SELECTIONS FROM THE PUBLICATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA FOR THE YEAR l89l R. T. NESBITT, COMMISSIONER. ATLANTA, GA.: GEO. W. HARRISON, State Printer. (Franklin Printing House.) 1892. SELECTIONS FROM THE PUBLICATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA FOR THE r~EAR 1891. 'R. T. NESBITT, COMMISSIONER. ATLANTA, GA.: GEO. W, HARRISON, State Printer. (Fra.nlrlin Printing Honse.) 1892. ASummary of Some Important Work ACCOMPLISHED BY THE DEPARTMENT DURING THE YEAR 1891. The first year of my serviceas Commissioner of the Agricultural Department has c~osed, and I feel that it is due to the farmers that I give them an account of my stewardship. Some needed changes I have succeed in bringing about; others equally important, perhaps, have been delayed for lack of funds. NllW J,AW AS TO INSPECTION OF ]'ERTILIZERR. NO MORE INSPECTING IN BULK. My most earnest efforts have been directed to perfecting a bill in regard to the inspection and sale of fertilizers. This new bill, which has now become a law, is not only more effective, but more comprehensive than the old. Under its provisions the chances for fraud are much lessened, for the inspections are made after the goods leave the 'manufacturers' hands) none being made in bulk, all inspecting is donP after the goods are sacked and shipped. In advocating this bill I feel that I have redeemed my promise to the farmers, and while the system may be a little more' expensive on account of additional traveling expenses, I have saved many times that outlay in cutting down other expenses of the l)epartment. FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS SAVED IN THE RUNNING EXPENSES OF THE DEPARTMENT. In the item of clerk hire, alone, I have made a reduction of about $2,200. The salaries of fertilizer inspectors I have also cut down from $1,500 to $1,200 pe.r annum, a redur'tion for the six inspectors of $1,800, which, added to the $2;200, makes a total of about $4,000 saved in the running expenses of the Department. Therefore, if the present law is a little more expensive, I feel. that here, too, I have been as good as my word to the farmers, for this money is expended directly for their benefit and protection, and not in unnecessary salaries to employees. 4 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICUJ.,TURE.-GEORGIA. THE LAW SHOULD BE RIGIDLY ENFORCED. With the large amount of commercial fertilizers used in this State, the law for the protection of the farmer cannot be too far-reaching or too rigidly enforced. Honest mannfacturers will cheerfully aid me in the enforcement of a statute which, while subjecting them to occasional inconvenience, will ultimately redonnd to their interest and protection: I hope parties directly or indirectly interested will send me all information which they may obtain in regard to the introductiqn into this State of fertilizers which have not been properly tagged. Parties seeing or hearing of sotton seed meal, or any other fertilizing material being offered for sale or exchange in this State, whether manufactured wit}lin its borders or introduced from without, if not registered and tagged as the law directs, will confer a great favor on this office by reporting tlie saine, for even with the most vigilant care such good3 may be introduced into the State and offered for sale. Another pledge, which I have redeemed, is in placing the Chemist's office and laboratory in the capitol. The wisdom of this change is proved by the large number of additional analyses made during the year, aggregating 1048 analyses. FROM $8,000 TO $10,000 SAVED TO THE STATE FROM THE INSPEC- TION OF OILS. The new law in regard to the inspection of oils, which will be in full force by the 1st of January, 1892, will also place in the State treasury from $8,000 to $10,000, which was formerly paid to oil inspectors, they, in some instances, having received as much as $4,000 to $5,000 per annum. From these statements it will be seen that the Department is being run as economically as is compatibl with the interests of the farmers and the large amount of work involved in its various branches. A GENERAL REVIEW OF THE AGRICULTURAL SITUATION. It is apparent at even a casual glance over the following reports, issued during the year '91, that I have not failed to urge upon the farmers the manifast importance of raising an abundant provision crop. That the advice was sound is proven by the present outlook. For the only independent farmers just now are those with home-made supplies, who are not looking to 7 cents cotton to meet corn and bacon bills, as well as guano accounts, and who are encouraged by the EXTRACTS FROM PUBLICATION~. 5 sight of well-filled barns and fat and sleek cattle. To even the most careless observer, the fact is patent that the effort to glean a support from the farm is becoming each year more and more difficult, and this is owing in a great measure not only to the character of the crops heretofore- raised, but to the shallow preparation and clean cultivation; by which our rolling lands especially are rendered peculiiuly susceptible to leaching and washing. Necessarily, much of the soil is carried off with every rain, reducing the fertility of the land and rendering the production of subsequent crops more expensive and more uncertain. In looking over the unsatisfactory results of farming in Georgia for the past year, I am more than ever impressed with the necessity for a change. But to reclaim all these lands at once would be a gigantic, hopeless task. Each farmer can, however, do his part and at the same time add much to the general comfort and security, by beginning, if only on a small scale, to plant clover, grass, peas, rye, etc., as suits his soil and circumstances, and as I have so often urged in these reports. Once he makes a start, my word for it, he will never be satisfied to return to the one~crop system. This system has worked irretrievable ruin to thousands of our industrious, but misguided farmers, who have staked their all on 10 cents cotton. This plan amounts simply to a game of chance with all the odds against the farmer. When we see destitution and poverty following close in the wake, and, in striking contrast, witness the prosperity and independence of the man who, by foresight and welldirected business energy, plants such other crops as are suited to his locality and circumstances, we can but profit by the lesson; and I beliflve there is be~nning a general awakening all along the lines. Let each individual farn1er take hold of this matter, and, though he may sometimes meet with disappointment, he may even turn this to advantage-for often failure is the pivot on which turns our subsequent success. Even the present general depression may result in the prosperity which comes from diversified and well-directed farming. Surely we have reached the darkest hour in our experience; let us take fresh courage, and build up our homes and improve our farms. A little whitewash, a needed paling here and there, a gate put in the right position, an occasional fruit tree planted, all show home enterprise, and further serve to favorably impress visitors in regard to our section. The intelligence and thrift of a people are most frequently judged by their surroundings. Impoverished lands, dilapidated 6 DEPARTMENT OF AGRlCULTURE.