CIRCULAR No. 19 FBUR,11
ALABAMA
Agricultural Experiment Station
OF THE
Alabama Polytechnic Institute
A UB UR N
ajanual Report of the Director 
of
periment Station on Work 
Done
the Local Experiment 
Law in
the Ex-
under
1911
BY
J. F. DUGGAR
Director
Opelika, Ala.
Poet Publishing Compasy
FEBRUARY, 1912

Auburn, Ala., Feb. 28, 1912.
CAPT. R. F. KOLB,
Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries,
Montgomery, Ala,
Dear Sir: In accordance with Section 5 of the Local Ex-
periment Law, requiring me, as Director of the Experiment
Station of the Alabama Polytechnic Institute, to make a
full and complete annual report through the Commissioner
of Agriculture to the Governor of Alabama, I herewith
hand you my report of work done under the Local Experi-
ment Law in the calendar year 1911, with the request that
you transmit this report to his Excellency, Governor Em-
met A. O'Neal.
Yours very truly,
(Signed): J. F. DUGGAR,
Director Experiment Station of the
Alabama Polytechnic Institute.
STAFF OF SPECIALISTS ENGAGED IN WQRK
UNDER THE LOCAL EXPERIMENT LAW.
J. F. Duggar, Director.
Agriculture, Plant Breeding and Farm Machinery.
*J. F. Duggar, in charge.
*E. F. Cauthen................Associate Agriculturist
*M. J. Funchess...............Assistant Agriculturist
J. T. Williamson...........Field Agent in Agriculture
L..L. Glover...............Field Agent in Agriculture
*E. iFlodson..................Assistant in Agriculture
*L. T. Rhodes...................Acting Field Agent
Livestock and Poultry Investigations.
*D. T.. Gray, in charge.
**W. F.. Ward ............. Junior Animal Husbandman
* L. W. Shook...........Assistant in Animal Industry
E. R.- Eudaly.....Assistant in Beef and Swine Industry
**S. S. Jeidan.............Assistant in Beef Industry
A. R '', RGissendanner .. Assistant in Swine Husbandry
*C. D. Allis....................Assistant in Poultry
Entomology.
*W. E. Hinds, in charge.
I. W.. Carpenter..................... Field Assistant
Horticultural Investigations.
*1. F. Williams, in charge.
Hf. M. Conolly......... Field Assistant in Horticulture
*J. C. C. Price................ Assistant in Horticulture
.Agricultural Extension.
**L. N. Duncan, 
in charge.
L *J. B. Hobdy.............Assistant in Extension Work
**5. I. Bechdel....................... Dairy Extensioni
Miss D. E. Stroud.. .. .. ........ Assistant in Extension
Plant Diseases.
F. A. Wolf, in charge.
*Devoting only part of time to Local Experiment work.
* *In co-operation with United States Department of Agriculture.
REPORT OF WORK DONE DURING 1911 UNDER
THE .LOCAL EXPERIMENT LAW.
(APPROVED FEBRUARY, 1911.)
In February, 1911, the Legislature of Alabama passed a
bill introduced by Mr. W. W. Lavender in the House, and
by Judge S. H. Sprott in the Senate, appropriating funds
to the Experiment Station of the Alabama Polytechnic In-
stitute with which to conduct experiments and to carry on
extension work in the different counties of Alabama. This
bill, approved by Gov. E. A. O'Neal February, 1911, made
the following annual appropriations:
For local fertilizer experiments in the several counties and for the
investigation and introduction of new or improved field crops and
forage plants_------------------------------------------$7,000.00
For combatting the cotton boll wevil and other injurious insects- 2,300.00
For plant breeding of field and forage crops-------------------1,200.00
For work in drainage, irrigation and farm machinery 1,500.00
For publication and administrative expenses, etc. 2,500.00
For horticultural investigations__ ---------- 2,000.00
For livestock investigations --------------------------------- 3,500.00
For investigations of diseases of cotton and other plants --------- 1,000.00
For promoting the poultry industry -------------------------- 1,000.00
For agricultural extension .----_ _------------------------- 5,000.00
It is in accordance with the following provision of this
bill that this report is made:
"Section 5. That by or before March 1 of each year the Director of the
said Experiment Station shall make a full and complete report, through the
Commissioner of Agriculture, to the Governor af Alabama, on the work of
the previous year in execution of this Act."
The funds which constitute the nucleus for the work of
the Experiment Stations in every state are provided by
Congress. Most states have for many years supplemented
such support by appropriations from the State Treasury,
but not until 1911 had any state appropriations ever been
made for the support or equipment of the Alabama Exper-
iment Station at Auburn.
The funds received from the National Government are
subject to strict limitations and the Federal officials super-
vising expenditures under those funds do not permit them
to be used for popular experiments nor for other publica-
tions than those giving the results of original investiga-
tions. Hence, there was urgent need in Alabama for sup-
plementary State funds with which to broaden and popu-
134
lirize the. wirk of the Expieriment Statfion at Auburn'i and
to carry its experiments- and teachings to the farms and
farmers of every part of Alabama.
Publications Under the Local Experiment Law.
Under the Local Experiment Law the Station i now
able :t publish an.increased number of bulletins, circulars
and brief articles, and may publish popular bulletins of a
nature not heretofore possible, by reason of the limitations
governing the Federal funds. The following is a list of
publications made during the latter months of the calendar
year 1911, under the provisions of this law:
Bulletin No. 152:- Self Boiled Lime Sulfur and Its Use; by the Horticul-
}.? tuurist and the Assistant Horticulturist.
Bulletin. No. 155:-The Pecan in Alabama; by the Horticulturist.
