Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-01-21

many rule the potash business.
Don't get down on American potash.
It will be refined into better form
and will be desirable
Boron is found in many materials.
Fertilizer chemists are infinitely ex-
amining every material that enters
is oftea found where not expected.
So you can see that to make a fer
tilt7er With no boron is practically
impossible.
We are now using the same mate
riale az before the war and there is
no reason why you shouldn't get
good results from the 1920 fertilizer
although we can't guarantee a
crop.
Your Department of Agriculture on
November II made the ruling pro-
hibiting any boron in fertilizer. You
have a very drastic State law gov
erning fertilizer.
Under this ruling, which means
any boron would make the fertilizer
adulterated, we cannot collect for our
goods. We have not shipped a pound
Of goods yet-not because we haven't
them. haven't sold and don't want
to. but because we can't promise
there's no boron in it and We couldn't
collect. We can't risk that amount.
The federal government has rul-
ing that permits ITO of 1 per cent.
Of boron, which is thought to be
the limit of safety, although we are
none Of us certain Of even that de-
gree Of safety. Time may prove that
limit must be raised: then we must
get together and do it. But don't
think boron will ever be wholly elm
mated.
We are here to ask a modification
of the ruling to conform with the
federal government requirements
Answering. question, Mr.. Bowker
said that experiments are being made
to test out the effect of varc. S
amounts of boron on crops most at
fected by it. Not expected that these
tests might not prove of any scien-
tific value but might be of great
practical value
We would not be willing to guar
antee that our fertilizer now will not
contain more boron than before the
war.
Mr.. Barnes. Would the companies
be willing to ship if the ruling was
modified SO as to return to pre-war
questions
Mr.. Bowker: The first answer
would be, Yes. but I'm inclined to be
! cautious. owing to the fact that the
wording of the law is such that we
would have to consult our legal de-
! partment. But, we would be willing
to ship under the federal require
mentS
George E. Brown, Caribou
; George Z. Brown of Caribou. agent
! OF the Aroostook Federation of
Farmers: | speak rs farmer.
; There's always two sides and we've
heard the companies. Now for the
| farmers side. The companies income
j went up from 100000 10 $4,000, 900
in 1918. over 400 per cent. That's
one reason why we doubt the fer
| tilizer men.
! MIR. Bowker said they had much
! az stake. So have the farmers. Men
here today lost $4,000 last wear by
the bad fertilizer. Who stands be-
! hlnd the Ito of l per cent. limit =
Inc company? No, the farmer.
think the only fair test would
be to get sample Of pre-war fer
tllizer and analyze it, fix the amount
OF borax and ask the companies to
manufacture by that standard. Then
! wed be reasonably safe. Otherwise.
ia rather rest on the present law.
| What the Aroostook farmers want
| Is protection. Want nothing like last
Sear-when companies deny their
product did any damage and said.
| IL You don't pay, We'll sue" Anc
| $ up to the companies to show us
! that we are not to lose even n barre,
per acre.
If they tell us we've got to rake
what they give US or get none i,,s
, TIME We know it. I hope the ru,;ne
VIII either stand or be wholly abro :.
gated.
governor Milliken-It seems to re-
S"iVe INTO three suggestions by the con.
Nehtion-to modify ruling to meet Unit.
ca states requirements, leave as it is or
aorogate entirely.
Mr.. Buzzeli
Mr.. Buzzell said he failed to see WHARF
'he authority would be to state LILO IF
l per cent or any other amount. The
oeaiers nave been and wish to be friends
70 the agrlcuiturists. We've done much
business. Last year they sold us stuff
mat did harm. 1t seems that now +be,.
"ouid wish TO get from under future re-
sponsibiiity. Should be some common
ground of agreement
VT Morrill, of Fryeburg-we don.t
raise much potatoes-mostIy sweet corn
and I've heard of no trouble with rho
lertiizer. although that's no reason WHY
IL mas not IN Aroostook. But. if rhe
companies refuse to ship in here with.
ou' any protection, where would we ger
our fertilizer
Commissioner Roberts
ms ruling was made for benefit Of
man utact"rers-though they don't seer,
10 believe The law prohibits anv adu,-
leration and also that fertilizer is adp,-
terated II it contains any deleterious
material. It's positive law.
NOW with the trouble in Aroostook
ana being told of the presence of bo-
ron, we undertook to make a little fol-
erance, believing that the manufacture
ers should be protected and not harmed
1or mere trace Of the boron.
II we hadn't made this ruling we'd
mad the law and that is drastic. An
other ruling is asked-two pounds W
ton. Have we authority to do SO? Can
we take the place Of the Legislature?
1 think not My department cannot ro