-,GEORGIA. buildings, neglected fences, not only tend to cause depression among the farmers themselves, but speak in unmistakable tones to visitors or would-be purchasers. This is the season to inaugurate these reforms, and to do the fall and winter plowing so generally neglected in. the South, and which in our climate it is always possible to accomplish. It has been demonstrated that land deeply and thoroughly plowed, without one pound of fertilizer, will produce mare than when scratched over and fertilized, and is then left in ,better condition for future crops. Our mistakes are very serious and of long standing, and have so fastened themselves upon our industry that it will require a most heroic effort to break away from them; but in the planting of TOBACCO I hope we will receive help-as unexpected as it is welcome. I would, however, warn the farmers against engaging in tobacco raising on too extensive a scale at first. As in every other industry, a certain amount of experience is requisite to success, and until that is gained it will be the part of wisdom not to take too great a risk. In the management of this crop it must also be remembered that qu.ality, not quantity, is most to be considered. The following from The Tobacco Leaf, a journal considered good authority on this subject, may help those farmers desirous of beginning the cultivation of tobacco. NEW TOBACCO GROWING DISTRICTS. The cry is, "Still they come!" and every day we hear of parts of the country where the farmers are experimenting in growing tobacco with more or less success. 'rhe experimenters generally make the mistake of trying one or two varieties of seed and planting too much ground, in same cases with a view to selling that which is raised. Too often they are disappointed, for the tobacco turns out unmarketable, either the variety not being adapted to the soil, m the grower is igporant of the proper manner of handling the crop. Small patches of several different kinds of seed is the proper way for the grower to experiment, and he should acquire some knowledge of the necessary means of tending and curing his crop. The subjoined plan of a tobacco barn is on a smaller scale and cheaper than the Stiow barn, of which the plan was given in the October report. Mr. Harrison, of Cobb county, formerly of North Carolina, and somewhat familiar with the tobacco plant, its habits and the different modes of curing, furnishes me with the following, which may be of use to those farmers who are not willing, or in many cases, not able to aiopt the rriore Pxpensive plan. The plan EXTRACTS FROM PUBLICATIONS. 7 has been largely used inNorth Carolina and Virginia, and has met with success. Mr. Harrison's samples, some of which are on exhibition at the Department of Agriculture, are pronounced by The Tobacco Leaf of good texture and quality. R. T. NESBITT, Commissioner of Agriculture. A TOBACCO BARN. Log barns, ranging from sixteen to twenty feet square, are the sizes mostly used. These should be built about twenty feet high in the body, and covered with shingles or boards. Large logs may be used until the pen is built about seven feet from the ground. 'rhen, if the size is twenty feet, lay off for five rooms, four feet apart, and place tier poles a,cross to form the lower tier. Raise two logs higher all around, and put on another course of tier poles directly over thtl first. Then, using smaller logs (cabin size), place all three logs higher all around, laying on tier poles as before, and continue to elevate the body of the barn until you have five tiers. Then place two more logs around and the plates, and the pen is ready to_be roofed. You will then have a barn with five rooms and five tiers high. Mark you, the lower tiers, are not firing tiers, 'but placed in the barn for the convenience of hoisting, and for storing cured tobacco when necessary. By this arrangement the tiers are about three feet apart vertically, the body of the barn a cube-as high as it is wide and deep-and the whole arrange~ent conformable to the process of curing. The roof is so constructed, conforming to the plan of the tiers below, as to contain three tiers above the joist, varying in length. Such a barn will hold about 650 to 700 sticks of medium tobacco, six plants to the stick. To prep!U'e for curing brights, it must be chinked and daubed close inside and out. Cut out two or three logs from the end of the barn as represented by the brick work (see diagram). Then first construct the two furnances A B and A B with brick or stone, as follows: Let the mouths of the furnaces A A pro. ject fifteen inches outward beyond the wall-the cut fails to show the projec tion properly-and extend the furnaces to B B, about five and a half or six feet. The outer wall of the furnaces should be about fifteen inches distant from the logs or sills of the barn. Build the walls of the furnaces eighteen inches apart and eighteen inches high at A A, running back to fourteen inches high at B B, and let the bottom of the flues slope upward fron1 four to fiye inches from A A to B B. The furnaces should be arched with brick or covered with fire-proof stone, or No. 16 or 18 sheet iron, from A to B. Be careful to see that the furnaces at every point are so constructed as not to come in near contact with the sides or walls of the barn, lateral or vertical, and that the exits of the pipe are protected by brick or stone, as seen in the diagram. Insert sheet-iron pipes at B Bon castiron eyes made for the purpose and placed into the ends of the furnaces, as near the tops thereof as possible. The 8- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICUI..TURE.