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9, I
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VOL. 3 NO. 3 FALL 1956
A'
,~ .4 4
41, 11 4 I A L A A
* S
* * . 0
S
0~
HIGHLIGHTS
of
AGRICULTURAL
RESEARCH
*70 4 a64'a - Nuclear Energy and Farm
Research . .. CRD-A Dreaded Poultry Disease
-mplex ... Mechanical Harvest ... Thin or
' tTo Thin? . . . Imported Fire Ant . .. Soil
iesting . P.cthers-The Sign~s of Age.
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION SYSTEM
of the ALABAMA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
9-
.4,
N-
V .
U -~ N.
~-~' U,
.4.
,r~. ~
4%.
Photo-diagram shows phosphorus uptake
by corn plant as indicated by tagged (ra-
dioactive) phosphorus in fertilizer.
A (HRICULTUB AL SCirNTITS use many
tools and techniques. From the simple
magnifying glass to electron micro-
scopes and from precise analytical bal-
ances to cattle scales are two of the
many examples of range in size and
comp
l e
xness.
\mong the newest is the use of ra-
dioisotopes. Radioactive forms of car-
bon, phosphorus, sulfur, and calcium
can be incorporated in fertilizers, pesti-
cides, or animal food. By use of special
instruments, their movement into and
through the plant or animal can be fol-
lowed. Radiations from the highly ac-
tive isotopes of such elements as ura-
nium, cobalt, and radium can be used
to speed up the rate of mutations in
plants. Most of these mutations are
worthless or lethal. but a small per-
centage of them may possess superior
characteristics that the plant breeder
can use to develop improved varieties
of crop plants. Other promising prac-
tical uses of these radiations include
the preservation of food and the de-
str uction of insects in stored rains.
Research at Auburn
Radiophosphorus, supplied by the
Fertilizer and Lime Section of USDA
Agricultural Research Service, has been
used bv the API Agricultural Experi-
ment Station's Department of Agron-
omy and1l Soils in greenhouse and field
studies in Alabama since 1950. The
dltlition of' radiophosphorus to phos-
phate fertilizers makes it possible to dis-
NUCLEAR ENERGY
awd FARM RESEARCH
COYT WLSON, Assoce Dreor
COYT WILSON, Associate Director
tinguish between fertilizer-phosphorus
and soil-phosphorus in crops. If a phos-
phate fertilizer containing radiophos-
phorus is added 
to a soil upon which
plants are grown, the radioactivity of
a gram of phosphate separated from
the plants indicates the amount of phos-
phate derived from the fertilizer. Thus,
if the phosphate separated from the
plant is only 25% as active per gramin
as that in the fertilizer, only 25% of
the phosphate came from the fertilizer.
This principle has been used to study
the residual value of various phosphates
and to measure the availabilitv of va-
rious sources of phosphorus.
Radiophosphorus has been used to
determine the time of arrival of plant
roots at certain depths. Radiophos-
phorus is placed under plants at various
depths. Different plants or areas are
used for each depth studied. When
the above ground portion of a plant
shows definite activity, it is assumed
that roots have penetrated to that par-
ticular placement depth.
In the Station's Department of Ani-
mal Husbandry and Nutrition, studies
have been underway for about 2 years
on the use of irradiation for sterilization
and preservation of foods. Ground beef
that has been irradiated by radioactive
cobalt is tested at Auburn to determine
-- 1
k c
By injection of radioactive solution, a plant
is made "hot." Thus, nematodes that be-
come radioactive may be assumed to be
root feeders.
rate of destruction of B-vitamins and
possible formation 
of toxic products.
Other projects in this department uti-
lize tracer compounds for study of
metabolism of amino acids and related
compounds. These studies will pro-
vide a better understanding of the re-
lationship of specific compounds, such
as choline, to nutritional disorders like
edema and some of the cancer-like tu-
mors.
Especially designed distributor that is suit-
able for applying tagged fertilizer.
The Department of Botany and Plant
Pathology uses radioisotopes obtained
from the Atomic Energy Commission,
Oak Ridge, to study the feeding of
nematodes on plant roots. Plants are
made radioactive and exposed to va-
rious kinds of nematodes. If the nema-
tode becomes radioactive, it may be
assumed that it has fed on the plant.
