Thirty-Third Annual Report
OF THE
Agricultural Experiment
Station
OF THE
Alabama Polytechnic Institute
Auburn, Alabama
SJanuary, 1921

ALABAMA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
Auburn, Ala., Jan. 28, 1921.
Governor Thos. E. Kilby,
Executive Department,
Montgomery, Alabama.
Sir:
I herewith transmit to you the Thirty-third Annual Report
of the Agricultural Experiment Station of the Alabama Poly-
technic Institute.
This report is made in accordance with the Act of Congress,
approved March 2, 1887, establishing agricultural experiment
statichs, and the Act of Congress, approved March 16, 1906,
known as the Adams Act.
Respectfully,
SPRIGHT DOWELL,
President.
Auburn, Ala., Jan. 28, 1921.
Dr. Spright Dowell, President,
Alabama Polytechnic Institute,
Auburn, Alabama.
Sir:
I herewith submit the Thirty-third Annual Report of the
Experiment Station of the Alabama Polytechnic Institute for
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1920.
It contains the detailed report of the Director, the Agricul-
tu'ist, the Agronomist, the Plant Breeder, the Treasurer, the
Chmist, the Veterinarian, the Botanist, the Horticulturist, the
Entomologist, the Plant Pathologist, and the Animal Husband-
man, for the year ending December 31, 1920.
Respectfully submitted,
J. F. DUGGAR,
Director, Experiment Station.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
His Excellency, Thomas E.- Kilby, President-------Ex-Officio
J. W. Abercrombie, Superintendent of Education---- Ex-Officio
H. D. Merrill-------------------------------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.
W. F. Feagin---------------------------Montgomery, Ala.
J. A. Rogers------------------------------Gainesville, Ala.
C. M. Sherrod-----------------------------Courtland, Ala.
P. S. Haley----------------------------------Corona, Ala.
SPRIGHT DOWELL, President of the College
STATION STAFF
J. F. DUGGAR, Direptor of Experiment Station.
AGRICULTURE:
J. F. Duggar, Agriculturist
E. F. Cauthen, Agriculturist
M. J. Funchess, Soils
J. T. Williamson, Superin-
tendent Coioperative Ex-
periments
H. B. Tisdale, Associate
Plant Breeder
VETERINARY SCIENCE:
C. A. Cary, Veterinarian
CHEMISTRY:
E. R. Miller, Chemist
O. N. Massingale, Assistant
BOTANY:
W. A. Gardner, Botanist
G. R. Johnstone, Assistant
PLANT PATHOLOGY:
--------- Plant Pathologist
HORTICULTURE:
G. C. Starcher,
Horticulturist
C. L. Isbell, Associate
Lyle Brown, Assistant
ENTOMOLOGY:
W. E. Hinds, Entomologist
F. L. Tihomnas, Associate
J. M. Robinson, Assistant
ANIMAL HUSBANDRY:
J. C. Grimes, Animal Hus-
bandman
W. H. Eaton, Dairyman
G. L. Burleson, Assistant
TREASURER'S REPORT, INVESTIGATIONS AT AUBURN
FUND, FOR THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1920
Receipts
To cash received from State November 1, 1919
to June 30, 1920-------------------------------$3,750.00
Disbursements
By amount paid Administration 13.41
By Amount paid Agriculture ----------------------- 610.00
By Amount paid Entomology--------------------- 50.00
By amount paid Horticulture.-------------------- 275.00
By amount 
paid Plant 
Pathology 
- -553.94
By balance carried to July 1, 1920------------------2,247.65
Total---------------------------- $3,750.00
Respectfully,
M. A. GLENN,
Treasurer, Alabama Polytechnic Institute.
Subscribed to and sworn to before me, this the 24 day of
January, 1921.
B. L. SHI,
Notary Public.
This is to certify that I have compared the account with
the ledger account 
of the Treasurer and 
this is a correct trans-
xcript of the same.
SPRIGHT DOWELL,
President, Alabama Polytechnic Institute.
REPORT OF HATCH AND ADAMS FUNDS FOR 1919-1920
Receipts
Hatch Adams
Fund Fund
To amount from U. S. Treasury (Net) -- $15,000.00 $15,000.00
Disbursements
By Salaries -------------------------- 7,700.00 10,433.80
By Labor - -3,261.91 1,594.14
By Publications ---------------------- 877.62
By Postage and Stationery 481.51 57.82
By Freight and Express 80.26 186.95
By Heat, Light, Water and Power 38.50 94.10
By Chemicals and Laboratory Supplies 18.66 
375.70
By Seeds, Plants and Sundry Supplies 207.50 
84.93
By Fertilizers ------------------------- 378.51 
174.15
By Feeding Stuffs 388.63 
779.05
By Library--------------------------- 397.65 
42.25
By Tools, Machinery and Appliances 408.85 
43.97
By Furniture and Fixtures ------------- 622.61 
56.68
By Scientific Apparatus and Specimens 33.55 
641.44
By Traveling Expenses ---------------- 15.08 
351.22
By Buildings and Lands --------------- 
89.16 83.80
Total $15,000.00 $15,000.00
Respectfully,
M. A. GLENN,
Treasurer,
State of Alabama:
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
correct. Witness my hand 
this the 24th day of January 
1921.
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.
