Selections from the annual fertilizer bulletins of the Georgia Department of Agriculture, 1906

THE LIBRARY OF
THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIACrA
lxfSELECTIONS
FROM THE
Annual Fertilizer Bulletins
Georgia Department of Agriculture
1898 to 1904
HON O B STEVENS
Commissioner of Agriculture
He that maketh two ears of corn or two Wades of grass to grow
upon a spot of ground where only one grew before deserves better of
mankind and does more essential service to his country than the whole
race of politicians put togetherDean Swift
ATLANTA GA
Geo W Harrison State Printer
The Franklin Printing and Publishing Company
19C6MAR 6 1945INTRODUCTION
The Georgia Department of Agriculture during the past seven
years has published no annual but instead saved its money for
the purpose of publishing and sending out a mass of information
concerning all the industries of the State the growth of its cities
towns railroads manufacturing commercial and agricultural
enterprises
About 10000 copies of Georgia Historical and Industrial
and 4000 copies of Georgias Resources and Advantages have
been distributed throughout the United States with no cost to
the recipients except for express or mail charges The Depart
ment has also sent out every year from twenty to twentyfive
thousand copies of the annual fertilizer bulletins several thousand
of the administrative reports and many monthly talks In the
present volume we present our annual bulletins from 1898 to
1904 including but once any matter that is contained in more
than one annual fertilizer bulletin
It will be noticed that bulletin 37 in this volume is not like
the others a fertilizer bulletin being the only exception to our
since adopted rule of numbering all bulletins on other subjects
than those treated in the fertilizer bulletin as additions to said
bulletin as for instance after bulletin 41 additional ones between
that and bulletin 42 were called Bulletin 41a Bulletin 4H
tc
Georgia Department oe AgricultureFrom Bulletin Georgia Department of Agriculture
SERIAL No 35
SEASON J898J899
INFORMATION IN REGARD TO
COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS
AND
CHEMICALS
AND
ILLUMINATING OILS

UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF
O B STEVENS
Commissioner of Agriculture of the State of Georgia
Z
JNO M McCANDLESS
State Chemist
P L HUTCHINSON
First Assistant State Chemist
R G WILLIAMS
Second Assistant State Chemist
Tfl5THE LAW GOVERNING THE INSPECTION OF
TILIZERS AND FERTILIZER MATERIAL
For the convenience of both manufacturer and consumer the
law regulating the sale of Commercial Fertilizers passed and ap
proved October 9 1891 is given in full below
AN ACT
To amend and consolidate the laws governing the inspection
analysis and sale of commercial fertilizers chemicals and cot
tonseed meal in the State of Georgia and to repeal all other
laws and parts of laws in conflict therewith and for other
purposes
Section I Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State
of Georgia That all manufacturers of or dealers in commercial
fertilizers or chemicals or cottonseed meal to be used in manu
facturing the same who may desire to sell or offer for sale in
the State of Georgia such fertilizers chemicals or cottonseed
meal shall first file with the Commissioner of Agriculture of the
State of Georgia the name of each brand of fertilizers or chemi
cals which he or they may desire to sell in said State either by
themselves or their agents together with the name of the manu
facturer the place where manufactured and also the guaranteed
analysisthereof and if the same fertilizer is sold under different
names said fact shall be so stated and the different brands that
are identical shall be named
SEC II Be it further enacted That all fertilizers or chenncals
for manufacturing the same and all cottonseed meal offered for
sale or distribution in this State shall have branded upon or at
tached to each bag barrel or package the guaranteed analysis
thereof showing the percentage of valuable elements or ingre
dients such fertilizers or chemicals contain embracing the foil own
ing determinations
Moisture at 212 deg Fahper cent
Insoluble phosphoric acidper cent
Available phosphoric acidper cent
Ammonia actual and potentialper cent
Potash K2Oper cent8
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
The analysis so placed upon or attached to said fertilizer or
chemical shall be a guarantee by the manufacturer agent or per
son offering the same for sale that it contains substantially the
ingredients indicated thereby in the percentages named therein
and said guarantee shall be binding on said manufacturer agent
or dealer and may be pleaded in any action or suit at law to show
total or partial failure of consideration in the contract for the
sale of said fertilizer chemical or cottonseed meal
Sec III Be it further enacted That it shall be the duty of
the Commissioner of Agriculture to forbid the sale of either of
the following Any acid phosphate which contains less than ten
per centum of available phosphoric acid any acid phosphate with
potash which contains a sum total of less than ten per centum of
available phosphoric acid and potash when the per cents of the
two are added together any acid phosphate with ammonia which
contains a sum total of less than ten per centum of available
phosphoric acid and ammonia when the per cents of the two
are added together any acid phosphate with ammonia and potash
which contains a sum total of less than ten per centum of avail
able phosphoric acid ammonia and potash when the per cents of
the three are added together that no brands shall be sold as
ammoniated superphosphates unless said brands contain 2 per
cent or more of ammonia And also to forbid the sale of all
cottonseed meal which is shown by official analysis to contain
less than 7 per cent of ammonia Nothing in this Act shall be
construed to nullify any of the requirements of an Act entitled an
Act to require the inspection and analysis of cottonseed meal
Sec IV Be it further enacted That all persons or firms who
may desire or intend to sell fertilizers chemicals or cottonseed
meal in this State shall forward to the Commissioner of Agricul
ture a printed or a plainly written request for tags therefor
stating the name of the brand the name of the manufacturer the
place where manufactured the number of tons of each brand
and the number of tags required and the person or persons to
whom the same is consigned the guaranteed analysis also the
number of pounds contained in each bag barrel or pack
age in which said fertilizer chemical or cottonseedmeal is
put up and shall at the time of said request for tags for
ward directly to the Commissioner of Agriculture the sum of
ten cents per ton as an inspection fee whereupon it shall be the
duty of the Commissioner of Agriculture to issue tags to parties
so applying who shall attach a tag to each bag barrel or package BULLETIN NO 35 9
thereof which when attached to said bag barrel or package
shall be prima facie evidence that the seller has complied with
the requirements of this Act Any tags left in possession of the
manufacturer or dealer at the end of the season shall not be
used for another season nor shall they be redeemable by the De
partment of Agriculture
Sec V Be it further enacted That it shall not be lawful for
any person firm or corporation either by themselves or their
agents to sell or offer for sale in this State any fertilizer chemi
icals or cottonseed meal without first registering the same with
the Commissioner of Agriculture as required by this Act and
the fact that the purchaser waives the inspection and analysis
thereof shall be no protection to said party so selling or offering
the same for sale
Sec VI Be it further enacted That the Commissioner of
Agriculture shall appoint twelve inspectors of fertilizers or so
many inspectors as in said Commissioners judgment may be
necessary who shall hold their offices for such terms as said
Commissioner of Agriculture shall in his judgment think best
for carrying out the provisions of this Act The greatest com
pensation that any one inspector of fertilizers shall receive shall
be at the rate of one hundred dollars per month and his actual
expenses while in the discharge of his duty as such inspector It
shall be his duty to inspect all fertilizers chemicals or cottonseed
meal that may be found at any point within the limits of this
State and go to any point when so directed by the Commissioner
of Agriculture and shall see that all fertilizers chemicals or cot
tonseed meal are properly tagged
Sec VII Be it further enacted That each inspector of fertil
izers shall be provided with bottles in which to place samples of
fertilizers chemicals or cottonseed meal drawn by him and shall
also be provided with leaden tags numbered in duplicate from
one upward and it shall be the duty of each inspector of fertilizers
to draw a sample of all fertilizers chemicals and cottonseed meal
that he may be requested to inspect or that he may find unin
spected and he shall fill two sample bottles with each brand and
place one leaden tag of same number in each sample bottle and
shall plainly write on a label on said bottles the number corre
sponding to the number on said leaden tags in said bottles and
shall also write on the label on one of said bottles the name of the
fertilizer chemical or cottonseed meal inspected the name of
the manufacturer the place where manufactured the place where10
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT Of AGRICULTURE
inspected the date of inspection and the name of the inspector
and shall send or cause to be sent to the Commissioner of Agri
culture the sample so drawn by him annexed to a full report of
said inspection written on the form prescribed by said Commis
sioner of Agriculture which report must be numbered to corre
spond with the number on said sample bottles and number on the
leaden tags placed therein and it shall also be the duty of said
inspectors of fertilizers to keep a complete record of all inspections
made by them on forms prescribed by said Commissioner of
Agriculture Before entering upon the discharge of their duties
they shall take and subscribe before some officer authorized to
administer the same an oath faithfully to discharge all the duties
which may be required of them in pursuance of this Act
SEC VIII Be it further enacted That the Commissioner of
Agriculture shall have the authority to establish such rules and
regulations in regard to the inspection analysis and sale of fer
tilizers chemicals and cottonseed meal not inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act as in his judgment will best carry out the
requirements thereof
SEC IX Be it further enacted That it shall be the duty of the
Commissioner of Agriculture to keep a correct account of all
money received from the inspection of fertilizers and to pay the
same into the treasury after paying out of said sum the expenses
and salaries of inspectors and for the tags and bottles used in
making such inspections
Sec X Be it further enacted That all contracts for the sale
of fertilizers or chemicals in the State of Georgia made in any
other manner than as required by this Act shall be absolutely
void provided that nothing in this Act shall be construed to
restrict or avoid sales of acid phosphate kainit or other fertilizer
material in bulk to each other by importers manufacturers or
manipulators who mix fertilizer material for sale or as preventing
the free and unrestric x shipment of these articles in bulk to
manufacturers or manipulators who mix fertilizer material for
sale
SEC XI Be it further enacted That any person selling or
offering for sale any fertilizer or chemicals without having first
complied with the provisions of this Act shall be guilty of a mis
demeanor and on conviction thereof shall be punished as pre
scribed in section 4310 of the Code of Georgia
Sec XII Be it further enacted That all laws and parts of
laws in conflict with this Act be and the same are hereby re
pealedBULLETIN NO 35 ll
FORMAL REQUEST FOR REGISTRATION
ToOB STEVENS Commissioner of Agriculture Atlanta Gar
You are hereby requested to register for sale and distribution
in the State of Georgiamanufactured
by at
THE FOLLOWING IS THE GUARANTEED ANALYSIS OE THE BRAND
Moisture at 202 deg Fahper cent
Insoluble phosphoric acidper cent
Available phosphoric acidper cent
Ammonia actual and potentialper cent
Potash K2Oper cent
The ammonia is in the form of
Nitrate of soda has been used in the manufacture of this
brand
Theis put up inof
lbs each
It is identical with
In consideration of being allowed to sell and distribute the
above brand before the official analysis thereof is made
agree and bindt
cancel all sales thereof and forfeit all claims for purchase money
therefor if after the official analysis is made the Commissioner
of Agriculture shall prohibit its sale in accordance with law
2 Under section IV relating to requests for tags in order that
no delay may occur in shipments the manufacturer or dealer need
not notify the Department at the time of the request for tags of
the name of the purchaser or consignee but must notify the Com
missioner in writing of every sale or consignment or the day in
which the same is made This notice must distinctly state the
brand of the fertilizer or the name of the chemical or fertilizer
material and the number of tons together with the name of the
purchaser or consignee and their places of residence It must re
quest inspection and contain an agreement to cancel all sales12
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
thereof in the event the Commissioner shall prohibit its sale in
accordance with law The following form may be used substan
tial compliance with the above rule being regarded as sufficient
NOTICE OF SALES AND CONSIGNMENTS AND RE
QUEST FOR INSPECTION
189
To 0 B Stevens Commissioner of Agriculture Atlanta Ga
You are hereby notified thathave this day
made the following sales and consignments and request that the
same be inspected
T3 a 0
fl
ri c S 5 a
pq H M 3 s 5 s d
0 B O 0 O 0 3 M 3 53 p 0 O
cd fc la
In consideration of being allowed to sell and distribute the
above before the official analysis thereof is made agree
and bindto cancel all sales thereof and forfeit
all claim for purchase money thereof if after the official analysis
is made the Commissioner of Agriculture shall prohibit its sale
in accordance with the law
Manufacturers and dealers by this rule are not required to de
lay shipment in order that the inspection may be made but are re
quired to see that their goods are properly tagged the inspection
being made while the fertilizer or fertilizer material is in the
hands of the purchaser or consignee
3 All orders for tags must be sent direct to this department
and the request must be accompanied with the fees for inspection
at the rate of ten cents per ton for the fertilizer or fertilizer ma
terial on which they are to be used
Manufacturers and dealers or their agents may request tags
in such quantities as they see fit but each request must state dis
tinctly the brand or brands on which they are to be used with the
number of tons of the brands or of each of said brands
It is not necessary that the fertilizer or fertlizer material be
actually on hand atthe time the request is made but manufacBULLETIN NO 35 13
turers or dealers can order such a number of tags as they may need
during the season bearing in mind that no tags carried over will
be redeemed by the department
In the event that more tags are ordered for any brand than it is
ascertained can be used on the sales and consignments of that
brand by proper notice with the consent of the Commissioner
the tags can be used on another brand put up in packages or sacks
of the same weight and sold or consigned the same season
4 If a fertilizer be offered for registration inspection or sale
branded as either of the following
Ammoniated Superphosphate
Ammoniated Dissolved Bone
Ammoniated Guano
Guano
Fertilizer
or other words implying that the same is an ammoniated super
phosphate the guaranteed analysis must claim that it contains
not less than two per cent of ammonia actual or potential
5 That part of section III excepting from the operation of the
Act an Act to require the inspection and analysis of cottonseed
meal leaves the inspection of that article under the Calvin bill
which requires that all cottonseed meal for whatever purpose
used be inspected It is therefore necessary and is required that
a request for inspection be sent to the Commissioner and that the
inspection be made in the hands ef the manufacturer dealer or
their agent or if shipped in the State at some convenient point
before the meal is sold or distributed In all cases fees will be sent
direct to the Commissioner who will immediately order the
nearest inspector to make the inspection
CALVIN BILL
COTTONSEED MEAL
A bill to be entitled an Act to require all cottonseed meal to be
subjected to analysis and inspection as a condition precedent
to being offered for sale and to forbid the sale in this State of
such cottonseed meal if it be shown by the official analysis
that the same contains less than yz per centum of ammonia
to prescribe a penalty for the violation of the provisions of this
Act and for other purposes14 GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OE AGRICULTURE
Section I Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Georgia
and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same That from
f the passage of this Act it shall not be lawful for any
Srson or persons to offer for sale in this State anycotouted
meaT until the same shall have been duly analyzed by the State
Semis and Inspected as now required by law in the matter of
all Te tlizers and chemicals for manufacturing or composting
all term izerid cottonseed meal
SSe in thi iSe f it be shown by the official analysis that the
nntins less than 7V2 per centum of ammonia provided
that tle pro sions o Susie as to the per centum mentioned in
his s ction S not apply to meal manufactured from seaisland
coSon seed but the Commissioner of Agriculture shall upon
Ae passage of this Act fix and make public a minimum per
centum which shall control as to the cottonseed meal referred to
mltooroviso provided further that if any cottonseed meal
shul i o analyze up to the required per centum of ammonia
same may be Offered for sale as secondclass mea provided the
analysis be made known to the purchaser and stamped on the
SaSc II Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid That
there shall be branded upon or attached to each sack barre o
nackaee of cottonseedmeal offered for sale in this State the true
analysis as determined by the State Chemist and the number of
oounds net in each sack barrel or package
P Sec HI Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid That
it shall be the duty of the Commissioner of Agriculture to take
all steps necessaryto make effective the provisions of sections i
iVit further enacted by the authority aforesaid That
anv person or persons violating the provisions of this Act shall
beydeeme0d guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction shall be
nunished as prescribed in section 4310 of the Code of 1882
P Sec V Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid That
all laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act be and the
same are hereby repealed
Approved July 22 1891BULLETIN NO 35
BLALOCK BILL
15
COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERSHOW BRANDED AND GRADED
No 358
An Act to prescribe three grades of complete commercial fertiliz
ers for the branding of the same upon each sack or package of
fertilizers and for other purposes
Section 1 Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Georgia
That from and after the passage of this Act it shall be unlawful to
sell any complete commercial fertilizer in this State unless the
grade of same is branded upon each sack or package thereof in
letters of not less than one inch
SEC 2 Be it further enacted That the grades of such fertil
izers shall be divided into three to wit High grade which
shall contain not less than fourteen per cent of plant food
Standard grade which shall containnot less than twelve per
cent of plant food and Low grade which shall contain not
less than ten per cent of plant food provided this Act shall not
go into effect until after the first day of August 1898
Sec 3 Be it further enacted That a failure to comply with
the requirements of this Act shall subject the seller thereof to
all the pains and penalties now of force for failure to have fertil
izers properly inspected
Sec 4 Be it further enacted That all laws and parts of laws
in conflict with this Act be and the same are hereby repealed
Approved December 21 1897
COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS HOW BRANDED ETC
No 170
An Act to amend section 1 of an Act entitled An Act to prescribe
three grades of complete commercial fertilizers for the brand
ing of the same upon each sack or package of fertilizers and for
other purposes so as to make it unlawful to sell any commer
cial fertilizers in this State unless the grade of the same is
branded upon each sack or package thereof in letters not less
than one inch16
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Section i Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Georgia
That from and after the passage of this Act the above recited
section be and same is hereby amended by striking from the
third line of said section the word complete so that when
amended said section shall read as follows Be it enacted by the
General Assembly of Georgia That from and after the passage
