Annual report of J.D. Price, Commissioner of Agriculture, State of Georgia for the year ending December 31, 1915

ANNm^EPORT
J. D. PRICE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE
STATE OF GEORGIA
For tf)e Glear Ending December 3 ist
1315
CLIFF C. CLAY, Assistant Commissioner J. F. JOHNSON, Ckief Clerk
CHAS. P. BYRD, STATE PRINTER, ATL.ANTA, CA.

ANNUAL REPORT of J . D . PRICE COMMISSIONER of AGRICULTURE STATE o/GEORGIA FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEM' BER THIRTY-ONE
NINETEEN-FIFTEEN
CLIFF C. CLAY, Asst. Com'r J. F. JOHNSON, Chief Clerk

REPORT
December 31, 1915.
Hon. N. E. Habbis, Governor, Atlanta, Ga.
My Dear Sib : In conformity with the law enacted by the General Assembly, I herewith submit to Your Ex cellency my annual- report for the year 1915, beginning January 1, 1915, and including December 31, 1915.
As to fertilizers, there were 439 firms competing for Georgia consumption during the year. The law requires that samples taken by inspectors shall be taken in dupli cate, the original forwarded to the laboratory for analy sis and the duplicate sent to the chief clerk for his file. The chief clerk reports 9,58fi samples sent in, and as the inspections were taken in duplicate 19,172 bottles were sent in by the inspectors to this department; of this num ber 2,588 were marked "Special,/' the word special meaning that immediately upon completion of analysis the parties purchasing the fertilizer are furnished with a copy showing the amount of plant food contained. This branch of the chemical department requires an immense amount of work, and it also requires special diligence and care on the part of the inspectors, whom I have en deavored to place at the most convenient locations to carry on the work properly, but mindful of the expense incurred by the State.
In calling your attention to the inspectors' reports regarding the enforcement of the laws regulating the sale
3

of food, feed and drugs I wish to say that the food and drugs being used for human consumption are paramount in this department, and with the hearty co-operation of the heads of departments, together with their assist ants, we are striving to rigidly enforce the laws regulat ing their sale. It, therefore, is very gratifying to me to state that the improvement in the quality of food and drugs has been extremely marked in the past year, due mainly to the enforcement of the food and drugs act.
The State Chemist reports 717 samples of concen trated commercial feeding stuffs analyzed, contents shown in the November Bulletin. The State Chemist also reports 2,028 samples of food and 146 samples of drugs analyzed. The public is informed by monthly bulle tins showing the number of samples, analyses of same and from whom obtained.
I further call your attention to report of State Chem ist, which shows the amount of nitrogen fixing bacteria manufactured, which is sufficient to inoculate seed for 10,903 acres. Of this amount 10,645 acres were sold at 25 cents per acre and 258 acres were distributed for dem onstration purposes, wherever conditions warranted it. In 1914 there was an appropriation of $2,000 made by the Legislature to this department for the purpose of equipping and maintaining a laboratory for the manu facture of this nitrogen fixing bacteria. I am glad to say that with rigid economy injected into the installation of this laboratory by Dr. R. E. Stallings, the State Chemist, I have only had to make requisition for $1,400 of the $2,000 appropriated. Since that time this branch of the department has been self-sustaining. Enough bacteria was sold to bring in $2,636.25, leaving a balance on Jan uary 1, 1916, of $2,168.44. This balance was brought about in this way: During this department's incipiency
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the bacteriologist, who was then in the employ of the department to do other work, devoted considerable of his time to the growing' of these cultures and did this work without extra remuneration from the bacteria account. A considerable amount of this balance will be necessary to enlarge this branch of the department to the high standard necessary to maintain its greatest efficiency. I wish to emphasize the fact that I have made no requisition for additional funds since receiving the $1,400. I am glad to state that the manufacture of this bacteria at cost of 25 cents per acre saves the farmers of Georgia thousands of dollars, and that during the year 1915 reports received from the users of the bacteria are beyond our expectations. The bacteria manufactured by this special appropriation being used for the inocula tion of leguminous crops, or in other words, crops that are soil builders, will go a long way toward solving the commercial fertilizer problem.
These crops not only build up the soil, but bring us in touch with the diversified farming system, which we have so zealously advocated, and to a large measure will eliminate our purchasing hay from the West.
We point with pride to the complete laboratory equip ment recently installed by the department for carrying on the analytical work required, and do not hesitate to say that the equipment and facilities are second to none. We hope that the members of the General Assembly, as well as private citizens, will make it convenient to visit these laboratories and acquaint themselves more fully with the work that we are doing to protect the general public.
On account of the advent of the boll weevil into our State, we necessarily will have to adopt new methods,
5

and diversified farming will now be compulsory. Along this line we call your especial attention to the very elab orate report by the State Veterinarian, which goes into detail on every phase of this branch of the department. You will doubtless notice the enormous amount of meat bought from other States for Georgians to consume. In order to keep this vast amount of money at home, this de partment has zealously encouraged the erection of pack ing house plants and abattoirs over the State, so that the farmer will have a cash market other than cotton for his products at all times of the year. I want to say that the farmers over the State generally are enthusiastic over our determination to assist them in securing a cash mar ket for their live stock.
I call your attention to the report of John T. Hixon, State Oil Inspector, which is self-explanatory. You will please also note the financial statement given in detail.
During the year the department issued: Bulletin No. 64, on commercial feeding stuffs. Bulletin No. 65, entitled "Georgia: The Empire State of the South," a book that has met with universal ap proval. Bulletin No. 66, Laws, Buies and Begulations of Foods, Drugs and Feeding Stuffs. Bulletin No. 67, on Commercial Fertilizers. We also issued eight (8) numbers of monthly bulle tins on Food and Drugs. We find our agricultural people as a whole emerging from the period of depression following the beginning of the European War in better circumstances now than ever before, and with the hearty co-operation that we are hav ing with the different organizations in the State, we are preparing to meet the boll weevil conditions that are ap
proaching.
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Personally, I have endeavored through the press and by attending, educational rallies along agricultural lines throughout the State to keep the farmers (the producer as well as the consumer) in touch with the department, and to impress upon them the importance of producing their supplies for home consumption.
In conclusion, I wish to say that the changes that have been made in the department have been done to render more efficient service and I wish to publicly thank the heads of the different organizations working in the State for their hearty co-operation in assisting ns for the bet terment of the farming interest of the State of Georgia. I also wish to express my thanks to you and each of the State House Officials for the aid and courtesy extended to me in administering the affairs of this department.
Bespectfully submitted,
J. D. Pkice,
Commissioner of Agriculture.
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3n iHinniu^hnn
iHg Assistant, ife Jan 01. Ungues,
toas taken atway from us kg the "drim Reaper" on Jffebrnatp 15, 1915. ||is beatlr lias rausek a seaborn of Borrom otoer life entire department that onip time tan lyeal. ^nattlieh atoap in tire flotocr of manifooh and at a time torIren Iris mental fatuities torere reaching tlreir Henith, tlfe #tate Ijas lost a hrortlrp son, a diligent and lopal offitial, and 3 fyatoe lost illp Jffriend.

I knew him when he was but a youth, And even then I can say in truth The manhood within from this mere child Could be seen from without by his look and
his smile. But he's gone now to live in the Kingdom beyond.
My thoughts came true, for in later life I took him as a partner in this weary strife; And his record shows his task well done, But then the Master came and said,
"Dan, come." And he's gone now to live in the Kingdom beyond.
As days roll by time draws nearer for me To join him on the other side of the sea; And we will take up life anew In the Great Beyond, in the azure blue,
And live in the Kingdom beyond.

