The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1899-08-17
FERTILIZERS AND oils
Commissioners O. p. Stevens
Monthly Talk 10 Farmers.
Partial Reviewpf the Work Of the Ag-
ricuiturai Department to Date.

PARTIAL Reviewer the Work of the Ag.
| ricuiturai Department. to Date.
| When first came into the agriculs
ural department.. believing that she pub
lie demands required that we should
have perfect record OF all the acts and
doings in this department., 80 that the
people AZ all times might be able TO ger
such infornation as we could furnish
or that the public might desire. inau
gurated thorough syssem Of bookkeep
ing. by means Of which this information
could be readily obtained. For want Of
sufficient means with which TO do the
work of the department, we have been
handicapped to some extent. However,
the records are in such shape that any
matter pertaining to this Office can be
fully and perfectly understood. and
every item that comes into the depart
ment or goes out OF it is fully accounted
for. believe that the public is entitled
to know what this department of the
state government is doing.
ON THE QUESTION OF FERTILIZERS.
Having had some 30 years experience
in the use of fertilizers. and having
some knowledge of the ingredients
which go to make up these mixtures.
have done my best to see that consumers
should be thoroughly protected. as is
now provided for by law. With this
object in view have visited in person
. number. of the larger manufacturing
establishments and examined the crude
material. to satisfy myself that it was
such as would produce good and
was suited to the purpose for which it
was intended-that Of supplying the
elements OF wholesome crop food.
These personal inspections have been
thorough. and / hope have brought
about good results Early in last Feb
ruary l published in the press of the
state the following article:
Upon the question of fertilizers there
has heretofore been great conn laint
among the people OF the state-espe-
cially from the consumers-that the
inspections and analyses of fertilizers
were not complete, and that the plant
ers were not properly protected by this
department.. Now. whether there has
been any reason for this general talk I
do not know; but in order that there
may be no ground for such complaints
in the future, / have fully made up my
mind, as far as it is possible for this de-.
partment to do, ! will inspect all of the
fertilizers and have analyses made of
the same. With this in view am now
getting up samples from all parts of the
state where goods can be found, and !
have urged the inspectors to be diligent
In making thsir' inspections. in order to
get proper and correct samples, that both
the consumer and manufacturer may
be properly protected.
Zone other thing l invite all of the
consumers of the state, and retail agents
who are selling to consumers, that when
they desire an inspection made of fer
tilizers in their hands, il they will make
such request of this department,
will have an inspector to go at once,
take samples and send them to this de-
partment, when an analysis will be
made
"ln making such inspections it Is proper
to state that in no case will they be
made from broken bags or packages.
When q sample is taken from package
it must be in its original condition.
This is the law under which we are
working.
rAs matter of fact. the consumers Of
fertilizers pay aliiof the tax ON fertilia-
ers sold in this state, therefore they are
entitled to full and ample protection;
and. SO far as this department is con.
cerned. it will be my pleasure to see
that all safeguards are thrown around
that the law allows No manufactu.
rer viii object to this. Honest manu-.
facturers and dealers are willing to have
a true and correct inspection and analy.
sis made of their goods"
The above has been strictly complied
with. Hundreds of special samples
have been sent to this department., and
in every instance the analysis has been
promptly made and the result mailed to
the party at interest trust that the
methods adopted by me have brought
about good results and that the farmers
and consumers feel chat they have been
amply protected by the Department OF
Agriculture in this particulars. for il has
been my most earnest desire to see that
such should be the case.
lam clearly of the opinion that the
multiplicity Of brands of fertilizers is
wrong and misleading. For instance,
we have registered in this department