities 1,080 feet below the surface. Immediately above this rock salt are deposits of various potash and magnesia min- erals, at first considered of little value and actually thrown away as worthless, but later destined to supply the world with potash. The agricultural value of potash became generally known about 1860, through the researches of that eminent scientist, Prof. Justus von Liebig, and in 1861 the first works for refining crude potash minerals was es- tablished at Stassfurt. Stimulated by the success attained in the use of potash as a fertilizer, the industry of mining and manufacturing its salts has grown to enormous pro- portions ; new deposits have been discovered and mines opened, until today there are about one hundred and fifteen large mining establishments in active operation. Origin of the Salt and Potash Deposits r |i HE German salt and potash beds were formed (or *" deposited) in ancient, geologic times. Long before history began, these minerals were laid in place by the evaporation of sea water confined in lakes, which, some- what like the Dead Sea and Baikal Lake, were without outlet. These lakes were connected, however, with the ocean by channels, ordinarily dry, but through which the sea water was forced at times by great storms and tides. In this way fresh supplies of salt were received into these lakes, and as the climate of Europe was trop- ical during this formative period, the surface evapora- tion of the water was exceedingly rapid. As the water levels of these lakes thus sank, fresh supplies washed in from the sea, holding in solution then, as now, many salts. Evaporation carries off only pure water, so, in course of time, as more salts were entering the lakes and none going out, the water became saturated with salts until those least soluble in water began to separate from the more soluble ones and deposit themselves in more or less uni- form strata. By such continued evaporation and ever increasing concentration, immense layers of rock salt and anhydrit (sulfate of lime) were formed. As the rock salt separated and the concentration be- came greater, other more soluble salts began to deposit and cover it, layer upon layer, up through the mineral Origin of the Salt and Potash Deposits 1 polyhalit, which is composed of sulfate of lime, potash and magnesia, kieserit, which is sulfate of magnesia, and the "potash region," the stratum of carnallit, a com- pound of chlorids of potassium and magnesium. This last named stratum ranges from 50 to 130 feet in thick- ness, and supplies the crude salts from which the most im- portant and concentrated potash salts are refined. From thus referring to strata it does not follow that these deposits are in smooth, clear-cut layers. From time to time, as additional water came in from the sea, the lake water became so diluted that precipitation was arrested to a certain extent, and, later had to commence again ; thus anhydrit is found in the rock salt strata, and seams of rock salt in the polyhalit and other upper layers. Pot- ash and magnesia salts are the most soluble and, therefore, naturally found at the tops of the deposits. Had these deposits been exposed to the action of rain water they would have been dissolved, but they were pro- tected during geologic changes by a covering of "salt clay" impervious to water. The depth of the potash and salt deposits from the top of the upper to the bottom of the lowest stratum is some 5,000 feet. The beds underlie the extensive country reaching approximately to Thur- ingia on the south, to Hanover on the west and to Meck- lenburg on the north, and in recent years deposits were discovered and mines opened in Elsass. These deposits, in the order of their placing, follow well understood physical and chemical laws ; and yet local conditions and geologic disturbances fixed the relative po- 8 Origin of the Salt and Potash Deposits sitions of strata and account for more or less apparent disturbances as shown by the diagram on page 9. At a few places surface water found access through cracks or fissures, and either carried away the potash salts or changed them into secondary products ; from which action in the upper strata occur beds of kainit, sylvinit, hard- salt and other compounds of less importance. This description, somewhat tedious to unscientific read- ers, becomes of surpassing interest when the enormous im- portance of the formation is considered. But for these peculiar geologic conditions (conditions generally termed accidental) these potash deposits could not have been formed ; and vast tracts of agricultural lands, now made fertile and productive by the use of potash from this in- exhaustible store, would be sterile and barren for want of it. There is no question as to this scientific fact, and thoughtful readers may well again peruse the story of these wonderful deposits and question whether a formation all but a creation of such importance to the human race, can be considered a mere chance, a simple accident of nature. Description of the Salts SALT is the chemical name for a compound composed of an acid joined to, or combined with, a base. For example, burnt lime is a base, which, in combination with sulphuric acid, forms a salt called sulfate of lime; simi- larly the base sodium combined with hydrochloric acid forms the salt, sodium chlorid. This last is the compound Section of a Potash Mine THE DEPTH OF THE MINING GALLERIES IS EXPRESSED IN METERS J 1 METEB EQUALS 3.281 FEET 10 Description of the Salts to which, popularly, the word "salt" is applied, for sodium chlorid is our common table salt, but chemically the term is a general name for compounds produced as described above. The potash deposits contain various salts and combinations of salts, many of which contain little or no potash. Those most important as potash pro- ducers, are Carnallit, Kainit and Hardsalt. Carnallit is a double compound of muriate of potash and magnesium chlorid with the chemical formula : KC1, MgCL, 6H 2 O, is the chief source of muriate of potash and other concentrated salts, and usually occurs mixed with rock salt, kieserit, and other minerals in layers averaging more than 85 feet in thickness. The color varies, and shades through white, bright to dark red, yellow, and light to dark gray, to a watery hue. In a strong clear light the brilliancy of carnallit crystals and their varied colorings give to its mine galleries a strikingly beautiful effect. Carnallit as mined contains about 9 per cent, of actual potash. In its crude state it is used as a fertilizer only in localities which are not very far from the mines ; because from its property of absorbing water, and its bulk as compared with the small percentage of potash which it contains, it is more expensive than the concen- trated salts, where cartage or freight has to be considered. The deposits of carnallit are generally intersected by rock salt and often by other minerals, and are so vast in extent as to be practically inexhaustible. Kainit is a mineral compound of chlorid of potassium and sulfate of magnesium (KC1, MgSO 4 , 3H 2 O). The commercial product does not denote a mineral of definite Description of the Salts H composition but a mixture varying in composition accord- ing to the mines from which it is obtained and fluctuates in composition even when coming from the same mine. For this reason the potash works guarantee only the minimum amount of pure potash 12 % an d no guarantee is given for the form in w^hich the potash is present or the amount of other concomitants. It occurs in irregular deposits, and is usually red and more or less mixed with rock salt, of which it contains about 30 per cent. In its crude state it is largely used as a fertilizer, after being crushed and ground. Most of the kainit is sold in its natural state for fertilizing purposes, although a considerable part is used in the manufacture of high grade sulfate of potash and other concentrated products. Hardsalt is similar to kainit in composition but contains less