MI I I 
I
VOLUME 8, NUMBER 4 WINTER 1961
I 4
Ag ricultural Experiment Station
AUBURN UNIVERSITY
HIGHLIGHTS of
Agricultural Research
A Quarterly Report of Research
Serving All of Alabama
VOLUME 8, No. 4 WINTER, 1961
GOOD QUAIL HUNTING - Summer Rainfall and Tempera-
tures Are Important Factors-
CHAGAS' DISEASE- Organisms Isolated from Opossums
Captured in Alabama ......
IMPROVED FOWL CHOLERA - TYPHOID CONTROL - Out-
lines Control Measures for These Diseases
FARM SLAUGHTER DECREASING - Fewer Hogs Being
Killed for Home Use in Alabama ....
MASH VS. CRUMBLES FOR BROILERS - Faster Gain on Less
Feed with Crumbles
THE NORTH ALABAMA HORTICULTURE SUBSTATION - Sum-
mary of Research on Specialty Crops 8
AUBURN 56 VARIETY - Valuable to Entire Cotton Belt in
Combating Wilt and Nematodes
3
4
5
6
7
-9
10
SILAGE - GOOD FOR WINTERING CALVES - Good Results
with Corn Silage and Supplement -11
NEW SORGHUM VARIETIES FOR SILAGE - Gives Two-Year
Results on New Variety Research 12
INCOME RESOURCES IN RURAL CENTRAL ALABAMA - Gives
Results of Resource Study - 13
CONSTANT CHANGE IN ALABAMA'S AGRICULTURE- Farm-
ers Continue Shift to Larger Units 14
SHEEP RESEARCH IN ALABAMA - Describes Program of
Spring vs. Fall-Dropped Lambs 15
COTTON WILT AND ROOT-KNOT NEMATODES - Controls
Stem from Research of 70 Years Ago 16
Oa rhe aveoer Funchess Hall has made available space for this
up-to-date soil testing laboratory. The laboratory was long cramped
in inadequate quarters. Since the establishment of the laboratory in
1953, more than 58,000 soil samples have been tested. Highest
number tested in one year was 21,500. Samples are tested for $1
each. In the foreground is Mrs. Janice Ellis, laboratory technician.
rt N
Published by
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT
STATION of
AUBURN UNIVERSITY
Auburn, Alabama
E. V. SMITH - -- Director
COYT WILSON ------- Associate Director
CHAS. F. SIMMONS--- Assistant Director
KENNETH B. RoY - - Editor
E. L. McGRAW ------ Associate Editor
R. E. STEVENSON --_ Associate Editor
Editorial Advisory Committee: COYT
WILSON; H. J. AMLING, Associate Horti-
culturist; K. M. AUTREY, Dairy Depart-
ment Head; E. A. CURL, Associate Plant
Pathologist; AND KENNETH B. RoY.
PUBLICATIONS
Listed here are timely and new publications
reporting research by the Agricultural Ex-
periment Station.
Bul. 335. Crimson Clover in Alabama pre-
sents a summary of recent research on this
widely-grown winter legume and gives rec-
ommended production practices.
Cir. 133. Cost of Clearing Land gives re-
sults of Experiment Station studies compar-
ing cost of clearing land by different clear-
ing methods.
Cir. 137. Producing Fence Posts from Thin-
nings points up possibilities of producing
fence posts from pine plantation thinnings.
Prog. Rept. 75. Grinding and Molassifying
Hay for Dairy Cows reports results of tests
comparing long hays with those ground and
molassified.
Prog. Rept. 81. Low-Cost Greenhouse gives
details on how to construct a new type
greenhouse using polyethylene plastic and
reinforcing wire.
Free copies may be obtained from your
County Agent or by writing the Auburn
University Agricultural Experiment Station,
Auburn, Alabama.
Ij,
I
I
DAN W. SPEAKE, Assistant Leader
Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit
WHEN SUMMERS are moist and cool, quail hunters can be
optimistic. Droughty summers mean poor quail reproduc-
tion!
Results of research by Auburn University Agricultural Ex-
periment Station show that reproductive success of quail is
closely related to summer rainfall, and to a lesser degree to
temperature. Since about 80% of the average fall population
is made up of young birds hatched that summer, the success
of the reproductive season determines the overall success of
the hunting season.
Wing Studies
The Auburn findings are based on a study of 57,080 quail
wings supplied by Alabama hunters during an 8-year period.
From a quail wing two things were determined: (1) Whether
the bird was an adult or hatched during the past summer,
and (2) the date of hatch if the bird was not more than 150
days old when shot. In addition to data from quail wings,
other information was useful, including quail population
data, weather records', measurements of hunting success, ob-
servations of spring covey dispersal, and summer brood
counts.
Quail production, as measured by percentage of juveniles
in the wing samples, was best when total rainfall was higher
than normal or normal and accompanied by average seasonal
temperatures no higher than normal during the period of
May through August. Quail reproduction in extremely dry,
hot years was much poorer than average. "This was true for
the State as a whole from 1952 through .1959, and in the soil
regions considered separately from 1953 through 1959. Re-
gions could not be considered separately in 1952 because
there were too few wings in the sample. Regional data in-
Per
GOOD QUAIL HUNTING
follows
moist, cool summers
dicated that good reproduction could sometimes occur when
rainfall was below normal provided temperature was cool to
normal.
Fall quail populations on a 1,409-acre study area (Pied-
mont Substation) fluctuated in the same way as reproductive
success for the State and its regions considered separately.
Fall populations were correlated with weather in the same
way from 1950 through 1960.
The order of hatch (based on the wing samples) was as-
sociated with reproductive season weather. Abnormally late
hatches were usually associated with wet, cool weather dur-
ing June, July, and August. Abnormally early hatches were
usually associated with wet, cool May weather.
Other Factors
Success of the nesting and rearing season is not the only
important factor determining year-to-year quail populations.
We know that different land uses resulted in different carrying
capacities and that predators may exert some influence. Bar-
ring extensive changes in the land-use pattern, it appears
reasonable to conclude that for a given large area in Alabama
the most important factor determining a fall population is the
summer production as affected by weather.
Weather may affect the hatchability of quail eggs. If
humidity and temperature are not right at hatching time,
chicks may stick to the inner membrane and the eggs will
not hatch even though the chicks are alive. Hot, dry weather
may cause the hen to desert the nest or it may affect survival
of the young or possibly all of these. Severe drought may
indirectly affect the survival of young quail by causing re-
ductions in food supplies. Data from this study indicate that
the effects of weather under Alabama conditions are more
important on the nests than on the chicks.
Quail very rarely produce more than one brood per hen per
year. For practical purposes it may be assumed that only
one brood is produced. Second or third attempts at nesting
are usual if nests are broken up early. Most quail hatching
after about July 1 represent the results of successful second
or third attempts. In this study good quail reproduction was
almost always associated with abnormally large percentages
of late hatched birds (hatched after July 1). This probably
means that nest destruction and/or destruction of young
birds by agents other than weather was so important that a
season's reproductive success usually depended on the suc-
cess of second and third nesting attempts.
In excellent years such as 1955, the average quail hen may
successfully raise 11 chicks as compared to 5 in 1954 (a very
poor year). In years of poor quail reproduction, hunting suc-
cess falls off drastically. The law of diminishing returns en-
sures that adequate brood stock will be left for the following
year.
aYear
The summers of 1952, 1953, 1954 were hot and dry; those of
1955, 1958 were cool and wet; and those of 1956, 1957, 1959
were cool with normal to less than normal rainfall but not ex-
tremely dry.
At left is the common kissing
9 
bug, whic h is
the carrier of the Chogas' disease organism.
The bug is block but marked with red bars;
it measures about 1 in. long.
ori sple'lii. oi the ci ltial lierltOis s\ ,steni.
s1itt' ti t' it l ttxI cthdo
trealtilcilt. et'oiil of1 thle disca',e de-
pd oil cnrl'fslfillad (c
Carriers
Fi' some001 timei( it lits beenl koxx ii that
tilt J arasites iiifect xxiiti scI tt'iii atelii
Staites. 1111 disease, iioxx c \,its first
CH-AGAS' DISEASE
in Alabama
KIRBY L. HAYS
HENRY F. TURNER
PETER F. OLSEN
Departmentl of Zoology-Eniomo/ogy
C iiACS D 5iiASI] 'xi 1011(y Iugliti knlixx II
Midt I tarl't in Souilth andi t Cei itral AXm er-
ica1. iT' t di sea~se is cauisethb ii) tii i) piol
dtected. pllt'aitalit tie Tplioax iit'ciiit
tllxi t' v )1 illet t't a l l liiiils aidi.sc
lilt'o r at'itt tg l t e tCa ses t'f list'In
ofill sii ii p i it' ill til t ' St tesslit 
-. ist
deeced Hlth auti thiies uiirit liecom'
sudlicerne t utu e o' . t) iit(iitil' Iistiitt' uts
coie ofece(1nil n iscs
T4 ( ciesay f h ies sci
rt'poriteh io tht', East iii 1954 xxhen'i it
x\as foiiiit if) iat'colls ii i lai\ liiltl.
isolitt'd friii ill sulls,s sk Ii is , foxest',
trall aiimis ill Lllsiai h. Hiiuurteli here
ll1)lssull1 ill .iaitii. Thet first xxias
iMadtet fr om ani llplssliin c'aptiint't iii Le'
Coliltv ,liilit 4 miles inorth of Aiihiii 1.
xi l taket' i l the '13ai il lii Cliiitx \V il d
lift' \1
1
1uig'ioeut Aril. 'Neitht'r aoliuai
siloxx td tillctal sx lolis of tiit' tlis
The i ist'st llrgal I isiii5 iii 0111 Cc'li 111 the
aiials aie biniig usted to iiifect laillra-
tIl* Ii)l'\)ri Ii I Itil al liials.
