Biennial report North Carolina Department of Agriculture

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REPORT
of
The North Carolina
Department of Agriculture
For the Biennium 1938-1940
OWEX G. DUNN
STATE PBINTEE
NEW BEEN, N. C.
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
To His Excellency, Clyde R. Hoey,
Governor of North Carolina:
Sir:
In compliance with Chapter 248, Public Laws of 1929, I submit
the following report of the work of the Department of Agricul-ture
for the biennium 1938-1940.
Respectfully,
Raleigh, N. C,
November 1, 1940.
Commissioner of Agriculture.
REPORT
OF
TKe NortK Carolina
Department of Agriculture
For the Biennium 1938-1940
PERSONNEL
OF THE
STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
W. Kerr Scott, Commissioner
Mrs. L. L. Stevens Shawboro, N. C.
C. S Young Shelby, N. C.
D. R. NOLAND Clyde, N. C.
Claude T. Hall Woodsdale, N. C.
J. H. Poole. West End, N. C.
M. L. Aderholdt Lexington, N. C.
Chas F. Cates Mebane, N. C.
W. G. Hargett ...Richlands, N. C.
Lionel Weil Goldsboro, N. C.
W. I. BissETTE ....Grifton, N. C.
Administration
W. Kerr Scott Commissioner
D. S. CoLTRANE Assistant to the Commissioner
Myrtha Fleming Principal General Clerk
Mary Knight Principal General Clerk
Louis H. Wilson Editor of Publications
A. R. PowLEDGE Senior Auditor
Donnie M. Norman Senior Accounting Clerk
C. P. Deyton JPrindpal Accounting Clerk
Katherine Palmer Junior Accounting Clerk
Jerrie Wheless Senior Stenographer Clerk
Chas. Higgs Janitor-Clerk
Worth Jeffreys.^ Janitor-Messenger
Robert Harris Janitor Messenger
Inspection
W. E. Fuller Junior Dairy Specialist
Chas. H. Godwin, Jr, Senior Food Inspector
Martin McCall... Senior Feed Inspector
E. J. Harrington. Senior Fertilizer Inspector
W. H. Ferguson Fertilizer Inspector
Sidney B. Clement._ Fertilizer Inspector
John F. Reinhardt._ Fertilizer Inspector
J. W. Turner Fertilizer Inspector
Markets
R. B. Etheridge Chief
Buxton White.... Senior Marketing Specialist
C. W. Sheffield Senior Marketing Specialist
Paul L. Fletcher Senior Marketing Specialist
A. B. Harless Senior Marketing Specialist
H. T. Westcott Senior Marketing Specialist
W. P. Hedrick Senior Marketing Specialist
Geo. R. Ross Senior Marketing Specialist
Williard Holden Darst __ Associate Marketing Specialist
Ralph Bogan Kelly Jissociate Marketing Specialist
ISABELLE Moseley Junior Marketing Specialist
6 Biennial Report
Grace Mildred Howell Junior Stenographer Clerk
Mary C. Hutchinson Junior Stenographer Clerk
Ruth Cash Junior Stenographer Clerk
Celesta Ballance Junior Stenographer Clerk
W. G. Jones Senior Telegraph Operator
Credit Union
D. R. Graham Senior Auditor
Alex S. Bynum... Junior Auditor
Jeanette Cohen Junior Stenographer Clerk
Dairy
C. W. Pegram - Dairy Specialis
t
Entomology
C. H. Brannon Senior Entomologist
J. A. Harris Senior Entomologist
D. L. Wray.. Associate Entomologist
C. S. Brimley Associate Entomologist
P. G. Craddock ._ Senior Apiary Inspector
Pauline P. Newsom Senior Stenographer Clerk
C. H. Hill Japanese Beetle Inspector
Seed Laboratory
J. W. WOODSIDB Senior Botanist
S. D. Allen...„ Senior Seed Analyst
Elizabeth Eby._ Senior Seed Analyst
Magdalene Brummitt Junior Seed Analyst
Mrs. M. N. Mattocks Junior Stenographer Clerk
Elsie W. Earp..._ Junior Seed Analyst
Margaret Rarer Junior Stenographer Clerk
C. H. Lutterloh Senior Feed Inspector
Joshua S. James Senior Feed Inspector
T. A. Holcombe Senior Feed Inspector
Analytical
B. W. KiLGORE.. Senior Chemist
W. A. Queen..._ Senior Chemist
L. B. Rhodes Senior Chemist
E. W. Constable Senior Chemist
L. M. Nixon _.._ Senior Chemist
Z. B. Bradford ...Senior Chemist
E. T. HoRD... ..Senior Chemist
J. S. PiTTARD Senior Chemist
H. F. Pickering Senior Chemist
W. P. Matthews Junior Chemist
L. W. PuRDY Junior Chemist
H. D. Matheson Junior Chemist
J. O. DuNSTON Junior Chemist
David E. Buffaloe.__ Junior Chemist
Charles C. Gates, Jr Junior Chemist
Sarah G. Allen.__ Principal General Clerk
Heber B. Hatch Principal General Clerk
Velva Hudson Senior General Clerk
M. S. BiRDSONG Junior General Clerk
Mildred G. Jackson Senior Stenographer Clerk
Grace Mewborn Senior Stenographer Clerk
L. V. Amburgey Microscopist
W. E. McNeill._ Senior Food Inspector
James A. Belton Junior Food Inspector
Moses Lord Laboratory Helper
Elvin Rogers Laboratory Helper
Robert L. Harris ..Laboratory Helper
Commissioner of Agriculture 7
Crop Statistics
W. T. Garriss Junior Statistician
Henry G. Brown Senior Statistical Clerk
E. R. Simpson Senior Statistical Clerk
William T. Wesson Senior Statistical Clerk
Russell P. Handy Senior Statistical Clerk
Sarah Drake Senior Statistical Clerk
Bessie Kellogg Senior Statistical Clerk
Maragret Taylor Senior Statistical Clerk
C. R. SuMRELL Junior Statistical Clerk
Mrs. Espy S. Bolger Junior Accounting Clerk
Herbert Barnes Senior General Clerk
Museum
H. T. Davis. Senior Curator
H. H. Brimley Senior Curator
RoxiE Collie Simpson Preparator and Taxidermist
Pat Pittman... Junior General Clerk
Owen Woods.. Janitor
Pattie Daniels Maid
Veterinary
William Moore.„ ^.State Veterinarian
L. J. Faulhaber Associate Veterinarian
W. R. Baynes..... Associate Veterinarian
Maurice A. Schooley Junior Veterinarian
Joe F. Baxter Junior Veterinarian
C. E. Cox Junior Veterinarian
C. B. Randall Junior Veterinarian
Charles R. Border ...Junior Veterinarian
Wayne D. Collins ...Junior Veterinarian
William R. Beasley .Junior Veterinarian
Urban E. Whatley._ Junior Veterinarian
C. Edwin Hofmann ..Junior Veterinarian
L. J. Fourie... Junior Bacteriologist
Woodson Futrell Junior Bacteriologist
John J. Filicky.„. Junior Bacteriologist
Grace John..... Senior Stenograhper Clerk
Edna Lee Simpson Junior Stenographer Clerk
H. S. Wilfong. Junior Bacteriologist
R. C. Noble ..Hatchery and Flock Inspector
T. L. Wellborn Hatchery and Flock Inspector
Bruce H. Overman Hatchery and Flock Inspector
E. L. Burgess.... Hatchery and Flock Inspector
James J. Page Hatchery and Folck Inspector
A. R. Gattis..... Hatchery and Flock Inspector
Coleman Absher Hatchery and Flock Inspector
J. H. Oliver Hatchery and Flock Inspector
Carl H. Tower Hatchery and Flock Inspector
Walter C. Smith..... Hatchery and Flock Inspector
W. W. Keever Hatchery and Flock Inspector
N. P. McDuffie Hatchery and Flock Inspector
Frank Hall. ....Laboratory Aid
Frank Howard Laboratory Helper
Test Farms
F. E. Miller.: Director
Kathleen Harrison Senior Stenographer Clerk
J. L. Rea, Jr Superintendent
F. B. Harris... Herdsman
Holland Allen Foreman
A. P. Lefevers Assistant Field Crops
8 Biennial Report
Carlos Manning Assistant Field Crops
Herbert Allen Assistant Livestock
Dempsey Allen Animal Feeder
E.G. Moss Superintendent
Joe L. Rand Foreman
Clifton L. Blackwell._ Assistant Foreman
E. Floyd Junior Stenographer Clerk
R. E. CuRRiN, Jr Superintendent
W. C. Allsbrook Foreman
Mary W. Currin. Junior Stenographer Clerk
Dean W. Colvard Superintendent
J. R. B. Williamson Dairy Herdsman
J. Ernest Love Poultryman
W. M. Whisenhunt Foreman
W. W. Ross.. Assistant Horticulturist
E. W. Rhodes Assistant Field Crops
R. L. York... Assistant Dairyman
Hazel Drake Junior Stenographer Clerk
Chas. T. Dearing.. Superintendent
D. P. Southerland.. .....Foreman
C. O. Bollinger Poultryman
Fred Stevens, Jr Dairyman
B. L. Williams Junior Stenographer Clerk
J. W. Hendricks .Superintendent
Grady Berry Foreman
Lackey BENriELD.„ Assistant Horticulturist
Rose E. Bradford Junior Stenographer Clerk
Blister Rust
H. B. Teague ....State Leader
Carson W. Swanger... Inspector
Mrs. Hazel W. Pettit Junior Stenographer Clerk
Oscar V. Coulter Inspector
Hobert a. Whitman Inspector
Mark M. Ferguson Inspector
Soil Testing
I. E. Miles... Director
Frank H. Brown Junior Chemist
Mrs. J. F. Jeffreys, Jr Junior Stenographer Clerk
Cornelia McKaughan Junior Stenographer Clerk
Arthur Giles Laboratory Aid
State Warehouse System
A. B. Fairley Superintendent
C. R. Reynolds Chief Cotton Classer
Joe E. Trowbridge... Senior Cotton Classer
Robert S. Pou Warehouse Examiner
Fred P. Johnson Gin Expert
Mrs. J. N. Mason Senior Stenographer Clerk
Mrs. Hallie K. Morrow Senior Stenographer Clerk
Elizabeth Fleming Junior General Clerk
J. B. Haywood Cotton Classer
E. L. Ufchurch..._ Senior General Clerk
N. C. State Fair
J. S. DoRTON Manager
Edna Dees. Senior Stenographer Clerk
G. C. Ellis Caretaker
Weights and Measures
C. D. Baucom '. .Superintendent
John A. Cook — .Inspector
Commissioner of Agriculture 9
George S. Turner..._ .....Inspector
H. W. Hood Inspector
G. C. BoswooD.. Inspector
W. C. Barnett Inspector
Doris E. Powell Junior Stenographer Clerk
WiLBERT Spruell Helper
Cooperative Inspection Service
W. A. Barwick —Egg Grader
G. H. Wheelous.... Egg Grader
McRee Davis —Egg Grader
H. D. Wilson Egg Grader
H. P. Hall Egg Grader
T, E. Peterson Egg Grader
D. A. Bass Egg Grader
S. M. James Egg Inspector
BIENNIAL REPORT
OF THE
NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT
OF AGRICULTURE
By W. Kerr Scott, Commissioner of Agriculture
Creation of a public consciousness as to the need for an en-larged
agricultural marketing program and the strict enforce-ment
of regulatory, inspectional and control laws for the
protection of farmers and honest manufacturers are among the
outstanding accomplishments of the North Carolina Department
of Agriculture during the biennium.
Consistent with the demand for enlarged services in the fields
of marketing and control work relating to farming, expansions
have been made in all divisions directly serving the farmer.
A more sympathetic understanding and appreciation of agri-cultural
needs by the 1939 General Assembly has made possible
many expansions of service to agriculture, including the estab-lishment
of a Soil Testing Division which enables the Depart-ment
to furnish growers valuable information as to the fertilizer
needs of their land, information that will result in a more in-telligent
and economical use of fertilizers.
Changes have been made in laws and regulations governing
inspectional and control work relating to agriculture only after
hearings or consultations with farmers and representatives of
affected industries.
The strict enforcement of laws and regulations designed to
protect the farmer and honest manufacturer has contributed to
the building of a more profitable farm program and a more sub-stantial
agricultural industry.
Expansion of agricultural marketing work still heads the list
of needs of North Carolina farmers. An enlarged, practical
marketing program is essential to a well-balanced farm program.
Substantial contributions have been made by the Department
in bringing the need for better marketing facilities to the atten-tion
of Congress. The Department will continue to campaign for
an enlarged marketing program, recognizing such a program as
vital to the economic well-being of the National and State farm
population.
A report of the Department's progress during the biennium
follows
:
12 Biennial Report
Chemistry: Strict enforcement of regulatory, inspect!onal
and control laws has increased the value of services rendered in
the Chemistry division. A total of 14,181 analyses of fertilizers,
fertilizer materials, feeds, cottonseed meals, limes and land plas-ter,
limes and marl, insecticides and fungicides has been made
during the biennium. A total of 4,019 samples of foods intended
for human consumption were analyzed. A total of 3,555 food
plant inspections were made in the interest of food sanitation.
Test Farms: With the completion of a new Federal office
building and laboratory with $80,000 appropriated by Congress,
the Tobacco Station at Oxford is now recognized as the largest
in the Nation. The addition of 248 acres of land adjoining the
Upper Coastal Plain Test Farm at Rocky Mount gives the State
the largest peanut research station in the Nation. All six test
farms are in better physical condition than at any time in history.
The agricultural research program on all test farms has been
enlarged, particularly in the fields of tobacco insect and disease
control, small grain improvement and peanut investigations.
