lo Feb., 1911-] Examination of Artificial Manures. 



75 



EXAMINATION OF ARTIFICIAL MANURES. 



W. C. Robertson, Deputy to the Cliemist for Agriculture. 



Report for Year 1910. 



During the first n-.onths of the year the Yarraville railway station yard 

 is a veritable hive of industry. It is an object lesson in method. The 

 working space is very small for the traffic, yet one seldoms observes a pair 

 of idle hands. Three of the largest manure firms in Victoria consign from 

 this station and some thousands of tons of artificial manure are forwarded 

 weekly. Everything runs smoothly ; directly one lorry discharges its load 

 another immediately takes its place and so despatch goes on unceasingly 

 from early morning until late at night. Farmers and agents often com- 

 plain of delay in forwarding consignments, but if they knew of the pre- 

 cautions taken to prevent disappointments and the difficulties in the way 



UESPATCHING MANURE AT YARRAVILLE. 



of prompt despatch they would be more rea.sonable. Some 1,300 tons of 

 artificial manure were consigned from Yarraville on the day that the photo- 

 graph on this page was taken. Inspection commenced in February at 

 Yarraville where .several consignments of manure were weighed and 

 sami)lfd. 



The photograph on page 76 illustrates the manner in which the 

 manure is weighed. I'he Salter spring balance, which is tested before 

 inspection commences, is suspendefl from an iron tripled. The strap 

 shown serves a twofold object, in that it is convenient, and at the same 

 time avoids lo.ss of manure through the tendency of manure bags to 

 burst, owing to the action of the acid. 



It is customary to weigh consignments at the time of departure because 

 the manure is liable to dry out ; if weighed in the country the weight found 

 mav be low. Several consignments, after Ix^ing weighed in Melbourne, 

 were follow«'d to thi-ir destination and again weighed. Tiie manure was 

 three days in transit and afterwards lav on an u|)-coinUry jjlatform for two 

 days. The teniji^'raturo averaged q8" in the shade for the five ilays. The 

 manure when originally weighed averaged 2 Ihs. iier bag ovi-r the 



