ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
$ 
tatir
SOF THE
AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE OF ALABAMA
FOR
04889.0
MONTGOMERY, ALA.:
T'HE BROWN PRINTING CO., STATE PRINTERS AND BQQK BINDERS.
1890.
9

ALABAMA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE,
A. & M. COLLEGE,
AUBURN, ALA., Feb. 1, 1890.
To Hi8 Excellency, THos. 
SEAY,
Montgomery, Ala.:
SmIR-I have the honor herewith, in accordance with Sec-
tion 3 of the "Hatch Act," accepted by joint resolution of the
State Legislature, to transmit the Annual Report of the Agri-
cultural Experiment Station of the A. & M. College for the
year 1889.
Respectfully,
Wm. LEROY BROUN,
President.

a 5
t2 8 '59
CO? ,. AGRICULTURAL 
EXPERIMENT 
STATION.
E30oA.R,:D O v' VISITo S.
COMMITTEE OF TRUSTEES ON EXPERIMENT STATION:
HON. J. G. GILCHRIST,
HON. R. F. LIGON,
HON. J. B, MITCHELL.
BOARD OF DIRECTION-OFFICERS OF THE STATION:
W . L. BROUN................... ........................ ... President.
J. S. NEWMAN............................. Director and Agriculturist.
N. T. LuPTON ............................ Vice-Director and Chemist.
*P. H. MELL...............................................Botanist.
GEO. F. ATKINSON..........................................Biologist.
ASSISTANTS:
ISAAC Ross, First Ass't Agriculturist in charge of Live Stock and Diary.
JAMES CLAYTON ...................... Second Assistant Agriculturist.
J. T. ANDERSON, PH. D............. ........ First Assistant Chemist.
L. W. WILKINSON, B. Sc..................Second Assistant Chemist.
P. L. HUTcHINsoN..........................Third Assistant Chemist.
A. M. LLO-YD, B. Sc...............................Assistant Botanist.
* Prof. Mell has also charge of Meteorological Observations.

THE HATCH ACT.
An, Act to establish agricultural experiment stations in connection
with the colleges established in the several States, under the pro-
visions of an act approved July second, eighteen hundred and sixty-
two, and of the acts supplementary thereto.
Be it enacted in the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled, That in order to aid in acquir-
ing and diffusing among the people of the United States useful and
practical information on subjects connected with agriculture, and to
promote scientific investigation and experiment respecting the princi-
ples and applications of agricultural science, there shall be established,
under direction of the college or colleges or agricultural department of
colleges in each State or Territory established, or which may hereafter
be established, in accordance with the provisions of an act approved
July second, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, entitled "An act dona-
ting public lands to the several States and Territories which may pro-
vide colleges for the benefit of agriculture and the mechanic arts," or
any of the supplements to said act, a department to be known and
designated as an " agricultural experiment station ;" Provided, that in
any State or Territory in which two such colleges have been or may be
so established,. the appropriation hereinafter made to such States or
Territory shall be equally divided between such colleges, unless the
Legislature of such State or Territory shall otherwise direct.
SEC. 2. That it shall be the object and duty of said experiment sta-
tions to conduct original researches, or verify experiments on the
physiology of plants and animals; the diseases to which they are sev-
erally subject with the remedies for the same; the chemical composi-
tion of useful plants at their different stages of growth; the compara-
tive advantages of rotative cropping, as pursued under a varying series
of crpps, the capacity of new plants or trees for acclimation; 
the analy-
sis of soils and water; the chemical composition of manures, natural or
artificial, with experiments designed to test their comparative effects
on crops of different kinds; the adaptation and value of grasses and
forage plants; the composition 
and digestibility of the 
different kinds
of food for domestic animals; the scientific and economic 
questions in-
volved in the production of butter and cheese; and such other, re-
searches or experiments bearing directly on the agricultural industry of
the United States as may in each case be deemed advisable, having
due regard to the varying conditions and needs of the respective States
or Territories.
