The only remaining fertilizer which was a source of perturbation to
the British agricultural industry was potash, which is absolutely
essential to certain lands and specific crops. Germany was in the
position to dominate this industry throughout the world, and she did
not hesitate to wield the power she possessed to her own advantage. In
pre-war days we imported about 240,000 tons of this chemical, but the
greater part was absorbed by other industries, such as glass-making, to
which it is vital. Only about 22,000 tons found their way to the land.
Nevertheless, the demand in this, as in other directions, was upwards
and prices rose by leaps and bounds, even touching about £60--$300--per
ton at one time.
Yet we have virtually solved our potash difficulty, and certainly will
be able to meet all farming requirements in connection therewith if we
only sustain our initiative. We have an abundance of waste materials
whence we might obtain all that we need, but for the most part we
have spurned them with disdain. It has been so much easier to procure
our requirements from the country across the North Sea, although,
in expending money in this direction, we materially contributed
towards the construction of the much-vaunted High Seas Fleet. But when
necessity compelled us to cast around to work out our own salvation we
encountered many surprises. Germany will doubtless be equally surprised
in future when she discovers how little dependence we need place upon
her vast resources. During the war potash was in urgent request for
munitions, but the demand in this connection will no longer prevail,
or, at least, only to a limited extent, thereby allowing commercial and
industrial fields to acquire what they need, and at a fair price. We
shall be foolish if we allow ourselves to abandon the exploitation of
our potash-yielding wastes merely by slavishly clinging to the pre-war
price for this commodity, which was about £10--$50--per ton. To do so
will be to sacrifice our national security and wealth upon the altar of
cheapness.