Thirty-First Annual Report
OF THE
Agricultural Experiment
Station
OF THE
Alabama Polytechnic Institute
I'
Auburn, Alabama
January, 1919
6 '4

ALABAMA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
Auburn, Ala., Jan. 24, 1919.
Governor Thomas E. Kilby,
Executive Department,
Montgomery, Ala.
Sir:
I have the honor herewith to transmit to you 
the Thirty-first
Annual Report of the Agricultural .Experiment 
Station of the
Alabama Polytechnic InstitUte.
This report is made in accordance with the 
Act of Congress
approved March 2, 1887, establishing agricultural 
experiment
stations, and the Act of Congress approved 
March 16, 1906,,
known as the Adams Act.
Respectfully,
CHAS. C. THACH,
President.

Auburn, Ala., Jan. 23, 1919.
Dr. C. C. Thach, President,
Alabama Polytechnic Institute,
Auburn, Ala.
Sir:
I herewith submit the Thirty-First Annual Report of the Ex-
periment Station of the Alabama Polytechnic Institute for the
fiscal year ending June 30, 1918.
It contains the detailed report of the Director, the Agricul-
turist, the Treasurer, the Chemist, the Veterinarian, the Bota-
nist, the Horticulturist, the Entomologist, the Plant Pathologist,
and the Animal Husbandman, for the year ending December
31, 1918.
Respectfully submitted,
J. F. DUGGAR,
Director, Experiment Station.

AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
His Excellency, Thomas E. Kilby, President ----- Ex-Officio
Spright Dowell, Superintendent of Education -.-.. Ex-Officio
H. D. Merrill -_Anniston, Ala.
Harry Herzfeld_ Alexander City, Ala.
Oliver R. Hood Gadsden, Ala.
C. S. McDowell, Jr. -Eufaula, Ala.
W. K. Terry -Birmingham, Ala.
W. H. Oates_ -Mobile, Ala.
T. D. Samford-------------------------- Opelika, Ala.
W. F. Feagin - - -- Montgomery, Ala.
J. A. Rogers --- Gainesville, Ala.
C. M. Sherrod----------------------------Courtland, Ala.
P. S. Haley-------------------------------Corona, Ala.
STATION STAFF
C. C. THACH, President of the College
J. F. DUGGAR, Director of Experiment Station
AGRICULTURE:
J. F. Duggar, Agriculturist.
E. F. Cauthen, Agriculturist.
M. J. Funchess, Associate.
J. T. Williamson, Field Agt.
H. B. Tisdale, Associate
Plant Breeder.
O. H. Sellers, Assistant.
M. H. Pearson, Assistant.
VETERINARY SCIENCE:
C. A. Cary, Veterinarian.
CHEMISTRY:
B. B. Ross, Chemist.
E. R. Miller, Chemist
Soils and Crops.
C. L. Hare, Physiological
Chemist.
BOTANY:
W. A. Gardner, Botanist.
Robert Stratton, Assistant.
PLANT PATHOLOGY:
G. L. Peltier, Plant Patholo-
gist.
HORTICULTURE:
G. C. Starcher,
Horticulturist.
J. C. C. Price, Associate.
L. A. Hawkins, Assistant.
ENTOMOLOGY:
W. E. Hinds, Entomologist
F. L. Thomas, Assistant.
J. M. Robinson, Assistant.
ANIMAL HUSBANDRY:
G. S. Templeton, Animal
Husbandman.
F. O. Montague, Assistant.
E. Gibbens, Assistant.
G. L. Burleson, Assistant.
F. W. Burns, Assistant.
EDITOR:
Leslie L. Gilbert.
REPORT OF HATCH AND ADAMS FUNDS FOR 1917-191&
Receipts.
Hatch Adams
To amount from U. S. Treasury (Net)__$15,000.00 $15,000.00
Disbursements
By Salaries -$ 7,386.72 $ 8,742.15
By Labor - 1,977.85 1,522.02=
By Publications -- 2,181.46
By Postage and Stationery 338.58 125.24
By Freight and Express --- 222.68 184.3K
.,
By Heat, Light, Water and Power ---- 433.24 363.74
By Chemicals and Laboratory Supplies _ 9.93 1,452.48
By Seeds, Plants and 
Sundry Supplies -
785.78 257.19,
By Fertilizers - 591.78 50.0(}
By Feeding Stuffs 89.70 532.441
By Library -255.45 135.62T
By Tools, Machinery and Appliances-_ 319.12 27.99,
By Furniture and Fixtures -- 54.50 207.84
By Scientific Apparatus and Specimens - 4.87 641.20w
By Live Stock 18.62
By Traveling Expenses 98.43 644.51T
By Contingent Expenses -- 20.00
By Buildings and Land -- 211.29 113.189
Total -$15,000.00 $15,000.041
Respectfully,
(Signed): M. A. GLENN,
State of Alabama: Treasurer-.
Lee County.
Personally appeared before me, B. L. Shi, a Notary Public-
in and for said county, M. A. Glenn, known to me as Treasurer
of the Alabama Polytechnic Institute, who, being duly sworn,.
deposes and says the above 
foregoing account is true 
and'
correct. Witness my hand this 17th day of January, 1919.
