ighlightsOF
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH
a quarterly report
of research serving
all of Alabama
o'.0
/I
-0-
~~ (7
VOL. 7, NO., AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT 
STATION SYSTEM
SPRING ,9 o AUBURN 
UNIVERSITY
HIIG-LIGtTS of
Agricultural Research
VOLUME 7, No. 1 SPRING, 1960
SILAGE CROPS - Gives Results of Crop Testing at Ten-
nessee Valley Substation 3
VALUE OF SOIL FERTILITY - Points up Importance of
Maintaining Soil Potassium 4
EXTERNAL PARASITE CONTROL - Covers New and Bet-
ter Insecticides Now Available 5
FINANCING RURAL HOMES - Presents Sources and
Terms of Home Financing 6
MANAGING JOHNSONGRASS - Reveals Effects of Manage-
ment on Productivity and Value 7
WIREGRASS SUBSTATION - Report of Progress from
Farm Research 8-9
FINISHING BEEF STEERS- Results of Systems Used at
Gulf Coast Substation 10
HYBRID VS OPEN-POLLINATED CORN- Gives Results of
18 Years Testing 11
WHAT'S TIME To A HEN? - Time Lapse between Eggs
Determines Rate of Production .................. 12
ATOMIC RADIATION FOR BETTER PLANTS - Describes
Use of Atomic Power in Sericea Breeding 13
INSURANCE COVERAGE OF FARMERS- Presents Data on
Coverage Held by Alabama Farmers
INDEX To ARTICLES- Published in Highlights of Agri-
cultural Research in 1959-
ADAPTED POPCORN VARIETIES-Results of Variety Test-
ing in Alabama
14
15
16
E. V. SMITH
COYT WILSON .....
CHAS. F. SIMMONS--
KENNETH B. RoY
E. L. McGRAW -----
R. E. STEVENSON ......
-- Director
Associate Director
-Assistant Director
-- - Editor
Associate Editor
-----Assistant Editor
Editorial Advisory Committee: COYT
WILSON; E. A. CURL, Associate Plant Pa-
thologist; W. G. EDEN, Entomologist;
K. M. AUTREY, Dairy Department Head;
AND KENNETH B. RoY.
7Z W "d 76de
PUBLICATIONS
Listed here are timely and new publications
reporting research by the Agricultural Ex-
periment Station.
Bul. 319. Problem Recognition in Agri-
culture points up the importance of prob-
lem recognition in adjusting to a changing
agriculture.
Bul. 320. Fertilizer Use and Practices by
Alabama Farmers presents information ob-
tained in a study of 463 farmers in 16
Alabama counties.
Bul. 321. Meats and Eggs Preferred by
Alabama Consumers reports results of a
market study of 436 Alabama families.
Bul. 322. Residual Value of Phosphates
reveals residual value of accumulated phos-
phorus for crop yields as shown by 80
years of research.
Cir. 136. Nitrogen for Dallisgrass Pastures
in the Black Belt shows value of nitrogen
for Dallisgrass pastures.
Prog. Rept. 77. Systemic Insecticides for
Thrips Control on Peanuts covers 5 years
of tests with phorate.
Free copies may be obtained from your
County Agent or by writing the Auburn
University Agricultural Experiment Station,
Auburn, Alabama.
Published by
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT
STATION of
AUBURN UNIVERSITY
Auburn, Alabama
I I
SILAGE CROPS aor
E. M. FVANS, Associate Agronomist
JOH-N K. BOSECK. Sut. Tennessee V
()t(M yt i'l I )i lolf~iiiitf sll t fli i
successful i x ilstoci fccl iip x itt
liliiitilof)sx eicio prdct io .1.Sof iiiea
'-'t'tt iil (Iitax s of i s ilit' (.'AX it ix
(toOf flx. Lilil)~ ilulliiflt 10 fo"ivaoe
fl it ioti wliaxl Awl. I ixti i ail.1 sm
Il hil t'll of iitt lops ii s xiftii
liit bx f v it e iol ills.c o il
\\ lii fil (i.Ltn fai~fil 1 a fo tit xl c
Pocion cal be Il esCtriiteo l somex
falillsl iliab fla('r it'iih 'lof (icl lper i lx
01 Ill of illitl lzo aid superio pcrifil
is I ighfx of at tle of iflMd silile
hilft ic thexase tc i x ax fiiar xoi l
l~ltxlll to ilax Crosifactii
ithix prii lidx itlii' l I liix x
ofcops al bx aillfe thato xil ic. it\
criopst, xot cfl'c aiialei etlici, tondo
sa lfa t'ilin le tfit1 useal fiax crlps
5t11per iwr xfrigt civli Cropsl illit siisi
bcriiii ii rafer low atit il iisi' 
\Ialcx
Sixstii('1vvii. ~lbc \filisictf ilipr tii
pfetti uulil ~icit fis alor xxitc x ai i
Ctif stoe tlis crp fucts iliitl, tlfiiiii
xit xii ii i lillix. t o isio1 l lii13IY1llCV
a 1(iltt lex e t to t xx'lt los ofelec It t'd ax l ii
lltxiitti o f tilt itper I cI op.(1r
C'Iil-C text illips xx ti W3iill Ii i ouiR
res
1
sliciisxtf t xx iir tI Cliitt'x ia crops.
ofg sliwe croipsi. HI'iiifsffx ix eie folx
alley Substation
These are two s loge
crops being tested,
Sart Sorgo, left, 
and 
A l
Dixie 18 corn, right.
ill the tilde als ax il ages fo 1iiI 56 .58.
Sioil ill tfie text fiields xxit l ara bliot-
tooi flil I fiiuo1pbi cx silt bioiio iiiitit'i fai
1x a i copaict clict l a, vci itt 25 to 3ff
ill. dfeep. fIlit fielid x\\its fiiid fiixt ii id
libi it' aI fet ifizet xxitfi pfiiipf lio iiii
poas~siumi. Thfe ci ips xx'tc sutfediessed
oir tolic."fi tx itt xx ilf S )f. ofii itl ligeil
from itioi li lii 11 IlitI iatt ctI lf I x l .
fT'e siiiiiiiie clips uloxxi'tf "il xx iliti
cio f) i iit ii if ci illixisi li ixti tfhat
\xx r iciox ti foi xililge. )I ifdxs of oa~ts
Midt tlillisii ixaeifc abiiiut 7 tolix of
"it'ceu xx ekit per ad re iiiiivfx. Foflmxx-
iiug iclilio i i of thet xx iiiti criopx, tlit-
PF'i-ONA OFiiiixii i Si xuiixi SUxixll i
SSilxI xi iii, 4956-58 xIiix
Sweeot sorglitms
Sait x xiigi
Suiiiic 1712
Corn varieties,
f)ixii 18
Graini sorgluitii
Standrd If fit
Matinlx Crlii
sxxr i'ixiic
I)ix\
liii 1(9
Time'
toi Dix
sim' ssr hlil list 'I'ic crps liii li
plfinitudC afboit thltx of \lit.\
Forage Production
c isof x pi' iof pfi its t hot' ioi Ian-
x t.a illd xx ctitie cliiil li at hiiix tst
iakt it des'irabile to re'port tfit x itlix
ill (1ix ouattt'i iatitr tfiiii git'ic tl~ .its.
fIlit' liglii'xt gili x \\'iit lxc~ xxl t
c't'x ofi 3( tills pt'r ac-c.
'T'hest ' exullts xsiow thiit Iii ge toliiies
iif, e~ (.iil he piiidiict't il a it'litix t.x
shoiiit tillic if at xiiitifift' ti p is goioxl
il baixc'stt'd fllw xiligt'. The iit'xx c
xaiitli's it xxx cit xiiigliis it the
fixli hICi \i i ii itt I*( cxx i 'iiitxtui dii i
ill this it'sf~l'tt. ( il i xiigllillix aiiut fiax
(Iiipx \xcit xoiicxxhilt lxxs pioductixvc.
acre I l '.t't'I xx as inl the' iloiuli stii.e iitf flax
Tons Ol/s I' t. c'rips it fdooii xtagc. 13iiltx xfiiixx thiat
~i Clix mauttci tolittlit if aboiiut :35'!( is
7.98 1 10) 25 betst fioi fpiiifei t'liiniii if ist c'rops.
