Thirtieth Annual Report OF THE Agricultural Experiment Station OF THE Alabama Polytechnic Institute Auburn, Alabama January, 1918 ALABAMA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE Auburn, Ala., Jan. 30, 1918. Governor Charles Henderson, Executive Department, Montgomery, Ala. Sir: I have the honor herewith to transmit to you the Thirtieth Annual Report of the Agricultural Experiment Station of the Alabama Polytechnic Institute. This "report is made in accordance with the Act of Congress approved March 2, 1887, establishing agricultural experiment stations, and the Act of Congress approved March 16, 1906, known as !he Adams Act. Respectfully, CHAS. C. THACH, President. Auburn, Ala., Jan. 29, 1918. Dr. C. C. Thach, President, Alabama Polytechnic Institute, Auburn, Ala. Sir: I herewith submit the Thirtieth Annual Report of the Ex- periment Station of the Alabama Polytechnic Institute for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1917. It contains the detailed report of the Director and Agricul- turist, the Treasurer, the Chemist, The Veterinarian, the Bota- nist, the Horticulturist, the Entomologist, the Plant Pathologist, and the Animal Husbandman, for the year ending December 31, 1917. Respectfully submitted, J. F. DUGGAR, Director, Experiment Station. AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION His Excellency, Charles Henderson, President ----. Ex-Officio. Spright Dowell, Superintendent of Education-.....Ex-Offieio A. W. Bell--------------------------------Anniston, Ala. Harry Herzfeld---------- -Alexander City, Ala. Oliver R. Hood-----------------------------Gadsden, Ala. C. S. McDowell, Jr.----------------------- Eufaula, Ala. W. K. Terry----------------------------Birmingham, Ala. W. H. Oates--------------------------------Mobile, Ala. T. D. Samford------------------------------Opelika, Ala. R. F. Kolb------------------------------Montgomery, Ala. J. A. Rogers-----------------------------Gainesville, Ala. C. M. Sherrod----------------------------Courtland, Ala. P. S. Haley--------------------------------Corona, Ala.. COMMITTEE OF TRUSTEES ON EXPERIMENT STATION R. F. Kolb---------------------------------Montgomery A. W. Bell------------------------------------Anniston J. A. Rogers---------------------------------Gainesville C. S. McDowell, Jr.------------------------------Eufaula- SSTATION STAFF C. C. THACH, President of the College J. F. DUGGAR, Director of Experiment Station AGaICULTURE: J. F. Duggar, Agriculturist. E. F. Cauthen, Associate. M. J. Funchess, Associate. J. T. Williamson, Field Agt. H. B. Tisdale, Associate Plant Breeder. O. H Sellers, Assistant. M. H. Pearson, Assistant. 'VETERINARY SCIENCE: C. A. Cary, Veterinarian CHEMISTRY: , Chemist, Soils and Crops. ,C. L. Hare, Physiological Chemist. BOTANY: W. A. Gardner, Botanist. A. 'B. Massey, Assistant. PLANT PATHOLOGY: 'G. L. Peltier, Plant Pathol- 4ugist. HORTICULTURE: G. C. Starcher, Horticulturist. J. C. C. Price, Associate. C. L. Isbell, Assistant. ENTOMOLOGY: W. E. Hinds, Entomologist. F. L. Thomas, Assistant. D. C. Warren, Field Agent. ANIMAL HUSBANDRY: G. S. Templeton, Animal Husbandman. H. C. Ferguson, Associate. E. Gibbens, Assistant. V. W. Crawford, Assistant. AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING: R. U. Blasingame, Agricul- tural Engineer. REPORT OF HATCH AND ADAMS FUNDS FOR 1916-1917 Receipts. Hatch Adams To amount from U. S. Treasury (Net)_ $15,000.00 $15,000.00 Disbursements By Salaries $ 7,437.35 $10,183.69 By Labor 1,996.02 1,540.38 By Publications 1,229.77 By Postage and Stationery 214.46 109.37 By Freight and Express 268.43 314.78 By Heat, Light, Water and Power 464.70 294.20 By Chemicals and Laboratory Supplies 22.13 133.08 By Seeds, Plants and Sundry Supplies 431.96 137.56 By Fertilizers 491.92 150.25 By Feeding Stuffs 682.97 543.59 By Library 335.27 11.00 By Tools, Machinery and Appliances 339.50 15.09 By Furniture and Fixtures 311.10 t00.10 By Scientific Apparatus and Specimens .80 797.55 By Live Stock------------------------ 24.30 259.00 By Traveling Expenses 218.31 334.07 By Contingent Expenses -------------- 20.00 By Buildings and Land ---------------- 511.01 76.29 Total --------------------- $15,000.00 $15,000.00 Respectfully, (Signed): M. A. GLENN, State of Alabama: Treasurer. Lee County. Personally appeared before me, B. L. Shi, 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 the above foregoing account is true and cor- rect. Witness my hand this 29th day of January, 1918. B. L. SHI, Notary Public, Lee County. This is to certify that I have compared the account with the ledger account of the Treasurer, and this is a correct transcript of