IMPORTATION OF FERTILIZERS.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume I, Issue 7, 15 December 1910, Page 523

IMPORTATION OF FERTILIZERS.

The following particulars of the importation of fertilizers into New Zealand for the year ended 31st March, 1910, are compiled from a return furnished by the Customs Department to the Agricultural Chemist, Dominion Laboratory. The port of entry, name and quantity of fertilizer, and country whence imported are shown respectively.

Auckland.

Bonedust. — New South Wales, 1,031 tons ; f Bengal, 6,590 tons. Basic Slag. United Kingdom, 2,483 tons ; Germany, 225 tons ; Belgium, 810 tons. Guano. United Kingdom, 10 tons ; New South Wales, 91 tons. / Bone Phosphates. New South Wales, 344 tons ; Belgium, 50 tons. Superphosphate.— United Kingdom, 2,528 tons ; Victoria, 20 tons; New South Wales, 1,356 tons ; Germany, 275 tons ; Belgium, 30 tons ; United States of America, 1 ton ; Japan, 456 tons ; Western Australia, 25 tons. Gypsum.— Victoria, 50 tons ; New South Wales, 187 tons ; South Australia, 501 tons. Soda — United Kingdom, 40 tons ; New South Wales, 153 tons. . Sulphate of Ammonia. Victoria, 5 tons ; New South Wales, 48 tons. Lime Phosphate. United Kingdom, 41 tons. Bone Char. — New South Wales, 120 tons. Blood and Bone.— New South Wales, 100 tons. Sulphate of Potash. United Kingdom, 43 tons ; New South Wales, 55 tons ; Germany, 60 tons. r Muriate of Potash. -United Kingdom, 3 tons ; Germany, 5 tons. Rock Phosphate.—Victoria,, 100 tons ; Christmas Island, 1,369 tons. — United Kingdom, 75 tons ; Germany, 230 tons.

Kaipara. Bonedust. — New South Wales, 903 tons. New Plymouth. Superphosphate.— United Kingdom, 95 tons; Victoria, 148 tons ; New South Wales, 185 tons. Phosphates. United Kingdom, 1 ton. Basic Slag. United Kingdom, 303 tons ; Germany, 25 tons. Kainit. — Germany, 50 tons. Wanganui. Basic Slag.— United Kingdom, 30 tons. Gypsum.— South Australia, 5 tons. Superphosphate. United Kingdom, 100 tons. Wellington. Basic Slag.— United Kingdom, 842 tons ; Germany, 105 tons. Guano. — United Kingdom, 1 ton ; Victoria, 120 tons ; New South Wales, 3 tons. Gypsum. Victoria, 27 tons South Australia, 51 tons; United States of America, 18 tons. .... Bonedust. Bengal, 375 tons. Kainit. United Kingdom, 50 tons ; Germany, 325 tons. Peat. United Kingdom, 2 tons. Phosphates.— United Kingdom, 103 tons ; Victoria, 152 tons ; New South Wales, 150 tons ; South Australia, 57 tons ; Germany, 75 tons. Red Sand. — United Kingdom, 2 tons. Superphosphate. United Kingdom, 897 tons Victoria, 892 tons; New South Wales, 1,265 tons ; Germany, 2 tons ; Japan, 5 tons. Sulphate of Ammonia. — Queensland, 5 tons. Sulphate of Potash. — United Kingdom, 1 ton ; Germany, 55 tons. Soda Nitrate. — New South Wales, 3 tons.

Napier, Gypsum.— New South Wales, 44 tons. Kainit. — Germany, 25 tons. Phosphates.— United Kingdom, 55 tons. Superphosphate.— United Kingdom, 235 tons ; New South Wales, 220 tons; Germany 25 tons ; Japan, 595 tons. Sulphate of Potash.— Germany, 5 tons.

Blenheim. Manures, Unenumerated. — United Kingdom, 1 ton. Superphosphate. United Kingdom, 25 tons. Nelson. Basic Slag. United Kingdom, 25 tons. Muriate of Potash. United Kingdom, 6 tons. Superphosphate. • Kingdom, 20 tons; Victoria, 15 tons; New South Wales 5 tons. ’ Christchurch. Basic Slag. United Kingdom, 155 tons. Gypsum.— United Kingdom, 2 tons ; Victoria, 233 tons ; South Australia, 300 tons. Kamit. -Germany, 320 tons. Sulphate of Potash.— Germany, 50 tons. Superphosphate.— Kingdom, 1,487 tons ; Victoria, 710 tons ; New South Wales 1,690J0ns ; Tasmania, 25 tons ; Japan, 1,308 tons. Timaru. Bonedust. New South Wales, 85 tons ; Bengal, 460 tons. Gypsum.— New South Wales, 6 tons ; South Australia, 430 tons. Potash. — Germany, 15 tons. Superphosphate.— United Kingdom, 2,125 tons; Victoria, 510 tons New South Wales, 615 tons ; Japan, 1,615 tons. 0 AMARU. Superphosphate.— Kingdom, 10 tons ; New South Wales, 20 tons.