SEC. 3. That in order to secure, as far as practicable, uniformity of
methods and results in the work of said stations, it shall be the duty
of the United States Commissioner of Agriculture to furnish forms, as
far as practicable, for the tabulation of results of investigation or ex-
periments; to indicate from time to time, such lines 
of inquiry as to
him shall seem most important; and, in general, to furnish such ad-
vice and assistance as will best promote the purposes of this act. It
shall be the duty of each of said stations, annually, on or before the
first day of February, to make to the governor of the State or Territory
in which it is located a full and detailed report of its operations, inclu-
ding a statement of receipts and expenditures, a copy of which report
shall be sent to each of said stations, to the said Commissioner of Agri-
culture, and to the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States.
SEc. 4. That bulletins or reports of progress shall be published at
said stations at least once in three months, one copy of which shall be
sent to each newspaper in the States and Territories in which they are
respectively located, and to such individuals actually engaged in farm-
ing as may request the same, and as far as the means of the station
will permit. Such bulletins or reports and the annual reports of said
stations shall be transmitted in the mails of the United States free of
charge for postage, under such regulations as the Postmaster General
may from time to time prescribe.
Sc. 5. That for the purpose of paying the necessary expenses of
conducting investigations and experiments, and printing and distribu-
ting the results as hereinbefore prescribed, the sum of fifteen thousand
dollars per annum is hereby appropriated to each State, to be specially
provided for by Congress in the appropriations from year to year, and
to each Territory entitled under the provisions of section eight of this
act, out of any money in the Treasury proceeding from the sales of
public lands, to be paid in equal quarterly payments, on the first day
of January, April, July and October in each year, to the treasurer or
other officer duly appointedby the governing boards of said colleges to
receive the same, the first payment to be made 
on the first day of Octo-
ber, eighteen hundred and eighty-seven. Provided, however, That out
of the first annual appropriation so received by any station an amount
not exceeding one-fifth may be expended in the erection, enlargement,
or repair of a building or buildings necessary for carrying on the work
of such station; and thereafter an amount not exceeding five per
centum of such annual appropriation may be so expended.
SEC. 6. That whenever it shall appear to the Secretary of the Treas-
ury from the annual statement of receipts and expenditures of any of
said stations, that a portion of the preceding annual appropriation re-
mains unexpended, such amount shall be deducted from the next suc-
ceeding annual appropriation to such station, in order that the amount
of money appropriated to any 
station shall not not exceed 
the amount
acteially and necessarily required for its maintenance and support.
SEC. 7. That nothing in this act shall be construed. to impair or
modify the legal relation existing between any of the said colleges and
the government of the States or Territories in which they are respect-
ively located.
Sic.' 8. That in States having colleges entitled under this section to
the benefits of this act, and having also agricultural experiment stations
established by law*separate from said colleges, such States shall be au-
thorized to apply such benefits to experiments at stations so established
by such States; and in case any State shall have established, under the
provisions of said act of July second aforesaid, an agricultural depart-
ment or experimental station, in connection with any university, col-
lege or institution not distinctly an agricultural college or school, and
such State shall have established orshall hereafter establish a separate
agricultural college or school, which shall have connected therewith an
experimental farm or station, the Legislature of such State may apply
in whole or in part the appropriation by this act made, to such separate
agricultural college or school, and no Legislature shall by contract, ex-
press or implied, Idisable itself from so doing.
SEC. 9. That the grants of money authorized by this act are made
subject to the legislative assent of the several States and Territories to
the purposes of said grants: Provided, That payments of such install-
ments of the appropriation herein made as shall become due to any
State before the adjournment of the regular session of its Legislature,
meeting next after the passage of this act, shall be made upon the
assent of the Governor thereof duly certified to the Secretary of the
Treasury.
SEc. 10. Nothing in this act shall be held or construed as binding
the United States to continue any payments from the Treasury to any
or all the States or institutions mentioned in this act, but Congress may
at any time amend, suspend, or repeal any or all the provisions of this
act.
Approved, March 2, 1887.
ORGANIZATION OF THE ALABAMA AGRICULTU-
RAL EXPERIMENT STATION.
