Report of J.D. Price, Commissioner of Agriculture, State of Georgia for the year ending December 31, 1914

ANN UAL REPORT
OF
J. D. PRICE
Commissioner of Agriculture STATE OF GEORGIA
FOR THE
YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31st, 1914
DAN G. HUGHES. ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER J. F. JOHNSON, Chief Clerk

CHAS.

ATLANTA, GA. P, BYRD. STATE PRINTER
1915

ANNUAL REPORT
OF
J. D. PRICE
Commissioner of Agriculture STATE OF GEORGIA
FOR THE
YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31st, 1914
DAN G. HUGHES. ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER J. F. JOHNSON, Chief Clerk
ATLANTA. GA. CHAS. P. BYRD, STATE PRINTER
1915

REPORT
December 31, 1914.
Hon. John M. Slaton, Governor, Atlanta, Ga.
My Dear Sir: I have the honor, in accordance with the requirements of law, to herewith submit to you the annual* report of the transactions of the Department of Agriculture fi;om January 1, 1914, to December 31, 1914.
I would like to call attention to the fact that 486 firms sold fertilizers in the State during the year 1914. The law requires that every sample of fertilizer taken by inspec tors shall be in duplicate. When these samples reach this office the duplicate is retained by the chief clerk and the original is transmitted to the Laboratory for analysis. You will note that the State Chemist says in his report that he analyzed during the season 5,974 samples, which means that the inspectors sent in to this Department 11,948 bottles. From this I believe you will see that the proper inspection of fertilizer is a tremendous undertak ing, which means diligence and care on the part of inspec tors who are located in every section of the State. I am very glad to inform you that the inspection and analysis of fertilizers in this State has been done at very much less cost than is the case in other States.
Of almost equal importance to Georgia as the fertil izer laws is the enforcement of the laws regulating the sale of food, feed and drugs. I wish, therefore, to call
.3

special attention to the Food and Drug Inspectors' re ports, and that part of the report from the State Chemist which hears upon foods, feeds and drugs. You will note from the Chemist's report that during 1914 there were 761 samples of concentrated commercial feeding-stuff analyzed. The definitions, etc., have been published in our Bulletin No. 64. I refer you especially to this section of the report from the State Chemist. During the same year there were 2,339 samples of foods and 630 samples of drugs analyzed. You will note that the Chemist states that this was more than double the determinations made of foods and drugs in previous years. It is with pleasure that I call your attention to the fact that the quality of the drugs and foods sold in the State has been steadily improving since the enforcement of the Food and Drugs Act. We try to keep, the public informed by publishing monthly bulletins showing the number of samples, the an alysis of same and from whom obtained. I believe that most of the laws which have been enacted along these lines are proving beneficial. We have attempted to be exceedingly careful in inspecting all of these commodities in every section of the State, which inspection has been done by the State Inspector, P. A. Methvin, and the six long term fertilizer inspectors.
I wish to particularly direct your attention to the re port of the State Veterinarian, which deals very largely with the live-stock industry of this State. I believe that you will readily agree with me in the statement that G-eorgia must grow her live stock. This industry in Geor gia cannot be successfully developed unless we hold in check hog cholera, contagious diseases of cattle and wipe out the cattle tick, which means much work on the part of the State Veterinarian and his assistants. I assure you that during the year we have made considerable progress
i

along these lines,- as is shown by the report from the State Veterinarian. In addition to this, we have co-oper ated with many communities and individuals in every way we possibly could to increase the production of live stock, and our efforts have been remarkably successful.
It is gratifying to be able to state that upon the rec ommendation of this Department the last Legislature ap propriated $2,000 for equipping the laboratory to pro duce nitrogen fixing bacteria for the leguminous crops. This bill authorized the Department to furnish this bac teria to the farmers of the State at cost. We have been able so far to hold this cost down so that the farmers could procure the bacteria for 25 cents per acre. I be lieve that this is proving most helpful to the general ag ricultural development, in that the cost being so small many farmers are using it extensively, and it is the direct cause of many additional legumes being planted. We have furnished bacteria for 1,676 acres up to December 31, 1914. Since that time we have sold bacteria for 5,018 acres. This bacteria was sold for such crops as vetch, al falfa, most of the clovers, field peas, garden beans, gar den peas and peanuts. The indications are that this bac teria will be generally used in every section of the State. I respectfully call your attention to what the State Chem ist has to say in regard to the equipment necessary for manufacturing and keeping the bacteria until it is sold.
I am glad to report that while Georgia has been spend ing a vast sum of money each year for foods and feeds which should and could be grown on her farms, this sum is being decreased each year, and it seems safe to pre dict that within a reasonable length of time this expendi ture will cease.
Last fall when we were all confronted with such de plorable conditions, in not only marketing our farm crops,
5

such as foods, feeds, etc., but our cotton, the general public made repeated calls upon this Department for assistance in finding a market for crops other than cot ton to such an extent that I, as Commissioner of Agri culture, took the matter under consideration and have since January 1st employed an expert to assist in finding a market for all crops produced on the farm.' We act in this capacity as follows: When we find a farmer who has a certain article for sale we help him find a purcha ser. While the Market Agent cannot possibly handle all of the articles produced on the farm or find purchasers for all such stuff now grown in Georgia other than cot ton, I am glad to say that we have met with great suc cess and have been instrumental in many instances in bringing about a sale of such products. I believe that this branch of the Department will prove to be of great assistance in the future. I find that other States have for a number of years employed a Market Agent in connec tion with the Department of Agriculture, and from all information gathered from their Commissioners, they have proven very successful.
In calling attention to the report of Dr. W. C. Bryant, State Oil Inspector, I wish to say that we have made ear nest efforts to protect the consumers of gasoline. This, of course, can only be done by forcing the retailers to display a placard showing the gravity. The law does not state what gravity gasoline shall be sold. It only re quires that the purchaser be put on notice as to the grav ity of the gasoline offered for sale.
During the year the Department has issued and dis tributed the following publications:
Bulletin No. 6, S. V., on the question of Tick Eradication.
Bulletin No. 60, on Commercial Feedin'g-stuffs.
6