Other test farm programs have been improved in proportion to
the increased research work and attendance at field days has
totaled 25,000 a year.
Markets: Marketing programs designed to increase growers'
incomes through the promotion of better grading and packing
practices have been definitely beneficial and successful. New pro-grams
and expansion of other services include enforcement of an
egg storage law enacted by the 1939 General Assembly; estab-lishment
of grades for lespedeza seed ; promotion of dairy pro-ducts
through the organization of Dairy Council units ; "rehabili-tation"
of the commercial Irish potato industry through the
promotion of approved grading, packing and merchandizing
methods ; increasing the sale of North Carolina feeder cattle
through a comprehensive marketing bulletin; expansion of agri-cultural
market news services for growers and others ; enlarged
service to tobacco growers in presenting valuable information on
grades and marketing practices ; enforcement of new regulations
to protect farmers from losses due to the sale of inferior seed
Irish potatoes.
Veterinary Division: Bang's disease, most destructive of the
maladies affecting dairy cattle, "is definitely on its way out" in
North Carolina. An appropriation was secured from the 1939
General Assembly to match federal funds to pay owners for
diseased animals slaughtered, and during the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1940, a total of $20,320 was paid on 886 claims. Definite
progress has been made in eliminating Pullorum disease, a costly
disease of baby chicks. Nine veterinarians have been employed
Commissioner of Agriculture 13
in an effort to control hog cholera and other swine diseases in
the commercial areas.
Dahnj Division: Check tests for butter-fat have been made
on approximately 25,000 samples, necessitating 1,500 investi-gations.
The work of licensed testers has been checked and the
sampling and weighing of milk has been supervised regularly.
Legislation has been sponsored and enacted to secure records on
creamery and milk products, thus enabling the Division to
furnish accurate information on the growth of the dairy industry.
Warehouse: A modern, brick building for cotton classing has
been constructed at a cost of approximately $30,000, 40% of
which was obtained from the federal government, enabling the
Division to give prompt and efficient service in cotton classing
for the farmers of the State. Sixty per cent of the State's cotton
crop has been handled through this Division. There is a licensed
warehouse in every cotton-producing county.
Credit Unions: Fifty new credit unions have been organized
during the biennium, bringing the total to 125. Membership has
been increased from 12,343 on June 30, 1938 to 22,466 on June
30, 1940, and over the corresponding period loans have been in-creased
from $5,863,366 to $10,704,704.
Entomology : An extensive soil poisoning program to control
the spread of the Japanese beetle, deadly enemy of 300 agricul-tural
plants and grasses, has been made possible with an appro-priation
of $90,000 by the 1939 General Assembly. Substantial
progress has been made in controlling American foulbrood, a bee
disease which is steadily decreasing. Blister rust, a disease of
white pine, has been kept out of the State under a preventative
program. Other control programs have been enlarged.
Statistics: The North Carolina Crop Reporting Service is
officially rated third in the United States. A dairy manufac-turers'
report, special truck crop reports, grain reports of
thresher operators, price information service rendered the coordi-nating
committee of the U. S. Census, formation of Junior Crop
Reporting Clubs are included in the expanded program of the
Division during the biennium.
Weights and Measures: A total of 122,467 weights, measures
and devices were inspected of which 106,004 were approved,
13,346 condemned; 2,266 confiscated and 851 released. A total
of 1,146 heavy duty scales were tested and requests for tests
justify an additional testing unit.
Accounts: Economy has been effected through the establish-ment
of a centralized accounting office through which receipts
and disbursements for all divisions are handled. Prompt and
14 Biennial Report
efficient service has been rendered in the handhng of fertihzer,
feed, seed and other tax tags. All accounts have been submitted
and approved by the Budget Bureau.
Seed Laboratory: A total of 23,802 samples of seed were
tested during the biennium, representing a 15 per cent increase
compared with the previous biennium. Cooperation with federal
authorities in connection with the Federal Seed Act has resulted
in a better control of the quality of seed produced in other states
and purchased by our farmers. Strict enforcement of the State
Seed Law has enabled growers to purchase seed of known quality.
State Museum: More than 400,000 persons have visited the
Museum during the biennium. Major additions to the exhibits
total 1,116. Cooperative work with federal agencies has made it
possible to further increase the number of exhibits. Valuable
assistance has been rendered in revising the book, "Birds of
North Carolina."
Soils Testing: Established as a Division with funds obtained
from a special tax levied on fertilizers by the 1939 General As-sembly,
the Soil Testing Division has become one of the most
valuable service units of the Department. Free soil tests are
being made for growers ; they are furnished information on crop
adaptations, together with the analysis and quantity of fertilizers
needed to produce crops economically. Since the program was in-augurated
July 15, 1939, more than 70,000 different tests have
been made on 6,500 soil samples furnished by farmers.
Publications: The "Agricultural Review" mailing list has
been increased from 19,000 to 29,000 during the biennium,
furnishing farmers and others timely information of value, in-cluding
tables showing low analysis and incorrectly labeled feeds,
adulterated and misbranded foods and mislabeled seeds. A
general increase in stories furnished newspapers and press asso-ciations
has been reported. Requests for feature articles for all
publications have been answered promptly. Enforcement of regu-latory,
inspectional and control laws has been made easier and
more effective through publication of news stories and coopera-tion
of newspapers and press associations.
State Fair: The North Carolina State Fair, taken over by
the Department in 1937 following operation under private lease,
has been an outstanding agricultural, educational and financial
success during the biennium. For four years, the number of
individual exhibitors has been increased and premiums have been
increased. The large attendance at each exposition and the in-crease
in the number of individual exhibitors attest the confidence
of the people in a State-owned and State-operated Fair.
NORTH CAROLINA AGRICULTURAL
PRODUCTION, 1939-40
D. S. COLTRANE
Assistant to the Commissioner
Although cash income from farm marketings in 1939 and 1940 •
fell below the high 1937 and 1938 level, changes in farm pro-duction
indicate that North Carolina farmers are taking steps
toward a better balanced agricultural program. The production
of hay and other feed crops, legumes for soil improvement, live-stock
and poultry continued to increase. The largest crops on
record were produced in 1940 for hay, soybeans and grapes.
Peanut production was only slightly less than the record 1937
crop, and the largest wheat crop since 1901 was threshed. The
number of cattle on farms on January 1, 1940, has been exceeded
only once while hog numbers for the same date were the largest
in 18 years. Tobacco production was cut drastically in 1940
from the record breaking 1939 crop, but cotton made a terrific '
come back, producing by far the highest yield of lint per acre in
the State's farming history. As of November 1, the 1940 yield
was estimated at 434 pounds per acre compared to 296 pounds in
1939 and 278 pounds for the 10-year (1929-38) average. Although
the 1940 cotton acreage was increased only 10 per cent, the total
production, second in lespedeza, seed and peanuts, and third in
nearly twice as large as the 1938 harvest. North Carolina ranks '
fourth in the nation in cash income from crops, first in tobacco
production, second in lespedeza, seed, and peanuts, and third in
the production of sweet potatoes.
EFFICIENT PERSONNEL
It is gratifying to come to the close of another biennium with a
feeling that we can give good account of the trust and responsi-bilities
imposed upon us. We have an efficient and well qualified
corps of employees, and they have diligently applied themselves
to the tasks assigned them. They have proven their interest in
the work and their loyalty to the State Department of Agri-culture
as well as the people we have endeavored to serve. We
can only express to them our deep appreciation of the support
they have given the administrative division and for their willing-ness
to put forth every effort to discharge the responsibilities
and work assigned them.
The State Department of Agriculture, as you no doubt realize,
is one of the major agencies of the State. A careful study of
these reports reflects the importance of the work assigned to this
16 Biennial Report
Department, and discloses the magnitude of the problems with
which we are confronted that directly affect the interest of our
farmers, and in general, our entire citizenship.
REVENUE
The detailed financial statement shows the sources and
amounts of revenue collected by the Department during the
biennium. The total receipts for the biennium amount to
$995,799.60 compared with $867,916.02 for the previous bien-nium,
which is an increase of $127,883.58. The five cents per ton
increase in fertilizer, feed, and cottonseed meal inspection taxes
granted by the 1939 General Assembly, and made effective July
1, 1939, accounts for $76,947.02 of this increase. The remaining
increase; namely, $50,936.56 is due to an increase in the sale of
feed and seed tags ; in fact, increased revenue is reported from
most all sources. This is, no doubt, due to strict enforcement of
the revenue raising provisions of the laws, which the Department
enforces. It is, also, due to revenue derived from such laws as the
one regulating the sale of canned dog food, which in the fiscal
year, July 1, 1939-June 30, 1940, brought in $3,619.05. An Act
passed by the 1939 General Assembly providing for an annual
registration of each brand of feed with the $1.00 registration fee
produced during the first year $3,051.00.
RECEIPTS SLIGHTLY EXCEED EXPENDITURES
During the year 1938-39 the receipts of the Department
amounted to $469,084.07, whereas, expenditures amounted ta
$463,555.03. Receipts exceeded expenditures by $5,529.04. In
the fiscal year 1939-40 receipts amounted to $526,715.53, whereas,^
expenditures amounted to $526,460.90. Receipts were in excess
of expenditures by $254.63.
For the biennium, the Department has received from inspection
taxes, registration fees, etc., other than from the general fund a.
total of $995,799.60, and has spent a total of $989,456.32. Re-ceipts
for the year in excess of expenditures were $6,344.28.
These figures do not include any appropriations made by the
General Assembly for Japanese Beetle Control, Bang's Disease
Control, Credit Union, and Weights and Measures. They do in-clude
the expenditure of $26,350.00 for the Central Experiment
Station, and $4,550.00 for seed improvement work, a total of
$30,900,00, which this Department annually sends to the North
Carolina State College.
From the above figures, you can see that the Department of
Agriculture is spending its receipts and does not have any extra
funds for further expansion of the program. In all probability
the fertilizer tonnage for the next biennium will not equal that
Commissioner of Agriculture 17
of the past two years. If the tonnage should drop, there is a
probabihty of our receipts for the next two years falling short of
expenditures. In our opinion, the reserve in the agricultural fund
is about as low as it should be.
ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR EXPANSION
Additional funds are needed to expand the agricultural pro-gram.
The Department of Agriculture cannot stand still. It
will either go forward or backward. Certainly, we should go
forward. Additional funds are needed for the following: Two
additional feed and seed inspectors, six part-time fertilizer in-spectors,
one marketing specialist, secretary for Publicity Depart-ment,
complete renovation of agricultural building, scientific
equipment in the chemical laboratory, ventilating or cooling equip-ment
in the nitrogen laboratory where temperature now reaches
130 degrees in the summer season and chemists must work under
almost unbearable conditions ; an agronomist in the Soil Testing
Division to assist the director since the work of this division is
rapidly expanding; two drug inspectors, however, they should,
in our opinion, be paid from the general fund since they would
render a service for the benefit of the entire State. Fertilizer
and seed inspection taxes should not be used for services that are
rendered the entire citizenship.
The Department, as well as State College officials, are recom- »
mending that a sufficient appropriation be made from the general
fund for the North Carolina Experiment Station at State College,
so that the $30,900 which the Station is now receiving from the
Department funds may be retained. This will enable the Depart-ment
of Agriculture to do those things which we have listed as
most essential.
FERTILIZER, LIME, AND LAND PLASTER
Consumption of commercial fertilizers of North Carolina
farmers reached its second highest level since the depression
during the year ending June 30, 1939, the Department's tax tag
sales showing a total of 1,208,934 tons. The tonnage for the
fiscal year 1939-40 amounted to 1,084,725 tons, which is a re-duction
of 10.3 per cent from the fiscal year 1938-39. Total
tonnage for the two years of the biennium amounted to 2,293,659
compared with 2,334,770 tons during the biennium ending June
30, 1938, which is a decrease of 1.76 per cent. •*
AGRICULTURAL LIME
During the biennium, there has been sold according to tax
stamps a total of 99,923 tons of agricultural lime. This does not
include lime furnished as Grant of Aid by the Agricultural Ad-
18 Biennial Report
justment Administration or shipments to fertilizer manufacturers
for mixing purposes.
A total of 74,657 tons of land plaster was used during the
biennium.
In addition to the consumption of fertilizer, lime and land
plaster, during the past two years, as indicated by the tax tag
sales, there was quite a large tonnage of super phosphate or
triple super phosphate and limestone delivered in many counties
in the State for use in connection with the Federal Government
Soil Conservation Program. Inspection tax is not paid on these
materials supplied by the Federal Government on Grants of Aid.
According to E. Y. Floyd, State Administrator of the Agricul-tural
Adjustment Administration, the total tonnage of limestone
during the biennium distributed by the AAA amounted to ap-proximately
350,000 tons. If the Department of Agriculture had
received the five cents per ton inspection tax on this lime, it
would have amounted to $17,500.
FERTILIZER INSPECTION
Reasonable fertilizer inspection service has been provided
during the past two years. During the peak season a total of
twelve part-time inspectors actively covered their respective terri-tories.
An effort was made to get samples from every company
in proportion to the tonnage sold. Our fertilizer inspectors made
8,403 inspections and secured 9,873 samples, aggregating 64,368
tons.
One sample of fertilizer was taken for approximately each 200
tons sold. In our opinion, more samples should be taken, at least
one sample for each 100 tons sold. This will necessitate more
inspectors as well as increased laboratory facilities.
FERTILIZER OF GOOD QUALITY
Reasonable quality in the fertilizer sold in the State is indi-cated
by the fact that during the biennium, penalties wei'e
assessed on only 513 lots of fertilizer of 9,818 official samples
analyzed and reported, which is only 5%.
