TRANSMITTALS
President Bradford Knapp,
Auburn, Alabama.
Dear Doctor Knapp:
I have the honor to submit herewith the Thirty-ninth
Annual Report of the Agricultural Experiment Station of the
Alabama Polytechnic Institute.
Yours very truly,
M. J. Funchess,
Director.
Alabama Polytechnic Institute,
Auburn, Alabama.
Governor Bibb Graves,
Montgomery, Alabama.
Dear Sir:
I take pleasure in transmitting to you the Thirty-ninth
Annual Report of the Alabama Experiment Station of the Ala-
bama Polytechnic Institute.
Yours very truly,
Bradford Knapp,
President.
NEW PUBLICATIONS
The Influence of Various Nitrogenous Fertilizers on the
Availability of Phosphate and Potassium. (J. F. Fudge).
(Alabama Experiment Station Bulletin 227). This study was
made on a number of soils from greenhouse work and samples
of soil from plots of long-continued experiments conducted by
the New Jersey, Alabama, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, and
North Carolina Experiment Stations. Availability was studied
by determining the concentration of phosphate and potassium
in displaced solutions and in extracts of soils, and by the Neu-
bauer or plant seedling methods.
Acid-forming fertilizers caused a marked decrease in phos-
phate availability and an increase in water-soluble potassium.
Physiologically basic fertilizers caused an increase in phosphate
availability and a decrease in water-soluble potassium.
The influence of the individual fertilizers, based on the study
of the soils from the long-continued experiments, is summarized.
CONTRIBUTION TO SCIENTIFIC JOURNALS
Parker, F. W., and Fudge, J. F.-Soil Phosphorus Studies, I.
The Colorimetric Determination of Organic and Inorganic Phos-
phorus in Soil Extracts and in the Soil Solution. Soil Science, 24,
109-117. A study is made of the Deniges, and Fiske and Sub-
barow methods for the colorimetric determination of phosphorus
in the soil solution and soil extracts. The procedure is given
for the determination of total and inorganic phosphorus.
The method of Deniges is more sensitive than that of Fiske
and Subbarow, and is, therefore, recommended for most work
with soil extracts and the soil solution. Data are given showing
that moderate amounts of silica do not influence the determin-
ation. The Fiske and Subbarow method may be useful in plant
analysis or for the determination of phosphorus soluble in dilute
acids.
Pierre, W. H., and Parker, F. W.-Soil Phosphorus Studies,
II. The Concentration of Organic and Inorganic Phosphorus in
the Soil Solution and the Availability of Organic Phosphorus to
Plants. Soil Science, 24, 119-128. The content of organic and
inorganic phosphate is determined in the displaced solution and
1:5 water extracts of 21 soils from 9 states. It is shown by ab-
sorption studies that plants will not absorb organic phosphate
from the displaced soil solutions nor from soil extracts, while
they absorb all of the inorganic phosphate present.
Parker, F. W.-Soil Phosphorus 
Studies, III. Plant Growth
and the Absorption of Phosphorus from Culture Solutions of Dif-
ferent Phosphate Concentrations. Soil Science, 24, 129-146. A
study is reported of the concentration of phosphate necessary
for the maximum growth of corn and soybeans. Maximum growth
was obtained in a culture solution containing 0.50 pOp.m. P0
4
.
Growth at 0.25 p.p.m. was good, the dry weight being about
75 per cent of the maximum. It is suggested that a good
growth might be obtained at a concentration of 0.10 p.p.m. P0
4 
if
that concentration could be constantly maintained. The bearing
of the experimental data on present theories of plant nutrition is
discussed.
Parker, F. W., and Pierre, W. H.-The Relation between the
Concentration of Mineral Elements in a Culture Medium and the
Absorption and Utilization of these Elements by Plants. Soil
Science, 25, 337-343. Data are presented to show the minimum
concentration of phosphate and potash required by plants in so-
lution cultures.
Pierre, W. H.-Nitrogenous Fertilizers and Soil Acidity, I.
Effect of Various Nitrogenous Fertilizers on Soil Acidity. Jour.
Amer. Soc. Agron., 19, 254-269. Studies are reported on the effect
of various nitrogenous fertilizers on the H-ion concentration and
the exchangeable hydrogen of soils. The studies showed that all
fertilizers containing ammonia-nitrogen or fertilizers converted
to ammonia, such as urea, are acid-forming. The relative
amounts of acidity developed according to the exchangeable hy-
drogen data were as follows: ammonium sulfate 100; sodium ni-
trate -42; urea 42 to 50; Ammo-Phos A 100 to 104; ammonium
nitrate 42 to 55; Leunasaltpeter 68 to 76; calcium cyanamid -55;
and calcium nitrate -39.
Pierre, W. H.-Nitrogenous Fertilizers and Soil Acidity, II.
The Use of Fertilizer Combinations, Lime, and Basic 
Slag in Cor-
recting the Acidity Formed by Various Nitrogenous Fertilizers.
Jour. Amer. Soc. Agron., 20, 269-279. A combination of sodium
nitrate and ammonium sulphate in which the proportion of nitro-
gen in these materials is in the ratio of 75 to 25, respectively, did
not change the reaction of soils. The amounts in pounds of pure
precipitated calcium carbonate required to neutralize the acidity
formed by the various acid-forming nitrogenous fertilizers per
pound of nitrogen were as follows: ammonium sulphate 5.85; am-
monium phosphate 4.88; Leunasaltpeter 4.39; urea 2.92; and
ammonium nitrate 2.92. Basic slag was found to be 55 per cent
as effective as calcium carbonate in neutralizing the acidity
formed by ammonium sulphate.
Pierre, W. H., and Fudge, J. F.-The Adjustment of the Re-
action of Indicator Solutions and Its Importance in Determining
the H Ion Concentration of Slightly Buffered Solutions. Jour.
Amer. Chem. Soc., 50, 1254-1262. The importance of adjusting
indicator solutions to definite reactions when they are to be used
with poorly buffered solutions was shown. Two methods of ad-
justment were proposed.
Fudge, J. F.-Influence of Various Nitrogenous Fertilizers on
Availability of Phosphate. Jour. Amer. Soc. Agron., 20, 280-293.
In a study of the influence of different sources of.nitrogen on the
availability of phosphate in soils the following methods were
used: determinations of P0
4 
concentration of the displaced soil
solution, of 1:5 water extracts, of 1:5 carbonic acid extracts, and
of continued leachings; Neubauer tests; and the removal of phos-
phate by soils from a solution of mono-potassium phosphate. All
methods showed that physiologically basic nitrogenous fertilizers
increased and acid-forming fertilizers decreased phosphate
availability, as compared with the check plots, when lime is not
applied. Lime increased the availability of the phosphate on all
plots.
Salmon, W. D., Guerrant, N. B., and Hays, I. M.-On the
Existence of Two Active Factors in the Vitamin B Complex, II.
Jour. Biol. Cheni., 76, 487. There are presented data bearing
upon three points which have received further consideration in
the studies of the vitamin B complex now being conducted in this
laboratory. These are (1) the relative adsorption of the B-P
and the P-P factors by fuller's earth; (2) the further purification
of the P-P fraction; (3) the retardation of growth by an insuffici-
ency of the B-P factor.
In slightly acid aqueous solutions containing both the B-P
and the P-P factors there is a tendency for fuller's earth to ad-
sorb selectively the B-P factor. If a small amount of fuller's
earth is used, an adsorbate which is very rich in the B-P factor
but very low in the P-P factor may be obtained.