water of crystallization. It is essentially a mixture of chloride of potassium, sulfate of magnesium and chlo- rid of sodium and its composition is very varied. As an article of commerce hardsalt is guaranteed to contain 16 per cent, of potash (K 2 O) and its uses in agriculture are identical with those of kainit. Of these three crude potash salts only kainit and hard- salt are used in the United States ; on account of the freight rates the results obtained from the concentrated forms of potash as a rule pay better. Kainit is exten- sively used in the Coast Line States, not only as a fer- tilizer, but also as a manure preservative, to check at- tacks of injurious insects, and as a remedy against cot- ton disease (blight). For such purposes it is cheap and satisfactory and likely to be used in increasing quantities. Mining the Salts THE potash-bearing strata, from 1,200 to 3,500 feet below the earth's surface, are reached by ordinary mine shafts. In sinking these shafts, great care is taken to preserve unbroken the cap materials impervious to water, and thus to prevent the highly soluble potash-bearing salts from being rapidly leached or washed away by the sur- face waters. This inflow of water is made impossible by sinking iron tubes or lining the shafts with concrete. Water is the great danger in potash mining, and has destroyed valuable mines. Generally potash mines have a reserve or emergency shaft, some distance from the working shaft, protected by strong safety-pillars. An- other mining difficulty is the "pillaring" or supporting the mine-roof as its mineral supports are cut away. Formerly pillars of carnallit or other salts were left for this purpose, but they disintegrated so rapidly as to be dangerous, and the safer system was adopted of com- pletely filling up the excavations with the waste salts and rock salt. Within the mines, potash salts are broken down by blasting as in ordinary mining. In many of the works, electricity is used for motor power and in lighting. The mines are necessarily kept perfectly dry, and visitors are free from the inconvenience and discomfort usual to un- derground workings. The carnallit blastings tear off large blocks which are broken up by the miners and transported in small cars to the shafts, thence to be hoisted to the surface and delivered to the chemical works for grinding and further treatment. I I Manufacturing the Concentrated Salts AS has been intimated, at the mines are extensive and completely equipped chemical works which refine the crude salts and separate their constituents into products best suited to the various chemical industries. A most im- portant feature of the refining is the reduction in weight by rejecting useless constituents of the salts, thus securing the valuable potash in a small bulk ; an essential consid- eration for the man who pays the freight or handles the products. Yet to refine closely is an expensive process, and much study and great care are necessary to balance properly the amount of concentration against the diverse uses and the cost of shipping and handling the various materials. In estimating the quantity of potash in the different products, chemists are accustomed to make use of the term "actual potash," that is, oxide of potassium (K 2 O). The object of this is to establish a basis of com- parison of all potash salts; therefore, when "potash" is named in potash products, it is understood that the word refers to the amount of actual potash and not the quantity of sulfate or muriate of potash, as the case may be. As a matter of fact, potash is not sold commonly in the form of "actual potash" (K 2 O,) but as sulfate of potash, muriate of potash,- sulfate of potash-magnesia, etc. Sul- fate of potash is simply actual potash chemically combined with sulfuric acid; and muriate of potash, actual potash combined with muriatic (hydrochloric) acid. The result- ing salts, muriate of potash, sulfate of potash and sulfate of potash magnesia are not acid but neutral salts. Manufacturing the Concentrated Salts 25 In manufacturing muriate of potash from the crude minerals found in the potash mines, lime, soda, magnesia and other salts are removed. Crude carnallit, as it comes from the mines, contains on an average 15 per cent, muri- ate of potash ; the manufacturing process consists in sep- arating this 15 per cent, from the 85 per cent, of other crude ores, and makes use of the chemical knowledge that these other salts are either more soluble or less soluble in water and other solutions than pure muriate of potash. The coarsely ground carnallit is "charged" into a large dissolving vat containing a boiling, saturated solution of magnesium chlorid (a by-product of the process, as shown later). The mixture is agitated thoroughly by means of a "blow-up," or live steam jet, and is boiled until it shows a degree of concentration equal to 3 degrees Beaume. The contents are then drawn off into settling tanks, from which the clear solution is run into crystallizing vats and left three or four days to cool and crystallize, the deposit containing about 60 per cent, pure muriate of potash. The liquors drawn from the crystallizing vats are boiled dow r n (now almost exclusively in a vacuum apparatus, but for- merly in open pans), during which process some chloride of sodium and sulfate of magnesium fall out. This second solution settles and runs into crystallizing vats \vhere prac- tically all the potash separates, as crystals of pure arti- ficial mineral carnallit (KC1, MgCL, 6H 2 O), which is treated precisely as was the crude carnallit and gives a nearly pure muriate of potash in one crystallization. The crystallized muriate of potash thus produced is contaminated by chlorids of sodium and magnesium, 26 Manufacturing the Concentrated Salts through adhering solutions, and these impurities are re- moved by a series of washings with water. The liquor from these washings of the crystals is saved and used on fresh batches of the mineral ore. The crystals of muriate of potash are dried, after washing, and are from 70 to 99 per cent, pure (KC1). The last "mother liquors," or solutions from the crystallizing vats, (from which all the potash has been separated) are used for the manufacture of bromine and chlorid of magnesium. The muriate of potash (chlorid of potassium) manu- factured is of various grades and contains actual potash in the following proportions : Pure Muriate of Potash Actual Potash 80 per cent contains 50.5 per cent. 95 per cent contains 60.0 per cent. 98 per cent contains 61.9 per cent. For fertilizing purposes, all muriate of potash is sold on the basis of 80 per cent, pure muriate of potash, cor- responding to 50.5 per cent, actual potash. Muriate of potash serves as a basis for the manufacture of many other potash salts, such as nitrates, chlorates, etc. There are many by-products in the manufacture of muriate of potash, notably magnesium chlorid and sul- fate of soda, which latter, owing to its purity and free- dom from acid salts, is largely used in the manufacture of the cheaper grades of glass. From the residuum of the first solution of carnallit, treated with cold water, kieserit (sulfate of magnesia) settles out in fine crystal- line particles, and is moulded into blocks. Large quan- Manufacturing the Concentrated Salts 2? titles of bromine and iron bromide are obtained at the end of the process. Some of the potash factories also pre- pare calcined magnesia, hydrate of magnesia, calcium chlorid, carbonate of potash, carbonate of potash-mag- nesia, etc. In order to obtain the complete extraction of potash, the processes of manufacture are complex, and solutions and salts require repeated handling. It naturally follows that the separation of commercially pure salts, from solu- tions of other salts, is an expensive process, and that it is only by the most painstaking care and full utilization of every possible by-product, that potash salts can be produced and sold at the present low prices. Sulfate of potash is manufactured