Report of the Commissioner of Agriculture of the State of Georgia, year ending September 30, 1902

REPORT
OP THS
Commissioner of Agriculture
OP THE
STATE OF GEORGIA
Year Ending September 30, 1902
O. B. STEVENS, Commissioner
ATLANTA, GA. Geo. W. Harrison, State Printer.
1902

REPORT
To His Excellency, Allen D. Candler, Governor:
In compliance with the law I beg leave to submit the follow ing report of the transactions of the Department of Agriculture for the fiscal year Irom October 1st, 1901, to September 80th, 1902
CLERICAL FORCE.
The clerical force consists of the following named persons : E. F. Wright, Assistant Commissioner and General Correspondent; J. F. Johnson, Commissioner's Clerk ; O. B. Morris, Bookkeeper and Eecorder; J. T. Derry, Shipping and Mailing Clerk; Frank Wilson, Stenographer.
Under the provisions of an Act approved Dec. 20th, 1899, which provides for the establishment of quarantine lines for the protec tion of cattle in those sections not affected or partially affected with contagious diseases, I took up the matter early in the year of 1900 with the United States Government and with the authorities of the States of Tennessee and North Carolina. We agreed upon the line so far as it affected the State of Georgia.
Under the provisions of the Act just referred to, the sum of $500.00 was set aside from the fees arising from the inspection of fertilizers for the payment of four cattle inspectors in the counties of Kabun, Union, Fannin, and Towns. I, therefore, appointed and commissioned the following inspectors, for five months each, at $25.00 per month : M. C. Canup, of Eabun__ ____________________ _____$125.00 J. W. Foster, of Towns____________________________ 125.00 A. J. Ledford, of Union____________________________ 125.00 A. C. Griffith, of Fannin ---------- ------------------- ---------- 125.00
Making a total of $500.00]paid to cattle inspectors for the year

4
1901. The same inspectors were retained at the same salary for the year 1902. In connection with this work we issued a number of bulletins, outlining the laws governnig the quarantine regulations of this State, as a guide not only for the inspectors but also for the people generally. The work of these inspectors was as faithfully and effectively performed as could be expected under the circum stances. For more effective work the State is greatly in need of a veterinary surgeon.
We have been very materially aided in our quarantine work by the Department of Agriculture at Washington. Dr. W. P. Ellenberger was detailed by the department and remained for several weeks of the summer of 1902 in North Georgia, cooperating with the inspectors and with this department in the suppression of the tick and in extending the free area of North Georgia.
PUBLICATIONS.
I have sent out through the weekly press--monthly, with a few exceptions--six columns of printed matter, which has been pub lished in about 175 county papers.
We have issued and distributed 20,000 copies of the commercial fertilizer bulletin, No. 39 (b), of the season of 1901-1902, and also a considerable number of copies of Bulletin No. 37 on Texas Fever and The Cattle Tick, in which are embraced the laws, rules and regulations concerning the quarantining of cattle, so far as they relate to Georgia; also many copies of Bulletin No. 39 (a), containing the laws regulating the sale of illuminating oils and other matters of information to inspectors, oil dealers and the gen eral public. In addition to the above named bulletins, we have issued a number of smaller leaflets containing special instructions to the inspectors of commercial fertilizers, also extra copies of the new fertilizer law.
We had printed 10,000 copies of the work referred to in our last report, entitled "Georgia: Historical and Industrial," most of which have been distributed through Georgia. Many copies have been sent into every part of the United States and a few copies have gone to foreign countries, in Europe, Asia and South Africa. It contains in addition to a general description of the State, chap

5
ters on geology, the soils of Georgia; public roads, railroads and water transportation ; agriculture, truck farming and horticulture; dairying and creameries ; stock raising--including cattle, sheep, poultry, goats, horses and mules; seed farms, floriculture, irriga tion and terracing; fish and game; manufactories of all kinds; education, benevolent institutions and religious denominations; State government, etc.; and finally, sketches of all the counties with the most complete statistical report attainable of their varied industries.
In all cases we have given to agriculture that prominence which would be expected in a work issued by the Department of Agri culture.
FERTILIZER FUND.
The following is a statement of the Receipts and Disbursements for the season of 1901-1902 :

DR.