Three successive treatments of an extract of velvet bean
leaves with fuller's earth and a fractionation of the concentrated
filtrate with alcohol furnishes a preparation rich in P-P factor
but containing only a trace of B-P factor. The final trace of B-P
factor may be inactivated by heating for 4.5 hours and 15 pounds
pressure.
A low concentration of either the B-P or the P-P factor in the
diet limits the rate of growth. More B-P factor is required to
produce growth than merely to protect a non-growing rat against
the onset of beriberi. The rat-growth method cannot be used as
a measure of the potency of a food in the P-P fraction unless the
experimental diet provides an optimum of the B-P factor.
AGRONOMY
Rotation Experiments. (R. Y. Bailey).-The Old Rotation
experiment was started in 1896. This experiment includes plots
cropped continuously to cotton and corn with or without le-
gumes, a two-year rotation of cotton and corn with legumes, and
a three-year rotation of cotton, corn, and oats with legumes.
Each plot in the experiment has received the same applications
of phosphate and potash. No nitrogenous fertilizer has been
applied since the beginning of the experiment.
Average yields for the eight-year period, 1920-1927, show
that plot 1, which has been cropped continuously to corn with
legumes, has produced 8.2 bushels of corn per acre more than
plot 2, which has been cropped continuously to corn, without
legumes. Plot 1 produced 2.6 bushels of corn per acre more
than plots 4 and 7 on which a two-year rotation was followed,
and .7 bushel per acre more than plots 10, 11, and 12 on which
a three-year rotation was followed. Continuous cropping of
cotton with legumes produced 436 pounds of seed-cotton per acre
more than continuous cropping to cotton without legumes. Con-
tinuous cropping to cotton with legumes produced 101 pounds of
seed cotton per acre less than a two-year rotation and 16 pounds
of seed cotton per acre more than a three-year rotation. Legumes
were grown in both the two and three-year rotations. The crop
of 1925 failed because of drought. The 1920-1927 yields repre-
resent an eight-year average of seven crops.
The Cullars Rotation experiment was started in 1911 to study
the relative value of superphosphate and rock phosphate in a
three-year rotation. The rotation includes both summer and
winter legumes that are turned under before cotton and corn are
planted. Rock phosphate has produced approximately the same
yields of corn and oats as superphosphate. Superphosphate has
produced an average annual yield of 82 pounds of seed cotton
per acre more than rock phosphate for the entire period of the
experiment, 1911-1927. Superphosphate was applied at the rate
of 544 pounds per acre and rock phosphate at the rate of 1,088
pounds per acre. Uniform applications of muriate of potash and
nitrate of soda were made on all plots.
In 1914 additional treatments were started to study the ef-
fect of legumes in the rotation. Plots A and B each had 480
pounds of superphosphate and 100 pounds of muriate of potash
per acre in the rotation. Plot A had legumes turned under while
plot B had no legumes. Average yields for the seven-year
period, 1920-1927, show that plot A has made 384 pounds of
seed cotton, 20.9 bushels of corn and 7.5 bushels of oats per acre
more than plot B. These increases in yield are due to the effect
of legumes in the cropping system.
A Comparison of Superphosphate and Rock Phosphate for
Cotton. (R. Y. Bailey).-An experiment comparing superphos-
phate and rock phosphate as sources of phosphorus for cotton
has been conducted since 1920. Four plots in the experiment re-
ceived 320 pounds of superphosphate per acre, three plots re-
ceived 320 pounds of rock phosphate per acre, and two plots re-
ceived no phosphate. Each plot in the experiment received 160
pounds of kainit and 160 pounds of nitrate of soda per acre an-
nually. The average yield of seven crops, from 1920 to 1927,
show that the four superphosphate plots averaged 937 pounds
of seed cotton per acre. The three rock phosphate plots averaged
825 pounds of seed cotton per acre and the two plots which re-
ceived no phosphate averaged 617 pounds per acre.
Methods of Seeding Oats. (H. B. Tisdale).-From 1921 to
1927, an experiment comparing different methods of seeding
oats was conducted. The experiment included five different
methods of seeding. All treatments were run in duplicate. The
methods of seeding used, the yields for 1927, and the average
yields are shown in Table 1.
Table 1.-Method of Seeding and Yields of Oats
Bushels of oats per acre
Plot Method of seeding1927 
Average yield
1921-1927*
1 Broadcast and disked in 52.9 40.5
2 Drilled with one-horse drill 52.2 40.2
3 Broadcast and plowed in with twister 55.9 47.6
4 Land broken with two-horse plow,
seed broadcast and disked in 55.9 48.6
5 Land broken with two-horse plow,
seed drilled with one-horse drill 59.3 47.5
*Crop of 1924 discarded on account of freeze injury.
Cotton Variety Tests. (H. B. Tisdale).-Twenty-five non-wilt-
resistant varieties of cotton were tested in Colbert, Marion, Mor-
gan, Marshall, Lee, Autauga, and Perry counties. Table 2 shows
the five highest yielding varieties and the yield of lint-cotton per
acre for each section of the state.
Table 2.-Average Yield of Lint Cotton per Acre for Each
Section of the State
North Alabama Central Alabama Black Belt
Average 14 tests 1922-1927 Average 8 tests 1924-1927 Average 5 tests 1922-1927
Variety Yield Variety Yield Variety Yield
Pounds Pounds Pounds
Cook 1010 424 Cook 1627 436 Piedmont
Piedmont Cleveland 378
Cleveland 375 Cook 1616 436 Cook 1010 374
Bottoms 374 Cook 588 422 Dixie Triumph 352
Cook 588 370 Dixie Triumph 420 Cook 588 335
Dixie Triumph 369 Bottoms 408 Bottoms 335
Twelve wilt-resistent varieties of cotton were tested in Lee,
Autauga, Escambia, Covington, Houston, and Lowndes counties.
The average results of 26 tests over a period of 5 years (1923-
1927) show the yield of lint cotton per acre from the highest
yielding varieties to be as follows: Cook 307-6, 375 pounds;
Dixie Triumph, 360 pounds; Toole Petty, 359 pounds; Toole
Council, 347 pounds; and Lewis 63, 346 pounds.
Corn Variety Tests. (H. B. Tisdale).-Twenty varieties of
corn were tested in North, Central, and South Alabama. Table 3
shows the five highest yielding varieties with the yield in bushels
of grain per acre for each section of the state.
Table 3.-Average Yield of Corn per Acre for Each
Section of the State 1922-1927
North Alabama Central Alabama South Alabama
Average 9 tests Average 6 tests Average 7 tests
Variety Yield Variety Yield Variety Yield
Bushels' Bushels Bushels
Weekley 21.0 Whatley 27.8 Neal's Pay-
Pee Dee No. 5 20.3 Douthit 26.5 master 23.8
Hastings 19.9 Weekley 26.1 Whatley 22.6
Neal's Paymast- Weekley 21.4
er 19.9 Hastings 25.8 Douthit 21.4
Douthit 19.7 Pee Dee No. 5 25.1 Hastings 21.3
Cotton and Corn Breeding. (H. B. Tisdale).-The work on
the leading varieties of cotton to improve the yield and staple
was continued. A number of better strains of Cook 1010, Cook
1627, Bottoms and Cook 307-6 wilt resistant have been isolated
from plant to row tests and multiplied. Several promising cot-
ton hybrids are being studied.
