Making Farms Pay

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 10 December 1927, Page 12

Making Farms Pay

The Functions of Fertilisers

“Chemical compounds are chemical compounds whether produced by man or by Nature."

The value of topdressing of grass lands is now being demonstrated in Hawke’s Bay by the officers of the Agricultural Department and others. Hereunder we publish extracts from a speech delived last month by Sir Alfred Mond, M.P., to the Agricultural Research Conference, Billingham, England, which are deserving of wide attention.

The title of his address was “Fertilisers and Making Farms Pay,” and although he was speaking from the British farmers’ point of view what he said has equal application to the lands in this Dominion. Sir Alfred said:—

<<r pHE agricultural problems of the

Empire are diverse in many ways, but they have at least this as a great common factor—their attitude towards the use of fertilisers. As you are better aware than I am, the population of this country has lived for several generations on the stored-up reserves of fertility of the virgin plains of the world.

“I have often stated that Britain has become over-industrialised. She has lost the balance between agriculture and industry. Many ol the most complex of our social and economic problems have arisen from this fact, i feel that the fertiliser industry will help to restore the balance between industry and agriculture to equity, “There is at this moment a world tendency towards the formation of large groups. Whole industries are amalgamated, as my lack of leisure tells me to my cost. Various groups of nations are becoming more closely connected, both politically and industrially, and not the least of these is the British Empire, which economic forces and improved means of communication are rapidly welding into a homogeneous whole. If we do not hang together we shall hang separately.

“Even in industrial England, agriculture is our greatest trade', and it is unnecessary to tell you of its importance in the Empire. The extended use of fertilisers, such as we are now beginning, will play a largo part in encouraging 'agriculture and thereby assist in increasing the prosperity and cohesion of the Empire. THE NITROGEN ERA. “It is no exaggeration of language to say that, with the large scale manufacture ol synthetic nitrogenous fertilisers, a new era has dawned un the ivorld. ft is the era of nitrogen plenty. Before the coming of synthetic nitrogenous fertilisers the sum total of life upon this planet was limited by the amount oi available nitrogen. “The only synthetic agents for augmenting supplies of nitrogen compounds suitable for supporting vegetable life were the vetches and the clovers on the one hand, and on the other the nitrogen-fixing bacteria of the sea and the soil. The slow rate of action of these agents set a limit to the development of plants, animals and human societies. With the advent of synthetic nitrogenous fertilisers this limit has been removed. Nature can no longer parsimoniously say to life, ‘Thus lar shalt thou go and no farther.’ THE RESEARCH WORK. “Nitram, Limited, has established a research station, with upwards of 400 acres of farm lands, where problems relating to the use of fertilisers and to the feeding of stock are to be

investigated. One of the most important subjects which will be undertaken at the research station is the experimental inquiry as to the synthetic fertilisers most suitable to tho British and overseas requirements, for it is evident that the synthetic manufacturing activities of Billingham are not likely to be confined to the manfacture of simple nitrogenous fertilisers, such as sulphate of ammonia, but will extend to the production of what may be called dual and triple fertilisers. “Some soils require mainly one ingredient, say nitrogen; some soils require both nitrogen and phosphates, or nitrogen and potash, and all intensively cultivated soils require frequent applications of nitrogenous, potassic and phosphatic fertilisers. Therefore, the producers of the synthetic fertilisers of the future will be engaged in the manufacture of what may be called simple, dual and triple fertilisers. There will be sulphate of ammonia or synthetic nitrate of urea, etc., to supply the nitrogen requirements of the soil; there will be ammonium phosphate for the soils which need, both nitrogen and phosphates; and there will be complete chemical compound fertilisers containing the three chief plant foods, to be used by all who cultivate the land intensely. Nitrogen, Phosphates and Potash form the Trinity.

“There seems to be a misapprehension about the nature of fertilisers. Chemical compounds are chemical compounds, whether produced by man or nature. The idea that there is any mysterious difference between a synthetic and the natural product is based upon inaccurate thinking and not upon reason. For example, natural and artificial indigo are indistinguishable from each other. ROAD TO PROSPERITY. “It is certain that great prosperity will come to those countries which are first to seize and apply the new and great opportunities which present themselves now that the synthetic manufacture of fertilisers is an established fact. “It is clear that with these new resources at its service British agriculture is furnished with the powerful means of reinforcement in the struggle which it has been waging for years with manifold adversities. All must hope that plentiful supplies of synthetic fertilisers will help agriculture to maintain the struggle so that when world conditions become more favourable prospecity may once again smile on the most essential of all British industries. “Mankind is at the crossroads. To those who have vision, and the opportunity of applying that vision to national and imperial picblems, the opportunity awaits, and it iri’st be seized. Science applied with vision can increase the natural wealth of the world and can inaugurate that reign of peace and prosperity without which our present civilisation will go backwards instead of forward.’’