Transmission
Thie dfiseast' is gIel tiailly ti hiisinittt'd
fu-oui anuiui to aniliiiial or fiuiii iiiihi tol
0 ii i)\ clii t-ills(' or kissiniig buIigs ofi the
fainil x 1'li i itiae. Tllese' hogs iit' taillt'd
kissiing huigs hec'iist' iof their phreftirt'ice
gyali ius ar' allso tlktii iiito thit tligt'stix t
tnat't ofIi tht' holg xxiitrt' tilt'.\ i111lili)k
alit
1
illi IIshl-t peio iii1a ax bt' fioiiid ill
ix ad' the( tissuecs ol* thle hug.r but chaiigt
for101 anidt multiply it) tilt' llliit'i of thle
(flit.
\\-]t ile teehl i-0 shi ot i th ereafter. 'iT'e
site iif hi te itcehes and (1talist's tilt b itten'
aim~lil tol scratch the ilit'li. 'hus, till'
pun0c'ture llale LI ,x til t' ort iI ai iithe lr
fees c'ootiliii g the org-itii isills. The
parailsite's filnd thir ii x a ii ito tiit' iWoodit
'c'toii ( cariii ill ii Ailiaiami is pridili
x it'in iii X iiiia a it Lseonte). his fiilil-
seis sgi hug ei bii tit' hiasii oseru
idis that iiniabiit siit'i tdeiis. How exer-,
thev llpparentx tan lixvt foi long peid
xvitlliit iblood't, sinice mallx x\ il-t' (liht
sp'cimeiis hatd little or iiiotilii' iii thit
(ilt. 'Ilie habitat ill xxhitih some xx ti t
foild i notaea tii hae e'. ll
Life History
Actilt kissii,~ hugs imiatt' aniit the fe-
mlelt tdtposits eggs that hatch ii~ll bot
1t) tavs. The inimaturt' hug, xtks at
bldtt meal aitei x hit'h it mlts. N t'x v
hattchedt buigs 1011) lixe t' s lolit s :3
xx'teks xxitholi t foodit. Therie are t'5 1 ii-
tort'e stages ini tilt' life Cx ct xxe whitci is
Colmpl'tedh iiilliibiit I Ve'lritl dlt hugs
itrt no lt strli ig filirs, 1buit art' Capal of)1'1i
fli iig sihliriti isti itts.
Htcin'ds iil the ilitlil liio Zooliigy-
t'iltioihioligv tdt'partmient showx that this
i ist'ct ill ax ili ixatc houlise's anitd ttt 1f1)1 upli
the humanl ijillahiitiitS. thijlS 
prlux idIiog
the lilteotilal for traomsmissiii of the tlis-
Fet'tal e'xaminalltionis ilfx wii tit it
kissingu hugs haxve rt'xvtaletd thiat some' oif
themi trt infectetd. Tht' iiifet'ted hugi(s
the 10 gaiiisiii thliildi hugls antd ioiiiig
aimials ii It ets tilt x iiiieicc' (of tile
strllin of tiit' tlisease. \ftei- txxol passit'es
ohue of the Georgia strins ioi tlt(, ioguuu-
isii priotdui'e't iillltalitx aintd scx tie damin
alge ti) the hecart m ulsel' iii Ia iiIiati I
iiiice.
Emuu'uoes NOE The.111 
1 
itit r liif5il tis
t'polrt xx'ioiId apprt'ciatt' rt'tt'i5 n gii ior
ilationi frill nt',itltrs lit Highlights of
Agiciultiurial Retse'arc tI ariw ii( prg1 gt eis-
teict' of isiiig huigs ill thiiir ,il'-cis ofi till'
staitl'
ii 111 HAil (.10)5 Ii HOf theU pinil io
ditisti -Nfhas 1)eei acc-oiiipali ed f) v iiexx
(:'oiivra.tioiin ( anid m ioveent of eggsx
aMid chicks is the~ easiest \a ax to (fissciliii
niate o(1, intiroduice iiexx and liriiig ill
nexx foi 10 of o11 dIi seases. Uniitil recen ti
fowl I liodera and fox typhoid xx\ere dIts-
(axes linOill the( North Ceitral anid
N oitlieastci i Stateso hoxx c r. these dis-
eases are mii crashig iol the Sotitheastci
States.
F'owl cholera aind fowlx ty phoid arec txx,
of thet oldest kiioxxn dlisealses of polulti \
IiflhiiiiiijtxN and il iltaIII i/atjoii we re first
deinoi straitcr bvx thc itsc of x aceille of
these (liseases. Although thex atre cauised
lix ti 4allx d1itterei it 1bacteiia, there a i e
cetil relatiiiliipx that lillik them.
Sanitation and Management
Foxxf I eflcia 1 01 tx, \ioic i ( lie
iqiei tix axxoeiateuf wxithi pooi- sail itatioi I
aiill iolaiiagceiciit. Illcx canl occuir aiix
tiliii o)1 the Y eai ill birid(s of ailxN age. buit
o)1(. Both sxesc caii he iinfected1 tholughl
the xx in
1
)tol iiiox ax 1e Ic iii ev ideit ill
fenlial cx ti iai inalexs. As farl axs is kiownii
all biridsl and nmial, ii icluiclig 10-
dfeitx. are susxceptible aond serve ats Cal'-
riers. Tle b acteri a iuuali (r ajin i iitranii
thriough the mlouth i01( Id loxe, xwhilch
ineai s that thec moi st commnii soulrces of
nfect ion in ax 1be cointa miiiated feed,xxa
ter, soil, oi litter. These ar e isiiallx coii
taiiiiiatef fix carriers includ1(1in g piailtrv
xwild b irdx, ir roiii its. D)iseaxe hacteria
Calli als bi e initi rduccd ill feces 
ol ciops,
shocs, and c(iflipiloclit.
The bacteria tfiat catise fowxl t~ 'phir
cal betrasmitedthrwyl te euy. The
skin and tissiies of pouiltry iali he pell
etratecl 1\ bx1aetci J if the b irds are iii at
xx akciiedl condiitjion.
Thle xx ilftiiiiix of foxx ICholera and1(
fowlI tx pla i ar ver x si imilfar andr often
dcxi lble iiifect ioix 'ciii xa, broiich it is,
liiiciiiii, \ itaniiii A rfeficiencx . and
N cxx astle dfisease. lit ;all cases xwhere
posixbhle, the field rdiagnisiii shouild lbe
xverihied by laba atoi rl\ iaginosis. As wxith
othci dlixeases, thc biest conitroil is pie-
veiitioil, wxhich alwxays means good naii-
Control Measures
O(iice fiixx I ix yplid or chlolera occii
oii thle piremisex. there are twx iialtcrila-
tix cx. The fir st is depopulation, xxhich ix
costlx hut pirefeirrcd bx' somne girowxers.
After rlrpofirilatlii i thlugl clcali li igOf
thec coiitainliiiltel hliiig l( f n equiip-
ineiit is ilcccsxai-r x . oxx Cx ri thliS ix not
(ii lxx asilan cc thiat the d isease wxill nlot
recur xxheii iiwxx I- el a) 1 iii III .IIt aiLl
hr-onght il. Dcpiipiilatioii is nlot the
treatinit iof' choice except xxith oh I
1)i rd s.
Thc seciiiid altrnaitixve ix treatiing the
in fecterl fhi irk-. Th e fi lloixx Iig haxve h'cil
foiuind tio provixide xsom co n trol of i~fcolera
(Ii r tx- vp
1 
i oiitbircaksx (1) sii f amera-
ziiir-(.5.0%.O iii feed or 
0
.
2
%/ iil xxater
for 5- 7 rlaxs: (2) suilf(iii iilozialinie-).( 4
li xxatei for 2-~3 (lax x)1 0if.025/( fir 5-7
rlaxs; (3) NF 180 '))0 gfill. pci tiii iof
feced for 3 dlayx; it1(1 ailreoolIx ril or tei-
railinx c-1I 000(fill. pci tiiil iif feedl for-
5-7 d aixs. Sa inc beiit inax fir ob taiined
xxithi txxo injectioinx oif 501 mg. 
per fund.
48 houris apar(it.
These t rea(tmni itsx hax e not Iicii
xx lhll succexsfutl sine- mirtalitV Ilcal-Ix
(dx lxxv resimiex aIf ter the rlruit is rlix-
clit ii ncl.
At the- Au n Agiicultral Expci
illelit Stationl, (i plall iof ti catioriit ril-
fiiii (ir ciilltiiiil xxith l iiiciatiiiii hax
beei riser1 elfectix clx. V at Ce lilai t io nt
agaiinst foxx Ichoilera anld foxxl tx pllid
has iiit hadit goodi~ reputaltioni il it,
plast. Hix cxer. sexvcial adx ai cis )it\x(r
beeli i made ill thec paxt I cxx x cars tfhatl
xxrant it asirourl lool ait xarriiatiii fioi
Ciointrol iof, t hese rIixrclsex.
