FIFTY-SE.COND ANNUAL RE.PORT
January I to December 31, 1941
OF THE
Agricultural Experiment Station
OF THE-
Alabama Polytechnic institute
AUBURN
M. J. FUNCHESS, Director
AUBURN, ALABAMA
~ama LD
2 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
Alabama Polytechnic Institute
TRUSTEES
His Excellency, Frank M. Dixon, Chairman Ex-Officio
A. H. Collins, State Superintendent of Education Ex-Officio
Francis W. Hare, (First District) Monroeville, Alabama
George Blue, (Second District) Montgomery, Alabama
T. D. Samford, (Third District) Opelika, Alabama
S. L. Toomer, (Third District) Auburn, Alabama
H. D. Merrill, (Fourth District) Anniston, Alabama
C. S. Culver, (Fifth District) Gadsden, Alabama
Robert K. Green, (Sixth District) Greensboro, Alabama
Paul S. Haley, (Seventh District) Jasper, Alabama
Edward A. O'Neal, (Eighth District) Florence, Alabama
Victor H. Hanson, (Ninth District) Birmingham, Alabama
Ralph B. Draughon, Secretary of the Board, Auburn, Alabama
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION STAFF
Luther Noble Duncan, M.S., LL.D., President
M. J. Funchess, M.S., D.Sc., Director
*J. W. Tidmore, Ph.D., Assistant Director
W. H. Weidenbach, B.S., Executive Secretary
Kirtley Brown, A.B., Agricultural Editor
Mary E. Martin, Librarian
Sara Willeford, B.S., Agricultural Librarian
Agricultural Economics
B. F. Alvord, M.S.
J. N. Mahan, M.S.
W. K. McPherson, M.S.
B. T. Lanham, Jr., M.S.
W. F. Lagrone, B.S.
J. H. Blackstone, M.S.
J. W. Lester, B.S.
Agricultural Engineering
J. H. Neal, Ph.D.
R. M. Merrill, B.S.
**E. G. Diseker, M.S.
E. D. Gordon, M.S. A
F. A. Kummer, M.S.
I. F. Reed, M.S. A
D. A. Parsons, B.A.
J. O. Laws, B.S.
Norval Stoltenberg, B.S.
A. W. Cooper, M.S.
C. H. Bailey, M.S.
C. C. Morgan, Jr., B.S.
Agronomy and Soils
*J. W. Tidmore, Ph.D.
N. J. Volk, Ph.D.
J. B. Dick, B.S.
E. L. Mayton, M.S.
J. A. Naftel, Ph.D.
R. W. Pearson, Ph.D.
Anna L. Sommer, Ph.D.
D. G. Sturkie, Ph.D.
H. B. Tisdale, M.S.
G. W. Volk, Ph.D.
J. T. Williamson, B.S.
H. W. Reuszer, Ph.D.
H. R. Albrecht, Ph.D.
R. J. Jones, Ph.D.
E. C. Richardson, M.S.
J. W. Richardson, B.S. (Brewton)
F. E. Bertram, B.S. (Prattville)
C. L. Breedlove,
***J. W. McClendon, B.S.
E. H. Stewart, M.S.
R. W. Taylor, M.S.
**J. I. Wear, M.S.
*Deceased.
**On leave for Military Service.
***Transferred to Black Belt Substation.
Head, Agricultural Economics
Associate Agricultural Economist
Associate Agricultural Economist
Assistant Agricultural Economist
Junior Economist (Coop. USDA)
Assistant Agricultural Economist
Graduate Assistant
Head, Agricultural Engineering
Senior Agricultural Engineer (Coop. USDA)
Associate Agricultural Engineer
ssociate Agricultural Engineer (Coop. USDA)
Associate Agricultural Engineer
ssociate Agricultural Engineer (Coop. USDA)
Project Supervisor (Coop. USDA)
Assistant Soil Conservationist (Coop. USDA)
Junior Soil Technologist (Coop. USDA)
Assistant Agricultural Engineer
Assistant in Agricultural Engineering
Assistant in Agricultural Engineering
Head, Agronomy and Soils
Acting Head, Agronomy and Soils
Associate Agronomist, (Coop. USDA)
Associate Agronomist
Associate Soil Chemist
Associate Soil Chemist
Associate Soil Chemist
Associate Agronomist
Associate Plant Breeder
Associate Soil Chemist
Associate Agronomist
Agent (Coop. USDA)
Assistant Agronomist
Assistant Soil Chemist
Assistant Agronomist (Coop. USDA)
Assistant Agronomist
Assistant in Agronomy
Assistant in Agronomy
Assistant in Agronomy
Assistant in Agronomy
- Assistant in Agronomy
Assistant in Agronomy
FIFTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT, 1941 3
P. B. Gibson, B.S..
M. E. Holt, M.S..
D. T. Meadows, B.S.
J. C. Rice, B.S..
C. M. Wilson, B.S.
Animal and Poultry Husbandry
J. C. Grimes, M.S.
W. D. Salmon, M.A..
W. E. Sewell, M.S.
G. J. Cottier, M.A.
R. W. Engel, Ph.D.
D. F. King, M.S.
C. J. Koehn, Ph.D.
W. C. Sherman, Ph.D.
P. D. Sturkie, Ph.D.
**M. J. Burns, B.S..
Botany and Plant Pathology
J. L. Seal, Ph.D.
E. V. Smith, Ph.D.
J. R. Jackson, Ph.D-.
T. R. Wright, M.S. (Fairhope)
Horticulture and Forestry
L. M. Ware, M.S.
C. L. Isbell, Ph.D.
E. W. McElwee, M.S.
P. A. Swarthout, B.S.
O. A. Atkins, M.S.
W. R. Boggess, M.F.
**F. E. Johnstone, Jr., Ph.D.
E. R. Toole, Ph.D.
**J. E. Bryan, Jr., B.S.
Hubert Harris, B.S.
H. A. Nation, M.S.
W. A. Johnson, B.S.
Special Investigations
J. F. Duggar, M.S.
Veterinary Medicine
L. E. Starr, Ph.D.
Graduate Assistant
Graduate Assistant
Graduate Assistant
Graduate Assistant
Graduate Assistant
Head, Animal and Poultry Husbandry
................................ A nim al N utritionist
Animal Husbandman
Associate Poultry Husbandman
Associate Animal Nutritionist
Associate Poultry Husbandman
Associate Animal Nutritionist
Associate Animal Nutritionist
Associate Poultry Husbandman
. .--------------------- Graduate Assistant
Head, Botany and Plant Pathology
Associate Botanist and Plant Pathologist
------- --__ Assistant Botanist and Plant Pathologist
Assistant Botanist and Plant Pathologist
(Coop. State Dept. Agri., and Ala. Ext. Service)
Head, Horticulture and Forestry
... Horticulturist
Associate Horticulturist
Associate Forester (Coop. USDA)
Assistant Horticulturist (Coop. USDA)
Assistant Forester
Assistant Vegetable Breeder
Junior Forest Pathologist (BPI) (Coop. USDA)
Assistant in Forestry
Assistant in Horticulture
Assistant in Horticulture
Laboratory Technician
Research Professor of Special Investigations
Animal Pathologist
Zoology-Entomology
J. M. Robinson, M.A. Head, Zoology-Entomology
L. L. English, Ph.D. (Spring Hill) Entomologist
H. S. Swingle, M.S. Fish Culturist
F. S. Arant, Ph.D. Associate Entomologist
R. 0. Christenson, Ph.D. Associate Zoologist
A. M. Pearson, Ph.D. ____ Associate Biologist (Coop. USDI and State Dept. of Con.)
J. M. Lawrence, B.S. Assistant in Fish Culture
E. E. Prather, B.S. Assistant in Fish Culture
H. H. Earle, Jr., B.S. Graduate Assistant
Substations
Black Belt - Marion Junction, Dallas County, Alabama
K. G. Baker, B.S. Superintendent
T. B.B. Chisolm, B.A. Assistant to Superintendent
J. W. McClendon, B.S. Assistant Superintendent
Gulf Coast Fairhope, Baldwin County, Alabama
Otto Brown, M.S. Superintendent
Harold Yates, B.S. Assistant Superintendent
Sand Mountain Crossville, DeKalb County, Alabama
R. C. Christopher, B.S. Superintendent
H. A. Ponder, B.S. Assistant Superintendent
S. E. Gissendanner, B.S. Assistant Superintendent
Tennessee Valley - Belle Mina, Limestone County, Alabama
Fred Stewart, B.S. Superintendent
J. K. Boseck, B.S. Assistant Superintendent
Wiregrass Headland, Henry County, Alabama
J. P. Wilson, B.S. - Superintendent
C. A. Brogden, B.S. Assistant Superintendent
R . P. G oggans, B .S-. ......................................... A ssistant
**On leave for Military Service.
4 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
CHANGES IN STATION STAFF DURING 1941
Appointments
C. L. Breedlove
H. H. Earle, Jr., B.S.
S. E. Gissendanner, B.S.
R. P. Goggans, B.S.
J. M. Lawrence, B.S.
C. C. Morgan, Jr., B.S.
W. K. McPherson, M.S.
H. A. Nation, M.S.
R. W. Pearson, Ph.D.
E. E. Prather, B.S.
E. C. Richardson, M.S.
E. H. Stewart, M.S.
Norval Stoltenberg, B.S.