June 1, 1916.
Hon. J. D. Price, Commissioner of Agriculture, Atlanta, Ga.
Dear Sir: Having assumed the duties of State Oil Inspector on January 1, 1916,1 beg to submit to you the following report as found from the records of this office:
During the year 1915 the sum of $127,994.28 was turned into the State Treasury from fees collected for the inspection of oils and gasoline.
Soon after taking charge of the office, the books and records for the years 1914 and 1915 were turned over to the auditor. After an audit of the same, he requested that I look further into the list of accounts furnished me by him, which I have done and think they have been ad justed in a way that will be satisfactory to you.
I have also turned into the State Treasury approxi mately $12,000 a month from fees deriving from the in spection of oils and gasoline during 1916.
Respectfully submitted, J. T. Hixon,
State Oil Inspector.
December 31, 1915.
Hon. J. D. Price, Commissioner of Agriculture, Atlanta, Ga.
Dear Sir : I beg to hand you the following report on the work accomplished in the laboratory during 1915:
The character of the laboratory work has increased during the past year and we have installed many im provements and facilities for handling the work, and we can now do a larger and more varied class of analyses than ever before.
There are employed nine assistant chemists, one bac teriologist, two laboratory helpers and one clerk. Their
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loyal support and strict attention to duty lias enabled me to maintain a high standard for this laboratory, which ranks in its efficiency among the very best.
It became necessary during the past year to expend approximately $5,000 in rebuilding a portion of the labor atory which was old and not suited to our needs. In in stalling this laboratory, we put in permanent equipment which will meet our needs for a number of years to come. The State of Georgia can now claim a laboratory that is one of the best in the country and surpassed by few. Georgia is fortunate in having installed the laboratory at such a small cost.
On account of the European War, the price of chem icals and apparatus has increased to such an extent that it has been necessary to practice the most rigid economy to stay within the appropriations which have been given us for this work.
With better facilities and a better organization, we have been enabled to apply better business methods and to do the work at the lowest possible cost.
In the manufacture of nitrogen-fixing bacteria, many improvements were necessary to insure the distribution of a high grade article. I visited the Bureau of Plant Industry in Washington and spent some time studying their equipment, facilities and methods of manufacture. We have introduced these methods and facilities into this laboratory. To this end, a room was built which may be thoroughly sterilized and is now being used for inocu lating the media. This precaution is to prevent, as far as possible, other organisms from being introduced which would contaminate the bacteria, and this guarantees us a good culture.
We have also built a green-house, in which all the bacteria we send out is tested. The seeds are grown in
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sterilized soil and watched from time to time to see that they are proper cultures to be distributed.
During 1915 eight monthly bulletins were edited and prepared in this department, showing the analyses of foods and drugs. Bulletins No. 64: on Feeding Stuffs and No. 67 on Fertilizers were also prepared. The prepara tion of these bulletins requires much care and accuracy and considerable time of this department.
Fektilizers.
Four thousand, four hundred and forty samples of commercial fertilizer were analyzed, of which 2,588 were "special" samples. "Special" samples are those taken directly from the farmer and, as soon as it is possible to complete the analyses, the parties from whom they are taken are notified.
During the year much work was done regarding the investigation of what ingredients these samples contained and hundreds of samples have been tested to see if they contained any deleterious, injurious or worthless mate rials and, also, to ascertain if the plant food was avail able.
The work in the fertilizer division is being added to each year, owing to numerous laws which have been passed during the past few years. For analyses of sam ples, I refer you to Bulletin No. 67. This publication also contains the laws, rules and regulations, etc., pertaining to the manufacture and sale of fertilizers.
Feeoing Stuffs.
Seven hundred and seventeen samples of concentrated commercial feeding stuffs were tested, and most of the results have been reported to the manufacturer and deal er and published in the November Monthly Bulletin.
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This publication contains the feeding stuff laws and other information. We have tried to explain to the feeder what benefits are to be derived from this law, and by studying the information contained in this bulletin, he may know what is a good feed.
There has been much improvement in the class of feeds that are now being placed on the market, and it will be noted that the guarantees are being met better and the feeds are more properly labeled than ever before.
Foods and Drugs.
Two thousand and twenty-eight samples of foods were analyzed and 146 samples of drugs, making a, total of 2,174.
I have reported to you the samples that were found to be adulterated or misbranded for what action you deemed wise. Generally, the foods that are sold are labeled for what they are, and the net weight law is being observed. This insures the consumer that if he will only read the label on the package, he can know just exactly the amount and quality of the product he is buying,
During the past year a good deal of time and attention has been given to dairymen and others who handle milk, showing them how they may improve their products and the sanitary conditions under which they are produced; 1,359 samples of milk and its products were analyzed, the samples being taken from all portions of the State. These analyses appear in the Monthly Bulletins of this department.
Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria.
The appropriation made in 1914 authorizing the man ufacture of nitrogen-fixing bacteria, I am glad to say is proving quite a success, judging from the amount dis tributed all over the State. During 1915 there were man
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ufactured and turned over to the Department of Agricul ture enough nitrogen-fixing bacteria to inoculate seed of leguminous crops for 10,903 acres.
Clerical Work.
The work necessary for the recording and reporting of the analyses and the answering of numerous inquiries continues to grow from year to year. We should have greater facilities, both in appropriations and help, to properly handle this work.
Miscellaneous Work.
During the past year some 143 samples of a miscel laneous character were analyzed. These include samples of various kinds which have been tested from time to time when the conditions seemed to warrant an analysis.
Respectfully submitted, R. E. Stallings, State Chemist.
December 31, 1915.
Hon. J. D. Price, Commissioner of Agriculture, Atlanta, Ga.
Dear Sir : I beg to submit the following report of food inspection, work for the year ending today.
During this year, under your direction, I have visited many of the food distributing cities and towns in the State and some of the smaller towns and villages and have in spected therein practically every grocery store, meat market, storage warehouse, bakery, candy shop, bottling plant, milk depot, soda fount, feed and grain houses, res taurants and lunch rooms and places manufacturing or distributing food, as well as many dairies, ice cream par
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lors and plants, cold storage plants, etc., and have pro cured samples whenever and wherever the same indicated the necessity of analytical examination and forwarded such samples to the State Laboratory, together with re port on same. In every instance where the sanitary con ditions entering into and touching the places inspected did not meet the requirements of the sanitary laws, the same was made known by report to you and the necessary improvements or changes in such places were pointed out or suggested to the ones in charge. Only in rare cases has it been necessary to bring before you persons for failure to comply with suggestions for improvement by your inspector. Since the sanitary law and the rules and regulations issued and published by you have been made known, the improvement in this branch of the food in spection work has been quite satisfactory.
The amendment to the Food and Drug Act requiring the weight, measure or count to be shown on the food con tainers is being generally regarded, except in the cases of local production, such as canned fruits and vegetables, butter, syrup and on shipments of produce into the State, as in the case of cabbage, tomatoes, cucumbers, turnips, egg plant, onions, potatoes, celery, etc., in crates, hampers and bags, but the government is at present dealing with this proposition and will probably find a remedy.
The sale of cold storage eggs by peddlers and retail dealers for "fresh eggs" has been a source of some an noyance, but cases of this kind are growing less frequent.
It is my pleasure to report the good result obtained by your ruling requiring flour when bleached to be so branded. By this ruling our local millers, who haven't sufficient capital to install bleaching apparatus, can find sale for their flour on its merit and the consumers are in formed when flour is artificially colored.
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While the fruit and vegetable canning industry has increased considerably in the past year and the sanitary conditions have improved wonderfully, there is yet room for improvement in quality production. Much of the best fruit is shipped away, leaving the off-grade or culls to be canned. When a consumer inquires for the "best canned peaches," the groceryman exhibits those shipped from a distant State, when everyone knows Georgia grows the best--but these are seldom canned. Quantity instead of quality seems do be the Georgia canner's motto, while the reverse appears to be true with other peach-growing States. Our people need much advice and encouragement in the care, preparation, packing and marketing of homeproduced food products.
During the year 1,590 food and feed samples have been sent to the State Chemist for analysis, result of which shows in monthly bulletins. On account of being illegal for various causes, the following food products were with drawn from sale in the State: 1,800 pounds of lard, 1,050 sacks of flour, 645 pounds of butter, 438 sacks of corn meal, 10 dozen bottles of cider, 7 dozen bottles of ginger ale, 871/2 dozen eggs, 2,697 sacks of feed stuff, 1,750 bush els of oats, 281 bales of hay, 40,000 pounds of cotton seed hulls, 763 pounds of cheese, 19 barrels of fish, and numer ous small lots of food and feeds.
Only four lots of illegal feed have been necessary to turn over to the sheriffs of the counties in the State and only ten citations have been necessary to be made to the solicitors of the courts. I have investigated many com plaints of "musty" and "sticky" flour and have found that many lots of this character flour have been shipped into the State, but in every instance the mills have han dled it to the satisfaction of all concerned. This condi tion of the flour was brought about by weather conditions during harvest.
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By your direction, in co-operation with the State Vet erinarian, who is charged by law with the enforcement of the meat and milk products control of the State, I have visited many meat and fish markets, dairies and milk de pots, and have used my best efforts in aiding the people engaged in handling these products to produce and han dle same in strict accordance with the law. During the year 1,359 milk, cream and ice cream samples have been submitted to the State Chemist for analysis, the results of which appear in your monthly bulletins.
The usual close attention has been given to the in spection of feeding stuffs; 763 samples of feeds have been sent to the State Laboratory for analysis. Less mixed feeds have been shipped into the State during this year than since the pure food law has been in effect, due to the fact that our people are producing more at home. Themse of mixed molasses feeds has increased very rap idly within the past year and the quality of feeding stuffs is lowered on this account. The use of molasses in this character product enables the manufacturer to use the refuse, offal or by-product from oat meal mills, elevators, etc., that heretofore was not considered high quality feed--the use of which has greatly increased since the advent of molasses feeds. While the analyses and brand ing of these feeds are within the requirements of the law, it has materially reduced the use and sale of high quality feeds.
The publication in your monthly bulletins of a number of feeding stuff formulae, consisting of home-grown prod ucts, has been of much benefit to our farmers in feeding their own stock, as well as enabling them to find a mar ket for these products.
I find the quality of wheat shorts and middlings from several out-of-the-State shippers to be. inferior,
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on account of excessive wheat bran being mixed in, and it bas been necessary to withhold the sale of several lots of this kind of feed and require it to be re-branded.
There seems a tendency on the part of some cotton seed mills to add excessive hulls to meal and offer it for sale as meal, when, in fact, it is "hulls and meal," and under the existing laws this is permissible.
Corn shipments into the State have been less this year than before and the quality considerably better. A very small per cent, of this product has been condemned this year as compared with previous years--This is greatly due to the government having adopted standards for corn which are being met generally by shippers. Corn that is represented to be a certain grade at elevators must be the same grade at destination. Under these standards our people have profited greatly.
Hay shipped into Georgia during the year has been somewhat annoying, in that, it is usually billed and sold at a higher grade than it really is; only a few lots have been found to be entirely unfit for use and but few lots are up to represented grade.
Several of the cities and larger towns have adopted city ordinances looking to better food and sanitary con ditions and some few have put on inspectors, all of which has added materially to the protection of our people and has aided your department in this branch of work.
The small exhibit or display of food comparisons, made at your direction, in co-operation with the Macon Board of Health at the State Pair this year, was viewed with interest and concern by hundreds of people and was a source of much information and benefit to the people who saw it.
I wish to especially mention the constant and valuable service rendered this branch of your department by In
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spector M. H. Field. His work has been persistent and untiring and of much good results; also Inspector Max well has been of considerable help and is due much com mendation.
Recommendations.
I recommend that the Food and Drug Act be amended so as to make dealers responsible for the sale of impure foods where it is possible for them to ascertain its fit ness for human consumption:
That it be amended so as to permit the Commissioner of Agriculture to make disposition of foods found unfit for food without the delay of court procedure:
That it he amended so as to make all feed stuffs sold for feed subject to the feeding stuff requirements:
That it be amended so as to make the sale of artifi cially bleached grains illegal in the State:
That it be amended so as to prevent the coloring of distilled vinegar.
I recommend the enactment of a law providing for the testing of scales, weights and measures used in the State; it is needed.
I recommend that the Food and Drug Act be amended so that prosecutions for violations can be brought against food violators without grand jury proceedings.
I recommend that you rule that all bread be wrapped before leaving bakeries; it is needed.
I recommend you rule that restaurants and eating houses serving food for pay, post placards where they serve butterine and process butter to guests.
Respectfully submitted, P. A. Methvin,
State Food Inspector.
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January 1, 1916.

