TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
Agricultural Experiment Station
OF THE
Alabama Polytechnic Institute,
AUBURN, ALABAMA,
FOR
1899.
MONTGOMERY, ALA.:
THE BROWN PRINTING CO., STATE PRINTERS AND 
BINDERS,
1900.

ALABAMA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE.
AUBURN, ALA., Jan. 15th, 1900.
Governor JOSEPH F. JOHNSTON,
Executive ; Department,
Monigomery, Ala.
Sin:-I have the honor herewith to transmit to you 
the
Twelfth Annual Report of the Agricultural Experiment
Station of this College.
The report of the Treasurer, herewith included, is for tthe
fiscal year ending June 30th, 1899.
This report is made in accordance with the provisions of
the act of Congress (approved March 2nd, 1887), 
establish-
ing Agricultural Experiment Stations in the several 
States
and Territories.
It contains the report of the Botanist, the Chemist, the
Veterinarian, the Agriculturist, the Biologist and the Hort-
iculturist, for the year ending December 31st, 1899.
Respectfully,
Wm. LEROY BROUN,
President.
TRUSTEES.
His Excellncy, JOSEPH F. JOHNSTON, President ----- -Ex- Qglcio.
JNO W. ABEIRCROMBIE, Superintendent of Education- Ex-Officio.
J. G. GILCHTRIST, -------------------------------- Hope Hu-ll, Ala.
TANCRED BETTS -,-------------------------------- Huntsville, Ala.
W. C.' WHITAKER,, ----------------- Tuscaloosa, Al' a.
JONATHAN HARALSON, ---- I----------------------- Selma, Ala.
THjOMAS WILLIAMS - - --------------- 1'etumpka, Ala.
J. A.BILBRO,----------------------------------- Gadsden, Ala.
F. M. MOSELEY, ------------------ Union Springs, Ala.
W. K, TERRY, ---------------------- Birmingham, Ala.
T. H. FRAZER,- -- - ---- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Mobile, Ala.
N. P. IRENFRO,---------------- -------------------- Opelika, Ala.
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION.
COMMITTEE OF TRUSTEES ON EXPERIMENT STATION.
F. M. MOSETEY.................... .......... Union Springs, Ala.
J. G. GILCHRIST........................... .......... Hope Hull, Ala.
JONATHAN HARALSON ..................................... Selma, Ala.
STATION COUNCIL.
W m. LEROY BROUN....................................... President.
P. H. MELL.................................. Director and Botanist.
B. B. Ross ............................................ ... Chem ist.
C. A. CARY, D V. M .................................. Veterinarian.
J. F. DUGGAR............................... .......... Agriculturist.
F. S. EARLE ........................... Biologist and Horticulturist.
J. T. ANDERSON ... ....... ..................... Associate Chemist.
ASSISTANTS.
C. L. HARE ................................. First Assistant Chemist.
J. Q. BURTON............................ Second Assistant Chemist.
A. McB. RANSOM.............................Third Assistant Chemist.
T. U. CULVER............................ Superintendent of Farm.
R. W . CLARK..............................Assistant Agriculturist.
MosEs CRAIG ....... ....... I.................Assistant Horticulturist.

REPORT OF TREASURER.
TREASURER OF ALA\BAMA POLYTECHN O INSTITUTE,
In account with United States Appropriation
Hatch Fund for the year 1898-1899.
To cash received from U. S. Treasurer for the fiscal year
ending June 30th, 1899 ............ .... ............ $
Cr.
15,000 00
By amount paid Salary Account ............. $ 8,742 00
it i 9" Labor 
................. 
. ..... 1,127 92
" " " Publications 
........... ..... 
1,099 18
." . t 
Postage and Stationery. 
...... 162 45
" " . Freight 
and Express.......... 
320 84
" " " Heat, Light and Water....... 168 96
" " . Chemical 
Supplies ........... 
433 46
1" it it Seeds, 
Plants and Supplies.... 
520 42
. . ."i Fertilizers 
............. ..... 
237 38
it" " 4 Feeding 
Stuff ................ 
143 79
.4 . . it Library 
................... 
. 572-12
" " " Tools 
and Implements........ 
46 93
... Furniture and Fixtures...... 135 
36
" " " Scientific Apparatus.... ... 200 17
. Live Stock..... ...... . ..... 6 00
.. " Traveling Expenses........... 297 52
" " " Contingent 
Expenses......... 
35 50
" " " Building 
and Repairs......... 
750 00--$ 15,000 00
E. T. GLENN,
Treasurer, A. P. Institute.
THE STATE OF ALABAMA,
Lee County. Personally 
appeared before me, Chas.
Gachet, a Notary Public in and for said county and State, E. T. Glenn,
known to me as Treasurer of the Alabama Polytechnic Institute of
Alabama, who, being duly sworn, deposes and saith that the above
and foregoing account is true and correct.