B. L. SHE,
Notary Public, Lee County.:
This is to certify that I have compared the account with
the ledger account of the Treasurer, and this is a correct-
transcript of the same.
CHAS. C. THAGi.
President Alabama Polytechnic 
Instifute:.

REPORT OF DIRECTOR
J. F. D UGGAR
Auburn, Ala., Jan. 22, 1919.
Dr. C. C. Thach, President,
Alabama Polytechnic Institute,
Auburn, Ala.
Sir:
I respectfully submit the following report for the past year
of the work under my charge as Director of the Alabama
Experiment Station:
PUBLICATIONS
The publications of the Alabama Experiment Station for
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1918, consist of the annual
report, eight bulletins, two circulars, and five press bulletins,
making a total of sixteen publications. Below I give their
titles and authors:
Bulletin No. 197: "Harvesting and Storing Sweet Potatoes;"
by the Associate Horticulturist.
Bulletin No. 198: "Velvet Beans Compared with Cotton
Seed Meal For Fattening Steers, etc.;" by the Animal Hus-
bandman (From the Local Experiment Fund.)
Bullk tin No. 199: "Report on Freeze Injury to Citrus Trees
for 1916 and 1917, with Notes on Orange Culture in South
Alabama;" by 0. F. E. Winberg, Horticulturist and Field
Agent. (From the Local Experiment Fund.)
Bulletin No. 200: "Tests of Varieties of Corn at Auburn;"
by Agriculturist.
Bulletin No. 201: "The Development of Soluble Manganese
in Acid Soils as Influenced by Certain Nitrogenous Fertili-
zers;" by Associate Agronomist.
Bulletin No. 202: "Growing Soy Beans in Alabama;" by
the Agriculturist.
Bulletin No. 203: "Soy Beans in Alabamna;" by the Agri-
culturist.
Bulletin No. 204: "The Destruction of Vanillin in the Soil
by the Action of Soil Bacteria;" by the Botanist.
Circular No. 37: "Sweet Potato Root Borer;" by the Ento-
niologist. (From the Local Experiment Fund.)
12
Circular No. 38: ."Annual iReport of the Director of the
Experiment Station on Work Done Under the Local Experi-
ment Law in 1917." (From the Local Experiment Fund.)
Press Bulletin No. 90: "How to Save Alabama's Corn Crop;"
by the Entomologist.
Press Bulletin No. 91: "Tests of Varieties of Corn in 1917;"
by the Agriculturist.
Press Bulletin No. 92: "Tests of Varieties of Cotton in 1917;"
by the Agriculturist.
Press Bulletin No. 93: "Corn Insect Control Through 
Seed
*Selection and Trap Planting;" by the Entomologist. (From
the Local Experiment Fund.)
Press Bulletin No. 94: "Fumigation Treatment to Save Corn
:and Peas;" by the Entomologist.
ADAPTING EXPERIMENT STATION WORK TO NATIONAL
NEEDS
After America entered the war heads of departments of the
Experiment Station were requested to give preference to those
projects having an immediate bearing on the increase of the
nation's food supplies. An examination of the projects then
in hand showed that so many of them already had this direct
application to food production problems that relatively little
-change in the entire plan of work was made necessary by the
national emergency.
MAIN LINES OF WORK IN VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS
The attached reports of heads of departments afford state-
ments of the lines of work in progress in the Alabama Experi-
ment Station. It is in place here to allude briefly to only a
few of these, and only 
to results at the main Station, 
reserving
for a later report a statement regarding the experiments con-
ducted under the Local Experiment Law in the various coun-
ties of the state.
Plant Breeding-On the Experiment Station farm at Auburn
during the past year, as for a number of years, a large amount
of attention has been given to the breeding up of new strains
or varieties of cotton, corn, and oats. In addition the breeding
,Qf wheat, peanuts, and some other plants is in progress.,,
13
SCotton-So favorably have 
thevarieties bred up at Auburn
proved their worth in farmers' hands that where they are
being tested by farmers with reference to their local 
adaptation
the seed have been in great demand in the immediate 
neighbor-
hood. This has been especially true of certain strains of 
Cook
cotton, several of which have shown notable superiority 
to
standard varieties in yield of lint per acre, 
and in percentage
of lint.
As an example of the estimate placed on some of these bred-
up strains by farmers is a statement from a farmer in Dallas
County, who after producing the past year on 5 acres 
4860
pounds of seed cotton from one of these bred-up 
strains of
Cook cotton seed, reported that his crop made an out-turn of
40.8 per cent of lint and yielded 25 per cent more lint 
per acre
than the remainder of his crop planted in an ordinary variety.
Another strain of Cook evolved here in this process of plant
breeding has developed the valuable'quality of wilt resistance,
together with high productiveness.
Oats--A cross or hybrid made at Auburn between two stand-
ardar ietvarieties of oats has thus far shown great promise in
withstanding better than its Red Rust proof parent the severe
freezes of the last two winters.