Several strains of the Whatley variety of corn were self-
fertilized for the purpose of obtaining pure line strains that may
be combined for better yields.
Rate of Fertilizing Cotton. (J. T. Williamson).-The aver-
age of many early experiments by this station show that a com-
plete fertilizer gives best results on cotton on nearly all Alabama
soils.
Recent tests on rate and ratio of applying fertilizers to this
crop which have been made on Norfolk, Greenville, Hartsell,
Cecil, Decatur, Clarkesville, Oktibbeha, and Houston soil groups
show that 100 pounds of nitrate of soda, 200 pounds of super-
phosphate, and 25 pounds of muriate of potash is the proper
ratio of combining these materials for cotton under the condi-
tions of the experiments.
When these fertilizing materials were combined in the above
ratio and applied at rates of 325 pounds, 650 pounds, and 975
pounds per acre, the most dependable profits resulted from the
use of 650 pounds on all soils except the Houston group. On
this group the 325 pound rate gave best results. The use of 975
pounds of fertilizer was often more profitable than smaller
amounts; however, due to the small margin of profit, this rate of
application is not recommended.
A complete report of these results can be found in Bulletin
228 of this station.
Stable Manure, Nitrate of Soda, and Vetch as Sources of Ni-
trogen for Cotton and Corn. (F. E. Bertram).-An experiment
comparing stable manure, nitrate of soda, and vetch as sources
10
of nitrogen for cotton and corn has been conducted since the fall
of 1924. The manure plots receive 5 tons per acre annually and
the nitrate of soda plots receive 325 pounds per acre annually.
Vetch is allowed to grow until about April 1 before being turned
under.
The results of the past three years show that the manure
plot made 1,287 pounds, the nitrate of soda plot 1,092 pounds,
and the vetch plot 1,340 pounds of seed cotton per acre. The
two unfertilized check plots averaged 390 pounds of seed cotton
per acre. The corn yields per acre were 6.8 bushels on the check
plots, 27 bushels on the manure plots, 31.2 bushels on the nitrate
of soda plot, and 32 bushels on the vetch plot.
The Nature of Soil Buffer Action with Special Reference to
the Exchangeable Complex. (W. H. Pierre).-A study of the
buffer action of soils and soil colloids showed that the buffer ac-
tion of soils is largely confined to the colloidal fraction. Not only
did the amount of colloid influence the buffer action of soils but
the chemical composition of the colloid was equally important.
Colloids which had high Si02:R
2
0
3 
values were found to have a
much higher buffer capacity than those which had low ratios.
Thus, the "specific buffer capacity", determined between pH 4.5
and 6.5, of a colloid obtained from a gray silt loam from Illinois
was found to be 13.8, while that of a fine sandy loam from Ala-
bama was only 6.6. The Si02:R
2
0
3 
values of these colloids were
2.78 and 1.17, respectively. A study of a large number of soils
from several states showed a close correlation between the buf-
fer action and their total exchange capacity. Thus, the buffer
action of soils may be considered as largely due to ionic exchange
between the base or acid added to a soil and the bases or hydro-
gen found in the exchange complex.
The Neutralizing Values and theRates of Reaction with Acid
Soils of Different Grades and Kinds of Liming Materials. (W.
H. Pierre) .- Studies were made of the reaction of ground lime-
stone, crushed oyster shells, and basic slag of different degrees
of fineness with acid soils after various periods of time. The re-
sults showed that the two important factors influencing their
rates of reaction are the H-ion concentration of the soil and the
degree of fineness of the liming materials. The greater the H-ion
concentration or the greater the avidity of the soil acids the more
quickly do the liming materials react. Ground limestone and
oyster shells coarser than 20-mesh were very slowly reactive
with medium acid soils. Limestone coarser than 20-mesh gave a
value of about 20 after two years, as compared with a value of
100 for precipitated calcium carbonate, while with an extremely
acid soil the value was 37 after one year. The 20 to 60-mesh
limestone gave values with the medium acid soils after two years
of about 60, while with two very acid soils it gave values of
about 88 after one year. Crushed oyster shells gave about the
same neutralizing value after the various periods of time as the
11
ground limestone of similar grades of fineness, although the
coarse grade shells seemed slightly less effective than the coarse
grade limestones. Results with basic slags also show a greater
rate of reaction as the degree of fineness is increased and a great-
er rate with strongly acid than with medium acid soils.
Methods for Determining the Amounts of Lime Required to
Bring Soils to Definite pH Values. (W. H. Pierre).-Studies
were made of the buffer action of soils to a base and of the de-
termination of exchangeable hydrogen as methods for determin-
ing the amounts of lime required to bring soils to definite pH
values. The buffer capacity of the soil toward a base can be
determined in the laboratory by the "dialysis colorimetric"
method. A three-day period of contact between the soil and
Ba(OH)
2 
was found to be sufficient for the establishment of
equilibrium. The amounts of lime necessary to bring potted
soils to definite pH values were found to be higher than the
amounts of base required in the laboratory. The relation be-
tween the two values, called the "liming factor", was found to
be quite uniform for various soils. Seventy-seven soils of widely
different texture and acidity gave an average "liming factor"
of approximately 1.5 when they were brought to pH values be-
low neutrality. Liming soils in accordance with their content of
exchangeable hydrogen brought the soils to pH values of ap-
proximately 6.5. These two methods, therefore, can be used to
determine the lime necessary to bring soils to definite pH values.
The Concentration of Organic and Inorganic Phosphorus in
the Soil Solution and Soil Extracts and the Availability of the
Organic Phosphorus to Plants. (W. H. Pierre and F. W. Parker).
-The displaced soil solutions of 21 soils from 9 states were
found to have an average of 0.09 p.p.m. of inorganic and 0.47
p.p.m. of organic phosphate. The 1:5 soil extracts of the same
soils gave an average concentration of 0.35 p.p.m. inorganic and
0.22 p.p.m. organic phosphate.
It was shown by absorption experiments that plants would
not absorb organic phosphate from soil extracts or the displaced
solution. In the same experiment the plants absorbed all of the
inorganic phosphate present. In another experiment corn made
no growth when organic phosphate in soil extracts was the only
source of phosphorus, but made good growth in other soil ex-
tracts containing inorganic phosphate. The growth in the va-
rious extracts was almost proportional to the inorganic phos-
phate present.
The Adjustment of the Reaction of Indicator Solutions and
Its Importance in Determining the Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
of Slightly Buffered Solutions. (W. H. Pierre and J. F. Fudge).
-The quinhydrone electrode can be used for determining the
reaction of the indicator solutions; the hydrogen electrode is not
absolutely reliable when indicators are present, for a constant
12
potential is not obtained. Apparently this is due to the reducing
effect of the hydrogen as the indicator solutions gradually turn a
yellowish-green color as the hydrogen is introduced. The "vary-
ing drop method" is also useful for the adjustment of indicator
solutions. It depends on the principle that if an indicator solu-
tion is more alkaline or more acid than the weakly buffered so-
lution to be tested, a different pH value will be found when dif-
ferent quantities of the indicator solution are used. Indicator
solutions made up without neutralization, solutions adjusted to
pH 7.0 and those made up according to Clark, give erroneous
results with slightly buffered solutions. For such solutions the
indicator solutions are shown to require adjustment to a pH cor-
responding to about the middle of the transition interval.
ANIMAL INDUSTRY
Forage Crops for Fattening Hogs. (J. C. Grimes and W. E.