Bulletin No. 157:-The Satsuma Orange; by the Horticulturist.
Bulletin No. 158:-Feeding Calves in Alabama; by the Animal Husband-
man and his assistant.
Bulletin No. 159:-Heading Off the Boll Weevil Panic; by the Entomologist.
Bulletin No. 160:-Local. Fertilizer Experiments With Cotton in South
Alabama in 1911; by the Director and Assistants.
IBulletin No. 161:-Lime for Alabama Soils; by the Director 
and Assist-
ant Agriculturist.
Circular No. 9:-The Relation of the County Superintendent of Education
to the Boys' Corn Club Work. How to Organize a Club;
by the Superintendent of Extension Work.
Circular No. 10:-Fighting the Cotton Worm; by the Entomologist.
Circular No. 11:-The Relation of the Teacher to the Boys' 
Corn Club-
Work; by the Superintendent and Assistant in Exten-
sion Work.
Circular No. 12:-How to Organize and conduct a Girl's 
Canning Club;
by the Assistant in Extension Work.
Circular No. 13:-School Gardening; by the Botanist and the 
Superinten-
dent of Extension Work.
Press Bulletin No. 44:-Protect Your Peaches from Plum 
Curculio and
Brown Rot; by the Entomologist.
Press Bulletin No. 45:-Look Out for the Cotton Worm; 
by the Ento-
mologist.
Press Bulletin No. 46:-Cotton Worms Increasing; 
by the Entomologist
Press Bulletin No. 47: Cotton Worms of Second Crop 
Soon Due; by the
Entomologist.
Press Bulletin No. 48:-Cotton Worm Damage in Alabama; 
by the En-
tomologist
Press Bulletin No. 49:-The Boll We.vil is Spreading 
Fast. Look Out
for it; by the Entomologist.
135
Press Bulletin No. 50:-Announcement of Boll Weevil Line and Quaran-
tine Rules Applying to Alabama; by 
the Ento-
mologist.
Press Bulletin No. 51:-Notice Relative to Shipments of Articles Quaran-
tined Against on Account of the Boll Weevil; by
the Entomologist.
Press Bulletin No. 52:-Tests of Varieties of Cotton in 1911; by the Di-
rector and the Associate Agiculturist.
Organizing the Work.
The execution of the various projects 
of the law was as-
signed to the following officers of the Alabama Experiment
Station.
To the Director the matter of publications and adminis-
tration.
To the Agriculturist, J. F. Duggar, charge of all the work
with field and forage crops, including breding, and also
Lupervision of the work in drainage, irrigation and farm
machinery.
To the Entomologist, Dr. V. E. Hinds, was assigned all
matters connected with the cotton boll weevil and the oth-
er injurious insects.
To the Horticulturist, Professor P. F. Williams, was en-
trusted the supervision of all horticultural investigations.
,To the chief of the Department of Animal Industry,
Prof. D. T. Gray, was assigned livestock investigations and
the work in promoting the poultry industry.
To the Plant Pathologist, Dr. F. A. Wolf, falls the work
with diseases of cotton and other plants, and to the Super-
intendent of Extension work, Prof. L. N. Duncan, is en-
trusted the activities of the Station under this bill for agri-
cultural extension work.
In order to secure the services of the most efficient as-
sistants it was not possible in most departments to fully
organize the work until the summer of 1911, and the work
in plant pathology could not be begun until November.
Under a resolution of the Board of Trustees of the Ala--
bama'Polytechnic Institute it is required that all work un-
der the Local Experiment Law be submitted in the form
of "uroject statements" and approved by the Director of
the Experiment Station.
"Heads of each department will file in Director's office for each separate
line of proposed work written "project statements" of the form usually em-
ployed in other Stations, outlining proposed experiments, surveys, or other
activities, including estimated annual cost of each, and counties where the
136
work will probably be done; and on approval of these plans, or detailed
''project statements", each head of a department is authorized to spend
amounts not exceeding the monthly pro rata share of the funds provided un-
der this law for the support of the particular work assigned to his department."
Under the provisions of this law it has become possible
for a number of assistants to be added to the staff, namely:
Three in agriculture, drainage and farm machinery.
Five in animal industry.
Two in extension.
One in horticulture.
One in entomology.
By the employment of these new men it is now possible
for the several departments of the Experiment Station to
conduct their experiments or carry their teachings to the
farmers of every part of Alabama. In addition to the new
assistants giving their whole time to the Local Experiment
work, certain other members of the staff of the Experiment
Station devote a small part of their time to directing these
new lines of work.
Work With Injurious Insects.
It is fortunate for Alabama that the appropriation for
local experimental work was made a few months before
the widespread invasion of the State for the first time in
years by the cotton caterpillar. By reason of the small
fund placed at the disposal of the Entomologist of the Ala-
bama Experiment Station, Dr. W. E. Hinds, he was able
to take steps which resulted in the much more general use
of poison than would otherwise have been possible and to
give personal advice to many farmers and to issue several
publications pointing out the best methods of combatting
this serious insect pest. This department has also been
kept very actively employed in matters connected with the
maintenance of the quarantine of parts of the State against
the parts already infested with the cotton boll weevil.
Reference to the list of publications on a preceding page
shows that during the year- the Department of Entomology
of this Station issued seven press bulletins, one circular,
and one bulletin, none of which popular pamphlets would
have been published under the National appropriation for
this Station.
Agricultural Extension.
In agricultural extension work it seemed best to join
forces with the farm demonstration work of the United
137
States Department of Agriculture, which 
was already en-
gaged in organizing corn clubs, tomato 
clubs, etc., in Ala-
bama. By this combination of forces it has 
been possible
to carry the work into a.much larger 
number of counties
and to employ several additional experts, 
including a lady
who devotes her time to the promotion of tomato 
clubs
and the encouragement of the home canning of vegetables,
as well as assisting girls in other lines of industrial 
effort.
