Florida Agricultural Experiment Station for analysis. The report of this analysis, by Prof. S. E. Collison, Chemist of the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, shows: Total Phosphoric Acid.... 0.04 % None. .0.001% The material being simply "micaceous shist," the Potassium, Phosphorous, Soda, Calcium and Magnesia being combined as Silicates in the rock, the sulffur as Sulphides, were insoluble in the strongest boiling acids. The only two "plant foods" claimed by the tag, Phosphate and Potash, being absolutely unavailable silicates, on further investigation it has been shown that this material has been exploited on various occasions previously under various names-"Stone Meal," "The New England Mineral Fertilizer," "The New Mineral Fertilizer," and has been declared worthless as a fertilizer and insecticide by various agricultural experiment stations from Maine to Florida, and by the Chemical Bureau, of the U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, and exposed by various agricultural journals, notably the "Rural New Yorker," and the "Southern Ruralist"-both reputable and responsible journals. Circular letters were sent out by this division to the Press and citizens of the State warning them of the utter worthlessness of this so-called "New Mineral Fertilizer," the material being as insoluble as ordinary glass, which contains from 3 to 20 per cent of Potassium (or soda) as silicates, and is equally as soluble, or available, as this silicate (Igneous sandstone). There are millions of acres of soil in Florida that contain (on a dry basis) two to three per cent of nitrogen, which can be readily made available. Other large areas of soil, with from one-half to three per cent of phosphates, enormous deposits of low grade phosphate of lime and alumina, with one or more per cent available, and seven or more per cent insoluble phosphates (the waste of phosphate plants, in excellent mechanical condition, that can be had for hauling); while vast deposits of "soft phosphates," with 1.50 per cent or more availalbe, and 15 to 25 per cent insoluble phosphate, that can be had for digging and hauling. With such materials; abundant nitrogen, immense quantities of phosphateswell distributed—having large actual plant foods readily made available, it is needless to say that it is folly to purchase absolutely inert material of less fertilizing value than good average Florida soil, which can be purchased by the acre, from twenty-five to fifty dollars per acre, of which six inches off the surface will afford 1,000 tons of material superior to this "New Mineral Fertilizer" in fertilizing value. At the above price per acre, the cost per ton would be 2.5 to 5 cents. The actual value of this "New Mineral Fertilizer," according to present market prices, of available phosphate, and water soluble potash being absolutely nothing, as it contains no available plant food whatever. The principal stock in trade of this concern is the credulity of its victims, and abuse of all scientists, agricultural chemists, experiment stations, and manufacturers of commercial fertilizers. Threats of suits for slander and libel have been made, none however, instituted. After full investigation and on advice of the Attorney General, the following order was prepared by the State Chemist, and issued by the Agricultural Department: Press Bulletin State of Florida Agricultural Department Tallahassee, November 15, 1913. NOTICE TO DEALERS, AGENTS AND CONSUMERS OF COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS, INSECTICIDES, AND FUNGICIDES. It having been shown by analysis by the Florida State Laboratory, the Laboratory of the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, and the Bureau of Chemistry of the United States Department of Agriculture, together with those of a number of other State Agricultural Experiment Stations, that the "New Mineral Fertilizer," made by the New Mineral Fertilizer Company, of Boston, Massachusetts, can not be classed as either a fertilizer, insecticide or fungicide, and that the analysis quoted on the tags and in the literature issued by the said company is misleading and calculated to deceive, the material actually having no nitrogen (Ammonia), soluble Potash, nor available Phosphoric Acid or Sulfur in its compisition; and on being advised by the Attorney General of the State of Florida that the sale of this material in the State as a fertilizer, insecticide or fungicide, under the laws of Florida, is illegal, notice is hereby given that the "New Mineral Fertilizer," made by the New Mineral Fertilizer Company, of Boston, Mass., can not be legally sold in the State of Florida. Therefore, all dealers, or agents are duly notified that the sale, or offering for sale, of this "New Mineral Fertilizer," as a fertilizer, insecticide, or fungicide, will subject them to the penalties of Chapter 4983, Laws of Florida. W. A. MCRAE, Commissioner of Agriculture. R. E. ROSE, State Chemist." IMMATURE CITRUS FRUIT. During the inspection period-September 1st to November 5th-1914, there were received by the State Laboratory three samples of citrus fruit, two samples being grapefruit, both of which were mature by the standard fixed by the Legislature, having less than 1.75% of acid, as crystallized citric acid, though in fact, and by color, the fruit was not mature. The detailed analyses will be found under the proper head, of official food analyses. But one sample of oranges was received, which was found immature, by analysis, containing more than 1.30% of acid, as crystallized citric acid, and were also immature by colar, as shown by the detailed report under the proper heading. The prevention of the shipment of actually immature citrus fruit, under the standard fixed by the Legislature, involving the "color test," as follows:-"PROVIDED, THAT ORANGES OR GRAPEFRUIT SHOWING AN AVERAGE ON THE TREES OF ONE-HALF COLOR, INDICATING RIPENESS, SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE MATURE AND FIT FOR CONSUMITION, AND MAY BE SHIPPED OR SOLD WITHOUT FIRST BEING SUBMITTED TO THE ACID TEST PROVIDED IN THIS ACT," is practically impossible, as demonstrated by this season's experience. The color standard introduces into the inspection at once the personal opinion of the Inspector and the shipper, as to percentage of color and how to apply it. The various problems arising are readily perceived and honest differences as to the intent of the law become apparent. Citrus fruit, on the tree, "showing an average of one-half color, indicating ripeness," are not subject to the acid test. The question at once arises," "If one-half the fruit on the trees are yellow and the remainder green, is the fruit subject to the acid test?" If all the fruit be yellow on one side and green on the other, is it subject to the acid test?" "If all the fruit be of a hue showing green and yellow mixed or blended, who shall decide the fact that it is one 2-Chem. "half colored indicating ripeness," and shall the acid test be applied or not?" The personal equation at once becomes evident, possibly influenced by interest, prejudice, friendship, enmity or carelessness. I would call your attention to the fact that in the analytical study of grapefruit, among the hundreds of specimens analyzed by the chemist of the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, Prof. S. E. Collison, BETWEEN OCTOBER 1, 1912, AND MAY 2, 1914, BUT THREE SPECIMENS OF GRAPEFRUIT CONTAINED 1.75% OR MORE OF ACID AS CRYSTALLIZED CITRIC ACID THE STANDARD FIXED FOR IMMATURE GRAPEFRUIT By The LegisLATURE, THE LEGIS LATURE HAVING SELECTED THE THREE SPECIMENS HAVING THE GREATEST PERCENTAGE OF ACID, AS THE "STANDARD" FOR MATURE GRAPEFRUIT. It is unnecessary to say that the law and inspection had little, if any, effect on the protection of the public from immature and unwholesome citrus fruit, and the grower from serious financial loss. The cost of the effort to enforce the law, the fact that it did not prevent the shipment of large quantities of unripe citrus fruit, and seriously damaged the reputation of Florida oranges for excellence, the criticism of the law by the people and the press of the State, and its failure to accomplish its purpose, has doubtless been justified, as the necessity of protecting the consumer from immature, unwholesome citrus fruit, and the honest grower and shipper from demoralized markets, has fully demonstrated the necessity of a law, with a standard similar to that recommended by the Commission appointed by the Agricultural Department and accepted by, and recommended by, the organized growers of the State. Regulation Adopted by the United States Department of Agriculture. This and last season's experience and the wide distriution of immature citrus fruit from Florida and other |