Origin of tho Raw Material.

Waikato Times, Volume 110, Issue 18392, 28 July 1931, Page 3

Origin of tho Raw Material.

The raw materials used In tho manufacture of super aro phosphate •rock, sulphur, sodium nitrato, and water, and, with tho cxcoptlon of the last named, all are Imported. The phosphate rock comes from Nauru ■and Ocean Islands, In the Pacific, and Is known as tho highest grade phosphate In tho world. At one time Nauru Island was owned by Germany, but at the 'outbreak of tho war it was annexed by Australia. The sulphur oome3 from the Texas Gulf, where it is found at a depth of 1000 feet below tho surface. This sulphur Is chemically almost pure, showing 90.0 per cent sulphur. The sodium nitrate is found on tho rainless plateaux of Chile, where it is collected from ■the great caliche beds, purified, crystallised, and bagged, prior to shipment to all parts of the world, the phosphate rock is ground to a very line powder, at one end of the works, the sulphur is burnt to a gas, to be ■later converted into a liquid acid, at ■the opposite end. and, somewhere near the centre of the manufacturing ■plant the two 'components meet to form tho super-phosphate of conimeicc. A Look of Phosphates. Throughout the Dominion there is a pronounced shortage of phosphates in the soil, and even In the Waikato, with its wonderful capacity, t he lack of phosphates is in many cases a limiting factor In production. I lie case is aptly stated by an officer of the Department of Agriculture who said "The first and principal nenssitv’in regard to topdressing in New Zealand is generally the application of Ph Therc U is'a very definite relalionslrp between the different forms of plant food that the soil needs. For Instance, in the absence of lime, it is impossible for super to do Its best work and where there is a shortage of phosphates it is difficult to get results from potash or nitiogen. \\t look upon Hme as Hie, founds.ion tor our agricultural structure, and upon phosphates as the corner stone. (Continued In next column.)

WilHout the'regular andTFequent application of phosphates the country would soon go back to the fern and li-treo stago. When Sir J. B. Lawes gave super-phosphate to the world, lie placed In the hands of men an effective weapon against starvation, disease, and invasion. With adequate supplies of phosphate available the world cannot starve, as crops will not fail, and live stock will thrive, while those persistent enemies of the farmer, weeds, fern, and blackberry, will be kept at bay. Our agricultural progress lias been fast or slow according to our recognition of tho part played by artificial fertility. In the Waikato, whore large quantities of fertilisers were used, progress lias been rapid, while In oilier districts, whero topdrosslng has been neglected, production tins remained at tho same level for years. Farming to-day Is a business calling for an all round 'training such ns few oilier business men ever acquire or require. The speaker concluded Ills remarks by quoting an American authority’s opinions on farming. The address was following with keen Interest by the audience, and the speaker was accorded a hearty vote of thanks.