7.27 97 :1 'lit' hiax ciii)j-x 
x citc 1iillillx mu1lCh xx\'t-
t3 36 92 :ll tel 
tlii thIs ailid xxiltiiur 'ix 
iiit'ti't to
5. ) 92 28
Pt' nlit liixs of iniuxti t'befire xtiii ae.
'SIT fi Ciii ii iti iillllix xx ab'it'etui ildi iix
5.92 81 :3 fi Iorit 
eci IIcI li iC x tiii
:326 81 :,:,
5.26i f0t
f.t6 10t
i3.
2
6 101
'Tiiii to firxt Ii iixct't. f\\ xxi l ii i
liarx extx iach xiii. it afiiiit tt (fix ill-
fcix a iatlxxi igif siid.i'
(wi isi II (5 Iit 
1
fti CC siigc cliop il
I i i(I.~ lx k i Clietk Sx o lilsx. ft is lxsililll
t'asit'i tii prit'C'ix t' d ,IC iiakt silaoe xxitfi
toi ii tfiol w xith~ xiii 3liiiil. andi~ ifiiafitN
iii corn ii xfie ix .Ycliiiafx lttt'. Oii
li'xis feitilt' solo lfii lix tstiC'k fiii xxhich
iiiiigliagec quiaitx is not txpt'ciilfx tiiti-
call theC glialit xiii 13ii5 Salt Mid 'I ic\
ar pel(re eilicOfterIidt,
atVALUE of
SOIL 
FERTILITY?
R. D. ROUSE and C. E. EVANS
Department of Agronomy and Soils
KO applied per acre
1957 1958
Lb.
0
0
0
0
0
120
0
240
Lb.
0
80
60
120
180
60
800
60
D EPLETED SOILS cannot 
be restored
in 1 year, regardless of the amount of
fertilizer applied. Fertility level of soil
at beginning of the season has consid-
erable effect on crop yields.
Results of three experiments by the
Auburn Agricultural Experiment Sta-
tion in different areas of Alabama has
shown that the fertility level of soil
potassium has considerable effect on
cotton yield.
Results obtained on Kalmia sandy
loam at the Brewton Experiment Field
are shown in Figure 1. This gives
1957-58 yields where 0, 82, 64, and 
96
lb. of K
2
0 per acre was added to soils
having two different potassium levels.
This difference in soil level resulted
from applying 32 lb. of K
2
0 per acre
to one series of plots and 80 lb. to the
other for the preceding 5 years. All
plots were uniformily fertilized annually
with nitrogen and phosphorus.
Yield Effected
In 1952, when the study was begun,
all plots were low in potassium. The
32-1b. annual application gave no
buildup and test was low in 1957. The
80-lb. rate resulted in a buildup and
a medium soil test for potassium.
Although yields were not high at this
location in 1957 and 1958, the soil that
tested medium yielded 18% more seed
cotton than the low-testing soil, even
when 96 lb. of K
2
0 was applied. Prev-
ious studies had shown that application
of more than 96-lb. per acre would not
increase yields on this soil.
A similar study on Hartsells fine
sandy loam at the Sand Mountain Sub-
station gave results presented in Figure
2. This is a comparison of 1957-58
yields on soils testing low and medium
potassium with 0, 25, and 50 lb. per
acre of K
2
0 applied. At the 50-lb. rate,
yields were 11% higher on the medium-
than on the low-potassium soil. Differ-
ences in soil level resulted from apply-
ing different amounts of potassium to
cotton during the preceding 4 years.
The 50-lb. rate was the highest in-
FIG. 1. Effect of soil potassium level on
yield of cotton grown on Kalmia sandy
loom at Brewton Experiment Field in 1957-
58 is shown above.
cluded, because higher rates had not
increased yields on this soil in previous
studies.
A study was conducted at Auburn to
find a method of applying potassium to
overcome effect of low soil potassium.
It was on Chesterfield sandy loam that
had been severely depleted by alfalfa
that was not fertilized with potassium
for the previous 8 years.
Buildup Valuable
In 1957, cotton yields were increased
by use of up to 120 
lb. of K
2
0 per
acre. Higher rates did not further in-
crease yields. Similar results were noted
in 1958 on plots that did not receive
potassium in 1957. However, plots that
got potassium in 1957, which resulted
in some buildup, produced higher yields
than comparison plots receiving the
same total potassium all in 1958, see
table.
For example, plots receiving 240 lb.
of K
2
0 in 1957 and 60 lb. in 1958
yielded 2,790 lb. of seed cotton. This
compares with 2,260 lb. of seed cotton
on plots that got no potassium in 1957
but 240 lb. broadcast plus 60 lb. in
the row in 1958.
All three of the studies reported
show the importance of building and
maintaining soil potassium.
Fertility levels of soils for calcium,
phosphorus, and potassium are included
in reports of farmers' soil samples, along
with lime and fertilizer recommienda-
tions. These fertility ratings can serve
as a valuable indication of how past
fertilization practices have affected fer-
tility levels and indicate changes that
are needed.
FIG. 2. Effect of soil potassium level on
yield of cotton grown on Hartsells fine
sandy loam at Sand Mountain Substation
in 1957-58 is shown above.
YIELD OF COTTON AS AFFECTED BY ADDI-
TIONS OF POTASSIUM IN 1957 AND 1958,
CHESTERFIELD SANDY LOAM, MAIN
STATION, AUBURN
1958 yield
of seed cotton
Lb.
410
1,090
1,660
2,200
2,270
2,400
2,260
2,790
pi)risitt'x ot lix c'tit'k.
Whl Alilbililiiis lix ttik produtltctioni
\\ias ill its iiifiiit'x 1(\\ ilzteilis \Nc
p-~laaite' t't'tiipi lxit's) attacks.
Early Research
Asx the iiitlixi N 'x the Aiibtirn
\ i ilto ral IL '9W rino t St ation ex-
Patld its woruk (iii etoluiiiasitc con-i
ptullic'. It \xxi fotiiicl to) be aix ci ,N f
lective cillti ol four eternal l lparasites lit
(lietoc. I1l l( It xa ili cuiiijtl tjitI
thaii\lllxl Iixit' to xiic eief, 
1
iich isialt-
(litle tpiliclx, ii kiliiii. acllilidlx fix
ii ci illid MxC Itixts Silonc tolilii thct
hldiitcr 1t1iCii' xliix clodtatitc werei
scirfit toxlilcgl t li \\ iii iii(d t'llin tci'ccf
~I'e xl i jit I )I e kcli Ii 111(1 li ~ b\t'''tc
ilitee.slwsrl l~tiiil il ixtc theVir Ilei
Late ixe tici i ~ rexiclic itt tx. lix 155
il 1stlt tisli a)1i ll excr'ete iei ll x (i nil tI
not lie used mil tattle. \letiixx \tlilii
alon liteI'ilililtd bectause oif its loxx tlxi-
('its to mao11 andc xx arm blooditedl imiils.
Recent Research
Iii the i'al 1x9.501's tiiixx materialx
cadll phospxha~tesx xxercex 'l~jCi'c. 'HIC
first Wex 1'I10uh C tiijl' t ii lliilililx tluti
thle c11(il iitcc Ili ilicaihullx. \xci
iltix clx\ xale toim lliilx., liaxt iic lltciltelx
lowi. lustfin cflltctix eex. alt' lliu.ll
alctix t iwiiit cutll
1
)rixitt'x. ild ziiiC
\clix ei txce lix a'bsoirbeid t allc
aiiit. LIteiixie xtliicli'x are\\ iilxx ic
tie illl ii cl i ci il enak.l-li ol
Shc 97 i udrofpopoi
To save labor beef cattle are sprayed for control of external 
parasites in a holding lot.