Witness my hand this 12th day of January, 1900.
CHAS. GACHET,
N. P. & Ex-officio J. P.
This is to certify that I have compared the above account with the
Ledger account of the Treasurer, and this is a correct transcript of
same.
Wm. LEROY BROUN,
President, Alabama Polytechic Institute.

REPORT OF THE BOTANIST AND DIRECTOR.
DR. WM. LEROY BROUN, President,
SIR:--I have the honor to submit the following report con-
cerning the work under my charge in the Agricultural Ex-
periment Station during the year 1899.
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR.
The correspondence of the office is rapidly growing in
importance and in volume, and much of the time of the
Director is consumed in answering questions relating to tbhe
general work of the Station. A number of letters has been
received during the year from parties residing in other
States seeking for information on the soils, the climate and
the suitable localities in Alabama for the'cultivation of cer-
tain kinds of fruits, vegetables and farm crops. These
letters have been generally from parties who were contem-
plating moving to Alabama to establish homes as farmers
and fruit growers. A portion of the time of the Director
has, therefore, been consumed in the line of general informa-
tion on the lands and agricultural products of the State.
Many letters have been received from persons who wished
to be instructed .in the methods of making composts, the
best commercial fertilizers for cereals, for cotton and for
floriculture. Information has been sought through the
office!for the names of the best books treating of planting,
cultivating and gathering the crops. In addition to this
there has been an unusual demand for the back numbers of
the bulletins, indicating that many of the farmers are keep-
ing up with the work of the Station, and are using every
effort to enlighten themselves on subjects relating to farm-
ing.
During the year the office has answered 1,255 letters.
10
BULLETINS ISSUED BY THE STATION.
The number of bulletins issued during the year is 7, from
number 101 to 107. These bulletins comprise volume 7 of
the Station publications. The following is an analysis of
these bulletins:-
No. 101. Experiments with Cotton, 1898.
Contents: The rainfall during the growing season of 1893;
varieties; sub-soiling; experiments with fertilizers; methods
of applying fertilizers; cotton seed vs. cotton seed meal or
nitrate of soda; special potash experiments; where to get
seed. 19 pages.
No. 102. Co-operative Fertilizer Experiments with Cotton
in 1898,
Contents: Objects and methods of the experiments; list
of experimenters; fertilizers used ; detailed account of each
experimenter's report and an analysis of the results; general
suggestions about suiting the fertilizer to the soil; means
of determining the needs of the soil; fertilizers for the red
lime soils of the Tennessee Valley region; fertilizers for the
calcareous valley soils of Northeast Alabama; fertilizers for
oak and hickory uplands with short leaf pine; fertilizers for
gravelly hills region with long leaf pine; fertilizers for gray
isinglass and red clay lands of east Alabama; fertilizers for
southern long leaf pine region; fertilizers for the central
prairie region; fertilizers for other regions; conclusive ex-
periments; inconclusive experiments with cotton. 75 pages.
No. 103. Experiments in Syrup Making.
Contents : The importance and method of securing pure
syrups with attractive color and good keeping qualities;
clarifying agents. 11 pages.
11
No. 104. Velvet Beans.
Contents: Introduction; uses of the velvet bean; velvet
beans for soil improvement; abvantages and disadvantages
of velvet beans; the velvet bean for forage; amount of seed
required; uses of the beans (fruits); co-operative tests of
velvet beans in Alabama. 20 pages.
No. 105. Winter Pasturage, Hay and Fertility Afforded by
Hairy Vetch.
Contents : What is Hairy V etch ? special value of legu-
minous plants; the function of root nodules or tubercles;
winter growing plants; increasing the fertility of rarely-
grown soil- improving plants by means of inoculation; nat-
ural inoculation; making a start with hairy vetch; does in-
oculation of hairy vetch pay; uses of hairy vetch; is hairy
vetch or cotton seed meal the cheapest nitrogenous fertili-
zer; driections for sowing hairy vetch; fertilizers for hairy
vetch and other legumes; the weed question; enemies of
vetch; suggestions about the re-seeding of hairy vetch;
adapting vetch to ordinary rotations. 35 pages.
No. 106. Orchard Notes.
Contents: Apples; insects and diseases; cherries; figs;
grapes; kaki, or Japanese persimmons; peaches, pears; plums;
San Jos6 scale. 16 pages
No. 107. Cotton: Results of Experiments Conducted by the
Station During the Past Sixteen Years.
Contents: This bulletin was issued for the Paris Ex-
position to accompany the exhibit made by the Station on
Cotton. The subjects of the field experiments in agricul-
ture, the botany of the cotton, the chemistry of cotton and
the insects and diseases of cotton are treated.
12
The mailing. list now comprises 8,010 names and almost
every day new names are added to the number.