Since I 880 mlilx bacterii lla(lx ecii
drlclop-r \xitfi xaiiablc alid nnopi diieta-
hler iexults. Moiiie rcciitlx it xiiccr-xsf iil
eulslifiedl hactriii has beci i dexveloped].
The i il-in-xx (Itci tx pe is rlcsigicd ti i\i e
at delax ed iioniiiitV. onie ill xxhichI the
peak of iiiiiity is reacllrd at huuig tiiiir
af ici the ad(illiiiistratiiiii. Thfix lx pe (liiis
nut lenidr itself xxI rlo lii stoippinig epidr'iii
icx. Their Anil iiri Sta(tionii ha(s dcx cli iii'
L'
Pinpoint areas at infection are common of
both fowl cholera and typhoid in the liver,
left, and typical congestion af both cholera
and typhoid are seen in the ovae, right.
hitlcte i iii that iire Last a.iiii alili iiix
rlio init priwiie tiaii)l (1s ioil eiinil1sioiis
doi. To date , ox iir in illii hiids ]litx(,
beein vaic ioa(te iI xxit i~ ths Iicx )itCr is
xxith sliccxxl il iresults.
Ax soiit s (15 diagiloxix of fiixxl chiilera
ioi tx, N-phi is illadle. the biirds aie ie ii-
xalme tiiv ir'th birdx are put oil high
lcx el incilicatiui fiir 4 rIaix at the r'iid
if xx ilicii t i ic tIile dru ni inax 1e deercased
to the pi ili x actic lex\e e i-r remoxved en-
til cl. A seconii iiiectiioi is gixven to each
biiid 15 21 dixs afiter tfbir ist. This sii'
il iniijection ii 11) sts I xi stai I('r. Expeit
eilrr fhax beein that miii tailitxN Ceases
xxithili I xx ci anl docs not illilase
a11t er rciix (I of' thei druig. B3irds x x(ici-
Ilitr(1 iiiixt fiixx1 tx pliid gix - polsitixve
realctiioii to thr' piilfiiiiu test. 
Ile'ice,
breedrlc hciis xxill hixe to lie tireated
ditfei entlx , oi- this xxoiild hax e tii be
taklkri in to cioiisidleratiiii ill ii itci 
1
)retii ig
the 
1
iifliiiiiiii text.
Piillets mid1( tunrkexys call be' xacciiuiltcd
buit not inr'rhicated jiust pioii to bring
nlox r'r iinto ciiiitiiiiat'rl holiixiii aild
rii igrs. After 6 inoiuthsx. the' x Icli ateri
burds hadf lit shuoxxn signs iiiii x inptoix
iii chiilera ioi tx phoiri.
Ill liealthx biirds egg pirduictioii ix not
aifetcd h x ther x (cciilltiiiiix. Egg prii-
duictiuii ireturned tii iiim int fexx xx ecs
afterlxilpficesiii iii iiifi(ctiiiilix x ar'v
tiiii ill rliseaiser flocrks xx 1i'i i pi idiii-
tiiai hl( dlriipp(_'rl dlr~ltiCaillx.
Improved FOWL CHOLERA
TYPHOID Control
E. C. MORA and S. A. EDGAR
Departiment of Poutr Science
Farm Livestock Slaughter
Decreasing in Alabama
A. C. HUDSON* and M. J. DANNER
Department of Agricultural Economics
LAUGHTERING LIVESTOCK for home
use is going the way of many other farm
practices.
Thirty years ago almost every Ala-
bama farmer slaughtered hogs for his
family's use. Today this has dropped to
almost half (including all processed for
home use, regardless of place of slaugh-
ter). However, more cattle are slaugh-
tered now that freezers are available for
beef storage.
Strangely enough, this recent decline
in farm slaughter has occurred while
more cattle and hogs are beirg produced
and marketed. Figure 1 shows trends in
hog numbers, marketing, and slaughter
for Census periods beginning in 1929.
Information on farm slaughter came
from a mail survey of Alabama farmers
in 1959. This survey was made by Au-
burn University Agricultural Experiment
Station to determine (1) importance of
farm slaughter for home use, and (2)
seasonality of this slaughter. Information
from a 1939 study afforded a basis of
comparison between the two periods.
The small sample was drawn to repre-
sent farmers who had sold 10 or more
head of livestock. Thus, results probably
Resigned.
apply more to large than to average
farmers.
How Many Slaughtered?
For the entire sample, 29% slaugh-
tered only hogs, 6% slaughtered only
cattle, and 27% killed both hogs and
cattle for home use. The remaining 88%
reported no home slaughter, Figure 2.
Proportion slaughtering hogs only ranged
from 40% in northern Alabama to 13%
in the central region. However, the cen-
tral part of the State was the only area
where farmers reported farm slaughter
of cattle only. About one-fifth of central
Alabama farmers slaughtered cattle for
home use.
Slaughter of both hogs and cattle for
home use was not important in northern
Alabama, but about one-third in remain-
ing areas reported slaughter of both.
1959 vs. 1939 Slaughter
A report of the 1939 study revealed
that 89% of farmers slaughtered hogs
and 8% slaughtered cattle for home use.
This compares with the current propor-
tion of 56% for hogs and 33% for cattle,
Figure 3.
Number of cattle on Alabama farms
has shown a much greater increase than
Cattle only- 6
Hogs only 29
Both cattle 
27...........
and hogs
No farm 3
slaughter 3
............. I..............
0 20 40 60
Per cent of farmers reporting
FIG. 2. Percentage of Alabama farmers re-
porting livestock slaughter for home use in
1959 is shown by the graph above.
for hogs. However, the increased num-
ber of home freezers and the greater
adaptability of beef to, freezing probably
accounts for the increase in cattle slaugh-
ter over that of hog killing.
Farmers who slaughtered only hogs
for home use killed an average of 3 hogs
during 1959. Those who killed both cat-
tle and hogs averaged slaughtering about
4 hogs and 1.4 head of cattle. Fewer
farmers slaughtered cattle only, but those
who did averaged almost 2 head for
home use. While fewer farmers in south-
ern Alabama reported farm slaughter
than in other areas, they killed more
hogs than did those in other parts of the
State. In the central area, an average
of 2 head of cattle were killed for each
3 farmers. This dropped to 3 cattle for
each 5 farmers in the southern area and
I for 5 farmers in the northern region.
Months of Slaughter
November, December, and January
are still favorite "hog-killing" months,
with about two-thirds of hogs slaugh-
tered during this time. Nevertheless,
some slaughter is done the year-round.
Slaughter of cattle was also highest
during November, December, and Jan-
uary, but these months accounted for
only one-third of the total for the year.
It was evenly divided for the remainder
of the months. The more even seasonal
spread of cattle slaughter was associated
with availability of home freezers and the
fact that beef does not lend itself to
curing during cold weather as does pork.
Although home production of food has
declined in recent years, the majority of
farmers included in the Auburn survey
still slaughter meat for their family's use.
Availability of home freezers enables
these families to maintain a more com-
plete supply of pork and beef for year-
round use.
Cattle
1939 8
1959 3 5
. .
0 20 40 60 80
Per cent of farmers reporting
FIG. 3. Shown here is a comparison of
1939 and 1959 slaughter of cattle and
hogs for home use by Alabama farmers.
FIG. 1. The graph shows hogs on farms,
number marketed, and number slaughtered
on farms in Alabama, 1929 until 1959.
profit squeeze/. This iti' o o
(rltOxxl crail (1) cotractor. Pt odictioti coxi
,ol 1) boiler prices Iit le, c bee cotlioti
or ahox e tilt nart prie.
Feedl prices itd t'ccd cfficiec\ cx n
iliit factttrs letct 11111 lug cost of pr1)1111
uttg broilctrs. Thecsc factors arc of pt imi
itoipotitltice to br oiler pt oduicci s ill tittii
eifforts to red'lutce costs.
1)01' plxxsiiilitv lot- cost rediuctiont i
tor thei prodtuicect tot tl1\ protcit t collcetn
triatt xx itit glttlillil (Trabis to ilk oat solit
alet Iced. A\Ilotilr possiiiit is to 1)1t.
Orne sack of crumbles produced 44 lb. of
broiler meat in the Auburn study as com-
pared with 41 lb. far 100 lb. of mash.
for BROILERS
G. J. COMlER, Poultry Hlusbandman
all itngtclietti atlli ta comttplete2 fccli.
Growixxl's of amt sizecll I 115 tue firt 
me'thodi uttx atl] ls xitieOptithc l Ilseili
cttitotheli sei. ith btx i)llthod it icxs
115ct ilial
1 
lieedt itt srtifi ttince. e
Pescit to tc Ised ill li ashie 
iertinct
tieetd cots itr l ithr~ tteci tit xx eto
tit tx I lotsi b l(t it t t cli llxxitit il itIll s i
hot icil ctsi ilt itia l f lii tf it lx .l
xtt\\ sitsh comipittitre wfti t crlsa i I
i 1961) hcglo fiedintg tests hItoittom-Iare
Ita sf wxith cii 11tllii's. Itt tIlst brtoii lir
arits thes l' ret 2t th 1 ill 1st p liltr I tt t-
A totttid of 2,871 brttiit i (i 18 li't
xx itit all axvcrage itf I6 br ilersc pe pl ll)
xx-ias usedli fitt tht stodx . Hallfx wetc fedli
ilItmlis. ii the xxo tt hi g~ lo ilki
l(t\g ti i-c frt ) tthe2 saitlt ft Iit I i pro-11
Iitiie tests istctf 9 xxeliks.