To cash on hand Oct. 1st, 1901_______ $ 499 98

To cash received from sale of tags__ ___ 51,812 80 To cash received from taxes on C. S. Meal,

penalty for failure to purchase tags

196 50

To cash in hand (J. T. Derry,)_______

10 60--$52,519 88

CR.

Dy Inspectors' salary and expenses, in

cluding salary for Sept., 1901___ $18,631 12

By expenses___________ ___________

507 73

By paid for tags___ _______ _________ 1,747 81

By paid treasurer____ _____________ 30,000 00

By cash on hand------------------------------- 1,633 22- -$52,519 88

Respectfully,

O. B. Stevens, Commissioner.

6

REPORT OF STATE OIL INSPECTOR.

Hon. 0. B. Stevens. Commissioner of Agriculture, Atlanta, Ga.
Dear Sir:--To be included in the bulletin we beg to present to you statement of the oil business for the past ten months. Yon will note quite a pleasing increase in the number of gallons in spected by the department. Since the last report that was made to you we have had no notice, nor has it come under the observa tion of any of the local inspectors, as to the explosion of any lamps. The inspectors have been uniformly prompt in the attention to their duties, and we feel that the general public is well satisfied with the manner in which this department is being conducted.
During the first part of the year we had quite a number of com plaints from different places in the State. These were all carefully investigated and passed upon by Dr. McCandless, and in every in stance where the oil had been properly cared for it was found to be up to the standard. However, there were several cases which showed conclusively that the oil had been kept in dirty, unclean tanks or vessels. These parties were advised of what the troublewas, and we do not anticipate similar ones occurring in the future.
Respectfully submitted, Glascock Barrett, State Oil Inspector.

OIL REPORT FOR TEN MONTHS ENDING AUGUST 1, 1902.

This Year.
Number gallons ________ 5,433,680 Total fees ______ ______ $ 26,711 80 Fees paid inspectors___ 17,980 74 Fees paid State_________ 9,31148

Last Year..
5,260,033 5 26,476 09
16,338 2010,138 43

August 18, 1902.

Glascock Barrett..

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State of Georgia, Department of Oils.
W. C. Bryant, General Oil Inspector. Mon. 0. B. Stevens, Commissioner of Agriculture, Atlanta, Ga.
Dear Sir :--Having entered upon the duties of General Oil Inspector August first, it becomes my duty to report to you the number of gallons of oil inspected during the month of August and September, and the lees received for same, in order that the report made by the Hon. Glascock Barrett, my predecessor, may show the entire amount of oil inspected and fees received during the fiscal year ending October 1902. During the months of August and September_________ 10,30,040
gallons of illuminating oils were inspected. From these inspections the State received___________ $1,414 33. Local inspectors received___________ __________ ___ 3,844 65.
Total______________________________________ $5,25-8 98. Respectfully submitted, W. C. Bryant, General Oil Inspector.
October 10, 1902.

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KEPORT OF THE STATE CHEMIST.
Hon. 0. B. Stevens, Commissioner of Agriculture of the State of Georgia.
Dear Sir:--We have completed the analytical work of the season of 1901-1902, and I enclose you under separate cover tables of analyses of the different brands of commercial fertilizers^ cotton seed meals, kainits, muriates of potash, nitrates of soda, etc., which have been the subject of the steady work of the past season. The number of brands put on the market is 735 as against 640> the previous year. The large number of analyses made over and! above the number of brands includes analyses of brands specially taken at the request of farmers, also of cotton seed meals, kainits and muriates of potash which have no brands. A great number of analyses have also been made checking or duplicating the accuracy of the regular analyses. We have this year reached the high-water mark of fertilizer consumption in the State of Georgia, or 483,028 tons; greater than ever before in our own history, and greater than that of any other State in the Union. As' in the larger manufacturing States of the country the consumption of iron and steel is regarded as the barometer of trade and prosperity ; in the agricultural State of Georgia the consumption of commercial fertilizers may be regarded not only as a barometer or index of the prosperity of the State, but as one of the chief causes thereof. Judicious use of commercial fertilizers, combined with home-made manures and the utilization of the nitrogen-gathering cow-pea will make us a great and rich agricultural State.
OILS.
Below you will find the report of the State Oil Inspector which speaks for itself. By request I repeat here a part of a previous report to you on the character of the oils sold in the State :