in less quantities than muriate, owing to smaller demand for it in the market and there are several processes of manufacture. The com- mercial salt sulfate of potash-magnesia, containing 48 per cent, of sulfate of potash, was formerly manufactured from kainit, but at present most of the works use muriate of potash and kieserit. A mixture of these minerals in a concentrated solution precipitates the sulfate of potash- magnesia. In the manufacture of sulfate of potash a solu- tion of sulfate of potash-magnesia and a given quantity of muriate of potash are boiled together, whereupon the less soluble sulfate of potash separates and falls as a precipitate. The commercial sulfate of potash varies from 90 to 96 per cent, pure, equivalent to 47 to 52.7 per cent, actual potash. The tables on pages 30 and 31 give the average analyses of the more important potash salts. The figures show the 28 Manufacturing the Concentrated Salts pounds of various substances in 100 pounds of the different salts, but only the percentage of potash is guaranteed. The numerous by-products obtained in refining the crude potash salts are utilized in many ways and for various purposes. Some of them contain 20 to 30 per cent, actual potash, but in most cases in such combination as not to pay for necessarily expensive extraction. Be- cause of this comparatively large content of potash, how- ever, they are dried, calcined, pulverized, and mixed with crude salts, or other poorer forms of potash, to increase the potash content of these salts and give them added value for agricultural purposes. Besides the agricultural, soil-restoring, plant-feeding use of potash salts, large quantities are consumed by the chemical industry in Germany, the United States and other countries, in the manufacture of carbonate of potash, caustic potash, nitrate of potash, chlorate of potash, chro- mate and bichromate of potash, alum, cyanide of potash, bromide of potash, permanganate of potash, yellow prus- siate, and other compounds. The many sided technical and industrial activity of the age, in almost every trade, must have potash in one form or another. Doctors, pho- tographers, painters, dyers, cleaners, bleachers, weavers, soapmakers and electricians use it, while the modern rapid, cheap production of artificial cold, of preservatives, fire- works, gunpowder, matches, paper, glass and aniline dyes, and the extraction of gold from its ores are impossible without it. While applications are thus without number, it is of greatest importance in agriculture in supplying plant food. 30 Composition of Potash Salts Composition of Potash Salts CRUDE SALTS (NATURAL PRODUCTS). Kainit Carnallit Hardsalt Actual Potash (K 2 O) ... 12 8% o s; 16.4% Minimum Guarantee (K 2 O) . . 12.0% 9.0% 16.0% CONCENTRATED SALTS (MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS) Sulfates (Nearly free from Chlorids) Salts containing Chlorids Sulfate of Potash 90% | 96% Sulfate of Potash- Magnesia Muriate of P Min. ! Min. 98% 95% otash 80 85% Potash Ma- nure Salts Min. 20% Actual Potash (K 2 0) ... Minimum Guarantee (K 2 0) ... 50.0% 47.0% 52.7% 27.7% 25.0% 61.9% ! 60.0% - 52.7% 48.0% 21.0% 20.0% : SULFATES (NEARLY FREE FROM CHLORIDS). Sulfate of Potash Sulfate of Potash-Mag- 90% 96% nesia (Double Manure Salt) Actual Potash (K 2 O) 50 0% 5 7% 27 7% Sulfate of Potash (KoSO 4 ) 90 6% 97 2% 49 0% Muriate of Potash (KC1) . ... 1 6% 03% 09% Sulfate of Magnesia (MgSO 4 ) Chlorid of Magnesia (MgCl 2 ) . 2.7% 1 07 0.7% 4% 28.4% 5% Chlorid of Sodium (NaCl) 1 2% ^% 2 2% Sulfate of Lime (CaSO 4 ) Insoluble Substances ... 0.4% 3% 0.'3% 2% 70-14 5% Water 2.2% 0.7% 4.5-12.0% Minimum Guarantee Actual Potash (K 2 O) 47.0% 25.0% Composition of Potash Salts SALTS CONTAINING CHLORIDS 31 Muriate of Potash Potash Manure Salts Min. 98% Min. 95 % 80/85% Min. 20% Actual Potash 61.9% 98.0% 60.0% 95.0% ' 6.'2% 0.2% 3.8% '6'2% 0.6% 52.7 % 83.5% '6.4'% 0.3% 14.5% "6.2% 1.1% 21.0% 31.6% 2.0% 10.6% 5.3% 40.2% 2.1% 4.0% 4.2% Muriate of Potash Sulfate of Potash Sulfate of Magnesia 0.2% 0.2% 1-0% '6.2% 0.4% Chlorid of Magnesia Chlorid of Sodium Sulfate of Lime Insoluble Substances Water Minimum Guarantee Actual Potash (K 2 O) 48.0% 20.0% NOTE. If potash salts are exposed to moist conditions they absorb water, and this occurs sometimes during transportation. In such case the salts are diluted, they show a somewhat lower percentage of potash which may even fall below guarantee. There is no real loss, however, because the weight of the bags increases by the absorption of moisture and the amount of potash in them remains unchanged. On this account in making State Registra- tions to comply with fertilizer laws the 80% muriate of potash is only guaranteed to contain 48% actual potash and 90% sulfate of potash is only guaranteed to contain 47% actual potash. In sulfate of potash magnesia a minimum of 48% sulfate of potash and 25% sulfate of magnesia is guaranteed, also a maximum content of 2.5% chlorin. The amounts of other ingredients shown are those usually present, but these amounts are variable and are not guaranteed in any of the salts. The color of the crude salts or of the manufactured products has no relation to the purity or quality of these products. The color may vary widely within the limits of the same mine. F Commercial Statement OR sixty years the world's demand for potash has grown rapidly until today it is over eleven million tons per year, and the German Potash industry alone en- ables this demand to be satisfied. Previous to the discovery of the German deposits, pot- ash, as used in the arts, was derived chiefly, as its name implies, from the leaching of wood ashes. The supply to be had from wood ashes is limited and there are a few minor sources of supply such as potash from kelp, from woolwashings, from beet sugar residues, and others, all of which, however, sink into insignificance when compared with the quantities produced by the German mines. In 1880 the various mines producing potash were com- bined under a central office. The organization now in- cludes about 115 mines: This combination has about 510 executive officers, in- cluding 230 representatives in foreign countries, while the mines themselves employ in round numbers, 2,200 of- ficers and 35,000 laborers, and use 1,600 boilers and 2,200 steam engines with 220,000 horse power. Each of the works has its own railroad track, connecting with the main line, and, in seme cases, this reaches a length of about 7 1 /2 miles, and most of the works have their own locomotives and railroad cars. The average daily output is 3,670 carloads of ten tons, but in the best seasons, of the year, which are the spring and fall, it reaches as high as 5,000 carloads of ten tons each. The following table gives the production of crude salts, from the commencement of mining to the close of 1911: Commercial Statement Production of Crude Salts (Metric Tons of 2,204 Ibs.) Year Carnallit Rock Kieserit Kainit and Hardsalt Sylvinit Total 1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 .1868 1869 1870 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 2,293 19,727 58,303 115,408 87,671 135,554 141,604 167,337 211,884 268,226 335,945 468,537 441,079 414,961 498,737 563,669 771,819 735,750 610,427 528,212 744,726 1,059,300 950,203 739,959 644,710 698,229 840,207 849,602 798,721 838,526 818,862 736,751 794,660 851.338 782,944 856,223 851,272 990,998 1,317,947 1,697,803 1.860,189 1,705,665 1,844,036 1,911,166 2.239,710 2.263,197 2,534,789 2.768,794 3,280,726 3,581 4,441 20 68 89 75 413 1,143 1,418 226 71 47 22 7 16 5 145 151 520 761 893 2,082 4,658 11,790 12.389 11,970 13,918 14,186 10,754 9.354 6,951 5,816 5,782 4,807 3,865 3,012 2,841 2,619 2,444 2,066 2,047 2,335 1,821 1,553 1,055 2,731 9,190 10,359 18,473 7,388 5,885 L,664 2,293 19,747 58,371 115,497 89,060 141,775 151,723 179,527 228,967 288,598 372,574 486,626 447,187 424,730 522,866 581,752 807,448 770,274 661,394 668,596 905,138 1,212,435 1,190,811 969,455 929,049 959,474 1,092,022 1,238,150 