In other studies the nematodes them-
selves will be made radioactive and
allowed to feed on plant r jots. If the
plants become radioactive, it will be
proof that the nematode injects mate-
rials into the plant. If this is true, it
will help explain why disease symp-
toms sometimes develop out of propor-
tion to the amount of root tissue de-
-troved by the nematode.
Radioactive materials and nuclear
radiations have become valuable addi-
tions to the research tools and tech-
niques at Auburn.
C R D -a 'headed ltzaeozo
d&ea4e eea%%jbez
F-THrEL McN'ETL, Associate Poultry Pathologist
is pi obablNv the miost dreaded (Lsease
complex facing broiler growers. In ad-
dition to killing some birds, this dlisease
prev ents proper wxeight (rains of others
and increases production costs.
As the name indicates, CRD is a pro-
longed sickness. First symptoms are
sneezing and inflanusation of the windl-
pipe, which may he conifu sed with
sx iptomns of oth rl respil it ax Ii ('ases.
Fig. 1. Heart and liver of bird with CRD.
White film aver part of liver is character-
istic of the disease.
A wh ite film oxver the heairt aind liv er
anmd x loxuhcheesx mateirial iii the
air sacs are the most tx pical lesions of
[t'e late stage of the disease. Figure 1.
Causative Agent
A sinall inktl abe knoxxni as PPLO
plei ifl piieurinia-like orgranism) is al-
xx axs found1( a's a jamisati c agent. Bx
itself it rareix if cx er produices the CRD
Sx niptonis ais (lescribed. Along xith
su ch irrutaimig agents as other bacteria
Mid x imrmes, and especially m ndcr such
aS (ai-ale roxugcionditiius '1. jio)I
entilation, crowding, and wet litter,
PPIC) does produce the lesions already
described.
Bacteria that are normnally found in
the bird's intestine plav a part in pro-
ducing CRD. They invade the heart,
liv er, lungs, and air sacs of almost all
such cases. Antibiotics injected into
sick birds aire gixven maiinlx in the hope
of combatting such bacteria.
Research at Auburn
It is _Yenerallx', reroisnized that strains
of bacteria max' hecoine resistant to
soeof the antibiotics. In research at
the API Agrricultural Experiment Sta-
tioni, pieces (of lix er. lung, or air sacs
from GClD cases are streaked directx
MI bactei al culture plates. Small discs
of filter paper that haxve been soaked
iii eithser penicillin. dihvxdrostreptomx -
ciii. terrainscii or auireonsxciis am e
placed on the plates. After 16 to 20
hours of incubation at body tempera-
tue the pre'sce or iabsenrce oif a clear
zone aro ud the paper discs nseaiss sen-
itix itv or resistance to each antibiotic.
UiieTure 2. This is a rapid method of
fioding nut whiichi antibiotic is most
likely to lbe effectixve in a particular
flock at a ,rixven time.
Usinig time paper disc method. 120
strains of bacteria haxve been giroxx in
frons the tissues of field cases of Cli D
and tested for sensitis ity to 9 antibi-
otics. This tx pe of testiiigT is being~ con-
tinued as nmews products aie miade av ail-
atble. Sinsce mnain bacteria become re-
sistant to one or more products, it is
important that , roxxvers lhive informa-
[ion on sexvera
1 
that may be effectis e.
Egg Transmission
It hias been prosved that PPLO() caii
hb' trainsmnittedl through the egg. Con-
Fig. 2. Culture of bacteria from case of
CRD. Clear areas around discs indicate
sensitivity to the antibiotics.
trol of this pihase of the probles is one
of the most widely discussed aspects
of CED. PPLO has bieen isolated from
the windpipe and unabsorbed yolk of
chicks taken directly fronm inscubiators.
Uislike viruses. PPLO can lie groxvn in
test tibes. At this Station, PPLO hsas
been isolated from the oxviduct and se-
meii oif adult biirds.
Recently there isaxe been attempts
its Cainada andI the Uniited States to ius
ject lireeding stock xwith 
high lexvels of
ndlsx drostrcptomx cmn or ter raiox ci u
the hope of prexventinsg eag traissini.ssi.os.
In oirder to dlrawv soiiid consclusiois
from anv treatmenmt program, a coni
sitlerable number of untreated birds
must lie left ois the same premises un-
der thme same mnanagement practices. At
Auburn, adult birds in imidixidiial cagres
haxve lieen repeatedlx tested bx isola-
tion of PPLO from the reproductive
tract to estabilishi presence and amouit
of imfectin. Soise oif tisese birds wxill
bei injected wvith antibiiotics and me-
te' ed to learn thme effect of the drugs.