The following bulletins are the only ones which are now
available for general distribution. The increased demand
for these publications has greatly reduced the earlier issues.
No. 1. Report of Agricultural Experiment
No. 2. Report of Agricultural Experiment
No. 5. Cotton experiments, pig feeding, etc
No. 9. Nematode root gals.
No. 12. Co-operative soil experiments.
No. 13. Microscopic study of certain varietie
No. 14. Pea vines as a fertilizer.
No. 15. Insecticides,
No. 17. Dry application of Paris green an
cotton worm.
No. 18. Climatology of Alabama.
No. 22. Experiments with cotton.
No 23. Co-operative soil tests of fertilizers.
No. 27. Black rust of cotton.
No. 28. Watermelons and cantaloupes.
No. 32. Corn, wheat and oats.
No. 34. Co-operative soil test experiments fc
No. 36. Some leaf blights of cotton.
No. 64. Tobacco.
No. 70. The Flora of Alabama.
No. 71. Experiments with foreign cottons.
No. 78. Co-operative fertilizer experiments
No. 79. Some horticultural suggestions.
No. 86. San Jose Scale and use of insecticide
No. 87. Soil inoculation for leguminous plan
No. 88. Experiments with corn.
No. 89. Experiments with cotton.
No. 90. Peach tree borer and fruit bark beet
No. 91. Co-operative fertilizer experiments
No. 92. Experiments with lime on acid soils
No. 93. Peanuts, cowpeas and sweet potatoe
No. 98. Orchard notes.
No. 99. Cotton rust.
No. 100. Lawns, pastures and hay.
No. 101. Experiments with cotton in 1898.
No. 102. Co-operative fertilizer experiments
No 103. Experiments in Syrup making.
No. 104. Velvet Beans.
No. 105. Winter pasturage, hay and fertil
ve tch.
No. 106. Orchard notes.
Station.
Station.
U.
s of cotton.
d London purple for
)r 1891.
with cotton in 1896.
S.
ts.
le.
with cotton in 1897.
S.
s as food for pigs.
with cotton in 1898.
ity afforded by hairy
13
STATION LIBRARY.
The Library of the Station, which heretofore has been a
separate institution, was, by the action of the Board of
Trustees, at its last meeting, made part of the General
Library of the College under the management of one Libra-
rian. The funds devoted to the purchase of books and pa-
pers appropriated from the Hatch income, are spent under
the direction of a special committee. The money has been
carefully used for only those books and periodicals which
relate to agriculture and the allied sciences, so that the
Station division of the General Library is still kept in tact
for the special use of the Station workers.
The following papers and magazines are sent to the Li-
brary in exchange for the bulletins:
American Cultivator.
American Swine Herd.
Boletin de la Socieded Nacional de Agricultura.
Boletine do Instituto Agrionomico do Estado de Sao Paulo
-Brazil.
Breeders' Gazette.
Bulletin Botanical Department, Jamaica.
Commercial and Financial Chronicle.
Cotton Planters' Journal.
Cotton Ginners' Journal.
Drainage Journal.
Dairy World.
Elgin Dairy Report.
Farm and Home.
Farmers' Guide.
Farm and Fireside.
Farmers' Voice.
Farming.
Farmers' Magazine.
Farmers' Home.
Agricultural Gazette of New South Wales.
Hoard's Dairyman.
Homestead.
Indiana Farmer.
14
Kansas Farmer.
National Rural Family Magazine.
Our Grange Home.
Practical Farmer.
Rural New Yorker.
Sout ern Cultivator.
Southern Farm Gazette.
Southern Farm Magazine.
Sheep Breeder and Wool Grower.
Tri-State Farmer.
Wallace's Farmer.
West Virginia Farm Review,
Western Fruit Grower.
Public Ledger of Philadelphia.
Baltimore Sun.
BOTANICAL EXPERIMENTS.
A study of the arborescent flora of Alabama is still being
pushed as fast as the limited time I am able to give the work
will permit without detriment to the other duties per-
taining to my position as Director and Botanist of the Sta-
tion. A number of varieties of trees and shrubs were planted
in the Botanical Garden during the year, for the purpose of
determining their values. The Department has received
from the Division of Botany, United States Department of
Agriculture, the following seeds of species of trees which
will be added to the list of native plants now growing in
the Garden:
Sterculia platanifolia (Chinese Parasol,)
Idesia polycarpa.
Crategus pyracantha (Thorn.)
Vaccinium parviflorum (Red huckleberry.)
Eucalyptus calophylla.
Caragana frutescens (Pea tree.)
Crategus chlorosarca (Thorn.)
Olex aquifolium (Holly.)
Diospyros ebenum (Ebony.)
Leycestria formosa.
Thuja orientalis (Arbovite.)
15
Albizzia lophantha.
Eucalyptus saligna (Gray gum.)
