The Florida Agriculturist

May 24, 1893.

which does not represent one half the number of tons used in the State, owing to a defect in the present law which really left it optional with the manufacturer whether or not he should pay the tax of 25 cents. The tax of 25 cents gave a surplus under the present law when not one half of the fertilizer dealers paid the tax and the department had six inspectors to pay for them, and yet the law makers wish to double this tax, or in other words, collect from the farmers $20,000 over the amount wanted to properly run this department, allowing the officers good wages.

We went before this fertilizer committee and we hope prevailed on them not to increase the present tax but to lower it if possible, showing that a tax of 15 cents would pay all the expenses of the office which should be all that is asked.

The idea that the committee has, a high tax will keep out inferior goods is a great mistake, as the 50 cents tax is simply added to the cost of the goods and the farmer has to pay for it. Better increase the penalty for goods not coming up to analysis and pass such laws as will enable the chemist to secure samples in a proper manner for analysis.

The office of State chemist, with proper laws, and a proper man at the head of it, will be a great benefit to the State but if high taxes prevail and the office should pass into the hands of one whose submission for gain is more than his desire to serve the State faithfully it would become far worse for the people than no fertilizer law at all.

Every grower should write his representative that a tax sufficiently large to cover the expenses of the department is all that is needed and urge the necessity of seeing that his (the grower's) interests are protected.