The spray should be applied during the period of April through 
October at 3-week inter-
vals. Malathion, Korlan, Co-Rat, and methoxychlor have 
been found highly effective in
controlling horn flies, ticks, lice, and stable flies.
\llitiii xx ix I t i 1I fIII tCt irist 
1
A Iilx-
tix\ clx\ x;ite to iniioialx. Spraix xoii 112
10 (f) ill. xxaiter' wxill ctitiil thlit' 111
fix full 2 to :3 xweeks l)i beef t tlad
.stailt']( flie'i. and1( ticks. ( ) ia licf that
ratte xxill allsii 'iiitriil lice. flt't'cx urix.s
~i ild kcts ol shecep ori gii~tx.
Kuuilii ix s ile ti'c\ lplilxpllitc iliecti-
titic' thitit ix ,llxil xiii' tii Itst'. A xprl-itx
of (6 lb. iif 2.5' xxttailet klani ill
1001 ga x iltt' xx ill tillitio iiloiiii i flit's
loir :3 xxeeks its xxel l it' itdt' ice StilbIt
fliex. tit'kx andi fitsi. It is ilsocielt't'tix t
thazt x ix criie ax at bllix t'ipxiile ori
dciiitl. Out '173.5-.in. blusi piet :300t) 
.
filci xx Ci(I.kt gixM tiii iul x 11\ iugISt, Ori
Se'ptt'mber'i xxill tn iil cattle griibs be-
fore th' vt' nimix t h e i iid's lback aind
tit hoclex ill the hidet. Th is ti'('atinciit
xxi11l lxii ctiroi l etita iii jiten ill Paral
site's.
i Insecicid t)l o lt' ut sx sctt'-
2 ulis, If applittd it) .11ix \iist. iii
'si'ptt'rrilier. it xxill kill guiii is be'fiiie tlt's
JIii~le the hide'. It xxill illxl t'iiitriil
tttlc lice, hciirn flit's, iiuuc tit'ks. 'F'lit'
flia is i a miixture ofii 16 1l). ofi 25%7 xx tt-
ut'bc ('uil ill 1(0((fial. xx\itcr.
Txh'lem uoiit'tYl'x theii clli iinxx , xits
if ilc'xpinx iii 5r ialaitliioli tdist mixa
iie applied to iuilkiuig clii x'oxxs ats a1
dtust clxci thit bat'k. 0tliti ioiatciialx
hll'l ilppi'lux t
1
) lyx Vdc'tll illiuui itic's
Itea e'eee4e Pcv
EXTERNAL
PARASITE CONTROL
KIRBY L. HAYS, Assistant Entomologist
*7-4 qmj-, r
! r : 
. f7
tPEC(I X( I LRii I iII S liiVC liCCIriI-I
XXill ui aritt X siil(, W olkWl.1
Thet ou1111 t ()iti I XIIi tIX litli ii fit ii ii hits
XX liti il bt th ill c ill r titiiit ilt tI XIX
tILiil i.l al rl li.oltiX X I iaillX 1 I t id iis
Dest iii riii li Icc) Ililt lill ItitI
o'ttlPrivato Lenin g Agiesitci
th 1 I r ii (t t chawr hi t ell I i l IiIi I
\it\ Il I ilal p lei la liIXt thi i liiil' n
ii t iI i poputi llati t ia Illt
1  
hillc IlIt
XXIII o i ti i I si l i ii Illr ill Itd I )\111
it AI )I 11 I A ici l-i
RURAL
HOMES
J.R. H-URST and BOYD B. ROSE
Deatetof AgricultijiaI Economi .cs
Siinit jt iarv 1957. ,
3
~ T I It :36.3 life
11n1sutne tcompanies 111)1 Iiiin~ ill tlit
fou siXttes il(tlt hille li i ls . T I i a-ii
1,ait ttriis XXXCit tile 5(11it for ruid I and (I
SIXjitX 11111T 111i(IXXllzosilttiilX iiiXIst
illosh t I thi rl asts il 111111it 111(11I.
Xtl X X i ittesi ll till llic oli 1,
tulililXX. 11( i IX llil Zoo1 IX tiwt lit
259 limi titcill N5i) ) I f \d ~tXliti :38
of t iis11 c11d \alilii lX. i t s 1)11 t I or~i
1111(11 thul I 11111,11 i il I.
Governmental Lending Agencies
lt It1111 l r it 
3
t tl il j it iill IX ril tiol
ia i t h ol IX 00 XXlt ldirt tl I )i ilI ill h
Itis lit I tilti abt tIIX 1, 1 d ire t IItlmiii
II lj( iiiitt 1)11 ( t l t n \X 
a(i)IXi i Aso
ittoi madc lii iiiit 2 (10 oant foriiiiit
ho111 Xc I oi lo 1 i ilCX. il-ns w t
X IX o u(t I i CleXX Ail iail tt illili Xtit
1 ' i i i i o 
f \ h t in h i i 
l i t i o i i 
i l od t N .\ 
i i i i e \
_'Illl c o li o ls II Illi
i li ( i iti11 l i I I i ili X I t li i
Ini it Ii tXi l t m ii tli Idilt hllii
ol tIII (lft r Hom AiiIIn I v ilitrI iiii
loans IX I iid 1)t\ pi i I itte iii tii tnder
I crtill Ii i i tiolls ari l i l i rura iiiX t
(i Xi I I EINT OFX1( tl 1110 XI. IXNX MAD X II IX tIIX 
ANDXXI (;IX iil\\ii\I ,l \ - X
SiL IiiXIIEViFN t' S., 1958i
I i 1X cIidii agtiiiii
C lit t Iitca
Aliiii
illtcllXt
I iLti
P( t.
6.2
5.8
h6. 1
It0
-1.75
5.5
a pi'lis f appl.ilt~l 'icions111
Ilits. on Ii r ia io1111(1 li 1111 ii t 11(11 ( d11 I w It It ii .
-\\
1
liill hu iligtll. itt Xi its.
JOHNSONGRASS Pi4
DAIRY COWS
L A. SmiTH Supt. Blaick Belt Substao-,
GEORGE_ E. HAWKINS, Dairy H4usbandu
H. W. GRIMES, JR., Asst. Supt., Black Belt . 6satc
R. M. PATTERSON, Associate Agronomist
C. A. ROLLO, Associate Agricultural Engineer
J ll xi~il xx is "iijiit ~ i hl ill D
tIle, 13litck Bchi . \ 
Iiid t .1)11,w it as xii 
I a ~ ~ esi
aill s I h p i itjtiiii i. 
hiopped I
Like ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ li tiiiitiilgs poilt\ t a
l it x it xia tix ill i w o (A II 1" Ioll's i s illI I) ii i
xiieiii h\i Iii elli t . 0Ii ip l 4 il t tr1 i u ~ p
li L n il t llittlll._rtil l-
ix xx t iax
M'pak slisico iethods ompared 
1t ttle ilei
il~ellent Boh ethds rovd ill It
iiiiltil1111, il it il ili ~i4tiitlit til tiiiti
sillitaki ii)to ilv itx .l il illt st s xx t
tillluillixlx~~o t4at'ti 12(1tixrtei
Tolax d(,(ix i tt ofi s lll 
o1ait~l)4 xxt (-tiiii ()4 t
mthii s, m i ill s i i ttict i 
lll i d ti i ,ilel c iiitoii
a 11111 ni xl iip. Gutii ,~ anud v 1ie l ix i lt ii a
xti r i ntl liied iI i-(xit \ strikptii
tiiliiils o auh 3 ij ) l li)4lo p. 2.b 
xx weilau
till S l It. I se oilk xxas Iitaxi sI iteI I, \i1\ 
lt a eii
I ii x a iiist ii ii x i ill lt stll xx iti li 
ii ti oli I q iii nI
tatfl d to l~l4ill) ilt xx tit(,i\ tul yiz ilih piti V
igestibility Measured
)ii - lox i x\ iii lii( greittl
Inait1 56iT~. It xxit ax iiiit
lii lo ii 5 ' lxxi x t -x. (55.