Acacia longidolia (Golden wattle )
Stenocarpus salignus (Silky oak.)
Acacia dealbata (Silver wattle.)
Cryptomeria japonica (Japanese cedar.)
Gleditsia caspica (Caspian honey locust.)
Pinus laricio (Larch pine.)
Tyrax officinale (Storax.)
Pinus maritima (Pine,)
Ginkgo biloba (Ginkgo.)
The Secretary of Agriculture has designated this 
Station
as one of the few selected in the South to determine the
practicability of tea culture, and 800 plants 
are now grow-
ing on the horticultural grounds under the supervision 
of
Prof. F. S. Earle, the Horticulturist. 
The Station has also
received from the Secretary the following letter, which fully
explains itself:
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY,
WASHINGTON, D. C., December 28th, 1899.
PROF. P. H. MELL,
Director, Alabama Experiment Station,
Auburn, Alabama.
SIR :-You are probably aware that the Department has been making
experiments in the production of a hardy orange by hybridization.
As a result of this work there is on hand at the present time, budded
trees of some sixty hybridswhich we desire to have tested in various
localities and latitudes. If it is convenient for your Station to co-
operate with us by testing these hybrids in your locality, we should
be pleased to send you about two six month's budded trees of each
sort, to be grown and fruited under any soil or fertilizer conditions
you may think best . . . . . . . . At the conclusion of the experi-
ments we would be pleased to have your Station make a brief report
to the Department, giving the final results of the tests. This report
will be incorporated in a general report on the results of the tests in
various localities.
If you are crowded for room, the trees can be grown close together,
possibly about ten feet apart, as it will only be necessary to fruit
16
them about two years. Again, the test is to secure hardiness, and it
is possible that some of the hybrids will prove tender and be frozen
down the first winter.
We think the work promises to be of great value to your State and
hope that you may be able to test the hybrids as proposed. Kindly
inform us regarding the matter at an early date, as we desirs to send
the trees out in January if possible. Further correspondence relating
to the matter may be addressed to the Chief of the Division of Vege-
table Physiology and Pathology.
Respectfully,
JAMES WILSON.
Secretary.
The work of testing these orange trees will also beunder
the direction of the Horticulturist of the Station.
EXHIBIT AT THE PARIS EXPOSITION.
This Station has been requested to prepare a report on
cotton for the Paris Exposition, and to make anexhibit of
the staple in its raw condition, This request came from
Director H. P. Armsby of the Pennsylvania Station, who is
chairman of a committee appointed by the Association of
Agricultural Colleges and Experiment Stations, which com-
mittee has been authorized to take charge of and develop a
plan for a general exhibit of station work in the United
States. The Alabama Station having conducted experiments
in cotton to a greater extent than probably any other sta-
tion it was deem best to assign that work to us. We have
forwarded to Washington 
an extensive exhibit of 
the cotton
fiber and a numher of photographs showing the plant grow-
ing, its bolls, fiber and photo-micrographs. The following
represent some of the material furnished by this Station for
this Exposition:
25 Pressed and mounted specimens of cotton plants.
40 Sacks of cotton fiber showing results of hybridization.
69 Packages of fiber showing the number of varieties of cotton
grown in the south.
20 Packages containing open bolls to show the size of the cotton
bolls.
17
20 Microscropic mounts to exhibit the miscropic character of the
fiber.
A photograph of a cotton field during the picking season, in ordi-
nary upland cotton.
A photograph of a cotton field during the picking season, in the
hybrid cotton plants.
20 Photo-micrographs of the fiber from experiments in hybridiza-
tion. Magnified 115 diameters.
5 Photographs showing limbs from the following 
varieties of cotton:
Okra Leaf; W. A. Cook; Allen's long staple; Cherry's 
cluster; Jones'
long staple.
11 Photographs showing. limbs from the following varieties 
of cot-
ton: Sea Island; Sea Island crossed on upland cotton; Ghoghari;
Herbucco; Mit Afifi; Bamieh; Manoah; Roji; Miduopur; Jakko;
Nimari bari.
Photograph of a Sea Island cotton plant as it grows.
Photograph of a Namari bnri plant as it grows.
Photograph of a Deshi cotton plant as it grows.
Photographs of open cotton bolls of the following varieties 
of for-
eign cotton: Miduopur; Herbucco; Indrepur; Broach; 
Ghoghari;
Jakko; Nimari bari; Deshi; Mit Afiffi; Manoah and Bamieh. 
Also
of the American upland and Sea Island.
5 Photographs showing by comparison certain hybrid experiments.
5 Photographs showing closed bolls from certain American varie-
ties of cotton.
Photographs showing closed bolls from eight varieties 
of foreign
cottons used in the production of the hybrids.
20 Photographs of closed cotton bolls showing 
the results of hybrid-
ization.