In the long continued experiment to determine the effects
as regards resistance to winter killing of sowing seed oats
of which the ancestors for a number of generations had become
accustomed to fall sowing, as compared with the planting at
the same time in the fall of seed oats most of whose progenitors
had been sown in the spring, we have now reached conclUisive
proof of the superior hardiness of the fall sown strain. The
practical point of this lies in the fact that it emphasizes the
superiorty for seed purposes of home grown oats of known
cultural history as compared with Texas or Oklahoma oats
descended from a strain sown there after Christmas,
Soy Beans The iesults of experiments made thiough a
number of years with soy beans have recently been published,
and the two bulletins on this subject constitute a guide for the
growing of this crop so , promising of development, especially
in central and iorth Alabama, both as a feed for h6gs and as
one of the plans prorhising to assisf in the fuPtlier development
of the oil industry of the state.
14
Fertilizer. Tests- The work with fertilizers on the Experi-
fent Station farm has been largely directed to determining the
relative values of peanut meal and velvet bean meal in compari-
son-with the fertilizing value of cotton seed meal and nitrate
bf soda. The results of the last year's tests will be made known
at once through the press, so as to help farmers in their pur-
chases of fertilizer in the present winter and approaching
spring.
Investigation of soils Painstaking investigations of the soil
expert have indicated the great decrease in crop yield due to
soil acidity, and have indicated that the application of various
fertilizers has a notable effect in increasing this acidity and
therefore in increasing the need for the use of lime.
Sweet Potato Storage-Both the departments of horticulture
and botany are pursuing investigations to reduce the losses
of sweet potatoes during winter storage.
Plant Diseases-The Plant Pathologist in his study of the
life history of the organism causing the disease 
citrus Canker,
which at one time threatened to destroy the entire Satsuma
orange industry of the southern part of the state, has brought
to light important facts which are being utilized in the suc-
cessful warfare now being waged for the extermination of this
disease.
Insect Pests The Entomologist has brought to play, in re-
ducing the insect injury to stored corn, the results of his
successful study of the life-history of the weevil responsible
for this damage. The methods of reducing the injury to corn
by this weevil found most practicable are the planting of seed
corn from ears having tips well covered and protected by tight
fittingshucks, and the early -planting near the cribs,. (where
the weevils spend the winter), of small patches of early corn
to serve as traps for the weevil. By the feeding of this early
corn before it is throughly matured most of the weevils are
destroyed and fheir propagation on the main crop prevented.
Feeding Experiments with Hogs The Animal Husbandry
department has obtained important results in showing the
effects of peanuts, peanut meal and other feeds on the quality
of pork and lard. The feeding of velvet beans variously prepar-
ed is being continued, and chemical work has in recent months
15
been begun of- the entire velvet bean plant, including an
examination to determine whether it contains any toxic sub-
stances that may be responsible for the unfavorable results
sometimes reported with pregnant, sows..
CHANGES IN STAFF
During the year covered changes occurred in the headship,
of two departments. The, Agricultural Engineer, Professor
R. U. Blasingaine, resigned to. accept a corresponding position
with the Agricultural College of Pennsylvania; -and Dr. Wright
A.. Gardner was appointed Botanist in September, 1917, in
succession to Dr. W. J. Robbins, who resigned to engage in a
business enterprise. There has been a number of changes
among assistants.
For further details the reports of the several heads of depart-
ments should be consulted.
Respectfully submitted,
J. F. DUGGAR,
Director..
REPORT OF AGRICULTURIST
(Work under Hatch and Adams Funds)
E. F. CAUTHEN
Cotton-Cotton breeding received a great deal of attention
along the lines pursued in previous years. Cleveland and Cook
varieties and also a hybrid (King and Triumph) 
were grown
in plant-to-row tests and considerable data were taken on
type of plants, size of bolls, length of fiber, earliness, resistance
to disease, etc., for use in the study of correlation. While
making a careful study of these varieties, as a plant breeding
project, some very desirable strains of Cook and Cleveland
have been isolated, and their seed placed among farmers for
multiplication.
Five cotton hybrids, including Cook Unknown, and Cook
Trice were planted in isolated places and studied. A hybrid
of a short staple variety crossed on Yuma (a long staple
Egyptian cotton) was studied with a view to determining the
dominant and recessive characters.
The variety tests included a comparison of 22 leading short
staple varieties in regular plots, 17 less well known varieties
for observation, and 9 varieties in a long staple test. The
experiment comparing light and heavy seed was continued.
A test of the effects of topping at different ages on earliness
and yield was made; also the effects of thinning early and
late, planting the seed on a bed, on a level, and in a water
furrow.
Corn-Considerable attention was given by Mr. Tisdale to
the project in corn breeding. The work of correlating the
different ear characters is being continued with two prolific
varieties; Experiment Station Yellow, a yellow flint variety,
and Whatley, a white dent weevil-resistant variety. The char-
acters of the ear and shuck that fit it for weevil resistance are
being correlated with yield and other characters. The ear-to-
row method is used on the two varieties in testing the charac-
ters that give a high correlation and in selecting for strains
of corn best suited to Alabama conditions.
Eighteen varieties of corn were tested in plots for compara-
17
tive. yield and 12 less well known varieties were grown in
rows for observation. A test of varieties for late planting
included Goliad, -Dwarf Mexican June, Lowman Yellow and
Experiment Station Yellow. The test of the Williamson method
of planting corn was continued.
