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Canadian fertilizer

the conversion of phosphate into superphosphate, in which case a large home market might be created for this valuable fertilizer, much to the benefit of the country, while the increase in profit to the manufacturer would be considerable. As it is, at present, all the raw material is shipped abroad, principally to England and Germany, and it is believed that a considerable quantity is shipped back to the United States, both in a crude and manufactured condition. Of the total output of 21,000 tons in 1887, only 200 tons were used in Canada and 300 tons sent to the United States.

543. The only attempts so far made to utilize Canadian factories. phosphate in this country have been at the fertilizer factories at Brockville and Smith's Falls, and the demand for these products is growing in a very encouraging manner. A mill has been erected at Buckingham for crushing and pulverizing the raw material which reduces it to a fineness equal to flour.

Experi

ments

phate and

superphosphate.

544. There is considerable difference of opinion respecting with phos- the beneficial results to the soil by the application of the raw pulverized material. Experience seems to show that for immediate returns, soluble phosphates, ie., the raw material treated with sulphuric acid, must be used, and where insoluble phosphate, or the raw pulverized material is used, it is absolutely necessary that it be reduced to an impalpable powder. Experiments have been made at different times, more or less favourable to the raw material, and a series of experiments will be made during the coming season at the Central Experimental Farm at Ottawa. Great interest is being excited in this question of the use of crude phosphate; since if its utility be established, it would create a home market, which would not only increase the demand, but would be of incalculable benefit to the agricultural interest.

545. The Canadian Mining Review, December, 1887, ance of says: "There is evidently a large and extending field in fertilizers. this direction" (the manufacture of fertilizers), "both for "profit and usefulness. The establishment of fertilizer "factories in Canada, and the education of the farmer in the use of manures is a cause that invites the best attention, "both of the capitalist and of the Government."

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The Minister of Agriculture in his report, 1887, says: "It is to be hoped that our farming community will see "the necessity of adopting some measures for keeping the "land required for the growth of cereals, up to its standard, "by using fertilizers, and it does seem anomalous that this rich natural product at our very door, should be shipped "away to Great Britain and the United States, without its “value being recognized by our own farming community."

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546. The following table gives the exports of phosphate Exports of from 1877 to 1886 :

EXPORTS OF PHOSPHATE FROM CANADA, 1877 TO 1886.

phosphate from

Canada.

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Of the above sum $2,704,447 worth was exported from Quebec, and $110,88 from Ontario, 96 per cent. therefore came from Quebec. The total shipments of phosphate in 1887 amounted to 21,733 tons.

Produc

tion of

547. The production of phosphate in the United States in Phosphate 1836, principally in the Carolinas was 432,049 tons of 2,240 lbs., of which 159,369 tons were shipped abroad.

United

States.

Asbestos.

548. Asbestos is a mineral which is only worked in the Eastern Townships, and the shipments of which are steadily increasing in value, as shown by the following figures :—

SHIPMENTS OF ASBESTOS FROM CANADIAN MINES, 1879 TO 1886.

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Production of minor minerals.

Mineral production of Canada 1887.

549. There is not space in a work of this kind to take up all of the minor mineral productions in detail. The tables at the commencement and close of the chapter of the productions in 1886 and 1887 will be some guide to their annual value.

of

550. The following table published by the Geological Survey of Canada, is a statement of the mineral output the past year, but it must be remembered that the returns are not all complete, and some of the figures are liable to alteration when revised.

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The Mar
Ine De-

partment

Number

of agat

houses.

CHAPTER X.

MARINE AND FISHERIES.

PART I-MARINE.

551. The special object of this Department is the protection of our mercantile marine, and of the shipping that frequent our coasts; it is therefore, of the highest consequence that it should be made as efficient as possible, and it is gratifying to know that no pains are spared in order to bring about this result, and to provide security to shipping equal to that of the most advanced of countries.

552. An examination of the following table will give some idea of the progress made since Confederation. In it are shown the number of light stations, lighthouses, fog whistles and tog horns in every year from 1868 to 1887 inclusive. The light stations in Newfoundland that are maintained by the Dominion are included in these figures:

NUMBER OF LIGHTHOUSES, &c., IN CANADA, 1868–1887.

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