Show Limestone Will Vill Save War Var Crops It has been estimated that farm firm I Il era in the United States Slates excluding l t v tl ru T tyl tl ldar a I where the natural supply of lime Is 19 I adequate could profitably use 35 to I 40 million tons Ions of ground limestone 1 or Its equivalent every year ear This goal has never ne been approached The nearest that American farmers I have come to 10 It was in 1942 when I it is estimated that they used almost I tons Of this tons or about 00 per cent was ap ap- applied applied I plied under the AAA A A conservation I 1 program Owing to 10 shortages of labor la bor and transportation lion it is esti- esti mated matre that thai the quantity used fell felloR off oR to around tons Ions In 1943 This year ear it is hoped that at III least tons will be available The active ingredient of super super- 1 phosphate Is phosphorus which gov gov- govi i eminent soli soil scientists say sa is the element clement of fertility most often de dC deficient I in corn belt and other Amen Ameri American I Ican I can soils While like lilee other commercial fertilizers I Ihas Ihas has long been used on cropland the need for supplying it to 10 hay huy and and pasture pas lure land has been less generally recognized ed Yet Vet tests have ha shown 1 1 I that seven 1000 bushel carloads of corn or oats take from Irom the land as I much phosphorus as ns is in the plowed i surface of the average e acre Ten Teni i ton 13 carloads of 01 mixed hay ha or half halt I II I that quantity of 01 alfalfa hay ha carry I It j t away as ns much phosphorus as ns seven I carloads of ot corn com i I 1 I From the inception of the agricultural agricultural i tural conservation program in 1936 through 1942 19 2 tons of super super- j phosphate In terms of 01 20 ZO per cent j available phosphorus had been applied in the continental United Unitt I States under the AAA Of or this 1073 tons were applied during 1942 In 1936 the figure was tons The estimated United States Stales pro pro- production production production of 01 20 O per percent percent percent cent basis was tons in 1942 11 2 It increased about 20 per pr cent to tons Ions in 1943 19 3 and a further increase may be obtained this year ear i |