Oats-The regular fall planted variety test of oats included
most of the promising southern varieties. The severe freeze
of the winter of 1917 and 1918 showed that Culberson was
the most,resistant to winter killing.of the "rust proof" group.
Among the hybrids No.. 651, a cross made at Auburn of.Culber-
son on Red Rust Proof withstood the freezes of both preceding:
winters.
The Red Rust Proof and Fulghum varieties were planted in"
plant-to-row tests for study and from them some promising:
strains have been isolated. Forty to fifty bushels of pedigreed
seed have been placed with selected farmers for further
testing and multiplication. When bearded and beardless ker-
nels are separated from the same head and planted, theit"
progeny show on the same plant both bearded and beardless
kernels in about the same proportion as on the parent plant.
The test of fall versus spring planting of oats continued to
show from 20 to 40 per cent increase in yield in favor of
the fall planting. In the spring planted variety tests Burt,,
Fulghum and Dixie produced the largest yields of grain. In
seeding oats after cotton on sandy upland the, plowing of the.
land as a preparation has not increased the yield.
Wheat--In the regular variety tests of wheat were included'
both those varieties that have been grown here many years.
and those that have not yet become well established. Among.
those that are well established is the Alabama Blue Stem,,
a local variety that deserves special mention because it has
been found to do well in many parts of the state. The breeding
of the Alabama Blue Stem by the plant-to-row method -.has
given several strains, some of which seem to be more ,resistant
to leaf rust than others. The experiment in rate of seeding
wheat seemed to bear out the common practice of seeding
about 60 pounds per acre. February planting of wheat gave
low yields.
Barley--,The work with barley included a variety -test plant-
18
ed in the fall and one planted in February. In the February
planting the hooded and beardless varieties yielded well and
these seem to offer special promise for early spring planted
grain and feed.
Rye-The principal work with rye for 1918 was a regular
variety test, which showed that a native variety from Tusca-
loosa county was equal to Abruzzi in yield and seemed more
resistant to anthracnose.
Soy Beans-The experiments with soy beans included rate
,of seeding both for hay and for seed; regular variety tests
:for both seed and for hay; a fertilizer test, which seemed to
Iindicate very little advantage from any particular kind of
fTertilizer; and harvesting and thrashing of soy beans. A
test of soy beans, cowpeas, corn, and velvet beans was made
Ito get the comparative yield of grain of each crop.
Commercial Fertilizer-The experiments testing the time
-when nitrate of soda should be applied to corn and cotton to
secure the greatest benefits were repeated. Peanut meal, vel-
wet bean meal, and cotton seed meal were compared with
-nitrate of soda as a source of nitrogen for corn 
and cotton,
-and gave results strongly favorable to nitrate of soda. The
,comparison of acid phosphate with fine ground rock phosphate
under oats and soy beans, corn and cotton was continued.
Potash from different sources (cement potash, kelp ash, kainit,
:sulphate, and Nebraska potash) was tested under cotton to
compare their availability.
In addition to the above mentioned experiments, the follow-
ing were conducted on the Alabama Experiment Station farm
in 1918:
Grasses, test of species and varieties.
Hog crops, relative yields from chufas, peanuts, soy beans,
,etc.
Kudzu.
Phosphates, raw versus acid.
Peanuts, variety tests, fertilizer tests.
Rotation experiments.
Rate of seeding peanuts.
Residual effect of different crops on soil fertility.
-Sorghum, tests of varieties for forage and for syrup.
19
Subsoiling.
Sudan grass for hay and its mixtures with cowpeas.
Sugar cane, Japanese as a forage crop.
Tangier peas for seed.
Velvet beans, varieties for seed and from different sources.
Vetches, varieties.
Vetches, best mixtures.
Respectfully submitted,
E. F. CAUTHEN,
Agriculturist.
REPORT-OF AGRONOMIST
M. J. FUNCHESS
Auburn, Ala., Jan. 10, 1919.
Director J. F. Duggar,
Auburn, Ala.
Sir:
I beg to submit the following brief report of the work done
during the past year.
A study of the lasting effect of certain organic toxins was
continued, with results very similar to those obtained in
previous years. There is no indication Of lasting toxicity
of organic toxins applied to soils. Immediately after their
application, a marked toxicity may be caused by certain com-
pounds. In time, this toxicity disappears and normal plant
growth is sustained.
Work on the development of soluble manganese in acid/soils
was continued, using ten soils of widely differing characteris-
tics. The application of dried blood produced more soluble
manganese in each of the acid soils; and small amounts of
aluminum were also found in a few of these. Recent work
seems to indicate, however, that actual acidity rather than
soluble manganese may be responsible for a part of the toxi-
city found in soils fertilized with dried blood.
Manganese nitrate added to the soils used in this. study
proved to be toxic when used at the rate of 100 parts of
manganese per million parts of soil, and at all higher rates.
Plants were killed in most soils when the rate was 300 parts
per million. In limestone soils well supplied with calcium
carbonate, manganese used at the above rates caused little or
no injury.
By means of experiments now under way, it is hoped that
the relative importance of acidity and of salts in solution as
the cause of toxicity, may be established.
Respectfully submitted,
M. J. FUNCHESS,
Agronomist.
