NITRATE OF SODA.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 151, 20 March 1908, Page 2

NITRATE OF SODA.

VALUABLE FIND. IN AUSTRALIA. •A Press Association message-from Adelaide., states that, an'important discovery.'of : of coda has, been made 'at Grampas Station,' \ in Ihe Far North.' Samples assayed 29 per cant, of nitrate'of ammonia (soda?). Nitrate of soda lis a: valuable quick-acting manure, greatly used for top-dressings,- espe'oially for grain drops' and: grass.' Formerly,;; the chief supplies were obtained from India, ■ >. and latterly from Chili, from large' deposits whose origin is still something of a; mystery. • The ' world's supplies are very limited, and- • are "fast being exhausted. The substance, however, is of such high value as a fertiliser •• ■ that, the, .Australian discovery will 'attract ■ world-wido attention. -. It ranks with; sulphate of ammonia': in being the most expensive of'' fertilisers,- and it is in order to' 'find a cheaper substitute ■ that . the experiments which 1 ' have produced the ' new •' substance, ' ■ called lime nitrogen (a substance that obtains ' its nitrogen from the atmbsphere); have been pursued. The nitrate of soda of present commerce is 95 per cent. pure. If the :newlyfound deposits possess only 29 per cent, of pure nitrate 'of soda •. (on which point tho wording of'the cablegram is puzzling), it will bb worth, in its jap''state, scarcely one-third-the price lof the commercial qualities. The nature 6f the '• impurities may' also further affect its value: If "tho supplies, however, be ■- extensive. and serviceable, they-may, greatly affect fertiliser prices and agriculture generally in ;