From this material and from the published results 
of
cotton experiments made by the Station during 
the past
sixteen years, a bulletin has been prepared which may 
be
correctly termed a standard on cotton and 
its cultivation.
The analysis of this bulletin is given on another 
page of
this report and is numbered 107 in our series 
of publica-
tions. It was prepared especially for the Paris Exposition
and a number of the copies will be forwarded 
to Paris with
the exhibit made by the Station. The compilation and 
the
preparation of this bulletin has been under the immediate
supervision of the Director, the Agriculturist, the 
Chemist,
the Associate Chemist, and the Biologist.
18
An unusual demand on the part of the farmers of Alaba-
ma for bulletin No. 100, Lawns, Pastures and Hay, besides
other bulletins on the subject of grass and other forage
plants, would indicate an awakening interest in the matter
of hay making and cattle raising. A number of letters has
been received by the Director asking for detailed informa-
tion concerning the growing of grass for hay. This is a
healthy sign that Alabama farmers are beginning to depart
from the old method of cultivating only cotton and are en-
deavoring to make the farm produce meat and bread as well
as raiment.
In closing this report permit me to thank you for the
kindness you have extended to me during the year and for
the interest you have manifested in my work.
Respectfully,
P. H. MELL,
Director and Botanist.
19
REPORT OF CHEMIST.
DR. Wm. LEROY 
BROUN,
President Ala. Polytechnic Institute.
SIR:-I beg leave to submit the following report with re-
gard to the extent and character of the work of this depart-
ment for the year just closed:
In conjunction with the other members of the Station
staff, the undersigned has been engaged upon the work of
preparation of a bulletin designed to supply, in a compre-
hensive and yet in a condensed form, the results of the in-
vestigations of the several departments with regard to the
cotton plant.
The attention of this department has been devoted exclu-
sively to the chemical features of the subject, and . large
amount of analytical work has been, and is being done in
connection with the study of the composition of the cotton
plant at various stages of growth.
Samples of the plant were carefully selected at five dif-
ferent periods during the season of growth, and each par-
ticular portion of the plant was subjected to an analytical
examination with a view to noting the variation in compo-
sition of the different parts of the plant during the different
stages of plant development. It is believed that the results
of this work will supply important information with regard
to the food requirements of the plant at various periods of
growth, and at the same time will throw some light upon
the subject of the transfer of certain constituents from one
part of the plant to another during the progress of its growth.
The analytical data secured as a result of this work will
be incorporated along with the results of some previous in-
vestigation relating to the composition of the cotton plant,
and will appear in the bulletin above referred to as a con-
tribution from this department.
20
Experiments in the manufacture of syrup from sugar
cane have been continued with marked success during the
past season, and farmers in this vicinity, as well as in other
portions of the State, have manifested considerable interest
in the results secured by the employment of improved Fro-
cesses of manufacture.
A steam evaporator of much larger capacity than those
originally employed for experimental purposes was con-
structed for use during the past fall, and was tested with
excellent results both upon the college grounds, and upon
a farm several miles distant.
The use of a steam evaporator presents a number of im-
portant advantages over that of the ordinary open fire pans,
and there is no reason why steam evaporation should not
come into general use, as the boilers at the numerous steam
gins and mills throughout the country could be called into
requisition for the manufacture of syrup from cane supplied
by fariers within a radius of a mile or two of agin or mill.
The subject of the examination of foods and food materi-
als has continued to receive the attention of this depart-
ment, and additional data of importance was secured during
the past year.
In co-operation with the Agricultural Department, of the
Station, an investigation has been made of the composition
of some of the chief leguminous corps employed as soil ren-
ovators, and additional evidence of their importance as nitro-
gen collectors has been secured as the result of these experi-
ments. A number of analysis of forage plants and other
materials have also been made for the agricultural depart-
ment, the results being embodied in bulletins issued by that
department.
Quite a number of samples of sugar beets grown in the
western portion of the State have been analyzed in this la-
boratory since the date of the last annual report, and the re-
sults secured confirmed those of previous years as regards
the sugar content, which was quite low in all the samples
examined.
21
This department has been lately engaged in the exami-
nation of a number of samples of natural phosphate from
the northern portion of the State, the specimens examined
being either forwarded by parties in the vicinity, or secured
personally by the writer, while on a visit to the locality.
Most of these specimens contained a rather low, or at best
only a fair, percentage of phosphoric acid, while a few
specimens were characterized by quite a high phosphoric
acid content. A further and more extended investigation
(,f these deposits is contemplated, and if any results of im-
portance are secured, a bulletin will be issued on the subject.
The results of the analyses of fertilizers for the past year
have been published, as usual, in a bulletin issued by the
State Department of Agriculture and distributed by the
commissioner.