of this Act it shall be unlawful to sell any commercial fertilizers
in this State unless the grade of same is branded upon each sack
or package thereof in letters not less than one inch provided
that this Act shall not be construed as applying to cottonseed
meal and German kainit and muriate of potash and that said
Act shall not go into effect until the first day of August 1899
Sec 2 Be it further enacted That all laws and parts of laws in
conflict with this Act be and the same are hereby repealed
Approved December 22 1898
REMARKS BY THE COMMISSIONER
The efforts of the Department of Agriculture have been directed
mainly to promoting an improved and increased production in
the different branches of agriculture that go to sustain and sup
port the farmer Assuming that everything used on the farm
should be raised at home so far as our principal crops are con
cerned it is only relative production that the department seeks
to stimulate that is to say that increase in production which is
not accompanied by any corresponding investment or other addi
tional expense and the effort of which is simply to increase the
farmers profits by reducing the cost of production To this end
and that of creating a better demand and better market for our
home products all the energies of this department shall be di
rected We must abandon credit prices and reduce our farms to
where we can run them on a cash basis It is a fact that the
products sold by the farmers are disposed of at the lowest price
and what he buys is bought at the highest price This has always
been so and by the laws of trade and commerce will continue to
be so
OUR LANDS
Rotation means to raise crops that barring accidents each suc
ceeding crop shall be as good as the first without doing the landBULLETIN NO 35 17
harm How First by using good judgment in selecting
such crops as are suitable to the soil Second by using fertilizers
to supply the soil with plant food suitable for the crops to be
raised Third by working year after year with manures drain
age irrigation terracing plowing deep on red lands harrowing
rolling always having in view a purpose to make the land better
and better crops are sure to follow Do not wait until your land
is run down but commence at once We have men with limited
means who have bought land on credit who at some time expect
to own their homes clear of debt Speaking then especially to
this class of men I would say you require strong arms and brave
hearts industry that makes every day count for some progress
economy that puts every hour of work and every penny earned
where it will help provide for the family improve the farm or
lift the mortgage Do not think yourself a poor man if you have
health The man who continually bemoans his condition is lost
in the struggle Preachers tell us we are saved by faith but the
Scriptures teach us we are saved by hope You will find that you
need both I speak to you from experience But with these quali
ties any man may select a piece of good farming land with its
rich clay soil and feel confident of paying for it
STOCK
The practical farmer who makes farming a success will keep
all the stock he can maintain Stock of every variety should be
kept but only the improved breeds To be sure of good milch
cows on the dairy farm save the heifers of the best cows bred to
a sire from a good milk and butter producing family It costs a
trifle more to produce a pound of pork than it does to produce a
pound of beef but there is this much to be said in favor of hogs
they will grow and multiply more rapidly than any other domestic
animal Hogs sold or slaughtered before they reach two hun
dred pounds as a rule pay the producer best Land will produce
more food and support more stock if none of it is used for pas
turage With the present price of farm products and cost of
labor however a large reliance on pasturing is necessary but
there ought to be some provision made on every farm for addi
tional food for stock when the pastures get short in summer For
this purpose sown or drilled corn sorghum millet peas popcorn
and such other forage as you can grow should be planted
2b18
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
XNDUSTRIAL EDUCATION OF OUR CHILDREN
Instruction is not always education Neither does knowledge
of fS7a wavs render an individuals faculties available The
doething useful enlarges life and happiness assure
as booklearning is useful to increase ones store offarts Muse
s fA
he ifmiSd mental training received from the schools by the aver
individual Unequal development in plant or animal life fads
ver fos rh m the essentials of an upright character and a
SS53S3
STpNtate University To love work to have the habit of in
dustfv and to find pleasure in work thoroughly well done means
sucels hapmness and a useful career Again activity is the law
of a usefuf life and by fttS without
ttfsrj trs the
sane ty of the home and the nobility of womans missiori w 1
neith sustain life nor relieve the weary round of domestic affairs
which dailv grows more complex and disheartening
Waees syhfink and wants increase Whence shall come relief
OnTy by such education of our youth as will enable thel tomak
evey dollar earned bring its full measure of valuetthe en
lightened and skilled wageearner More knowledge and better
foodTn the home means more vigor and courage in the word
of industrymeans less sickness and less enforced idleness Out
ot industry comfortable homes can our people
Tien StfStS e
ignorance and give then industral educatonBULLETIN NO 35 19
DEBT
An illustration of the depressing financial condition which pre
vails in Georgia today is the mortgaging of farm lands and bring
ing the farmer into bondage to the Eastern moneylenders Every
town has its loan agents and the work goes briskly on The
mortgage is the bulldog of obligation it is the heaviest thing of
its size known to mankind Georgia gathers from her fields 3
000000 each year and sends it away to liquidate the interest ac
count of the mortgages which cover a large area of the farming
lands in this State and year after year this drain deepens and in
creases Where will the end be A contented rural population
is not only a measure of strength and an assurance of peace but
a resource of courage and bravery when war is upon us The
country districts have been the nursery of the public men who
have made this country great Washington was born in the
country Jefferson and Henry Clay were farmers Webster
dreamed amidst the solitude of the forest Our own Ben Hill
walked between the plowhandles Gov Brown gathered the
golden grain from the wheat fields Alexander Stephens found
immortality under the trees of his country home Cobb Toombs
and Calhoun were country gentlemen and statesmen The char
acter of almost every man in history was formed in the leisure
and deliberation of village or country life Let the farmers in
simple thrift and economy make their homes independent Let
them in frugal industry make themselves sustaining In sacrifice
and denial let us keep free from debt and obligations Let us make
them homes of refinement in which we shall teach our daughters
that modesty patience and gentleness are the chief charm of
woman Let us make them temples of liberty and teach our sons
that an honest conscience is every mans political law that his
sovereignty rests beneath his hat and that no spendthrift can rob
him and no force justify the surrender of the simplest right of a
free and independent citizen We are placed in this world for but
one purpose That purpose is progress and to us is delegated the
duty to improve and develop the children God has given us The
child of the present is the citizen of the future The children of
today will fill the positions of trust in State and church and will
fill also the prisons and penitentiaries It rests with us there
fore which place our children will occupy for the social purity
of the future depends largely upon the training of today It is
a responsibility which we as parents can not avoid It can not20 GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
be transferred Parents should know the J
boys mothers should be more companionable with their daugh
ters and guard carefully their social intimacies and environment
Bv foUovSig this plan much needless sorrow and many painful
heartaches may be avoided and when on that last great day we
sha 1 be calledto stand before the Judge of all the earth and the
question is askedWhere are the jewels entrusted to your keep
ing we may be able to answer Lord all are here
O B Stevens Commissioner
REPORT OF THE STATE CHEMIST
Atlanta Ga July 29 1899
Hon 0 B Stevens Commissioner of Agriculture of Georgia
FERTILIZERS
Dear Sir The season of 18981899 now ending has furn
ished a period of steady and continuous labor to the workers m
the chemical division of the Department We have made during
the season fortyfive hundred and eighteen determinations in
cluding the necessary revisions and repetitions Although the
number of tons of fertilizers sold in the State during the season
has fallen from 424081 in 189798 the number of brands in
spected and analyzed has only been reduced from 843 m the pre
vious season to 779 in the present season The work has con
sisted as is usual of analyses of guanos or complete fertilizers
containing two per cent or more of ammonia of plain acid phos
phates of acid phosphates with potash also of acid phosphates
with ammonia and potash but containing less than two per cent
of ammonia also analyses of cottonseed meals and of potash saUs
kainit and muriate of potash all of which will be found in the
accompanying table of analyses
Although the price of phosphate rock has advanced materially
during the season I have allowed the relative commercial value
to remain at the same figure as last year I have however made
an innovation in the usual practice of the Department and have
assigned to the insoluble or acid soluble phosphoric acid the comBULLETIN NO 35 21
mercial value to which it is entitled viz ten cents per unit It
cost at the time the value was assigned very close to that figure
at the mine
Additional value is given to it by the cost of freight and pul
verizing I therefore think it only just to assign to it at least a
portion of its commercial value more particularly as it has an
unquestionable agricultural value very slowly becoming available
in the soil though of course not comparing in this respect with
the available phosphoric acid It has hitherto been the practice
to assign to it no value whatever The Connecticut Agricultural
Experiment Station assigns to insoluble phosphoric acid in mixed
fertilizers sold in that State a value of two cents per pound or
forty cents a unit
SPECIAL SAMPLES
In addition to the regular samples taken by the inspectors we
have made a number of analyses of special samples these being
samples taken by the inspectors at the special request of farmers
of goods already bought by them I think sir you are to be con
gratulated upon having accomplished in a quick and satisfactory
manner by this plan what is accomplished in a slow and bungling
way under the operation of the Ellington bill
Under the latter the farmer who is suspicious of his fertilizer
has it analyzed after the crop season is gone and his crop has
failed Under your plan the farmer who is suspicious of his fer
tilizer has a special analysis made for him and learns the value
of his fertilizer before he puts it in the ground The samples
this year were unusually late in coming in it being February 1st
before the regular inspectors samples began to come in Con
sidering the late start and the delays incident to the unusual
amount of work done in the laboratory this spring and summer
on illuminating oils sold in this State it must be allowed that we
have accomplished the seasons work in remarkably good time
SUGGESTIONS FOR NEXT SEASON
Of suggestions for the next season I have only two to offer
1 st That the bottles supplied to the inspectors for taking sam
ples of fertilizers should be of at least treble the capacity of those
found in stock which have been in use the past season
2d That you appoint at least one InspectorGeneral of Fer
tilizers for the entire State a man of experience judgment and
capacity whose duty it shall be to instruct the local inspectors in22
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
the art of taking fair correct and impartial samples of mixed
fertilizers wherever found The taking of a fair and correct
sample of a goods made from three or four materials of widely
differing relative weights requires more of judgment thought
and painstaking care than at first sight might appear Such re
forms the necessity for which could only be discovered after
actual experience would serve to protect both the consumer and
the manufacturer
It would be highly desirable if the great volume of fertilizer
analysis could in some way be reduced as for instance by the
method already suggested by you a reduction in the annually
increasing numbers of brands put upon the market many of
which represent the same goods under different names As to
the advisability and the means for attaining such reduction I
leave the same to your wisdom and discretion but will give you
some of the reasons why it seems to me highly desirable
In the first place if the multiplication of brands continues in
the same increasing ratio in the future as they have in the past
it will not be long before the clerical force of the Department as
well as the chemical force of the Laboratory will have to be in
creased
AVAILABILITY OF FERTILIZER NITROGEN
In the next place it is highly desirable that the States chemists
should have the time and opportunity necessary for doing experi
mental work on the methods proposed for determining the avail
ability of the nitrogen occurring in the various forms of material
that are used as a source of ammonia in fertilizers such as cotton
seed meal blood tankage garbage tankage fishscrap hoof meal
leather scrap raw steamed and roasted
The great increase in the fertilizer trade of the United States
and the South in particular offers temptations for the utilization
of various waste materials in the manufacture of commercial
fertilizers The chemist is able to tell with comparative ease how
much of the nitrogen in a fertilizer is derived from nitrates how
much from ammonia salts and how much from organic matter
but the nature of the organic matter is not differentiated by our
ordinary methods of analysis into blood cottonseed meal hoof
meal etc so that it is possible for a fertilizer to be adulterated
now with some nonavailable form of nitrogen without the analy
sis disclosing that factBULLETIN NO 35
Although I have reason to believe that little if any such adul
teration ifas been practiced in the South up to the present turn
ill with the growth of the industry we should be prepared to
meet this condition should it arise and in order to do so
Experimental work is still necessary Only five or six ablator e
in the United States have so far applied themselves to the solu
bn of this problem and I am desirous that this Laboratory
doing more fertilizer work with a smaller force than any othei
in the country should not be laggards in the work
The Shepard Laboratory of Charleston followed by the Con
necticut Agricultural Experiment Station are the pioneers in this
line of work in this country They attempted to estimauthe
availability of the nitrogen in different materials by digestion n
a acid solution of pepsin briefly as follows First the mtrogen
was estimated in the raw material say dried blood hen after
digestion for twentyfour hours with the pepsin solution the
residue remaining undissolved was carefully analyzed and the
nitrogen estimated in it The difference between the two was
of course the nitrogen which had passed into solution and which
was regarded as being available as plant food
The conclusions from the experiments of the above investi
gators are given in a report of the Connecticut Agricultural Ex
periment Station from which I quote
i The nitrogen of dried blood cottonseed meal castor pomace
andmaize refuse was in every case soluble in pepsinhydrochloric
acid by 24 hours digestion to the extent of 75 per cent or more
2 The nitrogen of fish dried animal matter and of bone was
in every case soluble to the extent of over 52 per cent
5 The nitrogen of leather steamed or extracted by benzine
was in no case soluble to the extent of over 36 per cent that ot
horn shavings ground hoof and horn felt waste and wool waste
was considerably less soluble than the nitrogen of leather
In the above experiments the solubility of the materials is made
a test of their availability as plant food Now of course the
soil and vegetation tests must be the ultimate Court of Appeal to
pass or condemn a fertilizing material This fact was recognized
by Chemists Johnson and Jenkins of the Connecticut Station and
they made a series of careful pot experiments with plants using
the different materials which they had analyzed by their pepsin
acid method as nitrogen fertilizers
The testimony of the plants was that their method of analysis
was in the main a fairly good gauge of the availability of the24
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
different materials Their method however made one very se
rious mistake and was reversed by this vegetable Court of Ap
peals In the case of hoof meal and dissolved leather the plant
was satisfied with such nitrogenous food and showed a high de
gree of availability in the nitrogen contained in them Now it
requires almost as much time to go to the Supreme Courtsof
Corn Cotton and Wheat with our suspicious fertilizer as it would
to carry the case of John Doe vs Richard Roe to the Supreme
Court of Georgia So it is evident that such a method will not
work in the fertilizer control and inspection of a great State We
are driven back upon the chemists laboratory He must devise
some rapid method of deciding the question whether the nitrogen
of a fertilizer is available to the plant or not and do it in the same
speedy and satisfactory way in which he has done it as regards
the availability of phosphoric acid and potash
Work has been progressing on the question evidently it must
be slow work as each new method proposed must be submitted
to vegetation tests for confirmation of their accuracy But good
progress has been made very recently notably the work done by
Chemist J P Street of the New Jersey Experiment Station and
I now think it highly probable that within a year or two at most
the chemists of the country will be able to agree upon a method
for deciding the availability of the organic nitrogen of a fertilizer
and one which they will not hesitate to submit to the arbitrament
of the High Court of Appeals above referred to
Owing to the great volume of fertilizer analyses we have been
compelled to make under our present system it has been abso
lutely impossible for me to leave and attend the meetino of the
Association of Official Chemists which met in San Francisco in
the early part of July and so to hear the last word which may
have been said on this important question of nitrogen availability
I desire during the next season to take part in testing the relia
bility of the new methods proposed and to apply them to the
samples of the inspectors in order to see whether we need any
amendments to our fertilizer laws in Georgia and if so what
So that any manufacturers of commercial fertilizers sold in the
btate of Georgia during the coming season who may use such
materials as wool waste hair or leather scrap raw steamed or
treated need not be surprised if in the Bulletin issued a year hence
there should be a star and figures giving a low percentage of
available ammonia alongside the column giving the total am
moniaBULLETIN NO 35 25
You will appreciate the fact that if we are again called upon to
make about 4500 fertilizer analyses in a period of less than six
months there will be little or no opportunity for such work I
therefore wish you Godspeed in your effort to reduce the steadily
increasing number of brands annually put out
THE FILLER QUESTION
Let us be frank fair honest and just with each other with the
manufacturers and the public What is a filler A filler is an
inert earthy material usually in the form of a powder It may
consist of pulverized locomotive cinder of graphitic schist of
iron cinder from the pyrites furnaces of powdered coalslack of
crematory ashes and other substances
These materials often contain very small amounts of nitrogen
phosphoric acid and potash but usually unavailable or only very
slowly becoming available in the course of time in the soil
The business of producing this material has grown rapidly of
late years so that companies have been organized and factories
have been built for the purpose of pulverizing the crude materials
and selling the product to the fertilizer companies
Now why is this done The general public elevates its brows
and smiles knowingly The demagogue talks to the farmer and
says that a nefarious business is being practiced and winked at by
those in authority Is there an underground traffic going on
Is there a fraud and a swindle being perpetrated on the farmers
of the country
By no means not at all under the existing conditions the
trade is a perfectly legitimate one One of the chief causes for
the use of a filler is the inequality in the character of the ma
terials out of which all fertilizers are made For example
Charleston rock contains about 2770 of phosphoric acid the
other 73 is a filler put there by nature and if we want the 27
phosphoric acid at anything like a reasonable price we must take