REPORT Of BOTANIST
WRIGHT A. GARDNER "
Auburn, Ala., Jan. 18, 1919.
Director J. F. Duiggar,
Alabama Experiment 
Station,
Auburn, Ala,
Sir:
I beg leave to submit the following report of experimental
work conducted by the Department of Botany during the past
year.
Adams Fund Projects.
(1) Soil Toxin Project. Various claims have been made
with reference to the presence of poisonous substances in
soils. Some claim that poisonous substances are excreted by
the roots; others claim that they are products of the decompo-
sition of plant and animal tissue. The majority of those
interested in soil fertility investigations admit the presence
of these poisonous substances whether they consider them
important or not. The 'workers in the Bureau of Soils in
Washington have separated from soils several substances
poisonous to crop plants, such as wheat, corn and peas. The
workers in this laboratory have been seeking agencies and
conditions for the destruction of these injurious substances.
W. J. Robbins, in Bulletin 204, The Destruction of Vanillin in
the Soil by the Action of Bacteria, June, 1918, shows that
certain bacteria decompose vanillin and points out several
conditions favorable to its decomposition. Two lines of in-
vestigation are now being carried on. One deals with the
relation of oxygen and water to the decomposition of vanillin
in the soils. Results so far obtained indicate that under soil
conditions an inadequate water supply is more frequently
the limiting factor. The other investigation deals with the
decomposition of toxins by soil bacteria. Results obtained
indicate that many soils from Alabama and elsewhere, though
not all, contain organisms which decompose cinnamic acid,
resorcin, and vanillin, that some soils contain organisms which
decompose guanidine hydrochloride, piperidine, and cumarin,
22
and that a few soils contain organisms which decompose
benzidine, caffein, pyridine and quinoline. No soils ex-
amined contain organisms which decompose hydrochinone
sa-icylic aldehyde, or oxalic acid.
(2) Sweet Potato Project. In view of the loss of sweet
potatoes during the winter of 1917-18 on account of chilling
it seemed desirable to make a study of the changes undergone
by sweet potatoes during storage under various controlled con-
ditions. Investigations of the changes in cell walls and cell
contents of sweet potatoes stored tinder various conditions
and subjected to change of temperature are already under
way. An attempt will be made to show which processes 'and
conditions are responsible for the injury due to chilling and
what agencies actually cause the injury.
Hatch Fund Projects.
No projects have been definitely outlined under the Hatch
Fund. Some work has been done on each of the following:
(1) The effect of certain factors in the digestion of cellulose
by Penicillium species.
(2) Manganese poisoning of plants.
The experiment station projects in the Botany Department are:
(1) Soil toxin project, Adams Fund.
(2) Sweet Potato project, Adams Fund.
(3) Miscellaneous botanical investigations, Hatch Fund.
Respectfully submitted,
WRIGHT A. GARDNER,
Botanist.
REPORT OF PLANT PATHOLOGIST
G. L. PELTIER
Auburn, Ala., Dec. 16, 1918.
Prof. J. F. Duggar, Director,
Agricultural Experimbnt Station.
Auburn, Ala.
Sir:
I am herewith submitting a brief statement of the work now
in progress in the Department of Plant Pathology.
(1) Under the Adams fund the citrus-canker project has
been continued, the results obtained being embodied in the
following papers:
Susceptibility and resistance to citrus canker of the wild
relatives, citrus fruits, and hybrids of the genus citrus.
(Preliminary paper) Journal of Agricultural Research
XIV, No. 9, 337-357 (Aug.) 1918, pls. 50-53.
Overwintering of the citrus canker organisms in the outer
bark tissues of the hardy citrus hybrids. (with D. C.
Neal.) Journal of Agricultural Research XIV, No. 11,
523-524. (Sept.) 1918, pl. 58.
A convenient heating and sterilizing outfit for a field labo-
ratory. (With D. C. Neal.) Phytopathology VIII, No. 8,
436-438. (Aug.) 1918, 2 figs.
Susceptibility and resistance to citrus canker of the wild
relatives, citrus fruits, and hybrids, of the genus citrus.
(Progress report.) In preparation.
Several promising fruits and plants suitable for stock which
may be successfully grown in South Alabama have been found
to be quite resistant to citrus canker. Observations during the
winter of 1917-1918 have shown that the canker organism
can, after gaining entrance into the bark tissues, remain
dormant (6 months) through the winter and break out in a
virulent stage when conditions are favorable for its develop-
ment.
Some progress has been made on a method for isolating
the canker organism from the soil, while the same may be
said of a number of experiments associated with the life-
history of the organism.
24
On November11, 1918, the writer was granted a four months
leave, to study the influence of temperature and humidity
on the development of. the citrus canker organism and the
disease caused by it, in the botanical laboratories and green
houses of the University of Illinois.
(2) Some of the Local Experiment Fund has been used to
maintain the field laboratory at Loxley, Alabama. Besides a
study of citrus canker, observations have been made on the
plant diseases peculiar to South Alabama and the farmer
advised in preventive and control measures.
No definite projects have been started but the work under the
Local Experiment Fund this past year has been confined to
observations of a number of troublesome plant diseases, some
of which are new or little known in Alabama.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE L. PELTIER,
Plant Pathologist.