lis xxdxtti iji 111 itht
ats ii tAkt.
aix ix ii ixx i tliki ail tlowiix
wd loiitiu ial eniitittie sttilnx
tix e iat 1). III c.lliiit, cowtix
stirip )4alii sie,( phoitoi) an!d
i~lil4itte iteax s inl pitt-
Maturity A Factor
d li tin itx ix ill itaf(,tet ill-
liges(tihlitx Fix( t xxtks x,\tre
oliiri [he ,Ivl 1) iii oppei l at
rteasiii tinr foi- lii ( sexe-t
Ii xxr ths , x ti a ti-lilpe
I)o)ii )4 1iirth o rt tl
(IVCi Chpe lorii ei i attlc iixi
I tiii, stripd i. )1I s2~ixth
ils I (it\,i xxritp 2. ( 5 l b. pril
Cows grazing the 1 -day strip grazed plots
selectively ate leaves in preference to stems
of Johnsongrass. This resulted in higher
intake than from the green-chop plots. The
sa me thing was true for cows assigned to
continuous grazing.
.1 W old it l 11itiii ll s 4 ii 14 xxa ls
xx h lI I -1.1 1 ). \lnit hoi14 %\ as \\ ilstt't
\dxe cii iiitiiiiilslxk i/i litciixi ofi
tioills jil)4lx ti s.I Iit (I iti \\nn
Milk Production
(2:3.2 lb.) xxafs iiiiiiit thei siiiiit. fi).,ilit'd
(A 1 4' lilat eoin ~ c i ti ilsis. Coi\s x )If
gluICIl Choip axeae (114218.8 lii. tiliix
inftl iti ilieiltoii oi thl ow l ix l i ait
oIi thie dlii
1
ptii oirae it s tha~t co\\",
lost ii ox 5ii4 11) l. oIi weighlt each
(li the4 i ttst. (:\\ ofx x it(' othier xxx-
tjimiiis andit 21 .5 11). nil slrip 141aitz4.
stlopiti j oh t ifs lgis is Ixx j l
t 
(11.1 ut ii a
fo ii.liixx tx t. tins xx ase pu til
pridol sit i tis)ii a,,t(l I,, Ii aiititl-
1 i fi li lliii) , l d 1 i oii 14 i itiii tif
i :Iiii it lol sxl sttinx.ri (ra il
'76"e W IREG RASS
SUBSIAION-,4 ozektez
%laf laoaqveij oo ezwor-ja
E. L. McGRAW, Associate Edlitor
C. A. BROGDEN, Superintendent
Il ' L .1 -CHEAGdES Of field CIrOPS
imrop
9
er fertilizathin . .. lo 'X x jeids
iti(1 poorl-1 illome XlInimirize attni
elitlre ini the \\ rc'4rilss before 19,130.
I 'illiiiI S XX lie V oXX 11)4 Iie OIC 1,640,-
Thie\ werte inxiX g e it1) lolt of moniIey
iti(1 fililX lilhol. il liese eliterpi XIX
'I lie retul ii X 1 i\\X ( 0111 X (el~is XXer
10 tld ra1(Ted~ Irm 1001( eiIlto X 6X 1ie ). of
Research Program Expanded
11(1(1 for 111t1(1 1)1 loolc iiitiliii re-
Xlio-ch. the Aliailliai Leg~jilature ill 1927
jiXXIdi all iut p-idi 1 0 Ior fixu e raoeii
tit iliX to ill loelttecI il1 tile Ilijol- sol
II (IXt of tile State. One1 of thlese stationsX,
ils I palrt (If the \IiII II1 tlIX ~I XjtX A-l
~r I. ~
A puicbrcct Duiroc ews shown with a port
of her litter is one of 20 sows used at the
Substation in research of cross breeding as
a means of developing better meat type
hogs.
8
niut ori Experimen t S tation)1. XX as o
eatedi near Ilealialid iii iior\ (Coitv
Thiere is it vast 1,11 i( ill the Xl tvpes
Io IX X l( ill ti e l lfliiIII Ins l-
fIleill\l (i. fiet 'ten( X ieid. P ilr Xijii
11111 itfi ill) Ihilldil~ l I ie (1111e oel
Soi. l Ill is lIia ti
1
i le o lf iXi - l iii! X liIt
Fak Sild , Crops 
Rsch 
Rsesults 
al s
Miii ftl ~ toliit preiiitiiil XXt5ile
Iiii\ iloct fie p\)c iillitX t i cold
prIIoXducitin h tte u iiii X ( 
i li 141 tii li
ch1b IX the 11 to spot lili s til leain
I lilili 11 it Iieor Ilji)Ie p11 oiti 
Ill I1 i iii j Illt
tIoll \tII producilililtio il tile (:()I Bel.
of g45pslnn per iere appiied ditiuuali, at
hiloolir tinie .or i .1000 ii). If fiasie
slag per acre biruoadcast a111onli pior
(disaseX tooik tI lca\X toll iif tli pcjitlilt
prvISedi tihit iiiiiii oif the Cropi (illIage
fromsiii (al ilpXIX lii illv o dX lil ilii
lillitrloX .\li aX 11.141 of1 6 xeir te~s
fruim 11111 of thei ellitrilX XiiiiXX(Iil all
iicrease if 575 11). of peioitX.
ocdlill pence alt or just ibefor ii 
tim11)
resuitedi ill effectiX 1 till ipX conltrl l;Ii
i)(dlllltX: \ lhi XXr linceae 1li li dX Iliiici
it X9 1t)).l per ituriC P1111ate, )4rilieX,
20 ih). iif 5 11(1 p etare putl ill ti~ rI IXX it
Steers from the 45-brood-cow herd are fed
a basal ration and fattened for slaughter.
This is a part of research to determine the
best time to sell long-yearling steers.
4 if -,
~w5~
Va
T
-7
lollmi-I0 app~licationi of I 
iii- 2 11), )1
p)11)1 .t( p~erile ci s Soil trietmlei 
t.
oodi ( seed ci i 15 also pla15 d at 5 '
Illiporil it part ill the cmx elopmlent 
(if
aiti c111 
1
iialii proiion. Year 
after
5 ('i. tlic' siiiitatiiii c'iiiicited 
x .lriety
~iic strain tests to fill(] beCtter x ic'ltiiigI
miorei (liscase iresistanlt seedl. iiicliitle
ill tltsi tests 55Crc' the 
Dixie itiiiiiici
and Earl " Poiilir, priodcts 
ofit he -
liit I iieed in g proi gram of 
the Floirida
Agricultuiral Exper imenit Station. 
'The~se
aiirities prosvCd to l)C higher 
yieldeCI
a11il aso (pilite resistant 
to "eoclc~id
clailiae. at disease of the outs 
thiat liad
caulsed sme ClIosses to farmners. 
TIch
sistutiiii grc'x mans toils 
ot seed of
tlit'se xvarieties ill agreemenlt 
si~th thle
loirida Station and macic 
them axvail-
itl] to farmners of tl1e area.