During the past summer and fall, a new laboratory build-
ing for Station work has been constructed, immediately
adjacent to, and to the north 
of the present laboratory
building. The structure is very neat and commodious,
with a front of re-pressed brick with stone trimmings, while
the interior is finished in natural wood.
The building is twenty-six feet by sixty feet, and will fur-
nish ample space for the analytical work of the Station. As
soon as the working desks are completed, the laboratory
staff of the Station will be transferred to the new building,
and all analytical work can then be more expeditiously con-
ducted, and with greater freedom from interruption than
heretofore.
Respectfully submitted.
B. B. Ross,
January 16th, 1900. Chemist.
22
REPORT OF ASSOCIATE CHEMIST.
To 'D. W. L. BROUN, President.
In addition to the usual fertilizer work and some miscel-
laneous work, including some analyses of food stuff reported
by the chief chemist and some partial analyses of soils for
the Agriculturist, the Associate Chemist reports the fol-
lowing original work done by him during the year 1899 and
to be continued during the year 1900:
I. A Study of the Availability of Plant Food in Soils.
This work was begun in 1896 and has been described in
detail in former reports. It involves the exhaustion as far
as possible from definite amounts of soil confined in metal
cylinders imbedded in the ground, of the three fertilizer
constituents singly by the continuous growth of cotton
plants in them. It is believed that one of the constituents
(nitrogen) has practically been exhausted from the cylin-
ders devoted to the investigation of that constituent. The
results are being worked up and report will shortly be
made. It will be necessary to grow another crop of cotton
in the other cylinders to exhaust them of their potash and
phosphoric acid respectively.
II. A Study of the Sources fromwhich Leguminous Plants
Derive their Nitrogen.
This work is being done in metal pots in the vegetation
house with the co-operation of Prof. Duggar, to whom is
committed the care of the pots with their plant growths,
while all the analytical work connected with these experi-
ments is done by the writer. For a fuller description
of the plan of investigation reference is made to the
report of the Agriculturist. Two independent but similar
series of experiments are in progress, one with alfalfa and
23
the other with cowpeas. These plants are grown under a
variety of conditions of soil fertility, these conditions being
artificially produced by the application of different forms
of nitrogenous fertilizers. The chemical data determined by
analysis are: the nitrogen content of each potof soil as it
was prepared for the plants in the outse t; the amount of
nitrogen added with the water used for watering the plants;
the amount of nitrogen in the harvested crop from each
pot, and, finally; the nitrogen content of the soil remaining
in each pot after harvesting. With these data it is easy to
determine how much nitrogen has been taken from the soil
and how much from the atmosphere.
III. The Determination of the availablity of the phosphoric
acid in the several forms in which that constituent is com-
monly applied in the fertilization of soils.
This work is proposed for the purpose of testing the rel-
ative value of these phosphatic materials as sources of
phosporic acid. Clay cylinders are imbedded in the ground
and known weights of a well mixed and thoroughly homo-
geneous soil are added to each. To exhaust the available
phosphoric acid in the soil in each cylinder preparatory to
testing the above mentioned phosphatic materials, crops
are grown in succession in them until a point is reached
where plants will no longer grow on account of the lack of
available phosphoric acid. To be assured that the growing
plants have an abundant supply of all other constituents,
these constituents are supplied in needed quantities from
time to time. When the soils in the several cylinders have
thus been deprived of all the available phosphoric acid
which they contained originally, they are ready for the ap-
plication of known weights of the materials to be tested,
and then the process of exhaustion of the available phos-
phori acid will be repeated by growing cotton plants in
24
successive crops. 
The determination 
of the phosphoric
acid in the 
harvests 
obtained 
from each 
cylinder 
will show
the amount of 
available phosphoric 
acid contained 
in the
material used 
in 'that cylinder.
Several seasons 
of growth will 
be required for 
this work.
Respectfully 
submitted,
JAs. T. ANDERSON,
Associate Chemist.
REPORT OF THE VETERINARIAN.
To DR. Wm. LEROY BROUN, President.
DEAR Sm-The following is a report of the work of the
Veterinary Department for the year 1899:-
As director of the Farmer's Institutes for the Station and
College I have conducted institutes at-
Thorsby, in Chilton County,
Prattville, in Autauga "
Centreville, in Bibb
Luverne, in Crenshaw "
Dothan, in Henry
Jasper, in Walker "
Double Sp'gs, in Winston "
Russellville, in Franklin "
Tuscumbia, in Colbert "
Moulton, in Lawrence "
Courtland, in Lawrence "
Meridianville, in Madison "
Scottsboro, in Jackson "
Hayneville, in Lowndes "
Elba, in Coffee "
The total attendance at these meetings was 1,258.
The average attendance at each meeting was 81.
