10 May, 1917.] 



Artificial Fertilizers. 



301 



Concentrated superphosphate is an imported aiticie. Throughout 

 the period 1912-16 it was obtainable at £12 10s. uer ton. but this year 

 the pricL- has been advanced 8 per cent., viz., to £13 lOs. 



For rock phosphate — the raw material used in the manufacture of 

 " super " — contract rates still rule, but the shortage of shipping has 

 seriously interfered with the amounts available, and shipping rates are 

 abnormally high. 



The imported manures — Thomas' j)liosphate, potassium sulphate, 

 potassium chloride, and kainit have disappeared from our markets. 



Potassium fertdizers have proved themselves of value in potato and 

 onion cidtivation, and also in horticulture. 



They occur as natural deposits in certain parts of Germany, notably 

 Stassfurt, and owing to the extent of these deposits and the ease in 

 which they are mined and worked, economic conditions preclude success- 

 ful com{>etition. 



Naturally, capital invested in the successful artificial production of 

 potassium fertilizers would return a handsome rate of interest during 

 the war, but it would be in a sorry position when the guns ceased boom- 



It is highly probable that the Victorian producer will have to farm 

 without the assistance of j>otassium fertilizers until the end of the war. 



Until then he will have to rely (a) on the application of wood-ashes 

 which contain from 1 to 10 per cent, potash (bracken fern ash will con- 

 tain 10 per cent.; (h) on heavy dressings of lime and gypsum, which 

 react with minerals in the soil, whereby potash is liberated by replace- 

 ment; or (c) on a wide rotation to conserve as much of the potash 

 already existing in the soil. 



Orchardists, of course, will have to resort to the methods indicated 

 in (a) and (b). 



Thomas' phosphate is not an essential fertilizer for successful farm 

 practice in Victoria, but those who have been in the habit of applying 

 this fertilizer with good results to heavy soils may substitute an early 

 autumn dressing of lime prior to sowing with " super." 



Other manures on the market, such as " bone and super," " nitro- 

 super," &c., show a proportional increase in price. This follows, of 

 course, the increase in price of the parent fertilizers used in the admix- 

 ture. 



Conclusion. 



This paper has in the main dealt witli the prices of fertilizers during 

 the years 1912-17. The following table, which embraces the pre-war 

 and war increases, reveals the situation at a glance. 