If an\- drug -appears tii lie effectixve. the
treated birds wxill lie mnated to find out
wxhether this method can lie used tii
pexvent egg traiismissioii. A blood 
test
(eriii plate test) xwill be done ois each
liird biefore and after treatmsenst to learn
boxy- reliabile a guride it may lie.
iDuring the x cams xxh( m PPLO xx as
pm escnt onix' vPs tlse xx iidpipe andl si-
iuses. egg tmransmixssion (lid not iccui.
It is conceivable that it wxill lie ineithetr
possible noir necessary to elimnate all
PPLO froms bireeder birds to prexvemnt
egg transmission.
77
~~4J
It takes out 70~ hour ofbndnr
aindi reaching to pick it hale of cotton
ISv hand. WVith machinery, however,
this drudgery of harv estingi cotton can
Ise practically elitninated.
Besuilts of mechanization studies at
the Sand Miountain. Tennessee Vallev,
Mid \irerass sutbstationts sho~w that
cotton can ise harvested suICCeSSflly
wxitlh machines. .Nev ertheless, plenty o;f
problems xxvere encountered.
Str ippers aind Spindile pickers were
(11altiatecl. wxith emphasis ott mechani-
cal char acter istics, adaptability, and
lim nitat ions for1 i1s CUnider varving con-
dlition) s. PNoor' defoIliatin, n. ewv growtoh,
fields infested xx ith vines, uneven plant
size, andc no)n-uni I m mnatnritv often
mnaci it impsossible to use mechanical
str ippers. 1Iliese same conditions, al-
thiough unfav orable. did not necessarilv
p)revent picking wxith spindle machines.
While waiitina for cotton to open as re-
q~uiredl ftor stripper htarvestin g, miuch
cotton shed], especially cduring rainy
and xvinclx wveather. Trhe stripped cot-
ton containecl aboutt 3:1% foreign mnat-
tei, resiltfivr in ginning trouible. Eval-
nation Itt the strippers indicates that
pr'esentt-cday mechanical ,,tirippers are
nit s ttislactorv for use in Alabarna.
Harvesting Efficiency
IC iict cx of tiet spindle pickeirs wxas
affic tic1 Iy pvlan t coi i tioni s as they
at~e influenced 
1
sy wxeathier, Table 1.
Small platnts. smiall anci knotty bsolls,
C(7ioi rative 
stitch xitli 
Farmi '\l 
-
lhitters Oji ) tn, \A.~r. I~Ewzn. Res. Branchl
\l{S of UISDA\.
MECHANICAL HARVEST*
t~oa aataV. dorad ez a
T. r=. CORL:Y, C. M. STOKFS and F. A. KUMMER
Department of Agricultural Engineering
and low vields resulting from the 1954
dIrought contributed to loxw efficiency.
Spindle picker efficiency was based on
once-over picking, except in 1955 at
one location wvhere the cotton was
picked txvice. Starting when cotton
wvas about 60%7r open and picking again
when remaining bolls wvere open, twice-
over picking reduced wveather loss and
TABLE 1. SPINDLE PICKER PERFORMiANCE
UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, 1954-551
CondtionYear
Conitin1954' 1955
Plant heighit, in.---------- 16.7 :31.8
Boils per lb., ni). ------- 86 639
Seed cotton x teld
per areZ. 11).----- ---- 1,144 1,8.39
Macine efficienc. pct.--- 90.2 95.6
Oxerall efficiency,' pet. ____ t). 93.4
'Ax -erage of all variety and spacing plots
at three locations (96 replications).
Extremnely dry season.
Percentage of cotton on plant hiarx ested
by the maclime.
Percentage of total yield (including
xxeatlier loss)i harxvested by, machine.
increased overall efficiency. Hoxver,
xwhen yields are lowv, as in 19.54. it
might poxy to take a chance on weather
losses and make one picking xwhen all
cotton is open. The additional amixtstnt
arnd qualitY of cottion obtained from
txxoi pickings may not osffset ctost of
second picking.
