266 



Notes on Manures for June. 



[June, 



adulteration. The original estimate of the amount on the 

 island was 50,000,000 tons, but this figure has now been 

 amplified and is put at 75,000,000 tons. The composition is 

 better than that of African phosphates, which contain 

 phosphoric acid equivalent to about 60 per cent, of tricalcic 

 phosphate. It remains to be seen, however, whether it can 

 compete in the matter of price and effectiveness with these 

 phosphates in view of the long sea voyage : Nauru lies nearly 

 2,000 miles to the N.E. of Australia, half-way between the 

 Solomon Islands and the Marshall Islands, and freight is 

 bound to be an important consideration. 



Potash Content of French Kainit. — The company responsible 

 for the supply of French potash fertilisers informs us that the 

 grade of Sylvinite known as French Kainit is sold with a 

 minimum guarantee of 14 per cent, of potash (K^O), and 

 that its composition actually approximates to 14-16 per cent. 

 This correction is made because a somewhat lower figure was 

 mentioned in an earlier issue of these notes. 



