185 



REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON FERTILIZER LEGISLATION. 



Tin- report of thr committee of last year could not be sent out to interested parties 

 until Saturday, .November 7, 1908. This, of course, rendered it impossible to get 

 any definite statements respecting the tentative definitions of fertilizers and of mis- 

 branding and adulteration. A number of replies have been received, however, a 

 few of which, representing their general tenor, are submitted. 



In tin- , -in mnstam >, therefore, the committee begs to report that it is desirable 

 to postpone further action in regard to this important matter until the next meeting 

 of tin- association. By that time the views of state officials, manufacturers, and 

 farmers on the tentative definitions, etc., can be received and fully digested and 

 placed in shape for consideration. The committee therefore recommends that it be 

 continued with this report of progress for the purpose of a further study, in view of 

 the criticisms which may be received on the definitions which have been submitted. 



H. W. WILEY. 



H. B. MCDONNELL. 



B. B. Ross. 



[The t. -iitativc definition.- referred to in the report are as follows, together with 

 nuiH'iits <>n the same received at the time of the meeting.] 



I i \i.\n\ K I M:UM i I..NS OK FKKTILIZERS AND OP MISBRANDING AND ADULTERATION. 



A fertili/.er shall be defined as any simple, compound, or mixed material, 



prepared f,, r the purpose of selling, or sold, or offered for sale, to be applied to the 



-.>il it-* nouri-hment for plants, or a a modifier of the soil in any respect in its relation 



ti. i In- LT"\\ th of plant.- Th.- term "fertilizer material" (or ingredients) shall include 



plant -food material which is utilized, or intended to be utilized, in the manu- 



re, preparation, or mixing of the fertilizers defined above. 



(2) A lertili/.er, or fertili/.er material (or ingredient), shall be deemed to be adulter- 

 ated 



(a) If the percentage of any of its ingredients fall materially below the professed 

 standard under which it is sold, whether this standard appear as a label upon the 

 package or at* a guaranty in any other way by the vendor thereof. 



(b) If any of the ingredients thereof have an origin other than that indicated upon 

 the ; r guaranteed in any other way by the vendor thereof. 



(c) If any "t the iujn-dicnts of the fertilizer, or fertilizer material, be in a state of 

 combination dim-rent from that indicated by the label or guaranteed by the vendor 

 ther- 



\ fertili/er, or fertili/er material, shall be deemed as misbranded: 



(a) I f any false name or misleading statement or design or device be affixed to any 

 package thereof ..r used in any way as a representation of the materials thereof by the 

 vend 



(b) If any false or misleading statement respecting the origin of the material be 

 made UIHUI the label, or any statement or guaranty of the vendor. 



(c) If any false or misleading statement be made upon the label, or by the vendor, 

 n'spectini: the country or origin of the materials of which the fertilizer is composed. 



(d) If any fal-e ..r inisleadiiu: statement be made on the label, or by the vendor, 

 tin-.: the virtues or qualities of the fertilizer or the materials composing it. 



(e) If sold umlerany false name or appellation, whether such name appear upon the 

 package or label or be given to the article by the vendor thereof . 



I f it be an imitation of or offered for sale under the name of another fertilizer or 

 fertili/.er material. 



COMMENTS. 



(1) Definition (1) includes land plaster, ground limestone, etc. I would hardly 



r- the including of such materials, as any additional cost attached to such a sub- 



stance as ground limestone would operate seriously against its use. In this State we 



do not consider ground phosphate rock (raw rock) among the commercial fertilizers, 



although its sale is in no way restricted. 



