In response to the expressed wishes of many of the farmers of the State, an attempt was made during the last session of the General Assembly, to secure an amendment to the fertilizer law, so that it shall provide that the statement to be attached to every package sold, shall not only show the percentage of phosporic acid, potash and nitrogen the goods contain, but the sources also from which these ingredients are derived. Some of the elements used in compounding fertilizers dissolve much more promptly than others, and a quick growing crop will be benefitted much more by a fertili zer made up of materials that dissolve readily than one that requires a longer period for becoming available. For this reason, it is very important that the farmer should know what he is applying to his soil. The bill to amend passed the House of Representatives without opposition or delay, but it did not fare so well when it reached the Senate. It remained in committee for an unusually long period and after two hearings were given by the committee to parties wishing to be heard, it was referred to a second and different committee, from which its friends were unable to secure a report. An important service will be performed for the farmers of the State, if such a measure is passed at the next meeting of the Legislature. FEEDING STUFFS. The act of Assembly regulating the manufacture and sale of feeding stuffs has produced results that should be very gratifying to those responsible for its passage. Many feeds of little value that were being sold at comparatively high prices have been driven from the markets of the State. We are glad to note that only a very small per cent. of the low grade and adulterated feeds sampled by the agents of the Department were the products of Pennsylvania manufacturers. During the year, five hundred and sixty samples were drawn and four hundred and ninety-eight were analyzed at the laboratory of the Department. A careful examination of the Annual Feeding Stuffs Bulletin, will show that there is a greater equality between the actual value of the feeds upon which report is made, than in former years. The act of May 28, 1907, commonly known as the "New Feeding Stuffs Law," has completely cleared our markets of what is known as Condimental Feeds. A very large amount of correspondence between manufacturers of such feeds and the Department was necessary before the former could be induced to give up the practice of selling "stock powders" as "stock foods" with high sounding adjuncts, and descriptive phrases, claiming for such foods great feeding value. The Department was insistent upon strict compliance with the law, and manufacturers of such commodities were given a reasonable time to get their products off the market or change their labelling, so that no feeding value should be claimed and the goods be sold under a name that could not mislead the purchaser, and we are glad to be able to record the fact that so far as we can learn, the change has been made without the necessity of bringing any prosecutions. The number of prosecutions brought during the year for violations of the feeding stuffs law, were forty-seven, and the amount paid in fines and covered into the State Treasury was $965.00. Of the prosecutions brought during the year, twelve remain undetermined. In a few instances, in which, after obtaining full information concerning all the circumstances attending the case, we had doubts as to whether the action could be sustained, settlement before the magistrate or court was permitted upon the payment of costs by defendants. In only two cases, the costs were paid by the Department. LINSEED OIL AND MIXED PAINTS. The examination of the linseed oil upon the markets of the State was continued during the year. The examination of oil made the previous year showed that the oil sold in Pennsylvania, was of better quality than was generally supposed, and the investigations made during 1907 proved still more satisfactory. The work done in 1906 show that boiled oil is much more likely to be adulterated than the raw oil. Another thing brought out by the examinations was, that the adulterated oils were not the product of Pennsylvania manufactories, but were imported from other states. The few prosecutions that were brought seemed to have a salutary effect. One brand of oil that was being sold in the western part of the State was entirely driven from the market. The small amount of money appropriated annually by the State in providing for the examination of oils, is well expended. A very large amount of money is expended every year by the property owners of the State in keeping their buildings painted, and it is very gratifying to them to be able to have some assurance that the materials they are using, are not adulterated. The adulteration of linseed oil nearly always consist in the addition of benzine or mineral oils, which can usually be detected by anyone accustomed to handling it, by means of the odor and taste. The appearance of the oil also to one accustomed to using or handling it, is a pretty safe indication of its quality. Oil that is adulterated by the addition of mineral oils, is likely to show