Report of the Commissioner of Agriculture of the State of Georgia, year ending September 30, 1896

REPORT
OF THE
Commissioner of Agriculture
OF THE
STATE OE GEORGIA
Year Ending September SOth, 1806-
R. T. NESBITT, Commissioner.

EEPORT.
To His Excellency W. Y. Atkinson, Governor :
I have the honor to submit the following report of the trans actions of the Department of Agriculture for the year commencing October 1, 1895, and ending September 30, 1896.
CLERICAL FORCE.
There has been but one change in the clerical force of the de partment since my last report, Ulla G. Hardeman having been ap pointed fertilizer clerk in place of J. E. Brown, Jr., resigned. The following persons are now employed in the department : B. L. Mc Intosh, general correspondent and bookkeeper ; Ulla G. Hardeman, fertilizer clerk ; H. L. Bennett, mailing clerk.
FERTILIZER INSPECTION.
The sale of fertilizers during the past year has been greater than ever before in the history of the State. The following gentle men were employed as inspectors at the salaries placed opposite their names, and their work has been done in a thorough and effi cient manner, giving satisfaction, I feel sure, to the farmers of the State, in whose interest they are employed :
SALARIES.
*A. Oemler, Savannah........................................................................... $ 200 00 S. B. Scott, Atlanta................................................................................. 999 96 E. R. Kilpatrick, Waverly Hall............................................................ 999 96 W, W. Dawes, Cuthbert....................................................................... 999 96 H. M. Stanley, Savannah....................................................................... 833 30 S. R. Fulcher, Green's Cut.................................................................... 499 98 Z. L. Fryer, Barnesville......................................................................... 416 65 J. R. YanBuren, Griswoldville .......................................................... 499 98 M. L. Johnson, Cass Station.............. ... .............................................. 416 65 W, A. Terrell, Greenville...................................................................... 499 98 J. V. McWhorter, Woodville................................................................ 416 65 W. A. Cooper, Lawrenceville............................................................... 416 65 J. E. McDuffie, McRae........................................................................... 333 32 *R. A. Forrester, Leesburg.................................................................... 83 33
Total............................................................................................. $ 7,616 37 *H. M. Stanley was appointed in place of A. Oemler, and J. E. McDuffie in place of R. A. Forrester.

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Department of Agriculture--Georgia.

While the total amount of salaries is greater than for last year, the amount of fertilizers sold is also very much greater, necessitat ing a longer term for the inspectors, and consequently an increased expenditure. The following statement of receipts and expendi tures will show that after all the expenses attaching to the inspec tion of fertilizers were met, there was still a large amount turned over to the State for the benefit of the public school fund:

RECEIPTS.
Balance from season of 1894-95 ..........................................................$ 2.490 16 From sale of tags season 1895-96 ........................................................ 33,561 78

Total............................................................................................ 36,051 94

EXPENDITURES.

For Tags................................................................................................$ 5,440 00

Salaries of Inspectors.......................................................................... 7,616 37

Traveling Expenses of Inspectors.......................................................... 2,11134

Ee-stamping Tags................................................................................

16 30

Miscellaneous, Bottles, etc., etc......................................................... 160 77

Turned into State Treasury................................................................. 17,699 92

Total........................................................................... . . . . 33,044,70 .Balance on hand.............................................................3,007 24

Total............................................................................................ 36,051 94

It will thus be seen that the sale of fertilizers has been very large during the past season, and I fear that with the short cotton crop, the payment for these goods will prove very burdensome to our farmers. I have repeatedly urged upon them to cut down their expenses for fertilizers by making composts and by buying the fertilizer ingredients and mixing for themselves. A great many have adopted one or the other of these plans, and in a disastrous year like this will feel the benefit of this course.