Sewell).-A study of forage crops for fattening hogs shows that
hogs which were self-fed corn and tankage while grazing oat
and vetch pasture made larger daily gains, but more expensive
gains, than hogs on similar pasture with the corn and tankage
limited to 3 percent of the live weight of animal. In the former
case the rate of gain was 1.94 pounds per day at a feed cost of
$8.50 per hundred-weight gain and in the latter 1.58 pounds per
day at a feed cost of $4.94 per hundred-weight gain. The check
group receiving corn and tankage in the dry lot gained 1.85
pounds per day at a cost of $8.62 per hundred-weight gain.
Three-fourths of an acre of pasture gave a return in feed
value of $21.40 when the grain ration was limited and $7.60
when it was self-fed.
Winter Feeding and Time of Marketing Steers. (J. C.
Grimes).-The steer-feeding studies were continued. Steers
that received a ration of cottonseed meal, Johnson grass hay,
and a medium allowance of blackstrap molasses for a period of
112 days made larger daily gains, carried more finish at the
close of the experiment, and returned a greater profit than did
those receiving a ration of cottonseed meal and Johnson grass
hay.
Johnson grass hay alone proved to be a satisfactory ration for
wintering steers. The average daily gains were increased 0.23
pound per head by adding 2.18 pounds of cottonseed meal daily.
The results again indicate that it is more profitable to limit the
winter ration and finish steers on grass for the June market than
it is to full-feed during the winter and market in the spring. The
feeding of 7.73 pounds of cottonseed meal daily to steers that
were finished on grass increased the daily gains .83 of a pound
and the profits $3.42 per head.
Improving Scrub Hogs by the Use of Purebred Sires. (J. C.
Grimes and W. E. Sewell).-The experiment on improving scrub
13
hogs by the use of purebred sires is being conducted with a view
of determining the improvement which can be made on the na-
tive scrub hog by using purebred boars in a "grading up" pro-
cess. Several groups of pigs representing scrubs, fifty per cent,
seventy-five per cent, and eighty-seven and one-half per cent
purebreds have been fattened on a ration of yellow corn and
tankage, self-fed, plus a mineral mixture, self-fed. Results are
measured in length of time and amount of feed required to reach
200 pounds in weight.
The experiment shows that with one exception the length of
time and the amount of feed required to produce a 200 pound
hog decreased as the grade of the animal increased.
The 871/2 per cent purebred hogs reached 200 pounds in
weight 61 days sooner than the scrubs and required 167 pounds
less feed to make 100 pounds gain. The cost per pound gain was
6.5 cents for the high grade and 9.8 cents for the scrubs.
The 50 per cent purebred hogs made a better showing than
the 75 per cent purebred group, from the standpoint of both rate
and cost of gains. This was not to be expected but might be ex-
plained by the individuality of the animals in the two groups.
Mineral Supplement in the Dairy 
Ration. (W. H. Eaton).-
The effect of mineral supplements on milk production of cows
and size of offspring is being studied. All cows in the college
herd are fed as nearly alike as conditions permit with the excep-
tion of the mineral supplements. Group I is a check lot and re-
ceives no mineral. The cows in Group II, in addition to the regu-
lar ration, receive 4 ounces daily of bone meal, while those in
Group III receive 4 ounces daily of marble dust.
Records have been secured covering two complete lactation
periods on mature cows in the college herd. The observations to
date show that mineral supplements have had no marked effect
on milk production or size of offspring.
The Effect of H Ion Concentration Upon Adsorption of the
Vitamin B Complex. (W. D. Salmon, N. B. Guerrant, and I. M.
Hays). Previous studies in this laboratory have shown that
fuller's earth adsorbs the B-P and P-P factors of the vitamin B
complex. These studies have, moreover, shown the tendency of
the earth to selectively adsorb the B-P factor from solutions con-
taining both factors. The adsorption has always been made from
acidic solutions but the reaction of the solutions was not carefully
controlled. A study of the effect of H ion concentration upon the
adsorption of the two factors by fuller's earth was undertaken
with the idea that a basis for a more effective action of the ad-
sorbent might be obtained.
It was found that the reaction of the solution determines to
a large extent the efficiency of adsorption of either the B-P or
the P-P factor. The optimal adsorption of the B-P factor was
obtained in a zone between pH 3.0 and pH 5.5 (equilibrium pH)
with the maximum at about pH 4.0. From this zone there is a
14
gradual decrease in adsorption with increase in acidity 
and a
rapid decrease with increase in alkalinity. The adsorption
reached zero at about pH 11.00. On the other hand the absorp-
tion of the P-P factor was optimal at pH 0.08, the most 
acidic
solution tested. The adsorption gradually decreased to pH 6.3,
from which point it remained practically constant throughout 
the
alkaline range of the tests.
These results indicate fundamental differences in the chemi-
cal nature of the two factors as they exist in the extracts of maize
and yeast which were treated with the adsorbent. The B-P fac-
tor behaves like a cation, resembling quinine in its adsorption
phenomena; it probably has somewhat weaker basic properties,
however, than has quinine. The P-P factor, on the other hand,
more nearly resembles glucose in its behavior toward fuller's
earth. The possibility is not excluded, however, that the P-P
factor is acidic in nature.
In the above studies the P-P factor has been considered as
dual in nature, having both a growth-stimulating and a pellagra-
preventing action. Some preparations were obtained 
in these
studies which enable rats to grow for considerable periods 
but
which did not prevent the onset of pellagra. Some of the 
ani-
mals continued to grow even after the ophthalmia and dermatitis
of pellagra were quite pronounced. 
Eventually, the morbid
changes became so severe that the animals declined and 
died.
Such results seem to show that the growth-promoting 
and the
pellagra-preventing properties are not inherent in a single 
sub-
stance but that at least two factors are involved in this dual
function of the P-P 
fraction.
Factors Affecting the Adsorption of Quinine, Oxalate, and
Glucose. (N. B. Guerrant and W. D. Salmon).-A study of 
some
factors affecting the adsorption of an organic cation, anion, and
non-electrolyte was made. This was considered desirable 
in
order that a better understanding of the behavior of the 
active
factors of the vitamin B complex might be obtained. The 
studies
involved two adsorbents, fuller's earth and Norite.
The size of particle of the adsorbent is of minor importance
in the adsorption of electrolytes but is of major importance
(when the specific surface is affected) in the adsorption 
of a
non-electrolyte. Heating of fuller's earth to a moderately
high temperature decreases its adsorptive capacity 
for quinine
or oxalate but does not affect its ability to adsorb glucose.
The concentration of H ion in the solution from which 
ad-
sorption occurs is of prime importance in the adsorption of 
elec-
trolytes; it may also affect the adsorption of a non-electrolyte.
The optimal adsorption of quinine by fuller's earth or Norite
occurs in a zone extending from about pH 5.0 to pH 7.0. There 
is
practically no adsorption of quinine from solutions more alkaline
than pH 9.0, equilibrium reaction. The optimal adsorption 
of
oxalate by fuller's earth occurs in the same zone but alkalinity
15
does not depress the adsorption as rapidly as in the case of quin-
ine. Adsorption of oxalate by fuller's earth ceases at pH 1.0.
The adsorption of oxalate by Norite is greater in strongly acidic
solutions, decreasing rather rapidly with decrease in H ion until
it becomes insignificant at pH 8.0. The optimal adsorption of
glucose by either fuller's earth or Norite occurs in strongly acidic
solutions.