Experiments hiase prosved that 
goiiic
.\ilcls of coritn-mix. he madc iii the
\'cireg.rrass hx\ (1I) the 
useC of adequate
aii olts ofi tllC right kind 
of cietrtili/ci
f2) h~v tulrniii NN ]itc[, clie 
c riips: '0
iisiiir tHoe biest \al jeties ofi 
lnix ancd:iir
(4) pi alit iig atl proi per 
tim c. Experi
iiiclits xx itli pi iS Ill fer tilizers 
anld iiv-
id \al ictics shl\itS s iiwe 
s ields ut
abloiut 40) blielsl pc i acri
Livestock Experiments
A biriod herdi oi -15 ('(155 5Is 
111,110
tain ell at the sublstatiion. Cis Cs ar e 
pro-i
duicedi fro ri perfiormlance tested( 
bull
ilic griiss\ ii it miaiik ilx 11Coastal 
loc'i
lnuldiaigrilss.
All expicriiiielit te-stlilc' raltes 
ofl lliti
14C1 ol slnlillier gra'sses ili. it 
gf riiog
stcitls \\it be1 u lC il 1 I952. The 
three
gralsses tested sx'ere Coastal 
and co 'cin-
111011 13c'ilnutldarass, and1( 
Pencsacoila
Baia. Coiast al iBermuclag lass 
gas i, tile
litst b eef gai ls per acre if 
tit tl threeIC.
To tal gil is pcr alcre C' er 
itC c s Iligh its
7O7 11i Io rii ii alpplicatioin ouf :320 
) h
Ill the 1fa11 ot 195,37 \(,tell 
55 as seeldd
ill thIie sods iof the thrlie gl1asses5. 
Coalstl
13 endi ctgl'ds g il5C Hie' 1best 
gailns p1.1
'ciC. Oil tile pliot receivilng l60) 
lh. of)
liiirgei ii aidcditiiin toi theu 
setchi tlIe'
\jeld 55,15 77:3 11). ot heefi 
per .1(1 C.
A\fter 5111100r graiing. ili 
1958. ]oil(-,-
s icirlit ig stceers xx c fattenedc foir 
slamgi-
terI. Tll( it ist 1ratlioni\\,ias 
sllaped ciii Ii
5.5 ';:S~. Ic' lllimola5ss, I .D% 
: clittli
seedl illc.il 9"-( ii riiuollcl 
fic'llilt his
Illiull 
salt, 
trace 
minera'~ls, 
tractu
.01(1 Stillilsill Premnix. 1 
11). per tll ot
llilxtlll'e (;lll 1. Test 
I iltillX \\ c
it~
5~2 ~49'
'*
'5
N ,_,
Mechanization of row crop production 
has been on important phase of research 
at the
Wiregrass Substation. Peanuts have 
become the No. 1 money crop of the 
area as a re-
suit of efficient production. Digging 
and shaking by machinery in one operation, 
shown
above, and combining have done much 
to bring about efficiency.
placec ciittiilscech dl.l (;ri111 3; 
coa~stal
13c1'imid ~a grilss 11il\ to sill st itute tir piir
I1.lllc'ur retlilcd i s till', ttechllig tial
1'roarlcssc'c, Groulp .5. 'l'lierec' 5 et 2 lits
of, catle ted eachl II lixtllre. 'I'le 
test
perliodii s 5 10 t5 this ' s. Oliih gYinls (lb.)
fur gliiips I tii 5 \\c're 2- ' 263, 
2.55,
2.88. z111( 2.95 respectisclx . \nouillts
if feed coillsonlecl Pcr cxx t. iif gilill 
fllt
I'oiiips I to .5 'S rc' 1,224, 1,20 
1,2t. T,
1134, ancd I10f)2 respeetis el
ltesearc'llil ll gs inludeltIs all cx .1111,1-
tiiui oif, cross lilcccillg. is5 i1 llemlis 
iif
cdexveloin g betterl Illeilt t\ p1 hogs. 
TPests
vx, ere stalted xwith 20) purebirecd 
1)111 o
siiNSs dhix icc iitii tsx'i grll
1
)5 of' It)
eaichl. ill ioine gri p, selected ineilt-tsp
In tlic iitlier grolup, at silte litiltioil 
11111)
gfram xx ill he tiillmisuec. 
Selected Land-
race, I Itnipshlili .iiii iitllir ineait-tx 
li
V;'. I
s,15 ccl t1 re'pliceenlts.
Neecdc fur lianii ll'illgY pc'ilinits hias
lk il p)reCii elil ecc a1jljlicittiill oif dhllli-
] 2-iin. lhanld 115r ii x his I :3tjill. hi~s5.
Re seailrch a lt the csub lstaticon fo r sex -
Wxeeds ill pc.liluts Cll lie c'intrllecd l 11
ipe'riod cit 4 tii 8 xx ceks. i'lie ciiitril
c'licllicills li~i i itc thle iiist c'olisistc'nt
ii lilamll c'licloiills festedix 11 cuil-
sillillig xx tccl -ciiitul p lt. lih 
ul
Ill its 29 ver of~l' iii 51'l icc' itS lai 
c
i espicisible ilii ar ogt ellaslile 
fill Hic'
I
S
4,
Weeds in peanu~ts haveL always presented 
a problem to 'he tormer. Research in 
use of
chemicals for weed control has practically 
eliminated the need for hoe labor. Shown 
left
is plot with no control, at right is plot treated 
chemically.
Steers are shown graz-
ing oats and crimson
clover in the winter
grazing research at
the Gulf Coast Sub-
station.
FINISHING BEEF 
STEERS
eot a & aaa 4orea
TROY B. PATTERSON, Assoc. Animal l'iusbandman
HAROLD YATES, Supt., Gulf Coast 
Substation
W iNIE RZM ill i( ilte Gillf' Coast
Are'a is ailmuost at rtaimitx cxcix scar.
To uise thIs gTi a/int to the )est adl
\lmtage, '. am iers 111 the aiiea iiee(ledl
iliforloitiom o11 Ilmethodl~s Ifl finliing
(Ifi iait i. stci s of Idifferent ailes. 'The
AunfiI Agricltural Experimnu it Sta-
tion (lesigrie~ edIed inig tests at the Gulf
Cioast Simhstaioii to fllrilish this infor-
illa~tioni.
All Systems Profitable
Expermn ts inicluded T9 steels in
4 lots. THIrce' lo ts had1( 201 steers (Itl)
a i 1( oile lit 1 9 steers. TIFi most priit-
ilfle sx sti u til ized steer- takxes that
hid I lec I ripperI dliuriniig thle pr1ex 
ils
fall miouths. These- calxves ( Lot 2) xx-ere
pl aced ol ulllri x in atel , 1 ,Ieare 
per
steer of (hits-ti jisli IOtme r pasture
abouil mid-Noxl emibr. The ginailug sea-
NSl ax cia(ed 1(64 laxs. lDuriiig 
this
timie thle steers gailit'd 1 .78 11). per 
dax.
At tI i( end of11 the xx inter seaisoni, 
the
steel-,, x ci c- pl ac-ed ol I'nl] feced iii thie
feedloit. Afpprixinliatex 100 (lax xxer
riilred forIi the steers toI reach IM M1) (
f1. ami grade Goid and ('ioite. 
'i'ic
Vi a(rae dalx gaiii iii the f eedlot xx :1
1 .92 11). These gains Wxere Madlce dliiriiig~
the siilii' i-loiitlis iid fiillox viily a
[peiod IlIl exce'llentI gaii is oii xx inter 
pits
ftiie. Juie rtiqiiretl foi' gi 1'',jv~iii f l(
fiiiisling xx is 262 (dax' s. Total gain axver-
ige' 479 11). pecr head.
Stee'irs ill LIot I gradecd high Stainda rd
alld l 111 Goo
1
d aut the end. ill the x iiitei
flerio m1 uid \ve rc sold ats feeder steemrs.