Crumbles Best
Crumletills (Tim btter reslstts thattI diti
fttlic't Icifeilpcrhil hoe ft' ill x ct
1i l x a ld crules xx r liilt ltfctttct hi
aix li t h f liie test iii. t hos fe xxckx .5 lititO
\ .itii ttf
Fccd ccd Vltic f Ice tiltc
L b. Li1). LI1).
Matsh :3.0)3 :30,:30)0 71,5001 $2(607.501 51,242
Citittiblis :3 .31,300) 7T 71)0 2,581.20 1:382
A sex iiifferece \\t, ax otct il ttrc
slit lto~c me tho of((1 lueitl itaxits tfed
toliits fedl tIai. h tllis ,bi h liifiectlict'\\-its
otix] 0.0)6 11). itt fax ot of crumbttlesc fced
thei fit'tntis. Xx ctrlc xx ctglit of' both
sxe~s faxvored cttttrdtis l1) 0.10) 1i). \icls
wer hcit\ i ai ,t 9 \\(,(ik., titati fctltlcs f or
bics allt
1 
0(.6)li). ft tttasi. Whetre gYrlxxtit
1-Ittftiv be lcd foir gt tlxxig tttlicxs.
Sailj ot fccdI is ittotillr aoxr.tttic tf
crtttii1tlcS lix ci 1O1USii. B~ ioict s fdcliiCt 11
files werte1 Ititlic cfficictit itt all] triatls titati
xx rc tholse fei tiaitl. This ifferciec
tI-Icat. 1tI ithottse tf, 1)00 brofictrs thec
sax bug xxol 111( itlt Ilt to 280 1)1) I. of
cfeed lerbrt d t atnii d , tttt I ci r lItefict
brilers wtoui lit p lit. 1,00 tit . mi cofe
ilteoticrsecs ftilttx(,tta.cli rtc
I e is. itc IlNlitsl exxitt 11 il)tt ti prod c
ersItii f-Il cube xx a lit I 41 lit flt brili'
tii $7)at 142 ae tt1t. Asithcc ticc xxfa
blotit lit rcs(Iot l()) ot tits cd prite
l it ils ti t o ilitllis , ac s I l ric e 
1
tt ft
MASH vs. CRUMBLES
CRUMBLES /
44
PE11FORNIANCL OF TWO llot!,ES OF 10,000 Biooiti ns EACH Fvi) CioumiuFs on NI.v"ll
Weight 1-ilill and fccd efficielic\
Fcedill-
Illethm I
A\ urikc Total
cullit 111cat
North Alabama 
Horticulture
Substation OFFERS RESEARCH
The superintendent's home, 
office building,
and fruit and machinery sheds are shown
above.
iN lIXrlIiX I-. St),( hortpc oci 
of 12
T, 'ai', it',tnch oil hor ticiultuiralr sif) it
tile, XNoitis Aiaihlilit lirtic'iltiiic Siih',tati-
tic'l 1101 tll'llt iaaldlis ail a. rcltr
terythl tor0(1 c onom~iic imroo vemeant' ilf
tht( iiosutctifi' labaa i til l~i
Noii'tr that, has gllloXX i fuo 4rthe 
il
itar bl11 ci los,:37( aci ', thi.ei t 
r ev
ent this Ciop comlpi ies 1 6 of tile
l(TC c inl the Uniitedc State', ani i a-
('0iiiitS tOi 1 4 tl '3 (if theC total tollige
prodcedctc. Piodnet ion ',t i se thle 
Crop
Yil ds 2 toins peritclre its com0par ed XXit h
thi, tionit.1,erage ofi 1.2 toins. 111 t'ris
(of ilel eased iiicoroe, it has mniit ani 
ad-
tijtiOlia I to 114 Illillill 11aIlS. \los't 
of
thec fililiiers Sell their peppers 
oil atCo
tr act i,isj Stiom1e aiift's hav e pro diuced
t'st'i ell sx ith plintt incliude', fertilizer
ti e~lileits, disease aid insect conitirol.
~\Need ciiiti of, andt ib'tediiiT' ',',ork.
Sooithcril illighIt. at 'oil-hori'ii fuli 
gs
(il'(" 'it' ls dlestill', (c s .Sinlichii s' 6(1%
oif p imn tot pep per cirop i ii areas' of Alit-
bai).it. Ex~peirimeints iii 195:3-54 anld 
1956
5111)55ed t imt Irerralor app11Ilied ats 
it set -
appl)1itti ill t 95:3 andc 1954 as' it 20% 
dutst.
2-'3 ili. of soil inl thet fin ii',' at tilt' ra:te 
tf
720 11) per it'ie. [ii 1954 a soltin\it 
s
prelplir t'tointiinig 7 1i). of 75%1' 
w ett.-
He1 pt~vd eiin it t00 gill. of XX at cr. lThis
pet'i plaliit fiomi 3 to 6 XX t't'k' aftei 
plaiit-
8
ON SPECIALTY CROPS
E. L. M..GRAW, Associate Editor
T. S. MORROW, Superintendent
M. H. HOLLINGSWORTH, Asst. Superintendent
flit' fil'l ito ise. iiist lclfi ittif tiit'l
pt'epared at% istiig eco iiuiilt 2t' 1iia oe
75t ilitmot'ti,iidXe'i iii e :10 ',gl hegii
aug apii eitsil i'filit \iluliltli 
tist
iinllpt'it it tilt, apitett' t' c3(tii 
ofLlt
iiurop'it'tat hei bot'p .(Iitilt f eeiarcli
tilt", thu\I hat tilt b's 
oliiol fotitiI
insc tlt ildtes uiste 20i).i per tit 
ofs
dusts o HiTor of% tatine,2% 
l
itat tioi Itcei :it Cll\ilteriiis beIiit
in 47 au fillI 1.t'it T it' t':lof/iAugust
is' tilt tiual crit' ia ofm ilientiost
MidFlitrid Siii't~lti n t'ii'us tify shoul bcie'
ushortuii d to no
5
t' 
1
i('lio f tha it' . Itllis~
gneii d be1 f ept oh'Iltil gtihie c pups 
i it])
fi hit',duof tll ,lthl losl i''i perIiodiitt'f
setotatof RSarchn
tfilid \se lt 22 X , it ilit ',oX t 't~is
2 ', cli',s :ll. 1Ti-ie (foil] has hc't'i fi- iiitiit
S\\settiitot's gifroXXl il Ifi e\\'X ii ltlt".
lllatct'I 25% is lust iii stoliiat. lT'sts, ha', t
s ll\lti tfrbs tn~r i( rpi
poItaltoes fioiiid tilloutghi irest'ai'chi at tit('
Substation is 800)11). of 4-12-12 per llcte
alt fplaintiing pins 24 1). 'N f-ir ,ti't' XX ili
(lt 115 il ('iing ilnlcfe ofi the Itsc' of Xii it
clittiugu ill proucctioii.
Ill disease' rt'se'arc'h .Xllold aiiid Gold-
115115 (I vit-it"ctie t'er tonic1 toi lbt 0111 
Cr
i't'',i'tii it to stt'im ro(t 1it
1
l iiitt'ia Cor1t'iik
thii the Poitii Rico. o~liin2(f sXX c't-
Varietal work at the Substation constitutes a larg
the sweetpotato variety plots and right is a part
eight crops are being tested.
~' "'i
potato sprouts oII slips5 ill ftiigititiai sit-
s peis ions of ch lonailii ( Spcrgon I andi
Calptan ilefore field pliantinl i'IedoceCl
stem rot ( Fisarisim wxilt) inl the fieldc.
Tillouigh tests oil tille use of e'letrtlitc
hotbeds iii prVoducing sw 'xeetpotato slips)
ii prop~l0ier hand linig after proIduction,11
farmel er haxve ileell gixveni~ an ('0110111 lca
imthod 01f prioducing( certified plants.
Tests wvith the Centennial x arietx, imi-
por ted front Louisiana, have shouiox defi-
nlite p~ossib~ilities for high jprodictioil of
good (
1
litx -x v t't'tpotatoes.
An iother pro ject oIf ecoi 011ic i mpor-
taince ill xxxtetpotatil pr'oducttioni has
ibeen tilt conltroll of the xxirt'xx 01 . The
loss (If (lilt truckload (If xxx eetplltatoes ibx
a iotali farmner xx as the ibegiiiiig of' an
etent'1sivet researcih aii con(1 tro1~ l r4graill
ill the area., IThe Sii stut io ii 171111nt thalt
5 i
1
. alppi('d ibroadca'st xxiii conlti tile
pe'st.
Wee c't'i tr'll 1I ill six (tpotaltocs Its.itar1ted
this xyear, siloxx 5 171iliisil ig retsuiits h .o
cheital ai x c ontro llt ll i tihis crop.
