AGRICULTURE MANURE

Southland Times, Issue 18810, 1 May 1920, Page 3

AGRICULTURE MANURE

SHORTAGE DENIED

MERCHANTS HOLDING GOOD STOCKS, Tuc shortage of agricultural manure that Rated to exist at a recent meeting of ib” 1 aimers’ Union was given a denial by 1,1 ,!l: ' departmental heads of a local sna yedi-rday. To a Times reporter he s.itid that trie statement that merchants aould not accept orders, and as a result • arnuTS would restrict production was not tin l case. “inough there is a shortage of superphosphate,’’ lie continued, “and the price oi mat manure will be almost prohibitive, merchants are assured of sufficient supplies to provide for its inclusion in mixed icrtili-’ers. and it must he borne in mind i na.t. superphosphate has for many years been made in New Zealand. Though there may he some shipping difficulties to overcome. which, however, are not anticipated, the manure merchants of Invercargill at least, have in slock or have contracted for sufficient manures for (he requirements of the normal needs of (heir clients. Though .superphosphate is in short supply there need be no cause for alarm. Farmers are well aware that superphosphate is by no means an essential, from the fine crops of turnips and grain that have been grown for half a century with such manures as Maldon, Seychelles, Chesterfield and Christmas Island guano, Ephos, Makatea, and the local Ewings and Rockland phosphates, none of which contain a trace of either superphosphate or nitrogen. Besides these trie various fertilisers prepared by the local manure merchants arc as available as ever. In view of the facts elicited there is no necessity for our agriculturists restricting production. On the other hand the national call is for ever increasing production. Much the same cry was raised when, on account iif the war, it was impossible to , impart supplies of potash and baric slag from Germany and Belgium. The result as* farmers know, has not lead to disaster, crops having been equally as successful though no potash was included in fertilisers. The position may safely he left in the hands of the manure merchants and their advising chemists, while the many freezing companies prepare more than sufficient blood and offal manure for the needs of the whole dominion.”