Resignations
C. H. Bailey, M.S.
J. H. Blackstone, M.S.
T. B. Chisolm, B.A.
M. E. Holt, M.S.
D. T. Meadows, B.S.
H. A. Ponder, B.S.
L. E. Starr, Ph.D.......
R. W. Taylor, M.S.
Assistant in Agronomy
Graduate Assistant
Assistant Superintendent, Sand Mountain Substation
Assistant, Wiregrass Substation
Assistant in Fish Culture
Assistant in Agricultural Engineering
Associate Agricultural Economist
Assistant in Horticulture
Associate Soil Chemist
Assistant in Fish Culture
Assistant Agronomist (Coop. USDA) (1940)
Assistant in Agronomy
Junior Soil Technologist (Coop. USDA)
Assistant in Agricultural Engineering
Assistant Agricultural Economist
Assistant to Superintendent, Black Belt Substation
Graduate Assistant
Graduate Assistant
Assistant Superintendent, Sand Mountain Substation
-------------------------------------.- A nim al P athologist
Assistant in Agronomy
NEW PUBLICATIONS
Experiment Station Publications
(Bulletins, Circulars, Leaflets, and Mimeographed Reports)
Salter, L. C., and Morgan, E. L. - Farmer Cooperation in
Northern Alabama. Bul. 249: 1-52. (1941).
Alvord, Ben F., Crosby, M. A., and Schiffman, E. G. -
Factors Influencing Alabama Agriculture, Its Characteristics
and Farming Areas. Bul. 250: 1-76. (1941).
McPherson, W. K. - Organization and Use of Alabama
Locker Plants in 1941. Special Circular: 1-19 (1941).
King, D.F. Homemade Lamp Brooder. Leaflet 19: 1-4.
(1941).
Arant, F. S.- Rotenone Insecticides and Their Use on the
Farm. (July 1941).
Boggess, W. R., Swarthout, Paul A., and Toole, E. Rich-
ard Preliminary Results of the Little-leaf Disease of South-
ern Pines in Alabama. (September 1941).
Lanham, Ben T., and Lagrone, William F. - Farm Family
Labor Available and Used, by Size of Farms in Marion County
Alabama. (Farm Management Report No. 2 for Marion Coun-
ty, March 1941).
Lanham, Ben T., Lagrone, William F. -The Status of
Sharecroppers in Marion County, Alabama. (Farm Manage-
ment Report No. 3 for Marion County, April 1941).
Ware, L. M.- An Irish Potato Program for Alabama.
(January 1941).
FIFTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT, 1941 5
Articles in Scientific Journals
Arant, F. S. - Rate of Application of Derris-Talc Dusts
for Pickleworm Control. Jour. Econ. Ent. 34 (4): 520-521,
(1941).
Atkins, 0. A. - The Partridge Pea (Chamaecrista fascu-
lata), a Promising Plant for Soil Conservation. Amer. Soc.
Agron. Jour. 33: 471-472. (1941).
Christenson, Reed 0., and Butler, R. L., Jr. - Seasonal
Occurrence of Some Economically Important Parasites of the
Chicken. Jour. Ala. Acad. Sci. 13: 31-33, graphs 1-2. (1941).
Engel, R. W. - Hemoglobin Values of Lee County Draf-
tees. 1st Ala. Nutr. Conf. Rpt. (1941).
Engel, R. W. - Effect of Calcium Pantothenate and Other
B-Vitamins on Liver Fat. Jour. Biol. Chem., 140, xxxvii (1941).
Engel, R. W., and Salmon, W. D. - Improved Diets for
Nutritional and Pathologic Studies of Choline Deficiency in
Young Rats. Jour. Nutr., 22: 109-22. (1941).
Grimes, J. C. - A Study of the Transmission of Factors
Associated with Economy of Gains in Swine. Assoc. South.
Agr. Workers Proc. 40: 106-107. (1941).
Grimes, J. C. - Feeding Value of Sweetpotatoes. Assoc.
South. Agr. Workers Proc. 40: 163-164. (1941).
Jones, Randall J. - Nitrogen Losses from Legumes on
Three Major Soil Types in Alabama as Revealed by Lysimeter
Studies. Assoc. South. Agr. Workers Proc. 40: 105-106. (1941).
Koehn, C. J. - Milk and Butter as Sources of Vitamin A.
1st. Ala. Nutr. Conf. Rpt. (1941).
Salmon, W. D. - Nutrition in Defense. 1st. Ala. Nutr.
Conf. Rpt. (1941).
Salmon, W. D. - Relation of Pantothenic Acid, Pyridox-
ine, and Linoleic Acid to the Cure of Rat Acrodynia. Jour.
Biol. Chem. 140, cix-cx. (1941).
Sherman, W. C. - The Effect of Certain Fats and Un-
saturated Fatty Acids Upon the Utilization of Carotene. Jour.
Nutr. 22: 153-165. (1941).
Sherman, W. C. - Activity of Alpha-Tocopherol in Pre-
venting Antagonism Between Linoleic and Linolenic Esters
and Carotene. Soc. Expt. Biol. and Med. Proc. 47: 199-200.
(1941).
Smith, E. V., and Swingle, H. S. - The Use of Fertilizer
6 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
for Controlling the Pond Weed (Najas guadalupensis). Trans.
6th N. Amer. Wildlife Conf. 
245-251. (1941).
Sturkie, Paul D. - Hypermobile Joints in .all Descendants
for Two Generations. Jour. Hered. 32: 232-234. (July 1941).
Swingle, H. S., and Smith, E. V. - Managing Ponds for
Fish Production. Prog. Fish Cult. 53: 
8-13. (1941).
Swingle, H. S., and Smith, E. V. - The Management of
Ponds for the Production of Game and Pan Fish. A Sympos-
ium on Hydrobiology, 218-226, Univ. 
of Wis. Press (1941).
Volk, N. J. - The Determination of Small Amounts of Ex-
changeable Potassium in Soils, Employing the Sodium Cobalt-
initrite Procedure. Amer. Soc. Agron. Jour. 
33: 684. (1941).
Ware, L. M. - The Effects of Fertilizers, Organic Ma-
terial, and Irrigation on the Yield of Certain Truck Crops.
Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 39: 363-366. 
(1941).
Articles in Popular Journals
Grimes, J. C. - Breeding and Selecting for Economy of
Gains. The Duroc News 
(June 1941).
Grimes, J. C. - Feeding Value of Sweetpotatoes. The
Cattleman (April 1941).
Grimes, J. C. - Extra Cash in Southern Meals. Progress-
ive Farmer (December 1941).
Lanham, Ben T. - How Much Does it Cost to Feed and
Maintain Work Stock? Alabama Extension Animal Husbandry.
(August 1941).
McPherson, W. K. - 1940 Census of Number of Cattle
and Hogs on Farms are not Comparable with the 1935 Census
Figures. Alabama Extension Animal Husbandry. 
(July 1941).
McPherson, W. K. - Changes in Number of Livestock on
Alahama Farms. Alabama Extension Animal Husbandry. (Au-
gust 1941).
McPherson, W. K. - Livestock-Feedstuffs Ratios in Ala-
bama. Alabama Extension Animal Husbandry. (October 
1941).
Volk, N. J. - Available Potassium in Alabama Soils.
Better Crops With Plant Food (June 1941).
Ware, L. M. - The Function of Research in Alabama For-
estry. Alabama Conservation (January 1941).
Ware, L. M. - A Simple Method Developed for Drying
Sweetpotatoes. Forum (December 1941).
Ware, L. M. - Sweetpotatoes Dried on Farm Solves Old
Problem. Progressive Farmer (December 1941).
FIFTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT, 1941 7
AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS
Credit Advances to Sharecroppers in the Upper and Lower
Coastal Plain Farming Areas of Alabama. (Ben T. Lanham,
Jr., and William F. Lagrone).- In Marion County, which is
considered typical of the Upper Coastal Plain farming area,
about half of the credit advanced to sharecroppers in 1938
was in the form of cash only; the remaining half was about
equally divided between that furnished as provisions only and
that furnished as a combination of cash and provisions. Share-
croppers in this area received an average credit advance of $73
per family. This amounted to $15.53 per acre of cash crops.
Table 1.- Credit Advances per Sharecropper Family in the Upper and
Lower Coastal Plain Farming Areas of Alabama in 1938 and 1939
Upper Coastal Lower Coastal
Plain' Plain'
Item Unit
Old-way Old-way New-way
cropper cropper cropper
Farms surveyed Number 24 35 14
Type of advances made:
Cash only Per cent 54 91 64
Provisions only Per cent 25 0 0
Cash and provisions Per cent 21 9 36
Credit advanced per
family
3  
Dollars 73 104 114
Acres of cash crops
per family' Acres 4.7 21.4 25.8
Credit advanced per acre
of cash crops Dollars 15.53 4.86 4.42
'Based on farmers' estimates as of 1938 in Marion County, a county representative
of much of the Upper Coastal Plain farming area of Alabama.
'Based on farmers' estimates as of 1939 in Henry County, a county representative
of much of the Lower Coastal Plain farming area of Alabama.
'These amounts do not include the cost of the cropper's share of fertilizer, ginning,
peanut picking, etc.
4In Marion County this acreage is cotton only. In Henry County this acreage is the
aggregate average acreage of cotton and dug peanuts.
In the Lower Coastal Plain farming area, there are two
distinct types of sharecroppers. "Old-way" croppers are com-
parable to the sharecroppers found in the Upper Coastal Plain
farming area. "New-way" croppers are those who own their
work stock, but pay no fertilizer costs. Both groups in this
area receive larger advances per family than sharecroppers
in the Upper Coastal Plain farming area, according to a Henry
County study. Credit advances, however, amount to less than
$5 per acre of cash crops. Two-thirds of all credit advances
8 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
to "new-way" croppers and 90 per cent of those to "old-way"
croppers are in the form of cash. The remaining credit ad-
vances in both cases are furnished as part cash and part
provisions.
AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING
Dynamics of Soil Erosion and Principles of Control; Con-
tour Furrows for Water Conservation on Pasture Land.
(A. W. Cooper and E. L. Mayton).- Two years' results show
that it does not pay to contour furrow a hillside pasture of
the type used in this experiment. The pasture has a sandy
loam soil with slope from 4 to 7 per cent. Although the check
plots had from two to three times as much runoff as the con-
toured plots, it was of little significance, because the runoff
from the check plots was small as compared to the total pre-
cipitation. The small amount of water saved by contour fur-
rowing did not increase the herbage yields, because it was
not saved at a time when 
there was a need for the 
additional
water.
Dynamics of Soil Erosion and Principles of Control; Effect
of Different Crop Covers on Infiltration, Runoff, and Soil Losses
when Subjected to Artificial Rain. (C. C. Morgan, Jr., and
J. H. Neal).- The initial moisture content of the soil had a
greater effect on the rate of infiltration during the early part
of the test than any other factor. Where the initial soil mois-
ture content was relatively high, the infiltration rate was low,
and runoff began almost immediately after the beginning of
the rain. The slope of the plot apparently had no effect upon
the rate and the total amount of infiltration.
It was found that the slope had little or no effect on the
total runoff. The runoff increased with a corresponding in-
crease in rainfall intensity. For rains of less than one hour
duration, vegetation and contour furrows greatly reduced the
amount of runoff. However, when rains continued longer than
one hour, neither vegetation nor contour furrows had any
appreciable effect on runoff.
Both slope and vegetative cover greatly affected the soil
losses, which also varied with the rainfall intensity, increasing
with a geometric ratio.
FIFTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT, 1941 9
The results from these tests show that the soil losses from
all rains and the water losses from rains of less than 1 hour
duration can be greatly reduced by keeping the soil covered
with a closely growing vegetation as winter legumes, or by
making depression storage space as contour furrows and ridges.
Development of Sweetpotato Shredding Equipment. (F. A.
Kummer).-- The production of sweetpotatoes for stock feed
has recently gained considerable importance and widespread
interest among southern farmers. The feasibility of natural
drying of shredded sweetpotatoes on low-cost drying surfaces
has been proved by this Station.
One of the primary requirements for development of a
satisfactory feed-processing program is simple equipment.
Certain basic features are essential, such as low-cost construc-
tion, adequate shredding capacity, and mobility to eliminate
long hauls. With these requirements in mind, a portable
shredding machine was constructed that has given satisfac-
tory results.
The machine has a shredding capacity of approximately
300 bushels of sweetpotatoes per hour. A 5-hp. electric motor
and also a tractor power take-off have been used successfully
to drive this machine. In some cases it may even be practical
to transmit the driving power from the rear wheel of an auto-
mobile or truck. With a capacity of 300 bushels per hour, the
material shredded in one hour would require one-half acre
of drying surface, and it would produce approximately 3 tons
of dried feed.
AGRONOMY AND SOILS
Cotton Variety Tests. (H. B. Tisdale and J. B. Dick). -
The average results of cotton variety tests conducted on the
Main Station, Substations, and Experimental Fields for 3
years, 1939-41, show that Stoneville 2B and 5A, White Gold,
Coker 100, Washington, Deltapine 12, and Carolina Big Boll,
which produce staple of about 1 inch, are satisfactory varie-
ties for sections of Alabama not infested with the cotton wilt
disease. Clevewilt 7, Cook 144, Coker's 4-in-1, Dixie Triumph,
and the wilt-resistant Clevelands, which produce staple around
1 inch, are satisfactory for the wilt-infested sections of Ala-
bama.
ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
Cotton Breeding. (H. B. Tisdale and J. B. Dick). - A new
strain of Cook 144, designated as Cook 144-7 (Auburn), has
been developed that is superior to the old strain in yield,
length of staple, and resistance to wilt. Such other qualities
as boll size, earliness, and type of plant are similar to the
old strain.
Colorimetric Determination of Magnesium in Soils and
Plants. (Randall J. Jones). - A quantitative separation of
magnesium can be made by the use of 8-hydroxyquinoline as
the precipitating reagent. The precipitate is dissolved in 0.1N
HCI and a stable green color is developed by the addition of
ferric acetate. The color intensity is proportional to the con-
centration of magnesium, and, by means of a photoelectric
cell, readings can be made on solutions containing 0.25 to 10
p.p.m. of magnesium.
Small amounts of iron, aluminum, and manganese, often
present in the acid extracts of soils and plant ash, can be
quantitatively separated from magnesium and calcium by
adding 8-hydroxyquinoline to the solution, which is main-
tained at pH of 6 to 7. Calcium is then precipitated with am-
monium oxalate, and the magnesium present in the filtrate is
separated by adding an excess of ammonium hydroxide and
heating the solution to boiling point.
The determination can be most rapidly made by using 25-
ml. centrifuge tubes for separating and washing the precipi-
tate of magnesium.
Value of Crotalaria spectabilis as a Green Manure Crop on
Sandy Soils. (Randall J. Jones). -The beneficial effects of
turning under summer legumes as green manure crops have
been limited by the leaching of nitrates during the winter
months. Lysimeter studies for the last 5 years have revealed
that less nitrogen was lost by leaching from Crotalaria spec-
tabilis than from soybeans or cowpeas when these legumes
were turned under on Norfolk sandy loam. Sufficient quanti-
ties of each legume, equivalent to 75 pounds of nitrogen per
acre, were plowed under annually in each case. Sudan grass
was grown on the soil during the summer.
When the legumes were turned under in the fall, the an-
nual amount of nitrate-nitrogen leached was 42 pounds from
crotalaria, 50 pounds from cowpeas, and 52 pounds from soy-
10
beans. This loss of nitrogen was reduced about 50 per cent
by waiting until spring to turn under the legumes. The yield
of Sudan grass from spring-turned crotalaria was about 75
per cent greater than that from fall-turned crotalaria.
Crotalaria has the added advantage over most other sum-
mer legumes of producing enormous yields of both vegetative
material and seed.
Exchangeable Calcium and Magnesium Content of Soils
from Different Soil Provinces in Alabama. (J. A. Naftel).
Many of the Coastal Plain soils contained less than 100 p.p.m
of calcium and less than 25 p.p.m. of magnesium unless they
had received lime. Susquehanna clay, however, contained
1,580 p.p.m. of calcium and 210 p.p.m. of magnesium, which
was the highest base content found in the soils of this prov-
ince. Hartsells soils of the Appalachian region were low in
calcium and magnesium except where limed. It is believed
that many of these soils have reached critical low levels in
both calcium and magnesium for normal growth of crops.