New Type Apples
Earix N season~l alpple p7rodutioi~i ll Ala-
illila inav liax e ecoin~llit p Itellt iii be-
tcause (If tie po~ssiiiity (If placilog appies
oIl Illrthernin arkt'ts b)efore 1produicinge
arfeas (If the East.
Aui extenlsixve rest'arch projet't xx-its he-
taini the flossiliitx lot grin (xil(eal l
ri pen
1
ing aple x a net ies 1)oixx (haifillg
roolltstoc'ks.
S inc cutrtren1 i t tiendsti iI riciiitore are
tI lxxarti more1t fulldix ech al ied opera-
tof the research in progress. Left is a section of
'he pea variety tests. Mare than 100 varieties of
- S
Pimento pepper was a crop that helped many farmers in their search for new enterprises.
Shown above is a port of the pepper grown on the Substation.
is apparent. Inl addtitionl, it' a~pple trees
(ca10 lbt redced tol produtct frulit at a
0(4 (1i l l tir fill 6 to I yer x befotri e i tl
crop11 tilii he harxvestedi is gret'li reduced.
Thrill (4i tiht lIse 111 t'ei'tii I lx 17ill (4
roo~tstoclks, these diesir'ed effects call be'
'Trt'ts oIf the Lodtii x aiitx o11 \ I II i ng(
IX rooitstoIcks plalntedI ill 1960 x ieititled
2 ho.lof 3 ill, ill lar'gt'r ill cialmeter frunit
tile fllowxxing Year.
1)ti 111111 expe rimn ts oil the cilontrl
iof apple dlisealses since 1958 hixve re'-
stitedl ill tile l'et'inintltciatioi of' dodille
(Cx piex) fill the' conltrol Ilf aple scaih
ilit sttefptilnlcil (1 my c ivin, Agri-
firehiigil t iof applt's andt ptears. Scab and~t
firehiight aire txxo oI(f tiht mo1(st ilipilrtii t
diieilSCt'5Oill litie frLits. Tihe t'ffec'tixve-
(Th x ite ) ferhamn, ( term ite ) 1111 til
expelrimelnItal ui ci d i'e ( ph ii tall ) foll tihIi
ctill stil Ille dl is ease's site]il as b)it-
fritjatingl' 11n1 t'pt i dli ss of1 il ' il l I
tIill(f i is~ iblen a c~ii 5t'ithe xpsait 4
xxit frllon
1
t~i 5 elill tlt'oiltile\ ('il il
20-2.5% iloo~lm m1 id repeateti t'x ti x 4 iot
This lllltc'rili, sili s (:xplex, is till- 5(1
sila ptnll x 's teoil' ('ltilie ill apiax
lt tiion thoughou thlt ft'iison allti' t-ll ix
lintieealsllI ipatstt' i gh te ll itl ft'511
ilil x r. \hl tl prh'ut' It tielc lii' u1n1til
stil USlxforilt'i'cl ics 12 illh rpts 7 i pills-
lstlt Wheinc' viti xill~c ite \ill i ve ~iti
ildfypeacsincet ie~ 't i pr x ide ll 51'lat
fia cntiios. Thris t'l\i,iti' catie orct'eo-t
t't'llill fill tilt' flt'i til causil tie scilb1
siooti\II l 1, ll d11t flspeck tii. Illt
t'11111' s btitu t ill ic-lli i1( ll the Ill -
sitys. I ii calheapie hruh
AUBURN 56
VARIETY
Resistance of Auburn 56 variety, right, to the nematode-fusarium
wilt complex is shown in this field. Fox variety is at left.
t~~lito lilittie Cota iiit
(1s(11- 1 tJematod e-FulidIlsorliuml ilt alesst poncei -lol
N)i I x i iit o tA i i I 1 5 h(11 iI[ it Ii Xi',t\\IiItclI..to t I I i', 
i I X." l it ofi
pi II If.i li I tit I t ', it li ii 11 ( it I t (ii' t o )itn 
\ IX 1 Ii i I, t rel
tot\illi-Oic.(iT toutoi it Reistan64 ii ci~ 
tli
Al tio ld it hl t.l lttli iw ll-c e it(s lb ll
56 isi' mostit'ts uutiuu i ii 1 itilc tokt', pisil XXut tX i 
tit
iii', C-iiiiiiX ittIX ii Xit ii t\it lt ,ti ,t iiii
1
i\ t Xolil ib, il'
10s-lo o 'ltlsl t a J T -t~ l](ot h 
olyl0)~ jH.
able to Entire Cotton Belt
L. J. CHAPMAN, Asststant in Agtrottomy
it t','tit t \ XIIit', X \i 
ii cd (M5 11. I I i 
Xctc I ii l
- It& I-t I tti diI ltiI.l a c ied o u mi 6 1
Suited for Mechanical Harvest
iii i lit S i itaiti ict u-iii it.-U i i t ' of i ' id ii 56 tis haiit iti
if\(s t i t I iii ti i iii i k s This \6i11 ti of i i i~ii it i',',ii 
timt'
-1 it X X it ii,ttti I tt t i i l . I . of AI ioii itt 1 I s Ictt I i ny is
I ,tll( iii ithXXX i t'1 (Ii it it \ lii cii i 1 I l iit( , XX t( Iiiw k 9IX 6
it \ \i.'t ilto ft1 i50 Iiitl 11114 \XXldic-liacIb illk X ti it' tIdi .-
St ti(-t of 25~ ii i i i s \60 IXtiX(ip.ul I f ii l(is i .ii 
25iC of1
ai i f ath ll tt 'is i i t (nt', ,A i m 6 so i o ti,1
A
'44
Teoncsse' Vale\ di' tests. Sol gbiiin silage xa tcid f~a
iif ((atxiiiI9C 91edxxit'9101 ilav aIlt oat 91 ai119(. Ht Ic atillls
were'I c\ iluiltCf oill the basls of (Laik 9.1111l il111 cost peI c\X\ t.
''ilc ft''diw
0
. tiaix iex c' hctij huIn~dc a\ l~t Ic 1955 at till
TeilllcxxN' \ iliCX, Subs)tationl. StIckerI Ci\Cs ax% CIl 11911(9 adilt
Grup of~jS ( tile illS eX dlr C\X illttIe l c(II t 1l oil. o(a. I ll ( iTiill
sIilge fedI hIcC chiltce pis 2 11). of' 91011( ear corn aild 1 '
1i). ct'Itose loI X c aiI)Cl peCI hea Citi h . AnotheCr grup has hbc'l
XXiIIre t oCil oa I.t 91 aIll 9. 'Flit cdlxCs 91tz when XXICfIorar suplIf-
phv lot
1 
XX atillr t((l((ittolls pcI Illit: XX co1 off 911/11113 ti1Cx\ "et
siliagt plls sliplficiIt ill (fllt.
91Xcl II d re1tIIsltits 115 fee ICCof 11 IIIXX 11(r cattlte dfullilng fil]
WX inter, ,illtf t'.I, spring11. ill'Xlts 11(111) slMiilli silage liX \C
becil les IC satiXtaCtoll5. i I) CXCI\ Ir research Xill miei t w Xithl
iCX IIXil it XIor'lllliX, xwichl irouc IIIIC illgCs oft igherCI 911111
siliagets lax c 1lIX (IIlIatIsfalctoi Xiloti has beenI IcilimXcd trIll
tel feCeI for stoctker cdlxes CX.1)1ticillali XX]felIlt ost of gailI is
iv \\Xias c'
1
lol to cIII I iliate XX eCo the 5dlOC llespplillllts
XXr fCIld XXithl each.
'ilItC test arl od(f oat lilt li d It ek Ci5)CiVfoll gla/il ( is aibou~t
III151 NtC LOF 11 111N FEEING Sx XIFI X
1,o11 WI-N mI lIIN S IIICKEII C SI XIX
11111 8(1 S'dl (111) Coil1 Oiat 
(;ilsIX- O.at
lit\ (11' 
l"
FeedN co~st /tX\ t.
gi8n11.92 81 1.531 82 1.52 812.8-1 81 1.1-1
Dil ).fxiit
1
kr'.
xiL
1 0
1 hrbxif\ 11) 4 24.A 18.5 11.2
, Thre 11 s Irl 11111 li of11 (( 1 )l~IICT] llt XXaX 111 XXS I C \ It Cldll XXStr~lo
ewXcIpt illin( 1k tsx of ait WIa/ilog it \X a,5 Icd IIIIIX it, IcyjliII'f.
SILAGE-Good for
Wintering Stocker Calves
R. R. HARRIS and W. B. ANTHONY. Dept. of Animal Sz(ence
J. K. BOSECK, Tennessee Valley Substation
1.5 acre~s and1( is usIliI stlcked( xxith 2(0 al11imil. The' c'iIX 's
"11/I'itf Iilts 1111 I meit119 lot 1001 (fax 's per seasonl. Th wereX tt
fed sfiigt' pills sulppiCllmllt XX ill oft ara1 i -lfI ,lll a1X tr o'1C(f
v'ste'd Icc it1 111st fhe provIXided the Stocike ilklxls oil llilt gr1 dL
1119 dufli'f 9wit xwealther I id Al olther times XX11'lIi9 .1/flig is
no~ti x'qu tc f P11) iC re IIXill IICells IxclleXnt foi 11)1 pu111 rpose.11
(:teon hows1 ilig poise1IIIIXc-iiocnitos
Oat grai /11g for i iig orli
A\;ciwll (115 jaill, ICi 1111111
I )ax 91(1d 11111111e
Dil ,a fed o1ff 1.ra./fin', ti1w 1)
15.5
269)
1.24
11iax Cav xvar i fI (II 5.7 toI 15.2 toilI per acreI. 