If our inspection figures are indicative of the fertilizer move-ment
as a whole, this means that 95 tons of every one hundred
tons of fertilizer sold in the State either meet the guaranteed
analysis or were found within the variations allowed by the
fertilizer law.
$1,500,081 EXCESS PLANT FOOD
A study of the average value of fertilizer for the years 1938
and 1939 reveals that manufacturers gave North Carolina
farmers an average of 671/4 cents per ton value in excess of plant
Commissioner of Agriculture 19
food guaranteed or an excess of plant food value during these
two years of $1,500,081.
These facts substantiate the value of rigid enforcement of
regulatory measures, and indicate the protection given the
farmers as well as the manufacturers.
The Department invites farmers to request inspectors to take
special samples ; in fact, more farm samples are being sought.
TRUCK MOVEMENT OF FERTILIZER
For some years now the transportation of fertilizer has been
undergoing a change, and the movement by truck in small lots
from the factory to the barn, and even to the field, has grown by
leaps and bounds. In the face of this situation, which is growing
more difficult to overcome from an inspectional standpoint, it is
felt that the results accomplished by the inspectors in the field
point to alertness and commendable activity on their part.
SAMPLES SHOULD BE SECURED AT THE FARM
By precedent and in the interest of economy and eiSciency,
most of our fertilizer samples have been secured at the dealer's
warehouse, but there are some objections to this practice. If
the ''dealer sample" is found deficient, he is called upon to furnish
the Department with the name and address of the users of that
lot of fertilizer, which in most cases he is unable to do. There-fore,
the user of the deficient lot of fertilizer fails to receive the
penalty to which he is entitled. The only way to correct this
situation is to employ a sufficient number of inspectors to get the
samples from the farmer, the actual user of the fertilizer. This
is being done in Georgia and South Carolina. The Department
needs funds sufficient to employ short-time inspectors so that it
can have an inspector for every two or three counties.
FEED SALES AND INSPECTION
Computed from the sale of tax tags and stamps, there were
725,867 tons of feed sold in the State during the biennium com-pared
with 571,110 tons for the previous biennium, an increase
of 154,757 tons.
According to the sale of tax tags and stamps, there were
180,434 tons of cottonseed meal sold in the State during the
biennium compared with 237,228 tons for the previous biennium,
which represents a loss of 56,794 tons of cottonseed meal in the
two years' time.
In our opinion, the decrease of 56,794 tons in the sale of cotton-seed
meal is due to an increased use of soybean and peanut meal,
which is reflected in the 154,757 tons increase of commercial
20 Biennial Report
feed. If cottonseed meal is counted as feed, a net gain in total
feed of 97,958 tons will be shown for the biennium.
From all sections of the State, the inspectors have collected
3,126 samples of mixed feed. A reasonable number of samples
were sought from each company and extra precaution taken to
secure samples of brands previously found below guarantee.
During the biennium, a total of 21,548 bags of feed were with-drawn
from sale for various violations of the feed law, and the
registration of seven brands were canceled. Three hundred and
fifty-nine (359) lots of feed have been seized and held for satis-factory
adjustment. Where the violations were of a technical
nature, the feed was released for sale after the law had been
complied with ; however, 2,162 bags were returned to the manu-facturer,
384 bags to North Carolina mills, and 1,778 bags to
out-of-state mills. Penalties amounting to $595.23 have been
assessed during the bienium to cover the cost of feed seizures.
Using the Department's analyses, both chemical and micro-scopic,
as an index, the feed sold in this state during the bien-nium
is far superior to that of the previous one. Anyone can now
buy feed with reasonable assurance that it will contain the guar-anteed
ingredients and that the chemical analysis will equal the
guarantee. Feeds are now branded so that the least informed
farmer should not be deceived. Much progress has been made in
the feed control program, but there is still considerable room for
improvement. The minimum for any essential organic in-gredients
should probably be limited to 3% or sixty pounds per
ton; also, the maximum fiber in dairy feeds should probably be
12 or 14%
SEED INSPECTION
The Department's four or five seed inspectors have done an
excellent job during the biennium. They have regularly called
on each known person engaged in the sale of seed, and have
collected a total of 2,648 official samples of seed.
These inspectors have had to spend much of their time in col-lecting
the $1.00 inspection stamps required on packaged seed.
In our opinion, this provision of the seed law should be strength-ened
so as to require the wholesale shipper to affix these stamps
;
otherwise, repeal this provision of the law. We believe it unde-sirable
to have the seed dealers to look on our inspectors as
peddlers of stamps or revenue collectors. This, in our opinion,
partially defeats the constructive seed control program that has
been launched.
It is most important that the seed inspection service be in-creased
by the addition of at least two inspectors.
An amendment to the seed law by the General Assembly pro-vided
for a $1.00 license to sell seed up to $100 gross value which
Commissioner of Agriculture 21
has resulted in an annual decrease of around $5,000 in revenue
from seed dealers' licenses. Otherwise, this amendment has
proven satisfactory.
A total of 540 lots of seed have been seized and withdrawn
from sale during the biennium.
The Federal Seed Act, which became effective February 1,
1940, will be of much assistance in the enforcement of the State
law.
FERTILIZER GRADE REDUCTION PROGRAM
During the spring of 1938, there were 202 different grades of
fertilizer being sold to our farmers. During this biennium, a
program has been launched to reduce the number of grades of
fertilizer and to increase the plant food per ton.
GRADE REDUCTION CONFERENCE
A Grade Reduction Conference was called October 21, 1938.
Farmers, agronomists, manufacturers, and fertilizer dealers at-tended
this conference, and unanimously voted in favor of a grade
reduction program. A committee was appointed and agreed on
22 different grades that would meet all requirements. This list,
however, did not include some of the most popular grades such as
3-8-3.
THIRTY-EIGHT GRADES ADOPTED
Taking one of the most progressive steps in two decades, the
fertilizer manufacturers agreed on the 22 recommended grades,
adding only 16 other grades they believed necessary to meet the
popular demand. This program has resulted in an increased use
of the grades recommended by the North Carolina Experiment
Station. Last year 96.6 per cent of the fertilizer used was of the
thirty-eight approved grades with 42% of the total tonnage of
grades recommended by the Experiment Station. We regret to
report that the remaining 3.4 per cent represented 137 grades.
These unnecessary grades should in some manner be eliminated
from the market. In Mississippi and Louisiana it has been done
by regulation. The Department is earnestly seeking the coop-eration
of the fertilizer manufacturers in eliminating these un-necessary
grades. County agents and vocational agricultural
teachers can be of much assistance by urging farmers to use only
those grades recommended by the Experiment Station rather
than some unusual or unheard of grade.
22 Biennial Report
UNIFORM FERTILIZER LAW
In the interest of economy, efficiency and simplification of
manufacture, inspection, and control, a program has been
launched by the Department of Agriculture looking toward
adoption of a uniform fertilizer law for the Carolinas, Virginia,
and Georgia. The agricultural conditions in these states are so
similar that a uniform fertilizer law is certainly expedient. Con-ferences
have been held with manufacturers, agronomists, ex-periment
station workers, and control officials of these four
states. Proposed guarantees and penalty provisions have been
agreed upon. Amendments bringing the North Carolina ferti-lizer
law in line with these proposals will be submitted to the
1941 General Assembly.
One of the most important items in these amendments will be
a proposal to increase the minimum plant food from fourteen to
sixteen units per ton; thereby, eliminating such low analysis
fertilizers as 3-8-3, 2-8-4, 2-9-3 and 0-10-4. These are uneco-nomical
grades ; in fact, they belong to the "horse and buggy
days."
DERELICT FERTILIZER FUNDS
During the biennium, there has been collected as an imprest
fund $2,141.44. These are derelict funds paid into the Depart-ment
by fertilizer manufacturers when we are unable to locate
the actual user of the fertilizer. Under the Escheats law, these
funds, if not claimed at the end of five years, will revert to the
University of North Carolina.
In our opinion, a provision should be made in the fertilizer law
whereby such funds could be used by the Department to pay the
expenses of bringing outstanding agricultural speakers to the
State for special meetings such as field days at the branch experi-ment
stations, farmers' conventions and other special farm
meetings.
SUMMARY OF INSPECTION WORK
Table showing activity of inspectors in the inspection of
fertilizer, feed and seed during the biennium, July 1, 1938-June
30, 1940.
Fertilizer
Number of official samples taken 9,818
Number of tons sampled 64,368
Number of lots seized for various violations 110
Number of bags seized for various violations 6,972
Number of penalties assessed 513
Aggregate amount of penalties assessed $ 6,708.79
Commissioner of Agriculture 23
Feed
Number of feed inspections 18,914
Number of tons sampled 5,271
Number of official samples taken by inspectors 2,788
Number of bags represented by samples 105,421
Number of miscellaneous samples 28 4
Total number of samples analyzed 3,327
Number of seizures for various violations 3 59
Number of bags seized for various violations 21,548
Number of bags returned to mills 2,162
Number of registrations canceled 7
Aggregate amount of penalties assessed $ 595.23
Seed
Total number of seed inspections 13,793
Official samples (drawn by inspectors) 2,648
Individual samples 21,154
Total number of samples analyzed 23,802
Lots withdrawn for violation of revenue provisions. 3 23
Lots withdrawn on account of poor quality 59
Lots withdrawn for relabeling 158
PUBLICATIONS DIVISION
Louis H. Wilson
Accurate and concise news stories have been furnished the
newspapers of North CaroHna with sufficient regularity to keep
the taxpayers and other citizens of the State informed of the
activities of the State Department of Agriculture.
Commissioner of Agriculture W. Kerr Scott and the heads of
the 16 divisions of the Department have been conscientious and
cooperative in furnishing information for news releases designed
to better acquaint the public with the regulatory, inspectional
and service work available to farmers and others.
The newspapers and press associations of the State have ren-dered
invaluable service to the public by presenting agricultural
information useful in building a better rural life and a more en-lightened
farm population.
In presenting all news stories, the Publications Division has
attempted to be unbiased and mindful of the fact that readers
and the press desire helpful information as well as accounts of
the "stewardship" of all units of the Department of Agriculture.
A continued expansion of the services of all divisions of the
Department has necessitated an enlargement of the publications
work. Special information or stories for press associations, news-papers
and agricultural publications have been furnished
promptly upon request.
Newspapers: The Publications Division has been operated
as a news bureau, offering the daily press "news when it is news".
A weekly news service is also offered.
Press Associations: Feature articles, current or "spot" news,
advance releases on addresses and events, crop reports and statis-tical
information as background for stories are furnished with
regularity to the Associated Press, United Press and Association
of Afternoon Dailies. A weekly newspaper story on some phase
of the Department is prepared by the Publications Division and
presented as a farm page feature by the Associated Press.
Agricultural Revieiv: This publication is the official organ of
the State Department of Agriculture and is sent twice-a-month
to any citizen upon request.
There are now 29,000 names on the mailing list for the "Re-view".
More than 10,000 names were added during the past
biennium.
In addition to furnishing subscribers timely information of
value, tables have been printed giving information on low analy-sis
and incorrectly labeled feeds, adulterated and misbranded
foods, and mislabeled seeds.
Commissioner of Agriculture 25
A marketing service is also offered farmers through the want-ad
section of the "Review".
Bulletins: Improvements have been made in bulletins issued
by the Department, including the addition of suitable illustra-tions,
more comprehensive indexing. Specialists have attempted
to present bulletin material in such a manner as to "give the
greatest good to the greatest number".
Pictures: Picture coverage for agricultural events is being
furnished newspapers and magazines. Services of the Publica-tions
Division have been offered to newspapers and Press Asso-ciations
in presenting agricultural information. Special picture
assignments have been given prompt attention.
Radio: Material for special radio programs has been pre-pared
and arrangements for broadcasting special events have
been made during the biennium. The United Press has been
furnished stories for "newscasts". Radio Stations WPTF and
WRAL and other stations have made outstanding contributions
in furnishing agricultural information to their listeners.
Information: Requests for agricultural information have
been handled promptly by the Publications Division or referred
to other divisions when necessary. When information requested
is not available through the Department, letters and inquiries are
sent to the proper organization.
State Fair: Newspaper and radio publicity for the State Fair
has been handled through the Publications Division since the Fair
was taken over by the State Department of Agriculture in 1937.
Newspapers and press associations have readily accepted stories
on the agricultural, educational and industrial features of the
Fair. Agricultural leaders, State officials and others have termed
the Fairs presented by the Department "outstanding agricultural
and educational successes."
Editorial writers throughout the State have been generous in
commending the present Administration in connection with the
regulatory, inspectional and control programs offered "for the
benefit of the farmers as well as the honest dealers or manu-facturers".
DIVISION OF CHEMISTRY
B. W. KiLGORE
The work of the Division of Chemistry of the Department
covers a large and important list of materials in the field of agri-culture,
and in general. Specifically enumerated these are ferti-lizers
and fertilizer materials furnishing food for plants, com-mercial
feeds for livestock and poultry, human foods and drugs,
insecticides and fungicides for combating insect and fungus dis-eases
of plants and the analyses of quite a large number of
materials of a general agricultural nature. For the purpose of
discussion and reporting, these may be considered under the
following heads
:
FERTILIZERS
Official Fertilizers 9,818
Fertilizers and Fertilizer Materials for farmers 359
Official Feeds _._. 2,788
Miscellaneous Feeds 539
Cottonseed Meals — 12
Official Limes and Land Plaster 5
Miscellaneous Limes and Marls 528
Fungicides and Insecticides 132
14,181
Fertilizers, fertilizer materials, feeds, cotton seed meals, in-secticides
and fungicides and materials of a general nature have
been analyzed and reports rendered on them during the biennium.