AGRICULTURE.
This being the dominant and leading industry in our State it should be the duty and pleasure of our legislators to foster and promote everything looking to the advancement and improvement of our farming methods. In this connection, therefore, I would

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ask your oxoelleacy to recommend to the legislature that they make an appropriation of a thousand dollars annually from the money derived from the inspection of fertilizers for the purpose of carrying on farmers' institutes throughout the State. Considerable work has been done on this line by Professors Hunnicutt and! White, of Athens, and wherever the institutes have been held much interest has been manifested by the farmers, and no doubt much good has resulted. These institutes, or educational meetings, should by all means be encouraged, and I am the more bold in asking for this appropriation to benefit the farmers, because every year since I have been at the head of this department there has been turned into the treasury of the State from eight to eighteen thousand dollars derived from the inspection of fertilizers. Surely a thousand dollars a year from this fund might be spared for the special purpose of educating our farmers, upon whom the pros perity of the State depends. At these institutes they are taught by able teachers all that is latest and most approved not only in agriculture, but in horticulture, dairying, and the best use of ferti lizers as well. In methods and in results, there has been a great improvement in agriculture in this State in the past few years, and there is evidence everywhere that our farmers are in more comfort able circumstances than they were some years since. They have built better houses and barns, they own more and better stock, their lands are terraced and producing better crops. They have learned more generally the great value of the pea as a fertilizer, and in consequence are bringing up their lands to a higher point of fertility. They are more generally producing their own supplies at home, and consequently making their cotton to that extent a surplus crop.
In all these, and in many other ways, improvement is indicated. I am glad to be able to make so gratifying a statement, which must rejoice the heart of every lover of our grand old State.
The unusual droughts of the past season have very materially cut short the cotton crop, as well as potatoes, peas, hay, and other fall crops; but in most counties enough corn and meat will be made for home consumption, while the advance in the price of cot ton will, in some measure, compensate for the decrease in that crop.

450

Department of Agriculture--Georgia.

DAIRYING.
The dairying industry is holding its own as well as could be ex pected with the very low prices prevailing for products. A num ber of creameries have been forced to discontinue operation on this account. The Dairymen's Association of this State is doing all it can to foster and encourage this industry, and they should have the hearty help of our law makers in this direction. The climate and soil of most of our State is peculiarly adapted to this industry, and I believe intelligent effort and enterprise directed to the pro duction of milk, butter, and cheese would be as well rewarded as in any State in the Union.
The greatest obstacle to the success of our dairymen is the sale mf butterine and other compounds which are sold under the name of .Jersey butter, at such a price that the genuine article is either driven out of the market or has to be sold at a price entailing loss upon the producer. The law in relation to this matter is sufficiently ; stringent, but seems to be a dead letter, as I have heard of no prose.cutions under it. If the grand jurors and solicitors would see to Jhe enforcement of this law, it would very much help the dairymen.

HORTICULTURE.

The interest in fruit growing in this State still continues, and

each year sees a large addition to the acreage devoted to this in

dustry. The past year has generally been a disappointing one to

the fruit growers. The melon crop was very much injured by the

excesses of drouth and rain to which it was subjected. The peach

crop was small for the same reason, and the grapes, though abun

dant and fine, were sold at such low prices as to leave little or no

profit to the grower. In spite of all drawbacks, I believe that this

industry, properly conducted, will, with the advent of better times,

be profitable, and that those who persevere in it will then reap their

reward.

STOCK.

The condition of stock of various kinds throughout the State has been better than usual during the past year, due, no doubt, in a great measure, to the abundant provision crops made last year.