Professors Duggar and Earle attended and worked in all
the institutes; Prof. Mell, in two of them. Morning and
evening sessions were held in each place for one day. In
all instances each member of the station staff gave a talk or
lecture in the morning and evening. The 15 institutes were
held in 14 counties and they represent the various regions
of Alabama.
The instruction was given in the form of plain talks illus-
trated by specimens, prepared drawings, and black-board
outlines. At each meeting about one-half of the farmers in
26
attendance would make application to have their names
placed on the permanent mailing list for Station bulletins.
In addition to conducting the institutes for the College
and Station, I have worked with the Commissioner of Agri-
culture in Farmer's Institutes held at Wetumpka, Albert-
ville and Evergreen.
Daring July and August, I went to Illinois and Missouri,
where I purchased two registered short-horn calves, two
registered Polled or Aberdeen Angus calves, two registered
Red Poll calves, three grade Aberdeen Angus calves and one
grade short-horn calf. These calves were shipped to Auburn
about the first of November. By special favor, the Louis-
ville and Nashville Railroad, and Western Railway of Ala-
bama granted the Station free freight from East St. Louis
to Auburn; these companies favor the growth and develop-
ment of the stock industry in Alabama.
The ten calves are now undergoing inoculations with de-
febrinated blood, from an immune Alabama-bred heifer, for
the purpose of producing immunity or acclimation; a full
report will be made when the test is completed. Obviously
such work will materially aid Alabama breeders in securing
valuable breeding animals from non-infected States of the
north and of Europe.
I have given my assistance to the city of Montgomery in
helping to improve its meat, milk and dairy inspection. I
have also given to Montgomery sufficient tuberculin (rhmade
in this department laboratory) for testing its dairy cattle
for tuberculosis.
It is gratifying to know that Birmingham has adopted
practically the same system of meat, milk and dairy inspec-
tion as the one in operation at Montgomery. It will go
into effect March 1st, 1900. This department will furnish
tuberculin to the inspectors of Birmingham upon condition
that complete temperature records besent this department
immediately following the tuberculin tests.
The Yeterinary Department is continuing to collect path-
ological specimens, animal parasites and facts relating to
animal diseases in Alabama.
27
The toxic effects of cotton seed and cotton seed meal when
fed to pigs is still being investigated.
Our Saturday free clinic furnishes the students a large
number and variety of diseases of farm animals. In fact,
cases and material for clinical study are abundant.
I have answered numerous inquiries concerning registered
cattle and diseases of farm animals; and have, also, visited
localities to investigate outbreaks of contagious diseases,
when called upon for such work by the proper authorities.
C. A. CARY,
Station Veterinarian.
28
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURIST,
DR. W. L. BROUN, President,
SIR:-I respectfully submit the following report of the
Agricultural Department of the Alabama Agricultural Ex-
periment Station for the past year.
The bulletins recently published by this department ex-
plain the most important lines of investigation which have
advanced to a stage ready for publication During the
twelve months covered by this report the Agriculturist has
published 4 bulletins, containing altogether 147 printed
pages.
The titles of these bulletins are as follow:
No. 101. Experiments with cotton, 1898.
" 102. Co-operative fertilizer experiments with cotton,
1898.
" 104; Velvet beans.
" 105. Winter pasturage, hay and fertilizer afforded by
hairy vetch.
The data obtained in cotton experiments in 1899 is being
prepared for publication, and this, together with a sum-
mary of all investigations heretofore conducted by the Agri-
cultural Department will constitute the contribution of this
department to the book on cotton now being prepared by
certain members of the Station Staff.
The investigations of 1899 were largely a continuation of
lines of work begun several years before. As in past years,
so in 1899, special attention was given to the growth of
plants suitable for forage and for soil improvement, to cot-
ton culture, and to pork production.
Of forage plants those receiving the largest share of atten-
tion were cowpeas, hairy vetch, velvet beans, sorghum, and
rye.
29
In pork production the special end in view was to ascer-
tain the relative values of peanuts, chufas, rape, sorghum,
and hairy vetch as food for swine. Experiments in feeding
rice, bran, corn meal, corn hearts and cowpeas were also
conducted. The effect of these foods on quality of pork and
lard, as well as on the rate of growth of the animals, was
investigated.
In cotton culture a carefvl study was made of a large col-
lection of varieties with a view to reducing the number of
so-called varieties and of forming some practicable schedule
for the classification of varieties of cotton. The problems
connected with the fertilization of cotton were investigated,
both on the Station Farm. and in the numerous co-operative
soil tests conducted far us by farmers in different parts of
the State.
There are many minor lines of work under way, some of
which will be given greater prominence as opportunity per-
mits. One of the first of these which it is hoped to develop
is corn culture, which will occupy this department to an
increasing extent during the coming year.