6 302-F. Szi

i

11.00

2

0.9

3

0.5

4

0.5

5

0.5

6

2.5

7

2.5

8

1.1

9

1.8

10

1.2

9
TABLE OF OIL ANALYSIS.

CO
tCooD

482

572

31.8

46.00

5.5

27.6

20 00

28.

31.7

48.

15.5

27.75

40.

22.5

32.5

35.5

24.5

37.

34.

20.0

38.5

33.

20.

34.5

37.5

22.5

37.5

40.5

16.

37.5

38.5

18.5

Left in the Retort.
5.7 -R 23.5 4.3 9.25
7.00 6.50-R 6.00 " 4.4 " 4.2 " 4.3 "

In the above table the figures in the second column represent the percentages of oil which distilled over at a temperature below d0`2 F.; they consist of light oils or naphthas. The figures in the next 3 columns show the percentages of oil distilling over at and below the temperatures named, viz.: 392 F.,482 F.,570F. These oils constitute the good normal burning kerosene oil. The figures in the last column represent the oil remaining in the retort and re fusing to distill at a temperature of 572 F. This fraction consti tutes what is known as "heavy oil" or lubricating oil.
I give below an analysis for sake of comparison made last year of the kind of oil which was commonly sold in the State before the present law went into effect.

302 F 392 482 572 Left in the Retort

14.00 31.00 24.00 15.00

16.00

You will at once notice the remarkable manner in which the light inflammable oils or naphthas have been removed from the oils now sold in the State, as compared with those sold a year ago, and that over 90 per cent, of the oils now sold consists of pure burn ing oil. You will also note that samples Nos. 1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 are marked with an R. That means that those oils, whilst of very good quality otherwise, still contain too much naphtha or light oil to stand the test of the instrument now legalized in Georgia and by which all oils are now being tested. In other words, it appears from the analyses, so far made, that no oil containing as much as.

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one per cent, even of light oil distilling below 302 F. will stand the flash test of the new Georgia instrument. In other words, we have now on the market in Georgia a quality of oil which in all probability will not only not explode, but not even take fire if the lamp in which it is burning should be accidentally turned over and broken.

PHOTOMETRIC TEST.

I further made a photometric test of the oil we are now con

suming. I filled a lamp having a one and a half inch flat wick,

open woven, with the oil we are now consuming. I carefully

weighed the lamp, with its oil and chimney, then lit it, tested it in

the photometer, and found its average candle-power to be 16.44.

Afterburning for three hours I again weighed it, noted the loss of oil,

and found that the lamp consumed 2.67 grams of oil per candle-

power per hour. A similar test with oil of the old quality showed

a consumption of 3.56 grams of oil per candle-power per hour or

33|- per cent, greater consumption of oil per candle-power per

hour.

I have, sir, to thank you and Assistant Commissioner Wright

for your kind and steadfast support in the work of the year ; nor

must I close this report without referring with deep appreciation to

the sterling, honest, faithful, though silent and unobtrusive, work

of the Assistant State Chemists, Messrs. R. G. Williams and J. Q,.

Burton.

Respectfully submitted,

1x0. M. McCandless,

State Ch emist.