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451

There have been but few complaints of cholera, which indicates that there will be plenty of hogs to kill during the coming winter. There have been some serious outbreaks of anthrax among cattle, resulting in loss of valuable stock, but these outbreaks have been confined to the herds in which they first appeared, and have not spread over the country. Glanders has appeared among horses in various parts of the State, and wherever suspected has caused alarm among the farmers in the neighborhoods. Wherever requested I have promptly sent a competent veterinary surgeon to investigate the matter, and owners have, without exception, destroyed the stock so infected.
In this connection I suggest that a law be passed empowering this department, upon report of competent veterinary surgeon, to destroy all stock suffering with this incurable disease, and that when stock are so destroyed, the State shall pay half their value to the owner. Under present conditions an owner is loath to report this disease, and keeps patching up and working his sick animal month after month at the imminent risk of spreading the disease among the stock of his neighbors. Investigation has satisfied me that many cases of this disease have been brought into the State by the roving bands of gypsy horse-traders who roam over the State during the winter trading hoi-ses and mules, and frequently leaving a trail of this loathsome disease behind them. Could their stock be quarantined on the borders of the State, and not allowed to enter unless pronounced healthy by competent veterinary surgeon, it would, in a large measure, protect our stock from this highly con tagious disease. This matter should not be put off or neglected, as much loss might thereby be entailed on the people of the.State.

PUBLICATIONS.
Since the last report this department has published a very large edition of Fertilizer Bulletin ; two large editions of the Annual for 1895 ; a second edition of the " Hand-Book of Georgia " ; and, also, assisted in the publication of the State Horticultural Society.
The above publications have been distributed over the State, in the hope and belief that our people would derive some benefit from them, and that the lessons therein taught might in some measure lighten their labors and bring them greater reward.

452

Department of Agriculture--Georgia.

In addition to these, the department furnishes to one hundred and fifty papers in the State a `l Monthly Talk," with answers to questions, covering a page of the average weekly paper, and de signed expressly to reach and benefit the mass of our farmers, many of whom have expressed their high appreciation of this feature of the work of the department. Indeed I feel sure that this is by far the best and surest way of reaching the mass of the people, and in no other way could they so cheaply and so easily get information on agricultural matters.
In conclusion and to sum up, I feel justified in saying that the farmers of our own State have cause to be hopeful and cheerful., Though their provision crops have been somewhat cut off, they have still an abundance left, both for man and beast. Though their cot ton crop has been injured to the extent of dO to 40 per cent., the higher price will partially make up for the loss, while at the same time the way is paved for a good price next year, even with a large crop at that time. Therefore let them take heart and hope, and with renewed courage engage in the making of another crop. On. their sturdy arms depends the advancement of our State and coun try, and when poverty and despair overtake them, then the whole fabric of our prosperity and civilization must collapse.

REPORT OP FISH SUPERINTENDENT.
LaGrange, Ga., October 6, 1896.
Hon. R. T. Nesbitt, Commissioner of Agriculture, Atlanta, Ga.:
Dear Sir--I submit this my annual report to June 30, 1896 Not having been able to get the State and local fish laws of the State in book form, where I could go over them with an idea of noting wanted and desired changes, lam not ready to suggest any changes now. I have constant calls for these laws from all parts of the State, and feel confident a lot of good will come from their dis tribution. I find a disposition among the people to have the- laws for the protection and propagation of fish carried out. I am keep ing a record of all distributions of fishes in Georgia and intend, tofollow up their distribution with inquiries and find where best re

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453

suits are obtained as a guide for future plantings. I am putting these parties on notice now that I shall ask for results and will ex pect reports giving a report of the result of their planting. I am of the opinion parties will give more attention and care when re ports of progress will be expected of them.
I am inclined to the opinion that the system of terracing our hill lands will prove to be of very great good in improving the condition of our streams, both creeks and rivers, by holding large quantities of the rainfall, thereby preventing such large overflows and in keeping the water cleaner. Nothing is so disastrous to the

egg as sand and mud, so I am informed by the department, and that we can expect no very satisfactory results from muddy streams. The only hope of keeping these streams supplied is by planting the young hatch constantly.
Following is a list of plants in Georgia waters for year ending June 30, 1896:

Black and rock bass........................ Rainbow, spotted and black trout Shad ........ ....................................... Carp................................................. Tench.............................................. Gold fish (now discontinued)....... Landlocked salmon........................ Miscellaneous................................

