REPORT
OF THK
Commissioner of Agriculture
STATE OF GEORGIA.
Year. Ending Sejptectvibkr 30th, 180S.
R. T. NESBITT, commissioner.

REPORT
OF THE
Commissioner of Agriculture
OF Tin-:
STATE OF GEORGIA.
Year Ending September SOth, 1895.
R. T. NESBITT, commissioner.

REPORT
To His Exceli/ency W. Y. Atkinson, Governor.
I have the honor to submit the following report of the transactions of the Department of Agriculture for the year beginning October 1st, 1894, and ending September 30th, 1895:
CLERICAL FORCE.
Since the last report there has been but one change in the clerical force of the department, 13. L. McIntosh having been appointed in the place of 13. F. Carter, resigned. The following persons are now employed in the department in clerical capacities: 13. L. McIntosh, general correspondent and book-keeper; J. E. Brown, Jr., fertilizer clerk; H. L. Bennett, mailing clerk.
FERTILIZER INSPECTION.
During the year the following named inspectors have been employed, each receiving a salary of $83 33 per month while employed, except A. Oemler, who, for the past ten months, has received $100 per month. These gentlemen have rendered faithful and honest work to the State, and by close attention to their work have earned their salaries, as follows:
SAI.ARY.
A Oemler, Savannah..........................................$ 1,160 99 S. B. Scott, Atlanta............................................ 999 90 E. R. Kilpatrick, Waverly Hall...................... 999 90 W. VV. Dews, Cuthbert...................................... 999 90 W. B. Jones, La Grange.................................... 249 99 S. R. Fulcher, Greens Cut................................ 333 32 J. R. VanBuren, Griswoldville........................ 333 32 W. A. Terrell, Greenville.................................. 458 31 Z. L. Fryer, Barnesville.................................... 333 32 M. L. Johnson, Cass Station............................ 333 32 G. M. Goldsmith, Stone Mountain................ 333 32 J. V. McWhorter, Woodville.......................... 333 32
Total....................................................$ 0 SIS 09

3

Though the sale of fertilizer decreased very largely last winter, re sulting in a diminution of several thousand dollars in the receipts of the department, as compared with the previous year, the receipts have been sufficient to meet every expense, and the fertilizer business of the depart ment has not cost the State one dollar, as the following report will show:

RECEIPTS.
Balance From Season of 1893-94 ..........................$ 2,733 43 " Sale of Tags...................................... 22,598 91

$25,332 34

$25,332 34

EXPENDITURES.

For Tags........................................................................$ 5,502 60

Salaries of Inspectors................................................ 6,875 09

Traveling Expenses of Inspectors........................ 1,551 10

Re-stamping Tags........................................................ 143 00

Express..........................................................................

1 75

Incidentals.................................................................... 96 49

Turned into State Treasury.................................... 8,672 15

$22,842 18 Balance........................................ 2,490 16
AGRICULTURE.

$25,332 34

The conditions of the agricultural interests of the State are fairly good. While the cotton crop will fall far short of that of last year, the food crops, such as corn, peas, potatoes, sorghum, sugar cane, and rice, are unusually good, and there are more hogs to fatten than in many years previous. Though the cotton crop is short, the price is better than it was last year, and, on the whole, the farmers of the State are in better condi tion than they have been for several years past. Each year there is more attention given to diversified farming, better preparation of the land, more terracing, and a more judicious use of commercial fertilizers. All these, I take to be improvements in our agricultural condition, each one a sign post, pointing the way to assured independence and prosperity among our farmers.
DAIRYING.

The dairying industry is growing steadily, and bids fair to soon be come of great importance. A large number of creameries have been estab. lished during the past twelve months, and a number of these have met with fair success. Where difficulties have been encountered, the promo ters should not abandon their efforts, but by close investigation discover the leaks, stopping which there would be success where heretofore there has been failure.