the 73 filler along with it In Florida and Tennessee nature
has been kinder here she gives us 30 and 35 phosphoric
acid and only adulterates her goods with 70 to 65 of filler
Suppose a manufacturer is located at Atlanta He buys a high
grade Tennessee rock treats it with sulphuric acid and produces
an acid phosphate with 18 available phosphoric acid His
Charleston competitor produces one with 13 available He
comes into the Atlanta mans territory and sells his 13 goods
for as much money as the Atlanta man gets for his 18 goods
because nature has put in his filler for him and because the pur26
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
chaser is sufficiently ignorant to be content to buy the acid phos
phate by name and not by analysis Is it wrong for the Atlanta
man to protect his interests and commercial existence by using
a filler to put him on an equality with his rival
I think not No fairminded man will say so And yet no
man can deny that the filler business is an evil and a growing one
No man deprecates it more than I My ambition is to see the
day come when the Georgia farmer will always demand the
highest grade goods which the art of the chemist and the manu
facturer combined can produce Such a demand would stimulate
invention and discovery by the chemist and the application of
them by the manufacturer so that in a very few years the farmer
would be hauling home on his wagon a ton of fertilizer equal in
manurial value to three or more tons of the present fertilizer
When at home he could mix it with his own filler sand woods
earth or anything suitable for the sake of convenient and thor
ough distribution The saving in freight alone on a lot of use
less matter would be very great both to the manufacturer and
the farmer But agricultural education only can bring about such
a demand Let us hope for it in the future That is the only
thing that will forever abolish the filler evil
Is there no present remedy Yes much can be done to ame
liorate the evil I would suggest the repeal of section III of the
present Act and in its stead the passage of an Act forbidding the
sale of any acid phosphate containing less than 1370 available
phosphoric acid This would not discriminate against either of
the three great phosphate fields of the South and would prevent
the sale of much 10 acid phosphate loaded with filler I
would absolutely prohibit the sale of the goods known as ammo
niated acid phosphates and acid phosphates with ammonia and
potash containing less than 2 of ammonia or potash
Such goods are usually loaded with filler and are made in
response to a demand for cheap goods They are not cheap they
are really higher than a smaller quantity of high grade goods
containing the same amount of plant food I think there should
be a minimum of 2 of ammonia and also 2cc of potash in all
mixed fertilizers There never has been a minimum for potash
in this State There is no good reason why there should not be
Potash is fully as important an element of plant food as any
other
I think that in place of section III there should be a section for
bidding the sale of any acid phosphate with less than 13 ofBULLETIN NO 35 27
available phosphoric acid of any acid phosphate with potash
containing less than 10 available phosphoric acid and 2 of
potash and of any complete fertilizer with less than 8 available
phosphoric acid 2 of ammonia and 2 of potash it being of
course provided that an increase of ammonia or potash might
offset a decrease of phosphoric acid
Such a law if enacted would give our people the highest pos
sible minimum guarantee they could have without discriminating
against the Charleston phosphate deposits and would unques
tionably have also the effect of reducing the amount of filler
used to the minimum and would effect a saving to the farmers
and the manufacturers of this State of many thousands of dollars
paid out for freight on fillers and for the labor expended in
producing the material and the profits on the business
HIGH CHARACTER OF THE FERTILIZER TRADE
In concluding that part of my report relating to fertilizers I
wish to say that speaking from my experience for the past four
teen years as a private commercial chemist who has had as clients
many of the leading manufacturers and analyzed for the factories
all the different materials used in compounding their goods that
contrary to the popular prejudice in regard to the matter I be
lieve there is no trade or business carried on in Georgia upon a
more honorable plane than the fertilizer trade Whilst many of
the goods are far from being of as high a grade as they might be
they owe their existence to the popular demand for just as cheap
goods as the law will permit to be sold
OILS
On the third day of July I made to you an emergency report
on the illuminating oils being sold in the State a copy of which I
append as being part of my report of work done for the year
Since making the above report I have made experiments on
some samples of oil concerning which serious complaints were
made that they would not give a good light In all cases I found
there was no ground for complaint on this score if proper care and
attention was given to the lamp the wick and the burner The
precautions necessary to secure good light from any oil I have
brought together in a series of rules which will be found on an
other page of this bulletin Elsewhere will be found a copy of
the law of the State of New York regulating the sale of oils in
that State which will probably be of assistance in framing a new28
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
law for Georgia which will I am satisfied not only give the peo
ple of this State safer but also better and more economical oils
than they have hitherto been able to obtain
A comparative experiment made by me shows that a quart of
oil standing the New York test burns seven hours longer than an
oil burning at 1200 F under the Georgia law
WORK OF THE ASSISTANT STATE CHEMISTS
In concluding my report sir I wish to bear tesimony to the
careful accurate faithful and able work done during the past
season by First Assistant State Chemist P L Hutchinson and
Second Assistant State Chemist R G Williams Their work
has been steady continuous and arduous requiring both mental
and physical labor and that closeness of attention to small de
tails to prevent the creeping in of errors which only a practical
chemist can appreciate Without their intelligent aid in both the
oil and fertilizer work of the season I could have accomplished
only a small fraction of what has been done They have my sin
cere thanks and they are also due yours for considering the
character and responsibility of the work they do the mental and
educational qualifications required for performing it and the
meager salaries they receive their work is certainly less appre
ciated in a substantial way than that of any other officers of the
State
I will not close this report sir without referring to the kindly
aid and wise counsel you have given me from the very beginning
of our relationship and in your absence Assistant Commissioner
Wright has ably and zealously filled your place and extended the
same uniform support and courteous assistance In fact my
cordial thanks are due to all the employees of your office who
have aided me in more ways than I have time or space to men
tion
Respectfully submitted
Jno M McCandeESS State ChemistBULLETIN NO 35 29
THE EMERGENCY REPORT ON OILS
Atlanta Ga July 3 1899
Hon 0 B Stevens Commissioner of Agriculture
Dear Sir During the past winter and spring you sent several
of your newly appointed oil inspectors to me to be instructed in
the use of their instruments My attention was in this way called
to the very crude and ancient instrument which we have been
using for testing oils in Georgia for many years past and also to
the very bad and unfortunately worded law on the subject now on
the statute books of the State Suspecting that the methods in
use were giving us but little protection from unsafe oils during
a lull in the enormous volume of fertilizer analysis we have been
doing I suggested that you order each of the inspectors to send
me a sample of oil to test together with the result of their tests
Accordingly under date of May 24 you sent each one a circular
letter ordering them to do so As I found opportunity I tested
all of these oils carefully and found my suspicions confirmed
There were notable differences between my results and those of a
number of the inspectors These differences were sufficient to
throw some of the oils even below the dangerously low
limits prescribed by the statute Your inspectors are not to be
blamed for these differences but the law itself and the instru
ment used which is prescribed by the law The instrument used
is known as Tagliabues open tester it consists of a small glass
vessel which is immersed in a copper vessel containing water
The water is heated by a small alcohol lamp which transmits its
heat through the water to the oil Now the law prescribes just
how the test is to be made as follows Heat with alcohol small
flame when the thermometer indicates 90 degrees Fahrenheit
remove lamp at 95 degrees try for flash with small bead of fire
on end of string held within a quarter of an inch of the surface
of the oil Replace lamp and work oil up gradually from this
point until the burning point is reached removing lamp every four
degrees and allowing oil to run up three degrees before replacing
lamp flashing oil each time just before lamp is replaced until re
sult is obtained30
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Evidently the author of the above believed that language was
designed to conceal thought Let us suppose the inspector mak
ing his test and following the strict letter of the law Let us sup
pose that he has brought the oil up to a temperature of 116 de
grees and has tried for flash without result he replaces his lamp
following the strict letter of the law and waits till the temperature
reaches 120 degrees when he removes the lamp and then waits
till the temperature reaches 123 degrees before he tries for flash
again We have here an interval of 7 degrees at any one of
which the oil may have flashed or burned without the inspector
who tracked the law closely being aware of it Evidently this is
nonsense and can not be the meaning of the law because the law
also says no kerosene or fluid of any sort the fire test of which
is less than 120 degrees Fahrenheit shall be sold within this
State and yet according to the formula prescribing the exact
way in which to make the test it would be impossible to detect
an oil the fire test of which lay between 116 degrees and 120 de
grees Fahrenheit the legal limit Again what does the fire
test mean Does it mean the flash point or the burning
point of the oil It can not be settled except as against the con
sumer from the language of this law evidently the flash point
is the point of danger or the point at which inflammable ex
plosive vapor is given off and yet the law says work the oil up
gradually until the burning point is reached flashing the oil each
time until the result is obtained What result Manifestly the
burning point Now if this law was not drawn by the attorneys
and chemists of the oil companies it might just as well have been
Nothing whatever is said in the law about the necessity for avoid
ing drafts of air which might blow away the vapor from the sur
face of the testing cup before the operator could apply his flame
no caution to the operator to avoid breathing upon the surface
either of which accidents would cause the oil to appear better
than it really was I mention these as some of the reasons why
no blame should attach to your inspectors if their results varied
a few degrees from mine or for that matter even if they passed
almost any old oil that might be put upon the market
The investigations of the British government of Drs Chandler
and Elliott chemists for the New York State Board of Health
have demonstrated conclusively that the open form of tester is a
wholly unreliable instrument and that a closed tester imitating
as nearly as possible the conditions which obtain in an ordinary
lamp is the form which should be adopted Elliott after tryingBULLETIN KO 35 31
all the various forms of open and closed testers in use finally set
tled upon a form of closed tester which gave him the most uni
form results and which was adopted by the State Board of Health
of New York The New York law recognizes the fact that the
flash point is the danger point the point at which explosive in
flammable vapors are given off It says nothing about fire test
or burning point but adopts 100 degrees F in a tester like a
lamp as the limit below which an oil shall not flash I have made
tests of some thirty different oils from different parts of the State
by our own tester and also by the New York State instrument
and my results fully confirm theirs Only two oils out of the thirty
examined would be allowed to go to sale in the State of New
York Many of those which would be rejected in New York as
unsafe and unfit for public use would not only pass in our State
but would be regarded as extra good quality Some of our oils
also in the New York instrument at the ordinary temperature
without the application of any heat would emit explosive vapor
There is a clause in our law which says The fire test shall be
determined by an inspector who shall use Taghabues or other
well defined instrument prescribed by the Commissioner of Agri
culture Now sir I recommend that you take advantage of this
clause and immediately order the adoption of the New York State
instrument by your inspectors While it is true the law says noth
ing about your changing the fire test of 120 degrees F it does
authorize you to change the instrument and must by implication
give you the power to change the temperature and mode of opera
tion to that most suitable for the new instrument adopted I issue
this sir as an Emergency Report in view of the quantity of un
safe oilat present on the market in Georgia and against which
our present law and system of inspection afford the people no
adequate protection Between now and the next meeting of the
Legislature I propose to go more thoroughly into the subject
than I have as yet had an opportunity to do and submit to you a
further report and recommendations on the subject
Respectfully submitted
Jno M McCandlESS State Chemist
On receipt of this report the Commissioner issued an order
that it be spread on the minutes of the Department and that a
copy be mailed to each inspector of oils
After advising with the AttorneyGeneral the Commissioner
decided that the State Chemist was right in his interpretation of32
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
the laws and thereupon ordered the oil inspectors to try for burn
ing point at n611701180HQF respectively so as not
to miss the true burning point if it should be at either of these
degrees
He also ordered the inspectors to seize and hold all oils found
below the law by the test so applied and with the precautions
recommended by the State Chemist in testing until the oil com
panies should obey the orders of the Department and bring the
rejected oils up to the legal standard
He also ordered the adoption of the New York State instru
ment as recommended by the State Chemist to take effect from
the fifteenth day of September 1899
HOW TO AVOID HAVING POOR LIGHTSOIL NOT ALWAYS TO BLAME
DIRECTIONS FOR THE CARE OF LAMPS
Many of our people are strongly of the opinion that an oil
which falls below the limits prescribed by law is a poor oil in the
sense that it will not give a good light This opinion is incorrect
An unsafe oil need not necessarily be a poor illuminant and gen
erally is not Many have poor lights because of a lack of care
and attention to their lamps and wicks The following points
should be carefully heeded by those who would get the best re
sults from their lamps
1st Use a good wick The open woven wick known as the
American wick is excellent Do not use too long a wick cut
it only a few inches longer than is necessary to reach the bottom
of the lamp Do not have a great coil of wick in the lamp
2d In adjusting a new wick fit it to the burner soak the wick
in the oil light the wick let the lamp burn a few minutes then
blow it out and trim your wick by moving the finger over the
charred part evenly and smoothly in one direction only Repeat
until the surface feels smooth and even this is always the best
plan to pursue in trimming the wick Do not use shears unless
perhaps to cut off long and uneven threads at the start Always
trim the wick in this way after each nights use
3d Remember that dirt will get into oil little particles
that perhaps you can not see and this floating dirt will gradually
accumulate in the wick which acts as a filter to hold back the
dirt as the oil ascends the wick After a time this dirt chokes up
the pores or interstices in the wick and partially destroys its powerBULLETIN NO 35
33
of capillarity Then the light begins to fail because the oil can
not get to it So dont economize on wicks They are much
cheaper than eyesight Put in a new one when needed Dont
pin or sew a piece of cloth stocking or red flannel on to the end
of your wick to eke out its existence and at the same time expect
to get a good light
4th Remember that ocasionally say once in ten days or when
ever needed the dirty dreggy oil in the bottom of the lamp
should be thrown out It may be saved if desired by filtering it
through a piece of fine cotton cloth Then rinse out the lamp
with some clear bright oil Dont clean the inside of your lamp
with water if you do the light will probably be bad when you
next use it sputter and give you trouble
5th Occasionally say once in ten days or when you see it is
needed give the burner a thorough cleaning boil it with hot
water and soda so as to get out all greasy dirt and open up the
air passages Then dry it thoroughly in the sun or over the stove
before using
6th Dont buy red oil it never gives as good a light as the
same quality of oil without the red coloring matter If you at
tend carefully to all these rules and still get poor light then you
may abuse the oil companies but not before
In all the cases of poor light and bad oil I have so far in
vestigated the trouble must have been due to neglect of some
of the above simple precautions which ought to be adopted in
every wellregulated household Remember that the State will
see to it that no unsafe oil is furnished you and that because a
lamp gives a poor light is no evidence that the oil is unsafe In
the recent oil investigation I examined some oils which were un
doubtedly unsafe and below the law but yet when I burned them
day after day in a properly caredfor lamp no fault could be
found with the light they gave
The following extracts from the laws of the State of New
York are printed here for convenience of reference
Sec 24 Standard and storage of illuminating oils No person
shall manufacture or have in his possession or sell or give away
for illuminating or heating purposes in lamps or stoves within this
State any oil or burning fluid wholly or partly composed of naph
tha coal oil petroleum or products thereof or of other substances
or materials emitting an inflammable vapor which will flash at a
temperature below one hundred degrees Fahrenheit according to
the instruments and tests approved by the State Board of Health
Sab34
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
The State Board of Health shall prescribe the tests aiiJ instru
ments by which such oils and fluids shall be tested and shall adopt
such measures to enforce the provisions of this section and such
rules and regulations for collecting examining and testing samples
of such oils and fluids as to them may seem necessary The pub
lic analysts employed by or under the direction of such board shall
test the samples of such oils and fluids as may be submitted to
them under the rules of the board for which they shall receive
such reasonable compensation as the board may allow
Naphtha and other illuminating products of petroleum which
will not stand the flash test required by this section may be used
for illuminating or heating purposes only in the following cases
1 In street lamps and open air receptacles apart from any build
ing factory or inhabited house in which the vapor is burned
2 In dwellings factories or other places of business when
vaporized in secure tanks or metallic generators made for that
purpose in which the vapor so generated is used for lighting or
heating
3 For use in the manufacture of illuminating gas in gas manu
factories situated apart from dwellings and other buildings
Any person violating any provision of this section shall forfeit
to the city or village or if not in a city or village to the town in
which the violation occurs the sum of one hundred dollars for
every such violation and for every day or part of day that such
violation occurs
This section shall not apply to the city of New York and shall
not supersede but shall be in addition to the ordinances or regula
tions of any city or village made pursuant to law for the inspection
or control of combustible materials therein
COMMERCIAL VALUES OF FERTILIZERS AND FER
TILIZER MATERIALS FOR THE SEASON OF 1898
1899
About the first of January quotations at Savannah on the prin
cipal ingredients used in the manufacture of Commercial fertil
isers were as below
Acid phosphate 1314 at 650 per ton of 2000 lbs
German kainit 12 K20 1000 per ton of 2240 lbs ex
vesselBULLETIN NO 35
35
Muriate of potash 80 at 3900 per ton of 2000 lbs ex
vessel in bags
Phosphate rock in Charleston at 300 per long ton
Quotations for ammoniates are given at Atlanta