REPORT OF HOHTICULTURIST
G. C. STARCHER
Auburn, Ala., Jan. 15, 1919.
Prof. J. F. Duggar,
Director of Experiment Station,
Auburn, Ala.
Sir:
In response to your request, I herewith submit a report
on the progress of the work in this Department.
Pecans-We have continued our notes on the variety pecan
orchard.
Peaches-We continued our notes on varieties of peaches.
Some new varieties originated here are being propagated. We
also continued our notes on spraying of peaches with different
materials.
Pears-We have continued our notes on varieties of pears,
with especial reference to susceptibility to blight. We added
to the variety planting for this purpose.
Strawberries-We made a variety planting of twenty-nine
varieties.
Raspberries-We made a variety planting of five red rasp-
berries and five black cap raspberries.
Blackberries-We planted five varieties of blackberries, the
Lucretia dewberry and the Loganberry.
Sweet Potatoes-We have started a new series of sweet
potato storage experiments to determine the influence of time
of digging, i. e.., before and after the vines were frosted, and
the influence of temperature and ventilation on the keeping
of the potatoes. For carrying out these experiments we have
remodeled the storage house formerly used. We now have
three rooms, one large room heated by a coal stove and one
small room heated by an oil stove. Neither of these rooms has
a dead air space in the floor or ceiling. A third room,
heated by an oil stove, has a dead air space in the walls, ceil-
ing and floor. Careful thermo-hygrograph records are being
kept in all the rooms.
The experiments in the house are being correlated with
26
storage experiments in hills.
Tomatoes-Variety experiments were started to-note com-
parative wilt resistance of various varieties of tomatoes.
Melons-Our notes were continued on the yield, quality and-
keeping qualities of watermelons and muskmelons.
It will be practically impossible to do any new work with
horticultural plants because we have little or no soil uniform
enough for either variety tests or fertilizer work. Much of the
soil which we have is so infected with nematode and disease,
due to long use, that many plants cannot be grown at all.
The Department can do no work of importance until our-
funds are increased and suitable land secured.
Respectfully yours.
G. C. STARCHER,
Horticulturist.
REPORT OF ENTOMOLOGIST
W. E. HINDS-
Auburn, Ala., Dec. 28, 1918.
Prof. J. F. Duggar,
Auburn, Ala.
Sir:
I submit below a report of the entomological work done
during the past year under Adams and Hatch Funds.
Adams Fund Projects--1, Rice Weevil.
This project has been continued principally in the field.
The practicability of utilizing "trap plots" for concentrating
the first generation of Calandra and other species 
so that they
may be removed while still in the grain and disposed of in
such a manner as to prevent their spread to later maturing
corn has been further tested and with satisfactory results. The
field study of weevil resistance as shown by various varieties
of corn has been continued. Whatley's Prolific still continues
to lead in the desired combination of high field and sound-
ness of grain due to exceptionally good shuck covering. Owing
to the great increase in yield in the crop of 1917 and also to
the exceptionally cold winter the insect damage to the stored
crop of that season was very much less than average through
the State.
2. Arsenate of Lead-Work in this project was resumed
using cotton and the boll weevil as experimental subjects.
Some eighteen plots located mainly in the southeastern corner
of the State where the heaviest infestation was expected, were
dusted at various stages of the cotton and for a varying num-
ber of applications. The outdoor work was correlated with
indoor cage experiments and chemical analyses of all materials
used are being made by the Research Chemist. The field which
showed the largest increase in yield, apparently due to the
treatment, is being given a very close, detailed study. As a
whole the results do not yet justify the recommendation of
Arsenate of Lead or any other, poisons dusting fQr boll weevil
control.
3. Fumigation-Under this project we have entered a new
phase of the work in the treatment of soils for the destruction
28
of various insects, such as white grubs,termites, woolly aphis,.
etc., and also for nematode worm control. The results.thus
far have shown that Sodium Cyanide may be used in solution
at the rate of one (1) oz. in eight (8) gallons of water and
at this strength it did not injure the foliage of any one 
of the
numerous plants tested. When soil was saturated with 
this
solution at such a rate that one (1) oz. of the Sodium Cyanide
was applied to 10 to 12.5 square feet of area we obtaiined very
satisfactory results in the practically complete control of
white grubs, earthworms, termites, sbw bugs and nematodes.
It appears now that we have found a very fairlyeffcctive,
economical and practicable method of fighting some of the
soil infesting animals which have been very troublesome and
almost impossible of control
'
in the past. This is an extremely
important field of study and will be continued. Even at pres-
ent high rices for chemicals, the cost of treatment will not
be over about $70.00 per acre. Furthermore, the work thus
far has' shown an extremely gratifying stimulation in the
growth of all plants tested on the cyanide treated areas, which
indicates that the treatment has a very important fertilizing,
as well as a pest controlling value.
In the fumigation of Satsuma orange trees for the control of
scale insects, white fly, etc., we have secured very satisfactory
results so far as the control of these pests is concerned, bui the
cost of tents, chemicals, etc., has been so high iunderwar
conditions and the danger of spreading citrus canker is so great
in some sections that this treatment is not likely to supersede
spraying for some time yet.