The analyses of these products have shown the goods put on the
market in this State to be generally of a good quality and what
they were claimed to be. The determination of acidity or basicity
of fertilizers in addition to the regular analyses as made hereto-fore
has given good results which have been helpful to our
farmers. Determination of magnesia in fertilizers gives helpful
information to the farmer who is carefully studying his soil and
the requirements of the crops he grows for the different kinds of
plant foods.
Commercial Feeds
During the biennium a total of 3,327 samples were analyzed by
the feed laboratory. Of these 2,788 were official samples taken by
our feed inspectors. The other samples (539) were sent in by
users of the feeds.
All samples were analyzed promptly upon reaching the labora-tory
and a report of each analysis was sent to the manufacturer
and to the dealer.
Commissioner of Agriculture 27
Those samples which failed to comply with their guarantees
were reported to the office of the Commissioner of Agriculture for
appropriate action.
A law regulating the sale of canned dog foods was enacted at
the last session of the General Assembly and many different
brands of such canned dog foods have already been analyzed both
chemically and microscopically by the feed laboratory, A con-siderable
improvement in the qualities of these products has been
noted.
Microscopical analyses continue to be a regular part of the
work of the feed laboratory and each sample is examined in this
way in addition to the regular chemical analyses. This means
that each feed found on sale in this State is checked in every
particular through chemical analyses and microscopical exami-nation.
Insecticides and Fungicides
There has been considerable increase in the amount of work on
insecticides and fungicides as the number of these products have
increased and are assuming more importance each year for com-bating
insect and fungus diseases of crops. It is being found
more and more necessary to consider carefully the materials
entering into these products from the standpoint of their useful-ness
and effectiveness in destroying insect and fungus life.
Foods
As the New Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, passed by the Legis-lature
of 1939, did not become effective until January 1, 1940, the
food and drug work of the biennium, 1938-1940, was largely under
the old Pure Food and Drug Act.
In the enforcement of these laws during the biennium special
effort was made to make both the manufacturers and the con-suming
public "food law conscious." In carrying out the work
along this line, there were four main objectives, viz:
(1) To prevent the sale of adulterated, misbranded and worth-less
goods found on the market.
(2) To assist manufacturers and dealers in properly labeling
and representing their products.
(3) To assist canners in bringing their products up to U. S.
Standard Grade.
<4) To see that food producing plants were kept clean and
sanitary.
28 Biennial Report
During the biennium the following samples were received and
analyzed
:
Bleached Flour ___ 710
Ice Cream _._ 633
Flavoring Products 745
Hamburger and Sausage 336
Vegetables, canned 241
Fruits, canned .__ 58
Coffee 88
Herring Roe 42
Fish and Oysters, canned 39
Oleomargarine „ 30
Mayonnaise and Salad Dressing 34
Bakery Products 35
Bottled Drinks 85
Jams, Jellies and Preserves ___ 32
Vinegar 18
Miscellaneous 337
Unofficial 556
Total 4,019
Inspections were made as follows
:
Number of Nuviher of
Plants Inspections
Bakeries -.. 164 986
Bottling Plants 241 1,067
Creameries and Ice Cream Plants 229 1,367
Total 634 3,420
Inspection of Canneries:
Vegetable, Fish and Fish Roe 135
Total number of inspections 3,555
Flavoring Extracts
To eliminate many spurious or worthless flavors which flooded
the markets, regulations, definitions and standards of classifica-tion
for all flavoring extracts and flavors were adopted by the
Board of Agriculture under authority provided by the State Pure
Food and Drug Law.
Seven hundred and forty-five samples of flavoring products
were obtained and analyzed, a large number of which were found
to be offered for sale in violation of the law. More than thirteen
thousand bottles of so-called flavoring products in bottles varying
in size from three ounces to one pint were withdrawn from sale
for the following reasons: misbranded, net contents not stated,
adulterated in that they were too low in flavoring strength, and
V in a few instances of imitation lemon flavorings, glycol, a poison-ous
substance, was found. In the case of misbranding and net
contents not stated opportunity was given to correct the labels
or to ship the product back to the manufacturer. In instanceis
where the product had little or no flavoring value, with the con-
Commissioner of Agriculture 29
sent of the retail dealer, the goods were destroyed. More than
six hundred bottles of such goods were destroyed.
Damaged Goods
Three grocery stores with large stocks of groceries were dam-aged
by fire to the extent that it was thought advisable to with-draw
all goods from sale pending official inspection. After in-spection,
that part of each stock not too badly damaged for
human consumption was released for sale for that purpose ; that
part too badly damaged for human food but which could be used
for animal feed was denatured and permitted to be sold for animal
feed only ; that part too badly damaged for either human food or
for feed purposes for animals was turned over to the city health
authorities to be destroyed.
In addition to fire damaged goods, due to spoilage from dust,
dirt, insect infestation, decomposition from age, rusting of cans
or other causes which rendered the products unfit for human food,
the following were withdrawn from sale and either destroyed or
permitted to be sold for hog feed only
:
Herring Roe 120 cases of 24 cans each
Cut String Beans 15 cases of 24 cans each
Infested Peas unfit for
human consumption 1,091 lbs.
Peanuts 375 lbs.
Canned Goods
A survey of canned fruits and vegetables on the market in
North Carolina showed that about two-thirds of these products
were below U. S. Standard Grade, due to short weight or slack
fill or the failure to consist of whole or large pieces. A limited
amount of spoilage was found due to insufficient processing or to
being kept too long under unfavorable conditions, and in a few
instances objectionable foreign matter was in evidence.
A survey was also made of the canneries operating within the
State with the view of helping the operators to bring their canned
products up to U. S. Standard Grade. Whenever insanitary con-ditions
were found such facts were pointed out and recommenda-tions
made for improving such conditions. Great improvement
was made along this line. This work was in conjunction with
Federal authorities with the view of adopting standards and regu-lations
under the new Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.
Meats
Three hundred and thirty-six samples of hamburger and sau-sage
were obtained from different sections of the State and
tested for chemical preservatives. A large number of these
samples were taken from places that previously had violated the
30 Biennial Report
food law in the sale of ground meats adulterated with added sul-phites,
and which places had been warned that future violations
would be reported to the courts. As a result of this investigation,
it was found necessary to draw indictments in nineteen cases in-volving
seventeen firms and individuals, a conviction being ob-tained
in each instance.
Miscellaneous Samples, Poisons, Etc.
Of the five hundred and fifty-six unofiicial samples received
more than half of them were for suspected poisons or other harm-ful
foreign substances. These samples consisted largely of foods,
and beverages for human consumption ; animal and poultry feeds
;
viscera and other specimens from animal bodies. Most of these
samples were submitted by city and county officials, physicians,
and farmers who could not otherwise account for the death of
their poultry or stock and suspected either intentional or acci-dental
poisoning. Poisons and foreign substances were found in
a considerable number of these samples.
Definitions and Standards for Ice Cream
,In April 1940, revised definitions and standards of identity for
frozen desserts were adopted by the Board of Agriculture under
authority granted by the North Carolina Food, Drug and Cos-metic
Act. Inspection and systematic grading of ice cream plants
under the Ice Cream Plant Inspection Law were continued during
the biennium. Forty-nine plants which did not score the required
grade were closed, some voluntarily. A large per cent of plants
so closed remodeled their buildings and installed new machinery
or otherwise brought their buildings and equipment up to re-quirements.
After this had been done, inspections by agents of
this Department were made, and, if satisfactory conditions were
found to exist, such places were permitted to reopen. A few
plants which could not be brought within the requirements of
the law were permanently closed.
An intensive drive was made to clear up the condition of almost
general misbranding of dairy products. This drive has resulted
in the elimination of by far the greater part of the misbranding
heretofore prevailing. In addition to direct contacts with the
industry, the work was carried on in conjunction with the manu-facturers
of cartons and other containers who voluntarily agreed
to work with the Department and to sell no merchandise which
failed to comply with the labeling requirements for food products.
Bottled Drinks
Following a number of conferences with officials of the North
Carolina Bottlers' Association, regulations acceptable to both the
Commissioner of Agriculture 31
bottlers and this Department were formulated, and regulations
for the sanitary operation of plants manufacturing bottled carbo-nated
soft drinks, also regulations on the representation and
labeling of carbonated and still beverages advertised or offered
for sale in North Carolina were adopted by the Board of Agricul-ture
under the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. A satisfactory and
workable scoring system for grading the sanitary condition of
bottling plants was also put into effect.
New Food, Drug and Cosmetic Law
Perhaps the most important and far reaching achievement
along the lines of food work in North Carolina during the past
several years, as regards sanitation and prevention of adulteration
and misrepresentation, was the adoption of the new Food, Drug '
and Cosmetic Act by the General Assembly of 1939. The new
law also regulates advertising of foods, drugs, cosmetics and de-vices.
It is a long step forward in that it corrects most of the
defects of the old law and renders state legislation uniform with
federal legislation on the subject.
The drafting of general regulations for the effective enforce-ment
of the North Carolina Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act has
been virtually completed. The formulation of definitions and
standards of identity, quality and fill of container has been, and
will continue to be an almost endless task, due to the scope of the
undertaking and to the changes which are taking place in the pro-duction
of food products. To acquire the information prerequi-site
to reaching intelligent and reasonable conclusions requires
considerable time and study, which time has accordingly been
given to the consideration of these problems.
Chemists in the laboratories, the inspectors in the field and the
workers in the office have performed their duties most agreeably,
satisfactorily and efficiently, and for this they have our sincere
appreciation.
DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY
C. H. Brannon
This Division respectfully submits the following report for the
past biennium
:
Duties
The Division of Entomology is engaged in regulatory and law
enforcement work in connection with plant pests. It is also
charged with the responsibility of enforcement of the N. C. Bee
Disease law. This Division cooperates with the U. S. Bureau of
Entomology and Plant Quarantine in White Pine Blister Rust
Prevention, Phony Peach Disease eradication and Japanese Beetle
quarantine, trapping, and soil treatment.
Valuable work in connection with its excellent insect collection
and records, covering a period of over 40 years, is also a major
activity.
The largest project of the Division of Entomology is the annual
inspection of all North Carolina nurseries. This exacting work
requires the full time efforts of two of our staff, Mr. J. A. Harris
and Dr. D. L. Wray, during July, August and September. Nur-series
which are in good condition and apparently free from
dangerous plant pests are issued a State Certificate which expires
September 30, of the following year. The North Carolina certifi-cate
of Nursery Inspection is accepted by all States and the
Federal Government. 200 nursery certificates were issued in
1938-39 and 193 nursery certificates were issued in 1939-40.
Certificates are granted only after the inspection fee is paid.
The nursery certificate fees are as follows
:
Three acres or less $ 5.00
Four to ten acres 7.50
Eleven to fifteen acres 10.00
Sixteen acres 12.50
Each additional acre .10
Native Plant Collectors Permit
An annual fee of $10.00 is required for a permit to collect and
ship native plants including boxwood. Approximately 35 such
permits are issued each year.
Nursery Dealer Certificate
The annual nursery dealer certificate fee is $10.00. This ap-plies
to stores or individuals. Approximately 30 such certificates
are issued annually. A bond of $1000 is required of all who
promise (orally or written) later attention to the Stock sold.
Commissioner of Agriculture 33
Apiary Inspection
The following report has been submitted by the State Apiary
Inspector, P. G. Graddock, who is engaged in conducting the
State bee disease control program and enforcing the state bee
disease laws and regulations which give protection to the bee-keepers
of the state.
In June 1938 the State Board of Agriculture and the Com-missioner
of Agriculture acting under authority granted to them
by the State legislature revised the state apiary inspection regu-lations,
and designated all of the state east of Highway U. S.
No, 1 as a clean up area in which intensive work should be done
for the purpose of controlling and, if possible, eradicating Ameri-can
foulbrood, the most dreaded of all bee diseases. Since June
1938 the major part of the inspection work has been done east of
U. S. Highway No. 1, but some time has been spent in the rest of
the state. Colonies have been inspected in most of the Piedmont
and mountain counties in order to locate and eradicate diseased
colonies when possible.
In the clean-up area the number of colonies of bees found in-fected
with American foulbrood has been steadily decreasing, and
with the continued support and cooperation of the beekeepers it
is thought that the disease can eventually be practically eradi-cated
in this area. Constant inspecting and checking of bees in
this section will continue to be necessary in order that new out-breaks
of disease may be located and cleaned up before they
spread.
Definite progress has been made in conrtolling and eradicating
disease in the Piedmont where for the most part it is found in
scattered localities around cities and towns. Some of the out-breaks
have been eradicated and others greatly reduced during
the past two years. Much of the inspection in the Piedmont and
mountain counties has been done in cooperation with the County
Farm Agents.
From July 1, 1938 to June 30, 1939,-10,035 colonies of bees
were inspected and 148 colonies or 1.5% were found infected with
American foulbrood. Fourteen certificates for queen rearing
were granted during the year.
From July 1, 1939 to June 30, 1940,-12,048 colonies of bees
were inspected and 141 colonies or 1.2% were found infected with
American foulbrood. Eleven certificates for queen rearing were
granted during the year.
Several apiaries were inspected for beekeepers who reside in
the northern states but who keep bees in North Carolina for the
purpose of supplying bees to their northern yards. These bees
were all found to be free from disease.
34 Biennial Report
Burning is the method used in disposing of colonies infected
with American foulbrood.
European foulbrood, a disease which affects primarily the black
race of bees, is widely scattered over North Carolina. The best
control for European foulbrood is to requeen the infected colonies
with either Italian, Caucasian or Carnolian queens, as these races
of bees are resistant to the disease. No quarantine regulations
have been put into effect to control this disease but considerable
time has been spent acquainting beekeepers with the nature and
control of this disease.