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REPORT OF STATE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Atlanta, Ga., October 15th, 1902.
To Hon. 0. B. Stevens, Chairman of the Board of Entomology of the State of Georgia.
Sir:--I have the honor to submit the following general state ment of the work of this department for the present year to date. A more detailed report will be prepared at the close of the year, and presented at the regular annual meeting of the board.
During the year the work has been carried on much as in years past, except that a larger amount of field experimental work has been accomplished than usual.
INSPECTION- OP NURSERIES.
The annual inspection of nurseries as provided for by law is per haps the most important of my duties. My list shows a total of 102 names of parties in Georgia who are more or less extensive growers of nursery stock. All of these are visited, either personally or by my assistant just prior to the shipping season, their stock inspected for dangerous insects and diseases, and if found free from the same a certificate is granted to that effect. In the course of last season's inspection nine nurseries were found infested with San Jose scale, and the owners were either required to destroy their stock or to dispose of it otherwise than in open market and in such a manner as to prevent further spread of this pest.
CONTROL OF IMPORTATION OF NURSERY STOCK.
The shipment of nursery stock into Georgia from points without the State has been carefully watched. Ninety-six outside nursery men, whose stock has been examined and duly certified as healthy by the official inspector of their respective States and countries, have been granted the free admission of their stock into this State. Sev eral lots of infested stock were refused admission, and it is safe to say a much larger number have been prevented by the enforcement of the law.

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THE INSPECTION OF ORCHARDS.
During the year a large number of orchards have been inspected either personally, by my assistant or by deputy inspectors appointed for that purpose. San Jose scale has been found in a number of new localities and orchard's but in all cases infestation has either been traced to local spread or found to have existed before the en actment of the present law regulating the sale of nursery stock. When orchards have been found infested the owners have been given full instructions as to remedial treatment except in a few cases, in which the infested trees have been destroyed. The course of treatment when carried out as prescribed has proven almost univer sally effective and satisfactory. The general superintendence of the treatment of scale infested or otherwise diseased orchards has re quired a large amount of my own and assistant's time.
INVESTIGATION OF INJURIOUS INSECTS AND PLANT DISEASES.
Aside from the San Jose scale there are a number of other in sects and diseases of a serious nature infesting the orchards of the State. Amongst them may be mentioned the Peach Leaf Curl, the Root Borer, the Peach and Plum Curculio, the Brown Rot, the Codlin Moth of the apple, the Bitter Rot of the apple, etc. which are generally distributed and injurious, as well as a much longer list of minor injurious forms. The true nature and lile history of many of these is at the present time unknown to science, and as a consequence we are under considerable disadvantage when it comes to a question of treatment. Every available means is taken to sup ply ourselves with the necessary knowledge to combat these pests with safety and economy, but the pressure of other work and the limited means at our disposal makes progress along these lines slower than I would wish.
In this connection should be mentioned the collection of insects; of all sorts, beneficial and innocuous as well as injurious, which has been attempted whenever opportunity would allow. A general col lection of insects of a State is of great value to the entomologist of that State in determining new forms which are constantly being forwarded by correspondents, and otherwise brought to attention.

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EXPERIMENTAL WORK.
During the past year a considerable amount of time and money has been spent in testing the effect of various insecticidal and fun gicidal substances against injurious insects and fungi. The results of this work have been of great value, not only in placing the rec ommendations of the department upon a firmer footing and in discovering new remedies of an effective and economic nature, but in demonstrating to the orchardists of the State the value aud ne cessity of such treatment. Experiments have been carried out with good results against the San Jose scale, Leaf Curl, Peach and Plum Curculio, Codlin Moth, Bitter Rot of the apple and Peach Borer, The results of the work against the San Jose scale was of especial value in all three of the directions mentioned above, and the results have been published in the form of a bulletin. The material for a bulletin on Leaf Curl is also collected and will be ready for publi cation shortly. It is intended to continue these experiments, and to publish the results as rapidly as they become completed.
THE IMPORTATION OF BENEFICIAL INSECTS.
The importation of species of insects which naturally prey upon injurious species is a branch of entomological work in which there are possibilities of great results, though the chances for such an outcome are perhaps small.
Its value has been fully demonstrated however, and during the present season a natural insect enemy of the San Jose scale has been imported from China, the probable original home of the scale, into the United States, and an attempt is being made to introduce it into Georgia. Several other species of beneficial insects are also being experimented with to determine their value and adaptability to the conditions here.
INSECTS AND DISEASES INFESTING FIELD CROPS, TRUCK, ETC.
During the year many inquiries have been received concerning insects and diseases infesting cotton, corn and grass, as well as cantaloupes, tomatoes, sweet and Irish potatoes, turnip and cab bage and other crops, and these have always received prompt at

14

tention. The crop pests more in evidence than usual this year are the army worm, the cotton louse, Colorado potato beetle and anthracnose of cotton. The imported cabbage web-worm has been reported more injurious than last year.