Bulletin No. 61, on Foods and Drugs.
Bulletin No. 62, on Laws relating to the Adulteration and Misbranding of Foods, Drugs and Feeding-stuff.
Bulletin No. 63, on Commercial Fertilizers--Season 19121913.
We also issued several monthly bulletins on Foods and Drugs.
I find Georgia attracting agricultural people from all sections of the United States, and we have been suc cessful in locating quite a number of individuals in Geor gia. Almost invariably these people have been success ful, for the reason that we have dealt with them frankly and given them full and complete information in reply to inquiries. In this connection, we have co-operated with all worthy corporations, individuals and Chambers of Commerce most advantageously and it is my purpose to continue this policy.
I feel after going into the matter and knowing the real conditions that exist all over the State, that the appro priations this Department now has and that were made in 1914 are absolutely necessary in order to conduct the affairs of the office as they should be, and I do most re spectfully urge and request that these appropriations be continued.
In conclusion, I wish to publicly thank the heads of each Agency working in the State for agricultural better ment, for their hearty co-operation and support. I also wish to express my thanks to you and each of the State House officials for the aid extended to me in administer ing the affairs of this Department.
Very respectfully, J. D. Price,
. Commissioner of Agriculture.
7

June 17, 1915.
Hon. J. D. Price, Commissioner of Agriculture, Atlanta, Ga.
Dear Sir: I herewith submit to you a report of the condition of affairs in this office regarding the inspection of illuminating oils and gasoline.
I am glad to report that there have been no accidents reported to this office, arising from the use of kerosene or gasoline for the past several months, except a few instances where the dangerous fluid has been used for starting fires in stoves or open fireplaces.
I have the honor to call your attention to the fact that this Department placed in the State Treasury from fees arising from the inspection of illuminating oil and gas oline during 1914, $113,228.29.
There is an apparent difference in the amounts as shown by my books, and by the State Treasurer's books. This difference comes about in this way: The Inspectors who forward their monthly collections to the Treasurer had not on January 1, 1914, forwarded for the month of December 1913, which causes the difference.
The fees paid into the State arising from inspection of illuminating oil is $60,256.16; arising from inspec tion of gasoline $52,972.13; total, $113,228.29; the Treas urer's hooks show $117,461.39.
This difference comes about as above explained. Respectfully submitted,
W. C. Bryant,
State Oil Inspector.
8

May 30, 1915.
Hon. J. D. Price, Commissioner of Agriculture.
Sir: The activities of this Department have grown by leaps and bounds since its establishment in 1910.
The greatest recent development in agricultural pro gress is the keen public interest in all matters pertain ing to a better live stock industry. The live stock con vention held at Quitman in 1914 clearly indicated the de gree of public interest in this phase of our industrial de velopment ; the second session of 1915 will go down in his tory as1 an epochal event. Apparently this gathering as sembled for the sole purpose of paying homage to the ham and bacon industry of Brooks and adjoining counties. To my mind 11 ic large, "six cylinder" Berkshire exhibit sent by Moultrie was a truly prophetic emblem suggest ing the gigantic possibilities open to us in pork produc tion.
When the Moultrie Packing Plant was established pes simists predicted the venture a financial failure. As a matter of fact the plant has exceeded the most flattering expectation of its stockholders. Erected so as to operate on a minimum 5,000 hogs annually at a profit the plant has been at work to its utmost capacity during the en tire season, the only handicap consisted in inadequate storage facilities--a defect that will be remedied before the next season is on hand. But, the profit to the stock holders are as nothing compared with the great benefit that the farmers of this section derived from the opera tion of this plant. In a section where everybody thought and acted in terms of cotton and its by-products the grow ing of hogs and cattle is now a favorite topic for busi ness and social conversation. The establishment of, ad
9

ditional packing plants in the State is a foregone conclu sion.
I present herewith a few figures to demonstrate past and present status of our live-stock industry; accurate statistical data is unfortunately not available.
The U. S. Census statistics are, in all probability, the most accurate and give by far greater detail than any other available estimates. It is of more than passing interest to know that, according to the census report 236,271 farms purchased $16,860,149.00 of fertilizer and 75,'375 farms purchased $4,097,043.00 worth of hay and feed. These two items aggregate $20,957,192.00; all of our cattle are valued in the census report at $14,060,948; all swine at $5,429,016, and all sheep at $308,212, a total of $19,798,176. In other words, we spend our entire cattle, swine and sheep industry for commercial fertilizer and feeds sold to farms in 1909. Lest someone should claim that the fertilizer estimate is too high, I want to call at tention to the fact that the records of the State Agricul tural Department show that we consumed during 1909 1,030,699 tons of fertilizer and 103,302 tons of cotton seed meal; no doubt part of the cotton seed meal was used for feed but part at least was used for fertilizer. Basing the fertilizer on an average of $20.00 per ton we are forced to the conclusion that the government figures are at least not inflated.
Just as soon as Georgia raises live stock sufficient to supply her commercial demands the fertilizer bill may be cut half in two without in any way endangering crop production.
Gradually this change is being realized. Unfortu nately the tax returns do not itemize the live stock re turns for the State. In order to estimate the growth of the industry the figures of the census report were com
10

p&red with the tax returns for the years of I90t) and l9l4 respectively. The census report of 1910, which, in real ity, represents the figures for 1909, credits the State of Georgia with an investment of $78,118,098.00 in live stock; our own tax returns credit us for that period with $37,602,574.00 of farm animals.
In other words, the tax returns of our live stock in terest represents according to those figures 48 per cent of the value as given in the census report. The tax return of 1914, for this item is $43,750,356, an increase of $6,147,782.00. If we compute this on the 48 per cent basis previously referred to, our live-stock industry, on this basis, is worth $91,146,600.00 in 1914; or, an increase of $13,000,000.00 in five years. It is a matter of common knowledge that this gain in value is not a result of in creased numbers but is due principally to improvement in quality.
Quite a number of well-bred cattle had been sold dur ing the year of 1914 at private sales and at good prices. These smaller, unpretentious successes culminated in the first public auction of pure-bred cattle ever held on a Georgia farm. The attendance at the Siloam sale ex ceeded the expectation of the promulgators and the prices realized were exceptionally good, quality of the cattle being considered. Many other sales were scheduled, but the restriction on interstate transportation of cattle as a result of the extensive spread of foot and mouth dis ease prevented the plans of the live-stock dealers being carried into effect. However, a lot of Missouri and Texas Herefords were offered at public auction at Quitman on the day following their annual live-stock convention and the prices paid plainly indicated the determination of those attending that they had pinned their faith on more and better live stock.
ii