A summer assistant is greatly needed in this work in order to
facilitate eradication of bee diseases. North Carolina is fortunate
in having undertaken this work before the whole state had become
heavily infected. If intensive work can be expanded in western
North Carolina there is a good chance of effective control of bee
diseases for the entire state.
Insect Taxonomy
Dr. C. S. Brimley, one of the ablest minds in the field of ento-mology
and natural history in general, in the United States, has
charge of this important work. Dr. Brimley looks after one of
the finest insect collections in the country which he has largely
developed. The Division collection runs now well over 75,000
specimens representing more than 10,000 different species. This
great collection with its records is of inestimable value to the
State and is put to practical use every day in the identification of
insect pests from all over the State. The collection and records
are constantly consulted by workers in the State and by many
from other states.
Blister Rust Prevention
It should be pointed out that this important program is
preventive. The dreaded White Pine Blister Rust disease has
not yet been found in North Carolina. It is causing enormous
damage in many parts of the United States and is found in the
State of Virginia. North Carolina has seen the wisdom of not
waiting until the disease gained entrance to start action, and the
results of the fine work under way should make it difficult for the
disease to gain entrance into North Carolina.
The following report has been submitted by H. B. Teague, of
the U. S. Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine, who is
State Leader in charge of the project:
During the biennium ending June 30, 1940 white pine blister
rust control work was continued in Western North Carolina with
17 white pine growing counties receiving protection or being par-tially
worked. The program, begun in 1934, has continued the
destruction of Currant and Gooseberry bushes (Ribes) to prevent
Commissioner of Agriculture 35
the spread of white pine bhster rust to the white pines of
North CaroHna.
Bhster rust, a fungus disease, produces spores both on five-needle
pines and on currant and gooseberry leaves. The spores
produced on diseased white pines in the spring are not capable of
infecting other white pines ; but can, infect the leaves of currant
and gooseberry bushes.
Removikg Currant Axn Gooseberry bushes ix Westerx North
Carolina, (u. s. d. a.)
In late summer and early fall diseased currant and gooseberry
leaves produce spores that are capable of infecting white pine
trees. After trees are infected, the disease keeps spreading
until the tree is killed.
The following counties were worked, some being completed
while others were still being worked at the end of this biennium
:
Avery Jackson
Buncombe Macon
Burke Madison
Caldwell McDowell
Cherokee Mitchell
Clay Polk
Graham Swain
Haywood Transylvania
Yancey
Work during this period has been financed largely by W.P.A.
funds supplemented by funds or workers supplied by the State
Department of Agriculture, U. S. Department of Agriculture,
National Park and National Forest Services with C.C.C. labor,
N.Y.A. office workers, and Private owner cooperation.
An average of more than 100 workers and 3 field supervisors
were employed. W.P.A. furnished 85, N.Y.A. 4, C.C.C. 12 during
the summer months, the State 2, and one owner 4 for one week.
Actual and technical supervision was furnished by field super-visors.
State and Regional leaders, the State Entomologist,
W.P.A. and U. S. Bureau of Entomology officials.
36 Biennial Report
Transportation
Nearly all transportation was furnished by Government trucks
owned by the Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine with
the exception of C.C.C. workers, A total of 15 trucks were in
operation most of the time. Transportation costs were borne by
W.P.A. State and the U. S. Department of Agriculture with
C.C.C. supplying trucks and money for transporting C.C.C.
crews.
Preeradication Survey
Several counties with only cultivated currant and gooseberry
bushes were mapped by the "Spot" method of mapping. This
system is merely a non-detailed survey with the general pine
areas spotted on county maps as nearly to scale as the mapper
can do without running a compass survey.
In the winter of 1938-1939 a new system of surveying white
pine areas was begun in those counties having wild (or native)
gooseberries in the white pine growing sections. This method is
called the grid system and is carried out on units of area one mile
square. The units are established by the use of compass and
chain and posts are placed at each corner of the square; with a
temporary stake, numbered, being placed every 5 chains on the
North and South grid boundary lines.
Each square mile unit is then type-mapped by a crew of 2 or
8 men to show timber types and gooseberry and currant locations.
A summary of Preeradication Survey work follows
:
preeradication survey
Federal W.P.A. State W.P.A.
State Dept.
of Agriculture Total
Nlimlipr nf nnnntips 10
71,231
42,844
114,075
239,684
46,493
5
22,767
10,363
33,130
69,460
78,637
2
1,288
537
1,825
7,526
926
17
Acerage of White Pine Mapped:
Over 50 trees per acre
Under 50 trees per acre
Total White Pine acreage
White pine acerage plus protective zone.__
Total Man hours used .- - ---..
95,286
53,744
149,030
316,670
126,056
RiBES Eradication
Currant and gooseberry bushes were eradicated from white
pine areas on lands owned by the National Forest Service,
National Park Service, City, County and individuals.
Agencies doing the work were State, W.P.A. and C.C.C.
The following table summarizes eradication work for the two
years.
Commissioner of Agriculture 37
C.C.C.
Federal
W.P.A.
State
W.P.A.
State Dept.
of Agriculture Total
Average number of men used _ 13
9,026
409
75,029
86
19
42,452
174,335
287, 180
17,412
29
36, 145
64,710
138,252
884
2
381
6,597
2,919
106
63
88 004
246 051
Wild Ribes eradicated 503,380
Cultivated Ribes eradicated 18.488
Checking
Two types of checking were carried out:
1. Checking in gardens, at house sites, and other places where
cultivated bushes had been eradicated previously. This checking
was not done at all places previously having bushes ; but enough
places were checked to show that previous work has been good
but that some sprouts are coming back at a few places. The
cultivated checking needs to be carried out in all areas by 1945
to prevent the sprouts getting too large and spreading.
2. In all sections worked which had native (wild) Ribes a
systematic checking program was carried out by running strip
lines 5 chains apart. This gave a 5% check on all acreage in-volved.
Areas or parts of areas found to have more than 25 feet
of live stem of gooseberry bushes per acre were reworked. It
is essential to eliminate as many leaf producing bushes as possible
to prevent a concentration of blister rust spores in the pine areas.
All areas are worked until the live gooseberry stems per acre are
reduced to less than 25 linear feet.
The strip checks made covered 1613 strip acres and a total of
3066 labor man hours was used.
Economic Importance of White Pine
From an economic viewpoint white pine in North Carolina is
placed in two groups
:
1. Ornamental trees.
2. Native and planted stands being grown for commercial
purposes.
One ordinarily thinks of values of trees in terms of the saleable
value for wood or lumber. However, white pine has been used
very extensively in Western North Carolina as an ornamental
tree, and this is particularly evident in the Asheville-Biltmore,
Hendersonville, Flat Rock, Blowing Rock, Roaring Gap and other
tourist resorts. Value of the commercial white pine in the state
is estimated at more than $10,000,000 ; and ornamental trees have
been evaluated as follows
:
38 Biennial Report .
Trees less than 2 inches D. B. H | 4.00 each
Trees 2"-6" D. B. H. 20.00 each
Trees 6"-12" D. B. H. 40.00 each
Trees 12" D. B. H. and over 60.00 each
On the basis of the above figures the value of ornamental
white pines in North Carolina is placed at more than $25,000,000.
Costs
The cost of blister rust control work during the past two years
is as follows
:
Federal W.P.A. $ 43,641.02
North Carolina Department of Agriculture 9,782.11
U. S. Department of Agriculture, Regular 270.89
N.Y.A. 1,721.71
C. C.C. 3,070.15
State W.P.A. 40,039.84
Cooperative Services 5,383.58
$103,909.30
JAPANESE BEETLE WORK
Quarantine
The Japanese Beetle Quarantine is maintained in cooperation
with the U. S. Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine.
C. H. Hill, of our staff is located at Greensboro and has charge of
the quarantine enforcement. Mr. Hill also aids in scouting, trap-ping,
soil treatment and other activities of this Division.
The following report was submitted by Mr. Hill
:
Japanese Beetle Quarantine
The Japanese Beetle Quarantine includes townships in the
vicinity of Charlotte, Greensboro, East Spencer, Spencer, Salis-bury,
and Winston-Salem. No nursery, ornamental, or green-house
stock, or other plants, plant roots, or sand, soil, earth, peat,
compost, or manure, can be transported in any manner from the
quarantined area without a special Japanese Beetle permit to
show that the shipment has been inspected and is apparently free
of Japanese Beetle larvae.
This quarantine operates on a cooperative basis between The
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and The U. S. Depart-ment
of Agriculture. C. H. Hill is in charge of enforcing the
quarantine, under the supervision of the State Entomologist,
and Mr. E. A. McKnight, Agent, U. S. Bureau of Entomology
and Plant Quarantine of the Richmond Office.
During June and July of 1938 and 1939 forty-four nursery
and greenhouse establishments in and in the vicinity of the
quarantined area were inspected two or three times each of these
Commissioner of Agriculture 39
seasons by state and federal inspectors. These establishments
had a total of 420,770 square feet under glass and 387.25 acres
of outside stock.
Nursery and greenhouse operators, and dealers, after proper
inspection, are able to get, without cost, special Japanese Beetle
certificates ; one of which must accompany each shipment of
quarantined material out of the quarantined area. From July
1, 1938 to June 30, 1939, 3,028 such certificates were used. From
Japanese Beetles Attacking Apple, (u. s. d. a.)
July 1, 1939 to June 30, 1940, 2,254 such certificates were used.
All certificates are voided at the end of each month. Those not
used must be returned along with a report of the shipments on
which certificates were used.
Trapping
During June and July, 1939, approximately 10,000 Japanese
Beetle traps were placed in North Carolina. The number of
beetles caught were as follows: Asheville 1,071, Burlington 5,
Charlotte 36, Durham 29, East Spencer 637, Elizabeth City 46,
Goldsboro 3, Greensboro 335, Hamlet 1, High Point 37, Rocky
Mount 10, Salisbury 30, Sanford 38, Spencer 377, Thomasville 2,
Wilmington 90, Wilson 4, and Winston-Salem 1,188.
During June and July 1940 approximately 10,000 Japanese
Beetle traps were again placed in the state. The results were as
follows: Asheville 19,322, Burlington 34, Charlotte 37, Durham
58, East Spencer 985, Elizabeth City 29, Goldsboro 2, Greensboro
40 Biennial Report
100, High Point 77, Lexington 8, Raleigh 33, Rocky Mount 12,
SaHsbury 87, Sanford 11, Spencer 157, Tarboro 1, Weldon 3, Wil-mington
43, Wilson 3, and Winston-Salem 366.
Trapping is done in cooperation with the U. S. Bureau of En-tomology
and Plant Quarantine, and is the only practical method
known to determine the early spread of the beetle. Quarantine
and soil treatment is based upon the results of trapping. The
traps are the property of the Federal Government and contain a
chemical which attracts the Japanese Beetle.
Approximately $3500 from State funds were allocated for trap-ping
each year of the biennium.
Soil Treatment
Thru the wisdom and generosity of the last General Assembly
an appropriation of $90,000 was made for soil treatment in Japa-nese
Beetle control because of the threat of this dreaded pest to
the agriculture of North Carolina. $65,000 of this fund has been
expended and the additional $25,000 will be expended during the
fall of 1940.
*'4 ;
'
Japanese Beetle Soil Treatment.
Soil treatment consists in treating heavily infested areas with
arsenate of lead to kill Japanese Beetle grubs in the soil. The
Federal Government cooperates in furnishing large power
sprayers necessary for the work together with personnel for
handling the sprayers. Arsenate of lead and labor are furnished
by the state.
Commissioner of Agriculture 41
The following treatments have been made with 1,000 pounds of
arsenate of lead per acre
:
SPRING 1939
Charlotte 6 acres, Durham 7, Elizabeth City 6, Greensboro 70,
High Point 10, Raleigh 8, Sanford 10, Spencer 35, East Spencer
20, Wilmington 20, Winston-Salem 50.
FALL 1939
Burlington 7 acres, Charlotte 15, Durham 10, Elizabeth City
10, Goldsboro 4, Greensboro 53, High Point 24, Lexington 5,
Raleigh 5, Rocky Mount 10, Salisbury 22, Sanford 4, Spencer 12,
East Spencer 30, Wilmington 7, Wilson 6, Winston-Salem 76.
NARCISSUS BULB INSPECTION
J. A. Harris and D. L. Wray have done the inspection work
on this project. All inspections in connection with this work are
extremely tedious and exacting requiring long experience for
proper handling. The spring field inspections are especially diffi-cult
because of the necessity of shading the plants with an um-brella
in order to detect the slight discoloration indicative of
nematode infestation.
The North Carolina bulb industry would have been forced out
of business long ago if the careful supervision of this Division
had not been maintained. Excellent cooperation is received from
the growers.
During the storage inspection in 1938, 4,104 bushels of bulbs
on 13 properties were inspected and certified as free from nema-tode
and bulb fly. The hot water treatment was given 307 bushels
which were found infested with nematode during spring inspec-tions.
In the Spring of 1939, 134.1 acres of narcissus were inspected
on 17 properties. One property was found infested and the in-fested
bulbs were destroyed. During the 1939 storage inspection
7,010 bushels of bulbs were inspected on 14 properties and certi-fied.
During the spring of 1940, 105.4 acres on 15 properties were
inspected. Four of these properties were found infested with
nematode. 1.92 acres were infested. Clean up and eradication
measures were put in operation at once.
The bulb inspection fee is $5.00 for three acres or less, and
$1.00 for each additional acre inspected. This fee is for the field
inspection but also includes the storage inspection if bulbs are to
be shipped.