The Board of Trustees of the Agricultural and Mechanical College,
inet in Montgomery February24 and 25, 1888, and organized the Agri-
cultural Experiment Station under the provisions of the "Hatch act,"
as follows:
1. In accordance with theact of Congress, approved March 2d, 1887,
to establish experiment stations in the several States, the Governor of
this State having given his certified assent to the purposes of the grant,
as required in the act, there is hereby established under the provisions
of said act, for the purposes therein named, the experiment station of
the Agricultural and Mechanical College, of Alabama; and said station
is hereby made a department of the Agricultural and Mechanical Col-
lege, and as such shall, as other departments, be under the general
supervision of the president of the college.
2. All moneys received from the United States Treasury under the
aforesaid act of Congress, shall be faithfully used for the purposes desig-
nated in said act.
3. The president of the college shall present in his annual report to
the trustees such recommendations as in his opinion will promote the
efficiency of the station; and to him all reports of the several depart-
ments of the station shall be made.
4. The president of the college and such other officers attached to
the station, as may be appointed by the trustees, shall constitute a
board of direction, and to said board all subjects relating to the experi-
ment station shall be referred. And in order to secure unity of purpose
in research, the board of direction shall confer together and determine
the experimentation and research which shall be undertaken, and
adopt each year a definite line of work; it being provided the work un-
dertaken shall, as far as possible, have reference to questions of prac-
tical interest to the farmers of Alabama. The board shall meet at reg-
ular periods, and at any time subject to the call of the president, and
shall keep a record of its proceedings.
5. A member of the board of Direction shall be appointed by the
trustee officer in charge; who in addition to the special duties of the
station to which he may be assigned, shall conduct the general corres-
pondence incidental to the work of the station.
6. It shall be the duty of the station to examine free of charge
articles relating to agriculture, sent by citizens of the State, when of
public utility, under such regulations as may be prescribed, and to per-
form all duties now required of the experiment station established at
the college by the trustees under the law of the State,
11
7. No officer of the station shall engage in any occupation, or accept
any position that will in any manner interfere with the faithful per-
formanbe of his duties; and no property of any character belonging to
the experiment station shall be used for private purposes.
8. All proceeds arising from sales from the proceeds of the farm
shall be paid to the Treasurer of the College, who shall account for tie
same to the trustees; and when the Director receives any money from
farm products, he shall make an itemized statement in writing from
what source such money is received, which statement shall, with the
money, be turned over to the Treasurer, and no money shall be paid
to the Director unless upon warrant signed by the President of the
College.
9. A committee of visitors composed of three trustees shall be ap-
pointed, who shall during the year, as often as they may deem neces-
sary, visit and inspect each department of the experiment station, and
make a special report at the annual meeting of the Board, and no per-
manent improvement shall be constructed without the approval of the
committee.
10. The organization of the experiment station herein provided for
shall take effect April 1st, 1888, and continue so long as the act of Con-
gress remains in force; and the Agricultural and Mechanical College
receives the money therein appropriated.
ASSENT OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE.
Joint Resolutions of the State Legislature to Give Assent to the Purposes
of the Grant made, by the Act of Congress, to Establish Agricultural
Experiment Stations in Connection 
with the Land Grant Colleges.
WHEREAs, The Congress of the United States having passed an act,
approved March 2, 1887, entitled, "An act to establish Agricultural
Experiment Stations in connection with the colleges established in the
several States under the provisions of an act approved July 2, 1862, and
of the act supplementary thereto," and
WHEREAS, It being provided in said act "That the grants of moneys
authorized by this act are made subject to the legislative assent of the
several States and Territories, to the purposes of said grants ;" therefore
be it-
"Resolved, By the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring,
That the assent of the General Assembly of Alabama is hereby given
to the purposes of the grants made in said act of Congress; and that
the trustees of the Agricultural College of Alabama, at Auburn, are
hereby authorized and directed to comply with the terms and conditions
expressed in the act aforesaid."
Approved, February 27th, 1889.
