BASIC SLAG.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144711, 21 June 1915, Page 4

BASIC SLAG.

TO TOE EDITOR

Sir, —In your issue of the 18 1 li your Waitara correspondent (whoso comments on agricultural matters generally are usually very interesting), in referring to the scairity of manures this season, makes some remarks which, although not actually incorrect, may ho wrongly construed. For instance, tho statement that slag will be scarce is quite true so far as the German supply is concerned but, on the other hand, the English firm (Leeds Phosphate Works), whoso slag I have handled for the past six or seven years, lias boon able to supply me with the quantity required locally, which quantity, of course, is practically what L have been able to sell to arrive to those fanners who want it. That the price- is high, by comparison with the Walkure shipment, cannot he gainsaid. This is accounted for by the fact that a direct boat was entirely out of tho question this year, and further accentuated by the high rise in freight to main ports. The statement (taken in conjunction with the reference to the Walkure, which was a German steamer) that twothirds of the supply of slag has como from Germany might be iindcn-stood to moan that two-thirds of the quantity absorbed IN THIS DISTRICT came from that country of high culture. This, oh course, would bo an entirely erroneous conclusion, tho reverse being the case, as Taranaki, last season, sowed some *IOOO ions of Leeds slag alone (including the Walkure shipment). beside-, a certain quantity of other English brands, whereas 800 lons would probably be the maximum amount of the German article used in the province in Iho same period. Of a total of 3,G00 000 tons of slag produced in Europe in the season 1913-1 L Germany supplied 2,250,000 tons, and all of us will undoubtedly heartily endorse your correspondent’s wish that tho Home country will not fail to capture (inter alia) such an important portion of the enemy’s trade. That Taranaki, in recent years at any rate, lias supported the British industry in this particular commodity to a much greater extent than lias been accorded tho German article is a manor for some congratulation to all concerned (except, of course, the gentlemen of culture). —I am. etc., NEWTON KING.