2,493 10,593 4,593,000 14,146 11,405
354 69 120

Total....................................................................... .......................... 4,742,180
I will state that most of the fresh water fishes on exhibition at the Cotton States and International Exposition in Atlanta in 1895 were taken from Georgia waters; some, however, were taken from the waters of the Carolinas. Ninty-five individuals and corpora tions were supplied out of the above, varying from 20 to 300 each, owing to size of ponds and lakes.
Hoping to be able to report some good results from the plantings made since I have been in charge of the office, I close.
Very truly, J. D. Edmundson,
Fish Commissioner of Georgia.

454

Department of Agriculture--Georgia.

EEPORT OF THE CHEMIST.
Laboratory of the State Chemist,
State Capitol, Atlanta, Ga., Sept. 1, 1896.
Hon. R. T. Nesbitt, Commissioner of Agriculture of the State of Georgia:
Dear Sir--The fertilizer season just closing has been one of unusual character in the history of the department. The largest number of brands of fertilizers offered for sale in Georgia during any one year have been put upon the market during the past sea son. The largest number of tons of fertilizers sold in Georgia during any one year have been sold for this year's crop. Georgia is the largest consumer of fertilizers of any of the States of the Union. She has become almost as large a user of these materials as the two States which rank next to her put together. This enormous consumption of fertilizers, made up under so many dif ferent brands, necessitates a great number of chemical analyses to determine the character of the goods offered for sale.
The farmers of the State are studying the subject of fertilizers and fertilization of crops with deep interest, and are appreciating more and more fully the importance of the intelligent use of fertil izers. The enormous multiplication of brands is not for the best interests either of the manufacturer or the farmer. A healthy in crease in the number of brands commensurate with an increase of the number of manufacturers and of new and desirable combina tions is unobjectionable, but it is not wise for a manufacturer to put up goods by a certain formula and sell them far and wide over the State under many different names. The objection to this is obvious. A farmer may buy a certain brand of goods and find it totally unfitted for his land and the crop he wishes to raise; natur ally he desires no more of that brand; although it may contain all the plant-lood guaranteed, it is not suited to the peculiar conditions of his crop or his land. He wishes to try something else. He goes to another dealer and buys a different brand, thinking he is getting a change. If it happens to be the same old brand under

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another name, his crop suffers accordingly, and his faith in fertil izers is much shaken. He certainly would not have bought the same goods a second time if he had been aware of their identity. A wrong is thus put upon him. Many dealers desire to appear as manufacturers, and have their own special brands made for them. These brands are sometimes made one season by one factory, and give satisfaction ; another manufacturer comes along and offers to make him the goods for next season with the same guarantee for less money; he accepts the offer, and the goods will reach the guarantee, but with far less margin than the others, and probably made up with different materials. The purchaser tries them the first season and is pleased, he tries them the second season and is disappointed ; he is told that the goods are all right, as shown by their work the first season, and that the weather and other adverse causes are accountable for his poor crop. In this way he is often unfairly persuaded to use theTrand a third season.
Some manufacturers are accustomed to consider their brands as simply formulse containing certain amounts of available phosphoric acid, ammonia and potash, varying the source of these substances as best suits their pocketbooks or convenience. This is eminently unwise, as a given brand should represent a certain amount of plant-food from definite sources. A farmer who has successfully used a fertilizer ammoniated with blood certainly is not treated fairly if sold the same brand next season ammoniated with nitrate of soda without his having any knowledge of the change.
We believe that it would be wise to inaugurate a definite system in regard to the matter. This should be done by requiring each manufacturer, when he registers a brand with the Commissioner of Agriculture, to give the kind of materials to be used in it. If a manufacturer desires to vary the materials of a brand according to the market prices, he can so register it; that is, state that it may be composed in part of all the specified ingredients, or a portion of them, to meet the given guarantee. It would not be just to require a manufacturer's formula, but it is right that a farmer should know whether the brand he used successfully last season is made up of the same materials this season or secures its ammonia and potash from some other source. This is a matter of great importance to

456

Department of Agriculture--Georgia.