Livestock Investigations and Poultry Industry.
From the nature of the work of feeding and rearing live-
stock it was necessary for the work of this department to
be concentrated on a limited number .of farms. The Ani-
mal Industry Department now has local experiment 
work
in animal industry and poultry husbandry under way in
eight counties, including co-operative work with four of
the agricultural schools. In addition some more general
work is being done in other localities for the promotion of
the poultry industry, especially in the matter of improving
conditions for the profitable marketing of poultry and poul-
try products.
Horticultural Investigations.
Before making any experiments in horticulture it seemed
advisable to make a general examination of conditions
throughout Alabama with reference to horticultural possi-
bilities. Hence, the activities of Prof. P. F. Williams, head
of the department, Mr. H. M. Conolly, Field Assistant,
and Mr. J. C. C. Price, who is paid from this fund for only
a small part of his time, have devoted themselves to the
collection of information which would be needed in the ex-
perimental work in horticulture in 1912. In addition they
have disseminated much horticultural information through
letters and circulars.
Fertilizer Experiments and Other Experiments With Field
and Forage Crops.
My correspondence indicates that the question to which
the average farmer is seeking the most immediate answer
is how to fertilize cotton on the various soils of Alabama.
This problem was therefore made the leading line of work
in 1911. To throw light on this matter provision was made
for more than 130 fertilizer experiments with cotton. In
order to make the results as widely applicable as possible,
one or more of these was located in each county. The re-
sults are in part published in Bulletin No. 160 and 162 of
this Station. It will require the repetition 
of each experi-
ment for several years under similar conditions 
before con-
clusions can be drawn as to the best fertilizer for each 
soil;
however, even the results of the first year's tests are 
help-
ful and capable of adding greatly to the farmers' 
profits in
1912 and thereafter by suggesting the most profitable 
com-
bination of fertilizer for many soils.
Smaller numbers of fertilizer experiments were made
with corn, sweet potatoes, peanuts, and sugar cane.
In order to show the value of some of the best varieties of
corn, cotton, and cowpeas, variety tests of these crops were
arranged in all sections of the State.
The following is a list of the local experiments, that is,
experiments made elsewhere than at Auburn, undertaken
in the agricultural department during the ten months be-
tween March 1 and December 31, 1911:
Regular fertilizer experiments with cotton.
Complete nitrate of soda experiments with cotton.
Special phosphate experiments with cotton.
Special nitrate experiments with cotton.
Cotton variety tests, extensive.
Cotton variety tests, extensive,-wilt resistantkinds.
Cotton variety tests, short.
Cotton variety tests, short -- wilt resistant kinds.
Cotton isolation tests (plant breeding).
Regular fertilizer experiments with corn.
Complete nitrate experiments with corn.
Corn, variety tests, extensive.
Corn, short variety tests, soft varieties.
Corn, short variety tests, hard varieties.
Corn breeding, ear-to-row test.
Corn, isolation tests (plant breeding).
Special nitrate exeriments with oats.
Cowpea variety tests, extensive.
Cowpea variety tests, short.
Regular fertilizer experiments with peanuts.
Peanut, variety tests, extensive.
Regular fertilizer experiment with sugar cane.
Special fertilizer experiment with sugar cane.
Nitrate of soda experiment with sugar cane.
Regular fertilizer experiments with sweet potatoes.
Sweet potato, variety tests.
Sweet patato, isolation tests.
Soy bean tests.
Lime experiments (various crops).
Wheat experiments.
139
Lyon bean and velvet bean experiments.
Johnson grass fertilizer experiments.
Winter forage crop tests, extensive.
Bur clover test.
Vetches.
Forage crops, miscellaneous (clovers, etc.)
Drainage and Farm Machinery 
and Plant Breeding of
Field Crops.
Local drainage investigations were begun in the summer
of 1911 in co-operation with 
the Drainage Division of the
Office of Experiment Stations, United 
States Department
of Agriculture. The first points 
investigated are the nu-
merous problems arising in connection with the application
of tile drainage to the stiff lime 
or so-called prairie soils of
central Alabama. Provision has been made for the experi-
mental drainage of five small fields 
and the work on most
of those was nearly completed before the end 
of the calen-
dar year. The experiments are so arranged as to deter-
mine the best depth and distance for tiles 
on this character
of land and to throw light on other drainage 
problems. The
work thus inaugurated should continue to give instructive
results for a number of years. It is planned that 
the next
experiments in tile drainage shall be on a different type of
land so that as results on the several types of soils become
available we shall be able to answer the questions that arise
in connection with tile drainage on different characters of
land. The farms on which the drainage experiments have
been begun are the following:
W. E. Elsberry, Montgomeay, Ala.
Dr. Frank McLean's Estate, McGehees, Ala.
M. F. Smith, Marion Junction, Ala.
J. T. Adams, Pineapple, Ala.
R. G. Ennis, Livingston, Ala.
In farm machinery a beginning was made in testing ma-
chines for the sowing of oats by the open furrow method.
In plant breeding the principal work done consisted in
testing out in numerous localities, varieties and strains
which had been selected or bred at Auburn in previous
years.
Financial.
The fact that a considerable balance is carried over, as
permitted by law, is due to the fact that the expenditures
under the law in 191) were for only a fraction of a year.
140
This balance will be needed to carry on as 
planned the full
year's work in' 1912.
The report of the treasurer is attached. Reports are also
attached from the heads of the departments of Entonology,
Animal Industry, Horticulture, Agricultural Extension,
and Plant Pathology.