Me. James D. Peice, Commissioner of Agriculture, Atlanta, Ga.

Deae Sib : Below I submit my annual report as State

Drug Inspector, beginning January 1, 1915, and ending

December 31, 1915:

During the year 1915 I visited cities, towns, villages

and postoffices to the number of__________ ^_340

Number of drug stores visited and license inspected 715

Number of drug stores found being conducted by

licensed men ____________________________ 560

Number of drug stores found which were exempt

from having licensed men in charge of them___ 135

Number of violators reported to you during the year 20

Number of those reported to you, now complying

with the law________________________

20

Number of druggists found keeping poisonregisters 566

Number of druggists found who were not keeping

poison registers _________________________________ 149

Number of druggists who sold no poisons and who

were exempt ____________________________ 144

Total number of druggists who were required to have

poison registers and who now have them_____571

Number of druggists found whose license was re

corded with the ordinaries in the counties where

they were engaged in business_______________ 561

Number of druggists found who had no license re

corded __________________________________ 154

Number of druggists found who were exempt from having license recorded____________________150
Number of druggists who have since then had their

license recorded _________________________ 4

I took several hundred samples ofthe various drugs

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sold in the various markets of the State, properly labeled

them, turned them over to the State Chemist, ydio, upon analysis, found the great majority of them to be of

standard strength.

Number of general dealers visited and stocks in

spected ______

1137

Number of general dealers found violating the pure

food and drug laws by handling patent medi

cines that did not comply with the laws----------- 86

Number found handling rat and bed-bug poisons in

violatio'n of law_________________________ 6

Number of general dealers found handling paris-

green (arsenic) ____________

6

Number of general dealers found handling Stone-

cypher's Bug-Death, an arsenical preparation- 13

Number of general dealers found handling veteri

nary colic remedies (various kinds), that con

tained more opium and morphine than allowed

by law_________________________________ 32

Number of general dealers found handling fly-killers

containing arsenic_______________________ 2

Number of general dealers found handling strych

nine and nux-vomica_____________________ 1 Number of general dealers found handling tincture