Dried blood at 3000 per ton of 2000 lbs
Tankage 10 ammonia at 2255 Per ton f 2000 lbs
Cotton seed meal 1600 per ton in 100 ton lots
Mt Pleasant Tenn phosphate rock containing 75 bone
phosphate of lime at 491 long ton in Atlanta
The above prices are quotations at wholesale figures for lots of
500 tons and over spot cash exship car or warehouse Savannah
Charleston and Atlanta
Since these quotations were obtained there has been an advance
in the price of most materials notably phosphate rock which has
advanced more than one dollar per ton
On basis of above quotations the following commercial values
have been calculated and have been used in calculating the values
of all the goods offered for sale in the State during the season of
18981899 as exhibited in the table of analyses
Available phosphoric acid 2lA cents a pound
Insoluble phosphoric acid y2 cent a pound
Ammonia calculated from nitrogen 10 cents a pound
Potash K20 44 cents a pound
It is usual however in the fertilizer trade and very convenient
in calculation to use the system of units A unit means in tech
nical talk one per cent of a ton or twenty pounds so that con
verting the above prices per pound into prices per unit by simply
multiplying by 20 we have
Available phosphoric acid 65 cents a unit
Insoluble phosphoric acid 10 cents a unit
Ammonia calculated from nitrogen200 a unit
Potash K20 85 cents a unit
For example suppose we have a fertilizer with 8 available
phosphoric acid 125 insoluble phosphoric acid 345 am
monia and 275 of potash we calculate its value thus
8 X 65 cents a unit 520
125 X 10 cents a unit 125
345 X 200 a unit 690
275 X 85 cents a unit 234
i456S
Inspection sacks mixing and
handling 260
1716536
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OE AGRICULTURE
Therefore the relative commercial value of the above goods is
seventeen dollars sixteen and a half cents per ton
The above figures represent as nearly as we can arrive at it
the wholesale cash cost of the goods at central points of distri
bution and production If it is desired to learn the retail cost it
would be necessary to add to the above total the freight to the
particular point interested and also storage insurance interest
taxes and the dealers or manufacturers profits The figures I
have given above cannot from the nature of the case be exact as
prices fluctuate from day to day and month to month but they
approach with reasonable accuracy the wholesale cost of the goods
It may be interesting to our Georgia farmers to know what
are the commercial values assigned in other States I will give
three two Southern and one Northern
NORTH CAROLINA VALUATIONS
Available phosphoric acid 4 cents a pound or 80 cents a unit
Ammonia 12 cents a pound or 240 a unit
Potash K20 5 cents a pound or 100 a unit
These prices are intended for small lots in bags on board the
cars
ALABAMA VALUATIONS

Available phosphoric acid 5 cents a pound or 100 a unit
Ammonia 112 cents a pound or 230 a unit
Potash 5 cents a pound or 100 a unit
Intended for small lots in bags on board cars
CONNECTICUT VALUATIONS
Available phosphoric acid 4j4 cents a pound or 85 cents a unit
Insoluble phosphoric acid 2 cents a pound or 40 cents a unit
Ammonia calculated from nitrogen 13 cents a pound or
260 a unit
Potash as sulphate 5 cents a pound or 100 a unit
Potash as muriate 42 cents a pound or 85 cents a unit
The above are the retail cash prices in the large markets of
the raw materials which enter into the composition of fertilizers
in ConnecticutBULLETIN NO 35
37
A LITTLE ADVICE ON PURCHASING
It will be seen from an inspection of these valuations in other
States that the Georgia farmer has nothing to complain of in
the prices at which he can purchase plant food It should be
borne in mind always that State valuations are relative and ap
proximate only and are only intended to serve as a guide It is
much to be desired that farmers should study the analyses giving
the actual percentages of plant food more and pay no attention
whatever to namesand brands They should realize for in
stance that in nine cases out of ten brands known as Pure Dis
solved Bone contain not a particle of bone but are made simply
out of phosphate rock They are every whit and grain as good
as if they were made from bone the available phosphoric acid
from rock being just as available and identically the same as the
available phosphoric acid from bone The proof that such brands
are not made from bone is that they contain no ammonia and
if they were made from bone the percentage of ammonia would be
stated and it would be charged for This is only one instance of
the folly of being influenced by names and brandsmany might
be given Remember that a multiplicity of brands is also ex
pensive to the manufacturer and you have to pay the cost in
the long run Study the markets select a time for purchasing
when general trade in fertilizers is dull club together with some
of your neighbors whose credit is of the best or better who have
a little spare cash and then order from a reliable manufacturer
stipulating if you have a preference just what materials the goods
shall be made from and especially the guaranteed percentage of
ammonia phosphoric acid and potash Let the maker call it any
thing he pleases In this way you will be sure to have a firstclass
goods bought at the lowest market price But if you are going
to wait till the last minute to buy your fertilizers at the very
time when everybody else wants his and are going to buy on time
and pay interest why then be assured your fertilizers are going
to be expensivejust as your clothing or any of your household
goods would be if bought in the same way
FORMULAS FOR COTTON
The following formulas for cotton are the result of careful ex
periments by trained investigators on worn soil It was found
that cotton required a combination of nitrogen phosphoric acid38
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OE AGRICULTURE
and potash Phosphoric acid is the dominant element however
with nitrogen standing next in importance The relative pro
portion of the three important elements of plant food is one part
nitrogen two and a half of phosphoric acid and three fourths of
potash The quantities required by a crop of 300 pounds of lint
cotton per acre are nitrogen 20 pounds phosphoric acid 50 pounds
and potash 15 pounds The dozen different formulas given below
are so calculated as to contain very nearly these quantities of the
three important elements and are so varied as to meet the require
ments and the convenience of almost every farmer No one
formula can be said to have any special advantage over the other
just use one you can get together with the greatest convenience
and least cost to yourself Each one will analyze about twenty
pounds of nitrogen fifty pounds of phosphoric acid and fifteen
pounds of potash in the whole formula Fertilizers may be ap
plied either in drill or broadcast where used liberally but if used
sparingly drilling is considered preferable Each formula repre
sents the amount to be applied per acre to get the best results
Muriate of Potash 30 lbs
Acid Phosphate 334
Nitrate of Soda 125
Muriate of Potash 20 lbs
Acid Phosphate 281
Cotton Seed Meal 286
Cotton Sed Hull Ashes 45 lbs
Acid Phosphate 261
Cotton Seed Meal286
Wood Ashes unleached 164 lbs
Acid Phosphate 261
Cotton Seed Meal 286
Kainit 64 lbs
Acid Phosphate 273
Cotton Seed Meal 143
Cotton Seed 13bus
Acid Phosphate 266 lbs
Nitrate of Soda 13
Stable Manure4000
Muriate of Potash 30 lbs
Acid Phosphate 334
Dried Blood 167
Muriate of Potash 10 lbs
AcidPhoswithPot2K0 32
Cotton Seed Meal 286
Kainit 58 lhs
Acid Phosphate 300
Nitrate of Soda 70
Stable Manure2000
Muriate of Potash 20 lbs
Acid Phosphate 300
Nitrate of Soda 64
Cotton Seed 13hus
Kainit 45 lbs
Acid Phosphate 264
Cotton Seed 26jbus
Commercial fertilizer to analyze as
below
Available Phosphoric Acid 10 00
Ammonia 485
Potash K0 300
Use 500 lbs per acreBULLETIN NO 35
39
Any of the formulas given above for cotton would answer
well for wheat if the quantity of acid phosphate in each is dimin
ished by onehalf and the nitrogen increased by the amount of
money saved on the acid phosphate But in the case of the wheat
the nitrate of soda should not be mixed with the other ingredients
but reserved and applied as a top dressing in the spring when its
effects will be immediate and marvelous imparting a green
rich color to the plant and if as much as one hundred pounds per
acre are used increasing the yield five to ten bushels per acre
The Georgia Experiment Station formula for cotton Colonel
Reckling Director has been tested there with excellent results
It is as follows
Acid phosphate1000 pounds
Muriate of Potash 75 pounds
Cotton seed meal 700 pounds
1775 pounds
Apply so as to get from 200 to 500 pounds of acid phosphate
per acre
The formula of the same station for corn and the grasses is
Acid phosphateTooo pounds
Muriate of potash 30 pounds
Cotton seed meali250 pounds
2280 pounds
Apply enough of the above formula to get from 100 to 200
pounds of acid phosphate per acre
SPECIAL WHEAT FORMULA
The Director of the Experiment Station at Beauregard France
is authority for the following
If farmyard manure is supplemented by liberal application of
commercial fertilizer as follows
Acid phosphate350 pounds
Sulphate of ammonia 13 pounds
Muriate of potash 9 pounds40
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
applied in the fall and followed in the spring by a op dressing of
90 pounds of nitrate of soda a yield of over 45 bushels of wheat
per acre may be attained
The above are the quantities used per acre
Nitrate of soda is worth at the coast 3350 per ton in large
lots Mr A A Smith fertilizer broker Prudential building
Atlanta Ga has signified his willingness to furnish it in small
lots of one ton or even less at the rate of 3800 per ton deliv
ered in Atlanta
COMPOSITION OF FERTILIZING MATERIAL
TABLE INITROGENOUS MATERIALS
Nitrate of Soda
Sulphate of Ammonia
Dried Blood
Concentrated Tankage
Bone Tankage
Dried Fish Scrap
Cotton Seed Meal
Hoof Meal
POUNDS PER HUNDRED
Nitrogen
Phosphoric
Acid
15 to 16 19 to20 10 to 14
11 5 to 12J to 8
7 to 9
6J to 7J 13 to 14
1 to 2
10 to 15
6 to 8
2 to 3
lto 2
Potash
1J to 2
To convert nitrogen percentage into ammonia percentage multiply
by 1214 Thus 10 nitrogen is equivalent to 1214 of ammonia
TABLE IIPHOSPHATE MATERIALS
POUNDS PER HUNDRED
1 Nitrogen Available Phosphoric Acid Insoluble Phosphoric Acid
S C Rock Phosphate S to 4 litc2 2 to 3 12is 1419 58 69 1315 2628 13 3335 2632 16 1517 1620 23
S C Rock Superphosphate
Fla Rock Phosphate Lands
Fla Pebble Phosphate
Fla Superphosphate
Ground Bone
Steamed Bone
Dissolved Bone
BULLETIN NO 35
41
TABLE IIIPOTASH MATERIALS AND FARM MANURES
POUNDS PEP HUNDRED
Actual
1otash
Nitro Phos
phoric
gen Acid
7 to 9
1 to 2
1 to H
2 to 3
034 0 16
058 028
083 023
045 019
163 154
050 026
Lime
Muriate of Potash
Sulphate of Potash
Double Sulphate of Potash and Magnesia
Kainit
Sylvinit
Cotton Seed Hull Ashes
Wood Ashes unleached
Wood Ashes leached
Tobacco Stems
Cow Manure fresh
Horse Manure fresh
Sheep Manure fresh
Hog Manure fresh
Hen Dung fresh
Mixed Stable Manure
50
48 to 52
26 to 30
12 to 12J
16 to 20
15 to 30
2 to 8
1 to 2
5 to 8
040
053
067
060
085
0 63
10
3035
3540
34
031
021
0 33
008
024
070From Bulletin Georgia Department of Agriculture
SERIAL No 36
SEASON 18991900
INFORMATION IN REGARD TO
CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS
AND
CHEMICALS
AND
ILLUMINATING OILS
UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF
O B STEVENS
Commissioner of Agriculture of the State of Georgia
JNO M McCANDLESS
State Chemist
P L HUTCHINSON
First Assistant State Chemist
R G WILLIAMS
Second Assistant State ChemistELLINGTON BILL
No 168
An Act to regulate the sale of fertilizers in this State to fix a
method for determining the value of the same and for other
purposes
Section i Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Geor
gia and it is hereby enacted by authority of the same That from
and after the passage of this Act it shall be lawful for any pur
chaser of fertilizer from any owner thereof or agent of such
owner to require of the person selling and at the time of
sale or delivery to take from each lot of each brand sold a sample
of its contents
Sec 2 Be it further enacted That said sample so taken shall
lie mixed together and placed in a bottle jar or such other re
ceptacle as the purchaser may present It shall then be the duty
of such purchaser and seller to deliver said package to the Ordi
naryof the county who shall label same with the names of the
parties and of the fertilizers
Sec 3 Be it further enacted That said Ordinary shall safely
keep said package allowing neither party access to the same save
as hereinafter provided The Ordinary shall receive a fee of ten
10 cents from the party depositing such sample for each sam
ple so deposited
Sec 4 Be it further enacted That should said purchaser
after having used such fertilizer upon his crops have reason to
believe from the yields thereof that said fertilizer was totally or
partially worthless he shall notify the seller and apply to the
Ordinary to forward the said sample deposited with him or a
sufficiency thereof to insure a fair analysis to the State Chemist
without stating the names of the parties the name of the fertil
izer or giving its guaranteed analysis the cost of sending being
prepaid by the purchaser
Sec 5 Be it further enacted That it shall be the duty of said
State Chemist to analyze and send a copy of the result to said
Ordinary
Sec 6 Be it further enacted That should said analysis show
that said fertilizer comes up to the guaranteed analysis upon46
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
which it is sold then the statement so sent by the State Chemist
shall be conclusive evidence against a plea of partial or total fail
ure of consideration But should said analysis show that such
fertilizer does not come up to the guaranteed analysis then the
sale shall be illegal null and void and when suit is brought upon
any evidence of indebtedness given for such fertilizer the state
ment of such State Chemist so transmitted to the Ordinary shall
be conclusive evidence of the facts whether such evidence of in
debtedness is held by an innocent third party or not
SEC 7 Be it further enacted That in lieu of the State Chem
ist should the parties to the contract agree upon some other
chemist to make said analysis all the provisions of the act shall
apply to his analysis and report to the Ordinary
Sec 8 Be it further enacted That should the seller refuse to
take said sample when so requested by the purchaser then upon
proof of this fact the purchaser shall be entitled to his plea of
failure of consideration and to support the same by proof of the
want of effect and benefit of said fertilizer upon his crops which
proof shall be sufficient to authorize the jury to sustain defend
ants plea within whole or in part whether said suit is brought
by an innocent holder or not
Sec 9 Be it further enacted That all laws and parts of laws
in conflict with this Act be and the same are hereby repealed
Approved December 27 1890
REMARKS OF THE COMMISSIONER
While the condition of the farmers of Georgia is by no means
all that it should be under the advantages that we possess in
our soil and climate yet it is much improved over that of one year
ago The short cotton crop and the fact that the mills of the
South used more of the great staple than ever before combined
to raise the price of cotton For the first time in history the
South fixed this price and the farmer who was so fortunate as
not to be forced to rush his crop upon the market received a good
profit on his labor and investment Another fact in the better
ment of his condition is that he raised during the past season more
than usual of his own food supplies in consequence of which
many debts were paid and many mortgages raised The fanners
of Georgia harvested this year more wheat than at any otherBULLETIN NO 36
47
period since 1865 in fact more than in any other three years
since the Civil War More attention too has been paid to meat
supplies and this fall will see smokehouses on many farms filled
with ham bacon and sausage from hogs fed and slaughtered at
home That the West is the granary and smokehouse of Geor
gia is less true now than for many years past It has been many
years since the agricultural interests of Georgia were in such
good shape The farmers have in the past twelve months made
encouraging progress toward the goal of independence Nor
should we fail to mention the good peach crop of 1900 which
notwithstanding all hindrances has brought good profits to some
of our own fruitgrowers Although this crop as a whole did
not prove as remunerative as early indications promised yet the
money it has put into circulation within our State entitles it to
rank among the great new money crops of Georgia It has paid
during the dull season thousands of dollars to the laborers em
ployed in gathering packing canning and shipping the fruit
The total number of carloads shipped by the Central of Georgia
railroad up to August 11 was 1378 The total statistics in
cluding the shipments of other roads have not yet been compiled
but if the claim be true that the Central has handled 50 per cent
more than all the other railroads combined the total number
of carloads shipped this season will not be far short of 2500
The sugarcane industry of Georgia has also made gratifying
progress The growing of the cane and the manufacture of syrup
in South Georgia has doubled in the last two years Last fall a
gentleman in Tennessee sold 150 barrels of Georgia syrup in six
days
Dr H E Stockbridge of the Florida Experiment Station has
recently made a discovery of great importance to the sugarcane
growers of the South A quantity of the gray moss which fes
toons the trees of South Georgia if put into a barrel will act as
a sieve through which the juice will trickle into a vessel pre
pared to receive it leaving behind in the moss the foreign ele
ment that causes fermentation
We predict that in the near future a number of sugar refineries
will be established in South Georgia These will give a wonder
ful impetus to this great industry
The more we add to the productions of Georgia the more will
we increase the general prosperity Therefore it is gratifying
to note the possibilities which Georgia offers for the addition to
her resources of another great money crop48
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Tobacco of the best grades has been successfully raised in sev
eral sections of the State but seldom in greater quantity than is
required to meet the individual wants But more attention is
being paid to this valuable crop especially in South Georgia In
Decatur county about eight miles from Bainbfidge a tract of
600 acres has been devoted to this plant and yields the very finest
quality of Sumatra tobacco A farmer in Dodge county raised
on onetwentieth of an acre 160 pounds of Sumatra leaf tobacco
and was offered 80 for his little patch This would mean 1600
for the product of one acre This proves that there is money in
this crop
We do not hesitate to declare that Georgia possesses possibili
ites for successful agriculture unsurpassed in the world There
is no reason why our farmers should depend upon any other sec
tion or country for food supplies for man or beast The suc
cess of some of our most scientific fanners in wheatgrowing rais
ing as high as 40 50 and even 65 bushels to the acre gives con
vincing proof of our ability to raise our own bread supplies and
have some for exportation besides And when we come to food
for stock no country has a better store of native grasses with the
additional advantage that the many foreign grasses so highly
esteemed elsewhere will with proper management grow luxu
riantly in Georgia soil and yield a handsome profit
In the new plan of cutting shocking and shredding the corn
stalk by machinery we have a method far superior to the old one
of pulling fodder and leaving the stalks standing in the fields
In the peavine also the farmers of Georgia possess the most
nutritious hay as well as a splendid renewer of exhausted soils
and preserver of those that are yet in good condition Even the
cottonseed once cast aside as useless after enough for the plant
ing of a new crop had been saved supplies in its meal and hulls
rich food for stock and in its meal a superior article for supplying
nitrogen to the compost prepared for fertilizing the soil With all
the advantages thus possessed every inducement is offered the
farmer for raising meat for his own family and for the neighbor
ing markets At present the Western beef by its superior quality
holds the field even in the small towns crushing out local com
petition All the money carried out of the State for the purchase
of Western beef mutton pork and ham can be kept at home for
circulation among our own people if the Georgia fanner will pay
more attention to the raising of stock Considering the difficul
ties that have beset them on every side the farmers of GeorgiaBULLETIN NO 36
4 a
have done well For their long and heroic struggle of thirtyfive
years and for the difficulties they have overcome they deserve ail
praise But the phenomenal success of some of our Georgia
farmers has shown the marvelous possibilities within our grasp
So long as the greater proportion of the beef and butter consumed
in our towns comes from the North and West so long will there
bi an urgent call for improvement
Would a few suggestions be inappropriate here While in
many quarters there has been great improvement in the breeds
of cattle and while more care than ever before is being given
