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FERTILIZERS AND OILS
Commissioner 0. R. Stevens’
Monthly Talk to Farmers.
rutlil Review of the Work of the Aj-
rtcultural Department to Dote.
When I flret came into the agricult
ural department, believing that the pub-
llo demands required that we ehonld
have a perfect record of all the acts and
doings in this department, so that the
people at all times might be able to get
anoh information as we oould furnish,
or that the publio might desire, I inau
gurated a thorough system'll bookkeep
ing, by means of which this information
conld be readily obtained. For want of
sufficient means with which to do the
work of the department, we have been
handicapped to some extent. However,
the records are in such ahapo that any
matter pertaining to this office can be
folly and perfectly understood, and
every item that comes into the depart
ment or goes ont of it is fully accounted
for. I believe that the public is entitled
to know what this department of the
■tate government is doing.
ON THE QUESTION OF FERTILIZERS.
Having had some 30 years’ experience
In the use of fertilizers, and having
lome knowledge of the ingredients
Which go to make up these mixtures, I
have done my best to see that consumers
ehonld be thoroughly protected, as is
now provided for by law. With this
object in view I have visited in person
a number of the larger manufacturing
establishments and examined the crude
material, to satisfy myself that it was
snoh as would produce good results, and
was suited to the purpose for which it
waa intended—that of supplying the
elements of a wholesome crop food.
These personal inspections have been
thorough, and I hope have brought
•boot good results. Early in last Feb
ruary I published in the press of the
State the following article:
"Upon thelquestion of fertilizers there
has heretofore been great complaint
among the people of the state—espe
cially from the consumers—that the
inspections and analyses of fertilizers
watt not complete, and that the plant
ers were not properly protected by this
department How, whether there has
been any reason for this general talk I
do not know; but in order that there
may be no ground for such complaints
hi the future, I have fully made up my
mind, as far as it is possible for this de
partment to do, I will inspect all of the
fertilisers and have analyses made of
the same With this in viow I am now
getting np samples from all parts of the
state where goods can be fouud, and I
have urged the inspectors to be diligent
to making their inspections, in order to
£ 1 proper and oorrect samples, that both
I oonsumer and manufacturer may
be property protected.
"One other thing. I invite all of the
coasumere of the state, and retail agents
who are selling to consumers, that when
thep desire a u inspection made of fer
tilisers in their hands, if they will make
taeh a request of this department, I
WUI have an inspector to go at once,
toko samples and send them to this de
nt, when an analysis will be
"la making such inspections it is proper
to state that in no case will they be
from Sjroken bags or packages.
l a sample is taken from a package
It must be in its original condition.
This, is the law under which we are
working.
“As a matter of fact, the consumers of
fertilisers pay all of the tax on fertiliz-
ote sold in this state, therefore they are
entitled to fnll and ample protection;
and, to far as this department is con
cerned, it will be my pleasure to see
that all safeguards are thrown around
that the law allows. Ho mannfaotn-
ter will iobjeot to this. Honest manu
facturers and daalers are willing to have
a true and oorrect inspection and analy
st* mod* of their goods."
The above has been strictly complied
with. ■' Hundreds of special s»m r i« f
have been sent to this department, and
to every instance the analysis has been
promptly Btads and the result mailed to
the patty hMAtenek I trust that the
methods adopted by me have brought
•boat food results and that the farmers
and ooasnmers feel that they have been
amply protected by the Department of
Agriculture to this particular, for it has
been tog meat earnest desire to tee that
ansh sbianid be the case.
lamoiaarty of the opinion that the
■MltipUcitiy of brands of fertilizers is
wrong and misleading. For instance,
wo have registered to this department
earns 1.W0 brands, when in reality we
eheaM net have over tea grades of ter-
tlMaem Ido not believe that guaaoe
atari! bo ■«*• by brand, but that they
WILL THEY
ehonld be sold by grade, for the very
reason that the multiplicity of brands
now on the market create oonfosion and
are calculated to mislead the farmer.
We have so muoh law upon this ques
tion that it is difllonlt far the manufact
urers to ooaform strictly to all require
ments, end, in truth, it is difficult even
for this department te ooustrue these
lawn
THE QUESTION OF OILS.