Electrodialysis or acid treatment followed by electrodialysis
did not increase the adsorptive capacity of fuller's earth for
quinine; such treatment, moreover, almost destroyed the ability
of the earth to adsorb oxalate. These treatments tended to in-
crease the adsorption of glucose by fuller's earth. It is evident
that the adsorption of electrolytes by fuller's earth is directly
related to the ionic content of the adsorbent, since this type of
adsorption is in the nature of an exchange of equivalent amounts
of ions between the adsorbent and the solution being treated.
There is a tendency for strong cations to bind strong anions and
for weak cations to bind weak anions. Thus ithappens that on
the acid side of the neutral point of the earth there is a tendency
for the weaker cations to be adsorbed by the earth and the more
active cations to be left in solution, paired with the anions which
are more active than the weak silicate anion; in other words, in
acidic solutions the elements which rank highest in the electro-
motive series will be the least readily adsorbed. The reverse of
this is true in alkaline solutions; the higher the rank of an ele-
ment the more readily it is adsorbed. The same rule relating to
the binding of ions of similar activity holds true in the adsorption
of anions by fuller's earth. In this case, however, the silicate
part of the complex plays a relatively unimportant role; it is the
bases of the adsorbent that bind the adsorbed anion, although
the insoluble silicate is removed along with the adsorbate.
The adsorption of a non-electrolyte, however, does not de-
pend upon the ionization of the adsorbent but is directly related
to the solubility of the substance to be adsorbed, to the viscosity
and surface tension of the solution, and to the specific surface of
the adsorbent.
Experimental Pellagra of the Rat. (W. D. Salmon, I. M. Hays
and N. B. Guerrant).-It has previously been shown in this lab-
oratory that rats, receiving the B-P factor as the sole supplement
to an otherwise vitamin B-free diet, develop certain external
symptoms which are characteristic of human pellagra. A care-
ful study of this syndrome is being made.
The disease as it occurs among rats receiving the purified
diet is characterized by emaciation, ophthalmia, alopecia, and
usually a dermatitis which may be either a dry or a wet form.
The feet become dry, scaly, and often cracked and hyperemic.
Of the internal lesions, the most striking condition is a severe
gastro-enteritis which is invariably found in advanced stages of
the disease. In many cases the small intestine appears to be a
16
reddish-brown gelatinous mass. The walls of the intestine con-
tain numerous hemorrhages and the content of the intestine is
often reddened with blood. Atrophy of the spleen and fatty
infiltration of the liver are common.
Rats that receive a diet which contains considerable amounts
of the P-P factor but less than the amount required for complete
protection do not develop the characteristic internal lesions; such
animals, however, frequently develop a dermatitis. The der-
matitis is usually the dry form but in exceptional cases weeping
lesions develop.
A gram-positive coccus has been isolated from both forms of
skin lesions; in many cases this organism has been obtained in
pure culture from such lesions. The liver and spleen from rats
in advanced stages of pellagra, frequently yield pure cultures of
the same organism. An apparently identical organism has also
been isolated from several cases of human pellagra.
The results obtained seem to indicate that the characteristic
lesions of pellagra are caused by an organism. Nevertheless,
the nature of the diet influenced to a marked degree the course
of the disease, the effect of the diet being directly due to a spe-
cific substance, the P-P factor. It has been found that a relative-
ly low concentration of the P-P factor inhibits the growth of the
coccus in culture media. This may indicate that the beneficial
effect of the P-P factor is intimately linked with its bactericidal
action. The animal organism seems to be unable to establish an
immunity against this infection except through a reserve of the
P-P factor. This substance, moreover, cannot be synthesized by
the rat or the human but must be ingested preformed in the food.
It is therefore evident that the importance of including in the
diet such foods as lean meat, milk, and fresh vegetables, partic-
ularly the green, leafy vegetables, which are known to have a
high content of the P-P factor, cannot be overemphasized.
AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS
Local Cotton Marketing in Alabama. (J. D. Pope).-The
object of this study which began in the fall of 1926 is to measure
the relation of the grade and staple of cotton to prices paid to
producers.
Table 4 shows the percentage of different staple lengths com-
posing the crop as indicated by sample of the.crop taken.
Table 4.-Percentage of Different Staple Lengths Produced
in Alabama 1926-1927
Marketing No. 
of 'Per 
cent distribution of 
staple
season bales Below 
Inch and
sampled 7/8" 7/8" 15/16" above
1926-27 5,047 0.65 92.39 6.26 0.70
1927-28 3,585 14.59 84.60 0.67 0.14
17
In 1926-27 farmers received for 2,632 bales of cottonused in
the study an average price of 11.62 cents per pound. Had this
cotton been sold on government grade at spot prices as officially
quoted on the Montgomery market farmers would have received
12.56 cents per pound. In other words, the farm price was 0.94
cents per pound, or $4.70 per bale below the Montgomery
price. It is very difficult to determine exactly what the
farm price should be as compared with the Montgomery price
but, according to the Alabama Farm Bureau Cotton Association,
farmers in the towns studied should receive not more than about
10 points off Montgomery. This suggests that farmers did not
receive the exact value of their cotton in 1926. The record-
breaking crop with the demoralized marketing conditions was
probably an important factor in this discrepancy in prices.
In 1927-28 farmers received an average price of 20.16 cents
per pound for 2,076 bales of cotton. The official Montgomery
price for the same grades of cotton on the same days was 20.38
cents per pound, a difference in favor of the Montgomery price
of 22 points or $1.10 per bale.
The results of both 1926 and 1927 have indicated a lack of
exact pricing of cotton according to grade in local markets.
Length of staple is practically ignored in pricing individual bales.
The data collected show that thirteen-sixteenths inch cotton,
seven-eighths inch cotton, and fifteen-sixteenths inch cotton of
the same grades brought about the same average prices, no staple
differences in prices being apparent.
Wide variations occurred in prices paid for the same grade
and staple of cotton on the same day amounting frequently to as
much as $10.00 per bale.
Hog Production on Farms in Southeast Alabama. (J. D.
Pope) .- Special attention is being given in this study to the eco-
nomics of hog production. The growing of pork in this area is
based on the peanut crop, although between peanut crops the
hogs get a good deal of corn and other feeds. Of approximate-
ly 4,500 acres of finishing crops used on 100 farms in this region,
four-fifths of the acreage consisted of peanuts planted either solid
or interplanted in corn, an average of 12 bushels per acre of corn
being harvested before the hogs were turned in. Eight hundred
eighty-six thousand pounds of marketable pork were produced
on these farms from April 1, 1927 to March 31, 1928.
Preliminary summaries indicate that the hogs were fed an
average of about four tons of concentrates per farm, mostly corn,
but including shorts, velvet beans, sweet potatoes, and skim milk.
The cost of the concentrates amounted to about two cents per
pound of pork produced.
Those farmers who, in addition to permanent 
pasture, pro-
vided grazing crops in the spring and early finishing crops,
fed much less grain per hundred pounds of pork produced
than those who did not provide these supplementary grazing and
18
early finishing crops. However, the profitableness or unprofitable-
ness of supplementary grazing crops has not been determined.
The average farm income was $1,111 but if interest on in-
vestment be deducted, a labor income of minus $28.00 is the re-
sult. There were considerable variations in income.
Economic Study of Poultry in Marshall County. (C. G. Gar-
man and J. D. Pope).-Data on 31 farm poultry flocks for 1927
showed an average net return per farm, making no deduction for
labor, of $205.00. If labor spent on these flocks is valued at cur-
rent rates, the return per farm was $135.00. On 55 small farm
flocks, averaging 33 birds, a return of $56.00 is indicated, making
no charge for labor.