Dunedin. Blood Manure.— New South Wales, 288 tons. Bonedust.— New South Wales, 15 tons ; Bengal, 493 tons. Calcium Nitrate.— Victoria, 2 tons. Guano.— United Kingdom, 15 tons ; Surprise Island, 842 tons. Gypsum. Victoria, 87 tons ; New South Wales, 5 tons ; South Australia, 1,099 tons. Kainit. United. Kingdom, 105 tons Germany, 125 tons. Nitrate of Soda.— New South Wales, 50 tons. . ' Potash,.— United Kingdom, 80 tons ; Germany, 90 tons. Sulphate of Ammonia. Victoria, 10 tons. Sulphate of Potash. United Kingdom, 71 tons ; New South Wales, 10 tons. Superphosphate.—United Kingdom, 746 tons ; Victoria, 445 tons ; New South Wales, 310 tons; Belgium, 75 tons. . ’ Invercargill. Basic Slag. United Kingdom, 10 tons. Blood.— New South Wales, 694 tons. Blood and Bone. New South Wales, 75 tons. Bone Char.— New South Wales, 26 tons. Bonedust.— New South Wales, 255 tons ; Bengal, 1,970 tons. Guano.— Island, 1,100 tons ; Surprise Island, 3,806 tons. Gypsum.— -Victoria, 44 tons ; New South Wales, 20 tons ; South Australia, 1,385 tons. Kainit.— Germany, 720 tons. Phosphates.— United Kingdom, 300 tons; Singapore, 1,081 tons ; Christmas Island, 1,050 tons ; Germany, 200 tons. — United Kingdom, 55 tons ; Germany, 110 tons. Sulphate of Ammonia. United Kingdom, 35 tons ; Victoria, 10 tons. Superphosphate.— United Kingdom, 160 tons ; Victoria, 2,120 tons ; New South Wales, 1,832 tons ; Germany, 5 tons. ’

Summary. The following is a summary of the kinds, quantities, and values of the various fertilizers imported into New Zealand during the year ended 31st March, 1910 : . ... ' .Weight. Value. Description. . Tons. & Ammonium-sulphate .. .. .. 113 1,469 Basic slag (Thomas’s phosphate) .. .. 5,013 16,126 Blood .. .. .. .. .. 882 6,249 Blood and bone .. .. .. • • 175 1,101 Bone char .. .. .. .. 146 519 Bonedust .. .. .. .. 12,177 66,361 Bone phosphate .. .. .. .. 394 1,362 Calcium-nitrate .. .. .. .. i>lf*'2 19 Guano .. .. .. z . . •• 5,988 15,224 Gypsum ... .. .. ' .. 4,494 6,109 Kainit .. .. .. .. .. 2,025 , 6,181 Lime-phosphate .. .. .. .. 41 130 Peat .. .. .. .. • • ® 2 20 Potash .. .. .. -j!>.•, .. 350 1,976 Phosphates ... .. .. .. 3,224 10,223 Potash-muriate .. .. .. .. b j 14 162 Potash-sulphate . . .. .. .. pi 350 3,950 Red sand .. .. .. • • S « P* 2 8 • Rock phosphate .. .. .... .. 100 354 Soda-nitrate .. .. ... ' ■ .. bpi ■ 246 2,609 'Superphosphate .. .. ■ .. .. 25,228jQ Pj 91,926 Unenumerated .. .. .. .. 1 . 3 60,967 232,081

QUALITY OF BUTTER AND CHEESE FOR EXPORT.

Earlier in the season . reference was made to a noticeable improvement injthe quality of the creamery butter coming in for shipment, as compared with that at the earlier part of the previous year. The main factor in bringing about this desirable result has been the introduction of pasteurization. Dairy companies, as a general rule, no longer hesitate to express their confidence in the system, and many of those who have not seen their way to apply it have expressed their intention of doing so before next season. Some of the butters that formerly could only be classed as common, or poor-keeping quality, have been so improved in flavour by pasteurizing the cream that they now rank amongst the very best. When this treatment is properly carried out the strong and undesirable flavours in the produce are entirely overcome, insuring in the butter that clean and pleasant aroma which is characteristic of a high-class article. The best results are not always obtained when the work is first commenced, but after a little experience, and some . assistance from the instructors where needed, the produce shows much improvement and a degree of uniformity which is not otherwise obtainable. The factory-managers are to be congratulated on the interest they are showing and the success that has attended their ■efforts with this method of making creamery butter. With regard to the quality of cheese, an improvement can also be reported. While there is still much to be desired in connection with the flavour of many consignments, others show sounder quality. A great many of the cheese are much better made than was the case a few years ago. An examination of the different shipments proved that the cheesemakers are •exercising more care with regard to the manufacture. It is seldom that reports have to be made to the dairy companies with regard to the shipment of cheese in a green condition, which was so prevalent in former years.