Respectfully submitted,
(Signed) J. F. DUGGAR,
Director of the Experiment Station of the
Alabama Polytechnic Institute.
TREASURER'S REPORT, LOCAL EXPERIMENT FUND,
FOR THE YEAR 1911.
RECEIPTS
To cash from State-------- ---------- $27,000.00
To cash from Animal Industry--------------------99.63 $27,099.63
DISBURSEMENTS
By Departments -
Amount paid Agriculture----------------------$ 6,710.71
i" " Horticulture--------------------- 1,452.53
it" " Animal Industry-------------------3,490.00
" " Publication and administration--------2,615.57
Extension.----------___ .. _3,356.21
to " Entomology-----------------------1,886.72
" it Plant Pathology ---------- 30.21
"Drainage--------------------------- 846.00
" " Plant breeding ------------ 233.32
it "Library----------------------------- 
.5.50
By balance carried to 1912------------------------ 6,472.86 $27,099.63
Respectfully,
(Signed): M. A. GLENN, Treasurer.
State of Alabama:
Lee County.
Personally appeared before me, Welborn Jones, a Notary Public in and
for said county. M. A. Glenn, known to me as Treasurer of the Alabama
Polytechnic Institute, who being duly sworn, deposes and says that the
above foregoing account is true and correct. Witness my hand this 27th
day of February, 1912.
(Signed): WELBORN JONES,
Notary Public, Lee County.
141
ENTOMOLOGY
Auburn, Ala., Feb. 6, 1912.
Prof. J. F. Duggar,
Auburn, Ala.
Dear Sir: Under the Local Experiment Law passed by
the Alabama Legislature of 1911, the Department of En-
tomology received an allotment of $2,300.
This appropriation gave us the first opportunity that we
have had for extending the scope of the entomological work
done by this department beyond that of investigations
authorized under Federal funds. In accordance with the
Local Experiment act, we planned for a considerable ex-
tension of the correspondence work of the department in
order to extend the information available as to insect con-
trol so as to make it directly valuable to the planters of
Alabama. Accordingly during the past year the entomol-
ogical correspondence has greatly increased, requiring
more than 2,200 special replies, not including circular let-
ters, etc., of which a large number have been issued.
Realizing that the fund available would be inadequate to
maintain a special field assistant during the entire year and
barely enough to meet the imperative work which the ad-
vent of the boll weevil would necessitate, we did not at-
tempt to add a new man to the entomological force until
the latter half of 1911. Mr. I. \. Carpenter was then en-
gaged as Field Assistant, serving until the fir'st of.January,
1912.
No strictly experimental work could be undertaken be-
cause of the limit of funds, which it was thought could be
used to more general advantage in other ways. The work
clone under the fund has been in connection with two spe-
cies of insects particularly.
First, late in July, 1911, it became evident that an exten-
sive and serious outbreak of the cotton worm, Alabama
argillacea, was impending and prompt action was required
to spread warning of the danger and information as to the
most practicable methods of control. Practically the en-
tire time of the Entomologist for nearly two months was
occupied in meeting the emergency. In connection with
the campaign we published Press Bulletins Nos. 45, 46, 47,
48, and Circular No. 10.
Many meetings of farmers were addressed especially dur-
ing August, from one to four per day, and practically all
parts of the State were aroused for the fight. Arrange-
ment was made with the manufacturers so that practically
the entire available supply of poison in the eastern United
142
States was shipped into 
Alabama and was held 
in readiness
for quick delivery. The urgency 
of the situation appears
when it is considered that literally 
hundreds of tons of ar-
senical poisons were moved 
by express in Alabama dttring
a period of less than six weeks. Probably 
more than a.mil-
lion pounds of poison was distributed 
for the cotton vorrn
fight east of the Mississippi river. 
Nothing like tis. has
ever occurredl elsewhere within a similarly short period of
time. In spite of all that could he done many planters io+
heavily by the work of the worms, Thiel frurr careful 
fild
examinations appear to have decreased Alabama's 
cotton
crop for 1911 by an average aperuxima el v P.)per cent.
This is true in spite of the fact that a record1bi caking crop
was still secured.
XWhen the Mexican cotton boll v;-ev 1, Anthonomus
grandis, began to advance in AuguK t and Sen embcc.1911,
it became necessary to keep a man in the field most of the
time in order to establish the quarantine line which had to
be moved from time to time as the weevil moved forward.
.From one to three members of the department were en-
gageI in this work, particularly in October and November.
The weevil line for 1911 in Alabama was definitely es-
tablished about the middle of November and has been
showvn in Bulletin No. 1,59, published the latter part of De-
cember, 1911. This bulletin entitled "Heading Of Boll
Veevil 1Panic" has been in large demand and the edition
was imlmlcliatelv exhausted. \vould recommend an early
re-print of this b ulletin so that it may be sent to those re-
questing it.
I feel that wse shall be muich handicapped before the end
of 1912 for lack of funds with which to carry on these and
other lines of work that are certain to develop. We desire
to undlertake (demonstration work in insect control for the
benefit of orchardists and planters of our most important
crops. We cannot, however, go far in this work unless
the balance of the fund providedl for in the act of 1911 may
become available during 1912. The boll weevil work 
in
1912 is very certain to call for more extensive travel than
it did in 191 1, as the infested area increases. I would r-e ;
speetfully recommend that an effort be made to secure the
immediate availability of the balance of the entomological
fund as contemplated in the act.
Respectfully submitted,
(Signed) W. E. HINDS, Entomologist.
143
LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY
Auburn, Ala., Jan. 30, 
1912.