The Central of Georgia Railway, through its Agricul tural Agents, have placed more than two hundred head of pure-bred short-horn cattle along its lines during the year of 1914, and the demand is greater today than in the past. We are destined to be one of the greatest live stock sections in the Union; and why not!
Bermuda grass is to Georgia what blue grass is to Kentucky. Kentucky farms well sodded with blue grass are priced at enormous values. Georgia needs pastures on every farm that are well sodded with Bermuda, sup plemented with lespedeza and burr clover; such pastures are the equal of the choicest blue-grass farms of Ken tucky. Bermuda, lespedeza and burr clover will grow anywhere in the State of Georgia with the possible ex ception of a few very sandy ridges in the coastal plain section. This combination will average about 10 months pasturage.
Finishing cattle for the market offers one of the greatest opportunities to our agricultural interest. Feedscrub cattle is not always profitable; neither is the feed ing of cattle purchased at above the quarantine line prices and then fed and sold as quarantined cattle. But, the farmer who can and will raise or buy a car of fair beef cattle near his home to be fed and finished on his farm cannot help but profit by the operation.
Every pound of cotton seed meal fed on the farm helps to make the owner, or the tenant rich; every pound of this great feeding concentrate sold outside of the State means a direct loss to the State and must ultimately be replaced by less valuable, yet more expensive nitrates in our commercial fertilizer. Cotton seed meal and corn or corn and sorghum ensilage is one of the least expensive and, at the same time, one of the best combinations for finishing cattle for market available. In addition, in the
12

southern section of the State, velvet beans are success fully grown and constitute a feed that will yield large and inexpensive gains in feeding both cattle and hogs.
Health is the keystone to personal achievement; upon the health of our herds depends our success in the live stock industry.
Under the law it is the duty of this department to safeguard the health of the live-stock industry by dil igently suppressing all forms of infectious and contagious diseases. In addition we tender the public practical ad vice in every branch of the live-stock industry. Five veterinarians, each of whom is a practical animal hus bandman, are constantly engaged in meeting the people, presenting and demonstrating to them the proper methods to preserve the health of their herds and how to reduce the cost of production in a practical way.
The dairy industry has not received that degree of attention on the part of the farmer that it deserves. Lo cal demands for milk and milk food products is far in ex cess of our ability to produce a supply. With proper or ganization for marketing the dairy industry will gain a new and unprecedented impetus.
The unbusinesslike establishment, by commercial en terprises, of many creameries in 1908 did perhaps more than any other one thing to discourage the farmer as well as capital from taking a keener interest in the dairy in dustry. These creamery plants were located without re spect or regard to the supply which is absolutely essen tial to make a creamery a success. Each of these insti tutions was over-capitalized at the time of organization and each of them fell into the hands of inexperienced management. It is, therefore, no wonder that one by one they fell by the wayside without hope of recovery. The creamery at Eatonton survived through the persistence
13

and efforts of Mr. W. P. Hunt and Dr. James Weaver and is jiow on a good profitable basis. Any community in the State endowed with a " get-together-and-stick-together" spirit cannot fail to make a success of the dairy industry in this State.
Tick Eiradication.
Yielding to a pressing demand by the people the Gen eral Assembly, during the session of 1914, increased the appropriation for tick eradication in order that the work might be extended into the open range, cattle-growing sections of south Georgia. The extraordinary wave of fi nancial depression, as a result of the complete collapse of the cotton market, laid a heavy hand upon the State's financial resources and the Governor found it impossible for the time being, to meet the requisitions issued on these new appropriations, therefore, we were unable to take up work in the south Georgia territory, except in a limited way, during the fall of 1914. Since then, however, we have inaugurated the work in and are now co-operating with the following south Georgia counties in the work of tick eradication: Colquitt, Dougherty, Mitchell, Thom as, Brooks and Lowndes.
' The establishment of tick eradication in these counties has stimulated an unprecedented interest in better and more profitable live stock.
Perhaps the most striking illustration of what can be done and what has been done is the growth and develop ment of the Red Pebble Stock Farm, near Ashburn, Ga. I sincerely trust Mr. Shingler will pardon this personal reference to his past and present attitude towards tick eradication, but his case is typical of many loyal citizens who, not knowing the value of the work, have, off-hand, condemned it only to rally to its support after observing
14

the great and lasting benefits which an almost bankrupt industry derives from this work.
During the session of 1909 and 1910 Mr. J. S. Shingler as a member of the Senate voted and took the floor against an appropriation for tick eradication. He sin cerely believed tick eradication an impossible feat and acted accordingly.
Our business appeal and statements of results accom plished, however, received his most careful consideration. At his own expense, with no assistance from the State, ex cept in an advisory capacity, he has established the larg est tick-free farm, in an open range county in which the work of tick eradication is not in progress, in the State. Encouraged by our opinion and suggestions he has stocked it with a herd of choicest Hereford cattle. A tick on the Red Pebble Farm would be as welcome as a grizzly bear. The work done by Mr. Shingler establishes beyond reasonable contradiction the feasibility of freeing a limited area of tick infestation. His present opinion backed by experience, ought to carry much weight as to the real value of the tick eradication in the development of the cattle industry.
The work of tick eradication is conducted on a co operative basis between State, Federal Government and the various counties engaged in the work. The following is an outline of the organizations:
A--The State.
The work is under direct supervision of the State Vet erinarian. In addition the State employs veterinarians and. inspectors who are engaged in the work of tick erad ication, also a clerk for keeping records. Veterinarians are paid $1,500.00 a year and expenses. One supervising lay inspector is paid $100.00 a month and expenses. All
15

