Arsenic in Superphosphates. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2456, 10 April 1901, Page 14

Arsenic in Superphosphates. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, — In looking over last week's Witness I noticed under the heading of "Agricultural News " a paragraph copied from the Lancet re arsenic in superphosphate. As this might have a tendency to lead farmers astray in regard to superphosphate manufactured in the colony, I wish to pc:nt out the difference. Superphosphate manufactured in the old country, and also on the Continent, is made with sulphuric acid from pyrites. These pyrites in nearly all cases contain more or less arseniG. In the roa-stmg process to get the sulphur out, the arsenic is also liberated, and goes with the sulphur into the lead chambers and mixes with the acid. This is the kind of acid that is used for dissolving the phosphates, and of course a, quantity of arsenic finds its way into the superphosphate — not very much, as !> rule, certainly, but the Lancet seems to think it affects the gram and other crops where such superphosphate has (been used for a number of years, and it is used very liberally in the Home land. No doubt, as the Lancet observes, it should be further inquired into.

Now, I wish to point out the difference in superphosphate made in the colony by K. P., and Co. All the sulphuric rcid we make is manufactured from pure sulphur, absolutely free from arsenic. The only difference between what is sent out ns an ordinary commercial j article is, that for manunal purposes it does not require to be concentrated. — I am. etc., G. B. SMITH, Manager at works. Green Island, April 8. SALE OF THE STRATHGRYFE'S WOOL. Messrs Dalgety and Co (Limited) report — We offered 1149 bales salvage wool, ex the ship Strathgryfe, from Sydney, at auction in the Agricultural Hall on Wednesday. The sale had been well advertised throughout New Zealand, and there was a very large attendance of buyers, including representatives from Chriatchurch, Wellington, Timaru, and Oaniaru, while the local nulls, fellmongeis, and speru!atoi<; were m force.

The -wool (which was all of New South Wales giov.th) varied in the desrree to v.hich it was damaged, some bales being only slightly wet

and smoke-stained, while some were saturated i with salt water, and others burnt out of recogi mtion. , Our catalogue consisted almost enX tirely of mcriro wools of exceptionally good quality (though a large proportion was very burry), and the cables which we have lately received from London quoting the market avery firm at advanced rates for all fine quality wools evidontly had a good effect on the sale, as competition was throughout most animated The wool, which was sold at per bale, realised exceptionally good values, averaging something like £7 10s per bale, which will not show anything like the loss to the underwriters that was at first anticipated ; and it is fortunate for them that it was decided to realise on the damaged portion of the cargo in this centre, where wool has been throughout the year considerably aboove parity of values ruling in either Australia or London. One of the biggest marks offered in our catalogue was Walhallow, a. very large property in New South Wales, belonging to the New Zealand and Australian Land Company. The following range of prices realised will give an idea, of the state of the market here — viz. . — Best merino greasy fleece (damaged by fire or water), £9 to £9 15s per bale; medium do (damaged fire or water), £7 to £8 10s ; inferior and burry or very badly damaged, £3 to £6 10a; best merino pieces, £& 10s to £8; burry merino pieces, £4 10s to £6; pieces and bellies (very badly damaged by fire or water), £3 to £4 10s; scoured merino fleece, slightly damaged, £10 to £12 15s; scoured pieces and bellies, £7 10s to £10 15s; do locks, £5 to £6 10s; very badly damaged » £3 to £7 10s. «

At the end of the catalogue -we offered 15 bales of late-shorn wool on account of Otago clients, and sold every lot at full market rates.