Feed is the chief expense in the poultry enterprise, constitut-
ing 73 per cent of the total. Labor is next in importance being
17 per cent of the total. In the cost of producing eggs, feed was
63 per cent of the total expense, depreciation of flock 16 per
cent, and labor 14 per cent.
High production per bird appears to be essential to better
than average profits, although merely securing high production
per bird does not insure profits. The farms on which the cost of
egg production was below 20 cents per dozen had an average
production of 166 eggs per bird. The farms on which the cost
was above 20 cents per dozen had an average production of 115
eggs per bird. The average selling price per dozen eggs was 27
cents.
Those farms which produced about half oftheir eggs during
the months of high prices, September, October, November, De-
cember, January, and February received an average price of 29
cents per dozen eggs. Those farms which produced only about
one-third of their eggs during these months of high prices re-
ceived an average of 25 cents per dozen eggs. The former group
Table 5.-Income for Different Tenure Groups
Number Average Farm Labor Int. on
Tenure group of capital income income invest-
farms ment
Dollars Dollars Dollars Per cent
Owners renting out land
1/3 and 1/4 17 10,633 689 51 3.9
Owners renting out land
on halves 13 9,780 1,523 936 12.4
Owners renting out no land 29 6,369 599 217 5.4
Part owners renting in
land for feed crops 7 3,639 483 261 5.5
Part owners renting in
land for cotton 13 5,269 698 382 7.8
Renters 13 637 528 489
Average all farms 92 6,470 741 353 7.2
19
received an average return per hour of labor of 51 cents while
the latter group received 22 cents per hour of labor.
Table 5 shows considerable variations in income for different
tenure groups of these farmers.
AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING
Farm Machinery. (M. L. Nichols).-The following conclu-
sions and recommendations were made from experimental and
investigational work in Lee, Macon, Crenshaw, Barbour, Henry,
Dale, and Covington counties of Alabama.
(1) The two-mule cultivator and combination planter and ferti-
lizer distributor were found to be the most needed equipment in
this section. These are recommended as the first step when
changing from a one-mule to a two-mule system of farming.
(2) It was found that one man could plant and cultivate 60 acres
with the equipment listed above.
(3) The pipe-gang, large-wheel, pivot-axle cultivator was found
to be best adapted to work on bedded or furrow crops. This
should generally be equipped with a set of 10-, 12-, and 16-inch
sweeps and disc hillers. Bedding may be done satisfactorily
with a cultivator, in which case a bedding bar is desirable. The
fertilizer side dressing attachments were found satisfactory
where new process nitrates were used; with gummy or sticky
fertilizer, this equipment was unsatisfactory. The cultivator was
found to be well adapted to digging peanuts when equipped
with half buzzard-wing sweeps.
(4) Surveys of farm practice on the sandy land of Crenshaw
county showed that "pointrows" could be eliminated by running
the rows across the terraces on gentle grades. The maximum
grade found where this practice was followed was on land hav-
ing a slope of 14 per cent. Experiments showed that this prac-
tice was satisfactory where cotton was planted flat or where a
low bed was used.
Terracing. (M. L. Nichols).-Experiments were conducted
in several parts of the state with a new type of terrace consisting
essentially of the combination of a low mound and a shallow
ditch. Two years tests of methods of construction indicate that
this type of terrace can be constructed for less than one-half of
the'cost of the old-type, broad-base Mangum terrace, and that
this type of terrace gives less trouble by breaking, in addition to
being easier to cross.
Threshing and Plowing Vetch. (M. L. Nichols).-Experi-
ments with various equipment for plowing under vetch showed
that the rolling coulter attached to walking plows was the prac-
tical and economical equipment for the one- or two-mule farmer.
Where sulkey plows were available, the combination jointer and
coulter was most satisfactory in that the field was left in a clean-
20
er condition. Experiments in threshing showed that a standard
threshing machine with a cylinder speed of 300-350 R. P. M. was
satisfactory for threshing vetch.
BOTANY
Changes in Sweet Potatoes During Maturation, Curing, and
Storage. (W. A. Gardner).-Three years' results indicate that
during the growth of sweet potatoes there is a gradual decrease
in the percentage of moisture, a gradual increase in the percent-
age of starch and sucrose, and no increase in percentage of re-
ducing sugars. The data indicate that the removal of the tops
about six weeks before general harvest induced an increase in
the percentage of moisture and a corresponding decrease in the
percentage of carbohydrates. With other conditions the same,
uncured Porto Rico sweet potatoes contained a higher percentage
of moisture and a lower percentage of starch and sucrose than
the cured. When cured sweet potatoes were stored under dry
and humid conditions respectively, but not ventilated, those
under humid conditions contained a higher percentage of mois-
ture and sucrose and a lower percentage of starch than those
under dry conditions. When the effects of no ventilation and
humid ventilation were compared for cured potatoes in a humid
atmosphere, the percentages of moisture and sucrose were high-
er and the percentage of starch lower in those not ventilated.
When the effects of no ventilation and dry ventilation were com-
pared in the case of cured, dry-stored sweet potatoes, the per-
centage of moisture and sucrose was higher and the percentage
of starch lower, in those not ventilated. Respiration was high
in unventilated potatoes. There was usually more difference in
respiration between ventilated and not ventilated, than between
either cured and uncured potatoes, or those stored under the
driest and most humid not ventilated conditions.
The Chlorophyll Decomposing Agent in the Rinds of Satsuma
Oranges. (W. A. Gardner).-Though earlier work indicated
the presence in Satsuma orange rinds of a catalyst, which ma-
terially hastened the decomposition of chlorophyll, it was found
during the year that the acids in the rinds of these oranges were
able to produce the same effect. Great difficulty was found in
separating acid effect from enzyme effect. Colorometric de-
termination of the hydrogen ion concentration was not possible
because of the brown and yellow pigments which could not be
removed by dialysis. Potentiometric determinations of various
lots of water extracts of the rinds gave values ranging from pH
4.2 to pH 4.7.
ENTOMOLOGY AND ZOOLOGY
Biology and Control of the Southern Corn Root-Worm, Dia-
brotica 12-punctata. (F. S. Arant).-The Southern corn root-
21
worm was very abundant during the year 1927. Adults were
found in the early spring congregated upon winter legumes.
During the season, they were observed feeding upon twenty dif-
ferent species of field plants. Approximately 150 beetles were
taken from the field between February 1 and December 20, and
placed in the laboratory. Thirteen and nine-tenths per cent of all
beetles taken from the field previous to February 16 were para-
sitized. Only one parasitized beetle was caught after that date.
Three complete generations occurred 
during the year and a
few eggs were deposited for a fourth. The average egg incu-
bation period for the first generation was 18.1 days; for the
second generation, 7.3 days; for the third generation, 6.1 days.
The average active larval period for the first generation was 26.4
days; for the second generation, 17.2 days; for the third genera-
tion, 16 days. The average pre-pupal period for the first gene-
ration was 7.6 days; for the second generation, 5.3 days; for the
third generation, 5.6 days. The average pupal period for the
first generation was 7.6 days; for the second generation, 6.3
days; for the third generation, 6.3 days.
The average number of days in the development (egg to
adult) of the Southern corn root-worm for the first generation
was 58.8; for the second generation, 34.5; and for the third gen-
eration, 34.
