Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

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- 5® o: TTs Cl si O i 3 : cl! i i ■ s Mxhl4\clayton * Subscribe For The And keep 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.