CHILEAN NITRATES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3755, 2 March 1926, Page 6

CHILEAN NITRATES.

AN INTERESTING LECTURE. (From Ocb Own Correspondent.) ROXBURGH, February 24. ‘Uhile, the Nitrate Industry, and the A]> plication of Nitrate to the Soil," was the subject of a very interesting and instructive lecture delivered on Monday evening last at Roxburgh by Mr A. E. Stephens, F.C.S., Australasian director of the Chilian Nitrate and Soda Propaganda. Sydney. The lecture, which was held under the auspices of the local Farmers* Union and Fruitgrowers’ Association was well attended, a large number of school pupils to whom Mr Stephens extended a special invitation, being also present. After briefly sketching the history of Chile and its neighbours from the time of its discovery by Balboa up to tho overthrow of Spanish rule in 1818, the lecturer gave a very interesting description of his tour through tho country some few years ago. Illustrated by beautiful lantern slides, the wonderful enterprise of the people and the enormous resources of their country were made evident to tho audience, which listened with wrapt attention as Mr Stephens described the various observations of his journeyings on both sides of the Andes. Dealing with tho national industry of Chile, the manufacture of nitrate of soda, the various processes from the bores which are put down to test supposed nitrate bearing deposits right down to the extraction of the nitrate from the "Caliche,” tho name given to the raw material, were described and illustrated on tho screen. The lecturer said that at the present rate of the world’s consumption this supply would last for another 250 years. Tho latter purt of the lecture deajt with the application of nitrato to the soil, and Mr Stephen gave much information on tho methods of using nitrate of soda successfully. Numerous slides were shown of plants, roots, and trees treated with manures some to which nitrate of soda was added, othors without ils addition, and the superiority of these treated with the former was such as to convince the most sceptical of tho immense benefits of nitrato. At tho conclusion of tho lecture Mr Michelle, who presided, proposed a heartyvote of thanks to Mr Stophons, which was carried by acolamation.