of iodine________________________________ 9

Number of general dealers found selling calomel and

soda tablets, headache tablets, compound cath

artic, aspirin tablets and other drugs from bulk

packages and not labeling them____________ 41

Number of general dealers found selling diarrhoea,

dysentery and cholera remedies that contained

more opium and morphine than is allowed under

the State narcotic law____________________ 14

Number of general dealers found selling injections

21

containing cocaine------------------------ ----------- 5

Nmmber of general dealers found with laudanum in

their stocks ________________________ _

2

Number of general dealers found selling cotton-seed

oil labeled sweet-oil______________________ 5

Number of general dealers foundselling carbolic acid 2

Number of retail grocers visited and stocks inspected 230

Number of retail grocers found selling patent medi

cine that did not comply with the pure food and

drug laws___________________________ 5

Number of retail grocers found selling aspirin tab

lets, calomel and soda tablets, headache tablets,

compound cathartic pills and other drugs not

properly labeled _________________________ 1

Number of retail grocers found selling fly-killers con

taining arsenic_______________________ 1

Number of retail grocers found selling Stonecy-

pher's Bug-Death (an arsenicalpreparation)- 6

Number of retail grocers found selling cotton-seed

oil, labeled sweet-oil____ __________________ 1

Number of retail grocers found selling veterinary

colic cures that contained more opium and mor

phine than is allowed under the State narcotic

law_____________________ -------------- ------ 3

Number of wholesale grocers visited and stocks in

spected ____________________

69

Number of wholesale grocers found handling patent

medicines that did not comply with the pure food

and drug laws _______________ ,__________ 2

Number of wholesale grocers found who were han

dling tincture iodine______________________ 1

Number of wholesale grocers found who were han

dling laudanum _________________________ 1

Number of wholesale grocers found who were selling

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cholera remedies containing more opium than is allowed under the State narcotic law________ 1 Some provisions ought to be made for the sale of in secticides and bug-deaths, in the State, by general dealers and unlicensed druggists. It does not seem just to com pel farmers, market gardeners and orchardists to. ride in some instances twenty miles in order to purchase these preparations from a licensed druggist, or have their crops and orchards destroyed by insects. I have found the new Federal Anti-Narcotic Law to be of great service to me in the enforcfement of the State Anti-Narcotic Law, and while it is being frequently violated, in many instances it is due to a misunderstanding of what the Federal law demands. I find the quality of drugs sold in the various markets of the State to be exceptionally good. I find the number of violations for the year fewer than the preced ing year and a general disposition on part of all to com ply with the law. In conclusion I wish to thank you, your valuable assistant, Mr. Dan G. Hughes, and Dr. B. E. Stallings, State Chemist, for the hearty co-operation that you have given me in the discharge of my'official duties.
Very respectfully yours, T. A. Cheatham, State Drug Inspector.
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STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS OF FEES FROM THE SALE OF FEED INSPECTION STAMPS FROM JANUARY 1, 1915, TO DECEMBER 31, 1915.

DR.

Received from sale of feed inspection stamps.............................. $ 32,231 94 Received from State Treasurer........................................................ 6,700 69 Received from bulk feed tax.......... .................................................... 99 07 Received from refund of expense.................................................. 422 11

OR.

By salaries .................................................. By general expense .................................. By inspectors' expense ............................ By purchase of feed inspection stamps By State Treasurer ................................

$ 9,827 67 8:22 05
. 3,555 34 336 60
24,912 15

$ 39,453 81 $ 39,453 81

STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS OF FEES FROM THE SALE OF COTTON-SEED MEAL AND FERTILI ZER TAX TAGS AND TAX ON SALES OF BULK MA TERIAL FROM JANUARY 1, 1915, TO DEC. 31, 1915.

DR.

Received from sale of cotton-seed meal tax tags...................... $ 13,401 70 Received from sale of fertilizer tax tags...................................... 73,896 24 Received from bulk tax...................................................................... 2,117 77

CR.

By State Treasurer ................................................ $. 89,415 71

$ 89,415 71 $ 89,415 71

STATEMENT OF WARRANTS DRAWN ON THE STATE TREASURER TO COYER EXPENSE INCIDENT TO THE INSPECTION OF FERTILIZERS FROM JANUARY 1, 1915, TO DECEMBER 31, 1915.

By inspectors' salaries By office salaries............ By inspectors ' expenses By general expenses . . . . By purchase of tax tags
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$ 19,891 28 5,100 00 7,733 95 1,218 51 2,236 76

By freight and drayage By printing and postage

453 40 2,996 60

$ 39,630 50
STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS OF FOOD AND DRUGS APPROPRIATION FROM JANUARY 1, 1915, TO DECEMBER 31, 1915.

DR.

Balance from 1914 .......................................................................... $ 3,289 82 Received from State Treasurer .................................................... 10,000 00

OR.

By salaries ........................................................ ..........$ 6,022 55 By general expenses .............................................. 2,725 35 By balance in bank December 31, 1915.............. 4,541 92

$ 13,289 82 $ 13,289 82

STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS FOR THE SUP PRESSION OF CONTAGIOUS DISEASES OF CATTLE
FROM JANUARY 1, 1915, TO DECEMBER 31, 1915.

DR.

Balance from 1914 ........................................................................ .. .$ 1,009 55 Received from State Treasurer ...................................................... 5,000 00
CR.

By salaries of assistants and clerks.................. $ 2,331 66 By expenses of assistants and office.................. 1,725 27
By balance in bank Dec. 31, 1915........................ 1,952 62

$ 6,009 55 $ 6,009 55

STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS OF APPRO PRIATION FOR THE ERADICATION OF THE CATTLE TICK FROM JANUARY 1, 1915, TO DECEMBER 31, 1915.

DR.

Balance from 1914 .................. Received from State Treasurer Received from refund of salary

496 31 26,694 43
4 80

25

GE.
By salaries .................................. ................................$ 22,392 15 By expenses, assistants, inspectors and office.. 2,644 54 By balance in bank December 31, 1915.............. 2,158 85
$ 27,195 54 $ 27,195 54
STATEMENT OF EECEIPTS AND DISBUESEMENTS OF APPEOPEIATION FOE THE DISTBIBUTION OF HOG CHOLEBA SEBUM
FEOM JANUABY 1, 1915, TO DECEMBEB 31, 1915.
DB.
Balance from 1914 .............................. .............................................$ 41 94 Beceived from State Treasurer .................................................... 3,000 00
CE.
By salaries of assistant veterinarians.................. $ 1,140 00 By expenses of assistants and office...................... 1,5813 06 By balance in bank December 31, 1915.................. 318 88
$ 3,041 94 $ 3,041 94
STATEMENT OF EECEIPTS AND DISBUESEMENTS OF APPEOPBIATION FOE THE EMPLOYMENT OF ASSISTANT STATE CHEMISTS, AND PURCHASE OF CHEMICALS AND APPARATUS FEOM JANUARY 1, 1915, TO DECEMBER 31, 1915.
DE.
Balance from 1914.............................................................................. $ 1,536 08 Received from State Treasurer ...................................................... 10,291 20
CE.
By salaries .................................................................. $ 4,874 92 By expenses ................................................................ 5,816 53 By balance in bank December 31, 1915.................. 1,135 83
$ 11,827 28 $ 11,827 28
26

RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS OF FUNDS FROM THE SALES OF
NITROGEN SETTING BACTERIA FROM JANUARY 1, 1915, TO DECEMBER 31, 1915.

DR.

Balance brought forward from 1914 .............................................. $ Bacteria sales for 1915...................... .............................................. Received from State Treasurer.... .............................................. To cover check not paid, Order 808. . ..............................................

290 48 2,636 25 1,400 00
2 75

R.

Salaries ............................ Expenses ........................ Stamps (for bacteria) . Check returned ............ Balance carried forward

...................... $ ...................... ...................... ...................... ......................

345 78 1,755 37
57 14 2 75
2,168 44

$ 4,329 48 $ 4,329 48

Atlanta, Georgia, June 6, 1916.
Hon. J. D. Price, Commissioner of Agricnltnre, Atlanta, Ga.
Dear Sir: Obedient to legislative mandate, I have the honor to submit herewith my annual report for the year of 1915.
With unprecedented aggressiveness, the live-stock in dustry of the State of Georgia is pressing all other agri cultural interests for leadership in the readjustment of our agriculture along lines of intensified and diversified farming. The staggering blow dealt to our principal cash crop during the fall, winter and spring of 1914-1915, on account of the European situation, was less acute in sections where more or less live stock could be made available for the market. Our people were not slow to observe this condition, and many who had been extremely indifferent, if not doubtful, as to the feasibility of profit
27