-GEORGIA. eyes ate not absolutely necessary, but they greatly protect the pipefrop1 burning,:and being fixed into the ends of the furnaces, the pipe is more readily adjusted. For a 20 by 20 feet barn use pipe eleven or twelve inches in diameterf~r barn 16 by 16 feet use ten-inch pipe. Extend the pipe all around from B B to D D ; with a gradual elevation of one foot rise from B to U, and with two feet elevation from C to D. Cap the ends of the pipes with an elbow. EX'l'RACTS FROM PUBLICATIONS. For small barns, the pipes may be brought together midway between C and C, by a V-shaped connection into one twelve-inch return pipe, through the middle of the barn. This flue operates well and is very popular with the planters working a small force and using only small barns, which are betterfor them than large ones, and is the cheapest good flue made. Any tinner can make the pipe, and foundries and hardware stores furnish the eyes. . The cost of pipe varies from five and a-haif to six and a-half cents per pound, and ten-inch cast eyes cost about two dollars a pair, and twelve-inch ,eyes about two dollars and fifty cents. The cost of piping for a small barn varies from eight to ten dollars or less. The process of curing will be published later on, and will be furnished by an expert tobacco grower. SEASONABLE ADVICE. Lest the advice in my last crop report should escape the attention of many farmE:rS who intend planting tobacco, I would again warn them against engag- ing too largely in a busines8 of which they are comparatively igned, and, as far as possible, the department will aid the farmers in seGuring gooct seerl which are expensive. TOBACCO, _-\.!so, is attrading a great e false. Quite a variety of them grow as well here as anywhere, and some are especially adapted to our soil and climate. Red clover, timothy, orchard grass, tall meadow, oat grass, red top and lucerne flourish almost anywhere in the South. All that is necessary, is to prepare the land well by deep and thorough pulverization, and sow the seed~ properly at the right seasons. For most of. the country, September and February are the proper months to sow in. Besides these, the Johnson grass the Guinea grass, Rescue grass and Bermuda grass are valuable, both for grazing and mowing. These grasses ft.equently yield from one to three tons per aere, and furnish two or three cuttings per year. The hay always finds a ready market, and thP profit far exceeds a crop of cotton or grain. The expense attending the raising of grass is very little compared to raising cotton. Land that will produce half a bale of cotton per acre, and give you three or four dollars profit, will yield three tons of gool hay, and give you forty dollars profit. Besides this, the labor is so much lighter and more pleasant than cotton ra1smg. Nothing can surpass the loveliness of a rural home, with green fields of grass surrounding it, and fat colts and lambs sporting in them, while the new mown hay in the adjoining fields fills the air with an aroma that at once soothes and cheers and comforts. There is an idea of plenty and home hap piness associated with such surroundings. And thie is easily in the reach of the poorest, and a little labor and attention is all that is necessary. Any man who can bear the expense of starting ~ff a cotton crop can sow grass. The grass once well set is a permanent sonree of income for year8 without any expense, except cutting :tnd hauling. It iE cheaper to feed on good hay than to pull fodder, to say nothing of the cost of raising the fodder, and besides this 1t is so much cheaper to graze than to feed ; to let stock gather their own food instead of gathering it for 'them and carrying it to the'm. The feeding of stock is tl~e greatest drain on the Southern farmer's resources. And this will continue until we learn how much cheaper grass is than corn or fodder. The culture of grass will soon do away with washes, and the land, instead of being worn and exhau,sted, will be preserved and improved. We can make money, and yet our land will be getting richer all the while. The grass not only prevents the rain from washing the best of the soil away, but actually gathers fertilizing properties from the rain and sunshine, and storeR them in the soil for future use. The top covers the ground, and protects it from injury by the scorching heat of the sun, anti the roots pulverize the soil and enable it to absorb the ammonia and other manurial qualitieil from the rain water and dews and atmosphere. In this way they give to the soil more thar: they take away. And when you get all the hay you can, you still have a coating to be plowed in that iR worth as much to the soil as a thousand pounds of com mercial fertilizer per acre. :.!4 DEPARTMEN'l' OF AGRICULTURE.-GEORGIA. This is especially true of dover, crab grass and Bermuda. The Southern farmer has no better friend than the crab grass, and yet he often impoverishes himself by fighting it. Twenty acres nicely plowed, harrowed and rolled, with the same fertilizer put upon it, and crab grass allowed to grow, will yield a much larger income than the adjoining twenty in cotton, and at a much, less expense. Try it and see. If this article was not already long enough, I would like to say something about Bermuda, which is seemingly sent by a kind providence to restore the lands our folly bas ruined, and save the farming interests from bankruptcy. Instead of being dreaded, it Rhould be welcomed everywhere. For Bermuda sod, plow with coulter or subsoil plow one furrow every ten inches, and top dress with a fertilizer containing a high per cent. of pbos" phoric acid and potash, and harrow with a light harrow, and the yield of hay will fully r11pay you for all trouble and expense. Nitrate of potash and bone flour are both excellent for all grasses. For clover, gypsium or land plaster is a very superior fertilizer, and cheap. MONTHLY TALK TO THE FARMERS. (.From AugWJt Crop Report.) At the risk of being considered tiresome, I must reiterate what I have so often advised, viz. : That the farmers consider seriously the important problem of produefng an abundant food supply at home. Let us, after careful deliberation, settle on a line:of .policy, which will eventually assure onr independence and then adhere to it, undismayed by the many difficulties which loom up whenever a change from the "all cotton" system is attempted. Now is the time to make this decision, for September is the month in which much of the small grain, rye, oats and barley in North Georgia should be sown. It is true that the corn harvest will, in all probability, be an abundant one; but we should not allow this to prevent our making "a9stuance doubly sure," by putting in a large small grain crop. I have recently taken observations in the different sections of the State, and what I have seen but confirms my previous statements, that the majority of Georgia farmers are making a grand mistake in pursuing the cotton myth, when they could gain from the substantial provision reality the competence to which they are entitled and which they deserve. Understand me as advocating, not the abandonment of cotton, nor even its restriction to such a degree as to bring other countries with cheaper labor into ruinous competition with us; but I do advise that this question be adjusted on a strictly business basis, and that the farmers, having the light of reason and past bitter experience to guide them, lift themselves out of their pi"esent difficulties. Last week the first bale of cotton from Dougherty county, classed middling, :;old in New York for seven cents! The price ;f corn in Georgia is ~1.00. The grain crops of Europe are reported almost a complete fail_ure. Now should our farmers provide for abundant supplies at borne, we are not only EXTRACTS FROM PUBLICATIONS. 