1,199,015 1,279,265 1,369,833 1,360,977 1,538,601 1,647,999 1,531,585 1,782,479 1,950,182 2,208,328 2,483,861 3,037,035 3,484,694 3.250,835 3,624,596 4,053,499 4,878,599 5,311,351 5.638,264 6,014,261 6,901.153 8,160,778 9,706,507 1,314 5,808 8,976 10,772 16,857 20,301 36,582 18,067 6,101 9,753 24,124 17,938 35,477 34,004 50,206 139.491 158,330 148,477 228,817 217,107 272,369 247,327 237,629 375,574 362.611 401,871 512,494 585,775 689,994 729,301 669,532 833,025 1,012.186 1,120.616 1,063,195 1,189,394 1,432,136 1,354,528 1,582,867 1,906.823 2,405,536 2,754,021 2,788,973 2,921,712 3,268,290 4,57 5,26 2,220 28,329 31,917 32,661 32,669 49,140 ~- 63,495 76,097 90,390 84,105 94,270 100,653 147,791 190,034 188,821 196,140 234,455 230,622 284,943 304.143 305,282 344,749 7,893 4,843 Potash Consumption in CALCULATED IN POUNDS PURE POTA f NEBRASK, .he United States in 1910 >ER 100 ACRES OF CULTIVATED LAND 38 Commercial Statement These salts were either sold directly from the mines, for agricultural purposes, or manufactured into more con- centrated potash products for use in agriculture, or in the arts and other manufactures. The table on page 40 shows the use made of the various salts, from 1880 to the close of 1911. The greater part of the crude salts, manufac- tured into concentrated products was converted into muri- ate of potash. The table on opposite page gives, in metric tons of 2,204 pounds each, full detailed data as to the various concentrated salts produced from 1878 to the close of 1911. The chart on page 42, illustrates the consumption in the United States of pure potash contained in the various potash salts for the years 1895 to the end of 1911 and shows the progress of potash consumption made during that time. The table on pages 44 and 45, shows the total quantities of the various potash salts and of pure potash contained in them that were imported into the United States during various years. It is of interest to emphasize the fact that the quantities imported for agricultural purposes in 1911 were 1,002,326 tons and for the industries 22,828 tons and for both agriculture and industries 1,025,154 tons. The transportation of this enormous weight would require 256 steamers of 4,000 tons each, and is represented in the illustration on page 51. The greater part of the total potash production as has been before stated, is used for agricultural purposes, that is, as food for plants, as the following table, giving Commercial Statement 39 o O O C X 1C TP 1C C 1C CO O 1~ t~ OS H^ CO b- CO X OS T-* Cl!tiTtib-TpCO(M^COOOSCOOb-lO'HOCSHHTt< ^3 ? OOOOOCCOCOCOT-HX71-pr-.-f 7l7nC-fX7lOl-7lXOO- co'oo'in co'io co' . * THTH iH rH TH rt T-I ^ r4 ,H TH (^ CO C4 CO CO CO * W 1O 1C t- O: r^ TH7,l71COTHOOOOOOcOOb-OSOOCOb-CCOO(MTH T -iOS'b- | XTHOOO'*^COb- H OT^OeO iHCOWeO CO ^ (71 CO TP TP 10 1C b- X O TH OS O CO 1C b^ OS 00 171 CO rp ^ QOQCQOXXOOXXQOOOXXQOOpodxOOOOOOXXOOOSOiCS'CSCSOSOSOSOSOSOSOS 40 Commercial Statement u e ~~x r i 1- 1- -^ ~ -t -fr-t ci-i--r-tic:tr:^ri^-Tii--ri-c-cci-r^'t3:cc rtlHfHdCO^Tji Tti L7 Ol~ t~b-00 X C: 71 :( -T Tt- C: t- X rH ' i^ c: -f x o t- ti ^ i- 1- x re i- re -f ^ r i x c -ti- ~. ^ ^- 1- x i- rt cr -t c c i" ~ ~f x t ~. it i- 1- 1- r: x c -r ^ ~ -> *- >-. - 1 x x n -r x -r i- x o --- ~ -| -t -^ '. i- i- T- )- ^ C -f 71 -t it X i- i- C: ~\ ~ -C ~ -t ^- -t t-'t o t- o c: t- o t- oo oo x> oo x t- 1- oo i- oo GO o. r: ^ x ^* c: "' -f et i- c: re x n re x" x i-" '~ >' 1 1 -f c: ~ i.t r i c" r. ^- o i" c r. x r. a TI:: i- -rrcrc x ririt x - '' ~ "' ~ ~ M--T x ir ^t-c x *-*- c -c -- cccrci- r^ r. ? -t ^ t- JC X 1~ r-^ X CT. iC CO COCO flD^'-CQ c; r* L~'cf >~' * ~f ^" iOO>t-x t-t-O C2COCC COt- 1- X X X X X X X X X X ~ ~ C. ~ r. ~. -- ;SOOOOOOOOOO'-I'-I x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x ^ r x x c: c: c. c: c: c. c: c: cr. r. r. r. TOTAL OUTPUT OF CRUDE POTASH SALTS In Metric Tons 1861 - 1911 1 10,000.000 tons 9,000.000 8.000.000 - []Kainit and Sylvinit- - (Carnallit and Kieserit dl u I -7.000.000 6.000.000 5.000.000 4.000000 3.000.000 - 2000000 - 1.000.000 61234567897012345678 CONSUMPTION OF POTASH SALTS IN UNITED STATES FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES 1895 TO 1911 In Metric Tons KaO 250,000 tons Potash Manure Salt Sulfate of Potash Muriate of Potash Kainit and Sylvinit ^U 200,000 150,000 100.000 1-450,000 189596 97 98 99 1900 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 1910 II A COMPARISON OF AMOUNTS OF ACTUAL POTASH USED IN AGRICULTURE AND THE INDUSTRIES In Metric Tons K 2 Q , - ; 437,500tons Germany!: Apiculture 7 I Industry .Other Countries! Agriculture I Industry 375,000 " 312,500 250,000 187,500 " 125,000 62,500 189091 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 1900 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 1910 II 44 Commercial Statement Consumption of Potash Salts of All Kinds Agriculture and (In Metric Tons.) AGRICULTURE. Kainit Sylvinit Muriate Sulfate Tear Salt K 2 Salt K 2 Salt K 2 Salt K 2 1895 76,430 9,477 16,066 2,988 33,523 16.929 5.181 2,518 1900 172,948 21.446 3,445 630 50,789 25,679 11,426 5,561 1901 225,139 27,917 2,506 458 51,973 26,277 12,756 6.208 1902 220,642 27.360 2,135 391 54,432 27,521 12,780 6,220 1903 242,183 30.031 1.420 250 57,045 29,297 17.801 8,664 1904 302,760 37.542 3,087 576 69,540 35,159 14.539 7.076 1905 385,794 47,838 2,998 554 75.614 381230 16.870 8,210 1906 421,633 52.283 18,689 2 990 98,471 49,787 21.598 10.512 1907 367,714 4.".. .V.i 7 12.627 2,022 95,544 48.309 .->.-> oo- 10,818 1908 347,392 43,077 13,813 2,213 92,540 46,790 2li242 10,340 1909 404.611 150,172 45,621 7,332 119.006 60.172 30,134 14.f.i;s 1910 592,274 73.442 138,203 22,112 202,857 102,569 36,961 17,990 1911 502,492 62,310 85,083 13,613 204,390 103,344 47,937 23,333 INDUSTRIES. Year Kain Salt t K 2 Sylvi Salt nit K 2 O Mui Salt iate K 2 Sul Salt fate K 2 1895 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 8,432 13 751 4.258 6.944 7.333 7.449 6,738 9.327 7,317 8,929 8,238 5.565 8.429 8,529 11,306 991 947 1.000 1.050 965 1.397 1.426 805 710 772 485 769 467 482 460 487 510 470 680 694 392 346 376 236 374 227 14,520 14.751 13,328 18,448 14.472 17.661 16.293 11.006 16.671 16.869 22,361 . j Commercial Statement 45 and of Pure Potash in the United States in in the Industries Snlfate of Potash Manure Salt, 30% 28% before Manure Salt on 01 Total Magnesia 1899 Z(J7o Salt K 2 Salt K 2 Salt K 2 Salt K 2 7,371 1,909 305 85 138,876 33,907 7 125 1,850 4,115 1,234 43,756 8,751 293,605 65,152 ' 7,366 1,912 3,962 1,189 53,016 10,603 356,718 74,566 9,399 2,440 3,962 1,189 38,096 7,619 341,446 72,739 D,207 2.390 4,064 1,219 55,591 11,118 388,211 82,970 12,821 3,328 4,064 1,219 58,176 11,635 464.987 96,536 11,562 3.002 10,160 3,048 41,046 8,209 544,044 109.093 13,196 3,426 10,160 3,048 50,664 10,133 634,410 132,178 9,854 2,558 10.160 3,048 50,092 10,018 568,217 122,370 13,511 3,507 10.160 3,048 42,571 8,514 541,229 117,489 12.681 3,292 8,839 2,652 50,953 10,190 671,845 148,479 12,867 3,340 12,963 3,897 106,493 21,319 1,103,197 244,911 40% 579 240 15,991 4,151 12,565 3,927 133,867 26,773 1,002,326 237,453 Sulfat PotJ MagE Salt J Of ish esia KoO Manure 30% 287 18S Salt Salt, 9 before 9 K 2 Manui 2( Salt e Salt )% K 2 O To1 Salt tal KoO I 9,423 14,698 15,520 15,801 14,293 19,846 15,899 4,739 7,405 7,819 7,960 7,208 10,008 8,011 9,321 8,584 5,941 8,665 8.904 11.534 18,466 17,003 11,778 17,156 17,638 22,828 46 Commercial Statement the total amount of actual potash consumed in agricul- ture and in the arts during the years 1890, 1900 an 1911 will show: 1890 1900 1911 TONS, TONS, TONS. Potash used for agricultural purposes, 71,455 232,820 848,401 Potash used for industrial purposes, 50,846 70,790 91,526 The diagram on page 43, is designed to show graphically the relative consumption of actual potash (K 2 O) in agri- culture and in the industries during the years 1890 to 1911. The consumption of potash in different countries is best shown by the table on page 48, giving amounts of "actual potash" used in each case, on the