Prodtiton
ilgC (If .7.7 1.
-Xx l .gt' x il of xion lo 41111 liie1 (f ig te 6\ill 9 tl' (5xtI5x ais
11
New SORGHUM
VARIETIES 
for silage
C S. HOVELAND, E. M. EVANS, and 
R M. PATTERSON
DepartnienlI of Agronorny and 
Soils
A , B\\IA I Ali\ll lll()I(-
sol(rllllfll lot silil"'c. 'Ilw Illitil\ IW\\ 
\it-
ricties illiIN offer ploinise of hi(rlwl (Illid-
it\ thall thilt of sililore produced fl.olll 
old
Col-11 is ('ollsidered the idcal
siliio,( (.1-op for prodiletke 
soils. Siliwe
Irmo mrl) \Xith hi(rh (flaill eollto, 
Ijt is
(um to preselve aild Illilk(", high 
quillito,
IIo\\e\(iI-, Illilm soils ill 
Alit-
bitillit aw too drou'rIltv fol* C01"ll 
to plo-
(Illcv siltisfilctor.\ Silage \i( lds. 
Sorghums
withstillid (11 oll(,Ilt \\ (d I it])(] re S it of
(11-owth illWr rilill. 
Sill(v the feedilw 
\ alue
011 sor odlllln Silitrci is 
lo\x(.] thilli
(-,om, it Inio, he sllppl( Illellt( d \\ ith 
mil-
(viltrilto,'S.
lio, Seardl has 1well c-olldlieted 
b\ tile
Auburn Viii\ersitv A(,riculttiral 
1,Xperi-
loelit Station for two \eills at 
fi\(, lo(.it-
tiolis ill tll(i State. This reseal-Cli 
\\its to
deterfoille fit(' \ idd pot('11tial of Iww
sol-1111111 villieties for silit"Ci. 'I'lic 
t( Sts
\\(it-(, ilt tile Telilwss(v Vidhi\ Sill 
)statioll,
Bell(. Millil Piedfliolit Silbstatioll, Cally
I lill: Plilot Blvedim, I'llit, Tallasse(%
Black Belt Siil)stiiti( ) if, Mitrimi 
jimolioo;
illid Gulf Coast Slibstittioll, 
Filif-Ilop..
The sol'(11111111 \ zlrieti( s alid c-oril 
\\ ('re
plimt( d Ili late April of- (-itrIv Nla\ . Plots
\\ (if-(, f(,i tilizcd with 20 to :36 11). p-Cl iICI 
C
of flit] o"ell and adequitt(. 
phosphorus
iold potassium at plailtim, time. The 
tests
(,I ( sido, dressed \\ ith 40 to 80 
11). of
iliti (well per iterc ( ildl \ ei I r. 
T] Ili Sor-
(d I I I I I I \ ill i(,t lies \x 11 al-N ested 
it I (lot I (d I
Stage al id (.of-] I \\ I I(il I \\ (11 (lei Ited.
Fol it're vields I'l-oill olle Cuttill(r 
are
"i\ co ill tile tahle. Yields ilre 
reported
ils drv llliltto, I- riltlwl. thill) (TI'CCII
kicqflls( time of han (-4 Mod weilthel.
milditiolis ifflect illoistiliv (.olit(,Tlt. 
The
drv fliatter colitelit of t1w foriwes ]]it
(,encrall\ \ itried I I om 25 t ( 1 '35", .
Yields I roill the ill(r \ itrietiC.."
Sart, B(vibudder, Lit)(Isev 115 F" mid
Yiddioaker, (,eneralk \xvr e hi(,,lier thall
those Ilolll (.0I'll. 'I'lic \i(,I(l diffi-relic-e 
ill
fik\ of of the tall solwhillos 
\\.its e\(.11
(Yrcat( i at Off, Bliwk B(Tt Silbstatioll. 
The
eiii-lier maturio(y \ ari( ti( s FS- 
I A, N K -
Z'
:300,lit (an td l~ N fl-30AX ( , ci ii , (.155 
I
th(2l fi'ldst li 1 rt. ittr Ala ma ithes tX oiihii
X arlit itrit XX i ll hi 
f ti ,Ili ak (Il ittlI giX
lui2'ml fIfil-lli te stllall1 
to lli Xtlw ailXX
se1.111 SI 11tilo haII t i llX XImI 
ithlis li.X I
tliali X Il i t XX iti liXX gIt hl 
d w i .I i-l
.15 Salz t.hatu ili'i fe tll silagl'c 
(.it-
t i w, t II us \ trities Ifilst be p illI0e
I o~ 1(1 kX ii) 1 "1 I cl i I 11111'!
XX t1 tall (111 XX , SI0 II ~l ti. M l t is pili
('r iill XII \aite IX\NK-:120. IBi'i'fIuilllt'l
illild Sill i l(, II la I I' dre luth i Ialk l lX Someil
tesXts. Tall 131 iiX 1113X r1icic \XXXitil liie
111 d( --a 1lli b(1 ii ( 'ill Itil i it I I~ \\11(1
XIX 1151"to har \l'll .u Hill c\IS litl
Shor0 ter13 i1111 X 1it) utXe Suc its.1 
N K
10)) anI d FS- I A,\ r il hItr1iX di Ill t lihdg!.
ma11 lbe dtiiuuaged i)s stalk rlot ioigaismsXii
S'X 'I I1ll ilIX XIIIi 13111111 Xil litIX 
XiiX
111 1 S t' tIrll' I i!i IXv 'tl.( l llli( \a ihl ti 
iil Sho
p r wo ie o i'u l .Ip lii\ ' S il1a 1e p r di tl I
)1iilAilmakt'lil.11 I(iiIli'l 1( iXs tall
Ilt(11 1( ic X aor sh ill tt'l a 131 i ti 11 I odlgrill
PLAN' 511Xi (>11115~IC AND DR X IOlA ] )iiX NIN OF0 XII 
XXI I\-S 06)1-6)
Slit
1 l ildcr ')
X K 3:2 0
N K -:30)
Icl'11 IS-I A
D1)151 I '! (orn1
till ic
It). Att tol
]fl- ,ilitgr'
Ni, C 111.1tL
tIll It',
Fit) 1)III/s
I 4 1 W
IX Ill IlIiitil ofi
Head11 Stell)
'4 7_1 19
M\li. I fill il tu I(' lhlpI
10.70- 6.15 6.88 101.21 8S0t
I )atit 11(m XI X ll ()tItllc 
II) 1111 tll ( i1i C t') 
SI l)Xt. itilI I 1511 llillit 
ill I I () 151 lpt
L
~& 
uu~~
M ANY FACTORS contribute to the in-
come characteristics of an area- income
levels existing, opportunities available to
the residents, and challenge for improve-
ment.
Income characteristics and resources
available to rural families in Autauga,
Bibb, Coosa, and Elmore counties were
included in a cooperative study by the
Rural Development Committee of the
four counties, the Auburn Extension
Service, and the Agricultural Experiment
Station. A total of 809 families were in-
terviewed by local committee members.
The sample was chosen at random to
represent a cross section of the rural
population.
Based on sources of income, 54% of
the respondents received more than 1
of their incomes from nonfarm work.
Another 25% received the major portion
of their incomes from nonwork sources,
such as investments, pensions, and wel-
fare programs. A smaller group, 12%,
received the largest share of their in-
comes from farm sources. The remain-
ing 9% received their income from sev-
eral sources with no single one account-
ing for as much as 50% of the total. Non-
farm families had the highest annual cash
income, $4,000. Families devoting most
of their time to agricultural pursuits, re-
ceived about 
$8,700 annually, 
while non-
work families reported receiving about
$1,500 annually.
Types of off-farm employment engaged
in by family members were similar
among income groups, Table 1. Manual
labor, factory employment, and jobs re-
lated to the forest industry were primary
types of work reported. In about % of
the cases, the husband was the only fam-
ily member engaged in nonfarm employ-
ment, while in 10% of the cases the wife
TABLE 1. OFF-FA
HUSBANDS AMob
IN SAMPLE, 
C
Co
Type of
employment F
Manual work
Factory workers
Forestry and
related jobs
Public works
White collar
work
Merchant
Other (mis-
cellaneous)
'Based on 25 fami
2 Based 
on 362 
fan
'Based on 15 fami
' Basedon 444 fan
Income RESOURCES in
RURAL CENTRAL ALABAMA
JOHN M. HUIE and E. E. KERN
Department of Agricultural Economics
was the only family member employed.
Twenty per cent of the families reported
both husbands and wives working in
nonfarm pursuits.
Among farmers, cotton, beef, corn,
and pork were the major items sold.
Truck crops, forest products, eggs, broil-
ers, and milk were produced for sale on
a smaller scale.
