The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-08-27
A NEW LAW SUGGESTED
Our Commissioners Address as Presi-
dent Comprehensive Survey.
GOV. McMlLLIN WELCOMES DELEGATES
This is the Fourth Annual Meeting of the
Association. Our State Chemist. DR.. B,
- W. KiIgore, is Secretary. AS TO
Crop Statistics.
Especial to News and observer.)

Especial 10 news ana ODSerVeT.)
Nashville Tenn, Aug. 26.-The fourth
annual meeting of the Cotton States As
ISOLATION of Commissioners of Agriculture
convened here this morning in the State
capitol.
After addresses of welcome by Gov
ernor McMillin on behalf of the State and
Mayor JAS M. Head for the city, Presi-
dent S. L. Patterson, Commissioner of
Agriculture of North Carolina, delivered
The annual address.
1t was comprehensive survey of the
scope and duties of the departments of
agriculture in the States, and was heard
with much pleasure and profit by the
members.
After a graceful introduction, Mr.. Pet
terson made reference to the United
States Department of Agriculture, and
continued in part as follows:
1.-The mission of the State Departments
should be rather supplemental-flling
such local demands as are without the
scope of the national department. These
are by no means few or unimportant.
Among the first in Importance is the
analysis of fertilizers. However we may
consider it. whether as wise or unwise,
it has become the fixed policy of the
Southern farmer, especially of the cotton
and tobocco growers, to use commercial
fertilizers in large quantities, and this use
is constantly increasing. 1t is absolutely
essential that each State shall protect
its own farmers from the frauds that
AT hry
INSCRIPTIONS manufacturers and dealers.
This duty o fthe State departments is of
the highest Importance, and is already
being efficiently performed. But doubt
less improvement may be made in the
details Of its execution in all the States
by careful study of one another's
methods"
Neglect of the foods in such quantities
on the markets, especially from the
grocery stores. has led to much adul-
iteration, as limited analysis have proved
This adulteration is not only fraud
upon the buyers pocket book, but is a
serious menace to public health. In
many instances, not only are cheap and
deleterious connections and limitations
palmed off on the market, endangering
health and even life, but frequently these
cheap goods drive from the markets
genuine and wholesome products formerly
manufactured on the farm and adding to
its revenue, as for instance apple cider
and vinegar, honey, syrup, butter, jellies
and the like.
But perhaps greater frauds even than
these adulterated foods have been found
in stock feeds of various sorts, espe-
cially during the past season when high
prices have encouraged such rascality.
Under the name of ship stuff all sorts
of abominable stuff have been sold-adul-
terated cotton seed meal, wheat bran.
corn meal have all been common, while
the poor dumb brute victims have been
the sufferers. What has been, and is
being done, will continue until held in
check by the strong arm of law. Every
State Legislature should enact strict
laws controlling this trade.
zone of the most useful divisions Of
our departmental work is that for the
control, as far as possible the extermina-
ton, of crop pests and diseases of all
kinds. This requires the watchful care
of one or more energetic and skilfull en-
tomologists. These must have vigorous
laws to sustain them. Constant vigilance
over the nurseries and over the stock
imported into the State is the only sure
means of guarding against the spread
of contagious and fatal diseases among
our orchards.
=
The State Departments of Agriculture
nave a most important work in the de-
FeIopment of the live stock industry and
the prevention and control of the dis
cases OF domestic animals. Two very
strong reasons exist why we should en-
deavor 10 develop our live stock industry.
First, it is essential to successful agri-
culture because it affords the hest homo
market for the disposal of the raw nro-
Ducts of the farm and returns to tho farm
large share of the fertilizer materials
taken from the soil by the growing of
the crops. Second, because our soil and
climatic conditions are especially suitable
for the growing of grass and other foraqe
crops.
This great want and the best of facili-
ties for supplying it should at once COM
mand the best efforts of the State D.
partments of Agriculture"
To-day the cattle tick (BoophiIus bovis)
is not only serious and costly obstacle
to the local and Inter State cattle traffic
but in many States is the source of lar
ger losses than is experienced from all
other diseases of cattle combined
1.-THE determination of the cattle tick
is entirely feasible and when sufficient
information is spread among the people
showing the advantages of such extermi-
nation and the ease with which it may be
done. the task will be easily practicable.
This is the great task to be accom-
plished before the cattle industry can
reach its highest development and the
State Departments of Agriculture should
grasp its full import and set about in
earnest to its accomplishment.
Farmers Institutes have come to be
recognized as an important factor in the
development of agriculture. There are
many ways IN which a farmers institute
is useful instructing the people in i'm