able live-stock production resolved during these trying days to p'roduce at least pork enough for home consump tion. Unfortunately, we did not have accurate statistical data available to show the amount of meats and meatfoods products shipped into the State during 1914 and the preceding years, but the fact that we are now pur chasing less of these products is universally recognized.
During the first eight to ten months of the European war the price of all meats advanced, and side meat sold at prices ranging from 15 to 20 cents per pound; and yet, during the months of January to July, 1915, inclu sive, we purchased a total of 49,434,817 pounds of pack ing-house products, of which 27,827,022 pounds were dry salt meat. At an average price of 15 cents per pound this would mean an expenditure of $4,174,143.30 for our imported dry salt meat supply during the first seven months of 1915. It is needless to say that less meat was consumed during this period than is usual on account of the high price of the products and the temporary depres sion in our circulating medium.
It may be of interest to know that it requires approx imately 825,000 hogs, averaging 200 pounds live weight each, to produce this supply. This is for seven months only. For the entire year it required, in 1915, 1,213,176 hogs, weighing 200 pounds each, to supply us with dry salts (bellies and backs) ; or, as the farmer calls it, "white meat." Sold at 6 cents per pound live weight, such a hog crop would put $14,558,112.00 in the hands of Georgia producers. Purchased, as at present, from other States, the 49,494,192 pounds of dry salt meat alone at 121.4 cents per pound removed from our State $5,118,092.10 in spot cash.
Many factors have been busily engaged in an effort to arouse interest in increased pork production. Breed
28

ers of pure-bred hogs and the management of the various fairs vied with each other in bringing the best of the various breeds to public attention. At the fairs pig stys were given prominence to replace the horse barn and the saw-dust arena. The cattle exhibits in 1915 eclipsed all previous efforts; the auction sales of pure-bred cattle were well attended and, considering the class of cattle offered, the prices paid were good. People, as a whole, manifested great interest; the breeders, and even the dealers in pure-bred hogs and cattle, have enjoyed an unprecedented period of prosperity. Indications are that the fair manager of 1916, and for many years to come, who does not encourage line live-stock exhibits by suitable premium offers may as well abandon the idea of having a fair.
Bankers and business men have unequivocally gone on record as favoring the development of the live-stock industry; many have demonstrated their faith in the undertaking by personally embarking in the live-stock business.
Great credit is due Mr. James E. Downing, a repre sentative of the U. S. Bureau of Animal Industry, who has been engaged in the organization of the Boys' Pig Clubs in the State of Georgia. Few men inject a degree of enthusiasm in their work equal to Mr. Downing. In addition to his love for the work, he displayed an extra ordinarily keen faculty for placing his work intelligently and interestingly before the people.
Many other agencies contributed to the growth and development of this new industry, and we, the State Vet erinarian and his collaborators, have zealously co-oper ated in this gigantic task by guarding the health of the herds on the hills and on the plains. But, even at that,
29

statistics show that we have made a very insignificant progress toward supplying our actual home demands.
During the year we imported 1,281 head of pure-blood cattle and 404 pure-bred hogs. From January 1, 1915, to May 1,1916, we imported 1,958 head of cattle for breed ing purposes, viz., 505 bulls, 878 cows and 574 heifers; and 694 pure-bred hogs, viz., 247 boars and 447 sows. The cattle importation consisted of 125 Aberdeen Angus, 945 Hereford, 294 Short Horn, 20 Red Poll, 147 Jersey, 276 Holstein-Friesian, 28 Guernsey, 7 Devon and 116 high grades.
The following table shows the States in which these cattle and hogs originated, exclusive of fourteen ship ments of hogs which originated in Tennessee, and which are referred to in my hog-cholera report:
Breeding Stock and Dairy Cattle Imported.
Jan. 1st to Dec. 31st, 1915. Jan. 1st ,0 May 1st, 1916.

i

Total
i

Sows

1 Boars

Heifers

Bulls Cows ; Heifers
i
Boars Sows Bulls Cows

1

!

Alabama

10 4 34 10 17 4 8

12 17 116

Florida -

1 13 1

16

2 1 25

Illinois

26 29 12

1

68

Indiana

1 12

3 75

2 1 94

Iowa

34 6 38 2 1 3 49 31 3 6 173

Kansas

1 21 14

36

Kentucky____ 13 29 29 24 36 41 88 2 14 42 318

Mississippi___

4 30

1 35

Missouri _

143 168 68 3 2 14 13 38 1 2 452

Nebraska____ 1 1

1

1

4

New York____

1

2 69 3

75

N. Carolina___ 8- 4 30 2 1

1 1 47

Ohio

20 31 4 1 6 22 49 5

138

Pennsylvania _ 3

1

2 16 12

34

S. Carolina___ 15 40 12 23 44 3 4 6 3 7 157

Tennessee____ 70 101 131 54 78 15 14 13 73 93 642

Texas _

49 9

58

Virginia

26

5 11 1 41 40 2 2 128

West Virginia _ 1 1

12

5

Wisconsin____

2 24 20

46

TOTAL____ 395 487 404 132 272 110 391 170 115 175 2651

Perhaps the greatest handicap to pork production is our inadequate facilities for converting the hog crop into marketable products without depending 'on favorable weather conditions. No matter how economically hogs have been grown if, by reason of unfavorable weather conditions, they must be corn fed for from thirty to sixty days after they have been fattened all the profit, as far as the producer is concerned, is lost.
Packing plants and municipal abattoirs are essential factors in the development of our propaganda to pro duce enough live stock for home consumption. Annually, large quantities of home-grown and home-killed meats spoil for lack of adequate facilities for saving and prop erly preparing it for the market. A few large farms and a few small farmers can and do succeed annually in grow ing, killing and curing a meat supply far in excess of personal needs; the overwhelming majority consider the risk attending pork production, killing and marketing a gambling hazard. Not until facilities for saving the crop are provided in the nature of packing plants or municipal abattoirs will the farmers produce a sufficient supply of raw material.
Incidentally, the farmers should endeavor to string out the marketing season from September to May. A glutted market with any commodity means a depreciation in value. Those who supply the world's wants, when the world wants it, always receive fair to good prices. As long as farmers continue to finish and expect to market their hogs during November, December and January only, they may as well expect the middleman to dictate prices. The remedy lies in extending the growing and marketing season. It can be done.
In 1914 men of Moultrie who placed limitless confi dence in their native State and her people, erected a
31

modern, small-sized packing plant in Colquitt County, near Moultrie. Pessimists predicted dire failure for this enterprise. But, all their predictions and worry did not prevent the growth of the plant. During the summer of 1915 the Moultrie Packing House doubled its refriger ating and storage capacity and, yet, during December and January, they were not able to handle all the hogs, that were offered them. The packing plant placed Moul trie and its progressive citizens in the foreground of modern commonwealth builders; others will follow, but the city in the piney woods set the pace.
Yielding to our urgent solicitation the City of Albany, under the progressive administration of Mayor H. A. Tarver and Mr. Morris Tift, Chairman of the City Board of Health, established the first modern, sanitary, munici pal abattoir in the State of Georgia, and incidentally east of the Mississippi and south of the Ohio Rivers. Such a municipal killing plant should be owned by every city of 5,000 or more inhabitants, unless, by chance, the needs of the community are cared for by a modern packing plant.
Great strides of improvement have been made in the deplorable conditions of country as well as city slaughter pens; and yet, even now, much greater improvement must be made. Slaughter pens were almost universally part of, or surrounded by, hog pens, where the offal was fed to the swine; this practice has been completely abolished, but much remains to be done. I don't know of anything that would bring about a wave of improvement quicker than for the people to visit their local slaughter houses; if they did, they would demand radical changes in no un certain terms.
Periodic inspection of meat markets, in which work we have had the hearty co-operation of the Pure Food
32