TI ii iajorit , of, tile p1 st -\x ei nin g profit
h ad ])c'eil rized, i~'l $72 oii o f $ 93 as"
\\-ias inicaelteid xxheii Lolt I wxas corni)-
pared \xitli Lot 2. This sx 'stein offers 
.111
'pportit , it\ for ciattleeni Iwhi o produlce
goodI \xinter paistuiies hut flax e inarde-
Young Steers Desirable
L ots :3 and 4 wxer- comupised of steers
thiat hiad beecn diropped tlic prev ions
sp)riiig. 111-sxc i \\'r xxeaiicl just buefore
the xxjiiter paisture period. Thiese stee'rs
wxerc' Youinger aiid lighter inl xx-eiglut than
Piiuiixi 55.1E F Il Sirl-L H CALVE\ ON oxNiVIFE1 iSFs 
t, Si. xi0E PAiii R !'.xs t i Si i-EIncur
AxiiiAsE TWu YEAiRxiS ( 19,56-.57 ANiD t
9
57-58 SEASONS)
Peri steeir
I-ill di-rpid~
(.ll\ es
Sping dIropped
c'.I (5
Lot f' Liit 2 Ll t ) Lilt 4
Iniitial \ afl- 90.45 90110) 
74.49 75.48
WXiiiti'i paistilre iost 27.5ff 27.50 
27.50 27.501
Suiiiinor pastir-an iuif cii-loist 
2.42 15.50
F eedlo t cost 42.48 
:39.04 :3 9.40G
Total tcost 117.95 1-59.98 
166.45 f157.94
Sali- prie 1901.10) 25:.56 
24.48 2:35.19
Ilettiiin t(o hIliir iiif isX Cstiiiiut 72.1-5 
9 3.58 7703 7.25
Liot I stc-irs wxinter (list iri- onkif Liot 2 steei-s xx initi r pIstiii 
iphis fiull Lxi I: Liit 3
-t-r iitier piasture'. siuiiii-i pistiir iiu slippllilit pho isfull 
fiedI in tile fcedlot. Lilt
I sn,-rs xxinti-r graz,'. siuiis-i- grul/in, aniiiill fco1id initll. f-i-dint.
thei other' lots,. \oi iialkx steirs oi-kefer
at this tili of, vea (Xli ig less aiiii liriiig
less per pouin d. AliS "55s stem,. therfIi'hire,
thaut xxiii nt-i ease retiii is 110111l spring
dlroipped c-akxes wold~ lhe deisir able.
Steers in Lots :3 aiid 4 xx ere plate I,,
oil (its-cr1015110 tills Cl g in iiii No-
5 euller at at stoekiing rite of I steer
per acre. ihex (raiiied 1.6 fi1I). per head
per (iax "l vfr t164 dlaxys. Starr ill11et fli--
nishied an ax eragre ot 84 dax s gra,'iog~
(IfUiring9 the late sprinig aii(f summiner
months. Lot :3 steers xx cie supplemnted
xx ith groundr shiel led coro at a (I ails'
rate of 1%' ofl hodx ' x \ eight. Sligitlx
higher ax crage dailx gfain ( 1 .35 xvs. I .419
Ill. resulted fiont the ailditjoiial feed
a It pastliri'. I loxx exer, thle Lot 4 steers
caiiiet faster ( 1.9:3 \s. 1.74 11). (fail v
A fter heiiig placed oil hill] feed. Threi
fore, the ax cragre (lails- gainl for the
ieitire p)eriod of 185 rlaxs xx as thle same
for- hoth lots. 1.57 11). Th'e increased
'$111 orl pastumre for Lot 3 
broiight
slightix' more per hecad than the Lot 4
steers, $24,3.48 xvs. $2:33.19. Iloxvecxer.
this increase iii x aloe x%,ias offset fbx the
cost of the suipplemo tal teed. Beeaulse
(If hlxx-, lai\lv iis. thle piract ice of gm ii
iii 1 steers oil te(ii I)) rai. shiummer pas-
tore. xx ith or xx ithoit suppfemiritad
teed, is of lolilt fil x aue.
Post-Weaning System
flegai dless oif the s-\stein used, a((1-
tinal profit may he ohta ilcl fix carry
ing steer caixes throuigh at post-x eli log
sx stein of groxx lug andc fatteiniig. I Iiis
profit is oftenl greater thain tail he rca-
lized frin prodhiction of tile feedei
calf. Ani excellei t xw ilter pasture is tile
mnost impolrtanit segmeit of this sy stem.
'Thle fiinishiiig period inl the feedlot is
nieded, lioxx cxer. to produce carcasses
oIf thle xeight iiicf grade inecessairx to
mneet consiuer demnid
L &. AWOL
Jo,
p.
1v I
"N"HYBRID 
vs.
OPEN-POLLINATED
caom oazeej.
COOPER KING, A~ststant Aqrrooo~t,,
.\laltli ttiit r \iti t\ texts, xliiixx that
tite titcil ill x ill tlat slttedl I8 eats
ilg ~it'h t Iil C l's itiii d xxitli Ito Sigril of
h ee imi,
Early Research
Ili 19.35 thul lirst 
1
ri d ii x i itit''
iertsted x tit libil *x N(ria'sPax
Exrititci it itiixtl Atlit that it
1
.
li t')(1 axt'x tlltix x tiHi tin liette t-Cl -
masite'x Dii ,iiiii' ltxhict Lox e xx ,i st
xYellowti.it ihtl\ ,tilat'dlix ii i aiitl~ok'
Hybststd~ri st Recommended toa
btil a Ii i pil I i itl the j 94l tlt'x xx tie
itllk( fix \%-r fort xtxi. ii the t 11t' I ) lli
iltet' Nitt jex tto he dixet Iedd. 'I'lit.x
N J50. Ili N19 itl 19.5)) tlit'x xx tie
itt t lii ii WI It t ()ll\ it seted ofl ait 
l
tI ic N\t't lix Inotl i tt ix iilail te. Ilt
S9-4t) S5, tof cotti ii tt'reit. ill \lAlitiili
\\it'x still 
1
)liitetl ttt ttpell-ptlliltttt't x\a-
lit it's.
O pei-pulliitated x ii'ieties xxr t' 'Iec
fltiltitd O'x i xltil \iuttv teltst xo et\\l
a ' t haek'x t t i relill ittctillj),ti't'
x idt' ix.cr xili eiixtt eoclpli
Yield Comparisons
x itli Nlt li. it \xa iitt'exix ti\to itiii
xeaiil\ ix\ (.u1 i to_' ixd ofi ai (l'ttp oft
li.\bl Itt i'I litlis 'xlou x ili composeidi'itl ofi
I iiteiltit celititt alilit xtititlit'il ofiit
tIt(' Stilt'.. 'h'lle'xe i' cltl wxete cotiiucdlti
\Xith lttIe ax t'iai~t x 'litt of, xli Io \ Dtitl-
ilxo f'lic It'tl ili 12etit
1 
x th it
1 
tittuti
to I15. I lii' lix i ii s d I t l i ti idtaii i tu4
At.> 0 yurS of tstinq, hytrtds hove
steadily climbed in yields over selected
open-pollinated varieties. The chart shows
a difference of approximately 20 bu. be-
tween the two types of corn.
tiltl\ i lt I ) rp il x old1( liI i. A\ catilt
I iii. (d li hvhid ('i lli' Nlosh\ lt theli
i irs 19 12i t o ( 1 ). f' ri ll I ii it t ilt 1
itiolls xThisml \ e\its isc pil955lxiim
Lxei'kititi ls tliii~~'l lix~ c i llt'txa
ite'tt cNpiflt hits ilxlctt'(\,] titti li
lI Sit hl'it] t per id it. int i t'x of illr \e
p l ucii l prle tt'tIl\ c l, ic
t~t
\
WHAT'S TIME
to a hen?
C. H. MOORe, Head
Dept. of Poultry Husbandry
1ANtxI iixiIE"i\t- laipse iiu'xx-c iltixii
xut lxxlix 2 liisrire:2 oxs.thr
Early Research
mill itit io i s i mx li i x i it ofi 1 t Il
Ii 'I xur to pacikae I ti liiitduit sliiit
~vItiiittW 12 1 2% Iiit I t0I g i i VtxI I
Ijkt'xx jxt. tihlixt xx itli tiii inttrx ix ofi
23iliiir xSxiiuldt prdIt ititt illor lit ur x
t li t I x I X it Ii 2' ))I tIli-it iitix c l ixl.
