NEW FERTILISER

Taranaki Daily News, 31 August 1935, Page 9

NEW FERTILISER

MANUFACTURE AT HUNTLY. For the manufacture under a new process of basic slag in the Dominion, New Zealand Soluble Slags, Ltd., has been formed at Auckland with a capital of £50,000. Works will be built at Hundy and it is proposed to have supplies ready to market for autumn top-dressing next ye it r ’is claimed that the process marks a distinct advance in fertilising possibilities. The process,.it is stated, is a great improvement on present methods of manufacture, producing the slag as a prime product and not as a by-product. Definite advantages are claimed for the product, the chief features being high solubility, alkaline reaction and low cost. The inventor is Mr. J. Heskett, late manager of the Onekaka Iron and Steel Works, Nelson. Under an agreement with the slag company, Mr. Heskett is appointed supervising engineer and manager until the industry is established. It is stated that the process differs from all known previous attempts to produce a soluble slag. Low grade or siliceous limestone and phosphate rock, both in lump form, are smelted together in a furnace producing a molten slag. While in the molten state and within the furnace a stream of highly compressed air and superheated steam is introduced into the mass causing a remarkable agitation or boiling effect and by this means the solubility is raised to a high degree. Laboratory tests have been made by competent authorities to test the composition, alkaline reaction and solubility of the slag. All of these tests, it is claimed, have ’indicated a fertiliser of high standard. Field tests also have been made in several different localities with equally satisfactory results. Basic slag as now used in New Zealand is wholly imported, practically all coming from Belgium. Under the New Zealand process, phosphate rock will be imported from Nauru and limestone adjacent to the works will be used. Coal for fuel purposes will be drawn from the Waikato mines. The proposed directors of the new company are Mr. Heskett, Mr. H. Morpeth and Mr. E. W. Yates, of Auckland, Mr. C. G. White, of Wellington, and another to be appointed.*