The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-10-07
Fertilizer Laws Must Be Relaxed.

"Is looks as If the legislature wien
it meets in extra session is going to
have to do something in regard to the
readjustment of the fertilizer laws, to
meet the situation caused by the cut
ting off of the German supply of
potash" said Commissioner Watson.
"A few days ago Mr.. Watson received
from Commissioner Kolb Of Alabama
a letter in which Capt. Kolb said:
THE war in Europe has to a great
extent cut off the supply of potash
that has heretofore entered largely
into the making Of a complete fer
tilizer. The factories are up against
it, as the laws Of our state (and l pre-
sumo other states have similar laws)
provide that a complete fertilizer
shall not contain less than IA per cent
of available plant food; that is: Sol.
uble phosphate acid, nitrogen, pot
ash. If the laws are to be complied
with some relief must be given to the
factories. Therefore l write to ask
your opinion Of calling a meeting Of
the commissioners of agriculture OF
the Southern States, to meet at thu
capitol in Montgomery at some early
date yet to be fixed, so that this ques-
ton can be discussed and If possible
arrange some feasible plan whereby
the fertilizer factories may not be
penalized."
Mr.. Watson has replied to Commits
sioner Kolb that the enforcement OF
the fertilizer laws in this state does
not come under his jurisdiction and
that he will call the matter to the
attention of the state fertilizer board
Soon after the reply to Mr.. Kolb's
letter was written, the following let
ter was received by the commissioner
from H. A. Lyon, president Of the
Fairforest Cotton Oil company, Fair
forest, which refers to the same mat
ter and indicates that in the opinion
of the writer some legislative action
will be necessary to meet the situa.
ton:
"As the legislature will be convened
very soon, we beg permission to call
your attention to the condition OF the
fertilizer business and hope you will
use your endeavor to have the matter
adjusted in a practical way, II the
same appeals to you. AS you well
know, it will probably not be possible
to get sufficient potash for fertilizer
purposes and we would suggest that
the old law be so changed as to en-
able manufactures to make a stand
ard fertilizer out of seed and meal and
eliminate the potash ingredients, only
getting what potash car be obtained
from the neal. This will enhance the
value to the farmers Of their meal
or rather hold the price up from great
depreciation, and it will become al
most a necessity for some measure OF
this kind to be adopted, as we can
not make a standard fertilizer with
the required amount of potash for
next year unless the present law is
changed. The law we think might be
changed to meet the special condition
that prevails this year. We would
also suggest that the sacks be re
duced from 200 pounds. to 100 pounds
to enable us to use old meal sacks and
not have to buy new fertilizer sacks
the price of which Is almost prohibit
tive. All Of this would not entail any
more hardships on the farmer and il
really seems that we ought to dc
something to get together in a practi
cal way such a year as this, as it will
be to the best advantage to use what
we have on hand"