FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT
of TI4E
OF TI4E
A. & M. 
COhLEG
uburn, Alabarna.
JANUARY 20, 1893.
MONTGOMERY, ALA.:
THE BROWN PRINTING CO., STATE PRINTERS AND BINDERS,
1893.

ALABAMA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE,
A. & M. COLLEGE,
AUBURN, ALA., January 20, 1893.
To Governor THOS. G. JONES,
Executive Department,
Montgomery, Alabama:
SIR:-lI have the honor herewith to trasmit to you the
annual report of the Agricultural Experiment Station of the
Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama, for the
year 1892.
This report is made in accordance with the provisions of
the act of Congress establishing the Experiment Stations in
the different States, and contains the report of the Treasurer,
the Chemist, the Botanist, the Agriculturalist and the
Veterinarian.
Very respectfully,
WM. LEROY BROUN,
President.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
Tiis Excellency, THOMAS G. JONES, President. ...... Ex-offieio.
J. G. HARRIS, Superintendent of Education.................Ex-officio.
J. G. GILCHIRIST ................................... Montgomery,
M. L. STANSEL ......................... Carrollton.
C. C. HARRIS ............... Decatur.
JONATHAN HARALSON ......................................... Selma.
R. F. Ligon........... . ..... Tuskegee.
JOHN W. BISHOP ..................................... Talladega.
R. F. KOLB................................ ..... Eufaula.
C. H. LINDSAY - ......................... ..... Mobile.
H. CLAY Armstrong. ................. Auburn.
E. T. GLENN........................Treasurer.
OFFICERS
oF T$S
Agricultural Experiment Station.
Board of Visitors.
COMMITTEE OF TRUSTEES ON EXPERIMENT STATION.
HON. J. G. GILCHRIST ................................. Hope Hull.
HoN. R. F. LIGON......................................Montgomery.
HON. H. CLAY ARMSTRONG............................Auburn.
:BOAED OF DIE?.ECTION.
WM. LEROY BROUN........................................President.
A. J. BONDURANT....................................... Agriculturist.
N. T. LUPTON .......................... ................. Chemist.
P. H. MELL........... ......... Botanist and Meteorologist.
.........................................Biologist.
C. A. CARY, D. V. M ................. 
............ Veterinarian.
ASSISTANTS:
JAMES CLAYTON........ ............ Assistant Horticulturist.
A. F. CORYt.. ..... Assistant Agriculturist.
J. T. ANDERSON, Ph. D ............. First Assistant Chemist.
L. W. WILKINSON, M. Sc...............Second Assistant Chemist.
F. A. LUPTON, M. Sc ...................... Third Assistant Chemist.
R. F. HARE, B. Sc..........................Fourth Assistant Chemist.
G. S. CLARK................. ....... Clerk, and Assistant Botanist.
* To be filled.
t In charge of Soil-Test Experiments.
TREASURER'S REPORT.
For the fiscal year ending July 1st, 1892.
THE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION OF THE
A. & M. COLLEGE OF ALABAMA,
In account with U. S. Treasurer.
HATCH FUND.
RECEIPTS.
To amount from U. S. Treasurer ...............
DISBURSEMENTS.
By amount paid salaries.......................
Building....... ... ..........
Postage.....................
Field Experiments...........
Printing .... ................
Experiment Station.........
Chemical Department .........
Stationery .....................
Traveling expenses of officers...
Incidental....................
Library ...................
Equipment of plant house
........ $ 15,00 00
8,335 35
750 00
50 00
313 87
620 45
3,055 57
450 00
91 52
211 29
139 75
477 08
505 12$ 15,00000
E. T. GLENN, Treasurer,
A. & M. COLLEGE.
THE STATE OF ALABAMA,
LEE COUNTY.
Personally appeared before me, W. S. J. Lampkin, a Notary Public
in and for said county and State, E. T. Glenn, known to me as Treas-
urer of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama, who be-
ing duly sworn, deposes and saith that the above and foregoing account
is true and correct.
Witness my hand this the 13th day of January, 1893.
W. S. J. LAMPKIN, Notary Public.
This is to certify that I have compared the above account with the
Ledger Account of the Treasurer, and this is a correct transcript of
same.
Wm. LEROY BROUN, President,
A. & M, College,
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY.