Carbon disulphid fumigation for the destruction of the swedet
potato root borer has not given satisfactory results when used
ini the sweet potato storage banks. It fails to kill all' stages of
the insect and evideitly increases the rotting of the potatoes.
Other Projects:
Inspection' work, carried on by the U. S. Bureau of Ent omo-
logy agents 'in co-operi-ation with this Department and with the
Alabama State Board of Horticulture, has failed to reveal the
presence of the sweet potato root borer at ani y other focalify in
Alabama than around Grand Bay in Mobile County. 
'
A deter-
mined effort is being made to exterminate this weevil' this.
29
season. Fortunately only seven or eight premises have been
found infested and in all cases destruction of the crop has
been secured under the tactful supervision of Dr. 
0. F. E.
Winberg who has kindly served as field director of this work.
Respectfully submitted,
W. E. HINDS,
Entomologist.
REPORT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDMAN
GEO. S. TEMPLETON
Auburn, Ala., Jan. 14, 1919.
Prof. J. F. Duggar, Director,
Alabama Experiment Station,
Auburn, Ala.
Sir:
I respectfully submit the following report of the experi-
mental work conducted by the Animal Husbandry Department
during the past fiscal year. The experiments conducted at
Auburn were supported by the Hatch and Adams funds appro-
priated by Congress. The experiments conducted in Marengo,
Mobile and Bullock counties were supported by the State
appropriation provided by the Local Experiment Law.
A study of the influence of some southern feeds upon the
properties (melting point, keeping qualities, iodine value, and
color) of lards was conducted in co-operation with the Depart-
ment of Chemistry. Six lots of hogs, eight hogs to the lot, were
fed the following ration:
Lot 1-Corn, 8 parts, tankage, 1 part.
Lot 2 Corn, 1 part, peanut meal, 1 part.
Lot 3 Corn, 2 parts, peanut meal, I part.
Lot 4 Corn, 3 parts, peanut meal, 1 part.
Lot 5 Corn, 4 parts, velvet bean and pod meal, 4 parts,
tankage, 1 part.
Lot 6-Corn, 11/2 parts, velvet bean and pod meal, 1
parts, peanut meal, 1 part.
The ration for Lot 5 proved to be unpalatable, and after it
was continued nineteen days it was thought impracticable to
continue the ration so the feed for this lot was changed to
corn, 8 parts, and peanut weal, 1 part. The six lots were
fed for a period of 104 days, when they were sufficiently
finished for marketing. The hogs were marketed at the Bir-
mingham Packing Company in Birmingham, Alabama. Cold
storage notes were made on the carcasses, and samples of
kidney fat from each individual in all the lots were given
to the Chemistry Department for laboratory work. The Chem-
31
istry Department will make a report on the analyses.
The carcasses in Lot .1, corn and tankage, were entirely
satisfactory to the packer. They were nicely finished and
of excellent quality. Lots 2, 3, and 4, receiving varying
amounts of peanut meal with corn, were classified by the
packer as medium soft, and docked on this basis. The ration
containing velvet bean and pod meal did not prove to be
as palatable as the rations in Lots 1, 2, 3, and 4; consequently
Lots 5 and 6 ate a much smaller amount of feed and made
relatively smaller gains, and were not as fiicely finished as
those in the first four lots. The corn and peanut meal rations
were very palatable and the hogs made uniformly good gains
on these mixtures,
The average melting points for the lots were as follows:
Lot 1 -44.15 degrees C.
Lot 2-40.35 degrees C.
Lot 3-42.2 degrees C.
Lot 4-40.57 degrees C.
Lot 6-42.5 degrees C.
During the year a test was started to determine the best
and miost economical method of preparing velvet beans in
the pod as feed for dairy cattle. Three lots of four cows
each were fed as follows:
Lot 1-Velvet beans in the pod (ground.)
Lot 2 Velvet beans in the pod (soaked.)
Lot 3 Velvet beans in the pod (dry.)
This work has not yet continued long enough for definite
conclusions to be drawn.
Respectfully submitted,
GEO. S. TEMPLETON,
Animal Husbandman.
REPORT OF VETERINARIAN
C. A. CARY
Auburn, Ala., Jan. 9, 1919.
Director J. 
F. Duggar,
Auburn, Ala.
Sir:
During 1918'the following work was done.
(1) An attempt was made to ascertain the toxic effects of
red buckeye (Aesculus pavia) When ingested by pigs.
One pig was giveni one half ounce of leaves, gathered in
the fall, twice daily in feed for five days, then' one ounce of:
buckeye leaves twice daily for five days and-then given- one
and one half ounces twice daily for five days.
Another pig was given the ground bark arnd roots, the
same amount, same dosage and for the same periods of five
days each. The feed given each pig was two parts of velvet
bean meal and one part of shorts.
Each one of these two pigs in 15 days gained eleven pounds
in weight; 'the daily temperature of eachwas normal. Blood
counts, made before and after the tests were finished, gave
no distinct changes in red blood cells or in leucocytes. These
two pigs remained in good health and maintained a good
appetite.
A control pig was fed the same'e ration of velvet bean meal
and shorts and gatined ten pounds in the 15 days. The con-
dition of this pig was practically the same as the two pigs
eating the buckeye leaves and bark roots.