the farmer who wishes to secure the best results, for the money, upon his crop, on his land.
A reasonable number of brands should be allowed to each man ufacturer; any excess over such number should pay a proper fee to the State Chemist for each braud, to enable him to accomplish the work necessary to keep up with the increasing number of brands. It has only been by working fourteen hours a day for a large por tion of the year that he has kept pace with the present large number of brands. And the number of brands grows larger each year.
During the past season there has been an unusual number of samples sent direct to the State Chemist, under the provision of the Ellington bill. This bill gives most complete protection to any farmer who doubts the character of the fertilizer purchased. The sample is taken in the presence of buyer aud seller and given in charge of the ordinary of the county. If the buyer finds the crop results unsatisfactory he notifies the ordinary, who sends the sam ples (without the name of the brand, or the name of the manufac turer, or the name of the buyer, or the name of the seller) to the State Chemist, who makes the analysis free of charge.
The amount of work done during the season of 1895-96 was as follows:

Acid phosphates with ammonia and potash (complete fertilizers)

926

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

4

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

179

Acid phosphates ................................................................................

141

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

33

Fertilizers under provision of the Ellington bill............................

^7

Cottonseed meals..............................................................................

58

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

151

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

162

Total

1,681
Very respectfully, George F. Payne, State Chemist.

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COVERED IN TREASURY BY INSPECTORS.

Name of Inspector.
Peter Reilly......... J. I. Morrissey..... J. W. Nelms....... W. H. Barrett...... R. H. Smith....... J. W. Murphy, Jr p. W. Pleming .... J. R. Lyle.......... H. A. Dean.......... J. A. Fort........... A. 0. Sorrell........ F. B. Barber....... R. N. Lamar........ J. R. McAfee...... Robert Slappy..... T. A. Lingo.......... E. E. Kimbrough

Amount.
$ 656 48 6,075 83 4,037 11 920 92 514 13 397 55 508 22 263 48 170 40 137 88 76 02 74 83 26 55 5 00 8 69 2 08 1 99

Total

S 13,876 80

STATEMENT. The following consolidated statement gives the amount of oil inspected by the inspectors in the different districts :

DISTRICT.

No. of Gallons

Fees

Inspected.

Received.

Savannah ..............
Atlanta................... Augusta................. Macon........ .......... Columbus............... Rome..................... Athens................... Americus................ Brunswick.............. Gainesville......... . Griffin..................... Dalton.. .................. Milledgeville ........ Ratonton................. Newnan........ ....... Toccoa ................... Port Gaines ........... Cordele................... Tennille................. Albany................... Port Valley........... Marietta................. Dawson.................. Dade County......... Walker County......
Total

(Peter Reilly. (J. I. Morrissey .. J. VV. Nelms......... W. H. Barrett....... R. H. Smith......... J. W. Murphy, Jr. H. A. Dean........... J. R. Lyle.............. J. A. Fort............. P. W. Fleming...... E. E. Kimbrough . A. C. Sorrell.......... J. R. McAfee....... R. N. Lamar......... O. B. Nisbet.......... J. S. Miller......... S. A. McAllister.... Geo. D. Speight.... B. K. Marshall...... T. A. Lingo...........
Robt. Slappy. ...... J. W. Mathews .... F. B. Barber ........ W. B. Oxford....... J. C. Nisbet........... W. C. White.........

163,202 1,572,168 1,149,796
481.065 357,604 291,800 156,514 202,907 125,592
319,017 6,193 80.805 44,350 31,035 3,106 9,054 6,202 6,144 3.092
10,823 30,145 9,192 80,408 12,360 2,459 17,374

$ 816 03 7,861 03 5,748 98 2,405 53 1,790 55 1,462 26 785 06 1,014 53
629 77 1,595 08
30 97 404 02 224 50 155 18 15 53 45 26 31 01 30 72 15 46 54 11 150 72 45 95 403 05
61 80 30 04 184 90

5,190,407 $25,991 83