the same. CHAS. C. THACH President Alabama Polytechnic Institute. REPORT OF DIRECTOR AND AGRICULTURIST J. F. DUGGAR Auburn, Ala., January 28, 1918. Dr. C. C. Thach, President, Alabama Polytechnic Institute, Auburn, Ala. Sir: I respectfully submit the following report for the past year of the work under my charge as Director and Agriculturist of the Alabama Experiment Station: PUBLICATIONS The publications of the Alabama Experiment Station for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1917, consist of the annual report, five bulletins, two circulars and five press bulletins, making a total of thirteen publications. Below I give their titles and authors: Bulletin No. 192: "Cottonseed Meal Compared with. Velvet Beans for Fattening Steers;" by the Animal Husbandman and Assistant. Bulletin No. 193: "Peanuts; Tests of Varieties and Ferti- lizers;" by the Director and Assistants. Bulletin No. 194: "Growing Peanuts in Alabama;" by the Director and Assistants. Bulletin No. 195: "The Cause of the Disappearance of Cumarin, Vanillin, Pyridine and Quinoline in the Soil;"' by the Botanist. Bulletin No. 196: "The Nitrification of Pyridine, Quinoline, Guanidine, Carbonate, etc., in Soils;"; bythe Associate Agri- culturist.. Circular No. 35: "Annual Report of the Director ofthe Ex- periment, Station.on Work Done Under the Local Experiment Law- in 1916." (From the Local EXperiment Fund.) Circular No. 36: "Preserving Eggs for Home Use;" by. the Animal Husbandman. (From the Local Experiment Fund.) Press Bulletin No. 85: "Separation of Corn Cockle Seed from Commercial Narrow Leaf Vetch Seed;" by the Assistant in Agriculture. 12 Press Bulletin No. 86: "Tests of Varieties of Corn in 1916;" by the Associate Agriculturist. Press Bulletin No. 87,: "Varieties of Fruit for the Home Or- chard in Alabama;" by the Associate Horticulturist and Field Agent in Horticulture. (From the Local Experiment Fund.) Press Bulletin No. 88: "Tests of Varieties of Cotton in 1916;" by the Associate Agriculturist. Press Bulletin No. 89: 'fThe Home Orchard; Setting and Care;" by the Associate Horticulturist and Field Agent in Hor- ticulture. (From the Local Experiment Fund.) Bulletin Index for Volume 22. (1914.) Bulletin Index for Volume 23. (1915.) Between July 1st and December 31, 1917, there were also published the following: Bulletin No. 197: "Harvesting and Storing Sweet Potatoes;" by the Associate Horticulturist. Bulletin No. 198: "Velvet Beans Compared with Cottonseed Meal for Fattening Steers. Velvet Beans, Cottonseed Meal and Corn as Feeds for Dairy Cattle. Velvet Bean Pasture Com- pared with Corn and Dried Blood; Velvet Bean Meal Compared with Corn for Fattening Hogs;" by the Animal Husbandman and Assistants. (From the Local Experiment Fund.) Press Bulletin No. 90: "How to Save Alabama's Corn Crop;" by the Entomologist. Press Bulletin No. 91: "Tests of Varieties of Corn in 1917;" by the Associate Agriculturist. Press Bulletin No. 92: "Tests of Varieties of Cotton in 1917;" by the Associate Agriculturist. (Reprint) Press Bulletin No. 67: "Oat Smut;" by the Di- rector and Agriculturist. (From the Local Experiment Fund.) This shows that the publications for the calendar year 1917 have been six bulletins, two circulars, three press bulletins and a reprint of one press bulletin, making a total of twelve publi- cations. These show that a total of 236,500 separate copies have been distributed. These contained a total of 2,748,000 pages in all editions. 13 STAFF Professor Ernest Walker resigned as Horticulturist Septem- ber 1, 1916, in order to enter on private horticultural work. He had devoted three year? of intense application to his duties as Professor of Horticulture, Horticulturist of the Experiment Station, and to the trying duties of State HorticulturisL. The growth and progress of the latter work during this period is a monument to his industry and zeal. His death occurred shortly afterward. On January 1st, 1917, Professor G. C. Starcher entered on his- duties as Horticulturist. P. O. Davis resigned as Assistant in Horticulture March 15, 1917, and was succeeded by Otto Brown who left the employment of the Station soon after the close of the fiscal year. In September, 1917, Dr. Wright A. Gardner became Botanist of the Experiment Station, succeeding Dr. W. J. Robbins,, wh3 resigned to enter commercial work. During the past fiscal year the Experiment Station suffered the loss by death of Dr. J. T. Anderson. For many years he had been Chemist of the Station devoting special attention to soils and crops. Near the close of the last fiscal year O. L. Howell and F. E. Boyd resigned as Assistants in Agriculture. The duties