to the raising of stock are not many of our farmers still neg
lectful of this important interest We would suggest that all
who have hitherto been negligent on this line begin at once to
pay more attention to the improvement of the breeds of cattle
sheep swine and poultry The raising of more and better forage
crops will stimulate the raising of the best beef cattle for home
consumption and for sale in the domestic markets besides im
proving our soil which is suffering every year under the system
of clean cotton culture Georgia ought to be an exporter of
highgrade beef Although much has been done in the establish
ment of dairy farms and creameries can not more of our farmers
help to make these industries a power in Georgia by improving
the breeds of milch cows thus obtaining milk in the greatest
quantity and of the best quality for the dairy or for the creamery
to convert into butter and cheese Would it not put money into
the pockets of some enterprising men to raise not only the meat
consumed on their own tables but enough of it to sell in our own
markets and even beyond the borders of Georgia In proof of
what can be done we point with pride to the prosperous farms
and beautiful homes of the dairy farmers of our State As things
now are even a very large proportion of the poultry sold in our
larger cities is imported The best breeds of poultry are within
the possibilities of every farmer and by their much prized prod
ucts they can add largely to his store of ready cash
In view of the fact that the per capita production of farmers is
in Georgia only 177 while in New England it is 317 and in
1 He West 519 we venture the suggestion that there must be
something in our system that needs improvement We must
seek out the most intelligent uptodate methods of farming
Might not some changes in our farming methods bring about
the raising of more grain and grasses more vegetables and fruit
lab50
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
more and better beef cattle more milk and butter and cheese more
pigs and sheep more ready money in the pockets of our farmers
more prosperity to the agricultural classes hence more plenty
contentment and happiness among all classes of our population
More active continuous intelligent supervision of all the labor
on the farm is necessary to success
Again we would say let every farmer keep an account with
his land charging it up with all that it costs him and giving it
credit with all that it pays The same business methods which
make the successful merchant or manufacturer will make the suc
cessful farmer
One great need of our farmers is the formation of a farmers
institute or club in every county in which may be discussed the
best methods of agriculture the latest and best machines for la
borsaving and other things of interest and profit to the farmer
Industrial education is as necessary to the farmer as to the me
chanic Nature studies should form a prominent part of the
curriculum of our public schools From the kindergarten to the
university the pupil should be taught to know something of na
tures ways and in special schools the farmer should prepare for
his profession just as the physician the lawyer the preacher or
the mechanic does for his This is a day of machinery the
proper handling of which demands education Nowhere does ma
chinery pay better than on a farm provided it be wisely bought
and judiciously managed The West makes much greater use
of farm machinery than Georgia This ought not so to be A
farmer can no more afford to be behind the age than can a man
engaged in any other business In the physical as well as in
the spiritual world growth is life stagnation is death The
old methods will no longer answer If the Georgia farmer knows
not the method by which his brother of the North and West
grows prosperous and rich then he must learn it If capitalists
outside of Georgia come in and buy up our lands and rent them
out to our own people our State will soon be in the condition of
Ireland
Progress must be the watchword of the farmers of Georgia
and progress is finding out the best methods and adopting them
What the farmer has learned for himself he must teach his chil
dren at home and then send them to school where that education
can be continued and enlarged No other profession brings man
into such close communion with nature and through nature man
can best look up to natures God and hold communion with the
source of all light and lifeBULLETIN NO 36
51
Gallant Phil Cook who had been farmer lawyer soldier rep
resentative in Congress and Secretary of State of Georgia when
asked what line of business required the greatest exercise of in
telligence unhesitatingly replied that of the farmer Cicero
the great Roman orator senator and farmer considered agricul
ture the noblest occupation of man Indeed the first business
to which the Creator himself appointed man was farming And
the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden
to dress and keep it
A high calling then is yours farmers of Georgia Our State
is great in her developed resources greater in her possibilities oi
soil climate and varied productions but greatest of all in her peo
ple of heroic moldbrave in grappling with whatever diffi
culties beset their path lawabiding conservative and Godfear
ing to a degree not often seen in these days of social unrest and
gloomy skepticism In our rural population is the best hope of
the State Let us then so train and educate our boys and girls
that they may love the old homestead and be attracted to the
farm with its snowy cotton and golden grain its meadows filled
with wellbred wellkept stock its orchards laden with luscious
fruit its streams so guided and directed by a master hand as to
irrigate when necessary each thirsty piece of ground its farm
implements of the best make and kept in the best condition
everything about the place indicating thrift prosperity and re
finement
O B Stevens
Commissioner of Georgia

REPORT OF STATE OIL INSPECTOR
State of Georgia
Department of Oils
Atlanta Ga August 23 1900
Col O B Stevens Commissioner of Agriculture Atlanta Ga
Dear Sir I beg leave to submit the following report as a
synopsis of the situation of the Oil Department since you placed
me in charge
Upon arriving at your office on January 2 1900 I was soon52
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
made acquainted with the conditions existing at that time I
found that though the Elliott Tester had been in use for some
time there were only a few storage stations in the State that
contained oil that came up to the required standard This was
in no way due to negligence on the part of the Inspectors but
was on account of the large amount of lowgrade oil that was
stored at the different points in the State previous to the enact
ment of the present law now of force And though the new oil
that was coming into the State from day to day passed the re
quired standard after it was emptied into the storage tanks
being mixed with the lowgrade oilthe result was that the
product that was being placed on the market was not up to the
required standard of safety
Recognizing that the only way to accomplish the object that
was intended by the new law was to enforce a rule that all
tanks containing oil below the standard should be emptied and
thoroughly cleansed before any other oil should be allowed to be
put in them and the local Oil Inspectors were instructed to carry
out these requirements and thoroughly test all the oil put in the
tank before they allowed it to be offered for sale
I have visited the most important stations in the State and
endeavored to give such instructions and advice to the local in
spectors as would procure the enforcement of the law at the
earliest possible moment
In addition to my visits to the stations I have been to many
points in the State where complaints have been made as to the
quality of the oil and I found after issuing our book of instruc
tions in regard to the care of lamps that the necessity of going
in person to these points has been eliminated to a large extent
That the amount of oil received in the State since January first
is less than for the coresponding period of last year has been
due as you will see from the enforcing of the above restrictions
viz Stopping the bringing in of oil until the tanks were cleaned
It has been very gratifying to note the interest that has been
taken in the organization of this department by the local in
spectors There is now no delay in receiving our monthly re
ports by the 6th or 7th of each month I think the organization
of the department is now such as to expedite business in the most
thorough manner
That the law has been enforced you need nothing more to con
vince you than the fact that recently Dr McCandless required
some oil of a low grade for the purpose of making some tests inBULLETIN NO 36
53
the laboratory He was unable to procure it within the confines
of the State and was forced to send outside the State to get what
he needed
As to the safety of the present oil that is on sale I made before
you and others this morning with oil bought in the open market
showing you the impossibility of burning the oil or exploding
the lamps under the most adverse conditions provided the stand
ard is kept up to the requirement of the law
The State Chemist having from his analysis of the oils now
on the market arrived at the conclusion that there was nothing
in them which would cause an explosion or even cause them to
take fire at the ordinary temperature and having reported to you
that he believed such an accident could be in all probability im
possible after conferring with him I decided to make a practical
test with a burning lamp in your presence
The lamp was turned over and fell upon a plank floor the
lamp brokethere was no explosion the oil ran out upon the
floor the flame of the burning wick not setting fire to the oil
I dropped lighted matches info the oil which refused to take fire
until it had soaked into the wooden plank which then of course
being saturated with the oil in a thin layer ignited just as a wick
saturated with oil would ignite There was however an interval
of fully five minutes before this occurred Lighted matches
dropped into a lamp half full of oil were quenchedthe oil refus
ing to take fire and there was no explosion as there were no
volatile gases arising from the oil to bring about an explosion
though the day was an unusually hot one I am satisfied that at
this time there is no oil in the State that does not come up to the
requirements of the present law and the standard of the Elliott
Tester
The obstacles that were necessary to overcome in order to
accomplish this end you are aware of that it has been successfully
accomplished in so short a time is largely due to the hearty and
intelligent cooperation of the local inspectors at the different
points to the untiring zeal and assistance of Dr McCandless and
the cooperation and encouragement given by yourself
I sincerely trust the public whose lives and property are now
so well protected from danger from this source will appreciate
our efforts and give us their assistance in maintaining the present
regulations for the future
I am truly yours
Glascock Barrett
State Oil Inspector54
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OE AGRICULTURE
THE NEW GEORGIA OIL LAW
AN ACT
To prescribe the method of testing illuminating oils in this State
and the manner in which test shall be made and to provide for
the appointment of a General Inspector to aid in the inspection
of such oils and for other purposes
Section i Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Georgia
and it is hereby enacted by authority of the same That from and
after the passage of this Act it shall be the duty of the Commis
sioner of Agriculture of the State of Georgia to appoint a General
Inspector of Oils of said State whose duty shall be to go from
point to point about the State at the direction of the Commissioner
of Agriculture to inspect such oils as may be desired instruct the
local inspectors in the art of taking fair correct and impartial
samples of oils for illuminating purposes and to test the same
under provisions of this act to check up all accounts and books
of account of local oil inspectors and to see that said moneys due
the State from fees paid for oil inspections are paid into the State
treasury and to see that said local oil inspectors fairly correctly
and impartially discharge the duties imposed upon them by this
Act and existing laws not in conflict herewith and perform such
other duties as may be prescribed by the Commissioner of Agri
culture If any dispute arises as to the test of any oils then said
General Inspector shall take a fair sample of said oil and forward
it to the State Chemist who shall make a final test and his de
cision shall control in all matters of dispute Said General In
spector shall be paid a salary not to exceed 10000 one hun
dred dollars per month and actual and necessary traveling ex
penses while in discharge of his duties and said salary and travel
ing expenses shall be paid out of the fees collected from oil in
spections provided however that this Act shall not be in con
flict with sections 15791584 and other sections of the Code of
Georgia providing for the appointment and compensation of local
oil inspectors
Sec 2 Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid That
no person shall manufacture or have in his possession or sell or
give away for illuminating or heating purposes in lamps or stoves
within this State any oil or burning fluid wholly or partly com
posed of naphtha coal oil petroleum or products thereof or ofBULLETIN NO 36
55
other substances or material emitting an inflammable vapor which
will flash at a temperature below 100 degrees Fahrenheit when
tested in the closed oil tester known as the New York State or
Elliott Oil Tester according to the following formula to wit
Fill the water bath with fresh well or hydrant water up to the
lead mark on the inside then immerse the oil cup in the water
and pour in oil so as to fill the cup up to within oneeighth of an
inch of the flange Take a piece of blotting paper and remove
all air bubbles from the surface of the oil by lightly touching them
with the paper Next carefully with a dry towel or cloth wipe
the upper inner parts of the oil cup so as to remove any drops
of oil that might have spattered on the upper part of the cup
Then put on the glass cover of the oil cup pass the thermometer
through the hole in the cork to such a point that the mercury
bulb will just be covered by the surface of the oil Next light the
lamp and introduce it under the water bath So adjust the flame
that the temperature will rise at the rate of two degrees a minute
Wait until the temperature reaches ninetynine degrees F then
light a wooden toothpick and pass the flame through the semi
circular opening in the glass plate at such an angle as to clear
glass cover and to a distance about half way between the oil and
the cover The motion should be steady and uniform rapid and
without pause The appearance of a slight bluish flame shows
that the flashing point has been reached If the oil flashes at this
point it should be branded State or Georgia Rejected If it
does not flash at this point it should be branded State of Georgia
Approved Naphtha and illuminating products of petroleum
which will not stand the flash test required by this section may be
used for illuminating or heating purposes only in the following
cases
1 st In street lamps and open air receptacles apart from any
buildings factory or inhabited houses in which the vapor is
burned
2d In dwellings factories or other places of business when
vaporized in secure tanks or metal generators made for the pur
pose in which the vapor so generated is used for lighting or heat
ing
3d For use in the manufacture of illuminating gas m gas
manufactories situated apart from dwellings and other buildings
The Inspector shall provide at his own expense instruments for
testing oil and stencils for branding packages to read thus State
of Georgia Approved with the name of inspector and date of58
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
inspection The Inspector shall brand all oils and fluids falling
below ioo degrees flash test in the Elliott Tester State of Geor
gia Rejected with name of inspector and date of inspection
If the inspector shall find any illuminating oil or fluid under the
flash test required by law or falsel branded he shall cause the
offender to be prosecuted
Sec 3 And it is hereby made the duty of such General In
spector of Oils to personally prosecute each and every offender
under the provisions of this Act and upon conviction such
offender shall be punished as prescribed in section 1039 of the
Code of Georgia and all fines arising from prosecution under this
Act shall be paid into and become a part of the general educa
tional fund of this State
Sec 4 Be it further enacted That all laws and parts of laws
in conflict with this Act be and the same are hereby repealed
Approved December 20 1899
REMEDIES FOR INSECTS AXD PLANT DISEASES
Department of Entomology
Atlanta Ga August 15 1900
To Hon 0 B Stevens Commissioner of Agriculture
Dear Sir In accordance with your request I beg to submit
herein brief notes on remedies for insects and plant diseases with
directions for the preparation and application of the same
It should be explained that these notes are taken in part from
my paper before the State Horticultural Society at its 1899 ses
sion with additional matter collected from recent field experi
ments
It requires a considerable degree of intelligence to successfully
combat insects and fungi A correct knowledge of the life history
and feeding habits of the particular species to be treated is essen
tial to successful results Some insects may be susceptible to
treatment in one stage of their existence while they could not be
affected in another stage Furthermore it is necessary to know
what remedy is indicated in the particular case to be treated and
when to make the applicationBULLETIN NO 36
57
The use of remedies can not be relied upon entirely for protec
lion against crop pests Preventive measures play an important
role in the methods of controlling such pests as does also me
chanical operations such as hand picking cultivation rotation of
crops and destruction of affected plants The larger Cornstalk
Borer a serious enemy to corn in the South can not be reached
by insecticides but can be easily controlled by the destruction in
the fall of the old cornstalks in which they hibernate and by rota
tion of crops No spraying operations will control Peach Yellows
and Rosette complete destruction of affected trees being the only
remedy The Curculio and Monilia rot can be held in check in a
great measure by the destruction of affected fruit Burning the
webs of webworms often proves more effective than applications
of insecticides A knife or wire is used to remove borers from
peach trees a sheet and club are used to capture the Curculio
hoods are placed over young cucumbers and melon plants to pro
tect them from the Cucumber Beetle and Squash bugs trenches
are dug to entrap the Army Worm and various mechanical
methods of destroying insects have been devised Also culture
and care of an orchard have much to do with the control of in
sects and diseases clean culture which should always be given
an orchard will greatly lessen the number of various insects that
are common to orchard trees Grass weeds and other debris
afford protection to them while in the pupa state or hibernating
and the destruction of such protection will result in the destruc
tion of a great many insects Good cultivation and the use of
fertilizers keep the trees in a healthy vigorous condition thereby
rendering them less susceptible to attacks of insects and diseases
Pruning also should not be neglected Dead and diseased limbs
should be closely pruned off and removed from the orchard Dead
trees should not be allowed to stand The Fruit Bark Beetle and
the Black Knot Fungus are thus controlled Yellows and Rosette
are prevented from spreading by the removal of affected trees
Careful observation and skillful management will render the use
of insecticides and fungicides less requisite

INSECTICIDES
Insects are divided into two classes according to their manner
of feeding 1st Haustellate insects or those that possess a tube
hke proboscis with which they pierce the tissues of plants and suck
their juices which class embraces the plant lice plant bugs mealy58
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
bugs and scale insects 2d Mandibulate insects are those that
possess biting mouthparts and obtain their food by gnawing or
chewing the tissues of plants to which class belong the grass
hoppers beetles caterpillars and others
This natural classification of insects necessitates the division of
insecticides into two classes viz contact poisons and food poi
sons The former are used against sucking insects and are applied
directly to their bodies producing death by entering the body
through the breathing pores or by closing the breathing pores and
by corrosion and irritation Food poisons are intended for biting
insects and should be applied to the plants upon which they feed
lo be taken into the alimentary canal with the food
CONTACT POISONS
Contact poisons consist principally of soaps oils resin washes
tobacco and gases The most important of these are kerosene
whaleoil soap and hydrocyanic acid gas
KeroseneKerosene in some form has been used as an in
secticide for many years and since injurious scale insects have
become so prevalent it is almost indispensable It is used pure