basis of a ton of 2,204 pounds. The colored chart on page 52, illustrates the consump- tion of potash in different countries during the years 1900 and 1911. The table on page 49, points out the consump- tion of actual potash in pounds per 100 acres of cultivated land. This is shown graphically in the diagram on page 50. Incidentally but strikingly it indicates the actual progress in agricultural development of the different countries. The relatively small consumption by the United States according to this table is scarcely a just comparison. Much of the cultivated land in this country has, in the past, been "new" or "virgin" soil, to which no regular applications of plant food have been supplied. The consumption of fertilizers in the United States during the year 1910 was (in round figures) 6,100,000 tons (2,000 Ibs. each), the amount of potash consumed dur- ing that year was approximately 250,000 tons. The table Commercial Statement 47 following shows the amounts of potash consumed in each state, also the amount of fertilizer used, the aver- age per cent of potash in the fertilizers, number of acres of land in cultivation and pounds of potash consumed per 100 acres of cultivated land in each state. The map on page 36-37, shows graphically the amount of potash used in each state per 100 acres of cultivated land. Potash and Fertilizer Statistics in the United States for 1910 (Tons in this table are short tons of 2,000 Ibs.) State Potash Con- sumption Tons Average Potash Content in Fertilizers Per Cent. Fertilizer Con- sumption Tons Cultivated Lands Acres Potash Consumed on Cultivated Lands, Pounds per 100 Acres Georgia 44,650 42,706 28,909 22,475 17,891 16,500 15,086 12,990 9,234 9,086 9,082 8,334 7,768 4,408 4,007 2,983 2,925 2,533 2,222 2',088 2,073 1,854 1,506 1,490 1,399 1,322 1,204 1,162 1,050 566 125 93 93 57 34 25 25 25 8 3.51 3.63 4.09 3.32 5.65 4.02 7.79 3.86 6.86 3.60 4.64 6.40 4.56 6.14 2.69 2.92 6.52 4.91 3.38 5.03 4.62 3.12 4.13 3.32 3.95 3.93 4.05 5.18 5.20 5.61 5.58 6.90 6.90 4.17 3.00 4.50 4.50 4.50 4.50 1,134,000 1,048,806 630,095 603,483 282,280 365,897 172,641 300,000 120,000 225,000 174,508 116,085 151,865 64,000 132,776 91,085 40,000 46,000 58,612 37,000 40,000 52,985 32,500 40.000 31,585 30,000 26,500 20,000 18.000 9,000 2,000 1,210 1,210 1,210 1,000 500 500 500 150 10,424,400 5,780,750 6.160,000 7,745), <)<><> 10,377,500 6,902,700 1,262,100 8,862,000 1,260,000 2,347,100 13,447,000 1,650,600 11,832,100 813,400 6,271,300 4,751,200 688,800 7,966,000 7,612,500 498,400 8,973,300 23,052,000 3,837,400 5,643,400 17,169,600 19,603,500 10,033,800 1,143.100 648,900 124,600 8,317,400 2,977,100 4,447,800 20,900,600 12,247,200 20,626,900 13', 726, 300 17,049,200 3,003,700 763.7 1,317.2 836.7 517.1 307.4 426.2 2,131.2 261.3 1,306.7 690.2 120.4 900.2 117.1 966.2 113.9 111.9 757.3 56.7 52.0 746.8 41.2 14.3 70.0 47.1 14.5 12.0 21.4 181.3 288.5 810.4 2.68 5.56 3.72 .48 .48 .22 .32 .26 .44 S. Carolina . . . N. Carolina . . Alabama New York .... Virginia Florida Pennsylvania . New Jersey . . . Maryland .... Ohio Maine Indiana. Massachusetts Mississippi . . . Louisiana .... Connecticut . . California .... Tennessee .... Delaware .... Michigan Texas W. Virginia . . Arkansas Missouri Illinois . Kentucky Vermont New Hampshire Rhode Island . Wisconsin .... Oregon Washington . . . Kansas . Oklahoma .... Iowa Minnesota Nebraska Colorado 48 Commercial Statement Consumption of Potash in Agriculture in the Most Important Countries Total consumption in metric tons of pure potash (K 2 O). Country 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 Germany 117,211 137,314 137.277 153,631 187,919 202 109 United States 60, 152 75 053 72 739 82 970 96 536 109 091 Belgium 3,607 6.304 3,266 4,618 5,770 9 34 J Holland . 7,106 9,370 8,605 10,250 11 452 17 3 9 9 France 8 229 6 285 4 938 9 304 9 9 85 11 204 England 4,020 4,212 4,683 5,813 6 390 8 745 Scotland 3 370 3 752 4 653 4 370 4 846 5 630 Ireland 600 705 570 1,035 1,228 1 626 Austria 2,281 3,291 3 177 3 650 4 885 5 778 Hungary 108 245 318 356 549 470 Switzerland 1,026 1.691 728 1.420 1,447 1 327 Italy 1 379 " 1 306 1 447 1 5" 1 9 9 5 2 308 Russia 1,597 2,079 2,486 1,916 2,176 2,539 Spain 2,428 2,498 1 55 2,841 3 078 3 185 Portugal 42 54 66 111 208 259 Sweden 8,197 9,303 11 Oil 9,096 11,222 14,391 Norway 286 320 432 526 691 975 Denmark 1,692 2,499 2,415 2,391 1,889 3,880 Finland 382 512 880 353 250 429 Asia 497 233 444 694 1,015 1,092 Africa 553 677 395 431 462 496 Central & So. America Australia 515 520 420 344 658 179 514 608 354 533 487 1.047 Country 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 28 485 240 779 272 989 305 960 359 336 422 341 United States 132.249 122,370 117,489 148,479 244.911 237,453 Belgium Hollind 8,376 19 45 9 7,240 18 893 9,206 22 21 9 9,485 22 938 8,987 29 398 9,101 34 375 15,465 12,380 15.345 17.645 22,850 26 468 8 7 9 1 9 718 8 57 9 9 547 9 935 11 533 Scotland 5,79 5,905 5,477 5,335 5,897 6,564 2 111 1 989 1 967 2.269 2 801 3 1 9 Austria 6 841 7 759 9 518 13 3 9 7 11 814 15 065 667 568 760 1,202 1.343 2,744 Switzerland 1 541 1 744 2 800 3 075 9 777 2 678 Italy 2,819 3,449 3,251 4,129 5,601 6,061 Russia Spain 2.525 4 133 3,594 4 534 5,567 4 403 8,838 5 188 14,548 7 348 17,079 9 845 Portugal 348 578 329 543 791 1,131 Sweden . 16 434 17 880 14,85 15 672 16 6 9 7 17 4.")-' Norway Denmark 1.270 4 469 1,586 3 658 1,632 3,807 1,695 3.474 1,761 4,367 2,283 5,632 Finland 667 1 015 69 800 98 9 1 3 9 6 \;ia j. 310 1 905 1 69 o 157 3 210 4 670 Africa 741 579 703 962 1,643 2.293 Central & So. America . Australia . 196 1.137 1,143 1.211 1.580 1.333 1,826 1.454 3,015 1,826 ! 3,905 1.848 Commercial Statement 49 Consumption of Pure Potash (K 2 O) for Agricult- ural Purposes in Different Countries (Calculated in Ibs. per 100 acres arable land.) Country Arable Land in- cluding Past- ures in Acres 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 Germany United States Belgium .... Holland 86,625,399 414,491,441 4,659.506 5,012,379 298.3 34.6 170.6 312.5 349.4 39.7 298 2 412.0 349.3 38.6 154.5 378.4 391.0 44.2 218.5 450.7 478.2 51.4 273.0 503.6 514.2 58.0 441.9 762.0 France 81,099,031 22.4 17.0 13.4 25.3 25.2 30 4 England 16 916 409 52 4 54 9 61 75 7 83 2 113 9 Scotland . . . . 3,641,413 204.0 997 j 281.7 264.5 293.4 340 8 Ireland 5 322 749 24 8 29 2 23 6 42 8 50 8 67 3 Austria . . . . 35,362,182 14.1 20.5 19.9 22.7 30.4 36 "Hungary Switzerland . . Italy Russia 42,863,206 5,524,391 39,895,910 318 6 9 1 904 0.6 40.9 7.6 1 1 1.2 67.5 7.2 1 4 1.6 29.1 8.0 1 7 1.9 56.9 8.4 1 3 2.8 57.7 10.6 1 5 2.4 53.0 12.8 1 8 Spain 54,405,467 9.8 10.1 6.3 11.5 125 12 9 Portugal 11 3^9 499 8 1 i 1 3 2 1 4 5 1 Sweden Norway . . . . 8,622,409 1 412 975 209.5 44 7 237.8 49 9 281.5 67 3 232.5 82 1 286.9 107 8 367.9 152 2 Denmark Finland .... 6,305,259 2,755,277 59.1 30.6 87.4 40.9 84.4 69.8 83.6 28.2 66.0 20.0 135.7 34.3 Country Arable Land in- cluding Past- ures in Acres 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 Germany .... 86.625,399 581.4 612.7 684.6 778.5 914.4 1,074.7 United States 414,491,441 70.3 64.8 62.0 78.9 130.2 126.3 Belgium 4,659,506 396.2 342.4 435.5 448.7 425.1 430.5 Holland 5,012.379 855.4 830.8 976.7 1,008.8 1,292.8 1,511.7 France 81,099,031 42.1 33.6 41.7 48.0 62.1 71.9 England 16,916,409 113.6 126.7 111.7 124.4 129.4 150.3 Scotland 3,641,413 350.6 357.4 331.6 322.9 357.0 397.4 Ireland 5,322,749 87.4 82.3 81.4 93.9 116.0 129.2 Austria 35,362,182 42.6 48.3 59.3 83.0 73.7 93.9 Hungary .... 42,863.206 3.4 2.9 3.9 6.2 6.9 14.1 Switzerland . 5,524,391 61.5 69.6 111.8 122.6 110.8 106.9 Italy 39,895,910 15.6 19.1 17.9 22.8 31.0 33.5 Russia 318,621,904 1.8 2.5 3.8 6.2 10.1 11.8 Spain .... 54 405 467 16.8 18.4 17.8 21.1 29 8 399 Portugal .... H',329,499 6.8 11.2 6.4 . 10.5 15.4 22.0 Sweden 8 6 9 2 409 420.1 457 1 379 6 400 6 425.1 446 1 Norway 1,412,975 198.6 247.4 254.6 264.4 274.7 356.1 Denmark . . . . 