PHONY PEACH ERADICATION
J. A. Harris is State Cooperator in charge of this project
which is carried out in cooperation with the U. S. Bureau of En-
42 Biennial Report
tomology and Plant Quarantine. D. L. Wray of our staff also
works on this project.
During 1939 inspections were made in 13 counties. Only three
counties were found infected: Anson, Robeson and Stanly. In-spections
were made of the environs of 13 nurseries growing
473,168 peach trees. No infected trees were found in the nursery
environs inspection. A total of 2,938 properties were inspected
and 5 found to harbor diseased trees. 68,904 trees were inspected
and 5 trees found infected. These were promptly removed.
Comparison of 8-Year Old Hiley Peach Trees. Phony, left; Normal,
eight. (u. s. d. a.)
The entire state is now free from the quarantine with the
exception of Anson, Robeson and Stanly counties, because of
negative finds for the past three years.
During 1940 inspections were made on 1,514 properties in-cluding
16,417 trees in 3 counties. No infections ivere found.
This invaluable work was undertaken before it was too late.
The peach industry of the state would have been ruined should
phony disease have ever spread widely in North Carolina. The
eradication work has apparently eliminated the disease. How-ever
inspections will be continued and if no disease is found dur-ing
the next two years North Carolina will be declared free from
the phony disease quarantine.
EUROPEAN CORN BORER
The European Corn Borer, a serious pest of corn and many
other plants, was first found in North Carolina during 1939 on
Knotts Island. J. A. Harris and D. L. Wray did the scouting
work in connection with this infestation.
Commissioner of Agriculture 43
Scouting in October, 1939 gave the following results
:
Camden County 3 fields infested
Currituck County 12 fields infested
Pasquotank County 1 field infested
Extensive scouting was also carried out in Chowan, Gates and
Perquimans counties with no infestation being found.
Just what the future spread and damage from this insect will
be in North Carolina is impossible to predict at this time.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I wish to again thank the Board and the Commissioner for their
full support. I am delighted to commend the entire staff for
their efficiency and loyalty and to thank the U. S. Bureau of
Entomology and Plant Quarantine for their hearty cooperation
with the Division.
DAIRY DIVISION
C. W. Pegram
The most important service rendered by the Dairy Division is
the checking of butter-fat content of milk and cream sold by
North Carolina dairy farmers. During the past biennium, check
tests for butter-fat were made on approximately 25,000 samples,
necessitating 1500 investigations. In addition to checking the
work of licensed testers, the methods of sampling and weighing
of milk and cream were supervised. Changes of personnel in
dairy plants requires constant supervision and training. All
testers must demonstrate their ability in actual practices before
they are licensed.
Sampling and Weighing Milk in a Modern Plant.
Scales and balances were checked for accuracy periodically in
cooperation with the Division of Weights and Measures. A total
Commissioner of Agriculture 45
of 372 errors in butter-fat tests above the tolerance of two-tenth
of one per cent were found. In all instances where such variations
were found, the corrections were made by the licensed tester be-fore
payment was made to the producer, or an adjustment was
made after regular payment was made.
Dairy plants have been consistently improving their testing
laboratories. Nearly all plants use electric centrifuges which
make for accuracy and convenience.
Stress has been placed upon the importance of sampling as to
regularity, accuracy and preservation. All of these factors may
affect very materially the resulting test.
More than 6000 reports were mailed to producers showing re-sults
of check tests made. This has made for standardization
and the building of confidence between producer and buyer which
is vital to the development of the dairy industry within the state.
Checking Tests of a Licensed Tester.
L. J. Martin of Lexington is shown on the left and C. W. Pegram, Chief
of the Dairy Division of the Department of Agriculture is shown on the
right.
Dairy Production Statistics Law
The General Assembly of 1939 enacted a statute providing for
the keeping of creamery and milk products records. This was a
progressive step, making it possible to obtain accurate figures on
the State's growing dairy industry. The dairy statistics are se-cured
in cooperation with the Federal-State Crop Reporting
Service. Listed below is the results secured for the year 1939
:
46 Biennial Report
Whole milk purchased by plants 100,955,354 Pounds
"Whole milk sold for fluid consumption 61,306,517 Pounds
Creamery butter made 2,365,668 Pounds
Ice cream made (by plants) __. 3,477,311 Gallons
Ice cream made (Counter freezers) 173,453 Gallons
Total ice cream made 3,650,765 Gallons
Ice cream mix sold 285,423 Gallons
American cheese ___ 427,502 Pounds
Cottage cheese 210,657 Pounds
Condensed skim milk 928,082 Pounds
Whole condensed milk 303,216 Pounds
The gross value of all milk and dairy products for 1939 was
estimated by the Crop Reporting Service to be $37,540,000 which
exceeded the 1939 cotton and cotton seed crop value by $11,233,-
000. The milk and cream sales by farmers amounting to
$12,630,000. This ranks North Carolina as thirteenth among the
states based on gross value. The average production per cow was
3900 pounds which shows a steady increase from year to year.
STATISTICAL REPORT—DAIRY DIVISION
Buying plants and stations supervised 65
Plant investigations 1,475
Special investigations 1
5
Check tests made 17,103
Supervised tests made 6,931
Sample tests 858
Total 24,892
Tests found incorrect (changed) 372
Tests reports mailed to dairymen 6,371
Testers, weighers and samplers licenses issued annually 128
Cream haulers licenses issued annually 60
Licenses revoked 2
Milk and cream scales checked (In cooperation with Division of
Weights and Measures) 122
Milk and cream scales condemned for repairs 29
Testing equipment condemned 10
Cream balances checked — 35
Cream balances condemned for repairs 6
Pieces glassware calibrated 536
Pieces glassware condemned 9
Oleomargarine licenses issued (Wholesale dealers) 68
Oleomargarine inspections (Eating places) 665
Tester's examinations given ___. —
-
30
CREDIT UNION DIVISION
D. R. Graham
The records of the Credit Union Division reveal that the citi-zens
of North Carohna are rapidly becoming aware of the bene-fits
to be derived from the credit union plan.
A credit union is a cooperative savings and loan association,
having as its purpose (1) the promotion of thrift by providing
for the membership an easy, convenient plan of saving and (2)
from the savings thus accumulated taking care of the short term
credit needs of the members. A credit union may be organized
by any group having a common bond of association, occupation
or residence.
During the biennium ending June 30, 1940, fifty credit unions
were organized as follows : teachers, 3 white, 2 negro ; business,
professional and industrial, 33 white; rural community, 2 white,
6 negro ; and urban community, 2 white and 2 negro. The follow-ing
counties were represented: Buncombe 10, Orange 1, Meck-lenburg
3, Tyrrell 1, Bladen 1, Gaston 2, Harnett 1, Durham 2,
Guilford 4, Haywood 1, Catawba 1, Lenoir 1, Davidson 1, Gran-ville
1, Wake 6, Hyde 1, Clay 1, Warren 1, New Hanover 1,
Forsyth 9 and Caswell 1.
There are now 125 credit unions serving the people of North
Carolina and inquiries received indicate that a considerable num-ber
will be organized within the near future.
Much time has been devoted to teaching members how to
properly utilize credit union service and to the training of officers,
directors and committeemen. Emphasis has been placed on
supervision and the few irregularities that have been found have
been readily straightened out. All credit unions have been
examined at least twice during the biennium.
The condensed statement below shows that the 22,446 credit
union members in North Carolina have accumulated savings in
the aggregate amount of $1,593,380.89. Had credit union service
not been available, a large part of this money would not have been
saved.
During the period under review credit unions have made loans
to their members in the total amount of $4,841,338.01, and it is
reasonable to assume that thousands of dollars in interest charges
have been saved. It is the consensus of all of those who are
familiar with the plan that the State, through this service, is
doing much to further the economic security of its citizens.
48 Biennial Report
Ju7ie SO, 1938 June 30, 194Q
Active Credit Unions_._ 78 125
Total Members 12,343 22,466
Total Assets -- -$ 921,548.99 | 1,593,380.89
Number of Loans Made Since Organization 51,281 89,463
Amount of Loans Made Since Organization $5,863,366.66 $10,704,704.67
CONDENSED STATEMENT OF CREDIT UNIONS
AS AT JUNE 30, 1940
Resoueces
Loans to Members $1,385,130.87
Cash on Hand and in Banks _.___. 146,629.76
Other Assets 61,620.26
$1,593,380.89
Liabilities
Shares $1,093,869.77
Deposits 302,732.79
Other Liabilities 49,692.35
Reserve (Guaranty Fund) 77,498.81
Surplus and Undivided Profits 69,587.17
$1,593,380.89
DIVISION OF MARKETS
Randal B. Etheridge
I herewith submit Biennial Report of the Division of Markets
covering the period from July 1, 1938 through June 30, 1940.
With full recognition of the urgency for assistance to North
Carolina farmers in securing more profitable distribution of their
products, the Division of Markets has, during the biennium, ex-panded
its services as far as financial support would permit. In
addition to enhancements of previously established activities,
four new projects were inaugurated and have been in operation
during the past year. These are largely concerned with better
preparation for market, standardization of grade and pack, and
sales promotion of North Carolina farm commodities, including
field crops, poultry and eggs, dairy products, and fruits and vege-tables—
thereby, greatly increasing the variety and scope of work
which should prove beneficial in helping to increase the income of
our farmers.
Field Crops Marketing Work
A field crops marketing specialist has been laying the ground
work for improved marketing conditions of lespedeza seed, small
grains, peanuts, and commercial hays. On the basis of a study of
more than 4,000 samples of lespedeza seed analyzed by the State
Seed Laboratory, the official N. C. Grades for lespedeza seed were
promulgated and became effective on November 10, 1939. These
grades are now generally recognized and used by the seed trade
in and out of the State and by producers of seed as standards of
quality and as a basis for price adjustments. To tell the story of
better marketing of lespedeza seed, a natural color moving pic-ture
was made. This picture, supplemented by discussions, was
carried to 27 adult farmers' meetings during February and March
of 1940, reaching approximately 2,000 producers.
The principal work in small grains has had to do with the con-dition
of wheat as delivered to the mills. Members of the Pied-mont
Millers Association have cooperated in this project, and
farmers have been advised in regard to the proper harvesting
with combines, ways and means of increasing weight per bushel,
the control of wild onion and weevil damage, and the market
problems of small grains.
Attention has been given to the harvesting and preparation for
market of peanuts. Better methods of harvesting, stacking,
curing, and picking have been urged on the peanut growers.
The possibilities for profitable marketing of commercial hays
grown in the State have been investigated to determine the
50 Biennial Report
sources of supply and demand for lespedeza, soybean, cowpea, and
peanut hays. Growers have been urged to harvest at the proper
time, to cure, and to bale their hay in order to be better prepared
to meet the customary market demands.
Promotion of Dairy Products
A program formulated by the National Dairy Council was
launched in the fall of 1939, designed to increase the consumption
of milk and other dairy products in North Carolina as an aid to
the dairy industry of the State, as well as to public health.
Where population and consumption would justify, the organi-zation
of permanent Dairy Council units was undertaken as the
most effective means of establishing a higher level of milk con-sumption.
Such a unit was put into operation for High Point and
Greensboro. Later, Winston-Salem organized a council to serve
Lexington and Mount Airy, also. The Raleigh-Durham Dairy
Council and the Mebane Dairy Council had been previously
established. Five meetings were held preliminary to the organi-zation
of the Greensboro Council and 25 were conducted to per-fect
the Winston-Salem organization.
For the purpose of explaining the program or to impress the
value of using more milk and dairy products, 26 group meetings
of teachers, business men, doctors, dentists, lawyers, parents,
nurses, and homemakers were held, the total reached in this
manner being 6,495. More than 1,030 contacts were made with
members of the dairy industry, and 626 other individuals have
been conferred with. Four fair exhibits in the interest of dairy
products were prepared and were seen by 98,000 visitors. Two
sound films on milk have been shown to approximately 5,000
children and 500 adults.
The foundation has been laid for far more effective work dur-ing
the coming year. With the experience gained, it is the aim
of this program to inform the people of North Carolina of the
value of milk and dairy products, so that the present consumption
will be materially increased.
Egg Law Enforcement and Poultry Marketing
The Storage Egg Law, passed in 1939, was enforced for the
first time during the fall and winter of 1939 and 1940. This law
required that storage eggs be plainly labelled as such when
offered for sale in this State.
Inspections were made in all of the principal towns of the State,
the number of inspections in each town varying with the size of
the town. In many cases, a number of visits were made to the
same town in order that better compliance could be assured. In
organizing this work, it was necessary to contact the wholesale
Commissioner of Agriculture 51
trade first and then the local and chain groceries. Numerous
inspections were made without too much interruption of business,
and the trade reacted very favorably to this work. No prosecu-tions
were necessary and many indications have been received
that the law has benefitted both the producers and the consumers.
The Federal-State Egg Grading Service supervision continues
to require additional time. Inspectors at the various egg grading
stations certified approximately 861,000 dozen eggs during the
two year period, with the past year showing an increase of 130
per cent over the previous year.
fEDiRAL-STAT
OEPARTMtNl Of- AGeitULT-. kE
L J
Al-A.V
Ralph Kelly, poultry axd egg gradixg specialist of the State Depaet-
MEXT OF AGRICULTL'RE, IS SHOWX CANDLITV'G EGGS, WHICH IS AJfOTHER COOPERA-TIVE
service rexdered by the Department's Markets Division.
Eleven official egg grading stations were operated during this
period. In addition, egg grading was carried on by several firms
on an official basis.
Numerous conferences were held with interested parties on
marketing poultry and eggs as well as the grading of poultry and
eggs. Demonstrations were conducted at all the State Test Farms
and other places, such as fairs and poultry schools. Several com-petitive
egg judging contests were held. The first of these con-tests
between Vocational High Schools was staged with several
schools participating.