surface colorings that are different from the main body of the oil. Other adulterants are rosin oil, low grades of fish oil and the lower priced vegetable oils, such as corn and cottonseed oils. Much the larger per cent. of adulteration was found in boiled oil, so that in its purchase, it is necessary to be especially careful to secure an article that is pure. In an article contributed to the "Chemical Engineer" by Prof. Henry M. Loomis, who for two years, made the chemical examination of oil for this Department, Mr. Loomis, in speaking of the tests for determining the purity of linseed oil, gives the following directions: "(1) Appearance. The oil should be clear and deposit very little, if any, sediment on standing, but pure boiled oils are sometimes slightly turbid. Mineral oils are decidedly fluorescent and I found several cases in which mineral oil could be detected in linseed oil by this property alone, but often the mineral oil used for adulterating is treated so as to destroy the fluorescence, or "bloom," as it is commonly called. Boiled oil should not be so thick as to require thinning with turpentine, nor should it be too dark colored. "(2) Odor. Mineral oil, benzine, rosin oil or fish oil can generally be detected by the odor, especially upon heating a small quantity of the sample either by rubbing it vigorously between the hands for a few seconds, or warning over a lamp or candle flame in a small vessel. "(3) Drying Test. The oil is spread in very thin layers on a glass plate and maintained at a fairly uniform temperature of about 60 degrees to 70 degrees. Boiled oil should be dry completely in at least 40 hours and raw oils in 72 hours. The dry film should be tough and elastic when peeled. This test serves best as a comparative one on several samples, and should be tried in clear weather as far as possible, but the plates should not be exposed to direct sunlight." A great deal of complaint is made concerning the character of mixed paints and varnishes, sold in the State. Other states seem to have the same trouble and in some, laws have been enacted providing for their examination and prescribing the properties they shall possess. A few states also have laws regulating the sale of turpentine and providing for its purity. The subject of paints, varnishes and turpentine is of sufficient importance to be taken up by our General Assembly, with a view to providing some measures by which the quality of these commodities sold in Pennsylvania, may be improved. A bill of this character was before the Legislature at its last session, but failed to become a law. AGRICULTURAL FAIRS. The report of the Deputy Secretary states that in 1906 the ag gregate attendance at county fairs reached 1,829,389. It is further stated that these fairs show that there was a gain over the previous year of 854,289, or almost double the attendance for 1905. The amount paid out in premiums was $99,603.82 as against $116,039.32 paid out in 1905. The premium lists issued by the societies holding fairs offer for 1907 the liberal sum of $159,145, an increase of $16,489.50 in 1905. There are a number of Agricultural Societies or Associations in the State that do not hold fairs, which devote their funds and energies to other educational work of great value, whose influence for good is recognized by this Department, and with whom we are always glad to co-operate. The meetings of some of these associa tions attract some of the best public teachers of Agricultural Science in the entire country and, therefore, deserve all the recog nition and assistance this department is able to give. The continued agitation by the public press, of the subject of sup pressing all immoral and objectionable features, that seemed to be obtaining an established position in some of the fairs held in the State, has not been in vain and conditions have been greatly im proved. While our State recognizes the very great good that can be accomplished in behalf of Agriculture, by well conducted county fairs, it cannot afford to make any appropriation of public money in any direction or for any purpose where just criticism or adverse comment can be sustained. The reports received by the Department show that the fairs of 1907 were among the most successful, in point of interest and attendance, in the history of the State, and that the exhibits were superior both in number and quality. The management, in most cases, refused to grant the customary "side-show" privileges that formerly aroused the just criticism of the public and the better class of people generally. A ban is upon all classes of gambling or betting and the moral atmosphere of county fairs generally is greatly improved. Persons who predicted a large falling off in attendance, if the objectionable features were prohibited, were proved to be in error, since the complete reports received show that the season of 1907, was as already stated, one of the most successful in point of attendance that our people have ever enjoyed. To the good people of the State, it is a matter of self congratulation that a better era for county fairs has dawned. As a source of education, the county and State fair should receive