"The microscopic examination of the nitrogenous fertilizers for leather, hair, and other materials the use of which without notice is prohibited by the act of May 1, 1909, revealed in no case such quantity of any of these substances as might not fairly be regarded as an accidental trace. No instance has been reported by the sampling agents in which a declaration of the presence of such material has been made. It is, however, a matter of quite general knowledge that substances of this kind are being largely used in fertilizer mixtures; but, in most cases at least, only after such treatment as results in the destruction of the characteristic tissues and, at the same time, wholly or partly in that of organic compounds originally present. The Pennsylvania Agricultural Experiment Station is now conducting, under the w: iter's supervision, an investigation to determine the degree to which the acid treatment usually employed improves the availability of the nitrogen in these substances.

"In conformity with the requirements of the act of April 23, 1909, many firms dropped from the brand names of goods manufactured by them the word 'bone' hitherto forming part of said names. Where such change in name appears, it may be taken as evidence that the phosphoric acid is derived, at least in part, from something else than bone."

During the year just ending there were 1,575 brands of mixed fertilizers and fertilizing materials registered with the Department. License fees amounting to $27,960.00 were received from the above registration and paid into the State Treasury, as provided by law.

At the present writing (April, 1912), one hundred and seventyfour reports have been received from manufacturers and importers, containing statements of their sales in this State during the year 1911, amounting to 281,782 tons, covering all materials used for fertilizing purposes.

After comparing these reports with reports showing the tonnage of 1910, I find there appears a decrease in the amount of mixed fertilizers consumed during the year, and a marked increase in the amount of the raw materials used. This condition, in a measure, is brought about by the extensive education that is being published concerning the economy of "home mixed" fertilizers, and also by the zealous efforts of manufacturers' agents to execute contracts when they are unable to sell their regular brands.

For your better information I have prepared the following table showing the reported tonnage, for both the years 1910 and 1911, of the several classes of fertilizers:

It is especially gratifying that many manufacturers have withdrawn the maximum figures of their guarantees from their bag statements and others are eliminating the "equivalents," both of which have proved confusing to consumers.

BUREAU OF PUBLICATIONS

During the year 1911, the Department issued 14 bulletins, Nos. 205 to 218, both inclusive. The demand for Department reports and bulletins is very great, each year showing an increased interest in agricultural knowledge over the preceding year. Requests come from the schools of the State for literature along agricultural lines, and many High Schools use the bulletins of the Department in class study.

Since 1899, 12 annual reports, aggregating 12,400 pages and 177 bulletins aggregating 15,500 pages have been published. During the same period there has been distributed to the people of the Commonwealth, various states of the Union and foreign countries, about 400,000 copies of the Department publications. This number does not include the annual reports distributed by the members of the Senate and House of Representatives, aggregating in 12 years about 150,000, making a total of 550,000 copies of reports and bulletins sent out for the information of the people in agriculture and allied subjects.

Neither does the above number include the monthly bulletins issued by the Dairy and Food Bureau and the Bureau of Economic Zoology, from which has gone out during the past 10 years at least 500,000 copies making a grand total of more than one million of copies of literature for the benefit of the general farmer, trucker, fruit grower and producer of livestock, etc., distributed during 12 years. There are on hand at the present time for distribution more than 250,000 publications.

These publications are, for the most part, prepared by specialists along the many lines to which they relate, the editing of the same being done by the Chief Clerk of the Department, Mr. M. D. Lichliter, who also has supervision of their distribution.

STATE FAIR

For a number of years the State Livestock Breeders' Association, the Dairy Union, the Horticultural Society and the State Board of Agriculture have held what would be in many states regarded a very creditable exhibition of agricultural, horticultural and dairy products, as well as animal displays, for which premiums secured by voluntary contributions and by some advertising were offered that have been of such amounts and character as to create keen competition to obtain them.

It seems that after these agricultural organizations have created such an interest in State exhibits by voluntary action that the time has come for the Legislature to make an appropriation for the purchase of grounds and the erection of buildings for a State Fair, and for the payment of such premiums as are compatible with the agricultural interest of the State.