Poultry dressing plants were furnished advisory service in se-curing
and installing modern equipment. In one case, this re-sulted
in the securing of about $3,000 worth of new equipment
52 Biennial Report
which has doubled the output and shown a very satisfactory
profit for the year. The improvement was the means of putting
a superior product on the market, making sales easier and giving
the public a cleaner, more attractive product.
The problem of relieving the surplus egg production during the
spring and summer months has become more acute each year and
resulted in the storage of approximately 350,000 dozen eggs in
the past two years. Most of these eggs were graded before being
placed in storage at Asheville and Raleigh, as well as at Richmond
and Norfolk, Virginia.
Fruit and Vegetable Marketing
More active promotion of modern and adequate methods of
attracting more profitable distribution of North Carolina fruits
and vegetables was begun in the fall of 1939. Since the plight of
the commercial early potato grower appeared most critical, a
major portion of time and effort was devoted to this crop last
year. An intensive program for rehabilitation of the industry
was developed in cooperation with the United States Department
of Agriculture, the State College Extension Service, the N. C.
Produce Growers Cooperative Association, Incorporated, and
commercial interests.
Moke than 3,000 farmers visited the cooperative potato train which toured
EASTERN North Carolina carrying specialists and displays contributing to
THE REHABILITATION OF THE COMMERCIAL IrISH POTATO INDUSTRY.
Commissioner of Agriculture 53
This began with a series of nine grower meetings throughout
the producing areas for consideration of the problems affecting
the situation. Support of railroads and other agencies was en-listed
in the operation of a Potato Demonstration Train, consist-ing
of five cars which made 10 stops in the potato sections and
was visited by about 3,000 producers. By exhibits, demonstra-tions,
talks, moving pictures, and distribution of educational
material, much interest was aroused in the approved practices of
production, harvesting, handling, grading, washing, drying,
packing, loading, and shipping of potatoes. Special emphasis
was placed on the correction of carriage troubles which menaced
so seriously the value of North Carolina potatoes in the terminal
markets during recent years.
Detailed specific recommendations for improvement of the
potato industry in North Carolina were prepared and over 4,000
copies were distributed among commercial growers and shippers.
Four regional meetings were held to consider needed adjustments
in rail traffic regulations and a report of conclusions was pre-pared.
Work with the railroads resulted in elimination of the
$5.50 charge for use of dry refrigerator cars for Irish potatoes
reduction of the minimum car weight from 30,000 to 24,000
pounds in the interest of better carriage and wider distribution
;
and revision of some train schedules and diversion provisions to
expedite terminal deliveries.
Mr. H. A. Spilman, in charge of administering the Perishable
Agricultural Commodities Act, came to the State for three meet-ings
with shippers for explanation and discussion of the pro-visions
of the Act. The development and location of sixteen
potato washing and drying equipment installations in North Caro-lina
this season were assisted. The adoption of two uniform
master brands for potatoes—"Chief Manteo" at Elizabeth City
and ''General Wayne" at Mount Olive—was secured.
The First Annual Potato Tour of the State was conducted,
through cooperation with the State College Extension Service,
Experiment Station and the Federal Department, for first-hand
field study of new and approved developments in the industry.
The potato market news and stabilization clearing house at Wash-ington,
North Carolina, operated during the harvest period by
Mr. A. E. Mercker of the Federal Department, was given personal
assistance. The support of shippers was secured in group adver-tising
of North Carolina potatoes to the wholesale trade. The
fact that the combined efforts in behalf of the potato producers
resulted in definite progress toward better conditions is generally
attested to by receivers in consuming markets.
A circular, "What, When and Where of North Carolina Fruits
and Vegetables," for the purpose of attracting more buyers was
54 Biennial Report
compiled and 2,000 copies were distributed among potential whole-sale
purchasers. Plans were developed for State authorized
labeling for identification of top quality, officially inspected farm
products as a means of stimulating consumer acceptance and
premium prices. Specialists were assigned to the Western North
Carolina produce section to work with growers and shippers in
improving the quality and pack of apples and vegetables from
that district. Members of the Division worked in cooperation
with the Farm Agent of New Hanover County with considerable
success in the establishment of new State outlets for produce
from that section. The North Carolina Division of the Georgia-
Carolinas Peach Marketing Board was assisted in raising funds
for continuation of a nationwide merchandising campaign.
Shipping Point Inspection Service
The largest single project of the Division of Markets is the
point of origin inspection and certification as to grade of fruits
and vegetables for shipment out of North Carolina. This work,
carried on in cooperation with the Agricultural Marketing Ser-vice,
is available to growers and shippers on a self-supporting,
voluntary basis. The fees paid by users are required to support
this service. The inspectors are licensed by the Federal Depart-ment
and act in a neutral capacity in describing the quality and
condition and certifying as to the grade of a commodity. A major
portion of the produce shipped from North Carolina is bought and
sold on the basis of grade as determined by the inspectors. The
voluntary use of this service proves its value to the growers and
shippers, especially in the sight-unseen selling of their products.
A total of 7,595,111 packages, equivalent to 21,330 carloads, of
produce was certified as to grade during this period. The com-modities
included Irish potatoes, sweet potatoes, peaches, straw-berries,
apples, tomatoes, watermelons, cantaloupes, peas, snap
and lima beans, green corn, cabbage, cucumbers, peppers, lettuce,
beets, carrots, squash, dewberries, huckleberries, mixed vege-tables,
peanuts, and soybeans.
During the peak shipping season, this service required a trained
personnel of one hundred and thirty-five licensed inspectors. The
temporary employment of that many qualified men, to see that
they are properly trained, equipped and supervised, makes neces-sary
a great amount of detailed planning for months in advance.
This force normally falls into three different groups, each of
which is qualified by training and experience to inspect certain,
specific commodities in which they specialize. The setting up of
65 temporary field offices is required to handle this work at ship-ping
points in all the principal producing areas of the State.
Commissioner of Agriculture 55
A regulation was passed by the Board of Agriculture requiring
that potatoes offered for seed purposes in North Carolina meet
the specifications of U. S. Grade 1 or be plainly marked "not
graded." Three specialists were employed during the time of ar-rival
of seed potatoes in the State to enforce the provision and
safeguard seed supplies. They made themselves available to the
growers and receivers without cost and, in many cases, were re-sponsible
for warning growers and dealers against inferior seed
stocks. In some cases, hidden defects discovered by these in-spectors
would have resulted in very poor production had the seed
been planted. Dry type of freezing injury and excessive sprout-ing,
both of which weaken seed materially, were the most preva-lent
causes for complaint.
The watermelon marketing agreement, with compulsory in-spection,
continued through the 1939 season, but was suspended
in 1940. No material effect was seen in the volume of inspections
made between the compulsory and voluntary use of the service,
as growers realized the benefits derived from inspection and con-tinued
to avail themselves of grade certification. With the as-signment
of five men for inspection work on peas at the new
auction market in Elizabeth City, the volume jumped from 61,201
bushels which was the previous biennium to 140,730 bushels for
this period, or more than doubled. For the first time a specialist
of the inspection service was placed in New Hanover County to
assist growers of lettuce and other truck crops on a voluntary
basis. Foundation work was started there on grading and pack-ing
and much of this inspector's time was given gratis to growers
and shippers in an effort to improve the quality of produce offered
for sale from that section. Another first for this service was the
placement of an inspector at one of the larger apple orchards at
Waynesville for a period of eight weeks. In addition to certi-fying
for grade 21,330 bushels of apples, this inspector devoted
his spare time to working with other growers in the preparation
of their products for market.
Inspectional work on Farmer's stock peanuts was renewed and
13,429 bags were certified as to grade for the Roanoke Mutual
Association. Inspection of soybeans was continued at Elizabeth
City, and, during this period, 16,820 bushels were certified for
grade.
Destination of Inspection Service
Inspection, upon arrival at destination, is made at the request
of receivers of commodities shipped into the State in order to
determine the condition and grade. This kind of inspection nor-mally
is called for only when the product is thought to be below
contract specifications, and it is used as the basis for adjustments
in the price originally agreed upon by the shipper and receiver.
56 Biennial Report
Members of the Division made inspection of twenty-seven cars
of inbound produce at various receiving points for the purpose as
outhned.
Stabilization and Standardization
For the past two years, the Irish potato stabihzation clearing
house at Washington, North CaroHna, operated during the har-vest
period by Mr. A. E. Mercker, of the Agricultural Adjustment
Administration, has been continued. This work starts ahead of
planting in the dissemination of outlook information tending to
stabilize acreage and discourage over-planting when necessary.
At shipping time, the growers and shippers are kept in close con-tact
with the facts and figures influencing marketing of the crop
in an effort to maintain orderly movement and uniformity of
price. The personal assistance of members of the Division has
been rendered this work.
The Peanut Stabilization Cooperative was again assisted in its
diversion program. Approximately 5,000 tons of surplus North
Carolina peanuts were purchased, stored and crushed for oil with
favorable eff"ect on market prices. These purchases were made
on the basis of grade determined by inspectors licensed by the
U. S. and North Carolina Departments of Agriculture.
a typical strawbeeky auction market is shown above. Buyers are making
their purchases on the basis of u. s. grades which were determined by the
Cooperative Inspection Service of the Department of Agriculture.
Commissioner of Agriculture 57
Strawberry standardization work has been underway for a
number of years and was given added impetus by the assignment
of three full time specialists to this program, along with the avail-able
time of the forty-five inspectors working strawberries. The
increased returns to growers who packed their berries according
L. P. Wells of Mt. Olive is one of the many strawberry growers is eastern
North Carolina who has benefitted by- using approved methods for packing
berries. The type of pack shown above has been cited as a model by the
Markets Division of the Department of Agriculture.
to approved specifications were quite notable and gained recog-nition
on all the strawberry auction markets. Work of similar
nature has been done successfully on most of the fruit and vege-table
crops in the State by specialists and inspectors of the Di-vision
of Markets. Considerable improvement has been made in
the quality, condition and pack, which strongly influences prices,
of a number of commodities. These activities have been tied in
rather closely with the inspection service.
58 Biennial Report
Surplus Commodity Purchases
During the marketing periods of this biennium, surpluses de-veloped
on Irish potatoes, sweet potatoes, cabbage and snap beans
for which no profitable sales could be found through regular chan-nels.
In each of these cases a substantial measure of relief was
secured by appeal to the former Federal Surplus Commodities
Corporation, or the more recent Surplus Marketing Administra-tion,
which came to the rescue. These purchases for removal of
demoralizing surpluses, which tended to bolster crashing prices,
saved growers from serious losses. Full support of the Division
of Markets has been accorded the institution and prosecution of
these programs. The surplus purchases have always been made
on the basis of certification as to grade made by members of the
inspection service who also assumed a number of responsibilities
in accomplishing the helpful removal.
New Produce Markets
Some assistance has been given to local groups who were in-terested
in developing more adequate markets. In the cases of
Elizabeth City and Clinton, help was given in planning set-ups
for auctions which have been functioning for two years and one
year respectively. These required several meetings, as well as
further information on the establishment of their scale of
charges, method of conducting the auction and the designing of
plans for the buildings. The Elizabeth City market has sold
mostly early peas. The Clinton auction, operating for two months
during the 1940 season, handled approximately a quarter million
packages of beans, peas, corn, squash, huckleberries, dewberries,
cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes and proved highly successful.
Much work has been done with the idea of establishing wholesale
jobbing markets for farm products in Raleigh and Smithfield
which would be designed to serve a wide territory for both re-ceiving
and distributing.
Tobacco Standardization
Tobacco, providing the largest source of farm income in North
Carolina, has been given a considerable amount of specialized
marketing attention by the Division. Through a cooperative
agreement with the Agricultural Marketing Service, the demon-stration
work in tobacco standardization has been expanded in
the past two years. Demonstrations in proper sorting, tying, and
better preparation of tobacco for market have been featured in
an extensive series of meetings. With a total farmer attendance
of 3,849, demonstrations have been held in 36 counties of the
State in cooperation with local farm agents. Night adult classes
Commissioner of Agriculture 59
have been held in 23 schools with an attendance of 682, in coop-eration
with vocational teachers. Tobacco standardization has
also been demonstrated in the vocaitonal departments of 70 high
schools to 2,367 agricultural students.
» >«*. r^ /** .«i^
Helping farmers to grade and better prepare their tobacco for market is
A service rendered by the State Department of Agriculture. W. P.
Hedrick (extreme right), tobacco marketing specialist, is shown dis-cussing
grades with a farmer.
Assistance was given Burley growers in Northwestern North
Carolina in the establishment of a market at Boone. This new
market has been highly beneficial to the growers in that area.
Demonstrations were held in 15 Burley-growing counties with a
total attendance of 2,145 tobacco farmers. The county agents
arranged these meetings.
Due to the continued changes in demand for tobacco products,
manufacturers have been contacted often and helpful information
acquired. This information passed on to the growers has enabled
them to better prepare their tobacco for market to meet the
demands of the buyers.
Livestock Marketing
The livestock grading and marketing program instituted in
1937 was continued, and improvements and expansions deemed
expedient were made.
60 Biennial Report
A total of 8,837 lambs were graded, and, with the cooperation
of State College Extension Service, were marketed cooperatively
for a net return of $52,794.94 for the 500 farmers served. The
animals originated in Alleghany, Ashe, Camden, Currituck, Pitt^
Tyrrell, and Watauga Counties, and a substantial saving was
effected in the marketing of these lambs. New York is the prin-cipal
and the highest priced lamb market in the United States
;
and in selling North Carolina lambs in this market, they must
first be assembled in carload lots. Ownership can not be pooled
satisfactorily unless the lambs are graded so that the owners may
receive returns commensurate with the quality of the lambs they
include in the pool. The grading demonstrates the type of lamb
that farmers can best afford to produce for the market, which
renders market news more understandable and makes sight un-seen
trading possible.