HOETICULTURAL WORK.
The absence in Georgia of a State Department of Horticulture, or of a Horticultural Commissioner, has been felt for some time past. In the absence of such an official the State Entomologist is called upon frequently to act in matters of a purely horticultural nature, which, under the letter of the law, would not fall within his duties. Inquiries for literature on the subject of fruit culture, questions as to soil, fertilizers and varieties of fruits, adaptability of certain sections to fruit-growing, etc., etc., are constantly being received, and the desirability of increased facilities for the accumu lation and redissemiuation of knowledge of this nature is becoming more and more a necessity. The rapid growth of the horticultural interests during the past few years, and the prospects for a continued growth in years to come, has placed Georgia in the foremost ranks among the fruit-producing States.
The law establishing the Department of Entomology provides for the protection of these interests against certain dangers, but goes no further, and it is time that provision be made for their sup port and encouragement.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
Expenditures of the Department from January 1 to Octo ber 1, 1902:

Traveling expenses______________________ $ 521 18

Field experiments______ _____________ - 315 39

Deputy inspectors____ -_____ _____ ........... 379 96

Office expenses,including porter_____ ______ 49 01

Laboratory expenses_____________________ 47 48

Library_____ __________________________

8 70

Printing and stationery .,_________ .._____ 224 50

Engraving________________

39 54

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Postage_____________ Express and freight________________ Telegrams______________________________ Board meeting ____________________

90 93 25 93
(5 32 40 37

Total ____________________________ $1,749 31
The fiscal year of this department does not end until December 31,,, and this report is only preliminary. A full report will be made to the board at its next meeting, the first of next year.
The demands upon the service of the department have continued to steadily increase since its establishment in 1898. Already the present appropriation is barely sufficient for its needs, and unless some additional provision is soon made the work in the future will be seriously handicapped.
Respectfully submitted. W. M. Scott,
State Entomologist...

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REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF FISHERIES.
LaGrange, Ga., October 1, 1902.
The Hon. 0. B. Stevens, Commissioner of Agriculture: Dear Sir:--I have the honor to submit herewith my annual re
port as Superintendent of Fisheries for the State of Georgia for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1902.
The past year has shown a continued improvement in the ob servance of the laws pertaining to fish, terrapins, oysters, etc., by the people throughout the State. The continued distribution of the pamphlet containing the laws pertaining to fish, and other laws incident thereto, has resulted in much good. Largely because of this have we seen the better enforcement of the laws, and the sup ply of fish is becoming more abundant each year, we believe.
An attempt has been made to enforce the laws prohibiting the taking of short terrapins, and any terrapins out of season, and I have the promise of our county wardens that this matter will have especial attention in the future.
The usual work of restocking the streams, rivers and private ponds by the United States government has been carried on as in previous years, and I am confident the effect will continue to be of great good.
Taken altogether, the year has been a profitable one in the better enforcement of the laws, the increase in the number of fish in the waters of our State, and in the amount consumed.
Much of the efficiency of the efforts of our wardens in endeav oring to enforce our fish laws has been due to the hearty interest .and co-operation of our citizens generally.
The pay of county wardens, as provided by the Code, is "onehalf of the fines and forfeitures imposed by the court and paid by the violator." Under this the warden gets no compensation when the defendant is hired out to a chain-gang to work out his sentence. This is a manifest injustice to the wardens, and I therefore renew

17
my recommendation that these wardens be paid the same propor tion of the amounts realized from the hiring out of the defendant to a chain-gang, when he does not pay his fine, as is given to the warden where the fine is paid. Where counties work their own convicts, provision should be made for the pay of the wardens. The labor performed by these wardens in securing the arrest and conviction of criminals, and enforcing the laws, makes this just. During the year I have received numerous complaints from the wardens on this line.
The expenses incurred during the year by this department have been $106.40, as shown by itemized statement hereto attached, marked Exhibit A. Respectfully submitted,
A. T. Dallis, Superintendent of Fisheries.