One pig W'as giveni freshly chopped buckeye nuts, gathered
itn fall, il grefin condition, in same doses twice daily in velvet
bean meal and shorts for the same periods. The pig ate
very little of the feed containing the nuts and lost four pounds
during the fifteen days. Toward the end of the test this pig
was dull, sluggish, inactive and had an unsteady gait. (This
test should have been continued or repeated on one or more
pigs and some means obtained to cover up the taste of the
chopped nuts.) The result is doubtful but suggestive of some
toxic effects.
33
In the Spring of 1918 the- following tests were-made.
Pig No. 343, weight 48 pounds, was given twice daily in
peanut meal and bran. one and one half ounces of ground
green (spring) buckeye leaves, flowers and young stems. Ex-
cretions, temperature anidgeneral:condition of this pig re-
mained normal. Blood counts were also normal.
Pigs Nos. 344 and 345 were given every afternoon for four
days an :armful o:f young tender green buckeye. They ate
a small amount of it. In the morning they were fed peanut
meal and bran. Temperature remained normal: appetite good
with no signs of diarrhoea or constipation. Blood counts
remained normal. (These tests' were made by senior veteri-
nary medical students A. R. Gissendanner and B. W. Murray
under my direction.) Tests will be made on hogs and cattle
during 1919.
'(2) In 1917 tests were made to determine the physiologi-
cal or toxic action -ofHelenium tenuifolium on horses and
dogs.
.The results shown (after giving large quantities of the
plant to horses) were that it produced distinct drowsiness,
slow and weak pulse, slow and deep breathing; slight con-
traction of the pupil; subnormal temperature; always laxative
and sometimes purgative action of the intestines.
On the dog similar action with some nausea and irration
of the stomch.
In 1918, an active principle was extracted from the plant
with ether, alcohol and hot water, which produced on horses,
cattle and dogs subnormal temperature, slow pulse, slow res-
pirations; laxative action and sometimes diarrhoea. Etherial
solutions, made from alcoholic extracts, were tested for anti-
pyrine, acetanilid and caffein-and all were negative. Alka-
line etherial solutions were tested for brucine, strychnine,
veratrine and cocaine with negative results. Inhalations from
floating dust, while grinding dry plants, produced violent
sneezing and headache. From these tests and clinical obser-
vation of horses and cattle that graze in pastures where this
plant grows profusely it appears that there are instances or
occasions when horses and mules and cattle eat sufficient
to produce a type of forage poisoning that not infrequently
34
has fatal results. This occurs most commonly in the dry times
of summer and fall when pastures are short and water is
scarce.
(3) Some tests were made on the efficiency of anthelmintics
on chickens. The results showed that ?
(1) Santonin was quite ineffective on the intestinal para-
sites of chickens.
(2) Oil of chenopodiuln (alone or combined with chloro-
form) was somewhat effective for killing and removing Taenia
( mnnulatum from the intestines of chickens.
(3) Oil of turpentine proved to be the most effective for
removing the Taeia anulatum.
The Farmers' Summer School was held at Auburn July 29th
to August 4th, inclusive. There were three hundred and
twenty-six farmers in attendance and a majority of the coun-
ties of the State were represented. Extraordinary interest was
taken in all the lectures, exhibits and demonstrations with
triactors, judging all kinds of live stock, etc.
Respectfully submitted,
C. A. CARY,
Veterinariain.
REPORT OF RESEARCH CHEMIST
EMERSON R. MILLER
Auburn, Ala., Dec. 28, 1918.
Prof. J. F. Duggar, )irector,
Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station,
Auburn, Ala.
Sir:
Under the Adams fund the writer is engaged in a chemical
investigation of the velvet bean, the object being to determine
its composition with reference to mineral constitutents, fats,
carbohydrates, proteins and enzymes. The purpose at present
is, also, to study different parts of the plant in the same man-
ner.
The writer will also endeavor to complete the work on -the
chemical analysis of arsenate of lead, upon which Dr. Ander-
son had done considerable work, as an Adams Fund Project, in
co-operation with the Department of Entomology.
Respectfully submitted,
EMERSON R. MILLER,
Research Chemist.
REPORT OF PHYSIOLOGICAL CHEMIST
C. L. HARE
Auburn, Ala., Dec. 28, 1918.
Prof. J. F. Duggar, Director,
Alabama Experiment Station,
Auburn, Ala.
Sir:
Work in the Department 
of Chemistry for the year 
1918 in-
eluded study of the effects of-peanuts, 
peanut meal, velvet
beans, corn, and tankage upon the 
carcasses and-fat of-hogs
receiving those products in various 
proportions in the rations.
In the study of the composition of 
cotton seed in breeding
experiments designed to develop 
a strain of cotton with seed
high in oil, it has-been: found possible 
to correlate the per-
centage of oil and ammonia with 
the amounts ofcertaic
inorganic constitutents present 
in the seed.
The *Department is also correlating 
the physiological changes
within the cotton seed with climatic 
conditions existing dur-
ing the growth of the plant.
Early publication of results of the 
latter investigation is
contemplated.
Respectfully submitted.
C. L. HARE,
Physiological Chemist.