the loyal support of farmers, always and everywhere, but as a place for immoral exhibits and petty gambling, they are not worthy of their support. The General Assembly of 1907 passed an act authorizing County Commissioners, for the purpose of encouraging agriculture, to pay annually $1,000 to any incorporated Agricultural Association within their respective counties, that pays premiums on agricultural exhibits. The act provides, that this amount shall be paid to the societies holding such exhibition, for a period of not less than four days, in the interest of stock raising, handiwork and farm production, generally. The money thus provided cannot be devoted to the payment of premiums for exhibitions of speed or any manner of horse racing. The act also prohibits gambling devices or gambling in any form, upon the premises of the Association claiming such money, and also provides that the Association claiming such money shall pay in premiums a sum equal to the said $1,000, and when two Associations in the same county claim and receive five hundred dol lars each, they shall each pay a like sum in premiums, and that all premiums shall be paid only upon the products of the county wherein such exhibition is held. Under the liberal provisions of this act, some of the smaller and less prosperous agricultural societies of the State have been stimulated to greater efforts, and are in position to do much for the agricultural interests of their counties. It cannot be regarded otherwise than as a great misfortune that the bill that was before the Legislature of 1907, providing for the establishment of a State Fair, did not become a law. It is confidently hoped that the matter will be again taken up by the next Legislature and that success may crown the efforts of the progressive farmers who were so earnest in their pleas for such legislation a year ago. FOUL SEEDS. Many inquiries come to this Department concerning methods for the destruction of weeds, and many specimens of weeds are sent to us for identification, which proves that every one whose duties require much travel knows to be the case, that foul weeds are becoming quite prevalent in our State. This condition is the result of sowing seeds that are impure, particularly, clover and grass seeds. It is doubtful whether up to a period of ten or fifteen years 2-6-1907. ago, a stalk of either wild mustard or dodder could be found anywhere in the State. Now, both these plants are becoming quite common. The former no doubt has been introduced by sowing oats and barley seed, obtained from the West, in some parts of which this weed abounds. The latter is more likely to have been brought into our State with clover or grass seed. Many other weeds not native to our State have been introduced in the same manner. There are few greater hindrances to crop production than this soil pollution, and the struggle the farmer has upon his hands to rid his fields of these pests when they have once gotten a fixed hold, is both annoying and expensive. In addition to the introduction of foul weeds in the way suggested, much of the clover and grass seed brought into this State, and possibly some that is produced in the State, is adulterated by having mixed with it low grade and infertile seeds imported solely for the purpose of such adulteration. The propriety of some legislation to correct this evil may be worthy of the consideration of the law makers of the Commonwealth. FARM HELP. The information gathered by this Department, in relation to farm wages, shows that covering a period of several years, there has been but very little changes. The average amount paid to farm hands employed by the year, with board, is $220.00. For summer months only, with board, For harvest work, by the day, with board, $22.50 per mo. 315.00 1.75 1.10 2.75 While some of these figures may not appear attractive to wage earners, when compared with wages paid to miners and factory hands, the farm laborers enjoy certain privileges and perquisites that count for much, and at the end of the year, he is likely to have laid by for future use, from what to him may seem scant wages, more than the man who is employed in either factory or mine. The solution of the complex farm help problem remains unsolved, and as long as the unusually prosperous times for all manufacturing industries continue, farm help will be scare at any price the farmer can afford to pay. Whenever a period of financial depression comes, and men employed in other industries are put upon short time or "laid off" entirely, the labor of the country naturally seeks relief by going "back to the land" where the Creator first placed it and directed the Garden to be dressed and kept. It is unpleasant to record the fact that during the year, there were some instances where the owners of good farms gave up all farm operations on account of the serious trouble experienced in securing suitable help. The farmer cannot succeed with the indifferent help that may prove satisfactory in other industries. All the operations of the farm require good management and skillful execution. It requires infinitely more skill to run a corn planter or to dray with listing |