THE CONQUEST OF NATURE 



more important countries on both sides of the Atlantic. 

 If the financial results come up to the promoter's 

 expectations the industry in five years' time will have 

 become one of considerable magnitude. 



"A modification of the original process of some im- 

 portance has been suggested by Polzeniusz. This 

 chemist has found that the addition of fluorspar (CaF 2 ) 

 to the carbide reduces the temperature required for 

 the absorption process by 400 degrees centigrade, 

 while it also produces a less deliquescent finished 

 material. 



"As regards cost of manufacture, no very reliable 

 figures are yet available, but the companies promoting 

 the new manufacture are regulating their sale prices 

 by those of the two rival artificial manures ammonium 

 sulphate and nitrate of soda. Calcium cyanamide 

 is now being sold in Germany at is. to is. 6d. (25 to 

 37 cents) per unit of combined nitrogen cheaper than 

 ammonium sulphate, and 35. to 35. 6d. (75 to 87 cents) 

 per unit cheaper than nitrate of soda. Whether the 

 manufacture will prove remunerative at this price of 

 about 10 IQS. ($102.50) per ton remains to be seen. 

 It is evident that, as the raw material of the cyanamide 

 manufacture (calcium carbide) costs at least 8 ($40) 

 per ton to produce under the most favorable conditions, 

 the margin of profit will not be large, and that very 

 efficient management will be required to earn fair 

 dividends on the capital sunk in the new industry. 



"It must be noted, however, that the processes are 

 new and are doubtless capable of improvement as 

 experience is gained in working them; while, on the 



