Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-08-07
DEFECTS OF THE STATE
Fertilizer LAWS
Editor Journal:

Editor Journal:
1 notice in your issue of The Semi
Weekly Journal of 7th instant your agri-
cultural editors criticism on my article
of June S0th. Defects in Our Fertilizer
Laws" Since his comment I have been
extra busy irrigating portions of my crop
near the waters as the rains have been
rather partial in these parts and now ]
am anxious to continue the discussion of
the defects Of our laws governing the sale
of fertilizers in this state with Mr.. Jordan
or others until all the facts flood the
whole state and bring forth good results
to every user of fertilizers.
How our distinguished agricultural edi-
tor had failed to notice Mr.. Wright's in
depreciation of our fertilizer laws we are
unable to see. Certainly his time is not so
much taken up that he would overlook our
attorney generals opinion on so great a
matter as this.
Now the Jordan bin that he speaks Of
was published about the day my article
reached the press. II had seen Ii before
my comment would have been the same.
But why this bill did not go into effect
before August LIST Editor Jordan does not
explain, neither does his bill change the
mode of inspection that now exists. That
of inspection on the wing remains the
same in his bill, yet he admits that I am
right 'that IT Is a physical i'm
possibility to inspect one. ton in
ten with FIVE hundred inspectors"
that the whole thing Is a shadow without
q substance; that the farmers of Georgia
are annually paying out $4,000 for inspec-
ton that cannot reasonably be accom-
plished under. this law We admit that Edi-
tor Jordan did re-enact in his bin the Eli
ington law
Mr.. Ellington did a good work for Geor-
gia when he passed this law through the
legislature, yet it has been dead letter
for more than ten years, IL there is any
thing in the repeating clause Of the act
of 1891 If Mr.. Ellington was in the next
legislature. IT is doubtful IL he with his
advanced ideas would again attempt to
re-enact his bal, cor it is not practical
except in the 137 towns where ordinaries
live. We have more than 1000 places in
Georgia at which guano is sold and de-
livered. To simplify let the law require
the dealer to draw a sample in the pres
ence of the purchaser, place It into bot
tie which is sealed with his own seal and
the name. brand what it contains in per-
centages and from what sources the per-
centages are derived thereon affixed for
many good reasons say.
Phosphate from bone or rock. Potash
from murate or kainit Ammonia from
blood, tankage, fish scraps, nitrate OF
soda, cotton seed meal. etc. Give some to
the purchaser and if he Is not satisfied
with the result on his crop let him send
said sample to the commissioner Of
agriculture. who shall have it analysed
If 1t comes up to the guaranteed per-
centage let the purchaser pay for it, II
not, let him put himself upon HIS coun-
try or as the Ellington bill says. SHOULD
said analysis show that such fertilizer
does not come up to the guaranteed
analysis then the said sale shall be ine-
gal, null and void"
This method would save that $4,000
year now spent in needless and wasteful
inspection fees and place the seller and
consumer on an equal footing and would
give us honest goods. 1t will give the
seller prompt payments and will protect
the weak against the strong.
All Georgians are glad that Editor Jor-
dan will be in the next senate and the
continual amending of our code of laws
proves the truth of the old maxim,
'TWise men change" and so we expect
great changes for the better in our laws
governing the sale of fertilizers in Geor-
gia by our Eext legislature.
WILLIAM L. PEEK.
Fountain Hill, near Conyers. Ca