Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-06-26


No law passed by the last legisla-
ture of Iowa will be so far-reaching
in its effect as the one relating to
agricultural seeds and commercial
feeding-stuffs. According to the
terms of this law each manufacturer
of feeding -stuffs must file with the
state food and dairy commissioner a
certified copy of the statement that
the law requires to be attached to his
feeding-stuffs, and also sample OF
each brand of his concentrated COM
mercial feeding-stuff, together with
its proper affidavit. Labels on feed
ing-stuffs shall show the net number
Of pounds in the package. the name
and brand of the article. the name
and address of the manufacturer. inn
porter or dealer, place..of manufacture,
statement of percentages of crude pro-
tein, crude fiber and crude fat, and
also the names of all ingredients. In
the case of continental stock foods
the law does not require that state
ment be given Of the percentage of
crude protein. crude fiber and crude
fat, nor does it require the name OF
all ingredients. though the name and
the percentage Of diluent must be
given on the labels OF the packages.
All manufacturers. importers, deal
ers or agents of concentrated CONNER
cial feeding. stuffs will be obliged to
pay the state dairy and food commits
sioner an inspection fee of ten cents
per ton for each ton sold or offered
for sale in the state. In the case of
agents who handle continental stock
foods an annual fee of 500 must be
paid in lieu of such inspection fee.
This law. if properly enforced, will
have a high educational value as
affecting farmers and feeders within
the borders of the state. The labelling
of all feeding-stuffs will make each
and every purchaser a student OF
chemistry, and in the future feeding
stuffs will he fed more intelligently
on account of the greater knowledge
impaired concerning their feeding
constituents
The AGRICULTURAL seed section of the
law prevents the sale of seeds contain
ing wild mustard, quack grass, Canada
thistle, wild oats, clover and alfalfa
dodder. field dodder and corn cookie.
Some protection is made. of course,
in the law whereby seedsmen are not
compelled to comply with absolutely
unreasonable or impossible rulings.
For example,, in the sale of red clover.
mammoth clover or alfalfa the law
does not allow more than per cent.
by weight. of yellow clover, sweet
clover or bur clover; in the case of
rape 8 per cent of common mustard or
black mustard must be the limit; al
falfa must be 96 per cent pure, red
clover so per cent, white clover 10 per
cent, corn 90 per cent, fax SO per cent,
millet 80 per cent and oats 98 per
cent. The law also relates to the
terminating qi alities Of agricultural
seeds. For example, red clover must
germinate 80 per cent. corn 81 per
cent, sweet corn 75 per cent, timothy
So per cent, wheat 30 per cent and
oats 80 per cent. Practically the
whole list of crops grown within the
borders of the state are enumerated
and the percentage of purity and GER
mination given.
In order that our readers may have
proper information concerning the
full effect of this law, it is suggested
that application be made to Dairy
Commissioner Fl. r. Wright. Des
Moines, Iowa, for pamphlet recently
published. giving the laws relating
to commercial feeding-stuffs and agri-
cultural seeds. The law becomes
effective July A, 1907.