Special mention should also be made of the fact that in-
vestigations in cattle feeding and in dairying have been
begun. This has been made possible by the appointment
of an assistant especially for the work along these and re-
lated lines. Mr. R. W. Clark, the Assistant in Animal
Husbandry, began work in September, 1898, and through
this addition to the working force of the Agricultural De-
partment it is hoped that we may be able to render valua-
ble services towards building up and perfecting the live
stock industry of Alabama. Since the date of the last 
re-
port a herd of beef cattle has been added to our equipment,
this herd consisting of a pair of Red Polls, a pair 
of Polled
Angus, a pair of Shorthorns, and four grade heifers of the
Angus and Shorthorn breeds.
During the past year the writer has done the usual
amount of correspondence and has participated in the 
Farm-
er's Institutes conducted by the College and Station.
Respectfully submitted,
J. F. DUGGAR,
Agriculturist.
30
REPORT OF BIOLOGIST AND HORTICULTURIST.
DR. WM. LEROY BROUN, President.
Sin:-In the Horticultural Department' work during the
year in the orchard has largely been of a routine character
since the freeze in February last killed the crop of most
fruits. No new orchard planting has been done during
1-99. In the vegetable garden work has been carried on
with Irish potatoes, tomatoes, cabbage, beans, watermelons
and canteloupes. Also continued work in trying to find a
remedy for the nematode root knot. Bulletin No. 106, en-
titled "Orchard Notes," has been published from this de-
partment during the year. A bulletin on tomato culture is
in preparation but is not yet ready for the printer. Many
valuable notes have been taken that will be used in future
publications. The correspondence of this department is
heavy and is rapidly increasing. This is a good index of
the increased popular interest in commercial horticulture
in various parts of the State.
In the Biological Department, work has been continued
with cotton diseases and a paper has been prepared on this
subject for the comprehensive bulletin on cotton now in
preparation by the officers of the station. This paper gives
a brief account of each of the diseases of cotton that has
been detected in this State, the object being to present a
compact statement 
of our present knowledge 
of the subject.
It includes the results of my own unpublished observations
and the results obtained by other investigators. A list of
the fungi that have been reported as growing on cotton or
the cotton plant in any part of the world is given, also a
bibliography giving the titles, place and date of publica-
tion, and a brief statement of the contents of all the pub-
lished writings on cotton diseases that are known to me.
Continued attention has been given to the diseases of the
tomato. Observations and experiments during 1898 and
31
1899 seem to prove that the Bleach Rot or Blossom End
Rot of the tomato is caused by the growth within the tissue
of a specific bacillus, and not by the filamentous fungi that
are often associated with it, and which have heretofore
been considered as the cause. An account of these experi-
ment~. was read before the Botanical Club of the American
Association at the Columbus, Ohio, meeting. This account
will be published in full in the forthcoming bulletin on the
tomato mentioned under Horticultural work.
The diseases of beans and cowpeas received particular
attention. One new one causing the wilting and death of
the vines has been detected, making three distinct fungous
diseases causing a "wilt" of these plants on our grounds.
A bulletin is in preparation on the subject.
The fungus flora of the State has continued to receive at-
tention. At the request of Dr. Chas. Mohr, a new list of
the species occuring in the State was prepared during the
spring of 1899. It includes those formerly published in
Bulletin 80 of this Station and by Dr. Atkinson in Cornell
University Bulletin, Yol. 3, No. 1; Also such additions as
had been detected since the publication of Bulletin 80. It
will form a part of Dr. 1Mohr's "Plant Life of Alabama,"
that is being published by the Division of Botany of the
U. S. Department of Agribulture.
The following table shows the present condition of the
Herbarium of this department:
Fungi. Lichens. Mosses, eta. Algae. Total.
Previously reported, 14172 591 244 759 15,766.
Added during 1899, 1408 143 226 125 1,902.
Total, 15,580 734 470 884 17,668.
The collection is rapidly outgrowing its present quarters
and new cases will soon be a pressing necessity.
Work in connection with the Biological survey of the
State is being continued as fast as pressure of other duties
permits.
32
A special study is being attempted of the plants and
plant conditions of the granitic area of Central East Ala-
bama. This is a well marked natural division of the State,
differing in soils and topographical features from the other
portions. A thorough study of it promises to yield interest-
ing and instructive results.
The Herbarium of the Biological survey continues to
make a satisfactory growth. At the time of my last annual
report it numbered 11,237 specimens from all sources.
There have been added during the year, 6,277 specimens
making the total at this date 17,514 specimens. These
with 17,668 in the cryptogamic herbarium make a total of
35,182 specimens for the two collections. The following
plants are still largely unmounted, although they have
been distributed in regular order so that they are accessi-
ble. It is very desirable that means be found at an early
day for the proper mounting of this valuable collection,
since, in its present condition it cannot be handled for study
without serious danger to the specimens.
Respectfully submitted,
F. S. EARLE,
Biologist and Horticulturisc.