Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-09-18
Tie Iowa Law on Feeding-Stuffs and
Agricultural Seeds.

No. law passed by the last legls-
lature of Iowa will be so far-reach-
ing in its effect as the one relating
to agricultural seeds and CONNER
cial feeding-stufs. According to
the terms of this law each manu-
faoturer of feeding -stuffs must file
with the state food and diary COM
missioner certified copy of the
statement that the law requires to
be- a:tached to his feeding-stuffs,
and also a sample Of each brand Of
his concentrated commercial feeding
stuff, together with it's proper afli-.
davit. Labels on feeding 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, importer or
dealer, place of manufacture. state
ment 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
statement be given of the per-
centage of crude protein, crude
fibre and crude fat, nor does it re-
quire the name Of all ingredients,
though the name and percentage of
diluent must be given on the labels
Of the packages.
All manufacturers, importers,
dealers or agents of concentrated
commercial feeding-stuffs will be
obliged to pay the state dairy and
food commissioner 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 800 must be paid in
lieu of such inspection fee.
This law if properly enforced, will
have high educational value as
affecting farmers and feeders with
in the borders of the state. The
labelling of all feeding-stuffs will
make each and every purchaser a
student Of chemistry, and in the fu-
ture feeding-stuffs will be fed more
intelligently on account Of the
greater knowledge impaired con-
cerning their feeding constituents.
The agricultural seed section of
the law prevents the sale of seeds
containing wild mustard, quack
grass, Canada thistle, wild oats,
clover and alfalfa dodder, field dod-
der and corn cookie. Some protec-
ton is made, of course, in the law
whereby seedsmen are not COM
PEELED to comply with absolutely
unreasonable or impossible rulingel
For example, in the sale of red
clover, mammoth clover or alfalfa
the law does not allow more than 5
per cent, by weight. of yellow Glow
er, sweet clover or bur clover; in
the case of rape 5 per cent of COM
mon mustard or black mustard must
be the limit; alfalfa must be SO per
cent pure, red clover 80 per cent,
white clover 80 per cent, corn SO
per cent, flax SO per cent, millet SO
per cent and oats 50 per cent. The
law also relates to the terminating
qualities of agricultural seeds. For
example, red clover must germinate
so per cent, corn "a per cent, sweet
corn rs per cent, timothy S5 per
cent, wheat 80 per cent and oats go
per cent. Practically the whole list
Of crops grown within the borders
of the state are enumerated and the
percentage of purity and germina-
ton given.
In order that our readers may
have proper inf rmation concerning
the full effect of this law, it is sug.
gested that application be made tc
Dairy Commissioner H. R. Wright
Des Moines, Iowa, for a pamphlet
recently published, giving the laws
relating to commercial feeding.
stuifs and agricultural Seeds
Homestead.