THE OOLOGIST 



2r5 



Seal Colony, same Islands 



iiient Agricultural Department, and 

 the exportation of it beyond the lim- 

 its of South Africa is prohibited. 

 About 7,000 tons are collected per an- 

 num, and brought to Cape Town where 

 the Government Depot is located. 

 From here it is supplied direct to the 

 farmers throughout the country, who 

 are charged about $30.00 per ton when 

 it would be possible to obtain $20.00 

 per ton more by selling to private con- 

 tractors or exporting it to England. 

 The quality is said to be exceptionally 

 high in comparison with that produc- 

 ed in other parts of the world, the 

 average being: Nitrogen, 11.30%: 

 I.ime, 10.93%: Potash, 1.97%: Phos- 

 phoric Oxide, Water Sol., 3.67%; Phos- 



phoric Oxide, Citrate Sol., 9.08%; to- 

 tal, 10.52%: Sand, 27.05%: Fineness, 

 1 mm 91.65. 



In addition to the guano produced 

 by the islands mentioned. South Afri- 

 ca imijorted foreign guano in the year 

 1909 to the value of $12,049; artificial 

 manures to the value of $142,423; and 

 phosphates to the value of $179,204. 

 Only 3,000 lbs. of artificial manures 

 valued at $9 came from the United 

 States, ISO lbs. of the guano valued at 

 $5 and none of the phos])hates. In- 

 asmuch as the Ignited States exjiorts 

 over a million tons of fertilizers an- 

 nually, it is surprising that none of 

 it comes to South Africa where the 

 demand should create a comi)arative- 

 ly high price. 