4
In this connection I deem it proper to mention that quantities of butterine, and other compounds, are sold in this State as butter, to the great detriment of the dairymen and their products. Unless laws are passed, and stringently enforced, to put a stop to these deceptions, the result must be to cripple and probably destroy the dairy industry of our State. I do not object to butterine and like compounds, most of which I consider both healthy and palatable, but I earnestly protest against their being sold under false colors. They should either be sold on their own merits, or not at all, and it would he a simple act of justice to the farmers if the Legislature would enact a law to this effect.
ORCHARDS AND FRUITS.
There has been an enormous increase in this branch of farming in the past few years, and especially in the growing of peaches; the ship ments of which have reached, this year, several hundred carloads, with the prospect of a large increase year by year, for some years to come. The shipment to Northern markets of grapes, plums and pears, is also steadily increasing. These different fruits, together with melons and the berries, bring a large amount of money into the State, and if the railroads would only give more reasonable rates of freight to distant markets, the fruit in dustry would rapidly become immense, and would bring large amounts of money to our people in the dull summer months.
PUBLICATIONS.
The usual Annual for 1894, was published last fall, and by June the entire edition was exhausted and many more called for. A second edition was published during the past summer, which, by some changes and addi tions, was made a great improvement over the first issue. These have all been distributed without supplying the demand.
In addition the department has published a large edition of a book called, "Georgia a Fair Field for Homeseekers and Investors;" a well illustrated pamphlet of sixty-seven pages, giving in a condensed form an outline of the different industries of the State, her educational facilities, water powers, etc. There has been a great demand for this book, and the first edition of five thousand copies has been well scattered throughout the West and North, resulting in interesting many people of those sections in our State, and adding to our population probably hundred of good citi zens. A second edition of this work is now in the hands of the printers, and will soon be ready for distribution.
During the past year there have been hundreds of letters received by this department from the states of the North and West, wanting inform ation regarding our State, and we have sent such literature as we had, to everyone writing, and, no doubt, with good results. If we wish to attract emigrants to cultivate our lands and assist in developing our great State, we must publish and place before them the advantages that we can offer;

no one will do this for us, and while other Southern states are using every effort to control the tide of emigration, plainly setting southward, it will not do for Georgia to sit with folded hands awaiting what may happen. We should be up and doing, or our sister states will get the cream of this tide of emigration, which will soon swell to large proportions.
In accordance with a recent act of the Legislature, I have published a volume of nearly five hundred pages called, " Georgia Has Resources and Possibilities." This is the most complete hand-book of the State ever issued by this department and will be valuable as a book of reference.
This work is well illustrated with cuts relating to all the varied re sources of the State, agriculture, horticulture, manufacturing, mining, lumbering, etc., and is liberally supplied with maps relating to agriculture, geology, forestry, rainfall, temperature, etc. The contents of this work are divided into nine chapters, which treat of the following subjects:

Chapter 1. " 2. u 3. "4
" 6.
7. " 8. " 9.

General Outline of the State. Economic Minerals Geology of Georgia. The Streams and Drainage Basins of Georgia. Table Showing Tributaries and Water-Powers. Manufacturing. Agriculture. Institutions of the People. Governors of Georgia. Georgia by Counties.

Each of these subjects is treated of fully and instructingly. Especially interesting to homeseekers is the ninth chapter, in which the State is taken by counties and carefully and accurately described, giving statistical in formation as to population, school fund, property of all kinds, rate of tax ation, etc. The statistical information in this work has been very care fully compiled and can be relied on as accurate. From the flattering notices received from the Press and from individuals throughout the State, I feel that the time and money devoted to this work has been well expended.

EXPOSITION.
Having been selected by the Legislature as the Executive officer of the State Board of Commissioners, I have devoted a great deal of time during the past six months to the work of "Illustrating Georgia" at the Cotton States and International Exposition. This work, while arduous and accompanied with many annoyances, has been a " labor of love " with me, and I have entered into, and have continued it heartily, and with all my strength, influenced by the desire to see our Grand State make a dis play worthy of her renown. Ably assisted by Dr. Geo. F. Payne, State Chemist, and Prof. W. S. Yeates, State Geologist, with their respective as

6
sistants; by a number of our most ambitious and progressive counties, and by earnest individuals, both ladies and gentlemen, from all sections of the State, the work has been carried on steadily and systematically, until now the Georgia building at the Exposition contains a display of her varied resources, industries and educational advancement, such as any State in the Union might be proud of.
The money wisely appropriated by the Legislature, to thus show to the world the resources and possibilities of Georgia, has been judiciously expended, and will prove, I doubt*not, the best investment ever made by the State.
This great Exposition, and the display made by Georgia, must at tract attention and inquiry to this section, and more particularly to our own State, which stands out pre-eminently among her sisters as the Empire State of the South.
REPORT OF CHEMIST.
Laboratory of tub State Chemist, State Capitol,
Atlanta, Ga., August 22, 1895.
Hon. R. T. Nesbitt, Commissioner of Agriculture of the State of Georgia,
Atlanta, Ga.:
Dear Sir:--The work of the State Chemist has been particularly arduous during the present year. The opening of the fertilizer season was unusually backward. The dealers in many instances putting off their purchases a number of weeks later than usual. Samples of fertilizers have poured in very steadily until after the middle of August, necessitat ing constant work every day of from one to four hours beyond office hours by the State Chemist and his assistants to accomplish the analysis. The number of brands registered has been the largest known in the history of the department, some establishments registering over forty different brands This great multiplication of the names of identical goods must prove a source of constant uncertainty to the farmer, for, in cases where he has not found a goods suited to the want of his land, in endeavoring to buy another brand he may unwittingly be purchasing the same thing under another name. It has been the pleasure of the State Chemist to answer an unusually large number of letters received during the season requesting information in regard to the home manipulation of fertilizers and the proper utilization of accessible plant food. A knowledge of what really consti tutes the value of a fertilizer is of deep significance to all farmers, and their increasing interest in the subject is one of much congratulation; and will receive every encouragement.
The work of the State Chemist in connection with the State Exhibit Commission has been one of great interest. Appreciating the importance to the State of their fruit industry, he managed to secure a small fund from the commission, to be used for the purpose of displaying the fruits of

