Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-10-18
ETantlS I'M Fertilizers

OF Sucn Iraululent wares at the COnneCu-
cut agricultural experimental station as
published under What Others Say" in
this issue. A small difference between |
the cost of fertilizers per ton, may easily |
exist without any dishonest intent on the |
part of the manufacturer, but when $3.50 !
per ton are charged for an article worth |
only $50 20, It is impossible for even the
most charitable nncompoop TO see in the
transaction anything but an atrocious
swindle, that reflects shame on every one
connected with the sale. The detection
OF such outrages on the commonest sort of
honesty is a sufficient reason for the
existence of the chemical department of
experiment stations, and stringent laws
should be comprehensive enough to pun
ish every person engaged in penetrating
them. The Connecticut law on this
subject, which went into effect on the first
of the current month, holds the seller of
fertilizer that retails at $40 or more per
ton responsible for affixing a correct label
on every package sold or offered for sale.
us well as for the payment of an analysis
fee OF $40 for each fertilizlng ingredient
the fertilizer contains or is claimed to
contain, unless the manufacturer or i'm.
porter shall have provided labels and
paid the fee. The law also provides that
certified statement of the composition,
net weight, etc., of each lot shall be sent to
the experiment station, together with a
sealed sample, that every dealer in CONNER
cial fertilizers shall annually report certain
specified facts to the director. Just rs the
chemical work Of the Connecticut expert
ment station is the model for that of other
stations, so the laws that render its func-
tons effective should have weighty con
sidcration in determining sim liar enact
ments in other states. We do not alto
gether approve Of some of the provisions
Of he Connecticut law; still. rs these
were doubtless suggested by Prof. S. w.
johnson, they are worthy OF consideration
The main thing is to fix the responsibility
sharply for every oflense, as well as the
responsibility for securing punishment.
There is sad lack of definite responsible
ty in our penal legislation as we'll as in
most OF our municipal governments.
rhe above, from the RWraI Ne,0 Yorker,
7rry crrrecoly voices the facts concerning
I've fruls in Commercial fertilizers, and
'c nee Of all legislation on the sub
81. g., ar state has lett our farmers gate
hoe. mercy of unprinciplcd manu(ac.
rrr' # this article, SO rapidly increasing
.4 use Hmoag or farmers. rht there
Should be some legislation on this matter
." the -tt,e or Gamers generally feel,
a.. 4. The winter meeting of the dairy
ANN ti'Iatuol lt,t Janplry, three Of
/ D. - n per, IS venerable ex-president,
81. .'ere Try Cine agricultural editor OF
FEGEN>N) and G. w. Whitney, Esq.
W .- ,ppJn.cd committee to bring the
natter to the attention of the present
legislature. Death has deprived the
committee Of the aid of its chairman,
whose large experience and extensive
rcQNlintence would have made most
vauoble, but the patent need of some law
il tie matter leaves little for the commit
tee 10 ID in the direction Of influencing
some protective action by the present
| legislature, and the wisdom of the
assembly will secure Il better act than any
sirgle committee could hope to frame.
The committee have, with the valuable
assistance Of members from both branches
of the assembly, got 4 bill drawn which
seems to meet the case in the main, and
which is modelled on the New Hampshire
-, law which is reported to have worked
very we'll.
1t does not seem just that the dealer in
the. state should be made responsible for
the tralls of the manufacturers, as in the
Connecticut law printed above. The
dealer con have no knowledge whether
the maker has affixed correct label of
ingredients or not, and we think his
liability should cease when the goods he
sells are in appearance all right. The
provisions Of the bill (Which will no doubt
be before the House before this IS pub.
Ii>hcdD are briefly that all manufacturers
Of fertilizers sold in the state shall pay a
license of fifty dollars-that they shall file
Il bond for ten thousand dollars that their
goods shall be as stated-that they shall
have on every package Of their goods a
plainly printed label, stating the net
weight of the fertilizer, the per cent Of
ammonia, potash and soluble and insoluble
pho>paoric acid, Each package shall also
have the manufacturer name and place
Of business end the d,te and number OF
his license on each package The penalty
IN" vocation of any of these provisions is
i've hundred dollars. The dealer in the
stale who sells fertilizers the makers Of
WmcI have not complied with the provs
ions name I, is liable to II fine of two hun
',rrd dollars bat is not liable if the formula
upon ;hc package is incorrect, his liability
, n't,c> when the plckage is daily labeled
| iS made the duty OF the secretary OF
d hoF' of agriculture to collect samples
.."v."i MS fertilizers sod in the state
i submit Them TO the agricultural
analysis. and il found to be
.@r"or 10 he formula on he package The
n1nHltcnrer is !lr1'o on his bond for The
.atuy Of five hundred dollars
b., tn, In' TO the more prominen
u.' lecturers OF fertilizers to say thai
tJ have expressed to the writer thei
approval OF some such bill which will
a il" protect the farmers an themselves
We ask of the legislature careful
3 z Il,
The bill submitted may at least be a bash
ON which II wise and judicious law may
Inc framed, and with this expectation
{ gentlemen of tho assembly, we submit