formerly dischlarged by them were rearranged and assumed by H. B. Tisdale as Associate Plant Breeder, whose connection with the Station had been interrupted by a year's, leave of absence for graduate study in Cornell University. REPORTS OF DEPARTMENTS On the following pages appear the reports of the Botanist, the Horticulturist, the Plant Pathologist, the Animal Husband- man, the Physiological Chemist, and the Veterinarian, which record the nature of the experimental work in their respective departments. AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT Auburn, Ala., January 30, 1918.. (Work under Hatch and Adams Funds.) The field'work has been conducted by the Associate Agricul- turist, E. F. Cauthen. Plant breeding continues to be one of the lines of work that occupies much of the time of the members of this Departmeno. 14 The large amount of data accumulated on correlations between yield and various qualities of the corn plant and corn ear have been tb a large extent summarized and put in shape for :publicatio n. The breeding of oats has been continued and field tests indi- cate its practical value. It is hoped that at an early ,date there may be prepared for publication a part of the data accumulated by a number of years' breeding of cotton and -oats. Field tests both at Auburn and other parts of the State continue to give increasing evidence of the value of the strains of cotton, corn, and oats evolved as a result of the breeding ork at Auburn. It is believed also that the results when fully analyzed will throw important light on some of the details of plant breed- ing that are important from a scientific standpoint. The following is a list of the principal field experiments con- nducted on the Station farm in 1917: Alfalfa, fertilizer, variety and culture experiments. Barley, variety tests. Cotton, effects of planting light and heavy seed. Cotton, variety tests of short staple and long staple. Cotton, breeding with Cook and hybrids. Cotton, culture experiments, including thick and thin plant- ings and subsoiling. Cotton, time of applying nitrate of soda. Corn, variety tests, early and late plantings. Corn, Williamson versus other methods of culture. Corn, methods of planting velvet beans in. Corn, best rotation for. Cowpeas, variety and culture tests. Cowpeas, for soil improvement. Cowpeas, rate of seeding for hay. Crops, residual effects of different kinds. Clovers, tests of species and varieties. Clovers, best plants for sowing with legumes. Grains, as forage crops. Forage crops, tests of many species and varieties. Grasses, tests of species and varieties. Hog crops, chufas, peanuts, 6soy beans, etc. Hemp. 15 Kudzu for hay and- for smothering nut grass. Lime, effects of lime as a fertilizer on different crops, Nitrogen, different kinds of meal as a source of. Oats, variety tests, methods of seeding, and time of sowing. Oats, breeding experiments. Oats, fall sown versus spring strains. Phosphates, raw versus acid, versus basic. Pcanuts, variety tests, early and late plantings. Peanuts, rate of seeding and spacing. Peanuts, shelled versus not shelled for planting. Peanuts, different kinds of fertilizers for. Rotation experiments. Rye, variety tests. Silage, yield of different crops for. Soybean and cowpea mixtures for hay. Soybeans, tests of varieties for seed, for hay, and for oil. Soybeans, rate of seeding. Sorghum, tests of varieties for forage and for syrup. Subsoiling, for corn, cotton, cowpeas, and alfalfa. Sudan grass, alone and with legumes. Sugar Cane, Japanese, as a forage crop and for syrup. Velvet Beans, varieties for seed and for hay. Vetches, varieties. Vetches, best mixtures. Wheat, breeding experiments. Wheat, varieties. DIVISION OF SOILS In this division Prof. M. J. Funchess has secured results from his laboratory and field experiments that promise great practical as well as scientific value. A continuation of the experiments to determine the lasting effect of certain organic toxins indicates that most compounds lose their toxicity after being in contact with soil for a time.. At this date, there is no indication of a toxic effect of vanillin, cumarin, or quinoline added in July, 1917, to the soil from the Arlington farm. The work on the development of soluble manganese in acid soils is yielding very interesting results. It has been very clearly shown that nitrification of dried blood may bring into solution relatively large amounts of manganese. Further, it 16 has been shown that it is not necessary for added sulfate of am- monia to be ';nitrified to cause an increase in the amount of this element in solution.: Soil extracts which are toxic be- cause of soluble manganese have been made productive by the additions of either calcium, sodium, or potassium hydroxides. For the growth of garden peas, the addition of.pure calcium carbonate to such extracts markedly reduces the toxicity. The addition of lime to an acid soil prevents completely the solu- tion of manganese. A manuscript relative to manganese for publication is .near- ing completion. Respectfully submitted, J. F. DUGGAR, Director and Agriculturist, REPORT OF BOTANIST WRIGHT A. GARDNER Auburn, Ala., January 15, 1918. Prof. J. F. Duggar, Alabama Experiment Station, Auburn, Ala. Sir: Having taken charge of this department September 1, 1917, I make a report from notes left by my predecessor, Dr. Wil- liam J. Robbins. (1.) Under the Soils Toxin Project, which is carried on un- der the Adams Fund, Bulletin 195, The Cause of the Disappear- ance of Cumarin, Vanillin, Pyridine and Quinoline in the Soil, was published in June, 1917. An investigation has been made which shows that bacteria decompose vanillin. Studies are in progress to show the effect of the addition of vanillin on the bacteria flora of soil, and on the conditions determining the digestion of vanillin. (2.) No projects have been definitely outlined under Hatch/ funds. Some work has been done on each of the following: 1st. Control of nematodes by the application of formalde- hyde and carbon bisulphide. 2nd. The effect of aluminum nitrate on'the root growth of red clover and sorrel. 3rd. The effect of certain factors on the digestion of cellu- lose by Penicillium species. (3.) The list of Station projects are: 1st. Soil Toxin Projects, Adams Fund. 2nd. Miscellaneous Botannical Investigations, Hatch Fund. Respectfully submitted, WRIGHT A. GARDNER, Botanist. REPORT OF PLANT PATHOLOGIST G. L. PELTIER Auburn, Ala., October 25, 1917i. Prof. J. F. Duggar, Director, Agricultural Experiment Station, Auburn, Alabama. Sir: I am herewith submitting a brief statement relative to the projects now in progress in the Department of Plant Patholo- gy for the past year. 1. Under the Adams Fund only one project, Citrus Canker, is being carried on. The citrus canker organism has been iso- lated directly from the soil and a method is being developed by which this can be done with ease and consistency. One of the most important factors to be determined is to find out how long the organism causing the Citrus Canker can persist in the soil, after the infected trees are destroyed, so that the develop- Iment of a successful method for the isolation of the organism from the soil is of the utmost importance. Through an agreement with Dr. W. T. Swingle, of the Bu- reau of Plant Industry, a series of plants representing the more important wild relatives and species of Citrus, together with the more common species and hybrids, have been ob- tained and placed in the field at Loxley and in the greenhouse t Auburn, for use in determining the relative susceptibility and resistance. These plants have been inoculated with viru- lent strains of canker and already some of them give promise of immunity. If resistant, they can replace the more suscep- tible Citrus plants in the orchards now destroyed and also replace the plants now in use as stock in South Alabama. A number of other important phases in the life history of Citrus canker organism are also under way. During the summer a well equipped field laboratory was maintained for the study of Citrus Canker at Loxley, in charge of Mr. D. C. Neal, formerly a fellow at the Missouri Botanical Garden. Through an agreement with Dr. K. F. Kellerman, Mr. Neal will continue the work at Loxley during the com- ing year. 19 2. Several projects are now in progress under the Local Experiment Fund, including a study of the roots of dasheen both in the field and in storage, a new disease of the pecan, Japanese persimmon, and cherry, plum and peach. Five fungi causing a rotting of dasheen in storage have been studied in the laboratory. In an experiment now in progress, an attempt was made to determine what fungi causing rots in storage would develop in the field from the use of diseased corms. To date, all results have been negative, showing that these fungi, while they are very destructive in storage, do not seriously affect the germination of the corm and are unable to attack the growing plants. A Diplodia and Botyrospharia have been isolated from diseased material of pecan and other hosts mentioned above. Many field observations were made during the course of the year. Some inoculation work has been attempted in the green- house and field at Auburn. A study of these troubles will be continued. Field and laboratory observations have also been made on the anthracnose of cereals, Physoderma disease of corn, peanut yellows, and several spot diseases of the legumes. 