The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-03-26

their brands to show up, and of the loss
of trade consequent upon the publication,
it seldom happens that the sample falls
below grade. This system protects the
honest manufacturers, and if there be any
dishonest, they also are made to toe the
mark.
You will readily see what serious re-
suits might ensue upon the carelessness
or rascality Of any persons through whose
| hands these samples have to pass.
Under the license no record could be
made of the amount OF fertilizers sold
in the State. But under the present
system the receipt for tags should indi.
cate very accurately the amount sold
In 1891, when the new law was en-
acted, necessarily some confusion was
consequent upon the change of system.
SO that the receipts for that year are not
to be taken as absolutely accurate. Re
cejpts as recorded:
1S91-Auditor's Report. " $50, 972. 90
1S92-Auditor's Report. -. D.. 26,O4453
Secretary Burners S26,O67.2S).
IS9o-. ..... 36,366.67
1894. ..... ..... 32,S1O.57
lS9o-.... ..... 2S,476.01
Properly add $3.50. .)..... 323.75
1896. 80. -........ 46,96S.67
A comparison OF receipts for the cur
rent year to this date with receipts to
same date last year shows
Up to March %, 1896. -. $50, SO
Up to March 23, 1897. .... 32,327.73
FARMERS INSTITUTES.
The holding Of Farmers Institutes was
begun in 1887, but was suspended after
the adverse decision of the courts affect
ing the use of the funds of the De-
partnlent. The preceding Board direct
ed the prosecution of this work in the
summer Of 1895. placing the Commission
er in charge OF it. Since that time,
aided by the officers specified in the law.
/ have conducted Institutes in some forty
five counties of the State.
In order to relieve this branch of the
Departments work from any compl
| cations with the fertilizer tax, or conflict
with the courts decision, the Board at
| the December meeting, recommended to
| the Legislature an appropriation Of ST.
| 500 for this special work. A bill prOvid-
| ing for this was introduced, but was
| never acted on.
The question is therefore presented to
your Board whether you will still prose-
| cute this important means Of reaching
| to excite renewed interest and better
methods in that most important of all
our NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
The Institute system has become so
popular in the great agricultural States
of the North and West, large sums of
| money are appropriated by the Legisla-
| lures of those States for conducting
| them. The meeting together of farmers
| to discuss matters of interest to them
| selves is of itself improving and stimu-
| lating. No one man has ever learned or
will ever know all about farming-the
| interchange Of ideas and results OF ex-
| 'perments among farmers themselves,
| the aid and instruction to be given by
| men have made a life time study from a
| scientific as well as a practical stand
point must be and is advantageous. AS
l the proceedings of the Institutes have
| been published in the Bulletin from time
| to time, greater interest is manifested
| among the farmers, and applications
for Institutes have become more numer-
| Gus.
While j cannot say that the Institutes
| have been largely attended as a general
rule, for their character and purpose
are usually not understood, we are nearly
| always assured by those present of the
| interest they have felt and benefits de-
| rived. and they give assurances of a
| larger attendance on our coming again.
THE BULLETIN.
The most useful agency of the Depart
| ment in making its work known to the
| people of the State is the monthly Bull
letin. In this is contained all the regis
| trations Of the different brands of fer
tilizers and their guaranteed claim, and
| the analyses of samples taken by the
| inspectors of all fertilizers found on sale
| in the State.
These are of the greatest value to the
farmers who use large quantities, and en-
able them to secure such fertilizers as
| may be best adapted to the particular
| crop for which it is intended. Outside of
| these publications, it has been the pur-
pose to make the Bulletin of as great in
terest to farmers as possible within it's
legitimate sphere. 1t is not an agricuk
tural paper, and is forbidden by law not
to come into competition with the news
papers Of the State. Within the past
eighteen months its circulation has been
| increased from 5000 to over 10000
copies.
| am quite sure that the Bulletin is
growing in the appreciation Of the farm
ers, and that it is largely through it that
the Department has been brought into
closer touch with them than ever before
in IFS history