in the form of kerosene emulsion and in mechanical mixture with
water While pure kerosene is a deadly insecticide it also often
proves highly injurious to plant life and should be used with
caution Indeed it is rarely necessary to use pure kerosene ex
cept possibly in severe cases of scales and where the plants are
expected to be killed as well as the insects When used at all with
the expectation of destroying scale insects and saving the infested
trees it should be applied in the finest possible spray and when the
weather conditions are favorable for rapid evaporation Our
experience with the use of kerosene against the San Jose scale in
this State has been that about 50 per cent of peach trees treated
are killed and 10 per cent of plum trees and where the treatment
was thorough almost complete destruction to the scale was the
result
Kerosene in the form of emulsion has perhaps been more widely
used than any other contact poison For many years it has been
the remedy for plant lice scale insects and certain caterpillars as
well
The usual formula for making it is as followsBULLETIN NO 36
59
KEROSENE EMULSION FORMULA
Kerosene2 gallons
Whaleoil soap1 pound
Water1 gallon
The soap is dissolved in the water by boiling The solution is
then removed from the fire and the kerosene added The mixture
is then churned violently while hot by pumping it back into itself
with a force pump for about five minutes when it should assume
a creamy consistency
Used for plant lice and softbodied scale insects as a summer
treatment the emulsion should be diluted with from 10 to 15
parts of water and applied with a spray pump It can also be
made effective against armored scales if applied to the young
scales while issuing and unprotected Used as a winter treatment
for scale insects while the trees are dormant the emulsion to be
effective should be diluted with only 2 or 3 parts of water
Kerosene in mechanical mixture with water is fast taking the
place of the emulsion and has the advantage of doing away with
the work required to make the emulsion The mixing of the kero
sene and water takes place in the act of spraying and no prepara
tion of the insecticide is necessary A special kerosene sprayer is
required to apply the mixture This mechanical combination of
kerosene and water is the remedy that we have adopted for the
San Jose and other scale insects in this State Various other
remedies have also been tried but the kerosene mixture is the
most practical efficient remedy for our purpose We have made
extensive experiments with this treatment resulting in the proof
that the San Jose scale can without question be controlled by its
use Our experiments have shown that 20 to 25 per cent kero
sene can be safely used on peach trees in a dormant condition
while stronger percentages may do damage Even with 25 per
cent we have injured some trees by applying the mixtures when
the weather conditions were not right Bright dry days should
be selected for the work and spraying should not be continued late
in the evening It is important that the best conditions for rapid
evaporation of the kerosene be afforded otherwise it will penetrate
the bark and injure the trees If the trees are badly infested two
applications are necessary to place the scale under control The
first should be made early in the fall soon after the foliage is shed
60
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
and the second at any time during the winter or spring preferably
just before the buds open If the first winters treatment is
thorough only one annual winter application should be neces
sary thereafter
As a summer treatment applied during the growing period it is
not safe to use over 10 per cent and peach foliage may even be
scorched a little with that strength
The winter treatment is more satisfactory and should be
adopted even where summer applications have previously been
made The dense foliage renders a thorough wetting of the trees
difficult and the leaves will protect many scales It is often neces
sary to spray during summer in order to hold the scales in check
until a winter application can be made It may be applied at any
time during the summer when living scales are detected but
preferably while young are issuing Kerosene when applied
to fruit even when immature will give it a decided kerosene
flavor which can be detected after the fruit has ripened Also
vegetables soon to be eaten should not be sprayed with kerosene
This objectionable flavor often goes to the table with the vege
table
Whaleoil SoapAny good soap may be effectively used
as an insecticide for softbodied insects but the socalled whale
oil soaps are the best They are made of fish oil and caustic
potash or caustic soda The potash soap has proved to be the
most effective against insects and as it remains in solution better
than the other soaps is more easily applied As a winter treat
ment for the San Jose scale two pounds of soap to one gallon of
water are required to be effective The solution should be sprayed
or mopped on the trees while warm If two applications are to
be made one should be made in the fall and the other in the
spring before the buds open if only one application is necessary
it should be made in the spring as there is less danger of killing
fruit buds at that time
Some trouble has been experienced with the soap destroying
the discharge hose when two pounds to the gallon are used One
pound to the gallon of water affects the hose very little and this
strength should be used in dealing with the Forbes and other less
resistant scales than the San Jose
For young larva of scales plant lice mealy bugs pear slugs
and other delicate insects one pound to four gallons of water is
sufficient One pound to two gallons of water has been found to
injure tender foliage such as neach foliageBULLETIN NO 36
61
Hydrocyanic Acid GasThe gas treatment has been used
for a number of years in California for scale insects on citrus
trees and in recent years has been employed in the East to combat
the San Jose scale It is specially valuable for disinfecting nur
sery stock and is now being extensively used by the nurserymen
of this State as a precautionary measure against scale insects
It has also been successfully employed in Southwest Georgia in
orchard work against the San Jose scale by means of enclosing
the trees in tents Owing to the heavy expense attached to this
treatment however it is now very little used by our growers
and the kerosene treatment is being generally adopted instead
The wide distribution of the San Jose scale over the country
has created a demand from fruit growers for some kind of insur
ance against such pests Inspection certificates have been gen
erally accepted but there is still a demand for further protection
This protection is afforded by the use of hydrocyanic acid gas in
the treatment of nursery stock Be it said to the credit of our
nurserymen that they have not been slow to adopt this treatment
and to take any other precautions necessary to protect their cus
tomers Quite a number of them have constructed fumigating
houses and fumigate trees shrubs cuttings buds vines stocks
and everything they grow and handle
The building should be in a convenient place on the packing
grounds and the stock fumigated as it is dug and brought from
the nursery
From our experiments conducted last fall I found the best re
sults were obtained from the use of the following formula
1J4 ounces of potassium cyanide 98 per cent pure
i ounces of commercial sulphuric acid best grade
5 fluid ounces of water for every 150 cubic feet of space en
closed
The plants to be fumigated are placed in a room in any conve
nient manner The water is poured into an earthenware vessel
just inside the door and the acid added Then the cyanide which
should be previously weighed out into a paper bag is added from
a dipper or other instrument with a handle It is not necessary
to empty the cyanide from the bag The door is then quickly
closed and the fumigation is continued for 35 or 40 minutes
Then the door and ventilator should be opened and no one should
enter the house under ten minutes thereafter The gas is a
deadly poison and the work should be clone with caution62
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
TobaccoTobacco is a valuable insecticide used in several
forms The decoction of tobacco is specially useful as a remedy
for plant lice The decoction is made by steeping five pounds of
tobacco stems in three gallons of water for three hours Then it
is strained and diluted with water to make seven gallons It is
then ready to be applied to plants affected with the Black Aphis
and other plant lice For the rootinhabiting individuals of the
Black Aphis and the Wooly Aphis of the apple tobacco dust
should be applied around the base of affected trees in the radius
of two feet Three or four inches of the surface soil should be
removed and about three pounds of the dust scattered over
the space In case of nursery stock the dust should be scattered
along on each side of the rows in furrows The whole tobacco
stem may be used for the same purpose The rains extract the
tobacco and carry the decoction down around the roots killing
the insects it comes in contact with
Tobacco leaves smudged in a greenhouse for about 15 or 20
minutes will destroy plant lice and other green house pests
Pyrethrum or Persian Insect Powder is the powdered flowers
of the Pyrethrum plant and is used against roaches ants mos
quitoes and other household insects cabbage worms and other
smoothbodied caterpillars It may be used as a dry powder pure
or diluted with flour or it may be used as a spray at the rate of
one ounce to two gallons of water It is not poisonous to man
and therefore is valuable to use where the arsenical poisons would
be objectionable
Bisulphide of CarbonIs a volatile liquid and furnishes a
remedy for internal feeding insects such as the bean weevil and
the angoumois grain moth and subterranean insects as rootin
habiting lice and root maggots The grain or other products to
be treated should be put in a close box or bin and the liquid poured
over it at the rate of one pound to the ton of grain The box
should be securely covered over for twentyfour hours
FOOD POISONS
The chief food poisons are the arsenical compounds Paris
Green London Purple Scheeles Green and Arsenite of Lead
These poisons furnish more or less efficient remedies for nearly
all biting and gnawing insects as potato beetle cabbage worms
cotton worms and plum curculio
Paris Green is the most popular arsenical and usually gives theBULLETIN NO 36
63
most satisfactory results It is a very fine crystaline powder
composed of arsenic copper and acetic acid acetoarsenite of
copper and has quite a uniform composition
London Purple is a fine powder prepared from the waste prod
ucts in the manufacture of analine dyes and is variable in com
position containing principally arsenic and lime It is less ef
fective than Paris Green and owing to its slight solubility is liable
to scald the foliage but has the advantage of being less expensive
Arsenate of Lead is a white substance precipitated from the
combination of arsenate of soda 3 parts and acetate of lead 7
parts in water It is easily kept in suspension and can be used at
a much greater strength in water than any of the other poisons
without injury to the foliage
Application of the ArsEnicalsFor general purposes any
of the arsenicals may be used at the rate of one pound to 150 gal
lons of water applied with a spraypump On very resistant
foliage as the potato one pound to 100 gallons may be used and
on tender foliage as that of the peach only one pound to 350 gal
lons should be used With all except the arsenate of lead it is
usually necessary to use about two pounds of lime to every 100
gallons of water to neutralize the free arsenic and prevent it from
scalding the foliage
In preparing the mixture make the powder into a thin paste
in a small quantity of water and add the lime then strain the
mixture into the spray tank containing the required amount of
water
The arsenicals may also be used as dry powders dusted on the
plants through a cloth bag or powder gun either pure or diluted
two or three times with flour or gypsum
Poisoned Bait may be used to advantage when it is not prac
tical to apply the poison to the plants attacked Such bait is par
ticularly useful in destroying cutworms wireworms grasshop
pers and roaches A bran bait is made by mixing together one
ounce of arsenicals or white arsenic one ounce of sugar and six
ounces of bran with water to make a wet mash This mash is dis
tributed in small lots over the infested territory around the plants
attacked
Green Bait may be also prepared by dipping bunches of succu
lent vegetation in a strong solution of arsenicals and distributing
them among the infested plants Green bait is specially valuable
for cutworms
White HeleboreAside from the arsenicals White Helebore64
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT 01 AGK1CUITUKE
is another substance used for biting insects and is particularly
valuable for the currant worm pear tree slug and other species of
sawflies It should be sprayed on plants at the rate of one ounce
to the gallon of water
FUNGICIDES
The diseases of plants to which fungicides are applicable are
due in the main to a lower order of plant life known as parasitic
fungi A few are external parasites and develop on the surface of
the host plant as the mildews but the most of them enter the
host and ramify its tissues forming a network of minute threads
coming to the surface only to fruit It is obvious then that reme
dial agencies can not reach the parasite within the tissues of the
plant without destroying the plant also Hence fungicides must
be used largely as a preventive treatment and should be applied
in most cases before the symptoms of the disease have appeared
Remedial work therefore consists principally in preventing the
spores of the fungi from gaining lodgment and germinating It
is of course impossible to foretell with any degree of certainty
when crops will be attacked by these parasites but from reason
and experience of past years we may anticipate certain diseases
and spray as a kind of insurance against them
Other important preventive measures consist in collecting and
destroying all diseased fruit leaves and other waste parts of
plants and judicious fertilizing tilling draining and pruning
BordeauxNumerous fungicides of various kinds and com
positions have been tested to determine their efficiency in prevent
ing fungous diseases but only a few have come into prominence
Among these Bordeaux mixture is the most economical and
effective and is now the most popular fungicide in use It is not
only a cheap and safe fungicide but also possesses the property
of beneficially affecting the plants treated
Copper Sulphate Blue Stone and quicklime are the materials
used in the preparation of Bordeaux and it is necessary to use
sufficient lime to take into combination all the dissolved copper
If any of the copper remains in solution it will burn the foliage of
the plant It is therefore safest to use the lime a little in excess
For general purposes we believe the best results will be obtained
from the use of the following formula
Copper Sulphate Blue Stone4 pounds
Lime unslacked5 pounds
Water5 gallonsBULLETIN NO 36
6ft
On peach and other susceptible foliage the following formula
should be used
3 pounds of Copper Sulphate
6 pounds of lime
50 gallons of water
We have thoroughly tested this formula and find that no serious
damage to the foliage will result from its use Stronger mix
tures are quite injurious
To Prepare BordeauxWeigh out the required quantity of
copper sulphate 4 pounds for the standard formula into a piece
of gummy sack or cheesecloth and suspend it just beneath the sur
face of 25 gallons of water contained in a tub The sack can be
tied to a stick laid across the top of the tub and should remain
suspended for 24 hours or until all the copper sulphate is dissolved
Slack the lime in another vessel by pouring on water slowly but
sufficient to keep the lime moist until it is slacked and converted
into a perfectly smooth paste Then add enough water to make
25 gallons of lime water Then slowly pour the copper sulphate
solution and the lime water together through a wire gauze strainer
into a 50gallon barrel pouring both solutions at the same time
The mixture should then be thoroughly stirred for three or four
minutes and it is ready for use
If spraying is to be done on a large scale it will be found expe
dient to prepare stock solutions of copper sulphate and lime to be
used as needed Stock solutions are made much in the same way
as the smaller quantities are prepared 50 pounds of copper
sulphate are dissolved in 50 gallons of water and 50 pounds of
lime are slacked and diluted to 50 gallons It will require about
two days for that quantity of copper sulphate to dissolve Each
gallon of the copper sulphate water contains one pound of copper
sulphate and each gallon of lime water contains one pound of
lime
To make 4550 formula of Bordeaux take 4 gallons of copper
sulphate solution and 5 gallons of lime water dilute each to 25
gallons and pour together as explained above The stock solution
should be thoroughly stirred before using For the 3650 for
mula 3 gallons of the copper sulphate solution and 6 gallons of
the lime water will be required
Two to eight ounces of Paris Green may be added to every
50 gallons of Bordeaux and thus form a combined insecticide and
fungicide the smaller quantity being used for peach and other sus
ceptible foliage and the larger quantity for very resistant plants
as potatoes
5 a b66
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Ammoniacal Solution of Copper CarbonateAside from the
Bordeaux mixture the ammoniacopper carbonate solution is per
haps the most valuable It is prepared by the use of
3 pints aqua ammonia 26 degrees
5 ounces copper carbonate
45 gallons water
Make the copper carbonate into a thin paste by adding a small
quantity of water add the ammonia water slowly and dilute with
water to make 45 gallons The advantage in the use of this prep
aration is that in spraying fruit no staining will result as is often
the case with Bordeaux It furnishes an excellent remedy for the
downy mildew and brown rot of the grape
Time to apply FungicideNo definite directions can be given
as to when and how often spraying should be done The grower
must decide this himself from the nature of the enemy to be
fought
For the brown rot of the peach plum and cherry three or four
sprayings are necessary The first should be applied in the spring
just before the fruit buds begin to open the second just after the
blooms are shed followed by the third in about two weeks and
the fourth any time thereafter that it may seem necessary from
indications of rot The 4550 formula of Bordeaux or simply
the four pounds of copper sulphate in 50 gallons of water without
the lime may be used for the first spraying and 3650 Bor
deaux formula for all subsequent sprayings
For peach leaf curl only one application of Bordeaux 4550
formula is necessary This should be made immediately before
the fruit buds begin to open
For the black rot downy mildew and anthracnose of the grape
three applications of the 4550 Bordeaux formula should be
made the first when the buds begin to open the second in 15 days
after the first and the third after the fruit is well set
For the applescab fungus the 4550 Bordeaux formula should
be used and four ounces of Paris Green may be added to destroy
insect pests that are nearly always present on the apple tree The
trees should be sprayed just before the bloom buds open and again
immediately after the blossoms are shed
In order to obtain satisfactory results from the use of fungicides
it is necessary that the substance used should be thoroughly ap
plied to all parts of the plants subject to the attacks of fungi
Spraying is often a waste of time and material Unless the work
is thoroughly done it perhaps had better not be done at all
Respectfully submitted
W M Scott EntomologistBULLETIN NO 36
67
REPORT OF THE STATE CHEMIST
Hon 0 B Stevens Commissioner of Agriculture of the State of
Georgia
Dear Sir The season of 18991900 is now nearing a finish
and I furnish you herewith tables of analyses of the variousbrands
of fertilizers sold in the State the past season The number of
tons of fertilizers sold in the State has been 412755 as compared
with 342869 tons the previous season the number of brands
however has been reduced from 779 last year to 699 this season
The nature of the work has been of the usual character as will
be disclosed by an inspection of the annexed tables of analyses
showing the percentages of valuable plant food in the various
guanos acid phosphates acid phosphates with potash and with
ammonia cottonseed meals and potash salts etc manufactured
and sold by the various companies and dealers in and out of the
State
VALUATIONS
The commercial values for this season have ranged materially
above those for last year When fixing the values for the year
on the first of January I found by correspondence and inquiry
that the price of phosphate rock of brimstone of pyrites and of
all the ammoniates both animal and vegetable had had a pro
nounced rise These quotations you will find given on another
page of this bulletin and calculating from these quotations the
price of available phosphoric acid was placed at 70c per unit as
compared with 65c the previous season the unit price of am
monia was also raised from 200 a unit to 220 The price of
potash alone remained the same at 85c per unit
COTTONSEED MEALS
In the case of cottonseed meals I have departed from the usual