Professor J. F. Duggar, Director,
Alabama Experiment Station,
Auburn, Alabama.
Dear Sir:-
1. The following men 
were connected with 
the work
during 1911:
Dan 'T. Gray, part salary from Local 
fund.
W. F. Ward, salary from Federal Government
L. W. Shook, full salary from Local fund.
E. R. Eudaly, part salary from Local fund.
S. S. Jerdan, salary from Federal Government.
A. R. Gissendanner, full salary from 
Local fund.
C. D. Allis, full salary from Local fund.
2. The following work was undertaken:
A.-(a) Fattening calves in the winter 
months on the following feeds:
Lot 1-Cottonseed meal.
Cottonseed hulls.
Alfalfa hay.
Lot 2-Cottonseed meal 3
Corn-and-cob meal 3.
Cottonseed hulls.
Alfalfa hay.
Lot 3-Cottonseed meal 1.
Corn-and-cob meal 3.
Cottonseed hulls.
Alfalfa hay.
These cattle were sold in March, 1911, 
at Cincinnati;
reasonable profits were made on each 
lot, but the greatest
profit was secured on the calves in Lot 2, 
where one-third
of the concentrated part of the ration was composed 
of
corn-and-cob meal. Owing to the fact that the 
result of
the work is now ready to be issued as Station and 
Govern-
ment Bulletins it is not necessary to go into extended 
de-
tail.
B. Fattening calves during the winter months on cot-
tonseed meal, cottonseed hulls, and peavine hay. Fifty-
two calves were used in this test. The work was done in
co-operation with Mr. Allison, of Sumter county, and the
Bureau of Animal Industry, of Washington. These calves
netted a clean profit of $3.50 each when they were sold in
144
March, 1911, at New Orleans. 
The results of this work
are also ready for publication, and 
are now in the hands of
the printer.
C. Fattening steers on Pasture. This work 
was done
in co-operation with O. E. Cobb, of Sumter 
county, and
the Bureau of Animal Industry. Seventy-five head 
of
steers, divided into three lots, were fattened. The lots
were fed the following rations:
Lot 1-Pasture alone.
Lot 2---Pasture plus cottonseed cake.
Lot 3-Pasture plus cottonseed cake (early finish).
These cattle were sold in August, 1911, and excellent
profits obtained. This work, in fact, is also ready for 
pub-
lication, and will be put in the hands of the printer within
a few days.
D. Determining the cost and best methods of raising
and fattening hogs in the western part of the State. This
work is being done in co-operation with Mr. Allison, of
Sumter county, and the Bureau of Animal Industry at
Washington. The object of the test is to determine the
best methods of raising and fattening hogs in the western
part of the State. In doing this complete records are kept;
the cost of every crop is recorded, and every pound of grain
the hogs consume is also determined. The work has now
been in progress for almost two years, as the test was in-
augurated in April, 1910. A profit of almost $300.00 was
secured the first year (April to April). There is no reason
why a greater profit should not be secured this year. At
this date, however, we are not in position to render a state-
ment. From 20 to 30 sows, together with the pigs, are in
the test.
E. Determining the cost and best methods of raising
and fattening hogs in the southeastern part of the State.
This was inaugurated September 1, 1911, in co-operation
with Dr. J. F. Yarbrough of Columbia, Ala. Dr. Yar-
brough has a good and typical farm 6 miles from Columbia.
The farm is now divided into several parts with good hog
fencing, and is ready for the experimental work. The ob-
ject is to use good sows and grade up on them with
pure Berkshire boars, keeping all of the items of expense
as the work progresses. Complete cost of feeds, making
the crops, etc., are kept by a trained man. The aim is to
work up to about 20 sows. A good permanent pasture of
Bermuda is now established, and the two main temporary
crops, for a while at least, will be rape and peanuts.
145
F. Work With District Agricultural Schools. It was
thought that it would be a wise thing to do some experi-
mental work along livestock lines in co-operation with some
of the District Agricultural Schools. Sufficient funds were
not available to enable us to work with all of these schools,
so only four, one in each corner of the State, were finally
selected. In this co-operation the Alabama Experiment
Station bears practically all of the expense, while the au-
thorities of the various district schools look after the de-
tails of carrying through the tests. The following work
was done or is being done with these schools:
(a) Hamilton School.
Twenty hogs, divided into four lots of five each, were
used in this test. They were fed as follows:
Lot 1-Corn 
a.
Tankage 10.
Lot 4-Cowpea pasture.
fankage 'o ration.
Lot 3-Cowpea pasture.
Corn 4,
Sho , 
ration.
Lot 4-Cowpea pasture.
Corn. , ration.
The average daily gains were .54, .97, .94, and .90 of a
pound in lots 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. It required 540,
159, 187 and 174 pounds of grain to make 100 pounds of
gain in live weight in the four lots, respectively. In terms
of grain, it cost $7.16, $2.10, $2.43 and $2.28 to make 100
pounds of gain in Lots 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. Al-
though the cowpea crop was a poor one, on account of ex-
tremely dry weather, the result was satisfactory. During
1912 the hog work at this school will be very materially
enlarged.
(b) Jackson school.
At this school 12 head, divided into three tots, were em-
ployed. The following feeds were tested:
Lot 1-Corn i.
Tankage A.
Lot 2-Rice polish T-.
Tankage .
Lot 3-Corn and Cowpeas "hogged off."
The average daily gains in this lot were .94, .90, and 1.08
in Lots 1, 2 and 3, respectively. It required 363 and 367
pounds of concentrates to make 100 pounds of gain in Lots
1 and 2 respectively. When corn is valued at 70 cents a
146
bushel, rice polish at $30.00 
a ton, and the pasture at $8.00
an acre, it cost $5.01, $5.91 and 
$3.84 to make 100 pounds
of gain in Lots 1, 2 and 3, respectively.