TABLE 2. INCOMEDISTRIBUTION AMONG
RURALFAMILIES IN SAMPLE, CENTRAL
ALABAMA COUNTIES
Families
Income Farm
1 
Non- Non-
farm
2 
work
3 
All
% % % %
Under 500 14 2 7 5
500-999 16 6 38 16
1,000-1,999 22 16 88 23
2,000-2,999 8 18 8 14
3,000-4,999 .4 29 6 19
5,000-9,999 19 26 2 19
10,000 and over 17 8 1 4
1 Based on 93 families reporting 50% or
more farm income.
_ Based on 407 families reporting 50 % or
more nonfarm income.
' Based on 181 families reporting 50% or
more nonwork income.
'Based on 689 families reporting (includes
8 with no source over 50%).
In addition to cash income received,
kRM EMPLOYMENT OF more than 1/ of the families reported
G RURAL FAMILIES having some type of home garden to
ENTRAL ALABAMA supplement their incomes. Beef, pork,
UNTIES 
broilers, eggs, and 
milk were also pro-
Families duced for home use in a substantial num-
SNon- Non- Al
4  
ber of cases. Although live-at-home ben-
arm farm
2 
work
3  
efits were reported more frequently
% % % % among farm families, nonfarm and non-
24 26 13 26 
work families also had many 
home-pro-
0 16 7 14 duced items,. These things obviously
16 13 
0 1 
helped overcome 
some of the 
disadvan-
12 10 
13 1 tages 
of low cash 
incomes.
Distribution of income was quite dif-
4 5 0 5 ferent among the 3 family groups, Table
4 1 0 2 2. Forty-four per cent of all families re-
40 29 67 30 ceived less than $2,009 annually. Range
among families in this income category
ilies reporting. was from 1/4 of those in the nonfarm
nilies reporting. 
group to over 80% 
of those in the 
non-
nilies reporting. 
work group. 
About 1/ 
of the farm 
fam-
ilies received less than $2,000 annually.
Almost 1/3 of the nonfarm families re-
ceived above $5,000 annually as com-
pared to 36% of the farm families and
3% of the nonwork families.
Age of husband was definitely related
to the level of family income. Thirty-
nine per cent of those families whose
husbands were between the ages of 35
and 44 years received above $5,000 an-
nually. The percentage of families in
this group increased up to this age cate-
gory and then declined steadily. Only
14% of the families whose husbands
were between the ages of 55 and 64
years received above $5,000 annually.
Health of husband was also related to
the level of family income received. Only
22% of those families whose husbands
had good health received below $2,000
annually as compared with 50% of those
with fair health and 73% of those with
poor health. In each income category,
from the lowest to the highest, the per-
centage of husbands reporting good
health went up as compared to those
reporting fair and poor health.
Education of husband was directly
related to the level of family income.
Whereas a small percentage of families
whose husbands had below a 6th grade
education received above $5,000 annu-
ally, the percentage increased steadily to
74% of the families whose husbands had
above high school education but below
a college degree. A total of 94% of the
families in the lowest income group was
associated with less than a grammar
school education of the husband.
About of the families expressed out-
ward dissatisfaction with their income
situations and many felt that little could
be done to, improve their conditions as
far as they could determine. Problems
beyond their control were cited as rea-
sons for having to maintain the status
quo. However, the most pressing need
was felt to be that of increased employ-
ment opportunities. Other problems re-
lated to, the need of educational oppor-
tunities, better health programs, and bet-
ter markets and agricultural prices.
13
CONSTANT CHANGE
Theme of Alabama's Agriculture
corn, oats for grain, peanuts harvested,
cotton, vegetables for sale, and hay
showed decreases.
These changes mean something to the
urban resident as well as to the farmer.
They point to a growing commercial and
mechanized agriculture in the State that
is more efficient.
MAJOR CHANGES IN ALABAMA AGRI-
CULTURE DURING 1954 TO 1959
NOTHING IS AS certain as change! This
has been said about the weather, but it
is just as true of Alabama's agriculture.
Despite the great strides made during
the 1940's and early 1950's, the last 5
years have seen continuing and rapid
changes. Data in the 1960 Census of Ag-
riculture point up the shifts made from
1954 to 1959. A summary of the major
changes from 1954 to 1959 are pre-
sented in the table.
Farms Becoming Fewer
Number of farms and land in farms
declined during 1954-59. Part of the
change in numbers is the result of a
change in definition of a farm. While
number of farms was declining, average
farm size increased more than one-fifth.
Increasing size has been the trend since
the 1930's.
Value of farm land and buildings per
acre also jumped- from $59 to $93. As
a result of size increase and higher value
per acre, value per farm almost doubled
in the 5-year period.
All categories of farm land acreage
declined from 1954 to 1959. The 6 mil-
lion acres of cropland harvested in 1959
was about half that of 20 years ago. The
drop in land used for harvested crops
was not accounted for by increases in
permanent pasture and farm woodland.
Acreage devoted to these uses also de-
clined. Farm land has been lost to high-
ways, cities, airports, military reserva-
tions, commercial forest operations, and
other nonfarm uses.
Tenants Disappearing
Tenant farmers, particularly share-
croppers, are a vanishing lot in the State.
Many tenants are working at off-farm
jobs and others are employed as hired
farm workers on large, mechanized
farms.
14
Young farmers are going the way of
tenants, with average age of farmers
continuing to increase. This increase
amounted to 1 year from 1954 to 1959.
In 1959, less than 10% of farmers were
under 35 years of age and 20% were
over 65. Age of the farm operator in-
fluences decisions and physical activity
and, in turn, affects farming operations.
Forms Better Equipped
The fewer farmers remaining are bet-
ter equipped for farming and for com-
fortable living. The percentage of farms
with telephones and home freezers more
than doubled. Farms with tractors in-
creased from almost one-third to slightly
less than half of all farms.
Progress was made in fertilizer and
lime use, too. Although still low in rela-
tion to needs, twice the percentage of
farmers applied lime and liming ma-
terials in 1959 than in 1954. Acres of
land limed increased by 33%. Commer-
cial fertilizer was used on fewer acres
because less acreage was farmed.
Farming expenses were greater in
1959 than in 1954. Out of four major
farm expense items listed in the 1960
Census, increases were greatest for feed
and machine hire. Increasing purchases
of production items are indications of a
greater degree of commercialization of
Alabama farms.
Both increases and decreases were re-
corded for livestock, poultry, and crop
production during the 5 years. While
numbers of cattle and calves, milk cows,
and sheep and lambs declined, there was
an increase in number of hogs and pigs
on farms. Chickens on farms also in-
creased, with spectacular changes ,in
broilers and eggs sold. Acreage of soy-
beans for beans jumped 36% and there
was a 15% increase of sorghums for grain
or seed. On the other hand, acreage of
J. H. YEAGER, Agricultural Economist
1954 1959
177.0
20.8
59
118
115.6
16.5
93
143
7.5 6.0
2.5 2.2
10.3 7.8
Item
No. of farms, thou ...........
Land in farms,
mil. acres
Value per acre, $.......
Average farm
size, acres
Farm land
Cropland, mil. acres ....
Per. pasture, mil.
a c r e s .............................
Woodland, mil. acres ......
Farm operators
Tenants, thou.
Prop. tenants, pct.......
Average age, years ...........
Working off-farm
100+ days, pct......
Prop. nonwhite, pct .........
Facilities and machinery
Telephone, pct.
Home freezer, pct............
Grain combine, pct..........
Corn picker, pct...............
Pick-up hay baler, pct.----
Truck, per cent........
Tractors, per cent.......
th o u ..................
Fertilizer and lime
Using fertilizer, pet .........
U sing lim e, pet..................
Acres fertilized, thou .......
Acres limed, thou .............
Expenses
Feed, mil. $
Machine hire, mil. $ .......
Hired labor, mil. $ ...........
Gasoline and
other fuel, mil. $ ..........
Livestock and poultry
Cattle, calves, thou..........
M ilk cows, thou................
Hogs and pigs, thou .........
Sheep and lambs, thou.-_
Chickens kept, thou .........
Chickens sold, thou..........
Eggs sold, thou. doz........
Acres of crops
Corn
1
, thou........................ 2,076
Sorghum s, thou................. 17.5
Oats
1
, thou.- -- . ... ...- - 173
Soybeans for
beans, thou-. - 90
Peanuts
harvested, thou. ............ 193
Cotton, thou. 1,154
Vegetables for
sale, thou. 64.9
Hay, thou. 507
1 Harvested for grain or seed.
1,671
20.2
90
122
188
799
47.4
380
61.6 32.2
35 28
49.8 51.1
31 35
26 25
16 84
16 42
3 4
2 5
2 4
34 48
30 46
65.2 70.8
82 83
4 8
4,781 3,933
229 304
52.2 96.9
8.5 15.2
29.6 36.2
15.8 19.4
1,796 1,526
320 208
889 1,222
55 36
5,682 7,771
41,142 141,208
22,040 57,752
t iii ill 19.54. txiopi is ('x\\ts of diflici it
b1(1(1 orI stl i i lot. xiiit ii iiiit\ to cilixk
laillb 1)10(11 ioll.
ill thie 'pli11 1111(1(1 Alailii I c1((11(1if 11)1i.
llt'callxc of dlifficuilt\ ill iy(ttiii'r a highl
perett't11 of (-\\(is to Iliil) ill t fil.