course heretofore pursued of valuing them only according to
their percentage of ammonia In this bulletin the value of the
ammonia in the meal is calculated at 220 per unit and to this
value 342 is added for upland meals to cover the value of the
18 per cent potash and 27 per cent phosphoric acid which is
the average content of those meals in the case of sea island meals68
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
260 is added to cover the value of the 15 per cent potash and
19 per cent phosphoric acid which is the average content of these
meals
BONE MEALS
Inasmuch as the availability of the nitrogen and phosphoric
acid in bone meals is considered by the best authorities to vary
according to the fineness to which these meals are ground I
decided to adopt the Connecticut plan with such goods that is
to weigh the sample carefully as soon as the bottle is opened
then to pass it through a sieve with meshes i50th of an inch in
diameter and weigh the fine meal which passes through so as to
get the percentages of coarse and fine meal in the sample before
putting it through the usual process of preparation for analysis
To the nitrogen from the fine bone meal a valuation of 220 a
unit is given to that from the coarse a value of 160 a unit is
given To the phosphoric acid from the fine meal a value of 70c
a unit is given to that from the coarse a value of 60c a unit is
given
AVAILABILITY OF FERTILIZER NITROGEN
Recalling to your attention the remarks made in my report of
last year on the availability of fertilizer nitrogen a great deal of
laboratory work has also been done the past year along this line
The Association of Official Chemists has now taken up this mat
ter and its members are doing steady though necessarily slow
work toward the development of chemical methods for estimating
the availability of the nitrogen as plant food in the various fer
tilizer materials on the market In connection with our chemical
work on this line I made some pot experiments on oats this spring
which may be of interest to you Twelve flower pots each 10
inches in diameter at the top were selected carefully painted in
side with asphalt paint to prevent the absorption of any of the
fertilizing constituents into the pores of the pots These pots be
ing numbered were all filled to within an inch of the top with
sifted coal ashes containing no nitrogen To each pot was added
acid phosphate containing 3 grams phosphoric acid also 3 grams
sodium chloride also y2 gram magnesium sulphate also 25
grams carbonate of lime also 2 grams of 50 per cent muriate of
potash These chemicals were thoroughly incorporated with theBULLETIN NO 36
69
sifted coal ashes Also in order to furnish a little organic matter
some muck containing only 310 per cent of nitrogen was addei
to the extent of 3 per cent of the weight of the coal ashes The
pots now contained all the elements of plant life with the excep
tion of sufficient nitrogen This was now supplied as follows
To pots Nos 1 2 3 4 garbage tankage was added in increasing
amounts to No 1 an amount equal to gram nitrogen to No
2 y2 gram nitrogen to No 3 Ya gram nitrogen to No 4
gram nitrogen to No 5 hoof meal was added containing gram
nitrogen to No 6 cottonseed meal containing 1 gram nitrogen
to No 7 powdered leather containing 1 gram nitrogen to No 8
nitrate soda containing J2 gram nitrogen to No 9 nitrate soda
containing 34 gram nitrogen to No 10 nitrate soda containing
1 gram nitrogen to No 11 nothing to No 12 nothing
Carefully selected oat seed to the number of 25 were planted
in each pot and when all were up were thinned out to a uniform
stand of 18 plants to the pot All the pots received exactly the
same care and the same amount of water each day The accom
panying photographs skilfully made by Mr R G Williams as
sistant chemist will tell the story of the effects of the different
nitrogenous fertilizers better than any words of mine can describe
It will be observed that the effect of the leather seemed to be
positively injurious the showing made in that pot No 7 being
even more stunted than in the pots without any nitrogenous fer
tilizer on the contrary pot No 5 to which hoof meal was added
a material which a few years ago was commonly condemned as a
worthless and fraudulent fertilizer shows about as healthy and
vigorous growth as any of the pots Unfortunately during the
very wet weather in June last lice attacked the plants in the pots
in some to a greater extent than in others thus rendering it use
less for me to analyze the plants and determine the exact quan
tities of nitrogen which they had been able to extract from the
various fertilizers and thus report in a more scientific way as to
the relative availability of the different nitrogenous fertilizers
used
OILS
The new law regulating the sale and inspection of illuminating
oils which we succeeded in carrying through at the last session
of the Legislature though not without a hard fought battle has70
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
worked smoothly during the past season since it came into opera
tion You and the very efficient General Oil Inspector Mr Bar
rett and the people of the State of Georgia and the oil com
panies are all to be congratulated upon the character of the illum
inating oil now supplied and sold throughout the State The fol
lowing table of analyses of oils taken at random from different
sections of the State will show that the above is not an idle
boast
0 Z 302F 392 482 579 Left in the
Retort
1 1100 318 4600 55 57 R
09 276 2000 28 235
6 05 317 48 155 43
4 05 2775 40 225 925
b 05 325 35 5 245 700
b 25 37 34 200 650R
I 2 5 385 33 20 600
8 11 345 375 225 44
9 18 375 405 16 42
JO 12 375 385 185 43
In the above table the figures in the second column represent the
percentages of oil which distilled over at a temperature below
302 F They consist of light oils or naphthas The figures in the
next three columns show the percentages of oil distilling over at
and below the temperatures named viz 3920 F 482F 570F
These oils constitute the good normal burning kerosene oil The
figures in the last column represent the oil remaining in the retort
and refusing to distill at a temperature of 572F This fraction
constitutes what is known as heavy oil or lubricating oil
I give below an analysis for sake of comparison made last year
of the kind of oil which was commonly sold in the State before
the present law went into effect
Left in the Retort
1600
302 F 392 482 572
1400 3100 2400 1500
You will at once notice the remarkable manner in which the
light inflammable oils or naphthas have been removed from the
oils now sold in the State as compared with those sold a year ago
and that over 90 per cent of the oils now sold consists of pure
burning oil You will also note that samples Nos 1 6 7 8 9
10 are marked with an R That means that those oils whilst ofV CT
BULLETIN NO 36
71
very good quality otherwise still contain too much naphtha or
light oil to stand the test of the instrument now legalized in Geor
gia and by which all oils are now being tested In other words
it appears from the analyses so far made that no oil containing
as much as one per cent even of light oil distilling below 302 F
will stand the flash test of the new Georgia instrument In other
words we have now on the market in Georgia a quality of oil
which in all probability will not only not explode but not even
take fire if the lamp in which it is burning should be accidentally
turned over and broken
PHOTOMETRIC TEST
I further made a photometric test of the oil we are now con
suming I filled a lamp having a one and a half inch flat wick
open woven with the oil we are now consuming I carefully
weighed the lamp with its oil and chimney then lit it tested it
in the photometer and found its average candle power to be
16 44 After burning for three hours I again weighed it noted
the loss of oil and found that the lamp consumed 267 grams of
oil per candle power per hour A similar test with oil of the old
quality showed a consumption of 356 grams of oil per candle
power per hour or 333 per cent greater consumption of oil per
candle power per hour
I have sir to thank you and Assistant Commissioner Wright
for your kind and steadfast support in the work of the year nor
must I close this report without referring with deep appreciation
to the sterling honest faithful though silent and unobtrusive
work of the Assistant State Chemists Messrs P L Hutchinson
and R G Williams
Respectfully submitted
Jno M McCandlEss
State Chemist72
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
CHEMISTRY IN AGRICULTURE
Letters on Agriculture Addressed to the Georgia
Farmers
letter no one
as to stock feedingmatter an important onethe
chemistry of the animal body and its elements
hxplained
To the State Chemist Atlanta Ga
Dear Sir I am a young farmer almost discouraged with
farming and the low prices of cotton I had thought of devoting
more attention to my stock and write to ask if chemistry can
throw any light on that subject as all farmers admit that it does
on the subject of fertilizers Can you give some good formulas
tor feeding I have a good common school education but want
you to be plain so I can understand what you say
Georgia Farmer
To Georgia Farmer
Dear Sir Your letter received and the questions you ask
open up a wide field for discussion and are of the greatest prac
tical importance not only to the farmer but to the general pros
perity of the whole country
Yes chemistry can throw a great flood of light on the subject
of stock feeding which is a part of the general subject of animal
nutrition The subject is usually treated last in nearly all works
on agriculture but I am now going to write to you about it first
because you seem specially interested in it and also because I
believe that if a general and intelligent interest in the subject of
stock raising could be awakened in the country it would do more
for our agricultural regeneration than any one thing that I can
think of I could answer the main question of your letter at once
by giving you some formulas for feeding but I am not going to
do that because you would not see any sense in it or any good
reason for it and I desire that you should understand the prin
ciples of feeding first then you will take an intelligent interest inBULLETIN NO 36
73
it and be more successful in it than if you went at it blindly by
mere rule of thumb
I am going to assume that there are numbers of farmers like
yourself in Georgia with limited but fair education who are dis
gusted with the allcotton policy and that this letter addressed to
you personally is also of interest to them and so I 9hall print it
in the Monthly Talks of the commissioner of agriculture that
it may have a wide circulation among the farmers and perhaps be
of interest and benefit to them as well as yourself to whom it is
addressed I expect to write one of these letters for each of the
Monthly Talks according as I may find opportunity and time
to spare from my other duties and to continue them as long as I
think I have anything of practical value to say to the farmers
As I am not writing these letters for those well versed in scientific
agriculture but for beginners I shall commence with elementary
principles
I will discuss in a brief manner some of the principles of animal
nutrition or of feeding
The animal body is composed of water that constitutes from
40 to 60 per cent of it and also of protein fat and ash of which
last bones are the chief part The protein of the body includes
all of the matter in the body containing nitrogen The lean meat
the casein of milk or the curd the white of eggs or albumen are
all forms of protein The term albuminoids derived from albu
men is often used to mean the same as protein although that use
is not strictly correct The albuminoids are a class of bodies in
cluded under the general name of protein The flesh the skin
the hair the muscles the heart the liver the brain the blood the
nerves all the internal organs the nails the horns the hoofs and
in fact a large part of the bones all consist largely of protein So
we see this substance protein is indeed a most important one
life cannot exist without it and when we go into the market to
buy it in its most concentrated forms as in beef mutton pork
and milk we find we have to go down into our pockets just a lit
tle deeper than for the other necessaries of life
The carbohydrates and fat are also necessary to animal life
The word carbohydrate is derived from carbon of which char
coal is a good example and the word hydrate is from the Greek
for water An example of a pure carbohydrate is starch we eat
it usually in the form of meal flour rice and potatoes of which
it forms the greater part Sugar is the first cousin of starch in
deed it can be made from it and is also included under the term74
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
carbohydrates These carbohydrates are the principal source of
the fat of our bodies and are the chief source of animal heat and
the energy of the body in fact they are a sort of fuel and are so to
speak burned in the body heat and work being a result of their
oxidation or burning just as heat and work or motion are a result
of the burning or oxidation of coal in an engine So we see these
carbohydrates are important but we also find they are cheap as
compared with protein why are they cheap Because as their
name implies they are derived from the very abundant and cheap
substances water and carbon
The water is given us free in the form of rain and the carbon
also in the form of carbonic acid which is breathed out continually
into the atmosphere by every living animal on the surface of the
earth by every chimney and hearthstone which warms a happy
family by every smokestack factory and locomotive which min
isters to our wants and necessities Carbonic acid forms a prin
cipal part of all this smoke although it is not the black part which
we see but the invisible part which is clear and colorless like the
air Vast streams of it are pouring out constantly into the air
why does it not stifle and suffocate us as it would if poured into
the rooms where we live It is because all plant life lives on it
the great forests absorb it the crops of wheat corn and cotton
consume it the lilies and the roses eat it and drink it They take
this deadly gas into their wonderful little bodies and work it
over and over together with the water which they suck out of
the soil until they turn it back again into the very starch from
which it started and deposit it in their cells to be consumed by
men and other animals again and again in a wondrous never end
ing cycle
We see now why the carbohydrates are cheap because they are
never used up because they form an endless chain Do what we
will with them eat them up burn them up they bob up again
serenely ready for fresh consumption They come out of the
air which is free to all and all that they can cost is the labor
connected with handling and getting theminto marketable shape
But you ask is not the same thing true of protein No indeed
and in my next letter I will give you some of the reasons why
protein is more costly Yours truly
Jno M McCandless
State ChemistBULLETIN NO 36
75
CHEMISTRY IN AGRICULTURE
LETTER NO TWO
STATE CHEMIST WRITES LETTERS ON ELEMENTS IN PLANT AND
ANIMAL LIFENATURE SHORT ON PROTEINCLOVER AND LEG
UMES HIGHLY FAVORED IN ABSORPTION OF FOOD FROM THE
ATMOSPHERE
Georgia Farmer
Dear Sir In my last letter I wrote you about the carbohy
drates the functions which they fill in the animal economy and
gave you some of the reasons for their abundance and cheapness
I also indicated some of the uses of protein and what an im
portant part of our bodies it was also that it was costly material
compared with the carbohydrates and promised to give you some
of the reasons why it was more costly Nature can afford to be
generous and even lavish with the carbohydrates because she is
saving and even stingy with the water and carbonic acid which
enter into their composition not a pound of either does she allow
to go to waste Apparently she is very prodigal with both but
in reality not The floodgates of heaven open and pour out mil
lions of gallons of water in places where it is needed and also in
places where it is not needed but every drop which is not absorbed
and used by the thirsty earth runs back into the sea ready to be
distilled again and again from its surface by the heat of the sun
and used over again and again and the same with carbonic acid
gas as I illustrated to you in my last letter
That is the highest sort of economy which uses its raw ma
terials over and over again without their wearing out But in the
case of protein Mother Nature is not so generous as with carbo
hydrates Indeed she is stingy and niggardly and why Be
cause she is wasteful of her raw material Nitrogen is the es
sential element in the raw material out of which protein is built
Like carbonic acid nitrogen is also a gas colorless and invisible
It constitutes in round numbers fourfifths or 80 per cent of the
atmosphere We inhale it in every breath but it has no effect
upon us whatever merely serving to dilute the oxygen which
supports our life and which constitutes the remaining fifth of the
atmosphere For illustration let us suppose we burn up the dea76
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
body of a dog and at the same time a pile of wood In the act of
burning the protein which forms so large a part of the animals
body is decomposed and its nitrogen escapes into the atmosphere
not to be taken up and used over again by growing plants like
the carbonic acid and water which result from burning the pile
of wood but to remain as an inert gas in the atmosphere unable
to enter into or be absorbed by the growing crops about which it
circulates Although they may be in sore need and distress for
the lack of that very nitrogen they can not absorb it and use it
while still in the gaseous form although there are oceans of it
around and about and touching them
To illustrate again let us suppose the dead body of the dog de
cays in the earth in the neighborhood of growing crops the nitro
gen of the body will be converted by slow process of decay and
by the agency of the putrefactive organisms or microbes into
ammonia and nitrates In this last form of nitrate which is fa
miliar to you in the white salt known as saltpeter the roots of
the plant are at last able to absorb the nitrogen which constituted
a part of the animals body and to use and work it over in their
little cells and bodies and thus convert it into vegetable protein
which is then in a condition to be eaten by animals say by a sheep
and thus to become a part of the lean meat of its body which in
turn being eaten by man as mutton becomes a portion of his body
But observe the wastefulness of nature in this case unless that
carcass decay at the proper time and place in the vicinity of grow
ing crops or plants there is grievous waste The protein of the
body will decay as usual and be converted by the nitrifying or
ganisms or microbes I mentioned above into nitrates Now these
nitrates are very soluble in water and unless the roots of the
plant are at hand to appropriate them they are carried off in the
drainage waters into the springs creeks and rivers and pass into
the sea a total loss so far as agriculture is concerned
By reflecting on these facts you will begin to appreciate the
value of soluble nitrogen to realize why it is that a pound of
beef costs more than a pound of bread and also to realize the
great mistake made by Mother Nature in not creating all plants
free and equal in their ability to absorb nitrogen from the at
mosphere just as they absorb carbonic acid and water
In passing and to illustrate the fact that Nature is not republi
can or democratic in her instincts and does not believe in grant
ing equal rights and privileges to all her children I will mention
the fact that the general law I have stated above about plants notBULLETIN NO36
77
being able to appropriate the free nitrogen of the air has its ex
ceptions and that a few favored children of nature have this spe
cial privilege granted to them The favorites who enjoy this
natural monopoly are the clovers and legumes This last named
covers all of the plants of the pea and bean family This excep
tion to the general law is one of immense importance to Agricul
ture and we will dwell on it later when we come to discuss the
subject of fertilizers
In my next letter I intend to give you a table giving analyses
of the different more important feedingstuffs and showing the
percentage of water protein carbohydrates fat and ash found in
them All the elements found in the animal body are also found
in the plants on which the animals feed For this reason I will
at the risk of being a little tedious explain a little more fully than
I have already done some of the terms to be used in the table
of analyses of feedingstuffs
WaterThis is essential to the proper distribution of the
nourishing fluids through the animal system and is usually more
than half the live weight of the animal No matter how dry a
feedingstuff may appear to be it always contains a considerable
quantity of water say from 10 to 90 per cent of its weight
Though this water may render the food more succulent and palat
able it is of no more value than the water which the animal
drinks So for this reason and because the variation of the
water content is so great comparison of the different foods is
usually made on a dry basis that is the dry matter left after
expelling the water by heat
I have already described Protein quite fully and will say no
more about that
In addition to what I have already said about Carbohydrates