Farmers of western North Carolina "pool" their laxMbs for grading before
THEY are sold ON NORTHERN MARKETS. THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN CONDUCTED BY
THE State Department of Agriculture's Markets Division in cooperation
WITH State College Extension specialists.
A bulletin listing feeder cattle for sale in the counties of Alle-ghany,
Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Haywood, Mitchell, Madison^
Yancey, and Watauga Counties was issued in the fall of 1939. A
total of 15,000 cattle belonging to 650 farmers was listed. Around
2,000 copies of this bulletin were distributed among prospective
customers in North Carolina and in nearby states. This market-ing
project brought a number of new feeder cattle customers to
the farmers of western North Carolina and enabled them to
market their cattle more profitably. It also established closer
relationships between the cattle feeders of the eastern section and
the producers in the grazing area of western North Carolina.
Commissioner of Agriculture 61
Grading assistance was rendered for the livestock auction in
Asheville. Aid was provided for the promotion and estabHsh-ment
of a grading and trading terminal station for feeder cattle
In Asheville. Grading assistance by Department representatives
was arranged for the fall of 1940. It is believed that this pooling
and private sales arrangement will be of material assistance to
the cattle producers of western North Carolina, as well as to
feeders operating in eastern North Carolina.
A moving picture showing services rendered by freezer locker
plants was assembled and shown to various promotional, educa-tion,
and business groups throughout the State. The freezer
locker plant is destined to become more widely used in North
Carolina. Such plants make available an economical supply of
palatable meats to farmer families throughout the year, and, in
addition, step up the efficiency of livestock marketing. The De-partment
was instrumental in securing a Federal Grant to estab-lish
one of these plants in West Jefferson, North Carolina.
Information showing the cost of erecting and operating a meat
packing plant was assembled for the Charlotte Chamber of Com-merce,
and a detailed report showing balance sheets and operating
statements was submitted. The marketing specialist was made
available for use in leading livestock marketing discussions ar-ranged
by teachers of vocational agriculture. A number of such
meetings were held and were well attended. It is expected that
demands of this nature will be of even greater number in the
future.
Market News Service
North Carolina producers, buyers, and sellers are provided
daily with accurate and unbiased market news from both the
permanent Raleigh office and seasonal temporary field offices,
the objective of which is "orderdly marketing by facilitating and
equalizing distribution and the discouraging of the dissemination
of fictitious and misleading market information by biased
sources."
For nearly three years, this information has been made avail-able
each market day to the general public. Though the service is
now usually taken for granted, it has become an indispensable
factor in the American system of marketing. Reliable market
news is now practically a necessity in the operations and plans
of everyone who produces, buys, or sells. The basic information
is collected in many ways; by interviews, telegraphic reports,
warehousemen, inspectors, and by numerous contacts with other
groups.
To distribute the information in time to be of practical use, the
Raleigh office is directly connected with the United States De-partment
of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service's leased
62 Biennial Report
wire system of more than 7,500 miles (airline) or leased tele-phone
wires. As the information is received in Raleigh, it is
decoded and edited and distributed by mail, radio, and press.
Farmers can not market intelligently unless they know the
market values of their products. Neither can they be on an equal
bargaining basis if they are not familiar with prices being paid
in the various price setting markets. With that thought in mind,
we have endeavored to make available to the farmers of North
Carolina market information that would place them on an equal
basis with any section of the United States.
Seasonal daily mimeographed reports, in cooperation with the
Agricultural Marketing Service, are issued from temporary field
offices at Chadbourn, Washington, and Hamlet, North Carolina.
In addition, the Raleigh office releases daily and weekly press,
radio, and mimeograph reports on cotton, tobacco, feedstuffs,
peanuts, poultry and eggs, dairy products, livestock, and fruits
and vegetables. Also, for the producer who is not operating in
the market throughout the season, weekly and monthly reviews
and summaries are available. The reports issued at Chadbourn
dealt with strawberries ; those at Washington with commercial
early potatoes ; and the ones from Hamlet with peaches and
watermelons.
Field reports issued showed the total U. S. carlot shipments by
States; primary destinations and Potomac yard's passings of
North Carolina shipments ; and North Carolina and competitive
f.o.b. prices. Too, telegraphic reports were received and dissemi-nated
from the principal wholesale terminal markets. These
telegrams included the factors that influence market adjustments
and wholesale sales.
Market information, developed early in 1938 and expanded dur-ing
the biennium, is disseminated by mail to 3,000 North Carolina
farmers each week and daily by nine radio stations, five daily
newspapers, and the two press associations. Mail reports are
issued to poultry and egg, cattle, hog, sheep and lamb, and apple
producers while the radio and press releases cover the major
agricultural commodities.
The furnishing of daily and weekly price reports on tobacco,
in cooperation with the Agricultural Marketing Service, according
to grade is also an activity of the Division. Information on the
grade of tobacco is of little value to the grower unless he is pro-vided
simultaneously with information on the average selling
prices of the various grades. With specific information on grade,
and the equally specific information on price, the grower is able
to arrive at the approximate value and can decide whether to-accept
or reject the auction bid.
Commissioner of Agriculture 63
Mutual and Cooperative Organizations
Much work has been done with mutual and cooperative asso-ciations
in the last two years. In compliance with the law
governing them, their annual reports have been received and
filed; suggestions designed to benefit their organizations in a
business way have been made; and assistance in more efficient
operation has been given. It was found that many organizations
needed changes in their set-up, and they were rendered assistance
in amending their charters, by-laws, and marketing agreements.
Fourteen new associations have been incorporated. The charters,
by-laws, and marketing agreements for many of these associa-tions
have been prepared by representatives of the Division of
Markets. The dairy organizations found it necessary to borrow
money to build and equip their plants. The Columbia Bank for
Cooperatives at Columbia, South Carolina, furnished a source for
such loans, provided the cooperative was properly formed and
their business practices were approved. Valuable assistance has
been given in making applications in proper form and further
help in following through to the final securing of these loans.
Two more such arrangements have been started.
Moving Pictures on Marketing
The use of moving pictures as a means of encouraging approved
marketing methods was inaugurated during the past year. The
following 16 mm. Kodachrome film subjects have been produced:
"Lespedeza as a Seed Crop in North Carolina," "A Tar Heel
Potato Pleads His Case," "Freezer Lockers and Custom Meat Cur-ing
in North Carolina," "Tar Heel Strawberries March On," and
"Creating Consumer Preference for Tar Heel Vegetables." Other
films are in the process of making on soybeans, lambs, tobacco,
peaches, hays and other commodities ; and several suitable film
subjects, mostly with sound, have been acquired from outside
sources. These pictures have been used to carry the message of
modern marketing practices visually to thousands of farmers in
meetings throughout the State. They have been made available
for various farm group meetings and vocational agricultural
classes in rural high schools.
Miscellaneous Services
Numerous other occasional activities of the Division of Markets
do not logically fall under the headings already outlined. A few
of these will sufl[ice to convey some idea of their nature. Repre-sentatives
of the Division attended and assisted various meetings
of commodity societies interested in bettering marketing condi-tions.
Two meetings were attended in Washington, D. C, re-garding
the Wage and Hour Law as it affects North Carolina
64 Biennial Report
strawberry growers, and much information was assembled for
the Federal Wage and Hour Administration. The Resettlement
Administration was furnished information on the migratory
harvest labor situation in this State. A summary of municipal
ordinances regulating itinerant merchant truckers of farm
products was furnished for a survey by the Bureau of Agricul-tural
Economics. An investigation was made of the local mar-keting
needs of communities throughout the State. A conference
was attended in Atlanta, Georgia, to consider a proposal of the
railroads to accept inspection records in lieu of weighing on all
cars of watermelons from the Southern States. Members of the
Division participated in a number of meetings called by groups
concerned with marketing problems of peculiar interest to their
localities. Assistance and advice was rendered to a large number
of individuals on specific phases of marketing.
Personnel of the Division
The increase in value and scope of marketing activities during
the biennium has necessitated an enlargement of personnel. The
marketing specialists have been carefully selected for ability,
training, and practical experience in this vital field of agriculture.
It has been a matter of pride that both the permanent and
temporary employees have demonstrated unusual qualifications
in their lines. Their harmonious, loyal, and enthusiastic services
have made for effective accomplishments.
f ^ Acknowledgments
In conclusion, I wish to acknowledge your sympathetic interest
and support in the work of the Division of Markets. It has been
a pleasure to collaborate with branches of the United States De-partment
of Agriculture with whom cooperative agreements have
been operated, the State College Extension Service and Experi-ment
Station with whom we have had joint projects, and all
others who have contributed to our programs. Particular ap-preciation
is expressed to the county agents and vocational agri-cultural
teachers, who have frequently rendered valuable assis-tance
in accomplishments of the Division.
DIVISION OF STATE MUSEUM
Harry T. Davis
Objectives: Presentation of our Natural History and Natural
Resources to the State and out-of-State visitors has continued as
our major function during the past biennium. All exhibits have
been improved as such and new exhibits have been added in our
Halls for Fossils, Rocks, Minerals, Forestry, American Indian,
Fishes and Marine Life, Birds, Mammals, and Agriculture. The
public response to this has been encouraging.
Accessions: This is given in summary and indicates the large
number of specimens which come to or are collected by an active
Museum. For obvious reasons all accessions do not become good
exhibits, but we make use of most of them and the detailed
records make up a body of useful information. Because of
brevity this report carries acknowledgment of only major ac-cessions.
Accessions by groups were
:
Fossils 52
Rocks and Minerals 140
Forestry and Botany 16
American Indian 316
Invertebrates 34
Fishes 43
Reptiles 87
Birds 198
Mammals —
_
40
Agriculture - 46
Books -.- 72
Pictures 3 9
Lantern Slides 33
Total 1,116
Exhibits: The most notable collection of fossil specimens was
made at a W.P.A. built sewage disposal pit near Stantonsburg.
Hundreds of pounds of whale bone fragments along with shark
and crocodile teeth and juniper wood came from this pit. Most
of the rocks and minerals were species and varieties and for local-ities
new to this Museum. Remarkable was a fulgurite collected
on an ancient Indian village site at Collington. This is a sand
tube fused by lightning.
Working with the University Laboratory of Archaeology, most
of our American Indian material is sent to Chapel Hill. In turn
we have their aid in building related educational exhibits. Notable
burial urns on exhibit have come to us thru Mrs. O. C. Bruton,
Mrs. George W. Little and Mrs. Chas. T. Pate, A notable soap-stone
vessel came from the late Dr. James A. Wray.
66 Biennial Report
The two most notable additions to our fish exhibits have been
a 75 pound Channel Bass from Ocracoke, by Fred Stedman, and
a 594 pound Blue Marlin which was taken off Cape Hatteras by
Marshall Dana on rod and reel. Both of these are records for
the United States east coast and the latter was secured thru
Tom Eaton. Other fish that were new records for North Carolina
are a thirty-five pound Long-finned Albacore, a Rudder Fish and
a Wahoo. New to our exhibits are a three foot Angel Shark, and
a 58 pound Sail-fish.
Among reptiles our live poisonous snakes in Hall I continue to
be a major attraction carrying the knowledge of our native
poisonous snakes. New mounts of non-poisonous species have
been added.
In Bird exhibits we added the firsts for North Carolina; in
Glossy Ibis—by Clyde Mason—in Great Black-backed Gulls—by
Sam Walker—and in Greater Shearwater and Audubon's Shear-water—
by Mart Fulcher.
Other birds new to our exhibits or skin collection are : Roseate
Tern, Western Willet, Western Sandpiper, Sharp-tailed Sparrow,
Seaside Sparrow, Black Tern and Cory's Shearwater. The larger
number of the birds received were used to build up our study and
reference collection of skins, which is now one of the best in the
southeast. Bird students and college classes are making greater
use of these. The reconstruction and relighting of a large habi-tat
group of Water Turkey, Osprey and Cormorant in our Bird
Hall has been a noteworthy improvement.
Our most notable addition to mammals was a female seventeen
foot Beaked Whale which was stranded on the Gull Shoal Beach,
Hatteras Island. This is a small whale which is quite rare. What
was more unusual this female carried a well developed foetus,
seven feet long. As exhibits we are preparing to show the
mother and unborn young as well as the complete skeleton. Ben
Dixon McNeill and the C.C.C. Camp at Manteo aided in securing
these.
In the Hall devoted to Agriculture we added interesting old
home and farm implements. More useful were a series of to-bacco
and egg samples with labels to explain the basis of grading
of these products. These were prepared with the Marketing
Division. The suggestion is in order that other Divisions of the
Department might well consider presentation of some of their
work thru the Museum.
Much needed books have been added to our working library
—
in part thru donations—and other valuable publications from
Museums and as subscriptions. Comparatively few pictures were
added, but we greatly need more of these to clarify and publicize
our exhibits. The lantern slides are principally of fishes, and we
Commissioner of Agriculture 67
plan some of other subjects in order that we may better present
our work to outside groups.
Mrs. Thomas O'Berry presented us twenty-one valuable water-color
paintings of native Flowers. These were painted by Gene
Erwin and Frances Durant under the E.R.A. Art Project.
One modern museum case was added and it indicates clearly
what improvement can be made in exhibits. New fluorescent
lighting was designed and installed in a few of our cases and the
result is better light and more light. Our labels are being pro-gressively
improved at low cost by using a small printing machine
which was purchased jointly with the Hall of History.
Publications: