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.