The following is from the act of Congress, making 
the appropriation
for the Agricultural Experimental Station for the fiscal year ending
June, 1890, and for other purposes.
The section making the appropriation has this proviso:
"Provided, That as far as practicable, all such stations shall devote a
portion of their work to the examination and classification of the soils
of their respective States and Territories, with a view to securing more
extended knowledge and better development of their agricultural capa-
bilities."
Approved March 2, 1889.
TREASURER'S REPORT
For the year ending July 1st, 1889.
The Agricultural Experiment Station of the A. & M. College of Ala.,
In account with TU. S. Treasurer:
RECEIPTS.
To amount of appropriation.......... ............... $
DISBURSEMENTS.
i5,000o
By amount paid salaries...................$
Equipment farm department.....
" chemical department.
" botanical department.
" biological department.
S dairy department....
Uniontown station..............
Printing........................
Library ........................
Trustees........................
Traveling expenses of officers....
Arboretum. ....................
Stationery.... .............
Postage.........................
Balance.....................................
7,970 71
400 36
384 37
735 92
2,260 46
168 41
2,000 00
648 23
188 18
52 27
89 35
47 12
22 85
31 11
66-$ 15,000
E. T. GLENN, Treasurer,
A. & M. College.
AUBURN, ALA., February 1, 1890.
I, the undersigned, duly appointed auditor 
for the corporation, do
hereby certify that I have examined the 
books and accounts of the
Agricultural Experiment Station of 
the Alabama Agricultural and
Mechanical College for the fiscal year 
ending June 30th, 1889, and have
found the same well kept and correctly 
classified as above; and that
the receipts for the above named are 
shown to be $15,000.00 and the cor-
responding disbursements $14,999 34; 
there being a balance of 66 cents
to be accounted for in the fiscal year 
ending June 30th, 1890. All the
proper vouchers are on file and 
have been by me examined and 
found
pqorrect,
F. M. RFssa, Auditor.
14
AtmuEN, ALA., February 1, 1890.
I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy from the books of
account of the Agricultural Experiment Station of the Agricultural and
Mechanical College of Alabama.
E. T. GLENN, Treasurer.
AUBURn, ALA., February 1, 1890.
I hereby certify that E. T. Glenn is Treasurer of the Agricultural and
Mechanical College of Alabama, and that the above is his signature.
Wx. LEROY BROUN,
President Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical College.
REPORT OF DIRECTOR.
J. S. NEWMAN, DIRECTOR AND AGRICULTURIST.
Since the last annual report, the work of the station has
been more thoroughly systematized-a more complete co-
ordination of the forces of the different departments has been
effected.
The work of the year 1889 has been partly printed in seven
bulletins, covering more than 250 pages, from which the fol-
lowing abstract is made.
Bulletin No. 3, January, 1889, reported experiments with
corn, sweet potatoes, ground peas, turnips, and grapes, analyses
of fertilizers, soils, feed stuffs, a continued classification and
description of the woods of the State, and a meteorological re-
port.
Bulletin No. 4 contains practical instructions for the cultiva-
tion and management of strawberries, grapes, and raspberries.
Bulletin No. 5 contains experiments with fertilizers under
cotton, a comparison of the productiveness and general merits
of different varieties of cotton, and an inquiry as to the needs
of typical soils of the State. These were collected, soil and
subsoil, placed under identical circumstances, and treated with
different elements and combinations of elements of plant food,
and the response in the growth and productiveness of the cot-
ton plants noted. It also contained results of experiment in
pig feding, description of barn and dairy, the report of ex-
periments with different home products as butter producers,
analyses of soils, fertilizers and feed stuffs, and a report of the
temperature of the soil at depths from one inch to ninety
inches, and atmospheric conditions and rainfall.
Bulletin No. 6 embodies a ireport of the Botanist upon "grasses
iid their cultivation," with an account of their economic value
as shown by their nutritive constituents 
found by chemical
analyses.
