The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-03-20

tru Gentleman is q strong argument Tor the
Agricultural! Department as proposes in
bill now before the House OF Delegates. We
commend it to the attention Of the mem
bers Of the Legislature
FERTILIZERS AND THE LAW.
The forbearance and long-sutfering Of
farmers are proverbial. They have proba
hlv obtained this reputation, however, be
cause their unwieldy numbers, not having
stabbed the science OF cooperation, are no'
able to utter united voice, which might
he most potential. The three hundred thou
sand farmers OF New York have great in.
terests, in many directions that require the
protection OF law, but they seldom trouble
the law-making powers, modestly receiving
what is occasionally given them out OF the
exuberant generosity Of their servants. .
One Of the most significant steps in the
advancement OF agriculture within the iaS'
quarter OF a century has been the recosni'
ton OF the principle that plants are depend
emit upon the amount OF soluble food IN the
soil in immediate contact with their roots,
and that it is unreasonable to expect crop
without feeding it. And in order to feed
their crops farmers have largely sought the
aid of commercial manurcs. The sale OF
these fertilizers has increased ten-iold in
this State within as many years. especially
among the farmers proper. These farm
crs are not experts in detecting aduitera-
tons: on the other hand, they become
easy victims OF fraudulent compounds.
There has not, probably, been greaterswind-
ling done in any other one line than in that
of commercial manures. The extent OF the
cheat is bounded only by the conscience OF
the operator. / am glad to say, however,
that conscience is as prompt and active III
many manufacturers Of commercial fertll-
zers as in that Of any other class, and that
they endeayor to sell an article equal to the
representation but this delicate sense OF
honesty can be applied to only small pro-
portion OF those who manufacture and han
die these manures.
In the State OF Georgia, which passed an
efficient law in 1874 for the protection OF
purchasers Of these fertilizers, the Commits
sloner OF Agriculture OF that State tells us
that when these manures were to be sub
mitted to the test of analysis large num-
Der OF them were Immediately withdrawn
from sale in the State, and the average OF
those that remained on sale and subjected
to the chemical test were raised in actua
standard value sixteen per cent, and the
average price lowered so as to make, in
GLIDING gain in quality, difference in favor
Of the purchaser Of about twenty-three pei
cent. In single year, amounting to a saving
in the State OF $559,l6S.
An experimental station has been estab
llshed in Connecticut, and all manufacturer!
have submitted to the test Of analysis. Thl
has already operated to raise the STANDARD
of fertilizers in that State and Massachu
sets. The inevitable tendency OF this is K
drive al fertilizers OF low grade into mar
kets where no tests are required, and New
York will be likely to get the lions share o.
these. Is not this great State capable OF pro
tecting the honest tillers Of her soil from
these most discouraging losses? A bill In
tended for such protection was introduced
into the Legislature last year, but failet
from the supposed influence Of certain
manufacturers. know at least one larg
manufacturer who labored for its passage
and there could be no reason why an homes
one should oppose it.
Such law is imperatively needed-tirst
to protect purchasers, nineteen-twentieth
OF whom can tell nothing about the value Q
such fertilizers by an examination; second
to protect honest manufacturers, who nov
furnish valuable article in Competitio
with those OF little value, the purchasers be
ing unable to determine the difference
third, all fertilizers of low grade tend to dis
courage the use OF all commercial manures
and to prevent Improvement in agricul
turc. r, e-
! understand that such bill has been In
troduced at the present session Of the Legis
lature. and it is to be hoped that farmers al
over the State will urge their members to Sc
that its merits are thoroughly examined
and that an efficient law be passed to pro
tect this great interest. L. WIS.