No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 696 



PRKFACK. 



Harrisburg, Fa,, December 31, lUUi. 



The following report, containing analyses of samples of Com- 

 mercial Fertilizers, collected by the agents of the Department of 

 Agriculture from January 1, to December 31, 1901, is herewith pre- 

 sented, for the information of the public. 



The usual discussion by the Chemist, of changes in the prices of 

 the ingredient« of fertilizers, which have occurred since August 1, 

 1900, is appended, together with a schedule of prices fixed for the 

 current year. 



The foot notes refer to the page where the appropriate list of prices 

 may be found; and farmers are urged to use these data, and com- 

 pute for themselves, the value of the composition which they expect 

 to purchase. 



The attention of manufacturers and dealers in Commercial Fer- 

 tilizers, is called to the new law, which is printed for information in 

 this bulletin. The law changes the license fee from ten dollars to 

 fifteen dollars for sales of one hundred tons or less, of each and every 

 brand sold within the State the previous year. 



The powers of the Secretary of Agriculture, in. the matter of en- 

 forcing the law, have been enlarged. The date of going into effect, 

 of the new law, is fixed at December 31, 1901. 



Manufacturers in sending in their list of brands of fertilizers some- 

 times use a slightly different wording on their sacks from that fur- 

 nished this Department. Agents of the Department in reporting are 

 required to copy the precise words used on the sack. If any change 

 has been made in branding, from the designation sent to thie oflSce, 

 we regard the brand so changed as UNLICENSED, and a separate 

 license must be taken out. 



Manufacturers are, therefore, cautioned to use the exact language 

 in marking the sacks, that they have furnished to the Department 

 for record. 



Commercial fertilizers are now a recognized necessity in the agri- 

 culture of Pennsylvania, and our farmers will have to post themselves 

 as to the action of the various substances that compose them, or pay 

 the penalty which is always exacted from ignorance. There was a 

 time when the farmer could not know what to purchase, or how to 

 purchase. That time is past, and if he is deceived now, it is his own 

 fault. Full information is at his disposal if he will take and use it. 



JOHN HAMILTON, 

 Secretary of Agriculture. 



