The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-03

feeds and drugs, division of markets and immigration, cooperative crop reporting g service and state chemist.
 The report of Dr. B. B. Ross, state chemist, showed that during the time the chemical department has had greater facilities. several analysts of sea foods obtained from the coast of Mobile had been made. Referring to the success of these analysis, Dr. Ross said
 SEA FOOD REPORT
 This laboratory has made analyses of ay.number of samples of sea foods, including especially oysters from the gulf coast, and 1t has been found that our own products compare well in quality with those of the Atlantic coast. The shrimp packing industry at one..or two points on our gulf coast has attained very large proportions with the result that large amount of waste material from the shrimp pack cries requires to be disposed of each year. A recent analysis made in this laboratory shows that if this refuse were dried and ground it would yield fertilizing material of high value. being especially rich in nitrogen and phosphorc acid"
 pr. Ross said the facilities of the laboratory had been extended since the ShaI tilSHt OI ltl6 new law III FGDruafYx 1919. and the work greatly increased During the past two years total of 1880 samples of feedstuffs have been analysed. As all samples are analysed in duplicate the total number of anal yses aggregated 2,760.
 J. M. Moore, supervisor of the di- vision of foods, feeds and drugs said his bureau had carried on a ystematic campaign during the past two years against adulterated and misbranded products which come within the super vision of the bureau and that now this state is receiving better foods, feeds and drugs than ever before Until the new law was enacted early in 1919, Alabama was regarded as the dumping ground for low value products, accord ing to MT. Moore, but now conditions have been changed.
 STANDARD IMPROVES
 He pointed out that standards fixed by h1s bureau caused protest from manufacturers and dealers and some even threatened to quit the state One company wrote it's agent in Birming- ham that this state was sill waving the red flag of Civil war days, but would one day wake up and make its standards meet those of other states.
 
 vindicated when the food officials of the United States agreed upon stand ards which did not vary from those of Alabama by more than h of l per cent
 F. .. Hooton supervisor of the di- Vision Of markets and immigration. said his bureau was being constantly called upon for information about agri- cultural possibilities of this state and that every inquiry was answered with personal letter and with such infor- nation about this state as is available. lie said these inquiries come from all sections of the United States and from other countries, indicating the wide spread interest in Alabama's farm lands
 This bureau also ;s assisting farm CT in marketing their products bv keeping them in touch with those who purchase the commodities of the farm. In addition to the publication of weekly market letter the bureau ad- Vlsed buyers where they may reach a contact with sellers and vice versa. The Alabama Markets Journal monthly publication of the bureau. has now a large circulation and the bu- reau intends to put it in the hands of 25'ooO farmers monthly.
 MORE COIN WANTED
 MT. Hooton said the appropriation or this state for immigration and mar keting service was much less than oth- CT southern states and urged an in- creae in this fund so the work can be extended.
 department of the work which has Tad an unusual success is that estab. hsned under a cooperative arrange ment between the state and federal governments whereby +. w. Gist, agri. cultural statistician of the federal bu- reau of crop estimates, gathers statis- tics about crops of Alabama and pub fishes periodical statements showing es- inmates and final table showing the totai corps and theirs values grown m the state insaHy year. 2 Alabama probably is leading the south in this work The estimates of MT Gist have been very accurate and there is little variance between his ad- vance predictions and the final returns of the census bureau. Nil. Gist uses the Alabama Markets Journal as vehicle for the dissemination of the estimates of his bureau, while all other means of distribution also are used. | . <