Department, resulted in material improvement. Such inspection must, of necessity, be continued, since the nat ural tendency of many tradesmen leans toward indiffer ence and neglect of sanitation. A limited number need no supervision, yet, they hail the inspector as a good and welcome friend. Those who need to be inspected fre quently assume an openly antagonistic attitude toward the inspector. Though the policy of the department has been one of helpful and kindly criticism, we found it nec essary to prosecute a few flagrant and chronic violators of the law.
That the South is destined to be the woidd's most pro ductive dairy section was predicted several years ago by U. S. Secretary of Agriculture, Mr. James Wilson, Dr. Seaman Knapp, and other leaders in agricultural devel opment along modern lines. The principal development has been near the larger cities, where whole milk finds a ready sale. But even in the more remote farming com munities many small dairies have sprung up. As yet these units are not sufficiently united to consolidate their interests, but I predict the establishment of not less than six creameries during the year 1916.
During 1915 more than 3,000,000 pounds of butter were shipped into and sold in the State, independent of oleo and butterine. It is commonly asserted that the bet ter grades of butter are not shipped south. I think this statement is true. We could, and should, produce every pound of butter consumed in this State, and compete with other dairy sections in supplying the markets of the world. Our butter bill for 1915 is more than $1,000,000.
Inspection of dairies has been conducted in co-opera tion with the various cities and independently by this de partment. On the whole, the dairymen have manifested a desire to co-operate with the department, and great
33

improvement has rewarded our labor along this line dur ing the year of 1915. Mr. H. F. Branham has personally made more than 2,000 visits to the various dairies, and has offered helpful suggestions after personal inspection of the premises and with due consideration of the envir onments. As a result of our campaign, 97 old, dilapi dated dairies were remodeled along modern sanitary lines, and 103 milk houses constructed.
Not every man is fit to be a dairyman. No other occu pation calls for such scrupulous cleanliness as does a dairy. Spasmodic clean ups will not suffice. A dairyman must be clean by nature; he must demand clean environ ments and surroundings. Only such can hope to stay in the dairy business. Clean barns, clean and healthy cows, with washed, dried and perfectly healthy udders, a pure water and feed supply, clean men or women milkers (dryhand milkers preferred), sterile milk pails, clean milk stools, the use of sterile utensils and bottles--these things plus the prompt and proper cooling of milk, are a neverfailing formula for clean-milk production. An unclean person, even an unclean genius, cannot succeed as a dairyman.
In enforcing the regulations promulgated under the Acts of 1914, we have tried as best we could to protect the masses of the people against contamination of what should be our greatest and most abundant food supply.
I believe a proper grading of the market milk would have a salutary effect toward making the public familiar with the milk they consume. Nowhere is the axiom, "The laborer is worthy of his hire," more literally true than in the dairy. Until the public expresses its appreciation of a better milk supply in the price they are willing to pay over and above the average market milk, there will be little incentive for progressive dairymen to devote
34

extra time and extra labor, or go to extra expense in order to produce high-grade market milk.
Our campaign against tuberculosis in dairy cows has been continued. Those who were so unfortunate as to lose cattle in the tests are to be commended for the spirit man ifested by them in sustaining such losses. I sincerely trust the General Assembly will pass the bill now pend ing before it providing partial reimbursement to the owners of such tubercular cattle.
Tick Eradication.
The work of tick eradication is by far the most im portant task before us in order to establish the cattle in dustry on a profitable basis. The cattle industry has never flourished or prospered in any section where the cattle tick existed. Tick infestation has cost the South countless millions of dollars in the past. Every effort to introduce fine-blooded animals in order that a better grade of cattle might be produced has proven futile. More than 90 per cent, of the high-priced cattle thus in troduced have died in from ten days to three months after being introduced, and the remaining 10 per cent, were reduced to scrubs by reason of tick infestation. It is true, in counties where stock law prevailed, certain premises and the cattle thereon developed under tickfree conditions; but, when such cattle were subsequently sold to owners of tick-infested cattle and tick-infested premises these native tick-free cattle died as promptly as did the cattle imported from the breeding sections of the North and Northwest,
The eradication of the cattle tick is absolutely funda mental to the development of a profitable cattle industry. No man can make an honest investigation into the merits of cattle production under tick conditions, and then com-
35

pare the same industry under tick-free conditions, with out becoming thoroughly convinced that tick-infested cat tle are always a synonym for scrub cattle, and scrub cattle always sell at scrub prices.
Unfortunately, many good citizens do not believe tick eradication feasible or practical. That, since 1910, we have cleaned 42 counties of tick infestation in the State of Georgia should impress upon them the fact that what has been done in the past can be done again; but, ap parently this logical conclusion does not impress some people. We, therefore, meet with the same opposition in each county in which the work is taken up that we met in other counties where the work has been completed. False and vicious reports are often circulated by those who oppose the work, and it is a well-known fact that a lie will travel a mile while the truth creeps one inch. For tunately, the majority of our people are willing to be shown that this work is practical, and, therefore, we us ually find within a short period of time a large number of the citizens of every community willing to lend us their hearty support in the eradication of the cattle tick. Occa sionally some " rantankerous " individuals, the kind who are "jes naturally agin the government" on any subject, create, for a brief period, quite a disturbance. It is a well-known fact that it is much easier to appeal to and receive the support of people who are guided purely by prejudice than to arouse to action the law-abiding and conservative element, or to inspire enthusiasm in the rank and file of our citizens who do their own thinking and who do not act on the impulse of the moment. But, opposition to tick eradication, no matter how bitterly fanned by unreasonable fanaticism, is soon overpowered by the overwhelming evidence that tick eradication is im mensely profitable. Many who in the past bitterly pro-
3'6

tested against the expenditure of public funds for this purpose are now enthusiastic'advocates as to the merits of this work.
Tick eradication is a simple business proposition. We do not appeal to the sentiment of the people to boost or encourage this work; neither should the people permit themselves to be led astray by statements, not based on facts, intended to arouse their prejudice against the prog ress of the work. Tick eradication will be completed within a few short years; the only thing that is accom plished by the opposition to tick eradication is to make this work unpleasant to those who are charged with the duties of its enforcement. Incidentally the delay in curred by opposition forces the State, county and federal governments to spend a greater amount of money than would be necessary if the people would all lend their hearty co-operation for the brief period necessary to complete the task. Tick eradication can be completed, in any county where the people will lend their hearty support to the enforcement of the regulations necessary to finish the work, in one season. It is a pity that anyone should attempt to discredit or hinder the progress of this work, which means millions of dollars to the live-stock industry of the State of Georgia.
Considering the many handicaps that have to be met in tick-eradication work, the work has progressed ex ceptionally well since its beginning on a co-operative footing with the federal government in 1907. The follow ing 42 counties are released from State and federal quar antine: Baldwin, Banks, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Clarke, Clayton, Cobb, Dade, Dawson, DeKalb, Elbert, Fannin, Forsyth, Franklin, Fulton, Gilmer, Gordon, Greene, Habersham, Hall, Hancock, Hart, Jasper, Mad ison, Milton, Morgan, Murray, Newton, Oconee, Pickens,
37

Putnam, Rabun, Richmond, Rockdale, Stephens, Towns, Union, Walker, White, Whitfield and Wilkes; and Lump kin County, with the exception of the following militia districts: Yahoola No. 900, Porter Springs No. 1551, Chestatee No. 1116, Progtown No. 1244, Shoal Creek No. 838, Wahoo No. 1051, Martins Ford No. 831, and Crumley No. 999. Only six of these counties, Rabun, Union, Towns, Stephens, Habersham and White, were released prior to 1911. Active work is now in progress in Bar tow, Bibb, Brooks, Campbell, Colquitt, Columbia, Coweta, Dougherty, Douglas, Fayette, Floyd, Grady, Gwinnett, Lincoln, Lowndes, Oglethorpe, Paulding, Pickens, Thomas and Washington. The present status of the work in these counties indicates that not less than fifteen of them will be ready for release during the year of 1916. Extensive preliminary work has been conducted in a num ber of other counties, and in addition to that numerous dipping vats have been constructed in various parts, of the State by men interested in the development of the cattle industry. The only part the State takes in the construction of such vats is to furnish the owners or the counties experienced men to supervise and help with the work.
The work of tick eradication is co-operatively carried on by the State, county and federal governments. Most, though not all, of the preliminary work is done by the. State. After the preliminary work has progressed suffi ciently the work is undertaken on a joint co-operative basis between the principals mentioned. The State us ually supplies one cattle inspector to devote all of his time to tick-eradication work in the county to which he is assigned. The county invariably furnishes anywhere from one to as many as six or seven local men to act as cattle inspectors, and the federal government furnishes
38

