The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-10-10
Department OF Agriculture.

department. OF Agriculture.
Extracts from the September re-
port of Hon. l. l.. Polk, Commissioner.
Now that the various crops have
sufficiently matured to form an APP
proXimate estimate Of the yield, 1t Is
gratifying to be able to state hat we
are justified in the hope that ample
supplies will be harvested in most of
the counties for the demands Of the
people. Our farmers are gradually
devoting more thought, time and labor
to production of home supplies, and
when they shall make 1t a fixed policy
in our farm economy, they Will as
suredly enjoy its legitimate reward
independence and prosperity.
The reports from the principal cotton
growing counties indicate that we will
fall short of IN average aggregate
yield. There is a general complaint
OF the ravages OF insects and worms.
especially on garden products and tur-
nips. Three counties report a slight
distemper among cattle, and eight re-
port cholera among hogs to be very
destructive. With these exceptions
the general condition of stock is rep
resented to be COED throughout the
State.
Ouc Ol lllc SIlicl ucSlSllS VI llllo 1t-
partment is to aid our farmers, by all
proper available means, to make their
farms not only self-sustaining, but
ramunerative and profitable. And its
first duty in this regard, as is wisely
indicated by the Act establishing it,
is not so much the introduction of i'm
proved methods and systems, as to
check the ruinous drain upon the
profits of their earnings. No one item
involved such hazardous expenditure
on our farms as commercial fertilizers.
But it is no longer so; for, by excluding
spurious goods our market, and requir-
ing an analysis and an exposition Of
the chemical characters of all fertili-
zers offered to our farmers, they can
judge intelligently Of their compare
tive merit. But we must not stop
there. We must supply to our farmers
such information as will enable them
to substitute a manure Of equal merit,
if practicable, at less cost. At all
events, we must find manures hat
will give a better profit to the farmer
on the amount invested in them.
X K x II Y
1t is with pleasure that we announce
the completion of arrangements to
have analysed also any chemicals that
may be used in the manipulation Of
artificial In view of
the fact that our farmers are largely
increasing the use of chemicals, and
that they are more liable to be de-
frauded and imposed upon in these
than in the manufactured fertilizer, l
urge them to avail themselves OF the
protection afforded by our Analytical
Station, and have samples of chemi-
Gals analysed which they purchase.
1t will be seen also by reference toa
SYNOPSIS OF THE AIMS AND WORK OF
II FERTILIZERS CONTROL STATION,
as stated by DR.. Ledoux, that we are
prepared to analyZe seeds, determine
their character, germinatiye powers,
etc.
THE AGRICULTURAL MUSEUM AND THE
STATE FAIR.
Specimens of products from various
parts of the State, are coming in free
ly, in response to the appeal recently
made, and it is hoped that at the State
Fair each county will be creditably
represented. : Inventors
throughout our State are cordially
invited to send models of their inven-
tiOns to our Museum for permanent
eXhlOltlOn. 1t Is expected a a larger
number of persons will visit the State
Fair than has ever before been present,
and the officers of this Department
will gladly extend any courtesy to Wis
ltors that may contribute to their com
fort and pleasure. We hope to see all
the varied industries of u people
handsomely represented, and such
a gathering of the people as will in
fuse new life and vigor into all of our
industrial systems. l.. l.. POLK.
Commissioner.
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT AND FER
TILIZER CONTROL STATION OF THE DE-
PARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, CHAPEL
HILL, n. C.
With a view to increase the useful
ness of the Station, and extend its
benefits, attention is called to the fol-
lowing synopsis Of its aim and work j:
ANALYSIS OF FERTILIZERS.
Samples of every brand sold in the
; Stat are taken by the Commissioner