19*21.] Sale of Diseased Plants Okder of 1921. 



The mixture supplies the farmer with a finely-ground material 

 which will act as an effective fertihser in practically all cases 

 where basic slag is of value. Steps have been taken in the 

 contract of sale to limit the profit which the manufacturer of 

 this product can make, and the British farmer will obtain the 

 advantage of getting the richest phosphate in the world at a 

 price which represents only the cost of production and a reason- 

 able profit to the grinder and distributor. 



The Ministry of Agriculture has no hesitation in recommend- 

 ing farmers to try the mixture of the Nauru iwA 

 Ocean Islands phosphate and slag for application to 

 grass-land at the rate of 4 to 6 cwt. per acre accord- 

 ing to grade, especially upon heavy soils, peaty soils, 

 and all situations where the rainfall is not k)0 Tight. On arable 

 land, the mixture cannot always take the place of superphosphate 

 for the turnip crop, but a dressing of 4 cwt. per acre will form 

 a good basis of continuously acting phosphatic manure for the 

 whole of the rotation. A further 2 cwt. per acie of superphos- 

 phate, drilled with the seed for the turnip crop, will give it that 

 initial start for which superphosphate is so valuable. 



As a means of establishing a stock of phosphates in the soil, 

 the mixture is a cheap source of phosphoric acid. At current 

 prices, it costs from 2s. 6d. to 3s. per unit of phosphate of lime 

 delivered to the farmer's nearest station, whereas basic slag 

 (S0/i^'2 per cent, total phosphate) costs 4s. 3d. or (20/22 p r 

 cent, total phosphate) 4s., and superphosphate (30 per cent, 

 total phosphate) 4s. per unit. The mixture has the further ad- 

 vantage, from its richness, of reducing the charges for freight, 

 carriage, cartage and handling on the farm. 



Further experiments have been started to ascertain moi-e accu- 

 rately the applicability of the Nauru and Ocean Islands phosphate 

 to particular soils and crops. Sufficient knowledge already exists, 

 however, to enable the ^linistry to reconnnend with confidence 

 Nauru and Ocean Islands phospliate to the farmer v.ho wishes 

 to improve his grass-land and to lay a good manurial foundation 

 for his arable land. 



The Sale of Diseased Plants Order, 1921, has recently been 

 made by the "Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries with the 



Sale of Diseased "^'•''''■^ preventing the sale of diseased 



. plants in England and Wale^. It ])rohibits 



Plants Order, , i r ' i . . f i • i 



■^^21 ^ plants or parts thereof whuh 



are substantially attacked by any of the. 



pests named below : — 