Soils of the Black Belt contained extremely high amounts
of exchangeable calcium and magnesium even at low pH val-
ues. The latter was particularly true for Vaiden and Eutaw
series. Plant response was obtained from liming these soils,
but this was due mainly to the correction of acidity.
Effect of Calcium:Magnesium Ratio of Lime on the Yield
and Composition of Soybeans. (J. A. Naftel). 
- On sandy
soils a slight increase in yield of soybeans was obtained from
lime, but little difference was obtained from varying the ratio
of calcium to magnesium, except where the lime was made up
of 100 per cent magnesium. In the latter lime treatments,
growth was severely injured, and on some soils failure of
crops occurred. The content of calcium in the plants was
progressively decreased on all soils by increasing the magnes-
ium content of the lime. Conversely, the magnesium content
of plants increased as this element was increased in the lim-
ing material applied. These observations are significant in
relation to animal nutrition, since magnesium is of minor im-
portance in feeds.
Certain Factors That Influence Seed Production in Vetch.
(H. R. Albrecht). - Seed production in the vetches has al-
FIFTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT,1941 11
ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
ways been highly uncertain in Alabama, principally because
of environmental factors. Weather factors reducing yields in-
clude prolonged fall droughts, high humidity in the blooming
season, heavy rains during harvest, and winter killing, which
especially is severe on some vetch varieties. Yields are re-
duced also by damage caused by grasshoppers, corn-ear
worms, army worms, aphids, and tarnished plant bugs.
Varietal adaptation or selection has been most effective in
combating destructive influences. Early-maturing varieties
are in general the best seed producers. Monantha vetch on
the average has exceeded all others up to 1942. Early selec-
tions of woolypod and common vetch also made good seed
yields.
White Clover Disease Studies. (H. R. Albrecht). - Obser-
vations made in the white clover breeding plots and in pas-
tures located in most sections of the State indicate strongly
that diseases are responsible for considerable white clover
failures in Alabama. Thus far, 10 organisms have been recog-
nized as causing destruction to white clover. They are:
Polythrincium trifolii Sclerotium rolfsii
Colletotrichum trifoliorum Cercospora sp.
Stagonospora meliloti Fusarium sp.
Botrytus sp. Bacillus lathyrii
Sclerotinia trifolii Heterodera radicicola
Diseases, except possibly Cercospora sp. which generally
occurs in late summer, do not usually become severe on over-
grazed or sparsely-vegetated pastures. They cause most in-
jury to pastures of heavy growth. Disease prevalence in this
way may be a consequence of good pasture management.
Supplements for Use with Ammonium Phosphates and
Urea. (J. W. Tidmore and N. J. Volk). - Eleven-year aver-
age results at Auburn show that, when a fertilizer is made
up of ammonium phosphate, urea, and muriate of potash, it
is necessary to add supplementary materials if the maximum
returns are to be obtained from the mixture. Apparently the
most effective supplement is gypsum. About 50 pounds per
acre is sufficient; this amount increased the yield of seed
cotton 400 pounds per acre on Norfolk sandy loam on the
Main Station farm. Lime was not as efficient a supplement
12
FIFTY.SECOND ANNUAL REPORT, 1941 1
as gypsum, but it increased the yield by about 250 pounds.
Lime added to the gypsum did not increase the yield. In no
case did the supplements added to ammonium phosphate,
muriate, and urea equal the production obtained from the
use of regular superphosphate, muriate, and urea or sodium
nitrate.
Parti.al Replacement of Potassium with Sodium in the Pro-
duction of Cotton. (N. J. Volk). - During the 3-year period,
1939-1941, numerous greenhouse and field tests were con-
ducted to determine the effect of sodium on the yield of
cotton. Sodium was found to be especially beneficial to cotton
when potash was deficient, and it. was slightly beneficial when
potash was abundant. The most pronounced effect of sodium
was the reduction in severity of defoliation on potash-starved
plants and the increase in number of bolls set and matured.
In no case, however, was sodium able to substitute for potas-
sium in amounts of more than 15 to 25 per cent of the potash
required.
Extra Potash for Cotton in "Rust"-Susceptible Areas.
(J. W. Tidmore and N. J. Volk). - Data obtained from 146
cooperative field tests conducted in South Alabama reveal that
about 45 per cent of the land in that region needs more than
24 pounds of potash per acre in order to prevent cotton rust
from reducing the yield of seed cotton. About 20 per cent of
the area needs more than 36 pounds of potash per acre. There
is no indication that cotton following winter legumes needs
more potash than when following corn; in fact, just the op-
posite appears to be true. This conclusion is in agreement
with data published by this Station, which show that winter
legumes actually conserve soil potash for succeeding crops by
absorbing it and preventing it from leaching.
ANIMAL AND POULTRY HUSBANDRY
Study of the Transmission of Factors Associated with Econ-
omy of Gains in Swine. (J. C. Grimes). - In this project eight
lines of breeding, known as the superior strain, are being
selected for efficient gains. A check group, known as the in-
ferior strain, is selected for inefficient gains. Both strains had
a common ancestry. The results are summarized as follows:
FIFTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT, 1941 13
ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
The superior strain of hogs required 20 days less time to
reach 225 pounds in weight and 24 pounds less feed for each
100 pounds gain than the inferior-strain hogs.
The pigs that ate the most feed daily made the most rapid
and the most economical gains.
In general, "medium chuffy" type pigs made faster 
and
cheaper gains than the "rangy" type.
There was apparently no very close relationship between
the number of pigs in a litter and the birth weight of the pigs,
or in their rate and economy 
of gains.
Small pigs at birth required more time to reach 225 pounds
than pigs which were large at birth. The small pigs did not
require any more feed per unit of gain, however, than the
large pigs.
Male pigs tended to be slightly heavier at birth, to gain
faster, and require less feed per unit of gain than female
pigs.
Environmental factors are important in influencing the
rate and economy of gains in pigs. Both rate and economy of
gains fluctuated considerably from year to year, even under
the same feed and management conditions. Clean soil was
found to be very important in obtaining rapid and cheap gains.
Regardless of environmental effects, pigs from certain
blood lines have consistently gained faster and cheaper than
pigs from other blood lines.
Value of Shelter for Wintering Breeding Cows. (J. C.
Grimes). - During the winter of 1940-41, brood cows that
had access to a shed, open on the south side, lost 38 pounds
each, while a similar group of cows wintered in an open lot
lost 123 pounds each. The same kind and amount of feed
was supplied both groups of cows. The-ration consisted of
sorghum silage and a limited amount of peanut hay and
cottonseed meal. These results indicate that cows require more
feed for body maintenance when 
wintered in the open than
when shelter is provided.
Results of Grazing Pigs on Kudzu With and Without a
Grain Supplement. (J. C. Grimes). During an 84-day pe-
riod in the summer of 1941, pigs were grazed on a kudzu
pasture with and without a grain supplement. The initial
weight of pigs averaged approximately 100 pounds. The pigs
14
FIFTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT, 1941 1
that grazed kudzu with no supplementary feed gained an
average of 23 pounds each; those that grazed kudzu and that
were given a daily grain allowance (corn, 9 parts; tankage,
1 part) equal to 1 per cent of their live weight, gained an
average of 84 pounds each; while those that grazed kudzu
and were fed a full feed of corn and tankage gained an aver-
age of 124 pounds each. These results indicate:
That kudzu pasture alone may be used to carry shoats
through the summer while peanuts, corn, or other fattening
crops are maturing.
That if a surplus is available, corn can be fed to hogs at
a profit while grazing kudzu. The hogs that were full fed
corn while on kudzu paid $1.40 per bushel for the corn they
ate, whereas those fed a limited ration of corn paid $2.12 per
bushel of corn.
Sweetpotato Meal as. a Substitute for Corn in Rations for
Beef Cattle, Mules, and Hogs. (J. C. Grimes). -In an ex-
periment conducted during the winter of 1940-1941, sweet-
potato meal proved to be 91 per cent as efficient as corn meal
on the basis of feed required per unit of gain, when fed with
cottonseed meal and peanut hay in the ration for fattening
steers. In 126 days the potato-meal-fed steers gained 212
pounds, while in the same length of time the corn-fed steers
gained 232 pounds. There was no significant difference in
the dressing percentage, carcass grade, or palatability of the
meat from the two groups of steers.
In feeding potato meal to work mules as a substitute for
corn, it was found that most mules did not relish the potato
meal and that best results were obtained when not more than
50 per cent of the grain in the ration was replaced by this meal.
