368 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. 1 10 Juxk, 191S). 



food used, but the high price and difficulty in obtaining supplies of this 

 product is turning the attention of pig-raisers to the necessity of growing 

 more feed on the farms. Cape barley and maize can be grown fairly 

 successfully, and if these two crops were more extensively cultivated, less 

 dependence would have to be placed on the uncertain supplies of pollard. 

 (Cape barley and maize, as pointed out by Mr. A. E. V. Richardson in 

 the January number of the Journal of Agriculture, are largely used for 

 bacon production in Canada and the United States of America.) 



It is stated by those engaged in the industry that a net profit of 

 Is. per pig per week is a payable proposition, but usually the profit is 

 higher, in some instances reaching 2s. 6d. 



Successful pig-raisers realize that no animal will respond as quickly 

 as the pig to cleanliness and good feeding, and the man who thinks that 

 anything is good enough for the pig will sooner or later meet with 

 disaster. Good, comfortable, and well-drained styes are essential to 

 success, and for this purpose concrete is now being largely used in place 

 of timber. It can be utilized in the walls, flooring, and feeding troughs 

 in styes, and, where suitable sand is available, concrete forms a cheap, 

 lasting, and serviceable building material. It will thus ^ be seen that 

 with a little encouragement in the shape of fair returns, pig-raising 

 promises to develop into one of the staple industries of the northern 

 irrigation settlements. 



ALSATIAN POTASH. 



Since the outbreak of war, potassic manures have been unobtainable 

 at 'anything like reasonable prices. Stassfurth, Tvihich has so long 

 enjoyed a practical monopoly, is not, however, the only source of this 

 valuable fertilizer. Alsace possesses enormous deposits hitherto 

 unworked owing to the monopoly Stassfurth had been able to secure 

 from the German Government. 



In our issue of March, 1915, we referred to the hopes of French 

 agricultural authorities that Alsatian potash would be made available 

 as soon as France recovered her lost provinces. The sanguine hopes 

 then expressed have at last been realized, and Alsatian potash is no 

 longer a dream, but a reality. 



An official note which appeared in French agricultural periodicals in 

 January last informs French agriculturists that after this date they can, 

 without administrative formalities, obtain Alsatian potash manures, 

 either direct or through their usual suppliers, who would transmit their 

 orders to the Provisional Selling Bureau recently established at Mel- 

 bourne. 



Owing to transport difficulties, orders are only being received for 

 truck loads, prices being as follows, in bulk (not bagged) : — 



Kainit, containing 12 to 15 per cent, of potash (ICO), 21 centimes 

 the potash unit. Say, for kainit containing 13.5 of potash, 

 0.21 X 13.5 = 2 fr. 85 the 100 kg., i.e., not quite 24s. per 

 French ton.* 



Manure Salts (Scls cl'Engrais) uv 20-22 per cent, potash, 265 

 millimes the potash unit. Say, for a salt containing 21 of 



* The French ton is equivalent, to 2,190 lbs. avoirdiiimids, or only 41 Ihs. lighter than our ton. 



