1906.] 



A New Source of Nitrates. 



475 



five years since the nitrate combination came into existence 

 the average annual supply has been about 1,400,000 tons, 

 while in the preceding five years it was about 1,212,000 tons.- 

 Notwithstanding the increase in the production, prices have 

 risen since 1900. Between 1896 to 1899 the average price 

 varied from 7s. 4|d. to 7s. 9d. per cwt, but in 1900 it rose to 

 8s. 3id., and by 1905 it reached los. 5d. per cwt. The average 

 for each year is given by the above firm as below : — 



s. d. s. d. 



1896 7 9 1901 8 io| 



1897 

 1898 

 1899 

 1900 



7 7i 1902 9 o 



7 4i 1903 9 2| 



7 6^ 1904 10 2^ 



8 3l 1905 10 5 



According to the Mark Lane Express, Nov. 5th, 1906, the 

 approximate price, free on rail, London, was ;^ii 17s. 6d. per 

 ton, prompt delivery. 



Germany is the largest importer, taking, in 1905, 5 15,5 20 tons 

 or about one-third of the total consumption. The second place 

 is taken by the United States (345,000 tons), while France 

 and Belgium are also larger customers than this country, which 

 took only a little over 100,000 tons in 1905. The imports into 

 the United Kingdom during the last five years have averaged 

 ^bout 112,000 tons annually. 



During the past few years several scientific discoveries have 

 added to the possible sources from which nitrogen for agri- 

 cultural purposes may be obtained. One 

 ^ ^NTtrate^^^ these, calcium cyanamide, is a product 



resulting from the absorption of the 

 nitrogen of the atmosphere by calcium carbide, and is now 

 being manufactured and sold in Germany, though the supply 

 at the present time is apparently limited. It is evident, 

 however, from the experiments which have been reported from 

 time to time in this Journal, that it approaches very nearly 

 to sulphate of ammonia in its effects. Another method for the 



