I907-] 



Sulphate of Ammonia. 



305 



bruises and other defects, and properly packed. No. 2 quality 

 is to consist of specimens of not less than nearly medium size 

 for the variety, and not less than 80 per cent, free from worm 

 holes and such other defects as cause material waste, and 

 properly packed. Whenever any fruit in a package is found 

 to be so packed that the faced or shown surface gives a false 

 representation of the contents of the package, it will be marked 

 with the words " falsely packed," or in the case of false marking 

 with the words " falsely marked." The definition of grades 

 do not vary from year to year ; no provision is made for lowering 

 the standard when the quality of the crop is poor. In such a 

 •case the only result would be that a smaller proportion of the 

 fruit is of the higher grades. The Act makes no restriction as 

 to the quality of fruit marked No. 3. 



Chemical manure works are subject to inspection under 

 the Alkali, &c, Works Regulations Acts, and from the report 



of the Chief Inspector for 1906 (H.C. 161), 

 Production of Sulphate it appears that there were 167 chemical 

 of Ammonia. manure works and 495 sulphate and 



muriate of ammonia works under in- 

 spection last year. The number of works engaged in the manu- 

 facture of chemical manure, principally from imported mineral 

 phosphate, remains fairly steady from year to year. The Chief 

 Inspector states that in some districts manufacturers have 

 found difficulty in covering their requirements of mineral 

 phosphate for the current season, though it is hoped that by 

 1908 difficulties of this sort will be lessened, as the newer 

 sources of supply are then expected to be able to meet the 

 demands made upon them. The imports of materials used in 

 this trade during the past three years have been as follows : — 





1906. 



1905. 



1904. 





Tons. 



Tons. 



Tons. 



Guano ... 



24,906 



29,223 



24,276 



Mineral phosphates ... 



442,970 



421,026 



419,221 



Nitrate of soda 



108,486 



104,436 



120,526 



A not inconsiderable proportion of the nitrate of soda 

 imported was used in processes connected with the manu- 

 facture of sulphuric and nitric acids. 



(1912) u 



