382 ANNUAL, REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



to 100 degrees instead of 150 degrees Fahrenheit, as now used; this 

 because analysis obtained by the use of the lesser temperature will 

 and do more truthfully show the plant food which can really \)e 

 made available to the growing plant. 



Your Committee has been able to gather but little information 

 as to the use of Floats, or simply ground concentrated Fhosphat-^ 

 rock, but believe that the evidence so far at hand does not justify 

 us in advocating their use in Pennsylvania soils, except where such 

 soils contain ample stores of humus. 



While your Committee realize that it is not possible to obtain all 

 we ask for to safeguard the farmer, we would name the following 

 points as of special importance in any new law: 



First: Prevent the printing on bag or tag of all but plain mini- 

 mum figures. 



Second: Provide for some statement on bag or tag of the source 

 of ingredients in the fertilizer, or at least for the establishment of 

 some standard of solubility by the use of which the tag can show 

 various degrees. 



Third: Provide for an increased penalty for non-compliance with 

 the law. The minimum fine of $25 and possible maximum of $200 

 does not seem sufficiently severe. 



Fourth: Provide that the official analysis made by the State 

 Chemist shall be sufficient legal evidence of the infraction of the 

 law, where such analysis shows less value than the guarantee. . 



So far as your Committee are aware, no prosecutions for infrac- 

 tions of the present laAv have been brought, even though the last 

 bulletin shows that during the period it records ninety-seven brands 

 fell below the guarantee in Phosphoric Acid, one hundred and 

 thirty-eight brands fell below the guarantee in Potash, and one hun- 

 dred and thirteen brands fell below the guarantee in Nitrogen con- 

 tents. Your Committee respectfully submits these facts for con- 

 sideration. Knowing of the activity of the Department in the 

 prosecution of violators of the Food and Foodstuff laws, we fe'el 

 that some valid reason must exist for the immunity enjoyed by the 

 dishonest fertilizer manufacturer. 



AGRICULTURE IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS. 



BT Dr. Thomas F. Hunt, state College, Pa. 



It is well to remind ourselves at the very outset that the most 

 important problem in secondary education is not primarily the sub- 

 ject or subjects taught. If out of every ten pupils who enter the 

 public schools only one enters the High School, it must be obvious 

 that the question of first importance is not whether this or that 

 subject should be taught or whether one kind of education is better 

 than another, but the prime question is how to reach the nine boys 

 and girls who now fail to receive the benefits of secondary educa- 

 tion. 