other inspectors are paid from $60.00 to $75.00 per month and required to furnish their own conveyance and to de fray their own expenses. All employees are required to devote all of their time to the service of tick eradication.
B--The Government.
The Government furnishes a veterinarian known as Inspector in Charge, and either a supervising veterinary inspector or a trained layman who is known as a "Bureau Agent" to take charge of and co-operate with each county unit, in many instances where necessary to complete the work. The Government employs day laborers additional. Much of the detailed record of the work is kept by clerks employed by the Government and on blanks furnished by the Government. Whenever practical, correspondence and distribution of literature is handled under Govern ment frank.
C--The County.
Each county is requested to furnish from one to four cattle inspectors, according to the size of the county and the degree of infestation within the county. In addition many counties have established at county expense, dip ping vats to facilitate the disinfection of cattle. Others have purchased dipping material and furnished same free to the public.
The organization of tick eradication thus outlined has proven highly Satisfactory. The details of our field work have proven our method a success. Unlike other work of public improvement we must secure co-operation from every individual within the territory in which we are at work. Notwithstanding this, at times, difficult require ment, we have progressed with rapid strides during the past year. In the spring of 1914 we released Dade, New
16

ton, Rockdale, Oconee and Morgan Counties from quaran tine, the work in these counties having progressed to a point where only a few infected premises remained in fested in each county. During the remainder of the year the work progressed sufficiently to justify the release of the following counties: Catoosa, Cobb, Dawson, Forsyth, Gilmer, Madison, Milton, Murray, Walker and Whitfield. This gives us a total of 28 counties released from State and Federal quarantine, the following counties having been released prior to 1914: Fannin, Union, Towns, Ra bun, Stephens, Habersham, Hart, Franklin, White, Banks, Hall, Clark and Putnam. Indications favor an even greater progress during 1915.
Hog Cholera.
A careful tabulation of the various reports received and investigated confirmed our previous reports that cholera is extensively prevalent throughout the southern half of the State. Especially is this true of the open range sections. In the northern counties cholera occurs in a sporadic form and our efforts to check it have been more uniformly successful. All reported cases of infec tious diseases of swine were investigated and if possible diagnosis confirmed by post mortem. Two veterinarians have been busily engaged in this work and in giving pub lic demonstrations in the use of hog cholera serum.
The encouragement thus given has developed a decided improvement in the industry. The fall of 1914 saw a larger crop of pork products produced in Georgia than any previous year and preparations have been made for a mammoth hog crop in 1915.
At the urgent insistence of the State Veterinarian the price of serum was reduced by the State College from one and one-half cent per c. e. to one and one-quarter
17

cent per c. c. It should be sold at one cent per c. c., which is a fair price in view of the fact that the College does not pay taxes, has no interest on investment to make or divi dend to declare; in addition they have enjoyed an annual appropriation of $3,000.00 besides being paid for every ounce of serum furnished. The law specifically states that serum shall be sold at actual cost of production. If they cannot produce serum at one cent per c. c. something is radically wrong with their method of production.
Though serum must be considered as a most potent factor in hog cholera suppression, real permanent results will depend on proper and efficient sanitary control. In view of these facts appropriations for a businesslike dis tribution of the serum and, above all, proper sanitary pro vision and control, including quarantine of infected prem ises and herds, and the destruction of all carcasses by either thorough incineration or burial are essential.
Tuberculosis.
Our work of tuberculin testing the dairy cattle of the State has been continued. During 1913 we tested 3,011 cattle and found 294 reactors, approximately 10 per cent, most of the reactors were milch cows shipped into the State during the past few years from States where tuberculosis is very prevalent. Rules and regulations were established to prevent the introduction of tubercu lar cattle into the State. As a result, in our campaign in 1914 we found only 187 reactors out of the 4,511 animals tested, less than four per cent. Slaughter-house inspec tion reveals that less than one-half of one per cent of native Georgia cattle are infected with tuberculosis.
The dairymen have been extremely loyal to the cause of exterminating tuberculosis out of the dairy herds of the State. Without a single exception the reactors have
18

been disposed of by slaughter under supervision of vet erinarians of this department.
The sacrifice of pecuniary personal interest by these gentlemen for the welfare of the industry and the masses of the people deserves merited recognition.
GrLANDEKS.
Many cases of glanders were reported during the year but careful investigation, supplemented when necessary by the opthalmic mallein test, revealed only 5 isolated cases.
Black Leg.
Sporadically, in the northern section of the State, out breaks of black leg in cattle has occurred. Preventative inoculation has proven successful and is quite extensively practiced in the infected districts.
Mycotic Stomatitis.
The extensive spread of foot and mouth disease in 23 States of the Union during 1914 forcibly brought to our attention the extensive spread of "Mycotic Stomati tis" in the State of Georgia. This disease, in some re spects, resembles foot and mouth disease. We were called on in more than 100 cases to make investigation of this disease. In our 1913 report we published a lucid de scription of this disease by Dr. John B. Mohler, Chief of the Pathological Division of the Bureau of Animal Indus try, U. S. Department of Agriculture; for more detailed information, therefore, respectfully refer to my 1913 re port.
Forage Poisonings.
The losses from diseases that appear as a result of forage poisonings annually were not as extensive in 1914
19

as in 1913. A more careful supervision of the feed sup ply will reduce these occurrences to a minimum.
Inspection of Slaughter-houses, etc.
Pursuant to Legislative demand arrangements were made for the supervision of slaughter-houses and meat markets and the inspection of meats and meat food prod ucts. After a careful survey, Bulletin No. 11, S. V., was promulgated and approved hy you. The enforcement of these regulations met with enthusiastic public approval.. The various city boards of health engaged in this work extended us their most loyal co-operation and support.
As a result there is a marked improvement in slaugh ter-house conditions throughout the State.
Similarly we have inspected the dairies and milk de pots. Our principal work has been directly with the dairy men by visits to the dairy and suggestions how to improve the conditions found in order to improve the milk supply.
On the whole we have found the dairymen responsive to our suggestion and recommendation.
The regulations governing this branch of our ac tivity is published as Bulletin No. 12, S. V.
Tours truly, Peter F. Bahnsen.
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STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS OF FEES FROM THE SALE OF FEED INSPECTION STAMPS FROM JANUARY I, 1914, TO DECEMBER 31, 1914.

