284 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



test, the intradermal test and the intra-palpebral test. For making 

 the last three named tests a special form of tuberculin is required. 

 Under certain conditions they are more reliable than the subcu- 

 taneous test and the veterinarian at the present time who is thor- 

 oughly qualified and competent to test cattle for tuberculosis, should 

 be familiar with and prepare to apply any or all of these four tests, 

 and in addition to using them, should be able to make a careful phy- 

 sical examination. The person who is properly equipped to make 

 these various tests, combined with a careful physical examination, 

 should be able to detect tuberculosis in more than 98% of the 

 cases, and make mistakes in less than 2%. 



Where results so good can be obtained, it would seem advisable 

 to develop these methods to the highest possible standard, and every- 

 body concerned use his efforts to do away with the careless methods 

 that have been practiced in too many cases. 



REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON FERTILIZERS 



By JOHN SHOENER, Chairman. 



A year ago, when the Executive Committe honored me with the 

 appointment of Chairman of the Committee on Fertilizers, I prom- 

 ised them to make my report from the farmer's standpoint. The 

 subject of Commercial Fertilizers is an important one to the farm- 

 ers of Pennsylvania, as it has considerable effect upon their bank 

 account. Next to the cost of labor, the fertilizer bills are the farm- 

 ers' largest item of expense. The use of commercial fertilizers is 

 continually increasing. In my own section, it has doubled within 

 the last five years. Hay always brings a good price, labor is high, 

 and competent help scarce at any price. This has induced the 

 farmers, in many instances, to reduce their livestock and increase 

 the use of commercial fertilizers. Where most of the crops are sold 

 from the farm, they carry with them a large amount of plant food 

 which they have taken out of the soil. This can only be replaced 

 by hauling manure back to the farm, or by the extensive use of 

 commercial fertilizers. Where the farmer lives close to a city and 

 can get the manure cheap and fresh from the stable, the hauling of 

 manure would probably be tbe best method to keep up the fertility 

 of the soil; but comparatively few farmers are so situated, and the 

 intelligent use of commercial fertilizers together with green ma- 

 nuring lime is to be recommended. 



Much of the money expended for fertilizers is wasted in buying 

 low grade fertilizers which are sold on their brand names and the 

 long double column of figures shomng the analysis; where, if the 

 manufacturers were required to print the actual number of pounds 

 of available plant food of the constituents contained, and the sources 

 from which they were derived, the ordinary farmer would, at a 