First generation larvae were very destructive to certain
plantings of corn following a winter crop of vetch. The infesta-
tion of corn was very high on plots turned March 16, and planted
March 17, 24, and 31, respectively. It was lower on plots turned
March 16, and planted April 8 and 16, respectively. The in-
festation was relatively lower on all plots when the vetch was
turned April 2, but was high enough to cause considerable dam-
age to corn planted April 4 and 11. Corn planted April 18,
April 25, and May 2, respectively, was damaged very slightly 
or
none. Practically no infestation occurred in any of the plantings
of corn following vetch turned April 16.
Boll Weevil Control with Calcium Arsenate. (J. M. Robinson
and F. S. Arant).--The work on boll-weevil control was con-
tinued in 1927 on three soil types-namely, Norfolk sandy loam,
Cecil clay, and Houston clay. The Norfolk sandy loam plots
were on the experiment station farm. The Cecil clay plots were
in Lee county, and the Houston clay plots were in Montgomery
county.
Dusting on the Norfolk sandy loam gave a greater increase in
yield this year than any other year of the experiment. A heavy
infestation beginning June 13 extended throughout the season.
Eleven applications of dust kept the infestation below 20 per
cent until August 6. The infestation on the undusted plots grad-
ually advanced to 88 per cent by August 6. The increased yield
from poisoning was 224 pounds of seed cotton per acre on the
unfertilized plot. The increased yield on the plot treated with
22
500 pounds of fertilizer was 562 pounds of seed cotton per acre;
and with 1000, 1500, and 2000 pounds of fertilizer, the increases
from poisoning were 739, 862, and 931 pounds of seed cotton
per acre, respectively.
Table 6.-Relation of Dusting and Fertilization to Yield of
Cotton on Plots at Auburn, 1924-1927
Yield in lbs. of seed cotton per acre
Fertilizer Plot 1924 to 1927
in pounds 1927 
In-
per acre treatment crease Av. Av.
yield increase
Unfertilized Dusted 298 194
Undusted 74 224 153 41
Acid phosphate 300 Dusted 844 692
Muriate of potash 50
Nitrate of soda 150 Undusted 282 562 432 260
Acid phosphate 600 Dusted 1,212 1,069
Muriate of potash 100
Nitrate of soda 300 Undusted 473 739 703 366
Acid phosphate 900 Dusted 1,468 1,319
Muriate of potash 150
Nitrate of soda 450 Undusted 606 862 944 375
Acid phosphate 1,200 Dusted 1,496 1,409
Muriate of potash 200
Nitrate of soda 600 Undusted 565 931 1,035 374
The average increased yields for the four years of the experi-
ment show that the increase from dusting was dependent upon
the rate of fertilization and the per cent of infestation. Without
fertilizer, dusting increased the yield only 41 pounds of seed
cotton per acre. With 500 pounds of fertilizer the increase was
260 pounds per acre; and with 1000, 1500, and 2000 pounds of
fertilizer the increases from poisoning were 366, 375, and 374
pounds of seed cotton per acre, respectively. These results show
conclusively that dusting is profitable if the potential yield
is one-half bale or more per acre and if the infestation exceeds
10 per cent.
On the heavy red clay the infestation was 40 per cent on the
dusted plot June 14. With eleven dustings the infestation was
kept below 20 per cent, except July 29, until August 5. On the
undusted plots the infestation gradually advanced from 29 to 87
per cent. The average infestation on the dusted plots was 23
per cent; on the undusted plots it was 53 per cent. The first five
dust applications were affected by rain within 24 hours. The
23
increase from dusting was 597 pounds of seed cotton per acre.
This is a case of an early heavy infestation being controlled by
dusting and the cotton having a potential yield of over a half
bale per acre. The four-year average increase for dusting on
the Cecil clay plots was 260 pounds of seed cotton per acre.
The infestation on the Houston clay soil was 19 per cent on
the dusted plot June 4. Two applications of dust reduced the
infestation to .2 per cent. Three dustings at irregular intervals
kept the infestation below 20 per cent until July 2, at which time
the infestation was 44 per cent. Two additional applications
of dust kept the infestation below 20 per cent until July 22. The
infestation on the undusted plots advanced to 68 per cent by July
22. The increase from dusting was 160 pounds of seed cotton
per acre. The average increase for the four-year period was
260 pounds of seed cotton per acre.
Life History of the Belted Bean Beetle. (J. M. Robinson)
Twenty-one broods of the belted bean beetle were successfully
reared from July 1, 1927 to June 30, 1928. One hundred forty-
seven adults were reared from 612 larvae. Young corn plants
were used as food for the larvae.
The incubation period varied from 3 to 11 days, the average
being 6.3 days.
In the development of the larvae there were two distinct
divisions, the active feeding stage and the resting or pre-pupal
stage. The latter period was quite prolonged at the end of the
last instar. The active larval developmental period varied from
10 to 20 days, the average being 14.6 days. The pre-pupal de-
velopmental period varied from 1 to 7 days; the average was 4.4
days.
The time required for the pupa to transform varied from 5
to 11 days, the average being 7.6 days.
The range of time for the development (egg to adult) of the
belted bean beetle was 27 to 43 days, the average being 33 days.
FARM MANAGEMENT
Cost of Producing Oats. (J. F. Duggar).-Following a dry
spring the yield of oats in 1927 was low on most farms studied;
consequently, costs per bushel ranged higher than in the preced-
ing year, being greater than the current market sale price of oats
on about one-fourth of the 35 farms from which full records
were obtained. On at least half these farms the production
costs ranged from 30 to 55 cents per bushel, the crop thus afford-
ing in these cases fair to slight profit.
Cost of Producing and Storing Corn and Sorghum Silage. (J.
F. Duggar).-In this dry year the farmers whose cost per ton
was less than $3.50 constituted 45 per cent of those growing sor-
ghum for the silo and only 11 per cent of those growing corn for
24
the silo. These figures are based on a total production of 2,697.5
tons of sorghum silage and of 1,295.25 tons of corn silage.
The farmers who produced silage at lowest cost per ton were,
as a rule, those who secured the largest yield per acre.
Sorghum averaged a larger tonnage per acre by 40 per cent
than did corn.
Effects of Time of 
Planting on Blooming 
Dates of Winter Le-
gumes. (J. F. Duggar) .- Practically all kinds of vetches, clov-
ers, alfalfas, and other winter legumes reached the blooming
stage in much shorter period from winter and late fall planting
than from early fall planting, but the yields rapidly decreased
as the planting date was postponed.
Table 7.-Effect of Time of Planting on Blooming Date
Days from emergence to blooming,
Kind with plantings made
Sept. 30 Nov. 3 Dec. 1 Feb. 24
Hairy vetch 182 150 125 59
Oregon vetch 180 145 126
Monantha vetch 170 136 113
Austrian gray winter pea 188 163 138
Scotch vetch 157 121 100 42
HORTICULTURE
Composition of Fruiting and Vegetative Shoots of the Pecan.
(C. L. Isbell).-During the spring of 1927 an attempt was made
to determine the chemical composition of pecan shoots, both
fruiting and vegetative, produced in 1926 and 1927. Determin-
ations of reducing sugar, sucrose, total sugars, starch, hydro-
lyzable material other than starch, total carbohydrates, and total
nitrogen were made. With the year-old shoots, samples were
taken from the terminal and basal parts of the shoot and the
middle part was discarded. Samples of the current season's
(1927) growth consisted of entire shoots obtained just as soon as
it could be determined whether shoots were to be fruitful or
vegetative. Table 8 shows the results calculated to dry weight
basis.