At this school the work will be enlarged and uplifted
during 1912.
(c) Albertville School. Here 
15 hogs, divided into
three equal lots, were fed. 
The following rations 
were
used:
Lot 1-Corn 3.
Shorts 
1.
Lot 2-Corn 3. 
' 2ration.
Shorts 1.
Soy bean pasture.
Lot 3-Corn. 2 ration.
Shorts . ration.
Cowpea pasture.
Average daily gains of .70, .81 and .95 
of a pound were
secured, in Lots 1, 2 and 3, respectively. 
To make 100
pounds of gain it required 444, 
201 and 171 pounds of con-
centrates in Lots 1, 2 and 3, respectively. 
The dry weath-
er very materially reduced the yield 
of the field crops, es-
pecially the cowpeas, so when they are 
charged against the
gains at the rate of $8.00 an acre the 
pasture lots show to a
disadvantage. When corn is valued at 70 cents a bushel,
shorts at $30.00 a ton, and pasture at $8.00 an 
acre, it would
cost $5.01, $8.02 and $10.92 to make 100 pounds 
of increase
in live weight in Lots 1, 2 and 3, respectively.
(d) Abbeville School. At this school 
15 hogs, divided
into three equal lots, were fed. 
They were fed the follow-
ing rations:
Lot 1--Corn 
9
0
.
Tankage A.
Lot 2-Corn . ration
Tankage -. 
"
Cowpea pasture.
Lot 3-Corn . ration
Tankage 
.
ration.
Velvet bean pasture.
These pigs made an average 
daily gain of .69, .76. and
1.15 pounds in Lots 1, 2 and 
3, respectively. It required
437, 208 and 139 pounds 
of concentrates to make 100
pounds of increase in live weight 
in the three lots in their
respective order. When the 
feeds are valued as indicated
above it cost $5.78, $6.13 and $4.55 
to make 100 pounds of
gain in Lots 1, 2 and 3, respectively. 
The crops were both
poor ones on account of the weather.
G. Poultry Work. The poultry 
work is planned to un-
147
dertake two lines of work. It was thought that it would
be well to gather some accurate information relative to the
best methods and cost of raising chickens and feeding hens
for eggs. To do this a co-operative piece of work was un-
dertaken with C. D. Allis, of Pinson, Ala. This feature of
the work was inaugurated June 1, 1911. Mr. Allis at 
that
time was just starting in the poultry business. His houses
were not then completely finished. The work with Mr.
Allis is divided into two parts.
(a) A complete record of his whole flock is kept. This
record includes the feed, deaths, hatching, sales, etc. As a
result of keeping this complete record for a series of year*
it will be possible to accurately determine the profits, if
any, in the poultry business.
(b) Dry lot feeding vs. pasture feeding for egg produc-
tion. It is expected that many different 
crops will bc test-
ed before this line of work is finished. This winter there
are 112 hens, divided into four lots, being carried in a test
of this kind. The rations are as follows:
Lot 1-Dry feed alone.
Lot 2-Dry feed and green cut bone.
Lot 3-Dry feed and crimson clover pasture.
Lot 4-Dry feed and rye pasture. This work has not continued 
for a suf-
ficient number of days to warrant a discussion of conclusions.
The second line of poultry work consists in 
trying to get
farmers to organize themselves into Egg Marketing 
Asso-
ciations. The farmers are slow about taking hold of 
a pro-
ject of this kind, but we have finally induced thirteen 
farm-
ers in Cullman county to agree to organize 
themselves into
such an association. After this line of work is 
once started
it is believed that our farmers will take it up 
all over the
State. This is new to them and it is a difficult proposition
to get them to see that any good can come of it.
It is hoped that the department will have sufficient 
funds
to inaugurate the mule breeding work within 
the next two
or three months. If this can be started 
it will be done in
co-operation with J. G. Street, of Mumford, Ala.
I cannot conclude this report without calling the atten-
tion of the authorities to the efficient work and 
loyal sup-
port of all of those who have been connected with the work.
I regret to announce that Mr. Ward is no 
longer connected
with this work; he having accepted a lucrative 
commercial
position.
Very respectfully submitted,
(Signed) : DAN T. GRAY,
Animal Husband:nan.
148
HORTICULTURE
Auburn, Ala., Feb. 1, 1912.
Professor J. F. Duggar, Director,
Alabama Experiment Station,
Auburn, Ala.
Dear Sir: I respectfully 
submit the following report 
of
the work done and under way in 
my department under the
Local Experiment Fund for the 
year ending January 1,
1912.
Mr. H. M. Conolly, a graduate 
of the Michigan Agricul-
tural College, took up his work in 
connection with the Lo-
cal Experiments July 1, 1911.
Mr. J. C. Price, Assistant Horticulturist, 
has taken an
active part in connection with the above work. He 
has col-
lected much valuable data and attended many 
institutes.
He had charge of a co-operative fertilizer and variety 
test
of Irish potatoes at Opelika on land owned by Mr. S. M.
Puckett. Eight varieties of potatoes were used 
which fol-
low: Irish Cobbler, Beauty of Hebron, Bliss Triumph,
Bovee, Ohio, Early Ohio, Peerless and Burbank. A com-
parative test was made with fertilizers in the following
way:
Acid Phosphate vs. Thomas Phosphate for their relative value
as a source of ,phosphoric acid.
Cotton seed meal vs. sulphate of ammonia for their relative
value as a source of nitrogen.