a supervising veterinarian, and, where conditions war rant such an expenditure, they also employ skilled labor to help in the work. Many counties have built from 35 to 60, or more, dipping vats for the convenience of their people, either entirely, or partly, at county expense.
The actual cost to the federal government, to the State and to the county for eradicating the cattle tick de pends directly on the attitude of the people toward this work. Where we secure good active co-operation on the part of the people, and, where those who are naturally inclined to defy the law are held in check by rigid en forcement of the law, the work will always be completed in one season at a cost not exceeding 50 cents per head of cattle. On the contrary, where the people do not co operate in this work, and where for any reason the courts fail to support us in the enforcement of the law, we in variably spend from two to six seasons to finish the work, and when it is finished it is not done any better than when we finish in one season; yet, it has cost from six to seven times as much money.
There is absolutely no reason why, even with present handicaps, the work of tick eradication should not be completed by 1920; the interest all Georgians feel in the development of our resources makes such a prediction not only possible, it makes it certain; I feel safe in saying
"We Will Do It."
Hog Cholera.
The hog-cholera situation in the State of Georgia seems to be shaping itself into a fairly satisfactory con dition. The northern section of the State is exceptionally free from the ravages of this disease, while, as might be expected, the southern, open-range section shows an ex treme prevalence of chronic hog cholera, with now and
39

then a sporadic outbreak of sub-acute attacks. The use of serum is more extensively practiced than in the past on account of the exceedingly low price of serum (85 cents per 100 cubic centimeters), and as a whole the re sults of serum inoculation have been all that could be ex pected. Field investigations have shown that much serum is used in diseased conditions not due to cholera, and, of course, in those cases no good results follow nor should good results be expected; also, particularly in chronic cholera, the use of serum will not cure animals already affected with the disease, especially not if small doses of serum are administered.
During the months of February, March and April, 14 shipments of hogs, aggregating 1,591 head, were made from Tennessee for breeding purposes. These hogs, very few of which were of good quality and breeding, had been inoculated by what is known as the serum simultaneous treatment. In every instance certain hogs in each of these shipments subsequently broke with cholera, spread ing the disease in the various communities into which these hogs had been shipped. Investigation of the con ditions showed us that Tennessee permitted the indis criminate use of virus by all who applied for permission to use this material. Our only recourse, therefore, was to prohibit such shipments by proper regulations. Ac cordingly Special Order No. 18 of this department was promulgated and enforced with splendid results. No fur ther occurrences of like nature have since then happened. The serum simultaneous treatment is a source of danger to the hog industry unless it is performed by properly qualified persons who fully understand all the dangers attending such serum simultaneous inoculation. In view of this fact we do not practice nor encourage the use of the serum simultaneous treatment in the State of Geor
40

gia. The results we have obtained are more satisfactory than the results obtained in many other States where the double treatment is generally applied. Under the unre stricted distribution of serum and virus as practiced in Tennessee during 1914-15 the losses sustained on account of hog cholera in Tennessee are estimated at more than $1,000,000.00 in excess of previous losses.
Unfortunately, we have no machinery for securing ac curate statistical data as to the losses sustained on ac count of cholera, but if estimates are in order, it is safe to assert that our losses from hog cholera in 1915 were less by $1,000,000.00 than in 1914.
A most careful survey of our conditions with a view to getting the greatest results from the least expenditure of money has convinced me that a more stringent quar antine restriction of the infested districts and infected animals would prove the least expensive and a most effective supplementary measure for controlling this dreadful disease.
Much has been said regarding the buzzard as a carrier of the infection of hog cholera. It is needless to say that if the people themselves will do their duty by destroying the carcasses of animals that have died of diseases the buzzard will cease to be a factor in the distribution of this or any other disease. Just so long as we expect the buzzard to do our sanitary duty for us, we must not com plain at the cost we are forced to pay for such service.
In my report for 1914 I predicted that serum could and should be sold at 1 cent per c. c. This prediction has more than materialized, for at present we are selling the public serum at 85 cents per 100 cubic centimeters. Unfortunately, my determination to reduce the price of serum from 21/2 cents per c. c., or $12.50 per pint bottle-- which was the price established by the State College for
41

their serum in and maintained during 1912--to 1 cent, or $5.00 per pint bottle, has been interpreted as hostile to the State College of Agriculture. Such a conclusion is unwarranted. I felt then, and I feel now, that the public is entitled to the best serum that can be manufactured at the lowest possible cost at wdiich such serum can be produced.
The State College fixed the price of serum in 1912-- under the provisions of the Acts of 1911, which stipulates that serum made at the College "shall be sold at the actual cost of production"--at 214 cents per c. c., or $12.50 per pint bottle. Every reduction made in the price of serum since has been made because the State Veterinarian was able to purchase commercial serum, made and tested under government supervision, at less than the price asked for serum made at the College. In addition to the price which the people paid for College serum, the College received each of the years 1912 to 1915, inclusive, $3',000.00 annually, or a total of $12,000.00. During 1914 we distributed 421,900 c. c. of Col lege serum at IV-j cents per c. c., and 109,100 e. c. at 114 cents per c. c. Since the $3,000.00 appropriated by the State also constituted a part of the price of this serum, it will be seen that the College serum in 1914 cost $0.56 cents extra per c. c., or in round figures, 2 cents and 1% cents, respectively, instead of l1/-? cents and I14 cents per c. c. Similarly in 1915 it cost $0.47 cents per c. c., plus the price paid by the public; or, in round figures it cost 1% and l1//2 cents, respectively, in 1915.
College serum sold at iy4 cents until July 1, 1915, when it was reduced to 1 cent to meet the price at which we were selling commercial serum. On December 14th the College agreed to meet the new competitive price of
42

85 cents per 100 c. c., at which we had purchased and were selling commercial serum.
A few weeks after I had succeeded in securing com mercial serum at 85 cents per 100 c. c., and suggested to the College authorities that they meet this new competi tive price, the following article appeared in the Augusta Chronicle under date of January 1, 1915:
"Athens, Ga., Dec. 31, 1915: It is announced at the College of Agriculture here that the price of hog-cholera serum has been reduced from $1.00 per 100 cubic centi meters to 85 cents per 100 cubic centimeters. This is the lowest price, it is claimed, at which any State manufac turing serum has ever offered it. Extraordinary effi ciency and effort is required to make good serum at this price, but it is claimed that the work at the serum plant has been so well organized and such rigid economy is enforced as to enable the institution to put out the prod uct at the low figure."
This article admits that the College is not making serum at a loss. If the present price is right the price first fixed by the College was exorbitant and, therefore, not justified.
In supplying the public with serum we have always furnished College serum, when College serum was avail able; except when, as occurred at times, we could and did sell commercial serum for less than the price fixed by the College for their serum; in such event we left the choice of serum to the purchaser.
During 1915 we used 2,739,050 c. cs. of serum, of which 639,050 c. cs. were College serum and 2,100,000 commer cial serum. All commercial serum sold was manufac tured under federal license and tested under federal su pervision.
Careful investigation as to the actual cost of serum
43

production has convinced me that good serum can be manufactured by commercial enterprises at about 65 or 70 cents per 100 c. c. Such commercial enterprises, how ever, demand a profit on their products, which, of course, cannot be denied them. I feel safe in saying that under good business management, with such legitimate over head expenses as rents, insurance, State and county taxes, corporation taxes, interest on investment, divi dends to stockholders, and last, but not least, the custo mary 5 to 10 per cent, set aside for advertising purposes, eliminated serum can be manufactured at one-half a cent per cubic centimeter.
Our records show that we have sold serum in 121 counties. Veterinarians from this department made 376 field investigations to determine whether or not cholera existed. These investigations showed that serum had been used in 59 instances when the herds were not in fected with cholera, but other diseased conditions.
At 263 of these investigations public demonstrations of the proper method of serum inoculation were given by the veterinarians. As a result of these demonstrations, 252 farmers equipped themselves with syringes to enable them to inoculate their own hogs when necessary.
To supply in a more permanent form instruction, as well as information concerning the control of hog chol era, we published Bulletin No. 13, "How Can We Con trol Hog Cholera?" This bulletin proved in great de mand; the original issue of 10,000 copies was soon ex hausted, making the publication of a second edition nec essary.
The federal government appropriated $10,000.00 for experimental hog cholera control work in Decatur County. Three veterinarians from the IT. S. Bureau of Animal Industry were permanently stationed in Decatur
44