Fifty-pound pigs did not make satisfactory gains when
fed a ration of sweetpotato meal and tankage. The unsatis-
factory gains seemed to be due to a limited intake of food
and to the laxative effect of the ration. Pigs receiving potato
meal consumed only about one half as much feed as the
check group getting corn. Better results were obtained when
larger pigs were used or when only 50 per cent of the corn
ration was replaced with potato meal. Because of the low
protein content of potato meal, more protein supplement is
required with this feed than with corn.
FIFTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT, 1941
15
ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
Toxicity of Cottonseed Meal for Swine. (W. E. Sewell).
Chemical analyses showed that 16 cottonseed meals produced
in Alabama varied in content of free gossypol from 0.0550
to 0.1657 per cent, and in bound gossypol from 0.6274 to
1.0412 per cent. Biological tests proved that ill effects pro-
duced by the meals when fed to rats, chicks, and pigs were
due primarily to the free gossypol contained in the meal. The
meal containing the least amount of free gossypol was toxic
to hogs when fed in sufficient amounts to supply all the pro-
tein needed to balance corn.
In laboratory tests, free gossypol was practically elimi-
nated from cottonseed meats and cottonseed meal by various
heat treatments. The efficacy of the heat treatment was found
to depend upon moisture content; dry heat was relatively in-
effective, whereas, heat in the presence 
of sufficient moisture
rapidly eliminated the free gossypol, as well as the toxicity
of the meal. The percentage of moisture for the most efficient
destruction of free gossypol was determined.
A practical farm method for detoxifying cottonseed meal
was developed. A highly toxic meal treated by this method
gave satisfactory results when used as 30 per cent of a ration
for chicks, or 25 per cent of a ration for hogs. Hogs fed this
ration from weaning to market weight made as rapid and
economical gains as a check lot receiving a similar ration
containing peanut meal instead of cottonseed meal, In con-
trast, six out of eight hogs died when fed the untreated cotton-
seed meal at the same level in the ration.
It is believed that the procedure developed in this study
may be adapted to oil mill practice for the production of non-
toxic cottonseed meal for chickens and hogs.
Carotene Content of Vegetables Preserved by Drying
(C. J. Koehn). -The Department of Horticulture and For-
estry is developing a method of preserving vegetables for hu-
man consumption by sun-drying. The dried product may be
stored and used in the winter when vegetables are scarce.
Since the average human diet is low in vitamin A during the
winter, this study was undertaken to determine the amount
of carotene (pro-vitamin A) contained in these dried vege-
tables. Carotene determinations were made before and after
drying to ascertain the destruction taking place during the
16
drying process. Mustard, turnip greens, and spinach retained
from 52 to 84 per cent of their carotene, while Porto Rico
sweetpotatoes and carrots retained 90 and 92 per cent, re-
spectively. Pole beans and lima beans, which have little
carotene, retained only 22 per cent.
After 6 weeks storage the dried vegetables had lost an
additional 6 to 30 per cent of their carotene.
The effect of canning on the carotene content of these
same vegetables was determined. It was found that no loss
of carotene occurred when compared with cooked vegetables.
Influence of Alpha-Tocopherol and Unsaturated Fatty
Acids upon the Utilization of Vitamin A. (W. C. Sherman).
The antagonism between linoleic or linolenic acid esters, and
carotene was prevented by feeding the unsaponifiable fraction
of soybean oil to vitamin A-deficient rats, but this was not
prevented by feeding choline, ethanolamine, lecithin, cephal-
in, hydroquinone, or catechol. The feeding of alpha-tocopherol
protected against this antagonism.
Tests in vitro showed that carotene was rapidly destroyed
by methyl linolate in the absence of suitable antioxidants.
There was no direct destruction of carotene by the methyl
linolate in the feeding tests, however, since the yeast and
casein of the basal diet were found to possess stabilizing pro-
perties. Hydroquinone and catechol also stabilized carotene
with methyl linolate in vitro, although they were entirely inactive
when fed.
The destruction of carotene by unsaturated fatty acids
apparently occurs mainly in the intestines, since feeding the
carotene and methyl linolate on alternate days removed the
antagonism. Furthermore, methyl linolate fed during the
depletion period did not affect the time required to produce
vitamin A deficiency.
To be protective, alpha-tocopherol had to be fed with the
carotene and methyl linolate. Protection was not obtained
by feeding the alpha-tocopherol during the depletion period,
or by continued feeding of alpha-tocopherol on one day and
carotene with methyl linolate on the following day.
Direct proof of intestinal destruction of carotene by methyl
linolate and protection by alpha-tocopherol was obtained from
analysis of the gastro-intestinal contents of rats after they
FIF TY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT9 1941 17
ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
had received various combinations of carotene, methyl lino-
late, and alpha-tocopherol.
Erythematous Dermatitis Produced in Rats by Deficiency
of Riboflavin or Pantothenic Acid. (W. D. Salmon).-Rats
receiving a fat-free diet supplemented with adequate amounts
of thiamin and pyridoxine developed a severe erythematous
dermatitis of the feet if either riboflavin or pantothenic acid
was fed at a low level (2 to 5 ig. of riboflavin or 5 to 10
[tg. of calcium pantothenate per rat daily). The gross ap-
pearance of the lesions was similar to that of pyridoxine-
deficiency lesions. The lesions were prevented by corn oil, as
well as by higher levels of riboflavin and pantothenic acid.
Relation of B Vitamins to Growth of Rats. (W. D. Sal-
mon). - Studies of the rate of growth of rats receiving puri-
fled diets supplemented with crystalline vitamins are being
made in this laboratory for two purposes: (1) to determine
whether vitamin B factors other than thiamin, riboflavin,
pyridoxine, and pantothenic acid play an important role in
the growth of rats; and (2) to establish a basis for biological
assay of the B vitamins.
Rats receiving a purified high-sugar diet supplemented
with carotene, calciferol, alpha-tocopherol, corn oil, thiamin,
riboflavin, calcium pantothenate, and choline grew to average
weights of over 200 gm. for females and over 300 gm. for
males at 20 weeks of age. No symptoms of nutritional defi-
ciency were apparent at any time in this period.
The growth rate was not increased by inositol or para-
amino-benzoic acid. It was increased by peanuts, alfalfa
leaves, liver extract, brewer's yeast, or whole liver substance.
It was also increased by substituting lard for part of the su-
crose in the basal diet. It does not appear, however, that the
increased growth rates are sufficient to interfere with bio-
assays of foods when crystalline vitamins are used as essen-
tial supplements to assay diets.
The Value of Kudzu and Other Forms of Summer Green
Feeds for Poultry. (G. J. Cottier and D. F. King). - Kudzu
was compared with Bermuda grass, pearl millet, Kobe lespe-
deza, and alyce clover as a grazing crop for laying hens. The
earliest grazing was obtained in the kudzu and Bermuda grass
18
FIFTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT, 1941 1
lots, and the largest amount of green feed was produced in
the kudzu and millet lots. Egg production was similar in all
lots, with the highest production being obtained from hens
grazing millet. The lowest mortality was obtained when hens
grazed lespedeza, and the largest egg size resulted when
kudzu was grazed. Alyce clover made very poor growth and
was unsatisfactory as a grazing crop for chickens.
Management of Farm Poultry Flocks. (D. F. King and
G. J. Cottier). - The object of this project is to study under
farm conditions the importance of improved housing, feeding,
and breeding of hens, and improved methods of raising chicks.
On farms where no improvement practices were followed
(the control group), the hens produced an average of 60.97
eggs as compared to 126.96 eggs per hen obtained where all
improved practices were used. Where a combination of im-
proved feeding and improved breeding was used, the increase
in egg production over the control group was approximately
double the increase obtained by using a combination of im-
proved housing and improved methods of raising chicks. This
indicates that improved feeding and improved breeding are
of primary importance in increasing egg production of farm
hens, whereas improved housing and improved methods of
raising chicks are of secondary importance.
The amount of corn produced is a limiting factor on many
of the farms where improved feeding is being practiced. On
farms where the corn consumption per hen was 37.23 pounds
per year, the hen produced an average of 57.91 more eggs
than where the corn consumption was only 10.75 pounds per
year. Good hatchability under farm conditions was obtained
even when cottonseed meal was fed. Fifty per cent of the
farm chickens were hatched during the months of April and
May. There was a direct relation between the date of hatch-
ing and egg production. Data indicate that date of hatching
is slightly less important than breeding in affecting egg pro-
duction. Where pullets constituted 50 per cent or more of
the flock, egg production was 40.77 eggs greater per bird than
where less than 50 per cent of the flock was made up of
pullets.
FIFTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT, 1941
19
ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
HORTICULTURE AND FORESTRY
Preservation of Pecan Kernels by Drying and Sealing.
(Hubert Harris). - The following conclusions are drawn from
tests run at Auburn on 
drying and storing pecan 
kernels:
Kernels with moisture content of 3.5 to 4.5 per cent, placed
in unsealed containers and held during the winter in common
storage, will become rancid by April or May; molds are likely
to develop on them by mid-summer if the moisture percentage
is about 4.5. Storing in sealed containers will entirely prevent
molding, and it will delay rancidity for a period of 1 to 6
weeks, depending upon the moisture content of the kernels.
Kernels dried to 0.25 to 0.50 per cent moisture develop an
excellent "toasted" flavor and texture. This flavor is main-
tained for at least 2 years by holding the kernels in sealed
containers at ordinary temperatures.
Best results are obtained by drying the 
kernels in an oven
at a temperature of 2000 to 2250 F. Higher temperatures are
likely to cause scorching and irregular drying. Regular stir-
ring during the process is essential. The drying period will
range from 25 to 50 minutes, depending on oven temperature,
original moisture content of the kernels, and the quantity of
kernels dried at one time.
The "hot seal" and "vacuum seal," as used in these tests,
are equally satisfactory in maintaining flavor during the first
12 months. By the end of 2 years, however, the vacuum pack
develops a slightly "flat" flavor. The vacuum pack preserves
the natural bright color much better than the other method.
If freshly shelled pecan kernels from dry nuts are held
for 30 minutes in partially sealed fruit jars placed in 2 inches
of boiling water, their moisture content will be lowered only
about 0.25 per cent. If kernels thus treated are sealed, they
will keep in very good condition from fall until the following
August; however, they will become too rancid for use by
December.
Selecting and Testing Promising Seedling Pecans and
Other Fruits and Nuts of Alabama. (Hubert Harris). - This
Station in past years has given much attention to locating and
testing promising "chance seedlings" of the various fruits and
nuts of the State, the principal object being to obtain varieties
20
FIFTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT, 1941 2
that are better adapted to home use; commercial possibilities
are also considered.
Special emphasis is being placed on the pecan. This is
mainly because of the small number of good standard varie-
ties and the ever-increasing importance of the scab problem,
which is making it impossible to produce Schleys and other
susceptible varieties in many sections of the State. Fifty-one
selections of pecans have been made since 1936. A few of
these have been discarded because of slight susceptibility to
scab; many others have failed to measure up to high standards
of quality. A few of the later selections have not been under
observation long enough for a careful analysis to be made
of their merits. Seedlings are kept under observation for 3 or
4 years before being propagated. Of the 51 selections, 21
have been propagated and set in a test planting on the Main
Station. A few of them have also been distributed to agri-
cultural high schools for general observation in different
sections of the State.
Storage and Drying of Vegetables. (C. L. Isbell). Ex-
periments have shown that galvanized iron roofs in bright
sunlight may be used as a place for drying many vegetables.
On hot summer days the temperature on galvanized iron
roofing when exposed to full sun reaches around 1100 F. by
8 A. M. and rises rapidly to 125 to, 1370 F., where it remains
until about the middle of the afternoon. On relatively cool
fall and winter days, the temperature on galvanized iron
roofs in the sun is considerably above 1000 F., for a large part
of the day. Such days are good vegetable-drying weather,
especially if there is considerable wind.
Experiments underway with the drying of vegetables on
galvanized iron roofs justify the following:
Green cowpeas, lima beans, and soybeans may be shelled,
scalded, dried, and stored for'2 or more years. These products
are practically as attractive and palatable as fresh products
and are not likely to be injured in storage by insects.
Rape, mustard, and turnip greens may be dried and stored
for a considerable time. The quality of these is acceptable,
though not as good as the fresh products.
Roots of carrots, rutabagas, 
and turnips, and stems of 
kohl-
rabi may be sliced or shredded, dried, and stored. The dried
FIFTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT., 1941 21
ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
carrots are usable. The rutabagas, turnips, and kohlrabi are
quite good.
Sweetpotatoes when dried are not as attractive and palat-
able as the fresh product; the product, however, is usable in
many ways and is not perishable like the fresh product. Dry-
ing appears to be a practicable way to save fresh sweetpota-
toes that have been frozen.
Irish potatoes may be sliced, scalded, dried, and stored
for use later. If dried without scalding, the product is dark.
Ordinary garden sage and some of the mints may be dried
in the shade, ground or powdered, and stored for future use.
Pimento peppers may be dried, stored, and used as a sub-
stitute for canned pimentos; scalding in oil or roasting until
blistered facilitates peeling and drying.
Various dried greens, as well as dried Irish potatoes and
sweetpotatoes, may be ground in inexpensive hand mills and
conveniently stored in concentrated form.
Volume Affected by the Little-leaf Disease of Pines in Two
Selected Areas in Alabama. (W. R. Boggess). -Alabama
farmers and log timber owners in the Piedmont and Upper
Coastal Plain are sustaining considerable loss in their pine-
growing stock from the little-leaf disease. In an effort to
determine the seriousness of the disease, from the standpoint
of volume affected, the Station initiated and supervised a sur-
vey in 1941 made in cooperation with the Soil Conservation
Service, United States Forest Service, State Division of For-
estry, and State Department of Agriculture.
This survey, completed during May, consisted of sampling
two areas within the State that represented two apparent ex-
tremes in severity of the little-leaf disease. One sampling unit
of 153,600 acres consisted of a strip 8 miles wide and 30 miles
long along U. S. Highway 241 between Waverly and Syla-
cauga. A similar strip 15 miles long, consisting of 102,400
acres, was located along U. S. Highway 78 between Carbon
Hill and Guin. A sample of approximately 1/10 of 1 per cent
was taken by locating 1/
4
-acre plots at 16-chain intervals along
lines established 2 miles apart within each sampling unit.
The survey indicated that, of a total area of 50,950 acres
in pine in the Waverly-Sylacauga area, approximately 50
per cent, or 25,475 acres, showed evidence of the little-leaf
22
FIFTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT, 1941 2
disease. In the Carbon Hill-Guin area, pine types occupied
23,800 acres, and the little-leaf disease was present on 33
per cent or 7,854 acres.
Establishments of Pines Under a Stand of Inferior Hard-
woods. (J. E. Bryan, Jr., and L. M. Ware). -One of the
major forestry problems of Alabama is that of converting
back to pine thousands of acres of forest land which once
supported pine stands but which now support stands of in-
ferior hardwoods. This condition has resulted from unwise
cutting practices and uncontrolled burning.
In January 1933 plantings of slash, longleaf, loblolly, and
shortleaf pines were made at this Station in a rather thick
stand of hardwood saplings dominated by hickory and infer-
ior oaks, averaging about 6 feet in height. Plantings were
made in a series of plots, each slightly less than 1/1 acre in
size and containing 192 plants. The hardwoods were cleared
from some of the plots at the time of planting, while in others
they were left. All pines were spaced 6 by 8 feet. To serve
as checks, similar plantings were made in an adjoining open
field.
During January 1937 some of the plots were cleaned of
all competing hardwoods. At this time, because of the pro-
lific sprouting of the hardwoods, it was impossible to deter-
mine the plots that had been cleaned prior to planting.
Height measurements were made in February and De-
cember, 1941. At the time of the last measurement, slash,
loblolly, and shortleaf had obtained dominance over the hard-
wood in the plots released in 1937. In the plots not released,
no pine had reached a dominant position with respect to the
hardwood; however, their present position in the crown can-
opy seems to indicate that loblolly, slash, and shortleaf have
good chances of eventually overtaking the hardwoods without
release.
Of 192 longleaf seedlings planted under each treatment,
4 had started height growth in the wooded plots without
release, and 8 in the released plots. In the open field 73 had
begun height growth.
From results to date the following conclusions may be
drawn:
FIFTY-SECOND ANNUAL, REPORT, 1941
23
ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
The growth of slash, loblolly, longleaf, or shortleaf pine
is greatly retarded by hardwood competition.
Unless provision is made for elimination of sprouts, clear-
ing of hardwood prior to planting is of little value from the
standpoint of growth of the pine.
All four species of pine respond to release 4 years after
the time of establishment. Slash shows the greatest response
of the four.
Longleaf probably cannot be established successfully un-
der competing hardwoods.
Loblolly shows the best possibilities of overcoming hard-
wood competition without release.
Intercropped Slash Pine. (J. E. Bryan, Jr., and L. M.
