1922.] Basic Slag : Second Interim Beport. 



531 



experts it ought still further to increase. The figures are as 

 follows, in tons per annum : — 



Frc-JVa?- Deliveries f Expert estimate of rjaantiiy 



Coimimp- (Year end- that could be consumed. 



i^on. iny May .Sir T. H. SirA.D, 



(1912.) 1919. 31st) 1920. 1921.- Middleton. Hall. 

 Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tom. 



England aiul 



Wales ... — 433,000 407,000 328,000 890,000 <)75,000 

 [J. Kingdom 200,000 53:>,000 503,000 400,000 (33,820,000 (37,050.000 



units.) units.) 



The 1921 figures show a depression which is readily explained 

 and will, we hope, prove temporary only. 



2. Production of Basic Slag.— On the other hand the produc- 

 tion of unground basic slag has not correspondingly increased. 

 Prior to the war it was about 400,000 tons; it rose in 1919-20 to 

 some 701,000 tons, but in 1920-21 was less than 400,000 tons,* 

 and in 1920 and 1921 was substantially less than the farmers' 

 demands. Moreover, there has been a reduction in quality ; in 

 consequence of the supersession of the Bessemer process by the 

 Open Hearth process the slag now obtainable contains on an 

 average only half the percentage of phosphate of pre-war days, 

 and much of it shows reduced solubility according to the official 

 tests. 



8. Imported Basic Slag.— The demands of the farmer have 

 been met to some extent by importation from abroad. Thus, 

 while in 1913 the balance of exports over imports was 114.000 

 tons, in 1920 and 1921 the balance of imports over exports 

 was 6,000 tons and 88,000 tons respectively (a certain 

 propoi-tion of which was ungTound\ Export has, howevei', in 

 these years been prohibited except by licence. 



In view of the hkelihood that the quality of basic slag manu- 

 factured on the Continent may decrease as it has in the United 

 Kingdom following upon a similar change in process of manufac- 

 ture, and further that the demands of farmers abroad may 

 increase, it would be unwise for farmers in this country to rely to 

 any serious extent on importation. 



The chief results of our deliberations during the year are 

 set out below. 



4. Possibilities of Increased or Improved Production.— After 

 careful investinjation we are being reluctantly forced to the con- 

 clusion^^ change inblast furnace or steel furnace 



* Much affected by the coal stoppage and tlie sla^k nes77f t h e steel trade. 



t he actual consumption of basic sla- has recently been sli-litlv i^reater 

 than the h-ures of deliveries shown, owin- to the fact there has been an excess 

 ot imports over exports. 



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