J(t1 f(i i rii i(ti x lix l t' u Vc i ' it hi4 t i fw
pcr orill it( fIxe \X I its ot 1) cIt t'xvt c tlif
b]li 131 sitk 1t lit I oxxa Ii I >of t il flaIr.
)(t(iiobeit o\ ,II bin , al At I alit'x I B et(i-
xx \ tit lollt f 1i) (oliti3 t'i~vi xuiac'
xx ill c a c t'oiit t'ri i (tii t' tf loiri b(f ai
tiols Blx c Bxxt tit'( InltilPai
Piuinmtiti.mxcxix an tbmis it 'ai,\ Brelei-
ilxxtbcliinxlm I ith MN1 ilitch x\fifcfiir ll(
a ill ttiiigd ('x tx abioui lptt' 11111 laial.
A illigltx8I of th \14i'ii f the 13'x'rch
Hlilt'k Btit, tSiiiixtafoiib'i lx BIllbpli litlk
fitotild otI on i cxx Mlof Ili'lo'
litbc 1) i Iic jct ix t' v (If l'txt 
1 
wtI oif. tie
o14the 'r-lxp xtil ixoft'x st'xliio\iiglit
oh oiitif la tluig.liiltx citi\ itlot thats
lillxboiiihtfoiii'xxll I soturcestii
Some of the ewes with
lombs ot the Auburn Sta-
tion ore shown ot right.
tZ
SHEEP RESEARCH
in Alabama
E. L. WIGGINS, Assatae Animal Breeder
"0i0di ili tix.s \l ltll d xi/t' pro l'oxx th
p(lxc ttl plxx i ap oxxlili' f t l 'xsre 'itpili
11a x ll ti (x txhiavte ~ lt f t (Il iid t11oo
o lftt sk ll' 3ii loill t'fls A s t 'xxr icx t'Yiii ixtli
Oitt', t'tx c l ail xkio llitx could I b (ifl
cllit xxioxl cl( teslnted iottide ( I3 iiii-
8:33~ ~~~o I~x x ttil IIix t'x t' 1 itIi'' 
f it
tore jilox t'ill af ii 1x l t flc o-(rla Iill tbollOit-
(('x llS l lurcIl fit' ti ' oxl l t't a to01)1
xx oti' i . ' t i \ t' i\ 'i i pr dice t rolxx l)
((111114s 1 il iolstillt' t'xxl~ t'. liix tii i l l
11l is i
1
'll i itn oftlliii fcigt' fll frl' t illo -
hilo x. ('ilxih " tiltxxt' h t ic lix(( plo-
pr aoucedt ftiio t'
\Io'x Illx AT \(i It\ INAi_\i, xxi
D)ate iof
fl' (d11I)!9
petriodt
Mixl :31-
Sct 24
Xo'1"ixt 3tt-
iHl"
Lot Lil 
xxsInitial x
_\'o. Lb.
A 1.:3 6 0t
I3 1.3 59
1961 tit' 5i- F '1 8ff
list 7G( 24 78
11 21 78
.ix pi .gt' Prlli10.
)(I others to Colillobia, sollic I(iscill-ch 
hils ))(.(it) colldlicted of]
)Sliil-(i ritills. E'N\c litillbs 
(11 1,1 f .cedill(t lilte-borl) 
lillilb.s. Laillbs
]I(.S(, llultim's ale beilig
too li"llt to s(Al as slillialiter laillbs at
1v hillib prodlictioll.
latc silles plit ill drylot ill 1960 and
1961. 'I'llesc laillbs loadc 'rood "itills oil
So, \p'lL'li
it silliple liltioll of 'rolllld covil, cottoll-
secd locill. illid 'ilfallit haN . sec tilble.
A\ Gaills \\(il-(, sollic\01ilt lo\\( "* the sceolld
Fillitl I I "U'Cit'is
'eight 
!"Fild , althollall 
tll(, lallibs
g-aill at 
the stitit of thc l(i(idiog 
period. No
1). 1, b. Scole, litinbs \\civ lost Irom parasitisio or other
97 9 1-4.W 
cillls( .S. At the cild of 
the feedilig pcriod,
() 1 .-374 14.4 tll(, lillillys \\cre lat \\itliolit bcilla (,X(.(is-
skck 11(iit\\. 'I'llc)-clore, (11-dot feeding
W .:308 15.0 
t'
10:3 A50 14.6 appeal's 
to be it b(itto-ir \va to hillidle
100 A25 15.1 late laillbs thall to cillrv til(lill MCI* ()It
sollillicl, "razillf, 1()Ilo\\ cd I)\ \\ inter
100 
.-),)8 
-
98 .2 (i (i 
itild possibl\ a di-vlot fc(iding
10 1 .272 piriod. _\ lorc \\ ork oil this phitse is
illdildill" lliore cificiclit littions,
uc; 15-lo\\ 
Plilllc 16- 
pdl( t ed rat 
iol is, " ill ill 
possil)k ill 
t ifici:ll
cool i 1) (T
i"
v
I 
vl_
COTTON DISEASES-
and George F. Atkinson
LILLIAN FOSCUE, Graduate Assistant
EVERY COTTON GROWER from a 4-H
Club boy with one acre to a planter of
hundreds of acres gathers a bigger crop
because of the work of a biologist at Au-
burn whose name is generally unknown.
Fusarium wilt and root-knot nema-
tode are familiar names to the cotton
grower, but the grower's knowledge of
these cotton diseases and the means for
combating their destructiveness in his
fields have been gained from the pioneer
work of George Francis Atkinson 70
years ago.
Cotton was almost the only cash crop
in Alabama during the early years of the
Agricultural Experiment Station at Au
burn. Over-production pushed the price
down. To the individual farmer, there
was no other choice. Cotton was the only
crop on which he could get a loan and
for which a ready market existed. The
overall economics of cotton production
was something no one farmer could do
much about, but the increasing number
of cotton diseases and insect pests that
were attacking individual cotton crops
presented more of a personal problem.
By 1890 specimens of diseased cotton
were arriving at the Experiment Station
in Auburn from all parts of the State
labeled "black rust," "red rust," "french-
ing," and "root rot." It was up to the
"book farmers" to come up with some
answers before every cotton plant in
Alabama wilted and died.
Prof. Atkinson arrived in Auburn late
in 1889 from the South Carolina Agri-
cultural Experiment Station. A Cornell
graduate, Atkinson filled the newly cre-
ated positions of professor of biology at
the Alabama Agricultural and Mechani-
cal College and biologist of the Experi-
ment Station. His special work was the
investigation of the diseases of plants
caused by parasitic fungi and insects.
Although he spent only 3 years at Au-
burn, Prof. Atkinson identified and de-
scribed cotton rust, fusarium wilt (which
bears his name as discoverer - Fusariurn
vasinfectum Atk.), nematode root gall,
and other cotton diseases.
This is the third article of a
series on Auburn University and
its Agricultural Experiment Station
System- its founding and its con-
tributions to the progress of Ala-
bama's agriculture. The series is
being published in conjunction
with Auburn's Centennial Celebra-
tion.- Editor
Black rust and its earlier stage, then
called red rust, he found to be caused
by a potash deficiency. Theories current
at that time as to the cause of rusts
ranged from the condition of the soil and
lack of fertilizer to certain atmospheric
conditions. With the proof offered by
Prof. Atkinson, fertilization recommen-
dations were revised. As soon as plant-
ers put the new recommendations into
practice, black rust ceased to be a prob-
lem.
The fungus found by Prof. Atkinson
to cause cotton wilt or "frenching" was
a new one, which he named Fusarium
vasinfecturm. Wilt-resistant varieties have
FREE Bulletin or Report of Progres
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
AUBURN UNIVERSITY
E. V. Smith, Director
Auburn, Alabama
Permit No. 1132-11/61-IOM
been developed based on this early work
of Atkinson. (See story on Auburn 56
variety, p. 10.)
At the time he was working on cotton
diseases, knotted roots and "rusty" leaves
were frequently found on the same cot-
ton plant. Separating the symptoms and
attributing them to different causes,
Prof. Atkinson showed that a plant weak-
ened by attack of one disease offered
less resistance to others. Therefore, a
combined attack of nematode root gall
and fusarium wilt was frequently found.
Prof. Atkinson laid the blame for the
increase in cotton diseases observed in
the 1890's to. "impoverished and badly
cultivated soils . . . the natural outcome
of years of continued cultivation of the
crop without a wise rotation with other
remunerative farm crops and a careful
diagnosis of the needs of the soil." Ie
compared the conditions of the soil un-
der a continuous one-crop cultivation to
the unhygenic conditions of cities before
people learned sanitation procedures.
Dr. James A. Lyle, head of the de-
partment of botany and plant pathology
at this Station, gives Atkinson credit for
"probably 
contributing 
more to our
knowledge 
of cotton 
diseases than 
any
other man before or since his time."
After he left Auburn, Atkinson re-
turned to Cornell where he was named
head of botany in 1896. He is best known
to the general public for his book, Mush-
rooms Edible and Poisonous. At Auburn
he gathered a comprehensive collection
of fungi specimens of the Southeast for
the college. A graduate student who did
his first work with fungi as an assistant
to Atkinson at Auburn was Dr. B. M.
Duggar, who was instrumental in the
discovery of one of the miracle drugs
derived from a fungus growth-aureo-
mycin.
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