N. T. LUPTON, CHEMIST.
During the past year, the chemist and his assistants have
spent much of their time in the analysis of commercial fer-
tilizers. Bulletin, No. 38, was published in July, giving
the results of analyses made from April 1st, 1891, the date
of the previous report, to July 1892, the date of the bulle-
tin mentioned. The Commissioner of Agriculture being
anxious to supply Xfarmers with the analyses of all brands of
fertilizers to be sold in the State during the present season,
called on manufacturers to forward samples promptly that
analyses might be made by the first of January and the
results published immediately thereafter. From the date
of this call, about four 
months ago, to the 
piesent time,
two hundred and forty-five samples have been received, of
which, one hundred and forty-six have been analyzed and
the results reported.
The Commissioner is required by law to have this
work done by the State chemist and\ the results
published on or before the first of September of each
year. There is an obvious advantage in having the
analyses completed and publication made at the beginning
of the year, as the farmer can then use the results as a
guide in making purchases. Samples of these same fer-
tilizers will, in all probability, be sent for re-analysis as
soon as they come into the hands of farmers and dealers, as,
according to law, every purchaser has a right to draw sam-
ples of purchases made and forward them to the Commis-
sioner of Agriculture for transmission to the State Chemist,
whois required to analyze the same free of cost. If the
samples fail to give results equal to the guaranteed analysis
printed on each sack, the purchaser is released from legal
obligation to pay for the goods. This repetition of analyses
of the same fertilizers, adds greatly to the labor of the
State Chemist, but it undoubtedly furnishes protection to
farmers against fraudulent mixtures, and acts as a restraint
on manufacturers who may be disposed to exaggerate the
percentage of valuable constituents in their fertilizers.
Samples thus far analyzed, the present season, come up to
the guarantees in almost every instance.
The constitution of Alabama forbids the employment of
inspectors to take samples of fertilizers after they have
come into the state, except with the consent of the owner, and
hence the Commissioner of Agriculture and State Chemist can
take only such samples as the manufacturer or purchaser
is willing to allow. Thee are no inspectors as in other
states, the constitution, just quoted, forbidding inspections
of all classes of goods 
by State officers.
In addition to the analysis of manufactured fertilizers,
many specimens of natural phosphates, marls, minerals,
soils, mineral waters, etc., have been analyzed.
The above-mentioned bulletin, No. 38, which was pub-
lished in July, contains a brief discussion of the use and
valuation of fertilizers, including natural phosphates.
Experiments 
were carried on 
during the year 
at the Agri-
cultural Station, under direction of the Chemist, and at the
same time in the chemical laboratory, to ascertain the rela-
tive agricultural value of non-acidulated, pulverized 
Florida
phosphates and South Carolina floats, as compared with acid
phosphates, and also the effect of decomposing organic mat-
ter, such* as cotton seed and cotton seed meal, on these
natural phosphates. The farm experiments gave ,as good, if
not better i esults from the use of non-acidulated material,
as from that treated with sulphuric acid. These 
experi"
10
ments will be continued the present season, as it is evident
that if the results can be established, the question of cheap
phosphates will be solved and the farmer be enabled to pur-
chase fertilizers at a much less cost than at present.
The experiments carried on in the laboratory failed 
to
show that the fermentation of organic matter-cotton 
seed
and cotton seed meal-converts an appreciable amount 
of
insoluble into soluble phosphates. It is probable that 
plants
take in the so-called insoluble, or acid soluble 
phosphate,
from soil water containing carbon dioxide, or organic acids
produced by decomposition of organic matter, which 
have the
power of dissolving a portion of such phosphates. The 
de-
tails of experiments made, will be published in a bulletin at
an early day, and the experimental work will be continued.
Analyses of typical soils from different parts 
of the State
are now under way and will soon be completed. These soils,
accompanied with analyses, are to be placed on exhibition 
at
the Columbian Exposition, and will constitute a 
part of the
collection to be made by Dr. Hilgard, who has 
been com-
missioned to superintend similar exhibits of soils from every
State in the Union.
