Page 20 Advertisements Column 1

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21685, 20 January 1936, Page 20

p ; r H. MATSON AND CO. > * uxit ; will help counteract RUST - UXIT wiJU help prevent SCOURING PUT BLOCKS PUT BLOCKS 3N ; YOUR RAPE PADDOCK IN YOUR COW YARD IN YOUR PASTURE PADDOCK V USE A UCK ALWAYS USE “LIXIT” FOR SAFETY. UXIT IS A BUILDER UXIT IS A WINNER UXIT IS GREAT VALUE THOUSANDS USING UXIT BLOCKS 10/6 A BLOCK. Obtainable from all Stock and Station Agents and Dairy Com-. panics, or from ' / . H. MATSON and CO.. N.Z. DISTRIBUTORS, 145 CASHEL ST., CHRISTCHURCH. SULPHATE OF AMMONIA. As one of the nitrogenous fertilisers available to the farmer, sulphate of ammonia Is extremely popular. There are two chief sources of ammonium sulphate, viz. (a) “gasworks,” ■ (b) synthetic processes. The latter process produces by far the greater portion of the world’s supply. The bid “gas-works” process consisted of passive crude coal gas . through sulphuric acid which absorbed the ammonia present in the “gas.” with the formation of ammonium sulphate. When the concentration was sufficiently high the ammonium sulphate crystallised out, and after being removed was allowed to drain. By this method .the product always contained a .small quantity of free sulphuric acid, and this, since it possesses the property, of absorbing moisture, caused the fertiliser to be-come-.sticky, which subsequently led to distributor troubles. Further, this free sulphuric acid attacked the metal parts of the distributor, causing corrosion and, in addition, it also attacked the bags containing the fertiliser and hence caused them to rot fairly quickly. However,' modem refinements in the method of production have resulted in a material which does not give rise to these troubles. By the synthetic process the nitrogen of the air is suitably “fixed” in a form „wluch- can be used as a fertiliser, and although different manufacturers 1 have slight modifications in plant design the basis of the process is briefly as follows:—Over red-hot coke a mixture of air and steam is blown, thus breaking the latter up into its elements,' hydrogen and oxygen; the latter; like the bxygeh'of the oxides of carbon. The hydrogen remains unaffected, as also does the nitrogen of the air, so that the resulting gas leaving the “generator,” as it is called, consists of hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxides of carbon, ..The latter are removed by an absorption process,; leaving a mixture of. hydrogen, and nitrogen, and these two gases are caused to unite to form ammonia gas, which-is carried out in the presence of a catalyst and under high pressure. The ammonia gas is dissolved -in water, in which at ordinary temperatures it is very soluble, and can then be neutralised with sulphuric acid, or as is the case at Billing-ham-onrTees, mixed with calcium sul-plate-in the presence of carbon -dioxide. Both these last steps in the process-produce ammonium sulphate. When chemically pure, ammonium 'sulphate contains 21.2 per cent, nitro- . gen; which is equivalent to 25.7 per -cent,-'ammonia; the product used as fertiliser contains about 21 per cent, nitrogen, i.e... about'2s.s per cent, ammonia. When-applied to the soil the ammonia part of the fertiliser is acted upon, by bacteria, ultimately Producing .nitric acid,.; which unites with calcium, -in the soil, producing calcium nitrate. It is-.in this form that the plant absorbs its, nitrogen.- One of the reasons why ammonium sulphate is not 'readily washed out of the - soil is that .its. ammonia replaced exchangeable ■ calcium, forming complex ammonium compounds which are insoluble in -water. - At the same time this reaction produces calcium sulphate, which, being Slightly soluble, is washed out, with a consequent loss of lime. This tends to make the soil reaction more acid. The effect of ammonium sulphate on plants can usually be noticed after about a fortnight, but under cold weather and acid soil conditions this-may be longer, since the action of nitrifying bacteria is much retarded Under these conditions. .Sulphate of ammonia is very useful as a top dressing, but for maximum results a proper balance should always ' be maintained with respect to phosphate and potash.'. Continued application to grassland produces an alteration in the botanical composition of the sward, since it favours the growth of narrow-leaved fescues, because of its property of causing slightly acid conditions.- . Therefore, whenever ammonium sulphate is used in any great quantity: and. regularity, it is advisable to test the soil for acidity and correct this if necessary by the apSlication of lime.: This test can easily e carried out' by means of one of the soil testing outfits now obtainable at a cost of a shilling or two.—H.R.J. (Extract from “The Scottish Farmer.”) UDIP SHEEP DIPPING POWDER UDIP SHEEP DIPPING POWDER UDIP SHEEP DIPPING POWDER 1001b Powder (arsenical) in a case. Price £3 5s fid. COMPARE THE PRICE! , WHY PAY FOUR POUNDS ODD! THOUSANDS OF SHEEP ANNUALLY THOUSANDS OF SHEEP ANNUALLY Successfully Dipped in UDIP in . AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALANI THREE POUNDS FIVE .AND SD THREE POUNDS FIVE AND. SD THREE-POUNDS. FIVE AND SD £3 5s 6d. - £3 5s fid. r. £3 Ss fid. *it s > ifp * - y | A H. MATSON and CO.,