6,305,259 156.3 127.8 133.1 121.4 152.7 196.9 Finland 2.755.277 53.3 81.2 55.4 64.0 78.5 106.2 RELATIVE CONSUMPTION OF ACTUAL POTASH m FERTILIZERS IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES Calculated in IBs. per 100 acres arable land 1600 Ibs. ---1200 y-400 ->-200 Consumption of Potash for Agricultural Purposes in Different Countries In Metric Tons Pure Potash (KaO) AustriaS Hungary 2389 tons Sutoeriand 1026 - Italy 1379 'Ussia and Finland 1980 - ' Spain and fcrtugal 2470 - Germany Il72lltons 50. 3% Germany 422341 tons The Importance of Potash in Agriculture WHAT has heretofore been broadly stated with re- gard to the importance of potash in agriculture merits more detailed discussion and study. In almost every type of farming a considerable loss of potash takes place yearly, and unless the equivalent of this loss is restored in manures and fertilizers the reserve supply of natural pot- ash in the soil will soon become seriously diminished, thus causing a shortage in the yield as well as defects in the quality of the crop. When crop after crop is removed from the same soil and sold away from the farm, either in the form of grain or livestock, the natural supply of plant food is gradually, but nevertheless surely, exhausted. In consequence of these losses in fertility the yields di- minish year by year until a point is reached where lands once rich and profitable are being cultivated at a mini- mum profit and often at an actual loss. This gradual but surely diminishing productiveness of the soil is not confined to one country or one crop alone, but prevails universally wherever manures or fertilizers are not employed to re- place the food elements removed by the growing crops. The practice of thus depleting the soil of its fertility, commonly termed "wearing out the soil" is now known to be due to the exhaustion of its supply of "plant food," which term is the one usually applied in speaking of the chemical substances essential to plant growth. The three most important of the essential plant food ingredients are nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash. All three of these ingredients are largely demanded by 54 The Importance of Potash in Agriculture growing crops and as the natural supply is limited, are usually found deficient in soils which have been culti- vated for a number of years. The importance of these elements in the functions of plant life makes it impera- tive that everyone dependent upon the soil for a living should become familiar with their various functions, the sources of supply and relative values of each. Complete commercial fertilizers derive their comparative values from the adjustment of the percentages of these three elements to the needs of the several soils and the various crops grown. In this connection the word "essential" is de- liberately used and is accurately applied in speaking of all three elements most deficient in average soils. The necessity of potash as an ingredient of plant food is just as great as that of nitrogen or phosphoric acid, which fact must not be overlooked in noting the promi- nence and amount of space devoted in this work to dis- cussion of the importance and necessity of potash. Ex- periments carried out by Hellriegel and Wilfarth, in Ger- many, by Gilbert and Law r es, in England, and by many of the state experiment stations and scientists in the United States, have proven beyond doubt the necessity of potash compounds in plant growth. The chief function of potash in plant life is known to be intimately concerned w r ith several of the important forms of vegetative activity. The effect of potash com- pounds upon plant growth and products is evidenced in a number of different ways, which may be conveniently stated under separate headings as presented in the publi- The Importance of Potash in Agriculture 55 cation "Fertilizers and Crops" by Dr. Van Slyke, Chemist of the New York Agricultural Experiment Station, from which the following is freely quoted: (1) Influence of Potash upon the Formation of Carbo- hydrates : Potash is essential to carbon assimilation and in the absence of this element the manufacture of carbohydrates in the leaf and green parts of the stem is at once brought to a standstill. With the failure of this vital function all life activity ceases and plants wither and die. The forma- tion of starch, sugar, cellulose and other carbohydrates which form the major part of all agricultural crops is absolutely dependent upon the presence of potash com- pounds within the body of the plant. Plants especially rich in carbohydrates contain much potash. (2) Effect of Potash upon the Formation and Trans- ference of Starch: Experimental evidence indicates that potash compounds not only control the formation of carbohydrates, but also aid in the transference of starch from one part of the plant to another. Potash changes insoluble starch within the plant cells into sugar or other soluble compounds, in which forms it is able to gradually pass through the cell tissues and be transported to the fruit or seed, where it accumulates and changes back into its usual insoluble con- dition. In the absence of potash crops will not grow and starch will neither form in the chlorophyl grains nor move to other parts of the plant. 56 The Importance of Potash in Agriculture (3) Relation of Potash to Protoplasm : Potash compounds appear to be intimately associated with the formation and activity of protoplasm within the plant cells ; protoplasmic action is the basis of all life activity and growth, hence all controlling factors are of vital importance. (4) Effect of Potash on Plant Cells: Plant cells maintain the conditions of highest activity only when well distended or swollen, a condition technically known as turgor. Potash compounds are believed to be the mineral compounds mainly associated with this im- portant action. (5 ) Effect of Potash on the Growth of Roots, Stems and Leaves: Potash compounds have a recognized importance in plant nutrition because of the marked influence exerted in the development of the fibrous or woody portions of the roots, leaves and stems. A deficiency of potash is quickly evi- denced by a weak, brittle growth of root and stem and by a small and limited area of leaf and root systems. Trees plentifully supplied with available potash are able to grow firm, hard wood, and are therefore less liable to damage by cold and the attacks of insects. (6) The Effect of Potash upon Root Crops and Fleshy Fruits: It is well known that potash compounds are a requisite to the normal development of the fleshy portions of fruits, vegetables and all root crops. Comparisons of the analyses of the fruit, leaves and new wood of all of our The Importance of Potash in Agriculture 57 common fruits and root crops shows that the fleshy parts contain the greater portion of the potash present in the plant, thus substantiating the above statement. This ef- fect is believed to be brought about through the intimate association potash has with the formation and activity of protoplasm within the plant cells. Potash is recognized as the dominant plant food ingredient for all root crops and fleshy fruits. (7 ) Relation of Potash to Plant Acids: Potash compounds are among the important mineral bases which help to neutralize plant acids and form the im- portant acid salts to which the flavor and color of the edible portions of the plant is due. Thus potash is inti- mately connected with the high flavor and excellence in quality of fruits. The color of the flowering portions of blooming plants is directly influenced in intensity by the amount of available potash in the soil. (8) Effect of Potash in Influencing Maturity: A relative excess of potash compounds supplied to cereals and grass crops tend to prolong the period of the growth of the stems and leaves and thus delays the maturity of the crop. This is especially noticeable during a season of drought. With root crops and fleshy fruits the reverse is true since potash, through its effect on the transference of starch, hastens maturity and is thus often the means of saving crops from early frost. (9) Effect