DR. Received from Sale of Feed Inspection Stamps ................................$28,666.66

CR,

By General Expenses .....................................................$ 2,467.21

By Inspector's Expenses ............................................. 3,705.67

By Salaries .................................................

6,020.08

By Purchase of InspectionStamps ............................ 114.40

By State Treasurer ........................................................ 16,355.55

By Check Returned by Bank .......................................

3.75

$28,666.66 $28,666.66

STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS OF FEES FROM THE SALE OF COTTON SEED MEAL AND FERTILIZ ER TAX TAGS AND TAX ON SALES OF BULK MATERIAL FROM JANUARY 1, 1914, TO DECEMBER 31, 1914.

DR.

Received from Sale of Cotton Seed Meal Tax Tags....................... $12,413.85

Received from Sale of Fertilizer Tax Tags ....................................124,804.93

Received from Bulk Tax ...................................................................... 2,778.48

Received from Morrow Transfer Co., Overcharge on Drayage . .

9.65

Received from Southern Express Co., Internal Revenue Stamps. .

20.00

CR.

By Southern States Phosphate & Fertilizer Co.,

Refund Express Charges, Error in Ship

ment of Tags .....................................................$

2.15

By State Treasurer ......................................................... 140,024.76

$140,026.91 $140,026.91

STATEMENT OF WARRANTS DRAWN ON THE STATE TREASURER TO COYER EXPENSE INCIDENT TO THE INSPECTION OF FERTILIZERS FROM JANUARY 1, 1914, to DECEMBER 31, 1914.

DR.
By Inspectors ' Salaries By Office Salaries ........... By Inspectors' Expenses
21

$20,532.79 5,100.00 7,916.76

By GeneralExpenses ................................................................................

By Purchaseof Tax Tags .......................................................................

By Freight and Drayage ........................................................... ,............

By Postage

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

By PrintingBulletins ......................

1,270.81 5,266.06 1,182.76
450.46 3,986.10

$45,705.74

STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS OF FOOD AND DRUGS APPROPRIATION FROM JANUARY 1, 1914, TO DECEMBER 31, 1914.

DR.
Balance from 1913 .................................................................................... $ 2,027.74 Received from State Treasurer ............................................................. 10,000.00 Received from Postmaster, Atlanta, Refund of Postage on
BujUetine ......................................................................................... 110.15

CR.
By Genera] Expense ......................................................... $ 2,735.46 By Salaries ........................................................................ 6,112.61 By Balance Carried Forward ........................................ 3,289.82
$12,137.89 $12,137.89

STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS OF CONTAG IOUS DISEASES OF CATTLE APPROPRIATION FROM JANUARY 1, 1914, TO DECEMBER 31, 1914.

DR.
Balance from 1913 .......................................................................................$2,092.89 Received from State Treasurer ............................................................. 5,000.00

CR.
By General Expenses ......................................................... $ 682.52 By Expenses of Asst. Veterinarians and Inspectors.. 1,030.16 By Salaries of Asst. Veterinarians and Inspectors . . 4,070.66 By Balance Carried Forward ........................................ 1,009.55
$7,092.89

$7,092.89

22

STATEMENi' OF EECEIPTS AND MSBURSEMENTS OF APPRO PRIATION FOR THE ERADICATION OF THE CATTLE TICK FROM JANUARY 1, 1914, TO DECEMBER 31, 1914.

DR,

Balance from 1913 .................................................................................. $ 753.36

Received from State Treasurer ............................................................. 17,000.00

Received from E. F. Martin, Inspector, Refund on Salary...........

60.00

CR.
By General Expenses' .....................................................$ 615.40 By Expenses of Asst. Veterinarians and Inspectors 676.10 By Salaries ...................................................................... 16,025.55 By Balance Carried Forward ........................................ 496.31
$17,813.36 $17,813.36

STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS OF APPRO PRIATION FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF HOG CHOLERA SERUM FROM JANUARY 1, 1914, TO DECEMBER 31, 1914.

DR.
Balance from 1913 .......................................................................................$ 875.18 Received from State Treasurer ............................................................. 3,000.00 Received from State Treasurer, Balance from 1913 ....................... 1,000.00

CR.
By General Expenses .......................................................$ 699.91 By Expenses of Assistant Veterinarians....................... 1,529.19 By Salaries of Assistant Veterinarians ................... 2,604.14 By Balance Carried Forward ........................................ 41.94
$4,875.18

$4,875.18

STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS OF APPRO PRIATION FOR EMPLOYMENT OF ASSISTANT STATE CHEMISTS, AND PURCHASE OF CHEMICALS AND AP PARATUS FROM JANUARY 1, 1914, TO DECEMBER 31, 1914.

DR,
Balance from 1913 ................... Received from State Treasurer

$1,129.83 7,500.00

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CE.
By General Expenses .......................................................... $1,436.83 By Salaries .......................................................................... 5,656.92 By Balance Carried Forward ........................................ 1,536.08
$8,629.83

$8,629.83

STATEMENT OF EECEIPTS AND DISBUESEMENTS OF NITEOGEN SETTING BACTEEIA FEES FROM OCTOBEE 1, 1914, TO DECEMBER 31, 1914.

DR. Received from Sale of Bacteria

$415.99

CR.

By General Expenses ......................................................... $ 75.75

By Salaries .............................................................................. 33.32

By Stamps, Received in Payment for Bacteria and

used in Mailing Same ......................................

