LET THE LAW INTERFERE. 289 



The question now arises, How can a stop be put to the villany 

 by which we have all, more or less, been made to smart ? We 

 believe with Dr. Nichols, that " it can be done," if we will all 

 work together with that end in view. 



We can conceive of three ways in which that very desirable 

 result may be accomplished, one of which is, as before suggested, 

 to quit buying. Another is, for every man who desires to use 

 concentrated manures to learn to prepare the compound, if 

 such it be. The third, let the State interfere. 



It is evident the first proposition is well-nigh impracticable, 

 there are so many fertilizing materials not procurable by the 

 masses without the aid of commerce. That being the case, it 

 follows that the second method cannot be adopted except to a 

 limited extent, and by comparatively few of those whom grim 

 necessity compels to resort to other sources than home produc- 

 tions for fertilizing the land. 



As Mr. Metcalf has done, and as Dr. Nichols is scientifically 

 doing, and with the instruction they and others are ready to 

 impart, many may and will receive efficient aid in utilizing 

 bones, ashes, lime, plaster, salt, &g. After doing all that may 

 be done, commerce in fertilizers will, to a greater or less extent, 

 be carried on. Hence the third and last proposition is the one 

 to which we must look, and on which we can rely with safety, 

 viz. : the State has a duty to perform, through her legislature, 

 which we trust will be delayed no longer. The strong arm of 

 the law must be brought to bear upon those who will sell for 

 bone ground sand, oyster-shells or plaster. Let imposition in 

 the matter of fertilizers be made a criminal and penal offence. 



Let us have a law enacted by which the governor and council 

 shall be clothed with authority to appoint an inspector or inspec- 

 tors, as the exigency may be, who shall be empowered to visit 

 the manufactories of fertilizers throughout the State, subject 

 the materials to chemical analysis, and, whether the products of 

 these manufactories shall be put up in bags or barrels, let them 

 bear the great seal of the State, the inspector's brand, or any 

 other safeguard adopted which shall protect the purchaser. 



We can assure gentlemen of this Board that no Southern 



rebel was ever more terribly in earnest in his devotion to the 



lost cause than are your Committee for the enactment of a law 



which shall protect the purchasers of commercial manures 



37 



