The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-07-18
FERTILIZER SALES
Com. Patterson's Report to
Board of Agriculture.
figurers Not Very Far Shot Of Last Year. Star
Chemist kileore's Report. Letter
From Or. Lewis.

The State Board of Agriculture met
yesterday and heard the reports of Com
missioner Patterson and State Chemist
b. w. Kilgore, of the work done during
the past six months.
Commissioner Patterson's report gave
the number of tons of fertilizer sold in
the spring of 1902 as 292, $500, which in
cludes the sale of cotton seed meal. of
which no account was taken in the two
years. previous to this spring. the total
amount being about $4,000 tons. The fig
ures for fertilizer in 1900 were 232,175h
tone. and for 1901 there were sold 291-
40s tons. This years figures, even with
the $4,000 tons of cotton seed meal SUBJ
tracted, did not fall so far short of those
fast year.
Speaking of the placing of cotton seed
meal upon the tax list, Commissioner
Patterson said:
Il ani glad to report that while in the
beginning there were some evidence Of
dissatisfaction and opposition on the part
of cotton millers, and, strange to say
On the part of some farmers also, TO pay
ing this tax, the latter part of the sea-
son revealed very gratifying acquies-
cence generally n the action of the board
lii placing the cotton seed meal upon the
tax list. By another season |
look for the same general complaint
with the regulations concerning cotton
seed meal as with those of any other
form of fertilizer. l am gratified to re-
port also that there have been but few
infections of the fertilizer laws, less
believe than in any. previous season.
Referring to the Farmers Institutes,
the report states there are several APP
plications now on file asking for these
meetings. 1t was impossible for the Com
missioner to hold a series of institutes
last winter and spring, on account of
pressing Office work.
Since this report was prepared for the
meeting in May, Commissioner Patter
son has attended a meeting of Farmers
Institute Workers in Washington, and
is more deeply impressed than ever with
tie advantages to be derived by the
farmers from a well-conducted system of
Institutes.
The report was an exhaustive one, COW
ering all of the work done by the de-
partment in the past six months.
State Chemist Kilgore's report gave
very complete account of the work done
in the soil survey, the experiment sta
ton, and the pure food movement. He
also submitted standards and regulations
in regard to the food products, for adop
tion by the board.
letter vas read from DR.. r. II.
Lewis, secretary Of the n C. Board of
Health. emphasizing the great value and
interest of the analysis of drinking wa
ter and tests of milk and of germs in
doubtful fever cases, and saying that
he @1ot IL,
complished by this work is by no means
inconsiderabl5, the indirect benefit that
viii continue to increase with the pass
ing years is far greater. By bringing
home to the people of many neighbor-
hoods the Importance and value of the
modern methods of sanitation, as this
work has done and is doing the good
seed are sown. and from as many
will gradually spread. In this way pub
lie opinion will be educated on health
lines just as it is being educated on
strictly agricultural lines by the expert
ment station, test farms, veterinary
work, etc. Incidentally it is gratifying to
know that the department is making
friends of that influential class, the coun-
try doctors. who, as rule, are farmers
as we'll as physicians.
The board adjourned to meet at nine
o'clock this morning.
Some of the members noticed at yes
terday's meeting \were:
Col. John s. Cunningham, of Person; Il.
!, l.. Daughtrdge, of Edgecombe; Maj. W.
A. Graham, of Lincoln: A. P. McCallum,
of Robson; ]. P. McRae, of Scotland;
c. n. Allen. of Wake; A. Cannon of
Horseshoe; Howard Browning, of War
rem; d. E. Flow, CT Monroe; ]. c. Ray,
OF Boone.