16.44

By Balance Carried Forward ........................................ 290.48

$415.99

415.99

REPORT OF STATE CHEMIST.
December 31, 1914.
Hon. J. D. Price, Commissioner of Agriculture, Atlanta, Georgia,
Dear Sir: I beg to hand you the following report on the work accomplished in the Laboratory during the past year.
Fertilizers.
Five thousand, nine hundred and seventy-four sam ples of fertilizer were analyzed, of which 2,893 were "specials." The "specials" are those taken from the
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farmers and the results sent direct to them, so you may see that some 2,893 farmers were benefited in securing the analysis of their fertilizer before the issuing of the bulletin. This work involved approximately 25,000 de terminations.
The law passed in 1911, requiring proper branding of ingredients on the sack of fertilizer or on a tag attached to the sack, has added to the work of this department, as has also the law passed in 1912, preventing the use of del eterious fillers. Hundreds of samples have been tested (besides the general routine analysis mentioned above) to see if they comply with these laws. Also, a large amount of work has been carried on to define what is and what is not a deleterious filler.
Many samples were tested for the availability of ni trogen and a sharp lookout has been kept for worthless ingredients.
In addition, we have done considerable work on meth ods, which is known as "Reference Work." This work is undertaken with the idea of perfecting and getting uniform methods throughout the States.
It must also be borne in mind that a number of laws have been passed in the last few years which has added considerably to the work of this department.
For further details of the fertilizer work, I refer you to Bulletin No. 63, which contains the analysis of the different brands of fertilizers registered in this State, also the laws, rules and regulations, and a short article on the use of limestone.
F'eeding-Stuffs.
During the past year, 761 samples of concentrated commercial feeding-stuffs were analyzed, and these re sults, together with the laws, rules and regulations, de
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finitions etc., have been published in Bulletin No. 64. Great care was taken in this work and in all cases we tried to detect adulteration and prevent deleterious materials from entering into the composition of these feeds. We also endeavored to see that the manufacturers were meet ing their guarantee and properly labeling the feeds as to their composition.
It will be seen by referring to the above bulletin that the manufacturers, on the whole, are trying to meet the requirements of the feeding-stuff law. A vast improve ment in the branding has been noted in the past few years.
Foods and Drugs.
Two thousand, three hundred and thirty-nine samples of foods were analyzed and 630 samples of drugs, making a total of 2,969. This is more than double the number analyzed the previous year. Many cases of adultera tion and misbranding were referred to you for what ac tion you deemed wise. A large number of the food sam ples mentioned above were subjected to a bacteriological test, in addition to the chemical analysis. A vast im provement has been noticed in the sanitary conditions under which foods are manufactured, and the products placed on the market are in a more sanitary condition than ever before. We also noticed an improvement in the branding of foods, and the law enacted at the last session of Legislature as to the branding on packages of the net weight is, on the whole, being met. A great deal of time has been given to showing dairymen and others how to improve conditions.
Six hundred thirty samples of drugs were analyzed and have been reported to you. I have noticed that the quality of drugs has steadily improved since the enforce ment of the Food and Drugs Act.
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The samples of foods and drugs anaylzed, together with much other information valuable to the consumers in this State, have been printed in the Monthly Bulletins, seven numbers of which were issued during the past year.
Miscellaneous Work.
During the past year, 124 samples of a miscellaneous character were analyzed.' These include* samples of var ious kinds which were tested from time to time when the conditions seemed to warrant an analysis.
Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria.
The Legislature at the 1914 session passed a bill au thorizing the Department of Agriculture to manufacture nitrogen-fixing bacteria to be sold to the farmers at cost. An appropriation of $2,000 for this purpose was made. While none of this fund was available in 1914, we manu factured enough of this nitrogen-fixing bacteria for 2,667 acres. Of this amount, enough bacteria for 1,676 acres were sold at 25 cents per acre, 59 acres were used for demonstration, and the balance was destroyed because of not having proper facilities for keeping same. If we con tinue to do this work, we must secure proper equipment for making and keeping this bacteria.
Clerical Work.
The immense amount of analytical work outlined above has, of course, increased the office work to a great extent and it is more than double that of a few years ago. For the proper handling of the records and other office work, more help should be had for this department.
Conclusions.
In 1912 an increased appropriation of $7,500 for the maintenance of the Laboratory proper was made. This
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made an appropriation of $13,500 which was made nec essary by the increased Laboratory work.
We have installed some new Laboratories in the base ment of the Capitol, and in the construction of these we have put in as good and desirable Laboratories as could be built.
Remodeling the Laboratories at this time, we have been enabled to do the work at a great saving to the State. It will not be necessary to rebuild these Laboratories, as they were built in a way to be durable and last indef initely.
There have been some changes in the personnel of the force of this department, and these changes have all been for the good of the service.
By your direction, I turned over to the Keeper of Public Buildings and Grounds, Mr. Latimer, 6,251 lbs. of fertilizer and 3,000 lbs. to the Chairman of the Prison Commission, Mr. Davison, for use on the Capitol grounds and for use at the State Farm, for which I have receipts. This was fertilizer taken up by the inspectors and left after analysis had been made.
Respectfully submitted, R. E. Stallings, State Chemist.
January 1, 1915.
Hon. J. D. Price, Commissioner of Agriculture, Atlanta, Ga.
Dear Sir: I herewith submit my report as State Drug Inspector from January 1, 1914, to December 31, 1914. During the year, I visited cities, towns, villages, and postoffices to the number of 350.
as

