Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-12-01
Agricultural.
THE VERMONT Law
In Relation to the Manufacture and
sale Of Commercial Fertilizers.


sale OF Commercial Fertilizers.
All the states adjoining Vermont, and most
of tho other states of the Union, have enact.
cd laws designed to protect farmers from inn
position in the sale Of commercial fertilizers.
With such laws in force in the states around
us, Vermont was left unprotected, thus invit-
ing the importation and sale of fraudulent
fertilizers that could not be manufactured or
sold in other states without mourning the risk
of severe penalties The farmers of this state
are, happily, no longer less protected in this
matter than their brethren of other states.
The act in relation to commercial fertilizers,
which passed both branches of the legislature
in the last days of the session, was prepared
with great care and thoroughly considered by
the joint committees on agriculture. Mr.
Bradley and representatives of other manu-
facturers were before the committees, chem
lists were consulted as well as the best legal
counsel of the state, and the pr opposed law was
carefully compared with those of other states
As far as law can prevent the sole of bogus
or fraudulent fertilizers, Vermont has now,
probably the most perfect and efficient pro-
visions of any state in the Union.
The law requires manufacturers and i'm
porters of commercial fertilizers sold or offer
ed for sale in this state to obtain a license
from the state treasurer for each kind of fer
tilizer sold, and $50 is to be paid to the state
annually for each license. Manufacturers and
importers of commercial fertilizers are also
required to give bond with sureties residing
in the state, in the sum of $4,000, conditioned
for the payment of forfetures and costs for
violations of the provisions of the act the
bond to be filed with the state treasurer.
Packages must be marked with a label Civ
ing net weight and constituent parts of the
fertilizer, the percentage of nitrogen, potash,
soluble reverted and insoluble phosphoric
acid. The penalty for the violation of any
provision of the act is $1,000, and it is made
the duty of the secretary of the Board of Ag-
riculture to notify the state treasurer of all
violations of the law, which he shall prose
cute on the bond, to final Judgment in the
name of the state.
The term Commercial fertilizer" is very
clearly defined in the act and it is provided
that it shall not apply to the ingredients used
in manufacturing when sold in their separate
| or pure condition, as bone meal, land plaster,
lime, ashes, or any substance which is the
product of nature and has not been com.
| pounded.
The penalty for selling or keeping for sale
commercial fertilizers not marked with labels
as specified by the law is 5000.
The chemist of the state agricultural college
at Burlington is made state chemist for the
purpose Of this law. 1t is made the duty OIL
the secretary of the state Board of Agricul
ture to draw at least three samples each yea
from packages of each brand of fertilizer
kept for sale within the state, without pre-
vious notice of such drawing to the manufac
turer, agent or dealer. Each sample 80 draw
is divided into three parts, placed in tin o.
glass vessels, and securely sealed. Ono sam
pie is kept by the agent or dealer, one by tn,
secretary of the Board, and one sent to tn,
state chemist for analysis.
penalty of $1,000 is imposed upon an,
state chemist or secretary of the Board o
| Agriculture who shall collide with any man
ufacturer, agent or dealer to violate or evad
the provisions of the law.
The chemist of the state agricultural col
lege receives fee of So for each analysis
The secretary of the Board receives so cent
for recording each license, and 81 per day an,
travelling expenses for time spent in drawing
samples; provided that the sum paid into til
state treasury for license for any one bran
shall pay all the fees for the analysis, ETC., o
that brand.
THE law is certainly sufficiently stringen
and guarded. The objection might, perhaps
be made to it, that a farmer or any individua
or company who should desire to manufactur
and sell few tons to supply a local or HON
demand would be virtually prohibited and
further that not nearly all of the hundred
of manufacturers of fertilizers will compl
with the conditions of the law, and thus CON
petition in the sale of fertilizers within tn
state will be diminished But it would be dill
ficult to devise law equally effective agains
fraud and imposition that would obviate thes
objections.
Senator Cutting Of this county was one O
the most efficient members in perfecting an
securing the passage of this law.