I wish, in conclusion, to express to your Excellency personally my appreciation of your readiness on all occasions to give to me every assistance possible in carrying forward the work of the Department.

I desire to express my appreciation of the faithfulness to duty of the heads of the several Bureaus of the Department without which the success that has crowned our efforts would have been impossible. I also feel under renewed obligations to the press of this city and to the agricultural and public press generally for the important aid they have continued to give to the work for which this Department stands.

Respectfully submitted,

MB britchfield

Harrisburg, Pa., Apri! 4, 1912.

Secretary of Agriculture.

3-6-1911

SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BUREAU OF FARMERS' INSTITUTES FOR THE SEASON OF 1910-1911

Harrisburg, Pa., January 1, 1912.

To the Hon. N. B. Critchfield, Secretary of Agriculture:

Sir: I have the honor to present herewith the Seventeenth Annual Report of the Bureau of Farmers' Institutes.

INSTITUTES HELD AND ATTENDANCE

There were held in the season ending June 1, 1911, in the different counties 477 days of institute and schools, divided into 1,162 sessions, a total attendance at which was 189,383. Attendance at Regular Institutes 162,809, Special Institutes 10,376, Movable Institute Schools 16,198, Harvest Home Picnics 20,000, making a grand total in attendance of 209,383. Our Annual Normal Institute was held in the city of Lancaster, May 23-26, 1911. This meeting was attended not only by Managers of Institutes in the various counties and practically all State Lecturers, but representatives of County Agricultural Societies, local granges and farmers' clubs. The State Grange was represented by Master Creasy. More than ordinary interest was manifested on part of the delegates on the question of Co-operation amongst the Farmers for the Marketing of their Crops and purchasing Farm Supplies. A committee was appointed, consisting of Messrs. R. P. Kester, E. B. Dorsett and Archie Billings to investigate the matter and make recommendations for action at our next annual meeting.

MOVABLE SCHOOLS AND INSTITUTES

Movable Schools, continuing four days each, were held in 12 counties of the State, consisting of Potter, Warren, York, Lebanon, Lackawanna, Columbia, Venango, Erie, Crawford, Westmoreland, Chester and Lehigh. As previously reported, these schools continue to teach and demonstrate lessons in Dairying, Horticulture, Poultry and Domestic Science, and Home Sanitation, as a result of which a marked improvement may be noted in the matter of dairy improvement by use of the Babcock Test, the unprofitable dairy cow is being rapidly elimiated from the herd, barn ventilation and conveniences is taking the place of old and unsanitary methods. Horticulture, as developed by our experts, is being practiced by thousands of farmers of the State with very satisfactory results. I may name one instance in Tioga county where 15 orchards within a radius of two miles were supplied with a spraying outfit directly as a result of such teaching. This is only an example of what is occurring in hundreds of other places. Our fruit industry is scarcely second to that of dairying. A careful and somewhat hurried estimate of the fruit growing interests of the State shows that we have over 23,225,000 apple trees planted, 1,000,000 pear, 3,000,000 peach, making a total of 27,225,000

in all. These figures show somewhat the importance of Horticulture in Pennsylvania. As a result of introducing poultry as a line of special teaching at our schools and institutes, the farm poultry of the State is being rapidly improved. The old mongrel hen is supplanted by thoroughbred stock, fed and housed in such manner as to bring profitable results in both egg production and poultry for the market. We feel safe in saying that no other branch of livestock industry offers more promising results for the money invested than a well cared for flock of hens. The value of this industry in birds and their products amounts to upwards of $23,000,000 for the year 1911. No Institute or School is held in Pennsylvania at which is not taken up the subject of Horticulture or Poultry in one or the other of their branches.

PENNSYLVANIA FARMERS' INSTITUTES 1910-1911

The following is a complete list, by counties, of dates and places where institutes, movable schools and special institutes were held throughout the State for the institute year, ending June 1, 1911: