186 



Phosphatic Manures. 



[May, 



figures are as follows : — In 1918, 84,000 gallons of milk were 

 dealt with, 16 tons of cheese made and the total turnover 

 £3,100. In 1919. 46,000 gallons of milk received, 21 tons of 

 cheese made, turnover £4,600. In 1920 approximately 60,000 

 gallons of milk were received and 30 tons of cheese made, with 

 a turnover oi" £6,000. The cost of production of cheese has 

 worked out at less than ljd. per gallon of milk dealt with. The 

 Secretary of this thriving factory states that the co-operators 

 are not only perfectly solvent, but that they have put by a good 

 reserve, and find a ready market for their products. 



The Society referred to works in a Welsh village 10 miles 

 from the nearest railway station, 500 feet above sea-level, 

 and in the years of its working has produced 80 tons of 

 cheese in a district where none was produced before. The 

 Secretary who supplied figures, which are open to the strictest 

 investigation, has made enquiries at some 30 other centres 

 and finds that his society's effort is not more than an average 

 one. There are others in his district which have done even 

 better, and in the few cases where success has not been 

 achieved, it has been admitted that the management and not 

 the system is at fault. This cheese-making industry is 

 apparently a benefit to the wives and daughters of farmers who 

 live in the wilds. It has saved all the single churnings that 

 were a feature of the life of every farm, and the trouble of 

 marketing the produce, while the consumer is supplied with 

 produce of a uniform standard qualitv. 



Since the beginning of the year the Agricultural Press has 

 been emphasising two aspects of the supply of phosphatic 

 Phos hatic manures. They are (1) that although 

 P _, official figures show a considerable increase 

 Manures: The , £ i i •+ • n; i„ 



« m. -n in the production of basic slag it is likely 



Present Position. * .„ , , ^ • , fVl - 



that there will not be sufficient this 



season to meet the total demands of the farming community: 

 (2) the fact of the production of superphosphate being in excess 

 of the present demand for it may result in large quantities 

 being exported, on account of the congestion at the works. 

 It is natural for the farmer to enquire how these conditions are 

 likely to affect him. and what he should do to meet them. 



Three courses present themselves. The first is to discriminate 

 in the use of basic slag. Requirements per acre are greater 

 now than thev have been, because the grades of slag quoted 