SPRIGHT DOWELL,
President Alabama Polytechnic 
Institute..
REPORT- OF DIRECTOR
Auburn, Ala., Jan. 28, 1921.
Dr. Spright Dowell, President,
Alabama Polytechnic Institute,
Auburn, . Alabama.
Sir:
I herewith submit the fo report for the past year of
the work under my charge as Director of the Experiment
Station:
PUBLICATIONS
For the fiscal year ending Jun 30, 1920, the publications of
the Experiment Station consist of the annual report, three
bulletins, two circulars, and two press bulletins, making a
total of eight publications, Below are given their titles and
the authors:
Bulletin,No. 209: "Time of Applying Nitrate of Soda to
Cotton;" Part 1. Experiments at Auburn, 1910-1916. Part 2.
Experiments in Various Alabama Counties 1914-1919. (April,
1920). By the Agriculturists.
Bulletin No. 210: "Time of Applying Nitrate of Soda to
Corn;" Part 1. Experiments at Auburn, 1910-1916. Part 2.
Experiments in Various Alabama Counties in 
1914-1919. (April,
1920). By the Agriculturists.
Bulletin No. 211: "The Grape;" (June, 1920.) By the Asso-
ciate Horticulturist.
Circular No. 42: "Cotton Worm Control;" (August, 1919).
By the Entomologist.
Circular No. 43: "Annual Report of the Director of the Ex-
periment Station on Work Done Under the Local Experiment
Law in 1919. (Feb., 1920).
Press Bulletin No. 99: "Test of Varieties of Corn in 1919.
(Nov. 17, 1919). By the Agriculturist.
Press Bulletin No. 100: "Tests of Varieties of Cotton in
1919." (Dec. 10, .1919.) By the Agriculturist.
Report No. 32: "Annual Report of The Agricultural Experi-
ment Station." (Jan., 1920). By the Director.
10
WORK OF THE DEPARTMENTS
The reports of heads of departments included in this publi-
,cation show the lines of experimental work in progress in
-each department of the Experiment Station.
BURNING OF THE AGRICULTURAL BUILDING
After the end of the fiscal yeqr, but before the close of the
fcalendar year, there ocurred the#greatest calamity in the his-
tory of the.Experiment Station. This was the burning of the
Agricultural Building (Comer Hall) with most of its contents
from a fire of unknown origin.
The fire was discovered about midnight of Saturday, Octo-
ber 16, 1920, in a laboratory on the third floor, but had made
too much progress to be arrested.
Inasmuch as a large proportion of the equipment and unpub-
lished records in the greater number of departments was
completely destroyed, it seems appropriate here to make a
brief summary of the character of the losses sustained, which
were as follows:
1. Adininistration-All furniture, books, correspondence
files, publications previously issued by any department 
of the
Experiment Station, and, that part of the Experiment Station
mailing list containing addresses from the following coun-
ties: Mobile, Shelby, Morgan, (most of it); Marshall; Walker;
Pike, (part of it ); and Tuscalooj .
2. Agromony-All the posted ledger and other unpublished
records of experiments for the years 1910 to 
1920, inclusive;
and all furniture and other equipment kept 
in the Agricultural
Building; also the damaging by charring and 
by water of the
volumes giving the records of field crop experiments 
for the
years 1896 to 1909 inclusive; a large proportion 
of the earlier
data, however, had been published. Fortunately 
most of the
original records for 1920 were saved.
One of the greatest losses in this department, 
next to its
ledger records, was the collection of 
about 4,000 photo-
graphic negatives. These illustrated every 
line of experiment-
al work with field crops conducted by this 
Station during the
past quarter of a century. Especially complete 
was the col-
lection showing, by consecutive series of 
photographs made
11
of parent plants and plant progenies year after year, the inher-
itance of qualities in the cotton plant and also in the corn
plant.
3. Plant Breeding-Practically the entire collection of re-
cords since the beginning of this work, including manuscripts
in process of preparation summarizing the correlations found
between numerous plant characters in the cotton, oats and
corn plants, as determined in experiments extending over
a period of more than ten years. Among the losses were the
negatives mentioned above and a manuscript giving results of
a number of years of work in comparing the yields resulting
from continuous planting of light, heavy, and unselected cot-
ton seed.
4. Soils-All furniture and other equipment, laboratory
quarters and supplies; and all records of laboratory and field
work, including samples and records relative to soils col-
lected throughout the state in a study of the lime requirements,
under the Local Experiment funds, of the principal soils of
Alabama.
5. Botany-In this department the loss was complete, in-
cluding records of the last few years, furniture, expensive
scientific apparatus, a large collebtion of herbarium specimens,
and the scientific section of the Experiment Station library.
The latter was one of the most complete in this country in its
collection of files of scientific journals in many languages, es-
pecially on the subjects of botany and plant pathology. It had
been in process of collection as a part of the annual expendi-
ture of the Experiment Station throughout a period of thirty-
two years.
6. Plant Pathology-Complete loss of furniture, scientific
apparatus, supplies; and records of the past year.
7. Horticulture-The loss in the department of horticulture,
located on the first floor, consisted chiefly in a part of the fur-
niture and a part of a collection of books, bulletins, specimens,
and supplies.
8. Animal Husbandry-Likewise the department of animal
husbandry, located on the first floor, was able to save most of
its furniture and records, and of course the greater part of the
12
property of :this: division being stored in barnsand elsewhere
away from Comer: Hall; was not involved 
in the fire.
9. Entomology-This department was also located on the
first floor, and thus:was able to save a considerable part of
its furniture, much of which, however, together with books,
records, specimens, and valuable cases for the storage of
insect specimens, were lost. One of the greatest losses in this
department was the extensive collection of photographs of in-
sects and-their injuries.
The only two departments of the Experiment Statin that
escaped any loss in the fire were the departments of Chemistry
and of Veterinary Science. These were located in two sepa-
rate wooden buildings some distance from the main Agricul-
tural Building. Thus, while they escaped this fire, their danger
from fire is continually greater than was the unexpected
danger in the large new brick building that burned.
RECONSTRUCTION
Within two days after the fire was discovered all experi-
ment station workers had been temporarily housed and had
cheerfully begun work anew. Their present temporary quar-
ters necessarily carry the inestimable handicaps of crowded
space, inadequate facilities of every kind, scattered locations,
lack of needed equipment of every kind, and increased danger
from fire.
The tentative plan calls for the continuation of most of the
experiment stations workers in these inadequate temporary
quarters until the legislature of the state shall make provision
for a fire-proof experiment station building. The insurance on
the former agricultural building will not be adequate to restore
it in full, but will be used, so far as it goes, chiefly for the re-
construction of a building for teaching purposes, leaving for
the legislature of 1923 the obligation of providing an adequate
fire-proof experiment station building as a means of enabling
this institution of research to render its maximum service to
the farmers, horticulturists, dairymen, and other livestock
raisers of the state.
Respectfully submitt d,
J. F. DUGGAR,
Director.
REPORT OF AGRICULTURIST
E. Fe CAUTHEN
Auburn, Ala., Dec. 29, 1920.
Director J. F. Duggar,
Auburn, Alabama.
Dear Sir:
I respectfully submit a report of the experimental work in
field corps under Hatch and Adams funds at thel Alabama Ex-
periment Station in 1920.
Cotton-The regular variety tests include a comparison of
twenty-one short staple varieties. Owing to the poor stand of
plants the results are not conclusive; therefore they are not
published in press bulletin form. For observation purposes
fourteen of the less common short staple varieties were grown
and notes made on the general characters of these varieties.
A great deal of data was taken on twelve common varieties
to ascertain which characters were conducive to resisting
boll weevil damage. Among these were the rate of blooming
and the persistence of the young bolls under different seasonal
conditions. The effects of thick and thin stands of plants on
earliness and yield were repeated; also effect 
on earliness,
type of plant, and yield of planting on a bed, on a level, and in
a water furrow were studied. The comparison of light from
light and heavy from heavy cotton seed on yields, germination
and height of plants was repeated.
The planting of Cook and Cleveland varieties in plant-to-row
tests was repeated and notes and measurements were taken
along the same lines as in the previous years.
Data on all these lines of work, except yields of 1920, were
lost by fire.
The black and green seed found in the strain 588 of Cook
have not all been removed by three years of planting it in
a plant-to-row test. Cook 1010 and also 1110 are promising
strains for both productiveness and earliness. The 1010 is
being multiplied and distributed by several farmers. The new
promising strains from Cook and Cleveland grown at the Ex-
14
periment Station for multiplication purposes in:1920 have pro-
duced well and have been saved, but their pedigree .numbers
were lost in the destruction of our records.
Corn-Fourteen varieties of corn were tested on the Experi-
ment Station Farm. These were planted early and the results
of their yields published in press bulletin No. 102. Eleven
varieties were planted after harvest of grain and notes made
on their adaptation to late planting. Comparison of five varie-
ties, thought to be suited for silage purposes, was made
with three varieties of late growing sorghums. The yields
show that the sorghums make considerably larger tonnage.
Oats---The regular fall planted variety test of the most pro-
mising varieties and strains from our breeding work was re-
peated. A spring planting of seven leading varieties was made
to ascertain which seemed best suited for late or spring plant-
ing. The fall- versus spring-planted test of Red Rust Proof
and Burt varieties, which has been in progress many years,
was repeated. From these long planted varieties at the Alaba-
ma Experiment Station special selections were made for the
purpose of getting new and pure strains. The breeding work
with oats is being conducted along the same lines as in previous
years.
Wheat-In addition to the regular variety test of wheat 
four
varieties are being tested cooperatively with the North 
Caroli-
na, the South Carolina, and Georgia Experiment 
Stations.
These varieties represent a most promising 
variety from each
station. Six of the leading strains 
of wheat grown in our
multiplication test were sold to farmers and 
in three) cases
promises were secured from the farmers to keep 
the strains
pure and to sell 
their surplus for planting 
purposes.
Rye-The regular variety test of rye 
was repeated. Rye
with vetches was planted to study 
methods of collecting vetch
seed.
Soy Beans-The regular variety test for 
seed was repeated.
A test of the same varieties for hay purposes 
was made. The
vining habit of Barchet and the semi-vining 
habit of Otootan
make these varieties especially 
adapted to production of hay.
Varieties of Vetch-The Bure'au of Plant 
Industry of the U.
15
S. Department of Agriculture furnished the Experiment Sta-
tion with a collection of the most promising varieties of vetch
fog Southern conditions. These were planted for a study of
hay production, and of methods of collecting 
seed.
Conmiercial Fertilizers The different dates of applying ni-
trate of soda to cotton gave results in confirmation of those,
of previous years. The same test with corn gave practically the
same results as secured 
in former years. The test 
of a com-
parison of the fertilizing effects of cottonseed meal, peanut
meal, velvet bean meal, and nitrate of soda on cotton was re-
peated; also a test of a comparison of calcium cyanamid,
ammonium sulphate, ammonium nitrate and nitrate of soda
on cotton wasmade. The results of the test of this year showed
ammoniumi sulfate slightly better than either of the others;
however, it was followed closely in the order named by am-
monium nitrate, nitrate of soda and calcium cyanamid. Equal
amounts of nitrogen from nitrate of soda, 
calcium cyanamid,
and ammonium sulfate (these fertilizers having been applied
continuously on their respective plots for thirteen years)
gave, on a cotton crop, the largest results in 1920 when applied
in the form of calcium cyanamid; the ammonium sulfate plots
showed the harmful effects of its long use by making a very
defective stand of cotton plants. Acid phosphate versus 
raw
phosphate on cotton in a test where' these fertilizers have been
applied twice a year for a period of twelve years show that
phosphoric acid in the form of acid phosphate was in 1920,
slightly more beneficial than in rock phosphate.
Potash from "nitrapo" and other scources was applied to,
corn and sorghum. There was very little difference in yield.
from the different sources.
Tests of different dates of application of nitrate of soda, sul-
fate of ammonium and calcium cyanamid on fall planted Red
Rust Proof oats show that the largest yield in 1920 came from
the application made February 20, except in the, case of the
cyanamid, which gave its largest yield from the application
made March 10. Of the different forms of nitrogen, that in the
nitrate of soda was most effective.
In addition to the experiments mentioned above the follow-
ing were also conducted on the 
Experiment Station Farm at
Aubrn
16
Alfalfa with a num se crop.
Clovers, species of.
Species and varieties of grasses.
Limed versus not limed crops.
Japanese sugar cane vs. sorghum for forage and ir :yrup.
Effects of kudzu in smothering nut grass and for soil im-
provement.
Peanuts, variety test, liming, and rate of seeding.
Rotation of crops, highly fertilized and moderately fertil-
ized.
Varieties of sorghum for forage.
The effect of biennial subsoiling on cotton, corn and cow-
peas.
Velvet bean variety test.
Cowpea variety test.
Residual effects of crops of corn, sweet potatoees, cowpeas,
chufas, and others on cotton.
Loss of Records-On October 17, 1920, practically all the re-
cords of the field experiments made from 1910 to 1920 were
lost by fire. The data'on light versus heavy cotton seed se-
cured during the past twelve years, which had been prepared
for publication were lost: also the data on the different meth-
ods of planting and fertilizing corn including twelve years
work with the Williamson method; the breeding work on oats;
the data on a comparison of acid and rock phosphate for six
years.
However, a fairly complete record of the yields in 1920 of
the principal field crops on the 
Alabama Experiment Sta-
tion Farm have been recompiled 
from detailed records that
%escaped the fire.
Respectfully submitted,
E. F. CAUTHEN,
Agriculturist.
REPORT OF AGROMONIST
M. J. FUNCHESS
Auburn, Ala., Dec. 8, 1920.
Mr. J. F. Duggar, Director,
Auburn, Alabama.
Dear Sir:
I beg to subniit the following report of the work done under
the Adams and the Hatch Funds:
Adams Fund-The work on Manganebe and Soil Acidity was
continued along lines similar to those of previous years. How-
ever, all of the records of my work were lost in the October
:fire, so that I am unable, to make any report further than to
say that certain manganese compounds, especially the carbo-
nate, appeared-to be favorable to nitrification in very acid soils.
But this compound did not materially benefit higher plants.
On higher plants growing in very acid soils, manganese carbo-
nate, sodium carbonate and potassium carbonate were found
to produce not as good results as calcium carbonate. This
line of work is being continued on a large scale but I have not
enough data to warrant a discussion at this time.
Hatch Fund-All records of my pot experiments on the value
of different forms of lime and on different rate's of liming
were also lost. During the past summer, I made an acidity de-
termination on the soil of each of the thirty-nine pots in these
experiments and found that only where a considerable excess
of lime had been used in the initial application was the soil
not acid. Where lime, in small amounts had been used, even
though the soil was still sour, a marked effect from the lime
has been noted each year. About one-half of this experiment
must be abandoned, as the outline was destroyed and I do not
recall the plan sufficiently well to warrant continuing the
work ont exactly the former plan. On the other hand, I do re-
member the plan sufficiently well 
to continue this project un-
til enough data is obtained to make the experiment worth
while.
I am unable because of the fire to give a more detailed re-
port of the work of the past season than the foregoing.
Very truly yours,
M. J. FUNCHESS,
Agronomist,
REPORT OF PLANT BREEDER
H. B. TISDALE
Auburn, Ala., Dec. 20, 1920.
Prof. J. F. Duggar,
Auburn, Alabama.
Dear Prof. Duggar:
The following is a brief report of my work under the Adams
and Hatch funds for the year 1920.
The corn breeding work was continued with Whatley's Pro-
lific, a whitei dent weevil resistant variety. All data which had
been collected on this work in past years and the correlations
and summaries of the data which were well under way for pub-
lication were destroyed. In the late fall of 1920 data were
taken for the continuation of the study of correlations of the
different ear characters of corn and the study of shuck cover-
ing as related to yield and weevil resistance.
A modified ear-to-,row method is used to test the different
strains of Whatley corn. The best strains are rapidly multi-
plied and disseminated.
The plant-to-row test of White Spanish peanuts was contin-
ued. Ninety-seven individual selections representing almost as
many types of White) Spanish peanuts were planted. Data were
taken on a large number of these plants for the purpose of cor-
relating the different plant and fruit characters.
Several germination experiments were made with peanuts.
in which were compared the rate and amount of germination
of shelled seed, nuts in broken pods and nuts unshelled. Ex-
periments on the: effect of age on shelled peanuts were made.
Experiments indicate that the most economic results are ob-
tained from planting nuts shelled by hand; and that the ger-
minating power of shelled peanuts decreases with age. Fur-
ther experiments, however, are necessary in order to draw
very definite conclusions.
Respectfully submitted,
H. B. TISDALE,
Associate Plant Breeder..
REPORT OF BOTANIST
WRIGHT A. GARDNER
Auburn, Ala., Jan. 17, 1921.
Director J. F. Duggar,
Auburn, Alabama.
Dear Sir:
As recently requested, I submit the following annual report.
Adams Fund.
Soil Toxin Project-The work of the year consisted largely
of extending and confirming earlier results. More soils were
found to contain organisms able to decompose certain toxins.
The nearly completed manuscript of a bulletin on the decom-
position of non-nitrogenous toxins was destroyed when the
Agricultural Building burned, as well as a considerable mass
of data on the decomposition of nitrogenous toxins.
SweMd Potato Project-The considerable data on the physio-
logical effects of various conditions of harvesting, curing, and
storage of sweet potatoes, accumulated during the early months
of the year, were lost in the fire of Oct. 16-17.
The latter part of the year has been devoted to replacing
equipment, soils, and toxins for the purpose of restoring, first
the data on soil toxins and later that on the physiology of
sweet potatoes. The' Ddpartment is again ready for construc-
tive work on the soil toxin project.
Hatch Fund.
Miscellaneous Projects, not definitely outlined, were contin-
ued with some work on each.
1. Manganese poisoning.
2. Sprouting early Irish potatoes for a second crop.
3. Nut grass eradication.
4. Nutrient solutions.
Respectfully submitted,
WRIGHT A. GARDNER,
Botanist..
REPORT OF HORTICULTURIST
G. C. STARCHER
Auburn, Ala., Dec. 2, 1920.
Prof. J. F. Duggar, Director,
Experiment Station,
Auburn, Alabama.
Dear Sir:
I submit herewith a report of experimental work for the
year 1919-20.
Grape Variety Project-Study of the behaviour of forty-eight
bunch grapes and six Rotundifolia. Project started in 1912.
Completed in 1918. Bulletin published, "The Grape," No. 211,
June, 1920, which was burned and later reprinted in smaller
edition.
Results: The behaviour of the various varieties was very
striking, only a few of the entire group proving commercially
-profitable.
These varieties have been selected for a new series of ex-
periments, planting being made in 1919. The new series of
experiments will show comparative behaviour when the vines
are fertilized and sprayed. Under the first series of exper-
iments the vines were not sprayed in order to test the re-
lative hardiness of foliage and vine under natural conditions.
Sweet Potato Curing Project-This project was a continua-
tion of the curing work carried on under a similar project
covering the period of 1914-15-16, but was changed to cover
a much broader field during the years 1917-18-19. The second
three years series 
was completed 
in June and 
data prepared
for publictation. These 
data will show striking 
results due to
frost and cold damage, both before and after harvesting, and
form the basis of a new and more extended series now under
way.4
The results of the two series already completed will have a
widespread influence on 
the sweet potato industry. 
In fact
many other States have adopted almost verbatim recommenda-
tions made by this Department as result of our experiments
and observations.
21
The following projects have been continued:
Apple, pear, peach, quince, pecan and sweet potato variety
studies. The apple varieties cover a list of fifty varieties.
pear, twelve varieties; peach, thirty varieties; quince, three
varieties; pecans, ten varieties; sweet potatoes, ten varie-
ties.
Notes for two years were completed on our st'awberry
planting of twenty-nine varieties but a part of these notes were
destroyed when the Agricultral Hall burned. Our notes are so
complete for 1919, however, that we can base a new planting
and continuation of the variety studies on that year's work.
A series of variety studies on sweet potatoes has been com-
pleted and is being prepared for publication. 
A new series,
started with plants secured from the U. S. Department of Ag-
riculture, is now under way.
A planting was made of high-grade huckleberries for obser-
vation of this new horticultural plant.
Our variety planting of raspberries, blackberries, dewberries
and loganberies was destoyed by live stoock.
Soil sterilization and fertilizer studies are 1 eing made with a
number of plants in the greenhouse, such as chrysanthemums,
carnations, sweet peas and roses.
The variable character of our soil has made fertilizer studies
of plants enumerated above practically impossible and the
limited amount of ground available, and its character, makes
any experimental work of any character with horticultural
plants extremely difficult and unsatisfactory.
Respectfully submitted,
G. C. STARCHER,
Horticulturist.
REPORT OF ENTOMOLOGIST
W. E. HINDS
Auburn, Ala., Jan. 11, 1921.
Prof. J. F. Duggar, Director,
Alabama Experiment Station,
Auburn, Alabama.
Dear Sir:
I submit herewith a statement regarding Adams and Hatch
work done by the Department of Entomology for the calendar
year 1920.
Adams Fund Work-On January 1, 1920, two active projects
were under way in this Department. First, the Rice Weevil,
or Control of Insects Affecting Stored Corn. The progress in
this work had been such that it was considered advisable to
close it up on June 30, 1920.
In this investigation it was learned that a large part of the
annual loss in corn, amounting to from four to ten million
dollars pe- annum in Alabama alone, may be prevented by
:making a few simple and feasible changes in seed selection
and in the time and method of planting, harvesting and stor-
ing corn crop. Loss from grain infesting insects is greatest
near the Gulf Coast and decreases to where it becomes a neg-
ligible amount in most seasons at a distance of about two
hundred miles from the Coast.
The following recommendations have been determined from
this project: First, select, preferable from standing stalks in
the fied,in the fall, only such seed ears as have long, tight
fitting shucks orj husks in addition to every character desired.
Seed selection shoulo be on the basis of the maximum yield
of sound grain per stalk rather than upon the show-type of ear.
For insect resistance, pendent ears are highly desirable and for
large yields prolific types or corn usually excel. Some! of these
types have been found very desirable in weevil resistant char-
acters as well as in productiveness. Second, the control of
insects can be secured very satisfactorily in the field by plant-
ing, preferably near the corn crib or on the side of the field
nearest adjacent timbers, a small area of early maturing corn
23
-as a trap plot to concentrate the egg deposition for the first
.generation of all species of these grain infesting insects in the
field.
To be, effective, the trap plot should mature two or three
--weeks earlier than the main crop. To prevent the spread of
the first generation of insects from the trap plot to the main
-crop all of the oars from the trap plot should be gathered with
shuck on within six weeks after the corn reaches roasting-ear
stage. This removes the first generation from the field and
.gives very efficient protection to the main crop at a minimum
expense and with no insecticidal treatment.
It has been found that the common practice in the South of
storing corn in the slip-shuck actually results in increasing
the weevil damage during storage. Where corn is shucked in
the field or before it is thrown into the crib only a small part
of the adult insects in the ears in the field will be carried to
the crib. The insects are deprived of a large part of the shelter
against winter minimum temperatures that the shucks would
provide. It is advisable to put a few moth balls (napthalene),
say, one pound per twenty square feet of are'a of the crib, on
top of the stored grain to repel the attacks of grain moths.
The use of this material does not effect either the feeding value
or germination of the grain and the expense involved is 
very
slight; on the other hand storing corn with the shuck on and
applying salt in the crib, as is frequently done, increases the
insect damage decidedly, as salt takes up moisture from the
air and the moisture softens the grain. The insect can work
and develop faster in moist, soft grain 
than they do in dry,
hard grain. Salt thus used is not insecticide in its effect in any
degree.
The recommendations resulting from this investigation are
applicable throughout the South Atlantic and Gulf States. If
brought into general application they may go far toward pre-
venting an annual loss averaging at least $40,000,000. These im-
proved measures can be applied by every grower, owner or
tenant, white or black, with practically no expense or addi-
tional labor involved.
Fumnigation-Continued work on this subject showed that
24
it was so broad in scope that it seemed advisable to close up
the original project and select some phase of the subject for
further investigation. Accordingly before July 1st, the new
project growing out of the fumigation work was outlined under
the title of "Soil Insecticides." Even this phase of the subject,
which would have included other materials besides soil fum-
igants, appeared too comprehensive and after sonie work had
been done, the project was discontinued by Dr. F. L. Thomas
who was to have prosecuted this work and two new projects
have bee~ outlined and approved for him. These are de-
scribed under the head of New Projects.
Another phase of the fumigation project has also been select-
ddi as a subject for a newly stated investigation to receive the
attention of the Head of the Department.
New Projects-In mid-summer of 1920 the Mexican bean
beetle, Epilachna corrupta Muls, was discovered in north cen-
tral Alabama. This insect is not known to occur elsewhere in
the United States except in a region in and around Arizona,
Colorado and New Mexico where the species seems to have
been confined by surrounding desert and range conditions.
Insamuch as this insect has already given evidence of the
acquireinent of new breeding habits and food plants in Alaba-
ma and promises to become possibly the most serious insect
pest yet introduced into the United States, it has seemed
advisable to make this insect the principal subject for Adams
Fund investigations in this De\partment. Therefore, Dr. F. L.
Thomas will henceforth devote the major part of his attention
to the project Mexican Bean Beetle. In this project a special
study is to be made of life history, including dispersion, hiber-
nation and natural control. This project has been approved.
The second project approved for Doctor Thomas is the Tur-
nip Web-Worm. Work on these two projects is now under way
but it is tool early to report results thereon.
The third project for the Department, entitled Species Factor
in Insect Resistance to Fumigation has been submitted and
with the restriction of materials to be tested to a small number
of items definitely stated will doubtletss be approved. Work
on this project cannot exceed six or seven weeks of the year-
25
z-and this work will be done according to present plans in thq
spring months.
Hatch Fund-Inasmuch as the expense apportionment of
Hatch Fund to the Department has amounted to only $100. per
annum, no major project could be undertaken. The principal
work has therefore been on a subject Miscellaneous Insect
Studies. Under this we have dealt principally with unusual
.outbreaks of insects which are already established in the State.
A report of work under the Local Experiment Fund will be
.submitted separately.
Respectifully submitted,
W. E. HINDS,
Entomologist.
26
REPORT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDMAN
J. C. GRIMES
Auburn, Ala., Jan. 13, 1921.
Prof. J, F. Duggar, 
Director,
Alabama Experiment 
Station,
Auburn, Alabama.
Dear Sir:
I beg to submit herewith a brief report of the experimental
work conducted under the Hatch and Adams funds by the
Animal Husbandry Department during the past fiscal year, as
carried on under the direction of my predecessor, Prof. George
S. Templeton, who was in charge of the Department of Animal
Husbandry until September 1, 1920.
UNDER HATCH FUND
Dairy Cattle
A test Was conducted comparing a mixture of velvet bean
meal and cottonseed meal versus wheat bran and cottonseed
meal when supplemented with silage and hay, as a feed for
dairy cattle.
Object of Experiment
The object of this experiment was to determine the relative
value of velvet bean meal with wheat bran as influencing:
1. Production of milk.
2. Production of butterfat.
3. Feed cost of milk and butterfat.
4. Weight of cows in milk.
Plan of Experiment
Two lots of three cows each were used in the experiment.
They were fed for 28 days as follows:
Lot 1. Velvet bean meal 2 parts, cottonseed meal 1 part, hay
and sorghum silage.
Lot 2. Wheat bran 2 parts, cottoonseed meal 1 part, hay
and sorghum silage.
At the close of this period 14 days were used in which to re-
verse the ration of the two lots. During the 
second period of
28 days they were fed as follows:
27
Lot 1. Wheat bran 2 parts, cottonseed meal 1 part, hay
and sorghum silage..
Lot 2. Velvet bean meal 2 parts, cottonoseed meal 1 part,
hay and sorghum silage.
The cows on the ration including velvet bean meal consumed
more grain but slightly less silage and hay. They produced less
milk but more butterfat than those on the wheat bran ration.
Some of the cows on the velvet bean meal test produced milk
higher in butterfat than that from the cows receiving wheat
bran. The wheat bran ration produced milk and butterfat at
slightly less cost than the velvet bean ration.
It is planned to repeat this experiment at a later date in order
to get additional data.
Hogs
A test was started January 20th, 1920, to determine the in-
fluence of a ration of velvet beans alone on brood sows. Four
brood sows which were bred were placed on the ration com-
posed entirely of velvet beans. Three litters have been farrow-
ed to date and the experiment is still in progress.
UNDER ADAMS FUND
Hogs
A continuation of the project in cooperation with the De-
partment of Chemistry and the U. S. Department of Agricul-
ture to determine the influence of some southern feeds on the
proprieties (melting points, iodine value, keeping qualities,
and color) of lards. The experiment was conducted with six
lots of hogs as follows:
Lot 1-6 hogs; corn 8 parts, 60% tankage 1 part.
Lot 2-6 hogs; corn 7 parts, peanut meal 1 part.
Lot 3-6 hogs; corn 2 parts, peanut meal 1 part.
Lot 4-6 hogs; corn 1 part, peanut meal 1 part.
Lot 5-6 hogs; corn and peanut meal in self feeder.
Lot 6-3 hogs; whole Spanish peanuts.
This experiment was planned with a view or determining
the influence of various amounts of peanut meal on the carcass;
the influence of age on the carcass. The finish of the hog was
also watched in this experiment.
The hogs were fed from March 20, 1920, to June 29, 1920, a
28
period of 101 days. They were then shipped to Beltsville, Mary-
land, and slaughtered in the Government abattior.. They were
kept in cold storage for 48 hours and at the end of this time
the carcasses were classified by the grading committee. Sam-
ples of kidney fat were taken for melting point and iodiiie
value determinations.
Classification, average melting point, and iodine values were
as follows:
LOT CLASSIFICATION MELTING POINT. IODINE VALUE
Leaf fat Back fat Leaf fat Back fat
Degree C. Degree C.
1. 3 firm, 2 medium 42.1 37:3 56.95 61.66
2. 4 firm, 2 medium 40.1 36.3 56.69 63.21
3. 2 firm, 3 medium 41.0 34.9 58.40 66.19
4. 3 firm, 2 medium 40.2 36.3 61.98 66.49
5. 2firm, 3 medium 37.6 32.3 58.10 66.09
6. 3 soft 30.8 25.1 79.53 81.52
Three of these hogs, 
one firm, one medium, 
and one soft
were cut up. The hams, bacons, and shoulders from these
three hogs were curedi, one ham, one bacon, and one shoulder
from each carcass being cured by the brine method and the
others by the dry method. All of the other carcasses were
sold without being cut up.
Respectfully submitted,
J. C. GRIMES,
Head Animal Husbandry Department.
REPORT OF CHEMIST
E. R. MILLER
Auburn, Ala., Jn. 1, 1921.
Prof. J. F. Duggar, Director,
Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station,
Auburn, Alabama.
Dear Sir:
I beg to submit the folowving report of the work of my de-
partment for the year! ending Dec. 31, 1920.
Further work has been done in the determination of the
mineral matter of various varieties of the velvet bean as well
as of the Chinese, Yokohama and Lyon beans.
The phenolic substance referred to in my last report has
b"een identified as the 3:4-dihydroxy phenylalanine, which was
reported, in 1913, by Guggenheim to be a constituent of the
green pods of Vicia faba.
The result of my investigations were published in the Jour-
nal of Biological Chemistry, vol. 44, pp. 481-486.
This amino acid we have found to be contained also in the
flowers, stems and immature pods of the velvet bean, but so
far the results seem to indicate that it is not present in the ma-
ture pods and leaves. Its identification in these parts of the
plant is rendered difficult by the presence of another phenolic
substance which has some of thi characteristics of tannin.
For several reasons this amino acid is of considerable inter-
est, particularly so, since it is quite probable that it is diretly
or indirectly one of the causes of the undesirable results
which follow when velvet beans are fed in large quantity to
brood sows.
In cooperation with the Animal Husbandry Department a
feeding experiment with pigs is also in progress, the object
of which is to find out in what respects the velvet bean may
be deficient as a feed stuff.
Respectfully yours,
EMERSON R. MILLER,
REPORT OF PLANT PATHOLOGIST
A. F. THIEL
Auburn, Ala., Nov. 15, 1920.
Director J. F .Duggar,
Auburn, Ala.
Dear:
I herewith submit a report of the work in plant pathology
for the past year under the Adams fund project.
Until April 1, 1920, the work was conducted by Dr. E. F.
Hopkins.
Our study of seed-borne diseases of southern 
forage plants
has included this year a continuation of the study of leaf spot
of bur clover begun some years ago at the Alabama Experiment
Station by Dr. F. A. Wolf; and experiments intended to find
a method of control for the leaf spot of vetch.
The destruction of all records in this department in the fire
that consumed the agricultural building in October, 1920, makes
possible only an outline of results, prepared from memory,
and necessitates the repetition of a part of this work, as well
as the continuation of the same line of investigations.
LEAF SPOT OF BURR CLOVER
(Cercospora Medicaginis)
Description of organism: "'Stevens Fungi Which Cause Plant
Diseases." Page 630.
The organism causing, the leaf spot 
of burr clover is seed
borne. Dr. Hopkins, experimenting with various methods, found
that by using hulled seeds 'he secured 100% hdalthy plants
when the diseased seed were treated with 40% formaldehyde
for 2 houirs or with 
a 1 :1000 mercuric chloride 
solution.' Treat-
ed seeds were inoculated again after treatment. By treating
the seed with hulls attached no satisfactory results were ob-
tained.' Dr. Hopkiis' results will be published soon.
31
LEAF SPOT OF VETCH
(Ascochyta pisi)
Litefrature:
Halsted, B. D. N. J. R. 14:355, 1893.
Van Hook, J. M., 0. B. 173: 1906.
Kruger, F., C. Bak. 1:620, 1895.
The fungus causing the leaf 
spot on vetches attacks the
st(.ms, leaves, pods and seeds. The following varieties are
more or less resistant: Oregon vetch, Crown vetch, V. monan-
thus, V. ervilla. Those extremely susceptible are V. angusti-
folia and V. sativa.
Preliminary experiments on control indicated that the leaf
spot may possibly be 
controlled by subjecting 
the diseased
seed, with a water content slightly higher than normal, 
to
high temperatures.
Since the results of the experiments of different temperatures
and water content were lost in the fire, it is advisable to repeat
the work.
Respectfully submitted,
A. F. THIEL,
Acting Plant Patholoogist.
REPORT OF VETERINARIAN
C. A. CARY
Director J. F. Duggar.
Sir:
The following is a brief report of work done by the Veterin-
ary Department during 1920.
1. Tests were made on pigs, cattle and mules to determine
the toxic action of red buckeye. The fruit, leaves, twigs and
roots were employed. Only in one instances or test did there
appear toxic effect. One 700 pound mule was given, by stomach
tube, 1 gallon of liquid obtained by macerating 4 pounds of
buckeye roots. Sixteen hours thereafter this mule presented
some symptoms of intoxication. The mule would walk back-
wards and forwards and press its head against the fence; but
when driven around in the lot it was lively and active. Its
abdomen was sensitive to palpation and there were some signs
of abdominal pain. The pulse was soft and weak; and the
mucous membranes were pale. Twenty-four hours after the
administration of the mac(rated -material all symptoms had
disappeared and the mule was apparently normal.
The test on hogs cattle and another mule were all negative.
Some of these tests on cattle and mules will be repeated.
In connection with the Chemical and Animal Husbandry
Departments the pathology and bacteriology of the changes in
brood sows resulting from an exclusive velvet bean ration
have been studied. This study also embraced a study of the
pigs born from such sows. We are not ready to publish
results.
The Farmers' Summer School for 1920 was held July 31
to August 7, 1920. The attendance and interest were very
good. There were 47 counties, 9 states, represented, and 625 in
attendance.
C. A. CARY,
Veterinarian.