I will add that the chemist usually divides them into two groups
one they call nitrogen free extractwhich consists of the
starch sugar and gums in the plant the other group they call
cellulose or fiber The fiber of wood of hay and straw is largely
cellulose Cotton fiber is almost pure cellulose Though so dif
ferent in appearance both starch and cellulose are carbohydrates
Coarse fodders hay and straw contain much fiber The grains
wheat and corn contain only a little fiber but much nitrogen free
extract or starch and some sugar
Cellulose is identical with starch in chemical composition and
may be converted like starch by suitable treatment with acids and
alkalies into dextrin and then into grape sugar The glucose or
78
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
grape sugar largely used in candy manufacture is made almost
entirely by chemical treatment of corn starch with acid Grape
sugar occurs in small quantities in the different feedstuffs and
during the course of digestion in the body it is formed in large
quantity from the starch and other carbohydrates
The ash is what is left after burning a feedstuff It consists
principally of potash soda lime magnesia and of carbonic sul
phuric and phosphoric acids These constitute the mineral salts
of foodstuffs and during the process of digestion the animal ab
sorbs what it needs of them and the rest is excreted with the ma
nure
The term fat in the table of analysis means the fat or oil winch
is in the foodstuff k is of the same composition practically as
the fat of the frody The fat of the feedingstuff is either assimi
lated in the body as body fat or else burned to furnish heat
and energy Yours truly
Jno M McCandlEss
State Chemist
CHEMISTRY IN AGRICULTURE
LETTER NO THREE
Science of Feeding
VALUABLE INFORMATION FURNISHEDIMPORTANCE OF COTTON
SEEDHOW THE PROGRESSIVE FARMER MAY CALCULATE THE
BEST RATION FOR HIS STOCK
To Georgia Farmer
Renewing my letters to you which have for a time been inter
rupted by more pressing official duties I here give you the table
of analyses of the more common feeding stuffs which I promised
you in my last iBULLETIN NO 36
79
TABLE SHOWING DIGESTIBLE MATTER IN IOO POUNDS OF FEED
STUFF
Dry
Matter
Protein
Carbohy
drates
Fat
0T3
O o
Corn Fodder
Rye Fodder
Oat Fodder
Oowpea
Corn Silage
Hay made from Orchard Grass
Timothy
Crabgrass
Mixed Grasses
Red Clover
White Clover
Crimson Clover
Cowpea
Roots Grains etc
Turnips
Rutabagas
Corn grain
Oats grain
Wheat grain
Cotton Seed Whole
Corn Meal
Corn and Cob Meal
Ground Corn and Oats equal
parts
Wheat Bran
Wheat Middlings
Wheat Shorts
Cotton Seed Meal
Cotton Seed Hulls
Whole Milk
Skim Milk
Separator Milk
Butter Milk
Whey
207
234
378
163
209
901
868
800
871
847
903
914
893
950
114
891
890
895
899
8500
849
881
885
840
882
918
889
130
96
94
99
66
110
205
209
168
050
478
289
504
322
658
1146
1049
1079
081
088
792
925
1023
1108
701
646
739
12 01
1279
1222
370L
042
348
313
294
3 87
084
1208
1411
2206
808
1179
4199
43 72
3845
48 26
3535
4182
3813
3840
646
774
6669
4834
6921
3313
6520
5628
61 20
4123
5315
5000
1652
3095
477
469
5 24
400
474
037
044
104
025
065
140
143
141
133
166
148
129
151
011
011
428
418
168
1844
325
372
287
340
383
1258
169
370
083
029
106
031
I hope you will now go back and carefully read again my pre
vious letters and fix in your mind the explanations there given of
the various terms which are used in the above table of analyses
what protein is and what function it fills in the animal economy
building muscle and lean meat blood nerves hair tendons and
even part of the bones also the office of the fat and the carbo
hydrates producing fat in the body keeping up its heat and pro
ducing force or energy You will then better understand the table
just given
This is a short table selected from numerous analyses as con80
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
taining the materials most likely to be met with on the average
Southern farm and used for the feeding of stock
The above table does not give the complete analysis of the feed
ingstuffs mentioned but gives the digestible matter in ioo pounds
of each feed For instance the complete analysis of cottonseed
meal is as follows Water 82 per cent ash 72 per cent pro
tein 423 per cent carbohydrates 292 per cent fat 131 per
cent or total 100 per cent By referring to the table however
you will see that about five pounds of the protein is indigestible
and about 13 pounds of the carbohydrates are also indigestible
The figures in the above table have been obtained by careful feed
ing experiments and are the result of much painstaking careful
conscientious work and are therefore very valuable as being prac
tical in the best sense
Only that part of the food is of value to the animal which
passes into the circulation after being acted on by the fluids of
the stomach and intestines and being taken up by the blood goes
to repair the waste of the body to make new flesh to add fat or
to serve as a source of energy or work In preparing these tables
of digestible matter the experimenters carefully weighed the ani
mals at the beginning of each experiment carefully analyzed the
rations fed to them carefully saved every drop of liquid and solid
of the dung and urine and analyzed them and then studiously
comparing all the results calculated the digestible matter in 100
pounds of each feedstuff and these percentages they called the
digestion coefficients Such tables as these are the basis of
scientific feeding Little as you may think of it this subject is of
the utmost practical importance not only to the agricultural com
munity but to the general prosperity of the nation
The experience of the past decade has demonstrated and I hope
conclusively to our farmers at least that the day has passed when
their exclusive attention can be devoted to the production of one
crop and that crop one which is not essential to the life of man
at least in the way in which it is at present handled it is only
conducive to the comfort of the human family as raiment but
it can be so handled as to minister not only to their comfort but
to the development and sustenance of life itself To explain my
meaning in as few words as possible is this that we have been
raising cotton for the sake of its fiber to be spun into cloth when
we should have been raising it also for the sake of its precious
seed born into the world in a manner befitting its royal origin as
the son of King Cotton swaddled and encircled in the downiestBULLETIN NO 36
81
fur and t naked and forlorn as is the wont of earthly prince
lings
It does seem as if this jealous care of Mother Nature should
have made us recognize earlier the great value of the little seed
which she wrapped up so carefully As I said we have been rais
ing it for the sake of its fibre to be spun into cloth when we should
have been raising it chiefly for the sake of the protein and carbo
hydrates of its seeds to be transmuted by wonderful alchemy of
the brute creation into beef milk mutton and pork with the lint
simply thrown in as a byproduct When we consider the wonder
ful nutritive value of cottonseedmeal and hulls after the oil an
other byproduct has been extracted from them and the further
fact that this rich nutritious food may be passed through the
domestic animals giving them life growth and development and
yet in that process lose only about 10 per cent of the rich fertiliz
ing constituents found in theoriginal food and yielding a manure
of the very best quality it does seem as though nature had been
too lavish and generous in her gifts to us in the South
We have been slow to realize the importance of the talent
which we have buried but the day is breaking and ere long we
shall by developing the various products of this wonderful plant
become the richest people in the world and by consequence the
center of civilization refinement and the arts I have thus di
gressed from the technical details we have been discussing for the
purpose of impressing more strongly upon you their importance
In my next letter with the aid of another table and some expla
nations I hope to be able to show you how to calculate for your
self a scientific ration for the stock you are feeding
Yours truly
John M McCandless
State Chemist
a b82
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
CHEMISTRY IN AGRICULTURE
The Feeding oe Stock
LETTER NO FOUR
ANALYSIS SHOWING HOW TO PREPARE FOOD OBTAINING BEST RE
SULTSAN INTERESTING EXPOSITIONSOME VALUABLE INFOR
MATION AS TO QUANTITIES TO BE USEDMUST BE RICHER
WHEN WORKING
Georgia Farmer
Dear Sir Since my last I have received your letter asking
for the analysis of Bermuda hay and also other letters asking for
analysis of other feedingstuffs This has decided me to extend
the table given in the last letter so as to cover almost any feeding
stuff found on the farm This table I present below and it is to
be filed away and used in connection with the one already given
DIGESTIBILE MATTER IN IOO POUNDS OF FEEDINGSTUFFS
Feeding Stuffs
Green Stuffs
Dry Matter Protein Carbohy
Crabgrass
Bermuda grass
Red top in bloom
Orchard grass in bloom
Meadow fescue in bloom
Timothy
Kentucky blue grass
Hungarian grass
Red clover
Crimson Clover
Alfalfa or Lucerne
iHay made from
Bermuda grass
Corn fodder
Red top
Hungarian grass
Meadow fescue
Mixed grasses and clover
Alsike clover
Alfalfa and Lucerne
Wheat straw
Rye straw
Oatstrawroots and tubers
Beets
Mangelwurzels
Carrots
o
3
7
oo
l
4
9
23
28
34
27
30
38
34
289
202
J93
282
857
700
91
923
800
871
903
91 6
904
929
908
130
910
114
381
140
206
1 ill
149
228
301
192
307
210
389
489
337
482
450
420
616
815
106S
080
074
1 58
121
1 03
081
drates
991
1711
2124
1591
16 78
2371
1983
1563
1482
31
1120
3938
3412
4683
5167
4334
4275
4170
3733
3794
4271
4163
884
565
783
Fat
071
060
058
058
042
077
0S3
036
0 69
044
041
085
086
095
1 34
170
146
136
138
046
0 35
074
005
011
022BULLETIN NO 36
83
In the above table the words corn fodder have the usual sig
nificance given them in the South meaning the cured leaves of the
corn in the previous table the words corn fodder under the
heading of green fodder have the meaning usually given in the
North that is to say it means the entire plant usually sown thick
and not simply the leaves
You will remember that the special functions of food are to
renew the wastes of the body and to provide material for growth
in the young and growing animal and also to furnish heat and
energy The animal must provide for these out of the digestible
matters in the ration of food furnished to it the indigestible
parts are of no value
The question which now concerns us is how much shall we feed
our stock of the different kinds of foods we have analyzed You
know yourself that when you are hard at work you require more
food and richer food than when you are idle Nature calls for
it and it is not different with your horse or mule he requires
more nutriment when at work than when standing in the stall
When at work he uses up the tissues of the body and protein or
carbohydrates in his food are needed to rebuild those else he will
grow poor and weak even when at rest he requires a certain
amount of nutriment to maintain the normal heat of the body and
carry on the process of the vital functions but not so much and
if fed as much the disposition will be to grow fat
In the case of the cow giving milk she requires food adapted
to the production of milk She is a wonderful machine for con
verting fat carbohydrates and protein into milk the protein of
the food goes to make the casein of the milk the fat of the food
to make cream or butter and the carbohydrates to make milk
sugar and also fat so she requires generous feeding just as much
as the horse at hard labor and even more so if she is to maintain
a generous flow of milk and at the same time maintain her own
normal weight If you dont give her food enough or food of
the proper kind she will begin to make milk from the tissues of
her own body then she will become thin and then the flow of
milk will be checked and its quality will deteriorate
Thus it is important to know how much as well as what to feed
so that we shall not waste by giving more than is required nor
starve by underfeeding or feeding the wrong kind of food for an
animal can be surely though slowly starved by feeding an abund
ance of carbohydrates and an insufficiency of protein or vice
versa To enable us to calculate the proper rations for animals84
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
at work and animals at rest for growing and mature animals for
milch cows and fattening animals a great number of experiments
have been made and the tables of Wolff a celebrated German
experimenter have been most widely followed I give them
below
WOLFFS FEEDING STANDARDS
POUNDS PEE DAY PER 1000 POUNDS LIVE WEIGHT
Total Dry Digestible Digest Carbhy Digestible Fat
Matter Protein drates
Lbs Lbs Lbs Lbs
Horse at light work 2100 1 5 9 5 0 4
Horse at average work 225 18 12 06
255 28 134 0 8
175 07 80 0 15
240 16 113 03
Oxen at hard work 260 270 24 25 132 150 05 05
Oxen fattening 1st period
260 30 148 07
Oxen fattening 3d nd 250 2 7 14 8 06 0 4
Milk Cows 240 25 125
Wool Sheep coarse breeds Wool Sheep fine breeds 200 12 10 3 0 2
225 15 114 025
Fattening Sheep 1st pd 260 30 152 05
Fattening Sheep 2d pd 250 3r 144 06
Fattening Swine 1st pd 360 50 275
Fattening Swine 2d pd 310 40 240
Fattening Swine 3d pd 235 27 17 5
Average
live wgt Fe r Day anc 1 Per Head
per head
Lbs
Growing Fat Swine
Age 2 to 3 months 50 21 038 150
3 to 5 months 100 34 050 250
5 to 6 months 125 39 054 296
6 to 8 months 170 46 058 347
8 to 12 months 250 52 062 105
Growing Cattle
Age 2 to 3 months 150 38 060 21 030
1 3 to 6 months 300 70 10 41 030
1 6 to 12 months 500 120 13 68 030
12 to 18 months 700 168 14 91 028
18 to 24 months 850 204 14 103 026
Growing Sheep
Age 5 to i months 56 16 018 087 0045
6 to 8 months 67 17 017 085 0004
8 to 11 months 75 17 016 085 0037
11 to 15 months 82 18 014 089 0032
15 to 20 months 85 19 012 088 0025
BULLETIN NO 36
According to the above standard a horse of 1000 pounds at
light work would require iy2 pounds of digestible protein 9
pounds of digestible carbohydrates and 04 of a pound of digest
ible fat the same horse at hard work would require 28 pounds
protein 134 pounds carbohydrates and 08 pounds fat all of
course digestible
In order to show the use of the above tables let us calculate the
ration for a milch cow Let us suppose we have on hand peavine
hay green rye fodder corn meal and wheat bran Referring to
the table we find Wolff recommends 24 pounds dry matter 2l2
pounds digestible protein i2l2 pounds digestible carbohydrates
and 04 pound fat Now referring to the table in the last letter
we find cowpea hay contains 893 pounds per 100 of dry matter
then 1 pound will contain 893 of a pound dry matter and 12
pounds will contain 12 times 893 or 1071 pounds dry matter
Now set this down in a column to itself Next we see by the table
that cowpea hay contains 1079 Per cent digestible protein Then
1 pound would contain 1079 and 12 pounds would contain 12
times as much or 129 pounds digestible protein Set this result
down in another column to itself In like manner we find that 1
pound contains 384 digestible carbohydrates Therefore 12
pounds contain 461 pounds and also 1 pound of the hay contains
0151 of fat Therefore 12 pounds contains 17 of a pound each
of which is set down in a separate column to itself Now in like
manner calculate the dry matter in 20 pounds of green rye fodder
You will find it to be 468 pounds Set this under the dry mat
ter in the peavine hay and so on with the protein and carbo
hydrates and fat in the rye fodder Thentake 4 pounds of corn
meal and 4 pounds of wheat bran and pursue exactly the same
course and when you are through you ought to have a table like
this
Dry Pro Carbohy pt
Matter tein drates
12 pounds pea hay 1071 129 461 17
20 ryefodder 468 041 282 08
4 cornmeal 340 028 261 13
4 wheatbran 354 048 165 11
40 233 246 1169 49
There you see you have almost the theoretical standard set by
Wolff It is a little short however in carbohydrates and dry
matter and if you wish you can add 2 pounds cottonseedhulls
which when you have calculated it out and added the results to86
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
the proper columns will increase the dry matter to 2411 pounds
and the carbohydrates to 1231 pounds but will only add 03 to
the fat making it 52 of a pound and will not quite add 1100 to
the protein So with this addition you have a practically theo
retical ration for a cow of 1000 pounds weight giving milk
You will see by reference to the table that she requires almost
as rich and nourishing food per 1000 pounds weight as a heavily
worked ox that is because she is producing milk as well as main
taining the body heat and carrying on the vital functions Sup
pose however your cow only weighs 800 pounds instead of 1000
you can economize by giving her 80 per cent of each of the food
stuffs or 9 610 pounds of pea hay and 16 pounds of rye fodder
and so on It is not to be understood that a ration will not an
swer which does not strictly coincide with Wolffs standards
These standards are a guide to help to rational feeding and a
reasonably close approximation to them is what is desired The
intelligent feeder will of course continue to use his common
sense judgment and observation Thus different cows show a
different capacity to appropriate food and differ in the amount
of milk produced when in full flow Again while a strict ad
herence to the standard might produce the greatest amount of
milk say yet a departure from it might under certain conditions
yield a better money return on account of variations in the price
of feedstuffs Of course judgment and common sense must
always guide but other things being equal a balanced ration is of
course to be always preferred A ration is said to be balanced
when the dry matter protein carbohydrates and fat are mixed
together in the proportions given by Wolffs standards and to be
unbalanced when it varies considerably from those proportions
There is always more latitude allowed for variation in the dry
matter than in the other ingredients a ration may vary several
pounds in dry matter when made up from different foodstuffs
and yet have approximately the desired relation between the pro
tein and carbohydrates The protein may vary say in the ration
for a milch cow from 220 pounds to 26 and still be called a bal
anced ration the carbohydrates from 12 to 14 pounds and the fat
from 4 to 100 pound in the dairy cow ration and still be con
sidered a balanced ration Still the experience of the most suc
cessful feeders is that the nearer the ration approaches the stan
dard other things being equal the better the results
You will find both profit and intellectual exercise in figuring
out balanced rations for your stock in long evenings when youBULLETIN NO 36
87
have nothing else to do I will help you figure one more ration
for your dairy cow and then leave you to do your own figuring
for the future
Let us suppose vou are caught without any hay or green food
at all and only have on hand cottonseed meal cottonseed hulls
and corn and cob meal Pursuing the same plan as minutely de
scribed before you will have
Fat
25
34
67
116
Dry
Matter
15 pounds corn and cob meal1333
12 cotton seed hulls1019
45 cotton seed meal 413
Pro
tein
06
78
167
2765 251
Carbohy
drates
464
685
74
1243
This ration vou will see made from entirely different materials
is about as well balanced as the first it is however lacking in
the succulent appetizing green fodder of the first So if you hap
pen to have on the farm some roots turnips rutabagas or carrots
add 4 or S pounds of these to the days ration to stimulate appe
tite and promote good digestion The cow will appreciate it as
much as you would your turnip salad at dinner although there is
but little nourishment in them in the way of dry matter protein
etc One important point Please do not forget the rations must
be carefully weighed at least one time You can provide yourself
with some cheap boxes and measures which when filled will hold
just so many pounds of the different feedstuffs so that if you
take some pains to carefully gauge them with a pair of hand scales
the first time you weigh out a new ration after that you can meas
ure it out John M McCandless
State ChemistGEORGIA DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE
CHEMISTRY IN AGRICULTURE
LETTER NO FIVE
Beep Butter and Milk
ITS PRODUCTION IS OF VAST IMPORTANCE TO SOUTHERN FARMERS
A VERY INTERESTING TOPICTHE CHEMICAL DEPARTMENT
GIVES FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE FEEDING OF CATTLE
VALUES OF CORN MEAL COTTONSEED AND COTTONSEED MEAL
COMPAREDIMPORTANT SUGGESTION TO FEED THE LATTER TO
HORSES AND MULES
Georgia Fanner
Dear Sir This subject of beef butter and milk production
out of the seed hulls and meal of the cotton plant is of such vast
moment and importance to the Southern farmer to the enrich
ment aggrandizement and financial independence of this whole
section that I am not going to leave it vet at the risk of wearying
your patience As cottonseed meal and hulls are not always
readily procurable by the farmer and as it may under certain
conditions pay him better to use cottonseed instead of hulls and
meal as for instance where he has a long haul and when the
mills owing to poor trade and demand for oil may not be paying
as good a price for seed as their feeding value to the farmer calls
for I will give you some rations for feeding using seed instead
of hulls and meal for feeding and recite some interesting experi
ments of the Mississippi Experiment Station in regard thereto
Two lots of four cows each were taken and lot