Number of drug stores visited and licenses inspected............... 1030
Number of druggists found who were conducting their stores without having licensed men in charge of them............... 217
Number of druggists found who were not required by law to have licensed men in charge of their stores....................... 200
Number of druggists found who had no poison registers........... 235
Number of druggists found who were not required to keep poison registers on account of selling no poison............... 217
Number of druggists found who did not have their license re corded with the ordinary in counties where they were engaged in business ...................................................................... 205
Number of druggists found who were not required by law to have their licenses recorded with ordinaries......................... 195
Number of drug samples taken during the year, labelled, and turned over to the State Chemist for analysis................... 537
Number of druggists whose preparations did not measure up to the IT. S. P. standard, as shown from analysis made of them ................................................................................................... 97
Number of prosecutions brought for violating the Narcotic Law ................................................................................................... 4
Number of convictions secured from prosecution brought.... 3
Amount of fines imposed by trial judges...................................... $800.00
Number of druggists who are now conducting their drug stores without having licensed men in charge of them. ... 8
All of these have been reported to you, and I have no doubt but that prosecutions have been brought, or will be brought against them at once.
During the year I visited and inspected the stocks of gen eral dealers to the number of ................................................... 1129
Number of general dealers found selling at retail, calomel and soda tablets, comp, cathartic pills, headache tablets (acetanilid and soda compound tablets) quinine pills, Warburgs pills, calomel and rhubarb pills, lapactic pills, Pheno-lax wafers, essences, tinctures, etc.............................. 60
Number of general dealers found selling tincture of iodine, carbolic acid, rat-poison, corrosive sublimate, bed-bug poisons (containing corrosive sublimate), Paris-green, Stonecyphers Bug-Death (which contains arsenite of cop per, arsenite o flead, zinc oxide, etc.), sulphate of zinc, and other chemicals that were poisonous................................ 32
Number of general dealers found with morphia tablets and laudanum in stock which they claimed they were not offering for sale ............................................................................ 2
Number of general dealers found selling veterinary remedies that were in violation of law..................................................... 15
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Number of general, dealers found selling old patent medicines, cholera and diarrhoea remedies, that were a violation of the Pure Food and Drugs Laws............................................ 55
General dealers found selling cottonseed oil, labelled sweet oil 5 General dealers found selling flavoring extracts that were mis
branded ............................................................................................. 6
Number found selling bay rum that showed no alcohol........... 5 Number of retail grocery stores visited ....................................... 283 Number of retail grocers found having old pats in stock that
were illegal.........'............................................................................. 5 Number of retail grocers found selling at retail, headache tab
lets, aspirin tablets, calomel and soda tablets, comp. cathartic pills, quinine pills, W arburgs pills................... .. . 11 Number of retail grocers found selling veterinary remedies, the sale of which was illegal .......................................................... 2 Number of retail grocers found selling tincture of iodine, and cholera and diarrhoea remedies illegally..................................... 2 Number of retail grocers found selling flavoring extracts that were misbranded ................................................................................. 7 Number of wholesale grocers visited and stocks inspected. ... 82 Number of wholesale grocers found with laudanum in stock (32 doz.) which they claimed they were not offering for sale .......................................................................................................... 2 Number of wholesale grocers found with cottonseed oil, labelled sweet oil, in stock .............................................................. 1 Number of wholesale grocers found with tinct. of iodine in stock ...................................................................................................... 1 Number of wholesale grocers found with old patent medicines in stock that did not comply with the Pure Food and Drugs .Laws........................................................................................... 1
All articles found in the stocks of wholesale and retail grocers, that were violations of the various drug laws, I cut out, sealed and packed up and instructed returned to wholesale firms from whom they had been purchased, with further instructions to sell no more of such articles. The same steps were taken and instructions given re garding articles found in the hands of general dealers that were violations of law.
Briefly stated, drug conditions throughout the State might be summed up as follows:
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As regards licensed and competent men ......................................Good As regards the recording of licenses................................................ Good As regards the proper keeping of poison registers...........Fairly Good As regards the quality of drugs, medicines, chemicals, etc.
sold in the markets tlhroughout the State ........................... Good As regards the sale of narcotic drugs.................................................Bad
This condition as it relates to the sale of narcotic drugs will continue, until we have greater restrictive laws, and until county and municipal officials take greater inter est in their suppression. No one official can accomplish a result so much desired.
In conclusion, I wish to thank you, your valuable as sistant (Mr. Dan Hughes) and the State Chemist (Dr. R. E. Stallings), most heartily, for the assistance and hearty co-operation that you have always given me in the discharge of my official duties.
Very respectfully yours, T. A. Cheatham, State Drug Inspector.
December 31, 1914.
Hon. J. D. Price, Commissioner of Agriculture, Atlanta, Ga.
Dear Sir : I beg to submit to you the following report on food inspection work for the year ending today:
During the year your inspectors have visited grocery stores, markets, warehouses, food manufacturing es tablishments, canneries, bakeries, dairies, milk de pots, ice cream plants, slaughter houses, restaurants, soda founts, lunch rooms and stands, bottling plants, cold storage plants, oyster and fish houses, etc., over the en-
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tire State, making numerous inspections and procur ing samples, forwarding same to the State Chemist for analysis. The result of analyses are shown in the various bulletins issued and distributed by you during the year.
During 1914 we have done the greatest amount and most effective food work ever done in the State in one year since the Pure Pood Law has been in effect. The more thickly populated sections and distributing centers have been visited as frequently as it has been possible to reach them. Since it became possible for you to place the long term fertilizer inspectors, whom you use in food work, in various sections of the State the work has pro gressed much more satisfactorily and we have been able to cover considerable more territory and secure better re sults thereby.
Since the installation of the Bacteriological Labora tory we have given much time and attention to the dairy work in the State and point with pride to the rapid im provements in the production, methods and handling of this food product, as well as its improved quality. The procedure under which you have directed this special work has been of untold benefit to the dairymen of the State as well as consumers of this product. The informa tion and suggestions furnished the dairymen from time to time from your office and the policy you have had your inspectors follow in the matter of instructions has gained the co-operation of the people engaged in this work.
Since the transfer of the inspection of meat and meat food products to your Veterinary Department much more has been accomplished in this branch of the food work than heretofore; the butchers and market keepers have received valuable and needed information and the public generally is greatly benefited.
Yow success in securing a sanitary law through the
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last General Assembly has done more toward promoting wholesome food than anything else since the enactment of the Pure Food Law. With this law and the regulations you have promulgated under it, your inspectors have been able to obtain results much needed in the food supply safe-guard. Another step forward in the food work was made when you had the Pure Food Law -amended, requir ing the weight, measure or count to be placed on all food containers. We find this amendment being met with fav or generally and is resulting in more uniform competition among dealers as well as informing consumers of the quantity of food they are receiving.
The canning industry is of particular interest and im portance in this State at this time. While peach canning has grown quite considerably and its manner improved greatly in the last few years, there is vast room for its growth in the canning of other fruits and vegetables which are grown here and allowed to go to waste. There is a steady demand for canned products and it is being sup plied by other States. This industry should be fostered and encouraged, at least to the point of supplying the home demand.
The syrup industry has increased, yet there is found on the shelves of every groceryman in the State lots of this product produced in other States, which, alone, proves to us that there is room and need of greater pro duction--especially when "Georgia Cane" is as good as the best.
A close survey of the vinegar production in the State is not as encouraging as it could and should be; but a small per cent of this product consumed in the State is produced here. With the hills of North Georgia pro ducing its splendid apples, and the demand for food prod ucts into which they can be converted, there is an unique
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opportunity for their profitable use, which our people do not seem to realize or appreciate.
The constant alertness of your inspectors, following your fixed instructions regarding foods liable to deter ioration, has had noticeable effect in reducing bad oys ters, fish, crabs, pong, lobster, fresh meats, etc., that has heretofore been found in the State.
The improvement in bakeries, ice cream plants, candy making places and restaurant kitchens has been rapid since the sanitary law has been in effect, thereby adding materially to the quality of these foods--more paint, glass, screens, soap and water has been used in these places in the past year than ever before.
The soft drink bottling has grown into an enormous business in this State; there are one or more of these plants in every city or town of any size in the State. Con nected with many of these are men of high class business ideas, who conduct and maintain them with strict re gard for sanitation and quality production while there are a few who need constant attention and supervision. The sanitary law will either improve these or force them out of business.
The handling and sale of butter, eggs and poultry in the State is gradually improving; we find the greater per cent of this class of food shipped in, and not infre quently are storage eggs sold as "Fresh Country Eggs." The ruling from you to the effect that eggs be placarded showing what they are, will, in a great measure, overcome this common practice. In the case of butter, we find a few concerns in the State engaged in the collection of but ter from various producers and manipulating it by wash ing, re-working and remolding it without branding it "Ladled" or "Reworked"; a ruling from you on this subject will quickly overcome this practice,
at

