No. 7. DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE. 441 



And SO could be mentioned many other of the mineral products of 

 our mighty Commonwealth; but time will not permit. Minerals we 

 shunned a few years ago, we now seek; and minerals that had some 

 values then, now have many-fold more. 



The CHAIR: You have heard this most excellent report. What 

 disposition will you make of it? 



On motion, the report was received and placed on file. 



The CHAIR: Are there any remarks on the report, or is it your 

 pleasure to discuss it later? 



MR. RODGERS: I think it would be right and proper to pass on 

 with the program and then discuss these papers as a whole, if we 

 have time, in order that we may get to hear everything that is pre- 

 pared for the day's program. 



Mr. H. G. McGowan, Chairman of Committee on Fertilizers, made 

 the following report: 



REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FERTILIZERS. 



Br H. G. McGowAN, Chairman. 



Year after year commercial fertilizers in Pennsylvania are being 

 used in increased quantities. The one element alone (nitrogen) is 

 being consumed at the rate of 1,500,000 pounds in a single year. 

 The element most largely used is phosphoric acid. Barnyard 

 manure is more deficient in this particular than any other, hence, 

 nearly all brands of fertilizers put upon the market, contains large 

 percentages of phosphoric acid. America, outside of Germany, is 

 the largest consumer of potash. 



Potash is a very necessary element in all fertilizers and shows its 

 effect upon land and crops when used. The intelligent use of ferti- 

 lizers is becoming year after year better understood, yet there is 

 great room for much improvement along this line. Entirely too 

 mubh money is spent uselessly by many farmers in purchasing fer- 

 tilizers. More correct figuring should be used, when thousands of 

 dollars can be saved and used for other improvements on the farm. 



For an illustration: A man who was a graduate of a Normal 

 school in one of our counties in this State sent for an agent to come 

 and see him, as he wanted to contract for two carloads of fertilizer. 

 The agent went to the place, met the farmer, who was presently 

 asked what kind of goods he desired to purchase. He replied that 

 last season he bought eighteen dollar goods. He was asked what 

 he meant by flS.OO goods, when he replied, that Avas what he paid 

 for it and he bought it right too. He was next asked to please 

 quote the analysis, but this he could not do. An empty bag waia 



29 



