484 



Naurtt Phosphate. 



[Sept., 



and SOWS) and in the total numbers of sheep and pigs, while 

 there is a very marked improvement in the number of calves. 



■SiC' ^ ^ ^ ^ 



Considerable interest has been aroused in the phosphates of 



Ocean and Nauru Islands. The phosphates produced in 



■oi. „ -u these Islands have since the War be- 

 Nauru Phosphate. . . , ^ i • 



come Imperial property on the basis 



that the United Kingdom has a claim to 42 per cent, of 

 the output at cost price, Australia to 42 per cent., and New- 

 Zealand to 16 per cen^. The phosphates from the two Islands 

 are almost identical in composition and origin, and have arisen 

 from the interaction of the excreta of sea-birds with the coral 

 rock of the Islands. While they cannot properly be described 

 as guano, they have originated from guano, contain 85 to 

 89 per cent, of phosphate of lime calculated as tii -basic phos- 

 phate of lime, and are very free from iron and alumina. Both 

 the physical and chemical character of the material is such as 

 to render it readily soluble and available for growing crops 



Owing to the shortage of high-grade basic slag, a shortage 

 which is more pronounced because of the increased interest in 

 the improvement of grass-land, the question of the availability 

 of other phosphates is being closely considered. Many expeii- 

 ments show that finely-ground rock phosphates will do the work 

 of the basic slag and encourage the growth of clovers in the 

 same way, especially on old grass-land which is well provided 

 with organic matter, and where the rainfall is abundant. Recent 

 experiments in Essex, where the conditions are comparatively 

 unfavourable, show- that the action of rock phosphates compares 

 favourably with that of basic slag. In America, the use of 

 ground rock phosphates has become very general. Actual trials 

 with these particular phosphates from the Pacific Islands have 

 as yet only been reported from New Zealand, but there is every 

 reason to suppose that they will be even more effeclive than the 

 oidinary rock phosphates. 



The control of the phosphates of Nauru and Ocean Islands 

 has been vested in Commissioners, who have arranged with a 

 Company to take the whole of the output allotted by the Com- 

 missioners to the United Kingdom. This Company has arranged 

 to distribute it, mixed with basic slag in such a manner as to 

 supply the farmer with grades of finely-ground material contain- 

 ing a minimum of 40 per cent, to a maximum of 65 per cent, 

 of phosphates. When required it can be supplied free from ad- 

 mixture with basic slag, with a guarantee of 80 to 85 per cent, 

 of phosphates. 