REPORT OF THE BOTANIST,
Dr. Win. LeRoy Broun,
President A. & M. College:
SIR.-I have the honor to submit the following report of
the work in the Department of Botany du.ing the past
year:
The experiments upon cross fertilization of cotton have
been continued through the past crop season, and much valu-
able material has been secured relating to the improvement
of the character of the fiber and the determination of the
number of species cultivated in the South. Several hun-
dred slides for microscopic study have been made, showing
the various stages of development of the fibre, and changes
imparted to the pollen grains and seeds. A successful cross
was secured between the garden okra (hibiscus esculentus)
and the cotton plant. The past season has yielded the first
plants from this blending of the two genera, and some in-
teresting features have been brought out. In the planting
of the seed, of all samples under study, special care was
exercised to prevent the interference of types through the
agency of insects, wind, etc., and every precaution was
taken to secure well established types. A large number of
microscopic studies have been made and photo-micrographs
prepared to illustrate a bulletin that is nearly ready for the
printer.
The botanical survey of the State has made some progress
during the year. Mr. George S. Clark, the assistant in the
department, spent a portion of the summer in North, Mid-
dle and Southern Alabama, collecting specimens of plants,
and much valuable material has been secured, He has
12
been employed during the winter months in naming, classi-
fying and cataloguing these specimens. In this work he
has been assisted by Mr. W. E. Richards, a post-graduate
student, who has been prosecuting his studies in botany
during the year. During the excursions in the State, Mr.
Clark made some valuable collections of grasses for the
World's Fair at Chicago. These grasses have been named,
mounted and forwarded to Prof. Tracy, the committeeman
having in charge the Division of Botany in the Experiment
Station exhibit. Some botanical specimens have been sent
to various parts of the country in exchange for plants from
other States. Among the exchanges thus made, I will men-
tion a fine collection of five hundred specimens received
from a botanist in Liverpool, England. The herbareum
has been largely increased during the year from various
sources.
The work in meteorology has been continued throughoit
the year, and considerable improvement has been made,
both in the facilities for work and in equipment at the Cen-
tral Station at Auburn, and also at the forty-two stations
established in different parts of Alabama. A large amount
of data is on file in the office for future study, and several
important problems relating to climatology are now being
solved from the large accumulation of facts thus collected by
the -intelligent observers over the State. The 
regular
monthly bulletins and the weekly crop bulletins have been
issued without a break. Daily observations have been
taken at the Auburn station concerning the condition of the
weather, and the following instruments have been used for
the purpose: Maximum and minimum thermometers, hy-
grometer, terrestrial thermometer, soil thermometers (thirty-
six in number), barometer, anemometer, anemoscope and
rain guage. The work of observing these instruments has
been performed by W. D. Clayton and E. B. Mell. In the
preparation of the bulletins and in other matters relating to
13
the weather service, I have been greatly assisted by Dr. J.
T. Anderson, of the Chemical Deparment. During the year
I have prepared a brochure on the "Climatology of the
Cotton Plant," at the special request of the Ohief of the
Weather Bureau, and this work is now passing through the
printing department of the Bureau at Washington. The
work will comprise one of the series requested of the Chief
by the American Association of Agricultural Colleges and
Experiment Stations at its session in Washington City.
The Station reading room, under my supervision, is now
receiving one hundred periodicals, through subscription and
exchange, representing the leading journals of science,
American and foreign. Nearly one hundred volumes have
been bound and placed on the shelves in a convenient form
for referenace. Mr. Clark is in charge of this room and it is
kept open all day for the use of the Station workers.
Very Respectfully, P. H. MELL.
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURIST,
A. J. BONDURANT, AGRICULTURIST.
Since the last annual report the following bulletins have
been issued from the Agricultural Department of the Exper-
imental Station.
[Bulletin No. 33.]
Experiments with cotton; comparison of varieties; com-
parison of varieties of Cotton on field scale and tests of
Gins; cluster and long limbed varieties of cotton and dis-
tances.
Experiments with phosphate; phosphate alone and phos-
phate and nitrogen applied on new ground; reports of differ-
ont kinds of cotton experimented with as a variety test.
[Bulletin No. 34.]
Co-operative soil tests; this bulletin contains -he reports
of the experiments made by 42 farmers living in different
part's of the State with fertilizers compounded by the Exper-
iment Station.
These experiments were made under the direction of the
Experiment Station for the purpose of ascertaining the effect
of fertilizers on the different soils of the State. The publi-
cation of these soil-test reports have excited much interest
and it is thought that much benefit has resulted to the Agri-
cultural interest from them.
[Bulletin No. 37.]