Ni Ix()st of ti] le i i ti ( Iwe i itti iil
CIII'tli i) 'i t t itt' li I', ittt liS tIM t-
tt. s lt iilix ith t Sh l oili .T i s iiiiii
iiijgibit ix jt it'lti i of t toi ll t' ii c rc1ii i
(I'LL it t'W ( ( lt i ll N U L
Ii i t jilt C 1: 1 IIr l \ I pt' x ictt 1 ii 1i ti I ~ilx i il
lix i lt 1 t ilx at iti t I it' tAt oi
tiii ii o tticdt jilt I tatt.i
4ttt l \\ i t o cxI cgi lii tx psibtitlxty
itix etil i for t' f ii i i (4 yt xx t'tk
ill i l t i l I i lx atl iiix tilt
x00 itiiii tiii tui iiju lios. ith s tiluk
tuse ()it ll li ilit6 w ek p r
)l liii t I lit t tI tl i l illit j\ilt i \ ttIitt ix
iithit i t t x ii it uti T x f~ii - (ii iiii lt j ilt x i
ilw pResults
G(1 ltioll No).I
Giwill No. I'"
(i)x I I It t i t I I I x( [lit\ ()I I I t I I I (I t II it i i i I I i I(
in ot fi t ti tt cittc iiuiti xii itt iicd
lit I r Iil th x t he ( l l i t o o) itt xxa at 2 I h Ix
24.ck . 26.9)\ c i,i k i th it tx',iid (te it
Ii ii iri illilii witx a 2i~l h I
itt 2M2 s.h I' hours) I'( htw tcxiiit-
~il tO .. p o tie liil. Tl~l it a\ tr'ti c 19 tl
wspcti tLkx litiix (it theit tiltm stock.i
t uit ci xii t ihe op o itt occhurre ( ill ithe
i tix I.i iI (tixai I t It i i i,itjiitha iI ii t'
lii i i Sht er a liltc ix. t it rt(rd 2
tut ut w per
1 
scjixt It i ti a t i ti c p' uiaitx
101111 E i~xthri sc ti ixii hadt itt ti
11
itt xt
catc t o tti o I I tt it :i (ilt ir illo tiit iii l ittl
(tixls i 
1
iii t ijtti ix.c lte \il l
theit ice l. ati ti h i.iiit x It) \ ilof 
xhei
\i ii tixls ixti it b itic tilt iii ( I lle, 
th
tol ofi iiiuli t itti x cii it' ittii. ii allotx 
ti
t'tiox l liiid ti xii it mi tix i illlitte. c iIi Iii
Io llrii cl f it] oit li iii tti x t
Il IiItix ] 111 lit' l(ut I I1Ct l1 it]t (i It Ii
1110t" i i tt' l ti h ititia o , thi u 
fi rlt
I~oi i ti ii Isu
xtrent
2(1.9k
2 62
261
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ATOMIC RADIATION
E. M. CLARK, Assistant Botanist
INSURANCE COVERAGE
,4eadlama 1aome'o4
0. D. BELCH-ER and
J. H-. YEAGER, Dept. of
Agriculitural Economics
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5:ti I \iit St 4 iT. I t it 1 1)i t I nt'I I I s ( )I
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48 $4,021
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42 1,683
:35 7,175
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fitil prtI S XX i r li t ad cli ' itsl It ll'. d
l'ife il'ttf iri Iitt't' P liv\ii e i~ci e
copies of all 1959 issues are available
to readers who are missing copies and
wish to complete their files of the
quarterly. Write Editor, Auburn Ag-
ricultural Experiment Station, Auburn,
Alabama, for needed copies; specify
volume, number, and issue date.
"TAGGED" PHOSPHATE-USEFUL TOOL IN
FERTILITY RESEARCH-Ensminger. Vol. 6,
No. 3. 1959.
WHERE DOES YOUR NITROGEN Go?-
Adams and Hiltbold. Vol. 6, No. 3. 1959.
FINENESS OF LIME-A KEY TO QUALITY
-Adams. Vol. 6, No. 4. 1959.
7 DT T FCIEnNCY T (-T NTr v-A Co. o DsA nT _
fASTURE PLANTS VALUABLE IN CATTLE ORDER OF CORN-Wear. Vol. 6, No. 4.
NuTRITION-Anthony. Vol. 6, No. 1. 1959. 1959.
PASTURE KNow-How FROM WINTER
GRAZING TRIALS-Patterson, Anthony, 
and Field Crops
Brown. Vol. 6, No. 3. 1959.
FATTENING CATTLE FOR SLAUGHTER- N SHOULD CORN BE PLANTED?-
Anthony, Starling, and Boseck. Vol. 6, No. L .IVol. 6, No. 1. 1959.
3. 1959. =V VESTING AND DRYING HIGH-MOIs-
TURE CoRN-Rollo. Vol. 6, No. 2. 1959.
Crop Storage REJUVENATING WORN-OUT SOILS/COpe.f
MOLDS AND PEANUT QUALITY-Diener
and Ward. Vol. 6, No. 3. 1959.
Dairy Husbandry
SURPLUS MILK CAN BE PROFITABLE-
Gissendanner and Blackstone. Vol. 6, No.
3. 1959.
PELLETED CONCENTRATES FOR DAIRY
Cows-Hawkins. Vol. 6, No. 4. 1959.
Farm Economics
DAIRYING-A WAY OF BUILDING FARM
BUSINEss-Mayton and Blackstone. Vol. 6,
No. 2. 1959.
INCOME OPPORTUNITIES FROM CONTRACT
EGG PRODUCTION-Miller and White. Vol.
6, No. 2. 1959.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR FARM PROFITS-
Lee and Chastain. Vol. 6, No. 2. 1959.
BALANCE SHEET OF ALABAMA AGRICUL-
TURE-Kern. Vol. 6, No. 4. 1959.
RURAL HOUSING NEEDS-Rose, Hurst,
and Yeager. Vol. 6, No. 4. 1959.
Fertilization
FERTILIZER PLACEMENT CRITICAL FOR
COTTON-Hood and Ensminger. Vol. 6,
No. 1. 1959.
FERTILIZER USE BY ALABAMA FARMERS
-Belcher and Yeager. Vol. 6, No. 2. 1959.
NEED FOR WATER-SOLUBLE PHOSPHORUS
IN FERTILIZER-Ensminger. Vol. 6, No. 2.
1959.
Vol. 6, No. 4. 1959.
Forestry
IMPROVING THE FARM WooDLOT-Whip-
ple. Vol. 6, No. 3. 1959.
GOOD MANAGEMENT ENSURES WOODLOT
HARVESTs-Christen. Vol. 6, No. 4. 1959.
Fruits and Vegetables
DIVIDED APPLICATIONS OF FERTILIZER
INCREASE VEGETABLE YIELDS-Ware and
Johnson. Vol. 6, No. 2. 1959.
NEW VEGETABLE VARIETIES DEVELOPED
-Isbell. Vol. 6, No. 2. 1959.
NEW COMMERCIAL FRUIT CROPS FOR
ALABAMA-Harris and Barber. Vol. 6, No.
3. 1959.
Insects and Control
BACKRUBBERS -CHEAP AND EASY
METHOD OF CONTROLLING LIVESTOCK
PESTs-Hays. Vol. 6, No. 1. 1959.
COTTON INSECT CONTROL-Rawson and
Arant. Vol. 6, No. 1. 1959.
EUROPEAN BORER WILL NOT PUT ALA-
BAMA OUT OF CORN-GROWING BUSINESS-
Eden. Vol. 6, No. 1. 1959.