3. List of projects: Adams Fund Citrus Canker. Local Experiment Fund-Storage and Field Rots of the Dasheen. Wilt and Die Back of Pecan, Japanese Persimmon, Plum, Cherry and Peach. Miscellaneous Phytopathological in- vestigations. 4. The Department of Plant Pathology is cooperating to some extent with Dr. W. T. Swingle, of the office of Crop Phy- siology and Breeding Investigations, Bureau of Plant Industry, Dr. K. F. Kellerman, Associate Chief of the Bureau of Plant In- dustry, and Dr. E. C. Stakman, of the office of Cereal Investi- gations and Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station. All three of these agreements are of recent date so that no results have been obtained as yet. Respectfully submitted, GEO. L. PELTIER, Plant Pathologist. REPORT OF HORTICULTURIST G. C. STARCHER Auburn, Ala., October 31, 1917. Prof. J. F. D)uggar, Director of Experiment Station, Auburn, Ala. Sir: In response to your request, I herewith submit a report on the progress of the work in this Department. We are completing our work on varieties of apples and will be ready for publication as soon as the notes can be compiled. Persimmons--We have completed our variety notes on per- simmons. This data will be ready for publication as soon as it can be compiled. Peaches-We have continued our variety notes on peaches. Grapes-We have completed variety tests of grapes and have this data ready *for compilation. 'Sweet Potatoes-We wilf complete, with this season, variety notes on sweet potatoes and will have this data ready for publication as soon as it can be compiled. We completed our first series of experiments on sweet po- tato storage 'and have published same. We have continued certain other experiments on fertilizers and vine cuttings vs. slips, etc. for sweet potatoes. Sweet Corn-We have completed our variety tests of sweet corni and this data will' be ready for publication as soon as it can be compiled. Toinatoesi-Due to disease, our variety notes on tomatoes were a complete failure this year. Pears-We have abandoned our' fertilizer experiments on pears for the preventio offire Blight due partially'"to the fact that potash can no lBioger be secured and iartially o thefact that Fire Blight has practically destroyed the orchLard. Variety tests whiih ha ve' been carried on with pepper, okra, egg plant and cucumbers were abandoned for the present year on account of climatic conditions. Yours very truly, G. C. STARCHER, Horticulturist. REPORT OF ENTOMOLOGIST W. E. HINDS Auburn, Ala., November 13, 1917. Prof. J. F., Duggar, Director, Experiment Station, Auburn, Ala. Sir: Herewith I give you a report of Entomological work in hand. Adams Projects: 1. Rice Weevil. Continued investi- gations in field and laboratory, confirming conclusions as to -simple, practicable, effective methods of control aside from in- secticidal methods. Indications that over half of prospective loss of over $10,000,000 in present Alabama crop of 80 to 90 million bushels of corn might be saved by general practice of (A) gathering all' early maturing corn with husks on within six weeks after it reaches "roasting ear stage" so as to remove practically all of first generation before spread can occur to lat- er maturing corn. Use trap rows or plots to concentrate this -first generation. (B) Selecting seed ears from the stalks in the field in the fall, keeping only such as have (a) god, long, tight-fitting husk, (b) of prolific type, (two or more ears per stalk) (c) ears pendent when mature, (d) more careful se- lection later for grain and all other characters. (C) Harvesting main crop corn as soon as thoroughly mature, breaking ears from the shuck as they are gathered, thus leaving 75 per cent. of adult insects in the field, separating infested from uninfested ears as they are thrown into wagon body and storing separate- ly later. Feed out, fumigate or otherwise dispose of infested corn first. Uninfested ears may be stored in even open pole cribs with good roofs, with little damage. (D) Avoid storing with shuck on and, especially, using salt which increases, in- stead of decreases, insect damage. (E) Fumigation with carbon disulphide in tight room or bin or barrels for seed corn, cow- peas, wheat, etc. in early storage season-on warm days only. Results of this project work are applicable throughout cot- ton belt especially and if generally practiced might easily save corn, etc. worth this year something like $10,000,000. I con- sider this now one of the most important subjects for Ex- tension Work in the South. 