of Potash on Leguminous Crops: A widely recognized effect of potash is in its pronounced favorable influence upon the growth of leguminous crops, 58 The Importance of Potash in Agriculture such as clover, alfalfa, peas, beans, etc. It has been sug- gested that this is due to an indirect action of potash in promoting the growth of bacteria associated with the for- mation of the root nodules by furnishing them wuth an abundance of carbohydrates. (10) Effect of Potash on Resistance to Disease: Observations of many scientific investigators show that the lack of available potash in the soil is coincident with the appearance of various destructive plant diseases. This is especially true of vegetables and root crops, the cereals and grass crops. The conclusion is drawn that plants, if deprived of potash, become an easy prey to parasitic organisms, such as fungi and blights. It is evident that plants furnished with an unbalanced plant food, are apt to be weakened and in this condition their resisting powers are lessened until they become subject to the inroads of disease. To the scientific reader the functions of potash in plant life enumerated above will make clear that this important ingredient of plant food is indispensable to the life activity of plants. To the practical farmer it will be of additional interest to note the more visible effects of using potash as a fertilizer which are therefore presented in the following condensed statements: Potash improves both the yield and quality of all agri- cultural crops. A decidedly favorable effect is produced by potash in promoting the growth of clovers, alfalfa, beans, peas, etc., and in making the stalks of grain crops more firm and less liable to lodge. In grain crops the The Importance of Potash in Agriculture 59 weight per measured bushel is increased, a brighter, plumper berry is produced and the feeding and milling qualities improved. In the case of hay and pasture grasses a marked im- provement follows the application of potash fertilizers. Finer and more nutritious grasses replace the coarser va- rieties, the herbage is sweetened and the feeding value im- proved. In the case of beets, potatoes and other root crops the sugar and starch content is increased and the proportion of "culls" reduced. Potash is recognized as the most important ingredient of plant food for all root crops. Plants grown without potash make a weak, brittle growth of roots and stems and have small and limited root and leaf systems. Potash strengthens the woody parts of plants and grows trees with firm, hard wood, so that the danger of winter killing is greatly lessened. The appearance, shipping and storing properties of grains, fruits and vegetables are favorably influenced by potash. Potash improves the burning quality and flavor of tobacco and thus controls the market price of the crop. Potash strengthens plants and thus enables them to better withstand fungus diseases such as cotton blight and grain rusts, helps to ward off the attacks of harmful in- sects, such as grubs, wire worms and maggots which infest many crops. Kainit is the form usually employed in com- bating the attacks of insect pests and plant diseases. The amount of potash required for the proper and best development of a crop depends upon the nature and weight 60 The Importance of Potash in Agriculture of that crop. Different growing plants have different appe- tites and necessities for potash and the amount of it which they have taken away from the soil can be accurately ascer- tained by chemical analyses. The following table shows the number of pounds per acre removed by an average yield of: Grain and Hay in rotation. . 75 pounds potash Oats 62 pounds potash Potatoes 74 pounds potash Sugar Beets 143 pounds potash Meadow Hay 85 pounds potash Green Corn 164 pounds potash Tobacco 103 pounds potash A common four-year rotation in the northern states is corn, wheat, clover, timothy. By it the amount of potash taken from each acre is : Corn, yielding 52 bushels ... 82 pounds potash Wheat, yielding 25 bushels . . 35 pounds potash Clover, yielding 2% tons . . 120 pounds potash Timothy, yielding 2 tons ... 94 pounds potash Total 331 pounds potash This loss of 331 pounds of actual potash means an average of 80 pounds each year, or an equivalent of 160 pounds of muriate of potash. This must be replaced in the form of manure or fertilizer, or poverty of soil will rapidly follow. The Importance of Potash in Agriculture 61 Where the fodder is fed to cattle, and the manure re- turned to the soil, part of the potash contained in the crop is returned to the soil. If, on a farm of 100 culti- vated acres, one-third of the required potash be thus returned (considerably more than is usually saved in ordi- nary farming), there still is 5,000 pounds of it annually removed from the farm, which must be replaced by some form of potash fertilizer, otherwise the original condition and richness of the soil cannot be maintained. More or less potash is naturally present in all soils, but, for the most part, in an insoluble and unavailable form, excepting that very small part which is freed annually and made accessible by the action of the elements. Even this original natural supply is limited, and were it all at once to be rendered soluble, it would quickly be leached out by rains and so completely lost. In the beginning of vegetation easily soluble potash is absolutely essential, but it is not generally present in such form even in soils which contain a fair supply of total potash. The importance of potash salts in agriculture, therefore, is evident: Farmers must use them to make good the losses due to the growing and selling of crops. In this connection it is worthy of especial note that a part of the fertilizing substances contained in barnyard manure is insoluble, and so unavailable useless as plant food. Scientists and practical farmers agree that the by- products of the farm (farmyard manure) returned to the soil do not contain plant food in sufficient amounts or in 62 The Importance of Potash in Agriculture the right proportions to give the most profitable returns and the loss by cropping must be made good by applying chemicals : Nitrogen, in the form of nitrate of soda, sul- fate of ammonia, tankage, fish scraps, etc., or by grow- ing cow peas, clovers and other legumes, which absorb nitrogen from the air. The main source of the potash supply is the German potash salts, while mineral phos- phates and bone products are depended on for phosphoric acid. Chemical manures have an advantage over those of the farmyard, in that they are readily available, cheaper and more agreeable to handle, besides being free from weed seeds and disease germs, which sometimes occur in the farm products. Potash Salts for Fertilizing HHHE most important of the potash salts used and in * demand for agricultural purposes, with their per- centages of actual potash, are: 1 p Actv \Iuriate of Potash linimum er Cent lal Potash 48 47 25 12 20 Pounds Actual Potash Per Ton of 2,000 Ibs. 960 940 500 240 400 Sulfate of Potash Sulfate of Potash-Magnesia. . Manure Salt , The practical farmer is frequently confronted with the question : "Which of these potash salts shall I use, and how must I apply to get the best results?" The following explanations and suggestions help him to answer. Potash Salts for Fertilizing 63 Muriate of Potash is the cheapest source of potash, par- ticularly in sections remote from the seaports. This is because it is a concentrated article. One-half of its weight is pure potash, and it relatively costs much less in trans- portation than those products containing greater bulk and weight, but a lower percentage of potash. Muriate is the principal source of potash employed in commercial fertil- izers and is well suited for most agricultural crops. It contains considerable chlorine (46 per cent.), which sub- stance is considered injurious to the quality of smoking tobacco, for w r hich crop sulfate of potash, although higher in price, should