Ware). - During the last few years, much publicity has been
given to the possibilities of growing slash pine as a regular
field crop in the same field with cotton or corn. Such practice
seemed to offer economic possibilities of offsetting the cost
of establishing the stand by returns from the crop, and at the
same time to offer greatly increased growth of the trees by
making available part of the fertilizer used on the field crop.
To test these possibilities, an experiment was designed
and established in 1934 at this Station. The following results
were obtained:
Intercropping with corn or cotton, and cultivating and fer-
tilizing without an intercrop from the first growing season
cause significant increase in the growth of slash pine.
There is no significant difference in the growth of pines
cultivated and fertilized with or without crops; neither does
the growth of the pines cropped with cotton differ significantly
from the growth of those cropped with corn.
The cost of cultivating and fertilizing without an intercrop
is prohibitive, unless future measurements prove that the
treated pines reach merchantable size and are of equal quality
at a much earlier date than do untreated pines.
Intercropping with cotton or corn, if practiced with care
and on land suited to the production of these crops, is practical
the first year. Under limited conditions cotton may be grown
a second year with success.
The Influence of Additional Illumination on the Flowering
of the Gardenia (Gardenia veitchi). (E. W. McElwee). - The
24
FIFTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT, 1941 2
gardenia is used primarily as a corsage flower, and for this
reason it is greatly in demand during holiday seasons and
during winter months. Since the gardenia normally blooms
during the late winter and spring months in the greenhouse,
any treatment that will advance the blooming date will in-
crease the value of this crop.
An experiment was started in 1939 to study the influence
of various additional illumination treatments on the flowering
of the gardenia, particularly for producing flowers for Christ-
mas.
Preliminary results show that additional illumination
treatments did not materially affect the quality or quantity
of blooms produced during the season and that no treatment
was consistently better. However, they did show that earlier
blooming may be induced.
Additional illumination treatments advanced the blooming
dates of older plants more than those of younger plants. Be-
ginning November 1 additional illumination treatment ad-
vanced the blooming date of 2-year plants from February 14
to January 6, or 39 days, producing effective bloom during
January and February, with the period of maximum produc-
tion just prior to St. Valentine's Day. The September 15 and
October 1 treatments in 1940 produced effective bloom for
Christmas, but the period of maximum production came after
Christmas, in early January. In 1941 the October 1 treatment
was the best for producing effective blooming during Decem-
ber. The maximum period of production came just prior to
and during the Christmas season.
These preliminary results indicate that gardenias should
be given additional illumination, starting about September 15,
to induce blooming during December and the Christmas sea-
son. Treatment should start about November 1 when it is
desirable to have the plants in bloom during January and
February.
Rescue Grass, a Promising Hillculture Groundcover. (0. A.
Atkins). - Rescue grass, a native of South America, appears
promising for use as a ground cover and as a pasture plant.
It is also used for hay. Rescue grass matures earlier than
Italian rye grass and reseeds heavily. Yields of 10,000 pounds
per acre, green weight, have been obtained at Auburn with
FIFTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT, 1941 25
ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
light fertilization. It is very satisfactory in a grass-legume
ground cover. The seed are light (16 pounds per bushel).
Rescue grass is planted in September, October, or November
at rates of 20 to 30 pounds of seed per acre on prepared land.
It does especially well in combination with Kobe and common
lespedeza and lespedeza sericea.
Devil's Shoestring, Its Possibilities as a Hillculture Crop.
(O. A. Atkins).- In 1939 a series of experimental plots were
set up at this Station to determine the possibilities of Devil's
Shoestring as an erosion-control crop and poor-land plant,
and to determine its possibilities as a commercial source of
rotenone in the United States. In the fall of 1940 and 1941,
following 2 and 3 years' growth, respectively, one-half of the
plants were harvested each year, and the fresh and dry
weights of the roots were determined. Devil's Shoestring gave
little response in plant growth to applications of nitrogen,
phosphorus, potash, or lime, even though the plants were
grown on a poor, eroded hillside. Plants in check plots made
satisfactory growth without fertilization of any kind. The
apparent ability of Devil's Shoestring to grow satisfactorily
without fertilization is a very strong point in favor of the
plant as a possible hillculture crop. Yields of roots (dry
weight basis) of 1,620 and 3,318 pounds per acre were ob-
tained in 1941, and of 1,080 and 2,220 pounds in 1940, when
calculated on the basis of 6,000 plants per acre. Roots har-
vested in 1940 averaged about 1.76 per cent rotenone on a
dry weight basis.
Kudzu as a Plant Barrier in Building Terraces. (0. A.
Atkins). - In 1939 an area of approximately 10 acres of poor,
hilly land was selected at Auburn, and terrace contour lines
were established on this area. Instead of using any of the
usual terracing equipment, two contour beds for kudzu were
prepared parallel to and just below the established contours.
Standard practices for planting and growing the kudzu were
used. Each fall and spring since the experiment was started
the area immediately above the contour band of kudzu has
been plowed just as in plowing out a Nichols' terrace channel,
throwing the dirt against the kudzu on the lower side and up
the slope above the established contour in an effort to develop
26
a channel that would bring the run-off water around the
contour.
Results of this experiment indicate that with moderate
slopes a channel can be developed above the contour band
of vegetation which will serve as a channel-type terrace, and
that this channel can be developed by using the more or less
standard methods for maintaining a Nichols'-type terrace.
Contrary to expectations, very few serious breaks occurred
while the channel was being formed. The terraces have very
satisfactory cross sections, and the capacity of the channel is
sufficient to carry all of the runoff water even after severe
rains. The depth of the channel that has developed varies
between 10 and 15 inches.
ZOOLOGY-ENTOMOLOGY
Sprays and Dusts for the Control of Camellia and Azalea
Pests. (L. L. English). - The effectiveness of oil sprays for
the control of tea scale (Fiorinia theae Green) was increased by
using derris as a supplement. A proprietary dust containing
dinitro-o-cyclohexyl phenol as the active ingredient was effec-
tive in controlling the red mite (Paratetranychus ilicis McG.)
during the winter months without injury to the plants. In warm
weather the plants were injured. An oil spray supplemented
with nicotine sulphate was more effective in controlling thrips
(Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis Bouche) on azaleas than a tartar
emetic-sugar spray and pyrethrum dust mixtures.
Fumigation of Camellias and Azaleas with Methyl Bro-
mide. (L. L. English). -Sufficient data have been accumu-
lated to establish a mathematical relationship between the
dosage, exposure, and temperature requirements for perfect
kills of scale insects in chamber fumigation.
The number of varieties of azaleas from which cuttings
can be fumigated with a schedule sufficient to control red
mites, thrips, and lacebug was extended to 74. Seventy-seven
varieties of azaleas were found to take schedules effective
against coccids. No method was developed for successfully
fumigating either the cuttings or plants of Coral Bell and
Salmon Beauty varieties. Further experiments indicated that
camellia cuttings of most varieties can be fumigated with
schedules that are effective against coccids and red mites.
FIFTY-SECOND ANNUAL. REPORT, 1941 27
ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
Apparently all varieties of camellias can be fumigated with
effective schedules of methyl bromide, if the plants are in
pots, flats, balled and burlaped, or if the roots are properly
protected with moist soil.
Rate of Fertilizing Cotton With and Without Poisoning
for Boll Weevil Control. (J. M. Robinson and E. L. Mayton).
- Four different rates of a 4.8-9.6-4.8 fertilizer made from
nitrate of soda, superphosphate, and muriate of potash were
compared for cotton on Norfolk sandy loam at Auburn over
the 18-year period, 1924-1941. Treatments were duplicated
on two sections. Cotton on one section was dusted for the
control of boll weevil when the average infestation had
reached 10 per cent; the cotton on the corresponding section
was not dusted.
The per acre rates of fertilizer application were in 500-
pound increments up to 2,000 pounds inclusive. Every third
plot was left unfertilized as a check. The boll weevil infesta-
tion was high enough to require poisoning with calcium ar-
senate beginning July 3, 1941. Ten applications of poison
were required to protect the cotton. The gains from poisoning
were 178, 302, 438, and 534 pounds of seed cotton per acre
for first, second, third, and fourth increments of 500 pounds
of fertilizer per acre, respectively.
Boll weevil infestation was heavy enough during 9 of the
18 years to necessitate poisoning. Poisoning for boll weevil
control in this experiment accounted for an average increase
of 46 pounds of seed cotton per acre on the three unfertilized
plots. The average increases in yield for the different fertili-
zer applications on the poisoned sections were 215, 263, 394,
and 380 pounds of seed cotton per acre for the first, second,
third, and fourth increments of 500 pounds, respectively
(Table 2).
