The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-03-02
HUMIDITY TIE CAusn OFT
Why Some Brands of Fertilizers ar
Often Wet.


Often Wet
Editor Morning NetCs: Your several edi-
torial references TO the fertilizer trade have
suggested TO me the idea of addressing Won
upon the same subject, in the belief that
my communication will be Of interest. not
only 20 my fellow farmers and to fertilizer
manufacturers and dealers, but also to all
citizens concerned for the prosperity Of Sa-
vannah.
Under the present law no INSPECTOR is en-
titled Co his salary unless he deposits in the
state treasury double the amount collected
from fees. Savannah beinl the center of
the trade inspectors are sent here annually
from Atlanta in the hope OF earning their
pay as assisting inspectors. One is here at
present in that capacity, and
my sickness of twelve days. Heretofore
the reports OF previous commissioners of
agriculture have shown only the amount OF
work done by each inspector, without aav
reference TO the places of inspection. but
Mr.. Nesbitt very willingly promised to
adopt my suggestion, and TO give each port
or place OF entry, credit for its trade In
fertilizers in his report.
Up to the evening Of the Goth l have
personally inspected, during February,
Al, 43l tons. On Feb. 10 a very emphatic
complaint was made by letter against the
very wet condition in which a certain
brand OF fertilizers had Just been delivered
with the inquiry whether ] had possibly
inspected it in that state. (Of course notO <
few minutes after the receipt of the letter the
manufacturer presented himself, and in
much excitement, urgently requested an
Immediate investigation, as other truck
farmers had returned similar goods for the
same reason. After an examine ton of the
few pounds left of that particular brand
and the surroundings. | climbed TO the roof
OF the factory to satisfyi myself that no
possible leakage could initiate against
my belief that the dampuess
was solely attributable to absorption
from the atmosphere. But feeling
convinced that oaly an extraordinary
amount of atmospheric humidity
could possibly account for the ex-
listing state of affairs. 1 applied to
the United States signal officer for his rec
ord of hygrometric observations for the
preceding fortnight. He kindly furnished
me with the accompanying very interesting
table for the fertilizer trade. from
which it will be seen that the
average OF the preceding fourteen
days exceeds the normal Of Febru-
airy for fifteen years by 1873. and that the
maximum of two separate days exceeds it
by 293.
All fertilizers are affected In the same
manner, though to a much less degree than
these high grade heterogeneous brands, par
tlcularly in those where nitrate of soda has
been used as a source of nitrogen. |, there
fore, wish to say to my fellow farmers, not
only Of this community, but of the state,
that II any of them have noticed in this
period a greater amount of moisture in
fertilizers (unexposed to Indictment weather.
which have been inspected here than is IN
Dictated on the analysis, the act is pro baby
attributable to natural causes and not to
any dishonesty Of the manufacturers
SAVANNAH, GA, Feb 19, 81
Relative humidity at Savannah. Ca, from
Feb 5h TO 18th, both dates inclusive, 1891.