Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1892-03-08
MIscELLANEous.
OF Interest to Farmers.

Bulletins Nos. 1S and 10 of the
West Virginia Agricultural Expert
ment Station have justbeen received,
No. IS contains the Act Concerning
Commercial Fertilizers. This re-
quires all fertilizers sold in this State
to be analyzed at the Experiment
Station, and that every bag of ferti-
lizer shall bear tag, furnished by
the Station, giving the essential in
gradients the brand contains, and its
commercial value per ton in dollars
and cents. Any manufacturer or
yender offering for sale any CONNER
cial fertilizer in this State without
having samples previously analyzed
and securing certificate from the
director will be fined, upon convic-
ton, not less than $50 or more than
$500.
The bulletin also contains the affi-
davit required; directions for taking
samples of fertilizers; instructions
to manufacturers and general agents;
valuation for ingredients; and table
showing the results of the analysis of
85 brands, complying with the law of
1891, and giving their value per ton,
based upon the value of the inere-
dients found. This table shows that
27 per cent. of the brands of com
mercial fertilizers sold in West yir-
ginia fell below the manufacturers
guarantee.
Bulletin 10, Weeds as Fertili-
zers," /" by the botanist, is the first
one of a series of four which will ap-
pear on &c Your Weeds and Your
Neighbors." This bulletin details
that 49 weeds were selected by the
botanist and submitted to the chem
ist for analysis. The value of each
per ton is then given, based upon the
value of each constituent mentioned,
showing that our common weeds are
worth from s3.4o to $21 per dry ton
for fertilizers
Under the following heads. in
structions are given to show how these
values may be returned to the soil:
SCATTERING Weeds for COMPOSING -
Where to Build the CompostHeap, "
Methods of Building the Field
Heap and " Methods of Building
the Barn-Yard Heap" concluding
that the farmer will gain, if the meth
DDS are properly conducted:
lst. The plant food of which the
weeds have robbed the soil.
I'd. A decrease of weeds the fol-
lowing season, in direct proportion
to the countless thousands of weed
seeds thatthese processes willdestroy.
3D.. Fields easier to work and crops
cheaper to cultivate.
4th. Cheaper pastures, with more
room for good grass.
9th. Sleek stock, yielding better
milk and beef.
9th. Healthier homes and cleaner
surroundings.
We understand that bulletins upon
Experiments with Fertilizers on
Potatoes and Tomatoes, . 9. Methods
of Dealing with Injurious Insects
and Plant Diseases" and several
others of Importance to our farmers
are being made ready for publication.
The mailing list of the bulletins is
now being revised. and hereafter
they will only be sent to those who
ask for them; however, name and
address once placed on the new list,
by request, will remain there, and
have copy of all future bulletins
sent to it, free of cost, until ordered
to be changed or removed.
Our agricultural friends should moi
miss reading these publications,
which a postal card sent to the West
Virginia Experiment Station, Nor
gantown, with their address plainly
written thereon, will secure.
It's sweet to live, but oh I! how bitter-to be