_,j This department bee charge of the oil
business of tbs state. I have the ap-
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polntmant of the local oil iospeitc ro.
These inspectors are required to inspect
all oils that come into the state. They
are required to reject all oils that do nos
come np to the test required by law of
120 degrees Fahrenheit, and to make
monthly and quarterly reports to this
office, showing the test of eaoh ship
ment of oil that is permitted to go to
sale, and to remit the moneys belonging
to the state to the state treasurer. I
have kept a perfect record of all the
acts and doings of each inspector in
Georgia. Looking to the more thorough
inspection of oil sold in this state,* and
believing that we should jiave a better
grade than was then being sold, so early
as last winter, when the legislature
was in session, I requested that body
to permit me to appoint an oil
inspector for the state at large, whoso
dnty it should be to overlook the work
of the looal inspectors, to aee that
their instruments were in proper condi
tion, to «ee that the methods employed
in inspecting oil were proper and uni
form, as recommended by the state
chemist. In addition to this, it would
be hie duty, acting in co-operation with
the local inspectors, to see that every
tank, barrel or package of oil that came
into the state was properly inspected and
branded before the same should be per
mitted to go to sale. While 1 make no
charge or insinuation against either of
ths oil companies now doing business in
this state, at the same time I roncoive it
to be the dnty of this department to see
that none but pure oil is permitted to
go to sale, in order that the life and
property of the people shall be fully
and amply protected. Entertaining
these views, I urged the legislature to
pass the bill refered to; but for some
reason it failed to recoive tbo sanction
of that body. Therefore, I have been
forced to rely entirely upon the looal
inspectors and npou my personal efforts
to see that the requirements of the law
are complied with. The result of these
efforts have boen shown by tbe letter of
the state chemist to me, and by the or
ders subsequently issued by this depart
ment, all of which will be fonud tflse-
were in this monthly talk. I have been
as diligent as possible in protecting the
people, and in every way that I could
under the present law, which I re
garded as defeetivo in many particu
lars. However, the people from now
need have no fear that any spurious oils
will be sold in this state. Dnring the
preseut mourh I have seized and con
demned about 700,000 gallons of oil,
at different points, carofnl unalyqjs
by the state chemist and oil inspectors
in those places having shown said
oil to be below the safety test requi^l
by the laws of Georgia. The refiner?'
have been notified to bring said oil np
to the legal standard, or else lomovo it
from the state, and I shall see to it that
this ordor is strictly enforced. I have
made it a personal duty to soc that the
various inspectors of the state inspect
properly and scientifically tbe oils that
pass through their hands; and I hope
when the legislature meets it will give
us such laws as will more fully and am
ply protect the people in this state.
THE CROPS.
I regret to say that in many parts
of our state we have had no rain for
from eight to nine weeks, and
in some seotions the corn crop,
it would appear, will be almost a
failure. The cotton is quite small,
but with good seasons from now on we
may have a fairly good crop. I
urge onr farmers to commence at the
earliest moment to save all the
forage they can, in order to help out the
short crop, and early in the seasou they
should put in plenty of oats and wheat,
that it may not be necessary to buy
feed stuff next spring and summer.
In conclusion, let me again urge upon
the farmers of Georgia to continue the
reform in our system of farming. We
should by all means raise everything
possible that is need upon the farm, at
home, thereby making onr cotton crop v
a surplus. Let ns make one more des
perate effort to raise onr own provi
sions, and oompost onr own fertilisers,
and breed onr own stock, and just so }
far as possible pay cash for everything
ws buy. We cannot afford to bny pro
visions st time prices, and raise cotton
to sell st ths present market value. Tkia
means rain to the farmers and will hold
in check the progress of onr entire
state. Ton will note in eaoh commu
nity that the fanners who prosper era
ths com raisers, the men who raise their
own supplies and make ootton n sur
plus crop, L therefore, earnestly urge
yon to adopt this system and provide
on your farm ths things that are used
at your horns. When we have aoaont-
plished this ws have reached the paint
of prosperity, and not only will the
fanners be benefited, but every class of
people to Georgia.
CL B. Btsvens, OommUsioner.