Smyrna times., 1885-09-02

analyses, but also with a notion that
the work of the State Chemist is an in
jury to the farmers. In what we shall
say, while we are actuated entirely by
desire to correct some notions of his
that manifestly are wrong, it may be-
come necessary to touch on some
points previously made in the public
prints. First" Farmers inquiry of
Doctor Wolf as to what phOsphates are
the reputed standard fertilizers" OBJ
viously warrants the inference that he
misapprehends the business and duties
of the State Chemist. Now let us see
if we can-what the intent and OBJ
ject of the law is, what the business
and duty of the State Chemist opera
ting under its mandates are-fOr he is
merely so far the laws instrument
and ascertain if possible whether or
not it can fairly be characterized as
useless, and the chemist as an injury
to the farmers. If the law is complied
with every package of fertilizers-as
set forth within its prOvisiOns-manu-
iactured or offered for sale within this
State will have printed thereon the
number of pounds and guaranteed
analysis, or per centages of certain ele-
ments contained therein; and if any
manufacturer or vender shall misrep-
resent the quantities or qualities, he
shall upon conviction thereof be
deemed guilty of misdemeanor and
fined two hundred dollars for the
first, and three hundred for each subse-
quent Offense. The State Chemist will
also under certain prescribed forms,
draw sample of every such goods,
make an analysis thereof, and at GER
tain stated times publish the same in
two newspapers of each county of the
State, all without cost to the farmers
1t further provides that any farmer
who may by u simple compliance with
its provisions ascertain that he has
been defrauded by reasons Of INSULT
cheney III quantity or quality Of GER
tain constituents, recover d0uGLe the
| amount of the sum demanded bv the
manufacturer or Vender. PERHAPS il
may he we'll that we state that the
compliance required by this latter pro-
vision is that the farmer shall draw "a
fair sample Of the goods in the presence
of Il witness, get disinterested bartv
to forward to the State Chemist who
shall make an analysis of it. for which
he is entitled to fee of five dollars. on
the receipt of which he is COMPELLED To
give certificate OF analysis. This ecr-
titicate or record must be received in
any court in the Stale as complete and
final evidence of the quality of the
goods in question. We have now be-
fore US the general scope and intent of
the law so far as it applies to the farm
ers. And how does it benefit us? In
the first place the farmer is put in Dos
session of information that must be of
great value in guiding him in the pur-
chase Of fertilizers The manufacturer
Is compelled to state on the very face
of every package what per centage of
various fertiliZing elements his goods
contain. That statement he is COM
PEELED to guarantee under stringent
penalties. The truth of the statement
is tested by the published results of the
Chemists analysis of samples drawn
by himself. All Of this comes without
the cost to the farmer Of one red cent.
BY the expenditure of five dollars. the
farmer may have an analysis made OF
the material taken from the packages
which he himself has purchased. Thus
it informs him of what he is buying
so far as per cottages are concerned
while the pig is yet in the package and
gives him redress if the pig proves diff.
terent from representations when it
comes out. How can that prove an in.
jury? How can it fail to prove an ad.
vantage? Shall such knowledge thus
obtained of these almost indispensable
aids to farmers be by any sensible. un.
prejudiced, fair minded man character
lied as valueless? Impossible, that in.
formation placed in reach of a purchas.
er which will enable him to determine
if correctly used-whether he get.
that which has been guaranteed amC
for which he has paid an agreed sun
should be so considered seems incredi.
BILE.
The Office and duties of the State
Chemist under the law are the ascer-
tainment, not of the number of pounds
that may be in a bag, barrel, or othel
package, not whether or not it is a
"reputed standard fertilizer" no
whether it will be of more benefit tc
AS than BIS land, not to regulate the
price of ammonia, phOsphOric acid anC
potash for Pennsylvania or New Jersey
not whether Farmer" can get better
results from the use of that especial fer
tilizer-regardless of the crude mater
ials from which its valuable ingredient!
are Obtained-than another, on lane
that the State Chemist perhaps never
saw, not of his. Farmers" ability t,
reliably estimate simply by view a dif
ference of two or three bushels-per
haps enough to pay the difference in
price between low and high-grad,
phOsphate-Of wheat per acre. No
but to determine the percentage of Ger
tain enumerated ingredients. The ex
periepce Of Farmer " as stated by
himself, in the use of high and low
grade phOsphates fairly justifies tn,
inference that, he has arrived at hi
conclusions not from any positive lanC
and bushel measurements, but simply
by the very common mode of determi
nation, viz: by casting the eyes over 4
given piece of land and estimating
Does he undertake to assert that ht
can by this mode or any other, short o
something positive, discern difference
of two or three bushels-enOugh per.
haps to dOubly pay the difference il
price between high and lOw-grad,
fertilizer-per acre of wheat? We al
know how careful and accurate We
must be to fairly determine these
things and yet men will upon the mos
careless guess work, and with undOubt
ed sincerity, declare the relative re
suits of fertilizers. 1t will be OBJ
served, Mr.. Editor, that we have mad,
no attempt at a discussion of the rela
tive merits of phosphates or phosphate
materials, or undertaken anything
more than reply to some points o
Farmers" communication One
other point only and we shall close
Farmer intimates that DIR. Wolf has
advised against the use of low-grade
phOsphates. We presume he refers tC
II passage in the Doctors last Oficia
report to the Governor. The passage
in question most positively gives nC
such advice. The Doctors batterie.
were turned against "lOw-grade arti
cles Of doubtful UGLue," and his advice
was that farmers should buy "Only by
guaranteed analyses" which, mark you
Is the way manufacturers insist OF
buying their crude materials. 1t woulC
seem altogether unnecessary for " Far.
mer " to go out of his way to twist
! Derftact lV nrOOpr ayDrASSiOn IN tho no ,.