Cold Storage of Pecans. (C. L. Isbell).-Nuts of different va-
rieties of the 1926 crop were put in storage in April 1927. The
storage room was used to store vegetables and fruits for com-
mercial purposes. The temperature was not kept constant but
was approximately 320 Fahrenheit. The humidity of the storage
room was high.
A few nuts were removed from storage at three different
times and examined for development of rancidity. The last lot
was removed in April 1928. The nuts of 1926 crop were rather
poor in quality when harvested but no noticeable change had
Table 8.-Chemical Composition of Fruiting and Vegetative Shoots of the Pecan
_______________________One-year-old shoots
Variety and kind
of shoot
Stuart
Shoots that fruited
Terminal part
Basal part
Vegetative shoots
Terminal Part
Basal part
Success
Shoots that fruited
Terminal part
Basal part
Vegetative shoots
Terminal part
Basal part
_________ Sugars _____
Reducing
3.14
3.09
2.77
2.37
2.68
2.16
3.54
2.68
Sucrose
1.56
1.11
1.75
1.85
1.17
2.01
1.34
1.44
Total
4.70
4.20
4.52
4.22
3.86
4.17
4.88
4.13
Starch Hydrolyzable 
material Total 
car-
other than starch bohydrates
3.31
3.20
3.69
3.76
3.12
3.47
2.99
3.33
16.02
14.02
14.35
14.29
15.48
14.37
13.51
15.04
24.03
21.43
22.57
22.29
22.47
22.03
21.39
22.51
Currentyear shoots
Schley
Fruiting shoots 2.77 1.61 4.49 
2.65 12.91 20.06 1.95
Vegetative shoots 2.83 1.88 4.72 2.01 
12.86 19.60 2.04
Non-fruiting Schley
vegetative shoots 2.56 1.44 4.00 
2.39 12.55 1.623
Stuart
*Fruiting shoots 3.56 1.53 
5.09 1.76 12.41 19.28 
1.68
Non-fruiting Stuart which
carried many male catkins
vegetative shoots 2.52 1.65 4.17 1.59 
12.65 18.41 2.07
Tesche
*Fruiting shoots 3.96 1.15 5.11 1.59 
12.11 18.76 1.96
Non-fruiting Tesche
vegetative shoots 3.14 1.92 5.06 1.71 
13.16 19.94 -2.10
* Suitable vegetative shoots-were not available on these trees.
Total
nitrogen
1.04
0.74
0.91
0.72
1.03
0.79
0.98
0.74
I 
I
26
developed with any of the varieties to April 1928 with the pos-
sible exception of some signs of oil appearing through the shell
of the Frotscher variety. Nuts removed from cold storage in
April were kept at ordinary room temperature until the middle
of June. No noticeable change had occurred in the eating qual-
ity.
Peach Variety Test. (C. L. Isbell).-In 1919 an experiment
was started to compare the value of recently introduced varieties
of peaches with existing standard varieties for home and com-
mercial purposes. Thirty-six varieties were compared. There
were three trees each of most of the varieties but with a few va-
rietes only a single tree was planted.
The general tendency toward heavy yields together with the
quality and time of ripening justify the use of three of the re-
cently introduced varieties. The June Elberta is a heavy bearer
of attractive fruit with sufficient quality to recommend it as one
of the most desirable very early varieties for home use and local
market. It is a yellow-fleshed, semi-cling peach ripening from
June 10 to 25. The Illinois is a very heavy bearer of excellent
quality fruit which ripens July 1 to 20. The skin is an attrac-
tive red; the flesh is almost white, semi-cling, and too tender for
distant shipment. The Augbert is a heavy bearer of fruit of the
regular Elberta type. For all practical purpose, it is an Elberta
ripening from ten days to two weeks later than the regular El-
berta and is a good variety for extending the peach season or for
supplying local markets that use peaches over a long period. It
is possibly the latest maturing variety that can be grown without
extending the spraying program so late that it is not economical.
Sweet Potato Variety Tests. (C. L. Isbell).-Fourteen varie-
ties of sweet potatoes were compared. The average yields in
bushels per acre of the six leading varieties in 1926-1927 were:
Triumph 123, Red Jersey 124, Bunch Porto Rico 127, Porto Rico
132, Southern Queen 137, and Yellow Jersey 159.
Cabbage Fertilizer Experiments, Mobile County. (R. W.
Taylor and C. L. Isbell).-The objects of these experiments
were: (1) To compare nitrate of soda alone or nitrate of soda
and superphosphate with complete fertilizer; (2) to compare
cottonseed meal or sulfate of ammonia with various amounts
of nitrate of soda as sources of nitrogen in complete fertilizer.
Plots used as the basis for comparison were fertilized at the rate
of 1000 pounds of superphosphate, 250 pounds of nitrate of soda,
and 100 pounds of muriate of potash per acre before the plants
were set, with additional side dressings of 500 pounds and 250
pounds of nitrate of soda made in February and early March,
respectively. Plants were set in December.
The use of nitrate of soda alone resulted in the production
of low yields of marketable heads. Superphosphate with nitrate
of soda produced as high yields as the complete fertilizer, but a
27
smaller proportion of the crop was cut early in the season. Sul-
fate of ammonia as the source of nitrogen produced very firm
heads but the yield was low. Increasing the amount of nitrate
of soda to 1,500 pounds or decreasing it to 500 pounds per acre
in complete fertilizer reduced the yield as compared with the
use of 1000 pounds.
Effect of Fertilizer on Quality of Strawberries. (W. D. Kim-
brough).-Studies were continued to determine the effect of
source and rate of application of fertilizer and the time of apply-
ing nitrate of soda on yield, grade, quality, and carrying and
keeping quality of strawberries. Data obtained indicate that
climatic conditions had more effect on the moisture and sugar
content of strawberries than fertilizer treatment. Berries har-
vested and analyzed at different times during the season varied
in moisture and sugar content, but there was no consistent vari-
ation that could be attributed to differences in fertilizer treat-
ment.
Effect of Fertilizer on Quality of Vegetables. (W. D. Kim-
brough).-Studies were continued on the effect of fertilizer
treatment on the yield, grade, quality, and carrying and keeping
quality of certain vegetables.
(a) Irish potatoes. Potatoes fertilized with sulphate of potash
showed no increase in starch content over those fertilized with
muriate of potash. Fertilizer treatment had no apparent in-
fluence on the keeping of potatoes as all kept well regardless of
fertilizer treatment.
(b) Watermnelons. Fertilizer treatment had no apparent in-
fluence on the moisture and sugar content of the edible portion
of watermelons. Melons with high sugar content were produced
regardless of fertilizer treatment. There were no differences
found in the keeping of melons from plots receiving different fer-
tilizer treatment. Sugar content decreased rather rapidly in
melons stored at room temperature.
(c) Cucumbers. The moisture content of cucumbers was
found to be approximately 96 per cent, and the respiration rate
was relatively high. The moisture content, respiration rate, or
keeping quality were not noticeably affected by the fertilizer
treatment.
(d) Cabbage. Plants which received nitrate of soda and
superphosphate but no potash fertilizer grew very well until
heads were beginning to form. At this stage the plants were
affected by a physiological disease which resulted from potash
starvation. The lower leaves were first affected, usually wilting
from the margins until the entire leaf was involved. Plants on
plots receiving similar treatment with the addition of muriate of
potash were apparently healthy.