The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-02-07
Experimental.
Col. POlk's Third Annual Report.
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK.

Col. Folks Third Annual Report.
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK.
OPERATION OF THE FERTILIZER CONTROL
STATION.
For information in detail as to the
operations Of this branch of the De-
partment, / respectfully refer you to
the report Of the Director in Charge,
DIR. A. r. Ledoux, herewith submit
ted:
The State Treasurer reports Licenses
issued for the sale of the following
brands of Fertilizers since your meet
ing in October.
Fl. Preston & Sons, New York. 81.
Preston & Sons Superphosphate."
Jno. r. Long & Co., Baltimore, Md.
Longs Prepared Chemicals for Com
posting"
Navassa Guano Co., Wilmington, n.
G.. "Navassa Acid Phosphate"
This places OF our market thirtv-two
brands of fertilizers, and doubtless
others will be added before the OPEN
ing of the spring trade. That provis-
ion of the act imposing the privilege
tax is heartily and unanimously en-
dorsed by our farmers. In addition to
the security afforded them by the re-
peated and published analyses of our
Chemist, is the assurance that the ex-
istence of this law keeps from our
market spurious and worthless arti-
cles which it's faithful enforcement
would certainly detect and expose.
They endorse it as a shield against the
shameless fraud and imposition hith-
erto largely practiced upon them, and
the mere act of placing a brand on our
market which must submit to a fair
test, commends it to their confidence.
Some of the companies represented
on our list, and among them some of
the leading manufacturers of the coun-
try, since examining the law carefully
have not only expressed their entire
satisfaction with it, but the hope that
it may continue in force so long as it
is faithfully and impartially executed.
AS to the action of the combination
of certain manufactures that institu-
ted proceeding against u State Treas
urer to contest the cOnStitutiOnality of
this tax, and of which mention was
made in my first report, l have no ad-
ditional information. Of one thing
however, l feel assured, hat whatever
may be the decision on that action,
should it be prosecuted to an issue,
this or some similar law will be de-
manded by the people for their pro-
lection. 1t is gratifying to state that
the methods adopted for procuring
samples and for analyzing them, so
far as l have been able to learn, have
generally oeen satisfactory to the man
ufacturers, and l am induced to con-
Glued from correspondence and inter-
views with representatives of various
companies, that when the law and the
manner and spirit of it's enforcement
be thoroughly understood that
all opposition to it will be withdrawn.
The shipments into the State since my
last report, being only to supply the
fall trade, have been comparatively
light, but the delivery of stock for the
trade will soon begin, when /
hope to procure samples of all the
now authorized to be sold in
the State and have them analysed.
ARTIFICIAL PROPAGATION OF FISH.
In addition to the shad fry Matched
out in our own waters last spring and
distributed under the direction of your
Board, we obtained in July last through
Prof. j. w. Miner of the U. s. Fish
Commission, 81, 0OO, which were trans
ported safely and in healthy condition
from the hatchery at Holyoke, Mass,
and distributed to verious rivers as
follows:
To the Yadkin river $4,000.
I" Haw " 10. o
Catawba 81, 200.
Tar 1000.
&" Contentnea" 81. 900.
The act establishing the Department,
although not ratified until the 12th
day of March, evidently contemplated
immediate action on the part of the
Board, n lnstituting measures for the
prosecution of this branch of it's duties
although the Board was organized
by the middle of April. it was found
lmpr2ctlcable to accomplish much
with the SO far advanced. still
the efforts put forth were rewarded
with a gratifying measure of success
n site selected at Swananoa Gan
for the erection of a Hatchery for the
of Salmon, Trout and
other species adapted to our mountain
streams, proved to be well suited to
n purpose. Under the supervision
OF MIR. w. F. /. age, of Lynchburg, Va,
VINO was employed to take it in charge.
by Mr.. S. G. Worth. of Fay-
ettevllle, the house with all necessary
was constructed.
We obtained through Prof. S. F.
Baird, U. S. Commissioner. $50. 900
eggs OF the California Salmon, which
were received in bad condition, and
many unavoidable disadvantages at
tended the labors of these gentlemen
perfectlng the necessary arrange
ments, yet they succeeded in Matching
out 234. 600, which all things consider |
was a line success. When sufficient