always be used. Many farmers likewise use sulfate in preference to the muriate on oranges, sugar cane, potatoes, fruits and tender vegetables, believing that the better quality produced compensates for the greater cost. However, deleterious effects on quality of the prod- uct can usually be avoided by applying the muriate of potash several months preceding the planting of the crop. By this previous application, the injurious chlorine con- tained in the muriate of potash is washed down by the rains into the subsoil, while the valuable constituent, pot- ash, remains fixed in the surface-soil until it can be made use of by the growing plants. When muriate of potash is used regularly as a source of potash, it is desirable that the land receive a dressing of lime about once in five years. This will heighten the effect of the muriate. Sulfate of Potash, and Sulfate of Potash-Magnesia . These potash salts, especially the first mentioned, are the safest potash fertilizers to use under all conditions. The 64 Potash Salts for Fertilizing sulfate is always preferred for tobacco growing, also for oranges, sugar cane and tender vegetables. It deserves preference on soils inclined to be sour, and can be used in large quantities, for years in succession, without necessi- tating the use of heavy applications of lime, which are needed when muriate or kainit is extensively used. Sulfate of potash is a more expensive source of potash, and for this reason is not as universally used as the muriate of potash. Manure Salt is another source of potash, of which it contains 20 per cent. It is similar in its effect to kainit and may be used instead, but neither one is recommended for tobacco, oranges, or in any case where there would be objection to muriate; in all such cases sulfate of potash or sulfate of potash-magnesia should be taken. Kainit, as previously explained, is a raw product and contains only one-fourth as much actual potash as the muriate of potash. It is much cheaper per ton, though at a distance from the seacoast the potash in it costs more, pound for pound, than in the muriate, because of the freight and hauling which has to be paid on the whole mass regardless of the potash contained in it. It is fre- quently preferred to the muriate on account of its marked effect in ridding the soil of injurious insects (cut worms, root lice, white grubs, onion maggots, etc.). It is also highly esteemed in the cotton-producing states as a valu- able preventive or remedy against "cotton blight.'* Manure salt, 20 per cent, potash, can be used for the same purpose. Mangel wurzel and other cattle beets and Potash Salts for Fertilizing 65 asparagus are particularly benefited by kainit. It is most effective as a preserver of stable manure, and many prac- tical farmers, though knowing that muriate of potash is cheaper, still prefer the kainit, because it is less concen- trated, and requires less caution in mixing with other fer- tilizers and making composts. In sections 200 miles or more remote from the sea ports it may be so expensive (because of freight) as to make muriate of potash de- cidedly more economical. General experience has taught tha.t on light soils its effects are very beneficial, but on heavy ones muriate or sulfate of potash is to be preferred. The following table is arranged in two groups to dis- tinguish between those potash salts which contain chlorids and those which do not: CONTAINING CHLORIDS. FREE FROM CHLORIDS. Muriate of Potash. Sulfate of Potash. Kainit. Sulfate of Potash-Magnesia. Manure Salt. Those in the first group can be used with safety upon most agricultural crops, whereas those of the second should have preference for tobacco, oranges, or wherever special quality of fruit is essential, and wherever the more valuable result or return will justify the use of the higher priced fertilizer. As previously explained, potash is only one of the three essential plant food ingredients ; the others are phosphoric acid and nitrogen, and all three are of equal importance in plant life, although all are not required in equal amounts. 66 Potash Salts for Fertilizing To make potash fully effective as a fertilizer, it is neces- sary to use it jointly with phosphoric acid and nitrogen, each in proper proportion. No one of these three ingredi- ents can take the place of another in plant feeding, nor can an excess of any one compensate for a deficiency of a sec- ond. Potash salts should not be used alone, except in those cases when soils such as muck or peat soils are so rich in phosphoric acid and nitrogen, as compared with potash, that the latter alone is needed. In most cases, however, in order to produce the best effects, it is necessary to use potash salts jointly with material supplying phosphoric acid (acid phosphate, etc.) and nitrogen (nitrate of soda, fish and meat refuse, cottonseed meal and others). A mix- ture of these three ingredients is called a "complete fer- tilizer," and complete fertilizers, as sold in the market, should contain potash, phosphoric acid and nitrogen in different proportions to meet the demands of the various crops. Each farmer, therefore, must be governed by his particular needs in buying fertilizers. The value of the fertilizer, as already pointed out, depends entirely on the amount of potash, phosphoric acid and nitrogen it con- tains. If potash is bought separately, then the other two necessary plant food ingredients must be procured also, or else that which is supplied may be a practical waste and all crops fail. In the rational use of fertilizers, close attention must be given to the nature of the soil upon which they are to be used, since soils differ even from one season to another, depending on the preceding crops grown and what they have removed from the soil as well as on their Potash Salts for Fertilizing 67 original formation and composition and the kinds of fer- tilizers previously used. All this must be made a careful study on the part of the farmer if he wishes to apply fertilizers to the best advantage and greatest profit. In conclusion, every farmer is advised to study the work of the Experiment Stations in the different States, as they have been established for the purpose of carrying on practical field trials to find out which combinations of plant food are best suited to the various soils and crops. The results are of value and importance to all those who earn their living by tilling the soil. Time, money and labor can be saved in this way, but the real progressive farmer will not only keep himself informed about the experiences of others, but will also, to a certain extent, ex- periment on his own account, to learn which methods of cul- tivation, rotation and fertilization can be practiced with the greatest benefit and profit to himself. But whatever his conditions, potash the producer of starch, sugar and strength of fiber, flavor and shipping quality must not be allowed to run down in the soils which grow his crops. Comparative yield of Corn on farm of Fred Lightheart, Francesville, Indiana. Fertilized with 500 Ibs. per Acre. 2* Nitrogen, 8$ Phosphoric Acid, 10$ Potash. Yield per acre, 75.7 bushels. Without Fertilizer. Yield, 32.1 bushels. Fertilized with 200 Ibs. per Acre, Muriate of Potash. Yield per acre, 73.4 bushels. "Without Fertilizer. Yield, 32.1 bushels. The yields illustrated in two above photographs were secured on a black sandy soil abundantly supplied with nitrogen, phosphoric acid and humus, but deficient in potash. On this soil potash alone was the most profitable. The addition of nitrogen and phosphoric acid to potash only increased the yield 2.3 bushels, which did not pay for the added cost of the nitrogen and phosphoric acid in the fertilizer. ; ft SWEET POTATOES FERTILIZED WITH PHOSPHORIC ACID AND NITROGEN. YIELD PER ACRE : 122% BUSHELS EXPERIMENTS MADE AT SOUTHERN PINES, S. C. SWEET POTATOES FERTILIZED WITH POTASH, PHOSPHORIC ACID AND NITROGEN. YIELD PER ACRE: 250 BUSHELS EXPERIMENTS MADE AT SOUTHERN PINES., S. C. ; * a to 3 1*3