Kainit, sulphate of potash and cotton seed meal 
for the rela-
tive value of each as a source of potash.
Spraying operations were conducted for controlling
blight and potato beetles in conjunction 
with the above.
The above tests will be continued another season 
to check
some very interesting facts -already evidenced. 
Mr. Price
inserted 320 separate apple grafts, consisting 
of 17 promis-
ing varieties in an old orchard in Montgomery 
county and
this work will be enlarged this coming spring. 
There are
hundreds of trees bearing worthless fruit 
which should be
worked over in this way, especially those 
on roots which
have resisted Wooly Aphis.
A considerable part of Mr. Conolly's time has been spent
making a careful survey of the horticultural 
conditions of
the State, studying the present conditions, collecting such
data as will materially assist the department in carrying out
the present system of co-operative experimental and 
dem-
onstrational work. On this survey 4,700 miles have been
traveled by rail and over 1,000 miles by other 
means.
Twenty-four counties have been visited at 56 different plac-
es and these counties follow: Baldwin, Barbour, Chilton,
149
Clay, Cullman, Dallas, Escambia, Fayette, Jefferson, Lee,
Madison, Marengo, Montgomery, Mobile, Morgan, Pike,
Russell, Sumter, Walker and Washington. In these coun-
ties the principal fruit and vegetable growing districts have
been visited and notes made on the crops grown, varieties,
methods of culture, time of planting, time of harvesting,
yields, cost of production, etc.
Photographs have been taken showing the different
phases of the above work, which will be used from time to
time in publication.
Mr. Conolly attended several fairs this last fall and in
this way acquainted himself with the leading growers and
with the products of the respective counties in which these
fairs were held and this aided materially in locating many
of our co-operative experiments.
The State has been divided into six horticultural districts
and a list of the varieties of fruits and vegetables found to
be adapted to each district has been prepared.
We have given several demonstration lectures on "The
Home Canning of Vegetables" in conjunction with the
work being done by Professor Duncan with the Girls' To-
mato Clubs.
Several planting plans have been completed for the im-
provement of high school grounds and many are under way.
This phase of our work has heretofore been greatly handi-
capped by lack of facilities and sufficient time to devote to
it. I know of no other form of. extension work which will
do more immediate good to the schools of the State than
this and I hope that funds of sufficient amount can be se-
cured eventually for this.
Many circulars, giving information on the growing of va-
rious vegetables have been written, and most of these have
been enlarged and will anpear in Circular No. 14 of this
Station. This circular will be available by February of the
coming year.
Bulletin No. 155 on Pecans has had a very general dis-
tribution and the demand for this will undoubtedly require
a reprint in the very near future.
Bulletin No. 157 on the Satsuma Orange was prepared
more esuecially for the people of the Gulf counties and to
supply the demand for information concerning this orange
from the hundreds of new settlers in that section. Owing
to the rapid development of the planting of this orange
much attention must necessarily be given to the control of
insect and fungus pests which will increase proportionately
150
to the increase in plantings. 
These ravages could be
checked without much difficulty if all 
growers would spray
at the proper time, but as in 
other fruit industry, there are
always those who will neglect to properly 
care for their
trees, and this affects the whole section.
In view of the above situation Dr. Hinds of the Depart-
ment of Entomology and myself have 
arranged to work
together in demonstrating to the growers the 
best method
of insect and fungus control. For 
the coming year we
have arranged with ten different 
growers to carry on va-
riety tests with one or more of the 
following vegetables:
Irish Potatoes, Onions, Canteloupes, Cabbage,. 
Tomatoes,
Beans, Peas, Sweet Corn and Strawberries. In addition 
to
this four different growers will carry on fertilizer 
tests.
Two acre fertilizer and variety tests combined 
have been
inaugurated with the Tennessee Coal and Iron 
Company
at Bessemer, in Jefferson county and a duplicate of this 
ex-
periment is under way at Marbury in Autauga county.
VWe will co-operate with several growers in pruning,
spraying, and fertilizing orchards. 
Orchard heating will
also be tested in North Alabama for frost protection. 
Heat-
ers have already been placed in two localities. 
Consider-
able work will be done in top-working pecans. 
Two par-
ties have been secured who will set out 
fruit orchards in
the "Black Belt," and Central Sandy Districts 
respectively.
Small fruits will be tested in Sumter.county.
It will be rather difficult to give sufficient 
time to all of
the above operations with the limited help and funds 
at our
disposal, but I feel that the work will develop and 
stimu-
late interest in fruit and vegetable growing 
and be of ma-
terial benefit over a considerable part of 
the State.
Yours very respectfully,
(Signed): P. F. WILLIAMS, Horticulturist.
151
EXTENSION
Auburn, Ala.
Professor J. F.-Duggar, Director,
Alabama -Experiment Station,
Auburn,. Ala.
Dear Sir:. The -Extension Department.is doing work
along the following lines:
1. Boys' Corn Club (Duncan and Hobdy).
2. Girls' Canning Clubs (Duncan, Hobdy and Miss Stroud).
2. Dairy Field Investigation Work (Bechdel).
4. Work of a general nature, circular letters, personal letters, pamphlets,
farmers' meetings and so on.
Boys' Corn.Clubs have been organized for 1912 as'fob.
lows:
County. Number of Boys.
Autauga -___ ________.__-_. ____. - - __5
Baldwin 81---- _ -- -- = ---- 81
Barbour 56
B ibb 98 _ -= = _ _-_ -- --- --- - - -- --- --- --- -- _ 9
Bloun t 72
Bullock-79
Bu-ter _ -- 34'
C alhoun -- ---.- ------- - ---- -- ------ --- --- 56
Chambers-54
Cherokee 29
Chilton-138
Chocta-- 23
Clarke - ___ _--- ----- -- 68'
(lay -- - - = - _ - - _ _ - - - - - - - 85.