22 2. Arsenate of Lead project-held in abeyance this year on, account of scarcity of peach crop which was the principal sub- ject in use in field work heretofore, 3. Fumigation: Continued investigations. Subject of ap- plicability of. Cyanide fumigation to Satsuma Orange insect-. control under Alabama climatic conditions is now under way. OTHER PROJECTS 1. Boll weevil has now advanced so it occurs in all of Ala- bama except for a distance of about fifteen miles southwest from the extreme northeastern corner. 2. Argentine ant located at other points in Mobile County. 3. Citrus Insects: Greatly reduced in numbers this year following most severe cold experienced since 1899, except soft brown scale which has been more abundant than ever be- fore and has also proven harder than usual to control. Fumi- gation investigations will be extended to include this subject. 4. Sweet potato root borer presence in Alabama suspected but quite extensive inquiry and field and shipping shed in- spection have failed to give as yet a single positive proof of the7 presence of this pest in Alabama. No special results from cooperative work. The death of Dr. J. T. Anderson has delayed our getting reports on some coopera- tive Arsenate of Lead analytical work. Respectfully submitted, W. E. HINDS, Entomologist. REPORT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDMAN G. S. TEMPLETON. Auburn, Ala., October 30, 1917. Prof. J. F. Duggar, Direetor, Alabama Experiment Station. Auburn, Alabama., Sir: I respectfully submit the following report for experimental work conducted by the 1Animal Husbandry Department for the past year. The experiments conducted at Auburn, Alabama, were sup- ported by the, Hatch and Adams Funds appropriated by Con- gress. The experimental w ork conducted in Marengo, Mobile and Dale counties was supported by the State appropriation provided by the Local Experiment Law. ADAMS -PROJECT. A ..study of the. influence of some of the southern feeds on, the, properties (melting 'point, iodine value, keeping qualities aid eolor) of lards. :'This.. experiment was' conducted in co- operationi: with 'the Department ,of, Chemistry. Six lots of.hogs. were fed the following rations: Lot I. Five pigs. Corn alone. Lot 2. Six pigs. Velvet bean meal. Lot 3. Six'i pigs. Corn, one-half, velvet bean meal, one- half. Lot 4. Six pigs. Velvet bean and pod meal. Lot 5. Six pigs. Peanut meal one-half, corn one-half. Lot 6. Six pigs. Peanuts one-half and corn one-half. Samples of kidney fat from each individual in all of the lots were given to the Chemistry Department for laboratory work. The Chemistry Department will make a report on' these analyses. Briefly, the velvet bean meal produced a carcass as firm as the corn fed carcass, but it showed a slightly darker fat than the corn fede carcass. ' The lot fed velvet bean and pod meal did not put on suffi- cient flesh to make the analysis of the 'lards very satisfactory. 24 The lot fed one-half peanut meal and one-half corn produced a carcass somewhat softer than the corn carcass, and would be discriminated against by the packer at the rate of about one ,cent per pound as compared with the corn fed hogs. The ration of one-half corn and one-half peanuts produced a carcass with an average melting point of 39.5 degrees C, and and iodine value of 81.12. The carcasses in this lot were con- siderably softer than those fed a ration of one-half peanut meal and one-half corn. The ration of peanut meal one-half and corn one-half pro- duce a carcass with an average melting point at 39.39 degrees C., and an iodine value of 70.15. HATCH PROJECT With dairy cows there was made a comparison of velvet bean and pod meal versus cottonseed meal for milk and butter- fat production. The results were published in Bulletin No. 198 of this Station. With dairy cows an experiment was also made comparing ground velvet beans and pods with soaked beans and pods. The ground beans and pods gave better gains than the soak- ed ones. The difference can be explained in part at least by the fact that the ground beans were more palatable and more of them were eaten. The results are presented in the bulletin just mentioned. Respectfully submitted, G. S. TEMPLETON, Animal Husbandman. REPORT OF VETERINARIAN C. A. CARY Auburn, Ala., January 28, 1918. Prof. J. F. Duggar, Director, Alabama Experiment Station, Auburn, Alabama. Sir: During 1917 the following lines of work were conducted: (1.) Attempts were made to determine whether the eggs of the kidney worm (Strongylus pinguicola) passed into the ure- ters and bladder and out to the ground with the urine. In a number of pigs the eggs were found in the urine in the bladder. Also the urine infested with eggs was placed under the fol- lowing tests to determine if the eggs hatched outside of the body in water, soil and urine. Test 1. A sample of highly egg-infested urine was mixed) with 10 c. c. of tap water to which was added one drop of form- alin. This was kept at room temperature and examined daily for 17 days. Gradual development of embryos occurred and on the 17th day an embryo 0.42 m. m. in length was found. Test 2. 