Bulletin No. 7 contains report of experiments with different
16
species of vegetables and their classification with reference to
the merits of the respective varieties; results of some practical
experiments with different methods of setting milk, and a com.
parison of the economy of the DeLaval separator with the
Cooly system of creamery, with results in favor of the De-
Laval; a report of the meteorological conditions; and a circu-
lar announcement of the Biblogist, indicating the line of work
to be pursued.
Bulletin No. 8 contains a discussion of the formation and
composition of soils; the composition of plants; the sources of
phosphoric acid, potash, and nitrogen employed in the manu-
facture of commercial fertilizers; the value and uses of several
home manurial resources; the manufacture of fertilizers; the
manipulation of composts; analyses of commercial fertilizers
and some natural guanos.
Bulletin No. 9 consists of a preliminary report of the in-
vestigations of nematode root-galls, the injury effected by
them to certain cultivated plants and noxious weeds, with some
suggestions as to means to be used to diminish the injurious
effects of this insidious enemy.
Bulletin No. 10 embodies a report of progress in grape cul-
ture upon the station 
grounds, including methods 
of preparing,
fertilizing and cultivating the soil for this fruit, with a practi-
cal classification and description of the varieties which have
fruited during the last two years.
DISTRIBUTION OF BULLETINS.
While only 3,000 copies of the bulletins are distributed from
the station, the Commissioner of Agriculture prints and dis-
tributes from fifteen to twenty-five thousand of such as are of
a popular character.
Apart from the very valuable and instructive work of a
strictly scientific nature, which does not appeal so directly to
the practical farmer, much good has been accomplished by dis-
seminating amongst the farmers of the State information rela-
ting to the economic use of fertilizers, the economy and other
advantages of improved methods of cultivation, and the grow-
ing of fruits and vegetables.
Indeed, quite an interest has been excited in the cultivation
of grapes and small fruits since some knowledge of their
17
management and of varieties adapted to our soil and climate
has been acquired. The number and character of the letters
of inquiry received by the director of the station indicate a
wide spread and intelligent search for reliable knowledge of
the principles of science related to practical agriculture.
CO-OPERATIVE SOIL TESTS.
A beginning was made last year in this direction, and while
in consequence of the absence of a knowledge on the part of
the experimenters of the accurate record of details necessary to
render them valuable, very little was accomplished. Better
results are confidently expected this year.
The stock yard and dairy have served the purpose of at-
tracting the attention of farmers to this neglected industry,
and the publication of experiments in feeding can be but edu-
cating in its tendency.. The well directed energy of the
Biologist promises important results in combating the insect
and parasitic enemies of our cultivated crops.
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY.
N. T. LUPToN.
The working force in the Chemical Department consists of
the chemist in charge and three assistants. In addition to the
regular work in connection with the Station, this Department
is charged with the chemical work of the State Department of
Agriculture. This includes 
the analysis of such fertilizers,
minerals, and products of all description, as, in the judgment
of the Commissioner of Agriculture, are necessary for the
development of the Industrial Resources of the State. This
work for the commissioner, has largely increased within the
past year, and so has the work of the Station. Its variety and
extent can be seen from the following tabular statement of the
number and character of the quantitative analyses made during
the year 1889.
In the analyses of fertilizers, 'the State law requires the de-
termination of water-soluble, citrate-soluble, and acid-solu-
ble phosphoric acid, nitrogen and potash. When requested
by the party sending the sample, moisture is also determined.
ANALYSES MADE.
SUBSTANCES. NO. OF SAMPLES.
Acid phosphates with nitrogen and potash..................... 1
Acid phosphates with potash................................... 3
Acid phosphates ................................................ 58
Natural phosphates............................................ 47
M arls.................................. ......................... 11
Miscellaneous substances.................................... 48
Feeding stuff..............................................20
M ilk ............................... .................... ....... 76
B utter............... ................... ........................ 8
Pea Vines............................4................
Roots of pea vines............................................ 4
Soils............ ..................................... 9
Total.........................,......., 
459
19
Under the head of miscellaneous substances are included
cotton seed, cotton seed meal, cotton seed ash, kainite, muriate,
nitrate, ammoniuni sulphate, tankage, etc.