25 fortified against probable high prices, but will have an opportunity to bring back from Europe some of the gold which has flowed there in such large quantities. We must not, therefore, be satisfied with our large corn crop, but resolve at oncs to sow a large small grain crop. A winter oat from North Carolina, sowed in the cotton fields, of North Georgia in August, will, unless we have an almost unprecedented winter, result most favorably. If killed, sow again in the late fall or early winter, and supplement this crop with as much rye as you can afford to buy, and have the time to put in. It will protect your land from leaching and washing, fill it with the vegetable matter so much needed, and J\"ive an abundant forage mpply. CLOYEH AND OHl'HARIJ tanding these advances, but do not feel that they are too low for wholesale prices. These values are for goods in large lots for cash, in either Atlanta or Savannah, and are based upon actual quotations at these points. To get the cash value of small lots the farmer should add the freight and a fair profit to the manufacturer upon his investment. The freight from Atlanta or Savannah will rarely exceed $3.00 per ton to any point. in the State, EXTRACTS .FROM PUBLICATIONH. 27 if goods are shipped from the nearest .of the two markets and over only one line of railway. When sold on credit the manufacturer is compelled to charge a larger profit to cover interest on his money and the usual percentage of loss by bad debts. Georgia is one of the most liberal users of fertilizers of the States of the Union. This is due to the enlightened condition of her farmers and the 'l'ise laws whicG, exclude worthless fertilizers from the State. Without. such laws unscrupulous manufacturers w~uld soon flood the State with inert goods while claiming every excellence for them, thus disappointing the agriculturalist and making him lose faith in all chemical manures. Such misrepresentation is now detected by the State Chemist, and promptly exposed. The protection afforded to the farmer is evidenced by the enormous increase of the fertilizer business of the State. Outside of the large revenue to the State froin the inspections, there is a tremendous addition to the taxable property in Georgia going on from the constant erection of new mil!R and plants for the manufacture and manipulation of these goods. UUARANTEED ~~NALYHIS. In this Bulletin is published, for the first time, the minimum guaranteed analysis of the manufacturers. The maximum guaranteed analysis is omitted as being misleading in some instances, the goods not approximating it, iior ~ing intende~ to do so. While this is not true of the majority of brands, yet as the maker is only legally bound by his minimum guarantt>e, no other a is given. It is matter of congratulation that, of the many goods offered this season so very few fall.below their guarantee, most of them e;xceeding it by a liberal margin. Those few that are below their ~uarantee. are but slightly so, an() the raising of stock, the cultivation of fruits and vegetables, the beautify in~ of farms and homes, and the promoting of those conditions which are so neeessary to the happiness and prosperity of a people. AXALYSIS. BERMUDA-Albuminoids, total. ........................................................ . 10.10 Albuminoids, digestible .................................................... . 6.0() Crude fibre, total,............................................................ . :!0.:!0 Crude fibre, digestible ....................................................... ll.il Nitrogenfree extract, total.. ............................................. .. 46.00 Nitrogen free extract, digestible ........................................ .. 28.\JS Fat, total ..... ~ ............................. ,..................................... .. um Fat, digestible ................................................................. .. Nutritive ratio ............................................................... .. l:i.S INORGANIC )fA'l'TEHS IN.~ TOX OF .UR DI!Y 1I.IY, COXT.UXIXn 14 PJCH CEXT. WATEH. BERMUDA-Nitrogen .....................: .......................................... :14.20 pound,;. Phosphoric acid ................................................... !U9 pounds. Potash .................................................................. H0.22 pou!)(h'. Roda......... ..... ... ......... ......... ......... ......... ............... 9.20 pounds. ~Iagnesia ..................................................... ........ 6.48 pounds. Lime .................................................................... 1i.45 pounds. Sulphuric acid ...................................................... 1ti.84 pounds. Silica .................................................................... 49.35 pounds. Chlorine .............................................................. 1:?.G8 pouncl". BER)ll'lJA. In many sections of the State the once despised and much dreaded Bermuda grass will play an important part in the system which we wish to inaugurate. ln tl:iis grass we have. a crop furnished by kindly nature, which by actual analysis, as above, ranks higher than any other grass, and makes a splendid summer pasture. It can also be cut several times during the season and the hay cured for winter use, affording a valuable food supply during the enti1e year. A Bermuda pnsture, once well set and intelligently managed, is a valuable and lifetime investment, and with proper care can be restricted to necessary or desirable bounds. ~R. T. ~ESBITT, Commissioner. 36 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.-G'.':ORGIA. TOBACCO. ITB CFLTURE A~D ClJim. (From Octobe1 Crop Repmt.) Tobacco raising as a money crop has in the past claimed hut little of the attention of the farmers of Georgia, and its snccessful cultivation has been considered a difficult undertaking, out of the ordinary line of agriculture aml requiring extraordinary skill. The primitive methods in vogue, the absence of fertilization, the utilization Qf virgin soil only, the want of method in marketing have all aided in limiting the production. The low price of cotton, pointedly bringing to mind the absolute nesessity of a reduction in the acreage of that crop, has recently directed the minds of the farmers to tobacco growing, as its culture and manufacture occupies the sixth place in the great industries of the United States, and a .large portion of Georgia soil has usually been considered adapted to this plant. Under these circumstances, a short review of late and improved methods of raising and curing the plant may not be considered uninteresting, and may furnish those who are seeking information on this subject a more detailed account than the Department wotild be able to give by letter, and may serve to interest us all more in the culture of tobacco, thus enabling us to increase the price of cotton, our money crop, by another money crop. SELECTION AND PREPAHATION OF THE SOIL. The first step necessary to raising tobacco successfully is the selection and preparation of the soil. Tobacco thrives best in a deep mellow soil, either naturally rich or made so by some good fertilizer. If old land is selected, it should be turned over in the fall if there is anything on the land to turn; if not, apply some coarse farm manure. There is nothing better for this purpose than half-rotted straw and lot manure. Follow your turning plow with a subsoiler, so that the land will be rendered sufficiently porous to permit the watlilr to pass downward. Land treated in this manner in the fall or early winter will be pulverized by the action of the frostl', an-half tablespoonfuls of seed will sow 100 square yards or thirty by thirty feet of bed. The seed should be mixed with a convenient quantity of dry ashes before sowing, as there is great danger of sowing too thickly. If the ground on which you prepare your seed bed is not naturally rich it should be made so by applying fine, well rotted stable manure, which must be free from seeds of weeds and grass. The bed should be thickly covered with fine brush, to prevent both drying and freezing of the soil, by which the plants are either stunted or uprooted. 'fhe tobacco bug generally makes its appearance about the firat of April. An excellent preventive against this enemy of the young plant is to nail a twelve inch plank to stakes driven in the ground at each cornor of the hed, and throw some earth against the lower edge of the planks, and then sow the outer edges' of the bed with black mustard seed. The cold frame will serve the additional pmpose of keeping the bed warm and mo.ist, and should not be 38 DEPART;\'lENT OF AGRICTILTURE.-GEORGIA. omitted; the mustard will spring up quir1 feet high-price.............. ~ ...................- - 2 Stoves 17x24 inches by 4 feet $12.50 each ...........................$25 00 Flues for stoves in basement......... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . ... .. .... .. .... ...... 12 00 Terra-cotta chimney, 27 feet high ................................ 13 50 Conduits for basement-120 feet @ $1.00....... ......... ...... ...... 1 20 Door and frame..................................................... ......... 1 50-$53 20 CIGAR TOBACCO. It should be remembered that what has been said in tpis article does not ap ply to the eurin~ of eigar tobaeco, whieh is mainly by aiJ:-drying without artifieial heat, with barns constructed for the purpose, so that currents of air can pass through the housed tobaeco. THE LA\Y. In conclusion I give the seetion of the last act of Congress relating to the sale of leaf tobacco, with the construction put thereon by the Commissioner {)f Internal Revenue, in order that in this regard there may be no misapprehension: '' '.rhat all provisions of the statutes imposing restrictions of any kind what:Soever npon farmers and growers of tobaceo in regard to the sale of leaf tobacco, .:and the keeping of books, and the registration and the report of their sales of eaf tobaeco, or imposing any tax on account of such sales, are hereby repealed; Provided, however, That it shall be the duty ot every farmer or planter produc- EXTRACTS FROl\I PUBLICATIONS. 43 ing or selling leaf tobacco, on demand of any internal revenue officer, or other authorized agent of the Treasury Department, to furnish said officer or agent a true and complete Rtatement, verified by oath, of all his sales of leaf tobacco, the number of hogheads, cases or pounds, with the name and residence in each .instance, of the person to whom sold, and the place to which it is shipped. And every farmer ov planter who wilfully refuse~ to furnish information, or knowingly makes false statements as to any of the facts aforesaid, shall be _guilty of a misdemeanor, all.d shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding five h\lndred dollars. "Farmers and planters are not required to pay an internal revenue tax for .selling leaf tobbacco of their own growth and raising, or leaf tobacco received by tbem from tenants who have produced the same on their lands. The previous ~imitation of an amount not exeeeding one hundred dolla-rs annually is il'epealed by the law above quoted. "The executor or administrator of a farmer or planter, and the guardian of .any minor is exempt from registering as a dealer in leaf tobacco produced by such farmer or planter or by said executor, administrator or guardian as such, -or :t;eceived by either of them as rents from tenants, who produced the same .on the land of said farmer, planter or minor. "A farmer is not required to pack or prize~ his tobacco before offering it ior oaale, in hogheads or otherwise, but he may sell it loose as he has heretofore been in the habit of selling, keeping sueh an account as will enable him to ren-der a true statement of amount sold when called for." R T. NESBITT. NEW LA\V GOVER~ING THE INSPECTION OF FERTILIZERS AND FERTILIZER MATERIALS. wasOn the 19th of Oetober, 1891, an Act, the full text of which is here given, approved by the Governor. In many respects it changes the method of inspeeting fertilizers and fertilizing materials, and in these changes the Commissioner t-rusts that all manufacturer;;; and dealers, or their agents, will willingly acquiesce,'a.s the Department will require, and will see that the law and the regulations established by the Commissioner are carried out. The assent .aud co-operation of manufacturers and dealers, or their agents, will obviously will .. \rende~ their dealings with the Department more pleasant, and at the same time better enable the Commissioner to give an efficient, service, aud will aid him more readily to detect any spurious article that is sought to be imposed 'Upon the people of the State; and in protecting the farmers at the same time tO protect the honest manufacturer and dealer. DEPARTl\1ENT OF AGRICULTURE.-GEORGIA. AN ACT To amend and c:msolidate the laws governing the inspection, analysis and sale of commercial fertilizers, chemicals and cotton seed meal in the State of Georgia; and to repeal all other laws and parts of laws in conflict therewith, and for other purposes. SECTI0:-1 1. Be it enacted by the General A.~.