The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1882-03-09
The Law and the Guano.

COLUMBIA, March 4.
Some days since stated that there WAS
similarity between the law governing
the sn!e Of commercial fertilizers in this
State and the law in Georgia. The law
in both States Is designed To control the
sale OF fertilizers, to protect the farmer
from being imposed upon by unscrupu-
lous manufacturers and dealers and to
raise n revenue. So far there is SINH
larity between the provisions Of the two
States, but there are differences in detail
which will not be uninteresting TO the
public. The law in Georgia, "a am in
formed by guano agent, distinctly states
that no ammoniated guano shall be sold
that contains less than two per cent of
ammonia and eight per cent Of available
phosphoric acid If it do not contain
two per cent. of ammonia and ei.,. per
cent. of available phosphoric acio, it is
confiscated or rather taken from the
market
In South Carolina the law requires
that all gunno sold must come up to the
analysis MS branded on every sack or
other package in which the fertilizers
may be offered for sale, by stencil or tag
attached to the same. The Law does not
prescribe tho percentage of any ingredi-
cnt entering into the comnosilion Of the
fertilizers offered for sale 1t simply re.
quires that every bag, barrel or other
package of fertilizers or commercial ma.
nures shall have thereon label or stamp
truly setting forth the name, location and
trade mark of the manufacturer, the
chemical composition of the contents of
the package and the percentage of GER
tain ingredients. Any manufacturer, for
instance, can make and offer for sale in
this State n fertilizer containing only
per cent. Of ammonia and per cent. Of
available phosphoric acid. 1t is claimed
that the law in this State opens the mar
ket to low grade goods and that the law
in Georgia prevents the sale of any goods
which do not come up to the standard
analysis established by the State. In
other words, the law in Georgia compels
the farmer to buy fertilizer containing
n certain percentage of ammonia and
phosphoric acid whether he wants to do
80 or not, and whether or not the charac-
ponding in its principal constituents with
the standard established by the State
Government
Many times the farmer has abundance
of material for composing mis- own fer
tilizers, and there is no good reason why
he should be compelled 10 buy CONNER
cial fertilizer containing certain per-
centage of ammonia or an acid phosphate
containing certain percentage of phos-
phoric Gcid. In Georgia tho law is pa
ternal, in South Carolina it ia simply
protective. In south Carolina the law
takes it for granted that the farmer knows
the kind of fertilizer he wants to use, that
ho understands the character of his soil
aud that he is offered ample protection
from irresponsible and unscrupulous
dealers by requiring every package of
fertilizers sold in this State to come up
to the guaranteed analysis filed in the
Office OF the Commissioner of Agricul-
ture. In Georgia the farmer has to buy
and pay for a guano containing per
cent. of ammonia whether he needs 1t or
not. Some men do not take more than n
tablespoonful Of brandy for a dram
more than that quantity would set their
brains or iire-but it would be hard
ship OH the old topper who can swallow a
gill of whiskey without effect If the Leg
islature should require the bar. keepers to
sell drinks by the spoonful aud not by
the glass.
a great many interestings things might
be written about the trade in commercial
fertilizers, and comparison of The reg
ulat'ons controlling the market in the
different States would not be uninstruc-
tive hut without going into any exhaus-
tive review i: is sufficient now TO say that