Clebhurne --- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 83
Coffee. = -_ - - - - - - _ - - - 283
Colbert- - _ --- --- -- ---- 70
C onecu h _- - - - _ - - - - -_ _ _ __ - - - - _ - - - - _ _ _ 72'
Coos --101
C oyvington -_ _ _ __ - - - - - - -9- - - - - - - - 1
C renshaw15
Cullman--- _-- -- -108
Dale - _ _ _ _ _ - _ _ _ 174
D allas' ._ _ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - _ ------12
D e ab - -
- _ -
- - - - --- -
- - 7Elmore 
-- --- 
76
Etowah- - ; , -_ _ _ _ - _ _ - - - = - - - - - 113
F iyette --- -- --- - - -- - - --- - 117
Franklin102
Geneva---124-_- -
G reene. _ - _ _ - - - - -_ _ - - - - - ----------- - 40
Hale-- 2
152
Henry_-- 24
Houston - - -- ------------- 111Il
Jackson___ - - - - - - - - - -- -_- - -_60
Jefferson--------------------------65
Lauderdale- ----------------- - ------ _- ---- 27
Lawrence -------------------- - ---- -------- 208
L ee - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - -- - - -- - - 74
Limestone-----_--------- -------------------------------- 30
Lowndes ----- 88
M acon -- - - _ _-- - - - - - - - - - - - --- 24
Madison --------------------- __40
Marengo------_ -_----------------_-------------------- 12
Marion -------.--------------------------------------------------- 593
M obile --- - - -- - - - - -- - - - -- - - - - - -- -- - - 48
Monroe_------------------------------------- ------- 87
Montgomery--- ------------------------------------- - 55
Morgan--------- --- 164
Perry-------_- ---- __-------_ - -- -__103
Pike-----_-------------- -_--- - - ---------- _.234
Randolph ------------------ _.___ -- 155
Russell-- --- - _ _ -_ - - - _ - ___- __ _-- - -_ _- - 15
St. Clair - --------------- -------- ____ -_-_179
Shelby-------------------------- ----------------------- _22
Sum ter -- - - - - - - - -_ _ __ - - - -- - - - - - - - 49
Talladega --- ---- - -- -- _ _ _213
T allapuosa--- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - --- 128
Tuscaloosa--- - - - - - - - -- 56
Walke - -179
W ashington----- - - - - -- -- -- 26
Wilcox ------------------- - _- -__;------- ____- 68
Winson~. - -78
Total- ------------------- -------------------------- 6031
Girls' Canning Clubs have been organized for 1912 as follows:
,County. Number of Girls.
Baldin--------------------------120
Bibb-------- -- 78
Chilton ---------------------------- ----------- 95
DeKalb---------------------------------- 17
Frsnlin - -81
Hoton-------- - -------- -------------- - --
Lee .--------------- --------------- - -- -80
M arshall-- - ---- --.- -- __ __ 215
Mobile__ ------------------- __---------- ---- _- - _ 85
Morgn - - -- - -83
P ik e ------ -- ------- --- --- - - - - _ - _ - _ 5
Walker__ __ _ _ __ _ _ __I-- -------------------- - - - 158
1026
Miscellaneous__ - - - --_- - - --__-- 257
Total ---------------------- 2--------- --- :_283
153
The Dairy Extension Work consists in trying to improve
conditions in dairying in all parts of the State in every way
possible. Dairymen are aided in building model barns, si-
los and dairy houses, in the keeping of herd records, in
breeding of stock, in compounding proper rations for ani-
mals, and in all other ways possible. Personal visits to
dairy farmers are always made when it is deemed neces-
sary. Demonstrations in butter making, in the separating
and handling of milk and cream, and in the making of Bab-
cock tests, are given at institutes, fairs, etc., and dairy
meetings are held for the dairy farmers. These demonstra-
tions and dairy meetings are a new feature in the extension
work of this department and all indications are that the
work is going to be of much value. A complete dairy dem-
onstration equipment has been secured for the department.
Silos, model barns and keeping records are the three
points emphasized to the greatest extent-in this work. Cir-
cular letters giving information on silos, and silage, and
urging farmers to build silos are sent out. When a man
can be persuaded to keep records of his herd sheets are
furnished him, he is taught how to properly 
make the Bab-
cock test, and finally to keep the records in proper 
shape.
This record work is purely co-operative, in most cases
the data of the different herds is secured for publication
from the department in the form of a bulletin. 
The bulle-
tin on silos and herd records work are of about equal 
im-
portance at the present time. The former 
is the greatest
factor available for solving our feed problem, 
while the
latter is the only true way of eliminating 
the many unprof-
itable animals found in most herds.
In some sections of the State a great deal of progress 
has
been made in improving conditions and considering 
the
present great change that is taking place in the improve-
ment in the conditions of agriculture generally, 
the work
will no doubt make greater progress 
in the near future.
Respectfully submitted,
(Signed): L. N. DUNCAN,
In Charge Extension Work.
154
PLANT DISEASES
Auburn; Ala., Feb. 28, 1912.
Professor J. F. Duggar,
Auburn, Ala.
Dear Sir: Since the work in Plant Pathology was not
organized until November 1, 1911, no special report can 
be
made of investigations on plant diseases. The time for
the two months covered by this report has been spent in
securing equipment, planning the work for the coming
year, and becoming acquainted with some of the most im-
portant plant diseases of the State.
Respectfully submitted,
(Signed): F. A. WOLF,
Plant Pathologist.