Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1910-11-30
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]. CLEMSON EXTENSION WORK !.
!. Article XXVI.
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The Inspection and Analysis of Conn
merciaI Fertilizers by Clemson Col
lege-Ohicial Samples.
(By II. NJ. Stackhouse, Secretary of
Board Fertilizer Control.)
In reply to criticisms that we some
times hear, that Clemson College
will not analyZe samples Of fertiliZ-
ers unless we first know who manu-
featured them and what they claim
ed to contain, l wish to make the fol-
lowing explanation Of just how these
samples are drawn and passed
through the office to the chemists
who analyze them. and which will
show such criticisms are unjust and
without any foundation in fact.
The laws on this subject recog-
nize and provide for only two
classes Of these samples
1st. Oficial samples drawn by in
spcctors sent owt fer that purpose.
I'd. Farmers or purchasers sam
pies, sent to the college by the far
mer or purchaser when drawn in ac.
cordance with laws governing this
subject.
Section 1880 Of Statutes of this
State .equires the trustees of Glenn
son College to seld their official in
spectors to get samples OF all COM
mercial fertilizers they find sold, or
offered for 1ale, and send these sam
pies to the college for analysis. For
this purpose the State is divided into
twelve divisions, regard being had to
railroad factories and volume Of fer
tiliZer trade. TO each of these dis
tricts an inspector is sent, instructed
to go often to every depot and cross
roads where commercial fertilizers
are sold or delivered, and draw sam
pies from each brand. The samples
must be taken from at least one
tenth Of the lot. For instance. if 100
sacks are in lot, he must draw from
at least ten; If so sacks, then from
five; if less than ten, from all.
These several portions as drawn are
placed on a paper or clean board,
and, after being carefully mixed, a
sample bottle Of two ounces is filed.
This bottle is scaled by placing melt
ed wax on the cork, upon which, still
warm, is impressed a metallic seal.
which would show any tampering
with the sample. On this bottle is
glued label, giving the number, the
inspectors name, and the date OF the
drawing. The inspector now writes
| on a sheet Of paper che same number
| as that on the label and an exact
| copy or description of every brand or
mark found on the sack or package,
which must contain the manufactu-
rer's name and address, the weight
and the guaranteed analysis. All
| this has been done in the presence Of
| witness, who unites with the in
spector in an aflidavit that this was
a fair and representative sample of
| the lot, and that it was drawn, sealed
| and numbered before the signing.
This paper containing the description
10 'iSli " i'pDfu dDoul lHc SdUlDle
bottle and expressed to this Office.
The descriptive paper is here care
fully pasted in large invoice book
kept for the purpose, and the sample
chemist. Suppose the number Of the
sample was i50. We send sample
No. 450 to the chemist with mstruc-
tions to hunt for the three ingrcdi-
ents, and with positively no other
marks to indicate who made it or
what 1t contained. After its analy-
sis IS made, copy Of same is sent me
by the chemist. This is pasted care
fully by the side Of the inspectors
description, AID both are published in
bulletin. Until then, positively,
the chemists no more know who
made the fertilizer, or what it con-
tanned, than government mule. I
alone have the information, which I
am OBLIGED TO have, or could not
later publish it for the benefit of the
farmers who buy fertilizers. Can
any better method be devised for in
suring both to buyer and seller alb
solutc fairness and accuracy, both in
the drawing and analyzing of these
official samples?
CThe taking OF farmers samples
will be treated Of next wcck.)
Call to Whitmirc Mcthodists.