CHEMICAL MANURES.
We turn next to chemical manures. On this subject Mr. Williams remarks:—
“Every farmer will testify to the exceeding value of these stuffs. ’Tis a modern means of fertilising the soil, and there can be no doubt that it has a very great future. Obviously then it is in the highest degree important that England should keep a firm hold of the trade. What, alas! is equally obvious is that England’s grip on it is relaxing, but that Germany is tightening hers.”
It may be true—probably is true—that the industry of Germany is expanding in this as in almost every other branch of the chemical trades. It is also true that the value of chemical manures sent by Germany to this country—still only a quarter of what we send to Germany—is increasing. What is not true is the statement that England’s grip on the trade is “obviously relaxing.” The figures are given below. They do not look much like a relaxed grip.
Exports of Chemical Manures from the United Kingdom.
In Millions Sterling.
| 1881 | 1882 | 1883 | 1884 | 1885 | 1886 | 1887 | 1888 | 1889 | 1890 | 1891 | 1892 | 1893 | 1894 | 1895 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1·8 | 2·0 | 2·2 | 2·1 | 1·7 | 1·6 | 1·6 | 1·8 | 2·1 | 2·1 | 2·1 | 2·1 | 2·3 | 2·3 | 1·9 |
The figures for the past ten years are illustrated in the following diagram:—