15 c. c. of egg-infested urine was added to 10 c. c. of branch water. Daily examination revealed no eggs after the 15th day and on the 17th day embryos were found .4 to .5 m. m. in length. Test 3. One drop of formalin was added to 15 c. c. of egg infested urine. No eggs present on the 17th day and embryos over .5 m. m. in length were found. 'rest 4. 5 c. c. of egg infested urine was added to 10 e. c.- of plain tap water. Eggs were found on the 17th day. These eggs showed developing embryos in the egg shell or capsule and there were a few small free embryos. Test 5. Urine from egg infested bladder was spread over small box of dirt. This was kept moist with tap water and on the 17th day small embryos were found and no eggs. This seems to prove that eggs of the Strongylus pinguicola will hatch at ordinary temperature in about 17 days in urine, water and moist soil. Also there is no doubt that the eggsi pass out with the urine. 26 In all cases where post mortem examination was made on hogs having paralysis of the- hind .quarters or limbs we have found the kidney fat worm (Strongylus pinguicola) in the kidney fat, the kidney, sublumbar.muscles and in one instance ,in the .spinal canal under the dura mater. This does not de- clare it the actual cause of the paralysis but it may be the ieal -or an associate cause. The Senior Veterinary Medical students under my direction collected 180 specimens of horse flies of the Tabanidae family, all .of wlich were collected. from September 18, to October 20, -.1916. :...This period covers the life of longevity ofthe adult Tabanidae at Auburn, Ala. The egglaying period has not been determined for this place, but it appears to extend from June until some time in August. A test ofthe action of the bitter weed (Hellenium tenuifol- ium) on cattle, dogs and horses was made..No distinct effect -was apparent in cattle except the bitter taste in milk. In the dog it produced nausea, vomiting and depression of tempera- ture. In the horse in one case it produced dullness, dry mouth, depressed the pulse from 38 to 28, temperature from 100 to 99 and respiration from 11 to 7 and in four hours it produced purgation. The animal remained sluggish for several days there- after. This horse was fed 21/2 gallons of the plant mixed with 2 gallons of oats. Another horse was fed three gallons of the bitter weed and the pulse became weak and slow, respira- tion retarded, mucous membranes pale, soft feces passed frequently, cold sweat appeared and the horse became sleepy and sluggish. From these and other tests it appears that bit- ter weed is toxic for horses, mules and dogs but apparently not toxic for cattle. Another series of tests were made to determine the toxic effects of Eupatorium ageroides. Apparently it produces pro- gressive degenerative change in the red blood cells, polymor- phonuclear cells, and eosinophiles, and in the cat, dog and goat it failed to produce any symptoms resembling; "trembles." Quite a large number of ovaries from sows and gilts, .that had been fed peanuts were examined to see if any changes were produced by this- feed that might produce ..sterility., No definite"results have been determine4. 27 One Farmers' Leaflet on Infectious -Keratitis was-issued. On account of the war disturbing the available men for Institute work during the Summer 1917 few institutes were held. The Farmers' Summer School was held at Auburn, July 29th to August 4th, 1917. The total attendance was 539, and 37 counties and 9 states were represented. -Yours truly, C. A. CARY, Veterinarian. * REPORT OF PHYSIOLOGICAL CHEMIST C. L. HARE 'Auburn, Ala., Jan. 29, 1918. Professor J. F. Duggar, Director, Alabama Experiment Station, Auburn, Alabama. Sir: Work on Adams Fund projects in the Department of Chem- istry during the past year has been concerned with determin- ing the effect of peanuts and particularly of velvet beans upon the properties of lard from hogs receiving these rations. This work has been in cooperation with the 'Department of Ani- mal Husbandry. Experiments under the Hatch Fund were in part suspended temporarily owing to changes and losses in pers-onnel of the Chemical Staff. Respectfully submitted, C. L. HARE.