County and the government furnished free service as well as free serum. I understand the results were not satisfactory to the B. A. L, and it is freely rumored that this plan of experimental work is to be abolished.
Tubeeculosis.
During the fall, winter and spring months, whenever men were available for the purpose, we have continued to tuberculin test dairy cattle. Special attention was given to a retest of every dairy in which tuberculosis had been found during 1913'-14. "We tested a total num ber of 2,139 cattle in 77 herds, and found 106 reactors in 16 herds, or approximately 5 per cent. In view of the fact that most of the tests were made in herds either known to be infected with the disease or strongly suspicioned as being infected with tuberculosis, this showing is extremely fine.
As previously mentioned, native Georgia cattle are practically free of tuberculosis, as proven by slaughter house inspection under government supervision at the Moultrie plant.
I had hoped that before now the Legislature would have provided some ways and means for at least par tially reimbursing the dairymen for the losses they have sustained in cleaning their dairy herds of tubercular cattle. Unfortunately, this has not been done, though a bill is now pending providing for partial reimbursement to the dairymen. Great credit is due to those dairymen who were unfortunate enough to have tubercular re actors in their herds, and who willingly sacrificed these animals for the welfare of the dairy industry and the well-being of the people.
The existing boom in the development of the live-stock industry, attended as it is by many shipments of pure-
45

blooded or high-grade live stock from other States, has subjected us to a new danger through the introduction of tubercular animals from other States. Unwilling to put an unnecessary stumbling block in the path of those who were anxious to purchase improved blood for the development of their herds, we had adopted a rule to accept tuberculin tests made in other States by veterin arians who had the endorsement of the State Veterinar ian at point of origin. During the year 1915 our sus picion was centered on some shipments from Missouri and Ohio. We succeeded in stopping the Ohio shipment before it was made, the health certificates having been sent to us in advance of the shipment. However, the shipments made by Gus Benson, of Bucklin, Missouri, had already been distributed through public auction when our attention was called to the original health cer tificates. It required quite a good deal of correspond ence in order to locate the various animals of these Ben son shipments for a retest. This was finally done, and out of three shipments, containing 100 cattle, we found 25 reactors. All of these reactors have been killed. It appears to me that we should have some rigid statute on our law books dealing summarily with those who know ingly ship tubercular cattle into the State; or who, claim ing ignorance concerning their knowledge of the disease, fail to reimburse the purchasers of diseased animals bought as sound and healthy.
Statistics on Meat and Meat-Food Products Shipped
into State op Georgia.
Complying with the provisions of the Act of 1914, we established a system of reports to keep record of all meats or meat-food products shipped into the State. Under our first system we received in duplicate an item ized copy of every shipment made into the State. The
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original was forwarded to us directly by the shipper, and the copy, showing date of delivery at destination, was sent us by the agent of the transportation company. This method of report was extremely accurate in detail, and no shipments were overlooked; however, it required a vast amount of clerical work to consolidate and tabulate this information. Under this system we grouped the va rious products under seven heads, to wit:
1. Beef; including dressed cattle, parts of dressed cattle, beef cuts and dressed calves.
2. Pork; dressed hogs, parts of dressed hogs and pork cuts.
3. Mutton; dressed sheep. 4. Hams; smoked, boiled and boneless hams, and all
smoked meats. 5. Dry salts; all dry salt pork meats. 6. Lard; all lard and lard compounds. 7. Packing-house products; under this heading we
grouped collectively everything not included in the classifications previously mentioned. From the very beginning some of the packers and some of the transportation companies declined to furnish this data. But, by persistent supervision of cars in tran sit, we managed to secure a record of not less than 97 per cent, of all shipments. Through their legal departments the railroads and packers continued their protest and in June, 1915, at the suggestion of the Attorney-General, Hon. Warren Grice, we agreed to accept monthly statements from the pack ers. These monthly statements show kind and amount of various packing-house products delivered by each packer to each distribution point in the State of Georgia. .For brevity's sake, I have compiled the first seven months of 1915 under our then prevailing classification, while all shipments since August are consolidated on our regular report blank:

Shipments of Meats and Meat Food Products into the State of Georgia, 1915.

Beef

Pork Mutton Hams Dry Salts Lard P.H.Prod.

Jan......................

..

Feb__________ _____________________________________

Mch_______________________________________________

Apr

_

_

_

--------- -

May ..

. _________ __

_

June .

______

July------------------------------------------------------------------------

354261 303002 374476 458283 696335 826852 754717

841175 537375 651551 676205 595221 481295 476586

50355 49363 84348 77417 104527 86803 95934

159018 45905 35883 90634 117399 122778 76230

2751064 2422145 3481163 5988966 5728653 3810133 3645498

731953 872370 358274 767408 724111 839075 1052901

777426 487433 585364 1346436 1417135 1396349 1027032

Total ____ .

.

_____ __

3767926 4259408 548747 647847 27827622 5346092 7037175

Shipments of Meats and Meat Food Products into the State of Georgia, 1915.

August __

....

September_________

October_____ _____ ...

November.. _ _ . _ .

December .. ...

Lard

Dressed Cattle

Dressed Hogs

Dressed Sheep

Dressed Smoked Smoked Dried and Barreled Calves Meats--S.C Meats--D. S. Cured Beef Pork

Boiled Hams

51294
17812 89317 61804

580179 713273 631182 924953 446268

1390 18695 9395 63829 14624

56426 88566 106209 140976 69728

8253 10234116 8091 662037 19774 377876 14122 613255
164492

215654 688137 767094 759381 477222

104308 3137 4126
1198

42269 44808
5413 5718
500

60455 3633265
62414 96542 33315

Total. . ... ....

220427 3295855 107933 461905 50240 12051776 2907488 118537 98708 3885991

Dry Salt

Fresh

Pork Meats Sausage

Other Pack

Dry

Beef Cuts Pork Cuts Canned ing House

Sausage

Meats Products

Oleo

Butterine

Butter

Cheese

August ..____ September _ _. _ October .____ November___ December____

3567826 11146945 5170111 232050 3500350 494958 4109154 386915 1319089 122623

72534 162268 67320 203505 31915

55131 92828 44358 190940 723772

232417 383499 868623 536209 465425

178750 395067 534876 653674 41446

1277681 2117392 2210763 1943132 1092614

36064 21595
2887 57637 10260

5226 10522 17921 27690 7619

26631 37692 44227 108643 57807

145381 349385
51842

Total __ . 17666530 12383491 537542 455629 2486173 1803813 8641582 128443 69378 275000 546608

In the first form of monthly reports printed we in advertently overlooked providing a special column for lard. This error was not observed until after the blanks had been distributed. We, therefore, find a sharp dis crepancy between the accurate data on lard shipments during the succeeding five months for 1915. This error in our form has since been corrected.
In calculating on the amount of lard shipped into the State during the months of August to December, inclu sive, the average of January to July, inclusive, should be made a basis for a more correct estimate. It appears on this basis that we purchase annually about 10,000,000 pounds of lard.
The extensive, and at all times, very pressing duties of this office prevented us from evolving a satisfactory plan for obtaining statistics as to the dairy products shipped into and produced within the State.
We have nearly completed a system of reports which will be reasonably accurate without involving an unfair burden on dealers or producers.
Respectfully submitted, Petee F. Bahxsex, State Veterinarian.
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