In all. we offeied 1164 bales, all of which were sold under the hammer,

I Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co. report j as follows —We held a special sale on the 4th inst. in the committee room of the Agricultural Hall, when we offered on behalf of those interested the damaged wool ex the ship Strathgryfe. Our catalogue comprised over-850 bales of greasy and scoured wools, chiefly merino, and, the sale having been well advertised, there was a record attendance of buyers, all of whom were eager to do business. The greasy wool was well grown and light in the grease, and our offering included a good proportion of scoured, some of which was very superior, snowy white and showy — in fact, never before in Dunedin has such a fine selection of merino wool been offered aa at this special auction, and to those not conversant with Australiangrown merino, the quality and growth proved somewhat of an education, while the Bathurst and clover burr, which was very apparent in some of the bales, was a novelty to New Zealand buyers. Some of the lots were damaged by water to a considerable extent, and had m consequence " heated ' and become discoloured. For these, considering their condition, the demand was surprisingly good. Many of the bales were badly burned, whilst others had the pack charred and the wool scorched, but all lots were well competed for. Owing to the extent of the damage and the amount of moisture m the bales, it was decided to sell at per bale instead of, as usual, at per lb, and we can confidently state that the result of the sale fully justified the adoption of this course. Advancing by bids of ss, the large number of buyers ran up every lot to its utmost value, and competition proved of the most animated character. The undoubted success of ,the auction is in a great measure due to the fact that the wools offered were for the most part merinos, which description has lately advanced a little m value at Home, and is in request here to fill local requirements. Prices leahsed ■were as follows — Best merino fleece, damaged, .69 10a to £11 per bale, medium do, £7 to £8 10s, buiry and inferior do, badly damaged, £3 to £6 10s, best meiino pieces and bellies, damaged, £6 10s to £8, m.edXvUft &b4 Ulterior

bmry pieces and bellies, damaged, £i 10s to .G6 , "do badly damaged, d£3 to £1 ss: scoured fierce, iljma.ged, £10 to £I' 2 luS . scoured pieces .■iLd bellies, damaged, £~ 10s to £10 15s , scouicd 1 iock^, damaged, £o to £6 10s, scoured locks, , badly damaged, £3 to £7 10s.

I J (U:\KDIN MARKETS. j WHOI.LSAI.r, PRODUCE REPORTS. ' Mr J. Fleming, Princeb street south, reports

under oate the 9th ins.l :—: — , 'Wheat per fcushel. ■ per ton | Best milling . 2/S Barley dust ... 70/0 Medium do 2/Sto 2/4 Oaten hay b')/0 : Fowls' ... ]/ll— 2/2 | Oatmeal, m 25's 390/0 , Milling oats J/6— l/6J Oaten chaff 47/6—65/0 i Feed oats 1/3—l/4 Ryegrass nay ... KO/O Malt barley 3/9— :</3 Straw 30,0 Feed barley 1/9—2/0 Pearl barley . 220/0 j Cape barley ... 2/6 Onions 77-perrwt ' Maize ... ... 3 0 p«r l.>. 1 per ton. j R oiled bacon ... 0} I Hour, in 200's ... ):>>'i/0 I Side bucon ... /d Flour, in 50's ... 140/0 [ Smoked hams .. 7£<3 Pollard... ... 75/0 ! Cheese . ... ."4$ Bran ... tJO/'J j Good salt butter, fid to I B.*, vjcorriinft to quality Potatoa--. — Best Derwents. £3 per ton ; Southern Derwents, £2 ]5s ; Ki'luej s, £2 10s per ton.

FARM AM) DAIRY PRODUCE

Messrs Irvine and .Stevenson, Geo v2Bv 28 street, report paying for produce daring ibu week ending the 9th inst. as follows :—: — Bacon (roll), 6Jd p. lb Fi esh butter, 8J and Ham, 7|a p. lb lOd per lb Fresh *ggs, Is 2d dcz Salt butter. 8d

Fresh butter, good oidinary (in lib «nd \Vo prints), 8d to 9d per lb. Pigs, 1201b U 1601b, .{*.! per lb. Fowls, 2s 9J to 3^ pair. Ducks, ifc to 5a pair. Geese, 4b to 6s. luikey-, 4i t per 1 .

THE MEAT MARKET.

NAPIER, April 4

Nelson Bros, have received the following cable from the Colonial Consignment and Distributing Compacj . — "Further fall m North Island muttcu and second quality lamb. To-day's quotations Best Canterbury, 4|d ; Napier and North Island, 3!d. Lamb: First quality, s|d ; second, s|d.