FERTILISERS AND LIME

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23086, 31 July 1940, Page 13

FERTILISERS AND LIME

SLAG SUPPLIES CUT OFF AMPLE ALTERNATIVES Future supplies of basic slag, which is obtained from Belgium and France, will be impossible now that those countries are in enemy possession. A few hundred tons may be in store, but the quantity is too small to be appreciable. The importation of slag and African phosphates total about 150,000 tons annually. The African phosphates come from Mediterranean ports, and with the control existing there further supplies of these phosphates are also out of the question. The chief market for basic slag in the Dominion has been in districts where remoteness from rail and long road journeys make the use of lime economically impossible. Basic slag, as an instance, was used fairly extensively on Banks Peninsula up till recently. Authorities agree that the cessation of these shipments should have little practical effect upon primary production, as both the fertilisers which are

unavailable can be replaced. Superphosphate and lime, for instance, can be used instead of basic, slag. During the 12 months ended on June 30, more than 400,000 tons of phosphate were sent to New Zealand from Nauru and Ocean Islands, a quantity more than 100,000 tons in excess , of previous shipments. Included in these consignments were at least 75.000 tons for a special war reserve, stocks being established at the various manufacturing centres. The trade from the Seychelles is unaffected, sufficient supplies of sulphur and other constituents are available, and there are large resources of lime. British agriculture has passed the 2,000,0000 acres set as the aim of the ploughing-up campaign. The total additional grassland ploughed amounts in England and Wales to 1,542,236 acres. When the Scottish and Northern Ireland i figures of 220,000 and 270,000 acres respectively were added, a grand total of 2,034,236 acres would be obtained.