The state chronicle., 1893-06-13
STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRI.
CULTURE.

A Brief Outline of What 1t is Doing
ST., ,OOO, 900 Saved to the Farmers
Voluminous Correspondence In All
Parts OF the Country Farmers Insti-
tutes Free Literature, &c.
To give in newspaper article
anything like an adequate idea of
the working of the Department of
Agriculture is very unsatisfactory
task, but as brief sketch will give
partial insight as to what is being
done and the benefits derived there
from, it will be of interest to the
general public. /
The work of the department is |
summed up under several headings, |
viz: Inspection and analysation of |
fertilizers; immigration, farmers in
stitutes, publication department and |
correspondence bureau. i
INSPECTION OF FERTILIZERS.
For seventeen years the work OF !:
fertilizer inspection and analysation
has been systematically conducted.
Previous to the Inauguration OF this
system of protection to the farmers,
all kinds of fertilizers and fertiliz-
ing material was being sold in the
State-good, bad and Indifferent,
and most of it of the latter kinds.
In the fertilizer trade, while there
are many excellent brands, there
are also many worthless ones offered
the farmers, who had no means
whatever of detecting the spurious
from the good. This is now RENE
died by the thorough inspection and
analysis of each and every brand
sold in the State. Since the adop-
ton OF this system the condition of
the trade in fertilizers has improved
each year. When the State fertil-
izsr law went into effect, in 1877, at
least eighty brands of worthless fer
tilizers were driven from the State
as unfit for use and practically of
no agricultural value. All the
7 brands admitted into the State began
to steadily climb in valuation, and
q most remarkable fact developed,
, which was, that the actual cash
prices paid for Fertilizers, by North
t Carolina farmers, decreased twenty.
five per cent, while the quality had
: improved fourteen per cent. This
). means saving to the farmers
of the State, from actual caicula
ton, OF over $1,0OO,000 per snnum
t and they get in addition an article
cne-seventh better. Now taking
/ the seventeen years that the De
B. partment has vigorously enforced
Q fertilizer laws, and you will have (
net saving of over $17,000,0OO.
y IMMIGRATION AND CORRESPONDENCE.
u The Commissioner of Agriculture
u is also by legislative enactment
q Commissioner of Immigration. Thi
4: branch of the Departments wor]
q necessitates the answering of thous
q ands of letters from all parts of tn
g. United States making inquire
q about the climate, resources ans
le advantages, and what inducement
IS that State offers for the investmen
% of capital. It is impossible to con
l. ceive of the number and varie
r questions that require personal COZ
le respondence, although the Depart
ment b number OF very vsluabl
% books aud other publications gi1
y ing information concerning th
l. State, such as the "Hand Book {
5s North Carolina" "Woods and Tin
a, bers of North Carolina," 'Ores {
Ill Moth Carolina" "Coal and Iro
y Counties of North Carolina" an
many other special bulletins, whic
OF go to make up the literature of th
n Department, which is sent free
all who make application.
TX As every farmer in the State hs
'e9- the right, and many of them d
On call upon the Department for il
sr' formation on all the many branch'
en- of agricultural science, and the D
IN partment does all in it's power
oot meet these demands, although mar
DE of the questions are very compile
requiring much investigation, esp
ne c'ally those relating to insecticide
OF diseases of plants and trees, ident
ne fcations and classifcations
70 grasses, plants, bugs, &c. Eve
IN, letter of enquiry is given immed
'eo ate attention and fled, copy beii
eV- retained for future reference. LII
VI: ters relating to the resources Of t
'eo State are not only answered, b
rec such publications are sent, as
ae, adequate to the request.
lou FARMERS INSTITUTES.
ors Farmers Institutes have be-
IRE held for years. They are conduct
'rl- by the Commissioner of Agricultu
or. together with the Professors of
Oh Agricultural and Mechanical @
1or lege, and are authorized by t
Board of Agriculture. They 8
usually held during what is term
- the farmers vacation, or after
W. W. crops are laid by. The institut
'1 ~ have been productive of great goo
,nS ~ they have had tendency to ma
';an @ not only workers, but thinkers, a
~ r,or have created a strong desire for {
ricultural information.
4ho Thousands Of farmers, in aim
49, 49, every section of the State have
haS tended and listened attentively
a.a 49, the addresses on the methods a