the State. This, is an important and growing industry, and is now attract ing more settlers to the State than probably all kinds of business put to gether. In preparing fruit for exhibition, there must be no delay in putt ing it up; most fruits were received over-ripe, and immediate attention was imperative if they were to be saved. Many of the fruits have been received in the afternoons, being shipped on the morning trains and arriv ing about the time most of the offices were closed in the Capitol; this ne cessitated many hours of night work. The exhibit will prove a hand some one, and one which has been gotten up at a remarkably small outlay by the State The chief cost to the State has been for containers and chem icals and a small amount for fruits, and the services of one man for a few weeks. The work of the State Chemist and his assistants at night, after office hours, has made this possible, without delaying the regular fertilizer analysis. As evidence of how well the work of the chemical laboratory has been kept up with, it will suffice to say that the official samples of fer tilizers continued to come to the State Chemist to be analyzed for appear ance in this bulletin as late as August 20th, yet by August 22d the official work of the whole season was complete and had been reported to you. But thirty days now intervene before the opening of the new season of 1893-90, which will be devoted to straightening up the rooms of the labor atory after the season's rush, and preparing and varifying apparatus, chemicals, and solutions for the new work of the coming season, which will begin on October 1st. In addition to the variiication of the chemicals, solutions, etc., for every batch of analysis made during the year there is always a complete overhauling and checking of the apparatus, chemicals, and solutions preparatory for the beginning of each season. The amount of work during the season of 1894-93 was as follows:

Acid phosphates, with ammonia and potash (complete fertilizer)

651

Acid phosphates with ammonia...............................................................

5

Acid phosphates with potash..................................................................

112

Ammonia and potash..................................................................................

5

Acid phosphates (superphosphates)......................................................

137

Potash salts.............................................. ..................................................

51

Fertilizers under the provisions of the Ellington bill....................

8

Cotton-seed meals........................................................................................

80

Cotton-seed--whole, hulls and meats................................................

23

Minerals..........................................................................................................

215

Waters............................................................................................................

Substances not otherwise enumerated..................................................

160

Ashes..............................................................................................................

2

Soft phosphates...........................................................................................

Bones..............................................................................................................

11

Very respectfully,

1,471

GEORGE F. PAYNE, State Chemist.

t

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The following table shows the receipts from the inspection of oils with the amount received by inspectors and their compensation.
STATEMENT. The following consolidated statement gives the amount of oil inspec ted by the inspectors in the different districts.

District.

No. Gallon! Inspected.

Inspectors.

Fees Received.

Rfl.vn.nna.li ......................

A Ticrivsta

..........

A tl o n t a

Rome..............................

A t il All Tiultnn flnlnmVms

...

Macon............................

A m Aric.n s

............

n p<avi 11 p

T^rjinswiclr ..................

rivi ffi n

..............

1,791,055 512,336
1,098,161
135,125
159,213 34,167 260,301
453,013
91,676 5,063 303,222 51,330

Peter Reilly ... ............. W. H. Barrett.............. Jno. W. Nelms.............. j T. J. Lyon.................. j H. A. Dean................ James R Byle.............. J. R McAffee................ J. W Murphy..............
\M J. Hatcher.......... IR. H. Smith............ James A. Port.............. E. E. Kimbrough........ P. W. Flemming.......... A. C. Sorrell..................

4,894,062

$ 8,955 48 2,564 72 5,474 00
( 193 53 1 522 84
811 75 174 58 1,301 39 ( 1,392 07 1 872 06 460 17 25 21 1,517 10 256 63
$24,521 53

COYERED IN TREASURY BY INSPECTORS.

Name of inspectors. Peter Reilly.................. W. H. Barrett................ Jno. W. Nelms.............. James R Lyle.............. H. A. Dean.................... J. W. Murphy ............ M. J. Hatcher.............. R. H. Smith.................. James A. Fort.............. T. J. Lyon...................... P. W. Flemming.......... A. C. Sorrell..................

Amount. ...$ 7,117 01 .... 1,143 30 ... 3,776 05
187 26 90 94 340 89 711 88 240 50 78 17 18 43 244 48 18 91

$13,968 42