POPULARITY OF SLAG.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20761, 2 January 1931, Page 14

POPULARITY OF SLAG.

INCREASED SUMMER USE.

The remarkable increase in tne popularity of basic slag during the last two years has indeed been one of the features' of the British fertiliser trade. Several factors have contributed to this, not the least important being •well-directed publicity and propaganda. For some years basic slag suffered from various unfortunate contingencies due to war-time condition?), one of theso being the idea that modem. British-produced, _ openhearth basic slags were inferior to Bessemer sings. This erroneous idea has now been dissipated, says the Fertiliser Journal, as it has been clearly shown that open-hearth basic slag is quite as good, unit for unit, as Bessemer slag. _ A noteworthy feature of the British slag trade during the past two years has been the lengthening of the period of deliveries to farmers. More is being used during summer and early autumn, and the active demand is also continuing later into the late spring. This indicates that farmers are recognising a point which has been long advocated by authorities, viz., that slag may bo applied to grassland at any time. The prolongation of the active slag season is, of course, distinctly advantageous to producers and distributors, and also to farmers, e.g., it enables the latter, in many cases, to get it sown when the weather and land conditions are more favourable than during the winter. The application of basic slag immediately the hay is cut in summer is now becoming quito a feature in some districts and many farthers have been astonished at the quick response obtained from its application at this time. This is due to the fact that it gets into the soil quickly.