TOBACCO BULLETIN.
This bulletin was issued to meet the demand for informa-
tion on this subject.
15
The following is an outline of the contents: Selection of
tobacco seed; varieties of tobacco; plant beds; open air
beds; sowing the beds; canvas covering for plant beds;
frame for open air bed; the hot bed; when to sow tobacco
beds; manuring the plants; transplanting the plants; pre-
paration of the land; cultivation of the crop; cut and bore
worms; topping and pruning; the horn worm; tobacco moth;
remedy for the moth; suckers; cutting; tobacco barns;
curing; curing English shipping; marketing.
[Bulletin 
No. 39.]
EXPERIMENTS IN WHEAT.
This bulletin contains experiments made to find variety of
wheat best adapted to the soils and climate of this State,
and approximate cost of raising wheat. This bulletin also
contains some interesting reports of farmers, in different
sections of the State who co-operated with the Experiment
Station in this kind of Work.
EXPERIMENTS.
The following 
is a list of experiments 
conducted on 
the
station during the last year:
ikEx erimn
ad apppo
in grain.
with varieties of cotton.
" fertilizers with cotton.
" varieties of tobacco.
" 
" onions.
" " 
sweet potatoes.
" " " Irish potatoes.
cantaloupes.
" watermelons.
" lathyrus sylvestris.
" grasses.
" cotton conducted for biologist.
cotton conducted for chemist.
" cotton conducted for botanist.
" cotton conducted for President of
Board of direction.
29
30
24
10
i
17
15
2
3
1
8
40
25
84
2
16
In addition to the regular field experiments, feeding tests
have been conducted in feeding dairy cattle.
BETTERMENTS.
Nine hundred and sixty rods of new fencing, and many
new gates have been constructed, and during the spring of
1892, a ten horse power motor was placed at the Agricultu-
ral Station and connected with the dynamo of electricity at
the dynamo room at the college. This power is used to run
the cotton gin, threshing machine, ensilage cutter and feed
mill.
In addition to the publications issued during the year
from the station, the bulletin on cotton experiments is now
in the hands of the printer.
The reports of the cotton soil tests have all been tabulated
and the editing of the bulletin on the co-operative soil test
is nearly completed.
The work of experiment in tobacco was in the main suc-
cessful. The results have been reported in the Montgomery
Advertiser and the Southern Cultivator.
To conduct successfully the tobacco experiment, it is neces-
sary to.have well constructed modern tobacco barns, with
suitable curing apparatus.
Further information will be issued giving an account of
the tobacco experiments and illustrating the methods that
should be followedin this important industry.
I EPORT
OF
DEPARTMENT OF VETERINARY SCIENCE.
Sin:-
The work of the Veterinarian, for 1892, was limited 
to the
first three months of the year. During this time 
lectures
were delivered, every Saturday, in the college chapel, 
for
the special benefit of farmers and others interested 
in live
stock. Following each Saturday lecture clinical 
instruction
was given to the farmers and also to the students of the A.
and M. College. The free clinic consisted of operations 
up-
on, and treatment of, all diseased animals brought to the
Experiment Station by farmers and stock owners from the
country and towns near Auburn. Lectures were also deliv-
ered at the Farmers Alliance Hall south of Auburn, at Ope-
lika, at Alexander City and at Girard. The import of these
lectures was to give the characters of, and modes of treat-
ing, the common diseases of farm animals and to impress
upon the stock owner the importance of the sanitary and hy-
gienic laws relating to the health of domestic animals; also
to emphasize the fact that preventative treatment is far
cheaper 
and better 
than curative 
remedies.
A bulletin on Glanders was, also, issued by this depart-
ment. This bulletin embraced the pathology, causes, symp-
toms, diagnosis, the various forms of the disease, methods
of disinfecting infected places, how to handle glandered ani-
mals, &c, &c. The chief aim of the bulletin was to familiar-
ize farmers and stockmen with the prominent characters of
18
Glanders that they might recognize and distinguish it from
other diseases and thus protect themselves and their stock
from its ravages.
It is hoped that, by another year, 
this depart ment will be
suitably equipped for original investigation in animal pa-
thology.
Respecftully,
C. A. CARY.
Veterinarian.
To Dr. Wm. LEROY BROUN.
Presiden of Board oJ Direction
of Experiment Station.