~emhly of the State of Georgia, That all manufacturers of, or dealers in, commercial fertilizers, or chemicals, or cotton seed meal, to be used in manufacturing the same, who may desire te> sell or offer for sale in the State of Georgia such fertilizers, chemicals or cotton seed meal, shall first file with the Comnussioner of Agriculture 'of the State of Georgia the name of t>aeh br;:tnd of fertilizers or chemicals which he o1 they may desire to sell in said State, either by themselves or their agents, to- gether with the name of the manufacturer, the place where manufactured, and also the guaranteed analysis thereof, and if the same fertilizer is sold under different names, said fact shall be so stated, and the different brands that are identical shall be named. SEc. 2. Be it further enacted, That all fertilizers or chemical~, for manu- facturing the same, and all cotton seed meal offered for sale or distribution in this State, shall have branded upon; or attached to, each bag, barrel or pack- age, the guaranteed analysis thereof, showing the percentage of yaluable ele- ments or ingredients such fertilizers or chemicals contain, embracing the fol- lowing determinations: ' - Moisture at 212 deg. Fall. ............................................................ per cent. Insoluble Phosphoric Acid.......................................... ~.................per cent. Available Phosphoric Acid .......................................................... per cent. Ammon ill, Actual and Potential.. ................................................... per cent. Potash (K2 0) .............................................................................per cent. The analysis so placed upon, or attached to, any fertilizer o~ chemilfll shall be a guarantee by the manufaetnrer, agent or person offering the same for sale that it contains substantially the ingredients indicated thereby, in the percentages. named therein, and said guarantee shall be binding on said mlmufacturer, agent or dealer, and may be pleaded in any action or suit at law te> show total or partial failure of con~ideration in the contract for the >e. li. Be itfHrtlter enacted, 'l'hat the Commissioner of Agriculture shall ap- point twelve inspectors of fertilizers, or so many inspectors as in said Commissioner's judgment may be necessary, who shall hold their offices for such terms as said Commissioner of Agriculture shall in his _indgment think best for carrying ont the pr0visons of this Act. The greatest compensation that any one inspector of fertilizers "hall 1;eceive shall be at the rate of one hundred dollars per month, and his actual expenses, while in the discharge of his duty as such in~peetor. lt shall be their duty to inspect all fertilizers, chemicals or -eotton ~eed meal that may be found at any point within the limits of this State, and go to any point when ~;o directed by the Commissioner of Agriculture1 and shall ,;eo that all fertilizers, chemicals or eotton seed meal are properly tagged. SEc. 7. Be it j1uther enacted, That each inspector of fertilizers shall be pro vided with bottles in which to place the samples of fertilizers, chemicals or cotton seed meal drawn by him, and shall also be provided with leaden tags, n:nmbered in duplicate from one upward, and it shall be the duty of each inspector of fertilizers to draw a sample of all fertilizers, chemicals' and cotton seed meal that he may be requested to inspect, or that he may find unin- spected, 1md he shall fill two sample bottles with each brand and place one 46 DEPARTMENT OF AGIUCULTURE.-GEORGIA. leaden tag of same number in each sample bottle, and shall plainly write on label on said bottles the number corresponding to the number on said leaden tags in said bottles, and shall also write on the label on one. of said bottles the name' of the fertilizer, ehemical or cotton sePd meal inspected, the name of the manufacturer, the place where mannfactun~d, the place where inspected, the date of inspection, and the name of inspector, and shall serid or cause to be sent to the Commissi:uner of Agriculture the f'amples so drawn by him, annexed to a full report of said inspection, written on the form prescribed by said Commissioner of Agriculture, which report must be numbered to correspond with the number on said sample bottles, and number on the leaden tags placed therein ; and it shall also be the duty of said inspectors of fertilizers tokeep a complete record of all inspections made by them, on forms prescribed by said Commissioner of Agriculture. Before entering upon the discharge of their duties they shall take and subscribe, before some officer authorized to administer the same, an oath faithfully to discharge all the duties which may be required of them in pursuance of this Act. fSEG. 8. Be it further enacted, That the Commissioner of Agriculture shall have the authority to establish such rules and regulations in. regard to tht; inspection, analysis and sale of fertilizers, chemicals and cotton seed meal, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, as in his judgment will best carry out the requirements thereof. SEc. 9. Be itfwther enacted, That it. shall be the duty of the Commissioner of Agriculture to keep a correct account of all inoney rec~ived froin the inspection of fertilizers, and to pay the same into the Treasnry, after paying out the said sum of expenses and salaries of the inspectors 'and for the tags and bottles used in making such inspections. SEC. 10. Be it further enacted, That all contracts for the sale of fertilizerH or chemicals in the State of Georgia, made in ;my other manner than as required. by this Act, shall be absolutely void; Provided, That nothing in this Act shaH be construed to restrict or void sales of acid phosphate, kainit or other fertilizer material in bulk to each other by importers, manufacturers or manipulators who mix fertilizer materials for sale, or as preventing the free and unrestricted shipment of these articles in b~lk to manufacturers or manipulators who mix fertilizer material for sale. SEc. 11. Be it further en(tcted, '!;hat any person selling or offering for sale any fertilizer o-r chemicals, without having first complied with the provisions of this Act, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof shall be punishEd as prescribed insection .4310 of the Code of Georgia. SEc. 12. Be it further enacted, That all laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act be, and the same are, hereby repealed. L With the provisions of the above law the Commissioner requests that all manufacturers and dealers in commercial fertilizers, chemicals and otherfertilizer material immediately comply. While the law itself is sufficiently explict to be thoroughly understood to facilitate its operations, the following form for registration is prescribed: EXTRACTS FROM PUBLICATIONS. 