Studies on the Occurrence, Epidemiology and Inter-Host
Relationships of Nematode Parasites of the Chicken (Gallus
gallus) in Alabama. (Reed 0. Christenson). - During 1941,
165 chickens from the Experiment Station flock were autop-
sied. An average of 96.78 parasitic worms was found per
bird. One hundred fifty-eight of the 165 chickens had one or
more parasitic worms, giving an infection rate of 95.8 per
cent. The average number of worms per infected bird was
28
Table 2. - Yields of Seed Cotton per Acre from Rate-of-Fertilizer Plots When Dusting Was Necessary 9 of the 18
Years for the Control of Boll Weevil, 1924-41 0
Ferti- Pounds of seed cotton per acre
lizer
lizer Plot 1924 1926 1927 1928 1929 1932 1935 1940 1941 Average
per acre2
(Lb.) North South North South South North South North South Yield Increase
0 Dusted 186 176 360 72 82 190 244 52 12 153 49
Undusted 84 164 130 84 86 72 264 36 20 104
500 Dusted 678 688 844 460 628 756 1,282 1,078 758 797 215
Undusted 456 484 282 256 582 544 1,082 970 580 582 o
1,000 Dusted 1,050 1,294 1,212 1,064 1,138 1,268 1,680 1,306 1,436 1,272 263
Undusted 756 912 474 570 1,004 1,140 1,756 1,334 1,134 1,009
0 Dusted 94 168 276 38 62 102 256 40 70 130 52
Undusted 102 138 52 58 28 78 124 50 10 71
1,500 Dusted 1,352 1,680 1,468 1,050 1,230 1,774 2,172 * 1,634 1,545 394
Undusted 1,148 1,260 606 710 1,078 1,348 1,864 -- * 1,196 1,151
2,000 Dusted 1,402 1,898 1,496 1,308 1,238 1,786 2,436 * 1,656 1,653 380
Undusted 1,304 1,414 566 1,166 1,068 1,388 2,156 * 1,120 1,273
0 Dusted 24 52 260 8 120 76 300 14 108 107 37
Undusted 136 132 44 62 12 96 60 86 4 70
*Stand badly damaged by nitrate of soda at side dressing time.
ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
101. Four species of economically important nematodes were
prevalent, namely: Cheilospirura hamulosa, Capillaria colum-
bae, Heterakis gallinae, and Ascaridia galli. Aside from the
Ascaridia galli, the incidence of the other parasites was similar
to that reported for 1940; in the case of this species, however,
the average incidence rose from 3.1 worms per bird in 1940
to 7.82 in 1941. The average number of worms per infected
bird rose from 3.34 to 13.87. The seasonal occurrence was
similar to that previously reported, the incidence rising
sharply after the summer rainy period, which occurred about
one month earlier than usual.
Surface soil temperatures reached magnitudes during the
summer that would instantly kill the eggs of Heterakis gallinae
and Ascaridia galli. The highest temperature recorded on the
various soil plots was 1400 F., occurring in Decatur clay be-
tween rainfall periods in June. Soil temperatures passed the
critical temperature of 1280 F. on a number of days during the
summer. The hottest month in 1940 (May), from the stand-
point of soil temperatures, was also the driest, but it had a
lower average atmospheric temperature than any one of the
3 following months. During normal years when the summer
rainfall period occurs in July, it is expected that June will have
the highest average soil temperature. The maximum soil tem-
peratures on clear days occurred between 12 M. and 1:00 P. M.
Surface soil temperatures varied with the soil types under ob-
servation; Decatur clay was the hottest, Sumter clay second,
Norfolk sand third, Cecil clay fourth, and Hartsells sandy
loam fifth. A coating of sod over the soil surface reduced the
surface temperature materially during hot periods, and it
prevented radiation of absorbed heat during cold periods.
Farm Ponds. (H. S. Swingle, E. V. Smith, J. M. Lawrence,
and E. E. Prather). - In feeding experiments, largemouth
black bass (Huro salmoides) were found to vary tremendously
in the efficiency with which they utilized forage fish. The
most efficient individuals have been selected for breeding
and their progeny will be selected in an attempt to develop
a strain of bass that will make greater gains in weight per
unit of food.
Small largemouth black bass (1.5 to 2.5 ounces) were able
to utilize bullfrog tadpoles (Rana sp.) as food, making 1 pound
30
of gain per each 6 pounds of tadpoles consumed. 
Bass, larger
than 0.5 pound, failed to grow when fed exclusively upon a
tadpole diet.
Mussels were produced in an unfertilized pond at the
rate of 52 pounds per acre, and in a fertilized pond at the
rate of 910 pounds per acre.
Yellow bullheads (Ameiurus natalis) were produced at
rates of 169 pounds per acre in an unfertilized pond and 234
pounds per acre in a fertilized pond.
Spring and summer applications of cottonseed meal-super-
phosphate (3-1) and of soybean meal-superphosphate (6-1)
caused the growth of such large amounts of filamentous algae
in ponds that fishing or seining was impossible.
Fishing records were kept on a 12-acre fertilized pond
stocked with blue-gills, shellcrackers, crappie, yellow bull-
heads, and largemouth black bass. During the 1941 season a
total of 2,140 pounds of fish, or 178 pounds per acre, was re-
moved by hook and line fishing from this pond. In a nearby
unfertilized 30-acre lake, fished by the same group of sports-
men, the catch has been less than 6 pounds of fish per acre
yearly for the last 2 or 3 years.
Najas guadalupensis, Potamogeton angustifolius, and P.
pusillus were controlled in ponds by winter and spring applica-
tions of commercial fertilizer. This method of weed control
resulted in greatly increased growth of the fish and in better
fishing.
The Relative Efficiency of Rotenone-Containing Insecti-
cides in the Control of Vegetable Insects. (F. S. Arant). -
During a period of frequent rainfall, a 1 per cent rotenone
mixture of derris, talc, and flour did not give satisfactory
control of the pickleworm (Diaphania nitidalis Stoll) when ap-
plied to cantaloupes at 10- and 15-day intervals; when
applied at 5-day intervals, the mixture gave 61 per cent
control. This was 22 to 33 per cent lower than the control
in previous years during more favorable weather conditions.
Pickleworm infestation was extremely heavy in late canta-
loupes grown adjacent to plots of earlier melons. Derris and
cube' dusts containing 1 per cent rotenone did not reduce the
infestation materially until the dosage was increased to 20
pounds per acre per application. Twelve dustings at the
FIFTY-SECOND ANNUAL. REPORT, 1941
31
ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
average rate of 17.5 pounds per acre did not give economic
control, although worm-free melons were matured at the rate
of 750 to 2,080 per acre on the dusted plots, as compared with
none on the check plots. Derris was more effective than cube.
Cuprocide incorporated into one of the dust mixtures resulted
in healthier plants and higher yields than 
those obtained on
plots not dusted with Cuprocide. Ten applications of 1 per
cent rotenone dust applied at 5-day intervals at the rate of
12.5 pounds per acre gave satisfactory control of the pickle-
worm in cucumbers during a period of favorable weather.
Derris gave 93 per cent control and cube 79 per cent.
Investigations made in cooperation with the Soil Conserva-
tion Service and the United States Bureau of Plant Industry
showed that toxic strain of Devil's Shoestring (Tephrosia vir-
giniana) retained their rotenone content and grew well over
a period of 3 years in Alabama. The rotenone-deguelin value
of roots harvested in the fall of 1940, as determined by an
adaptation of the Goodhue method, varied from 1.6 to 5.7
per cent, with an average value of 3.0 per cent. Variations
in rotenone-deguelin content were greater between some
plants on a plot than between plots growing the same strain.
Analyses made in Washington, D. C., showed the rotenone
content of samples of roots from different plots to vary from
1.21 to 2.74 per cent, with an average of 1.76 per cent. Fer-
tilizer treatments did not appear to affect the rotenone or
rotenoids content of the roots.
Locally grown samples of powdered Tephrosia roots were
effective against the Mexican bean beetle (Epilachna varivestis
Muls.) and the Harlequin bug (Murgantia histrionica Hahn).
Samples with high rotenone-deguelin values were usually more
effective than samples with lower values.
A commercial sample of derris was more effective than
cube against the Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsus decem-
linecta Say), cabbage worms (mixed infestation), Harlequin
bug (Murgantia histrionica Hahn), Mexican bean beetle (Epi-
lachna varivestis Muls.), and the milk-weed leaf beetle (Chry-
sochus auritus Fab.). The two materials appeared equally
effective against nymphs of the squash bug (Anasa tristis Deg.).
The guaranteed rotenone content of the derris and cub6 was
the same, but the rotenone-deguelin value of the derris was 1.3
times greater than that of the cube.
32