RADIOACTIVE INSECTS?-Arthur. Vol. 6,
No. 2. 1959.
INSECTS-FACTORS IN PINE REFORESTA-
TION-Hyche. Vol. 6, No. 4. 1959.
Index to Articles Published in
HIGHLIGHTS of AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH
1959
LISTED according to subject below are
articles published in Volume 6 of
HIGHLIGHTS OF AGRICULTURAL RE-
SEARCH. A complete index for the first
five years of publication was in the
Spring 1959 issue. You may want to
bring your index up-to-date. Extra
Animal Breeding
ToP BOARS SIRE BETTER CROSSBREDS-
Squiers. Vol. 6, No. 1. 1959.
BLOOD GROUPING VALUABLE IN ANIMAL
BREEDING-Johnson. Vol. 6, No. 2. 1959.
Animal Production
Plant Breeding
BASIC RESEARCH IN PEPPER BREEDING
GIVES PROMISE OF SAVING IMPORTANT IN-
DUSTRY-Greenleaf. Vol. 6, No. 1. 1959.
Plant Diseases
SEEDLING DISEASES PRESENT PROBLEM
-Padgett and Lyle. Vol. 6, No. 4. 1959.
Poultry Husbandry
RESTRICTED FEEDING OF LAYING HENS-
Cross, Ingram, and King. Vol. 6, No. 4.
1959.
Soil Pests and Soil-Borne Diseases
ROOT-KNOT NEMATODE SITUATION IN
ALABAMA-Cairns and Minton. Vol. 6, No.
1. 1959.
RESISTANT CROPS, ROTATIONS ECONOMI-
CAL APPROACH TO ROOT-KNOT NEMATODE
SITUATION-Cairns and Minton. 
Vol. 6,
No. 2. 1959.
WHITE CLOVER ROBBED BY SOIL OR-
GANISM-Curl and Hansen. Vol. 6, No. 2.
1959.
How SAMPLES ARE CHECKED FOR NEMA-
TODES-Cairns and Minton. Vol. 6, No. 1.
1959.
Variety Testing
WARRIOR VETCH-PROMISING NEW VA-
RIETY-Donnelly and Langford. Vol. 6,
No. 3. 1959.
Weed Control
POISONOUS PLANTS-Ward and Browne.
Vol. 6, No. 3. 1959.
Wildlife
Too MANY DEER IN ALABAMA?-Adams.
Vol. 6, No. 1. 1959.
Miscellaneous
INDEX TO ARTICLES-PUBLISHED IN
HIGHLIGHTS OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH,
1954-58. Vol. 6, No. 1. 1959.
THE GULF COAST SUBSTATION-A STORY
OF ADVANCING AGRICULTURE THROUGH RE-
SEARCH-Stevenson and Brown. Vol. 6,
No. 1. 1959.
TIME AND COST OF CLEARING LAND-
Stokes and Yeager. Vol. 6, No. 2. 1959.
THE HONEY BEE-A FRIEND TO MAN-
Blake. Vol. 6, No. 3. 1959.
THE SAND MOUNTAIN SUBSTATION-A
STORY OF RESEARCH FOR FARMS OF THE
AREA-McGraw and Gissendanner. Vol. 6,
No. 3. 1959.
PLANT FOLIAGE FOR DECORATION-Orr.
Vol. 6, No. 4. 1959.
THE TENNESSEE VALLEY SUBSTATION-
AN ACCOUNT OF THE VALLEY'S FARM
PROGRESS--Stevenson, Boseck, and Web-
WINTER TOPCOAT FIBER PREFERENCE-
Riemer and Glasscock. Vol. 6, No. 4, 1959.
15
FOR MORE THAN a half century, Ala-
bama gardeners have grown popcorn
for home use. Yet only a few have
recognized its potential as a commercial
crop and as a grain crop for livestock.
And, that has taken place only in the
last 15 years or so.
In nutritive value popcorn is equal
to or slightly better than field corn, but
it must be cracked or ground before
feeding to livestock or poultry. Accord-
ing to the U.S. Census, Alabama plant-
ings of popcorn increased from 49 acres
in 1950 to 1,289 acres in 1954.
Early Research
Experiments have been conducted
by the Auburn Agricultural Experiment
Station for several years, beginning in
1942. Additional experiments were be-
gun in 1956 at outlying substations.
The earlier experiments included 18 of
the most commonly cataloged varieties
and 7 unnamed Alabama farmer strains.
Comparisons were made of plant size,
pest injury, earliness, yields, size of
ears and grains, popping quality, and
retention of popping quality after stor-
age.
Plant height ranged from 3 to 7 ft.;
suckers per plant, 1 to 5; tassels, small
with inadequate pollen to large with
abundant pollen; ears, 1 to 2 per stalk;
ear length, about 3 to 7 in. with ears
of ornamental variety, Strawberry,
about 1 in.; ear diameter, about 1 to 11/2
in.; grains per lb., 2,616 to 6,324; acre
yields, 4 to 30 bu.; popping, 60 to 90%,
with volume increase of 10 to 21 times.
Varieties varied widely in crispness,
texture, and flavor. Corn Belt varieties
tended to produce short plants with
short ears, but with large diameters and
small pointed grains that popped well.
However, these varieties for the most
part had poor shuck cover and were
susceptible to bird and insect injury.
All varieties retained popping quality
10 or more years if properly stored.
* Retired.
Recent Experiments
Experiments beginning in 1956 in-
cluded some of the most promising new
varieties, especially hybrids that pro-
duce good plants and relatively large
ears, and grains that pop well and have
good quality. Yields from this group
are given in the table. Minnesota Hy-
brid, an old variety, is the basis of
comparison.
Most of these newer varieties and
hybrids yield somewhat better in the
POPCORN VARIETIES
ltortlabama
C. L. ISBIELL, Horticulturis *
POPCORN VARIETY TEST, FOUR LOCATIONS, 1956-58
Yield per acre
Varieties Cullman Clanton Auburn Headland Average
1956 1957 1958 1958 shelled
Bu. Bu. Bu. Bu. Bu.
K, Kan. College---------------------- 43 44 35 -- 40.7
Dynamite Hast. 38 26 34 51 37.3
Minnesota Hybrid - 20 7 7 11.3
Purdue 31-........ ................. 49 45 42 45.3
Purdue 32 42 36 32 53 40.8
Purdue 213-------------------------- 55 61 47 59 55.5
Purdue 303-------------------------- 44 47 36 42.3
Purdue 406 ......................... 46 47 45 61 49.8
Purdue Expt. 42226 44 44 34 40.7
Iopop 29 24 23 ... 25.3
Iopop 5 24 22 22 22.7
Iopop 6 51 52 41 60 51.0
Iopop 7 26 18 21 21.7
Iopop 8 40 46 46 59 47.8
lopop 4258 48 49 39 45.3
Iopop Hybrid 882 25 21 19 21.7
FREE Bulletin or Report of Progress
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
AUBURN UNIVERSITY
E. V. Smith, Director
Auburn, Alabama
Permit No. 1132-2/60-8M
PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE TO AVOID
PAYMENT OF POSTAGE, $300
Corn Belt than they did at the four
locations. However, some of them on
better soils have yielded up to 75-85
bu. per acre. In general, they have
good popping and table qualities. The
results indicate that good yields of
adapted popcorn can be produced in
Alabama.
Commercial popcorn is produced
under contract. Thus, the marketing
problem is answered before the crop
is planted. Methods for growing pop-
corn are similar to those for field corn.
Popcorn should be planted on well
drained fertile soils and fertilized ac-
cording to recommendations for field
corn.
Since popcorn is particularly tasty
to weevils, considerable care must be
used in harvesting and curing. Farm
storage is likely to be much more of a
problem than in the case of field corn.
For these reasons, most farmers who
grow popcorn prefer to sell or eat it
and use other grain as livestock feed.