41 l{EQUEST FOR REGISTRATION. To R. T. :Vesbitt, Commissioner of Agriculture, Atla.nta, Ga. : You are hereby requested to register for sale and distJribution in the State of Georgia ............................................. manufactured by ..... at... :....................- .................................... THE FOLLOWING IS THE GUARAXTEED AN.\LY!';lS OF THE BRAND: Moisture at 212 Fah.. .... .. ........................................ . Insoluble Phosphoric Acid....... .................................. Available Phosphorie Acid.......................................... . Ammonia-Actual and Potential.. ................................ . Potash (Kz 0) ............................................................ . ...............per cent. . ............. per cent. ............... per cent. ............... per cent.. ............... per cent. The ammoniais in the form of .................................................................. The...................................................... is put up in ........................... of .....................................lbs. each............................................................. It is identical with.......................................... . ... ... ... ... ... ... .. ... ... .......... .. In consideration of being allowed to sell and distribute the auo\e brand before the official analysis thereof is made.................................. agree and bind ................................................... to cancel all sales thereof and forfeit all claims for purchase money therefor, if after the official analysis is made the Commissioner of Agriculture shall prohibit its sale in accordanee with law. 2. Under section 4, relating to rPque,.;t for tags, in order that no delav mav occur in shipments, the manufacturer or dealer need not notify the Department at the time of the request for tags of the name of the purchaser or consignee, but :must notify the Commissioner in writing of every saie or consignment, on the day in which the same is made. This notice must distinctly state the brand of the fertilizer, or the name of the ehemical or fertilizer material, and the number of tons, together with the name of the purchaser or consignee and their place of residence. It must request inspection and contain an agreement to cancel all sales thereof, in the event the Commissioner shall prohibit its sale in accordance with law. The following form may be used, substantial compliance with the above rule being regarded as sufficient: NOTICE OF' SALES AND CONSIGNMENTS, AND REQUEST FOR INSPECTION . ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ...... , 189... To R. T. Ne,bitt, Commissioner of Agriculture, .Atlanta, Ga.: You are hereby notified that ............. ,............. have this day made the following sales and consignments, a11d requt>st that the eame be inspected: 48 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTT7RE.-GEORGIA.. --------- <.=d. 00 ."0.". ~ " ,..: "~E" .~...~... 0 zs.". '0 z 6 ."s. :?; .~....g. ..""..... )10 $",_ 3: ,; . ~" 0" ""fo';">". ;;; c 0 0 .gl .:Q:-. -~ ",_ ,Q)' ~ In consideration of being allowed to sell and distribute the above before the official analysis thereof is made ............................ agree and bind ................. ................to cancel all sales thereof and fo'rfeit aY claidts for purehase monP.y therefor, if after the official analysis is made the Commissioner of Agriculture shall prohibit its sale in accordance with law. Manufacturers and dealers; by .this rule, are not. required to delay shipment in order that the inspection may be made, but are required to see that their goods are properly tagged,. the inspection being made while the Iertilizer or fertilizer material is in. the hands of the purchaser or. consignee. 3. All orders for tags must. be sent direct to the Department, and, the request must be accompanied with the fees for inspection, at the rate of'ten cents per ton for the fertilizer or fertilizer material on which they are to be used. Manufaeturers and dealers, or their agents, may request tag<~ in such quantities as they see fit, but each request must state distinctly the brand or brands on which they'are to be used, with the number of tons of the brand or of each of said brands. order It is not necessary that the fertilizer or fertilizer material be actually on hand at the time the request is made, but manufactmers or dealers can sucl1 a number of tags as they maj need during the seasqn, b!)aring in mind that no tags carried over will be redeell!ed by the Departmellt. In the event that more tags are owered for any brand than it is ascertained can be used on the sales and consignments of that brand, by proper notice, with the consent of the Commissioner, the tags can be used on another brand put up in packages or sacks of the same weight and sold or con~igned the Eame seasol1. 4. If a fertilizer be offered for registration, inspection or sale, branded as either of the following: "Ammoniated Superphosphate," "Ammoniated Dissolved Bone," "A.mmoniated Guano," "Guano," "Fertilizer," or other wmds implying that the same is an ammoniated superphosphate, the guaranteed analysis must claim that it contains not less than two per cent. of ammonia (actual or potential). 5. That part of section 8 excepting from the operations of the Act: "An Act to require the inspection and analysis-<)!' cotton seed 'meal' " leaves the inspection of that article under the Calvin Lill, which requires that all cotton 1-leed meal, for whatever purpose to be used, be inKpected. It iR, therefore, necessary and is required, that a request for inspection be sent to the Commissioner, and that the inspection Le made in the hands of the manufactmer, dealer .EXTRACTS FROM PUBLICATIONS. 4!) t~r their agent, or if shipped in the State, at some copvenient point, before the meal is sold or distributed .. In all cases fees will be sent di~ect to the Commissioner, who will immediately order the nearest inspector to. make the inHpection. THE ELLINGTON BILL. No. 168. An Act to regulate the sale of fertilizers in this State; to.fix a method for determin~ng the value of the same, and for other purpose!'. SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Georgia, and it is here- by enacted by the ailthority of the same1 That from and after the passage of this Act it shall be lawful for any purchaser' of fertilizers froni any owner thereof, or agent of Buch owner, to require of the person selling, and at the time of the sale or delivery, to take from each lot of each brand sold a sample. of its contents. SEC. 2. Be it furtber enacted, That said sample so taken shall be mixefl together and placed in a bottle, jar or such other receptacle as the purchaser may present. It shall then he the duty of such purchaser and seller to de- liver said package to the Ordinary of the county, who shall label same with the name of tlhe parties and of the fertilizers. SP...c. 3. Be it further enacted, That said' 0rdinary shall safely keep sai1f package,-allowing neither party access to the same, save as hereinafter pro- vided. The Ordinary shall receive a fee of ten (10) cents from the party depos- iting such sample for each sample so deposited. SEc. 4. Be it further enacted, That should such purchaser, after having usE\rl such fertilizers upon his crop have~rP.ason to believe from the yields thereof, that said fertilizer wa.S totally or partially worthless, he shall notify the seller, and apply to the Ordinary to forward the said sample deposited with him (or a SQfficiency thereof to insure a fair analysis)to the State Chemist, without stating the names of the parties, the name of the fertilizer or giving its guaranteed analysis, the cost of sending being prepaid by purchaser. SEC. 5. Be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of said State Chemi~t to analyze and send a copy of the result to said Ordinary.. ' SEc. 6. Be it further enacted, That should said analysis show that .said_fer- tilizer comes up to the guaranteed analysis upon which it is sold, then the statement so sent by the State Chemist shail be conclusive evidence against a plea of partial or total failue of considerati6n. But should said analysis show that such fortilizer does not come up to the guaranteed analysis, then the sale shall be illegal, null and void, and when suit is brought, upon any evidel}ce of indebtedness given for such fertilizer, the statement of such Chemist, so trans- mitted to the Ordinary shall be conclusive evidence of the facts, whether such evidence of indebtedness is held by an innocent third party or not. SEc. 7. Be it further enacted, That in lieu of the State Chemist; should the parties to the contract agree upon some other chemist to make 8aid analysis, all the provisions of this Act shall apply to his analysis anq report. to the'Ord~nary. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.-GEORGIA. SEC. 8. Be it further enlcte l, Th \t should the seller refuse to take said eample when so required by the pnrchaser, then, upon proof of this fact, the of purchaser shall be entitled' to his plea of failure consideration, and to sup~ port the same by proof of the want of effect and benefit of said .fertilizer upon his crops, which proof shall be sufficient to authorize the jury to sustain defendant's plea within whole or in part, whether said suit is brought by an innocent bolder or not. SEC. 9. Be it further enacted, That all laws and parts of laws in contlict with this Act be, and the same are, hereby repealed. Approved December 'l7, J890. Special attention is called to SEc. 1. Requiring ~eller to take the sample. SEc. 2. Requiring. purchaser and:seller to deliver package to O~ina,ry.. SEc. 3. Requiring Ordinary to keep package, allowing neitli~r part'vac- cess tO the same. SEc. -!._ Requiring' the forwarding of samples after seeing the yield of crop. SEc. 5. Requiring cost of sending being prepaid by purchaser. COTTON SEED MEAL. IT MUST BE INSPECTED UNDER THE CALVIN BILL. The Calvin Bill, relating to the inspection and analyses of cotton seed meal .does not seem to be thoroughly understood by manufacturers and dealerS in tthat article. Under the bill, all cotton seed meal must be inspected and analyzed before )_t.,can, without violating the law, be sold or offered for sale. to be used as a fertilizer, or for any other purpose. Rules and regulations governing these inspections have been prescribed by tp.e Commissioner, and will be printed, but in order thllt through misapprepension no sales in violation of the Act may be made, the Commissioner issues the following: CALVIN BIJ.,.L. Abil~~to be entitled an Act to require all cottonseed meal to be subjected to an~ysis and inspection as a condition precedent to being offered for sale, and t~>~f;l?id the sale in this State of such cotton seed meal if it be shown by the offic\a\_ analysis that the same contains less than 7! per centum. of ammonia, to prespribe a penalty for the violation of the provisions of this Act, and for other: purposes. SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Georgia, and it is hereby enacted by authority of the same, That from and after tb.e passage of EXTRACTS FROM PUBLICATIONS. ~1 this Act, it shall not be lawful for any person or persons to offer for sale iu this .State any cotton seed meal until the same shall have been duly analyzed by the State Chemist and inspected as now required by law in the matter of all fertilizers and chemicals for manufacturing or composting purposes;. nor shall it be lawful to offer such cotton seed meal for sale in this State if it be shown by the official analysis that the same contains less than 7! per centum of am- monia; provided, that the provisions of this Act as to the per centum mentioned in this s~ction shall not apply to meal man)lfactured from sea island ~otton seed; but the Commissioner of Agriculture shall, upon the passage of .this Act, fix and make public a minimun per centum, which shall control. as to :the cotton seed meal referred to in this proviso ; provided furt.he;, that if any cotton seed meal shall not analyze up to the required per centum of ammonia, the same may be offered for sale as second-class meal, provided the true analysis be made known_ to the purchaser and stamped on the sack. SEc. 2. Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That there shall be branded uppn or attached to each sack, barrel or packa~e of cotton seed meal -offered for sale in this State the true analysis, as determined by the State Chemist, and the number of pounds net in such sack, barrel or package. ~EC. 3. Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That it shall be the .(i~ty of the Commissioner of Agriculture to take all steps necessary to make -effective the provisions of sections 1 and 2 of this Act. Section 4 of the Act makes the person or persons violating the provisions of the Act guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction punished as prescribed in section 4310 of the Code. Section 1) repeals conflicting laws. I desire to call the attention of all manufacture~s of and dealers in cotton seed meal to the above law, which rt>quires the inspection, tagging and analysis of all cotton seed meal, whether sold for cattle food, fertilizer purposes, or other u.Ses. This law will be enforced, and I most earnestly request all manufacturers to promptly comply with its requirements. And in case of doubt as to the method, to apply to the Department of Agriculture for the rules and regula- tions governing such inspections. R. 'r. NESBITT, CommiliiiiDner ot ~