In addition to the quantitave work, above mentioned,,a large
number of mineralogical specimens, the character of which
could be ascertained by simple qualitative tests, were examined
and their values determined.
A special Bulletin was prepared during the year on commer-
cial fertilizers. It embraced a brief discussion of the composi-
tion and formation of soils, their deterioration, the composi-
tion of plants, of commercial fertilizers, the sources of mate-
rials used in the manufacture of fertilizers, the estimation of
commercial values, and the preparation of composts. This
Bulletin, intended especially for the farmers of the State, has
been widely circulated by the Commissioner of Agriculture,
and the Director of the Experiment Station.
The Bulletins issued from time to time contain the results
of analyses made. An interesting investigation of the relative
amount and value of pea vines and roots as fertilizers, was
undertaken a few months ago, and also a determination of the
waste of nitrogen caused 
by allowing the vines to 
lie upon the
ground until late in the winter or early spring before turning
them under.
The impression prevails among some farmers that the roots
of pea vines contain substantially all that is valuable in this
crop as a fertilizer. This opinion, from the results obtained,
is erroneous. The vines analyzed, show a value over eight
times that of the roots. The loss of nitrogen by exposure to
atmospheric agencies is considerable, as it is natural to suppose.
The details of this investigation will be published 
in a future
bulletin.
DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY AND METEOROLOGY,
P. H. MELL.
The work conducted in this department during the year 1889
is of the following character:
I-A large number of species of grasses were collected
during the summer and spring, analysed and studied, and de-
scriptions with methods of cultivation were published in Bul'
letin No. 6, a copy of which is herewith submitted.
II-Sections of the wooded plants of the State are being
prepared and studies made of them to determine the follow-
ing questions: How do the grains of woods growing in moist
places compare with grains of trees growing on up-lands?
the relative values of the wood at different years of
growth? the physiological effects produced in lumber that is
air dried or that is steam dried ? the character of damage, if
any, produced upon trees used for lumber that have been pre-
viously tapped for turpentine or: rosin ?
III-During the year many experiments have been made on
the cotton plant by means of the microscope and frequent
field observations. Twenty-three varieties were included in
these investigations. A number of cross sections were made
of the fibres to determine the degree of maturity. Careful
examinations were made, also, to determine the effect,pro-
duced upon the cellular structure of the plant by certain kinds
of fertilization and cultivation, to note, also, if any material
difference actually existed between the various brands of cot-
ton sold in the market under the many different names. In
"improving" the cotton, is the fibre developed or is simply
the weed enlarged to the detriment of the fibre ? The bulle-
tin on this subject will be issued sometime in February. Part
of the manuscript is now in the hands of the printer.
IV-Much material has been collected during the past year
for a bulletin on "Noxious Weeds ;" the work of examining
and classifying these plants is now under way, and it is ex-
21
pected the bulletin will be ready for the printer some time
during the spring or summer.
V-Daily observations of meteorological instruments, and
on the changes of the atmosphere have been carried on during
the entire year. The meteorological outfit consists of the fol
lowing instruments:
1. Maximum thermometer.
2. Minimum thermometer.
3. Dry-bulb thermometer.
4. Wet-bulb thermometer.
5. Barometer.
6. Anemoscope.
7. Rain Gauge.
8. Solar Radiator.
9. Terrestrial Radiator.
10. Thirty soil thermometers; ranging in depth from 1 to
96 inches.
11. Anemometer, Robinson'smake, with electric 
recording
attachment.
The first seven instruments belong to the United States
Signal Service, and the remainder were purchased by the Ex-
periment Station. Reports have been made from time to time
in the bulletins of the station concerning the work in Meteor-
ology. Copies of these bulletins are appended to this report.
Manuscript copy of a bulletin on "The Climate of the State"
has just been completed. This work will be put in the hands
of the printer as soon as the Board of Directors order its pub-
lication. This manuscript has been written from material
furuished during the past five years by observers of the State
Weather Service, and others, voluntary workers in Alabama,
and covers periods from two to twenty years.
DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY,
GEO. F. ATKINSON.
ORGANIzATIoN.-The Department of Biology was organized
during the latter part of the yeax. Owing to the necessity for
the careful selection and importation of special apparatus and
books, together with the fact that the suite of rooms for the
biologist has but recently been in a condition for occupation,
few investigations could be attempted. There are four rooms
in the new building devoted to this department; a suite of
three rooms on the third floor, as follows: an office, labora-
tory room, and lecture room where subjects of practical in-
terest are presented to the classes, and a room in the basequent
devoted to the manipulation of coarser material from collec-
tions in preparing it for the laboratory and cabinet, and for
special cultures. The work of furnishing these rooms and
mounting the special apparatus is now in progress.
The office, besides the ordinary furniture, will contain cases
for an herbarium where will be preserved specimens illustrat-
ing the fungi injurious to plants, and a cabinet illustrating the
insects collected; also a well selected small library of special
literature on these practical subjects which needs to be enlarged
to meet the demand for reference in such a broad field of in-
vestigation.
The more prominent pieces of apparatus in the laboratory
are as follows:
One Rohrbeck's No. 10 Vegetative apparatus.
One Rohrbeck's Steam Sterilizing apparatus, No. 1, D.
One dry oven.
One Pasteur water filter.
One balance.
Microtomer.
Four Leitz microscopes, No. 6.
One Zeiss microscope, No. 2a stand with the 2 m ma apo-
chromatic objective, a series of compensation oeulors and
objectives, triple nose piece, Abbe condenser, long arm
camera, etc.
Besides there is a large list of vessels and smaller pieces of
apparatus, reagents, etc., essential in such a laboratory.
On one side of the laboratory will be partitioned off a cul-
ture room to be occupied by the apparatus for use in growing
certain fungi in connection with the investigations.
Notwithstanding the inconveniences attending investigations
during the period of organization I have been enabled to make
quite an extended original preliminary study of a root-gall
nematode, Heterodera radicicola (Greeff) Miill., which is doing
serious damage to some crops in various parts of the South.
The results of this study were published in a bulletin (Science
Contributions, Vol. 1, No. I, Dec. 1889), as a preliminary
report on Nematode Root-Galls, 
including the life history and
metamorphosis of the worm which is the cause of the disease.
The bulletin is illustrated with six large plates. The principal
topics discussed in the report can be seen from the table of
contents.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
I. Introductory.
II, External characters of the disease.
III. Microscopic characters.
IV. General characters of the mature female cyst,
V. Development and metamorphoses.
Eggs.
Larval stage.
Cystic state.
Transformation of the male.
Structure of the male.
Development of the female.
Length of life cycle.
Brief recapitulation of life history.
Metamorphism of Heterodera.
Comparison with Heterodera Schachtii Schmidt.
Distribution of Heterodera.
VI. Structural characteristics of the diseased roots.
Nomenclature.
External characters.
Histological characters.
Comparison of the external appearance of the root-gall disease
of the potato with "potato scab."
24
Comparison of root-galls with "club-foot" of cabbage.
Comparison of the root-galls with the "tubercles," or "Wurzel-
knollchen" of leguminous plants.
VII. Treatment.
Difficulty of remedial applications to plants already diseased.
Sterilization of the soil by starvation.
Rotation of crops.
Clean cultivation.
Treatment of perennials.
Trapping the worms.
Composts.
VIII. Plants affected.
List of works consulted.
Explanation of the plates.
It is proposed to continue these investigations during the coming
year.
The "Army Worm" (Leucania unipunctata).-With the
aid of a special student in the department I have begun a study
of the Army Worm, which, during the mild weather in Jan-
uary, has appeared on rye here to an extent which suggests the
possibility of their deveioping in sufficient numbers to do
serious harm the coming spring, if such mild weather con-
tinues.
Investigations for the coming year.-It is impossible at this
time to carefully outline for the coming year definite series of
investigations, but attention .will be chiefly given to such
diseases and enemies of the cotton plant and grape as present
themselves in aggravated forms.