In nearly every establishment selling food in the State can be found flour which has been bleached, without the sacks being so labeled. No action has been taken in this matter pending decision of Federal cases now before the courts on this subject.
Ifnprovement in the quality of corn being shipped into the State is more noticeable than any other prod uct, especially since July 1st, when the Government reg ulations of grading corn became effective. Heretofore our people had no protection from this source, but now, when a shipper sells a lot of corn under a given grade in any other market and ships it into any other State, the corn must be the same grade when it reaches its destin ation. This new regulation, under supervision of the National Government, will eliminate, in a great measure, hot and sour corn or grades below professed standard from being palmed off on our home people, as has been done in the past without them having any recourse.
We have experienced some difficulty in the matter of oats being sold in the State. Your ruling that oats mixed with barley and screenings must be so branded, also when bleached the same must be shown on the sack, has not been entirely conformed with and it has been necessary to is sue warnings to many dealers in this product, calling their attention to these requirements; also in this connec tion, we find some dealers who receive oats in bulk ship ments and sack same from the cars and fail to show the weight on the sacks, as required by law and it is fre quently necessary to call attention to this matter.
Sincb the increase in the demand for molasses feeds, I am sorry to report that I find many lots of this feed of very low quality. This is due partly to competition in this line of trade as well as the demand of the consumer for something cheap; too, certain offal from elevators and
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cereal producing mills has found its way into our feed manufacturing plants. It is true that this product has a feeding value, but I do not believe it is equal to the price being paid for it when mixed with high concen trated feeds. If the users of this class of feed would study the analysis tags you require placed on all feedingstuff sold in the State and see the ingredients used in its composition, it would be of considerable help to them in selecting the character of feed best suited for their use.
Your ruling requiring the word "Screenings'' to be printed on analysis tags when the same is added to wheat bran, shorts and middlings, has resulted in much good to the consumer in aiding to select the product desired, and also has been of much protection to the manufacturer who has not followed this practice.
There is registered over 1,000 (one thousand) brands of feeding-stuff with your department by over 300 (three hundred) different concerns and practically all of these brands meet your definitions and standards. As a whole our feeding-stuff supply in the State is in fine shape and quite satisfactory.
Your policy of having your inspectors work in co-op eration with the various city and town health officers and health boards in the State, has aided materially in the promotion of Pure Food work. Your efforts in this connection, in having your inspectors meet with the va rious city councils and going into local conditions with them and aiding in drafting ordinances for local enforce ment, has created interest and enthusiasm and brought about improved conditions that no other procedure could have attained.
It has been necessary for your inspectors to condemn occasional lots of food and feeds for various causes and cite to appear before you quite a number of persons for
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failing to meet the requirements of the Pure Food Law. The manner in which you have received these people and the just manner in which you have disposed of these ir regularities and breeches of the law has met with univer sal approval and added co-operation. The warnings1 you have had served, when such has been necessary, has had the desired effect in practically all instances and your policy commended for the manner of securing results.
In behalf of your inspectors, as well as personally, I wish to thank Dr. E. E. Stallings, State Chemist, for the splendid help he has given us in this work, as well as your able assistant, Mr. Dan Gr. Hughes, who has co-op erated and advised with us so freely and helpfully. Also Dr. Peter F. Bahnsen, State Veterinarian, whose aid has been constant and co-operation indispensable.
I wish to express the most sincere appreciation of your guidance, instruction, directions and advice in my food work for the past year. The encouragement you have so freely given me in this work has kept me bending every effort to be of real service to your department and to the State in Pure Food Inspection.
Eespectfully submitted, P. A. Methvix,
State Food Inspector.
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