Plant compressor sheets of the picker
xwere eq uippecd xxith a rib plate attach-
ment that forces cottoln aroundic the
spincles and increases their effectixve-
ticss. Data from three tests show that
machine efficiency xvas 91.8% xxithot
plates and 94.7%c xxith plates. Hoxv-
ever, the attachment inicreasedi the for-
eign matter content from 6.9 tc)o.%
This attachment caused the spindles to
punicture gyreen bolls; hence, it is not
used until tile last picking.
Effect of Defoliation
At the Tennjessee V-aliex aindc Sandc
NILuntain SUbStationIS, cietilatiots hjad
no significant effect on spindle machine
efficiency and foreign matter content
dining either x'ear. Table 2. It had no
effect on grades in 19-54, but resulted
in albout a half gTrade increase its 1955.
InI the earlier year, it xxas very clix
during the groxwing and hair estinug sea-
sons, xwhereas in 1955 it wxas dr ciuiing
the harx'estingT season. Consicderable
natural defoliation occurred its uiicefo-
hiated plots iof each test, Fiire 2. The
authors believe defoliation xxill provxe
nimre beneficial in rank cotton during
years of "normal" or wxet condcitions.
TABLE 2. EFt -ciT OSF DFIA TION ON
SPINDLE PIC KER Eit tic iFNci F ORuEIG.N
MATTER CONTENT Ni xsu iiutS,
-\5LEAc.E oi, Twxo L.oc.-srit)"
Machine
efficiency:
19 54. pct,
19.)55. pct.
Foreign mnatter
content:
19,54, pct.
1915.5. p t.
Grades:'
19.54. bales
l)etoliatecl tndefoliateci
I -M Lt Sp
1-L-\l
1905., bales 1-\[I 1-LNl
89.9
9.0
1 NI Lt Sp
I-LNI
a,_S1lM
.3-LNI-4-
'U. S. Gov erment gradi's. All cotton
wxas ginnc'c at locai g-in ,s.
A '
i. D .e f Ii at ed left) ond undefoitrc
(right) rows of cotton one week after op-
plying defoliant. Note the natural defelia-
tion at right. If you defoliate, apply chemn-
ical 7 to 10 days before machine picking.
THIN-
K. W. LIVINGSTON, Assistant Forester
ntHOULD PINE plantations in Alabama
be thinned?
The answer is not always immedi-
ately obvious. Research results have
shown that, contrary to widespread be-
lief, thinning southern pine plantations
':eldom if ever increases growth in to-
tal merchantable volume. Drastic thin-
ning, especially at young ages when
trees are reaching merchantable size,
nearly always reduces volume growth.
A large proportion of the crown- and
root-space in the stand is left unoccu-
ped and idle, Figure 
1. A number of
Fig. 1. Heavy thinning leaves much space
unoccupied and reduces total growth.
ears eIlapse before 
roots and crowlns
of trees left grow enough to fully oc-
cupy the available space and utilize all
available soil moisture, nutrients, and
sunlight.
Eye on Volume
Thinnin g can increase net volume
sield wxhen trees are removed that
cease to grow or are about to (lie as a
result of cr(owdling or disease. Shown in
Figure 2 are dead trees on the ground.
H lad these trees been removed before
they died, their v olume xwould have
been added to the total net yield.
Though extremely light thinnings that
merely anticipate mortality are not al-
wavs commercially feasible, thev can
furnish valuable products for local or
home use.
Quality as well 
as quantity is 
an
extremely important consideration. In
any thinning, the straightest, clearest
stems that support vigorous crowns are
left. They will grow into premium
quality sawlogs, and their groswth can
be accelerated by a moderate thinning
that reduces competition. Such thin-
min'g must remove more than just trees
about to die, but it need not be severe
i-nough to materially reduce net growth.
Generally, it is delayed until the greater
portion of trees cut is merchantable or
useful at home. The cutting is done
when the best trees still have a third
others. Below: Dead trees could have
Fig. 2. Above: Forked tree( rr ol
Fig. 3. Moderate thinning of this 19-year-
old plantation yielded 10 cords of pulp-
wood, 52 small fence posts, and over 1 1
cords of stove wood per acre.
or preferably more of their length with
living branches.
When and How
Obviouslv. the question of thinning
cannot be answered for Alabama as a
whole or for one county. It can be an-
swered only for an individual planta-
tion, by a qualified person who keeps
in mind not only biological factors in-
olved but also the desires and needs
of the owner. The same considerations
governe the answer to the question of
when and how to thi.. The owner of
a large acreage, such as a pulp com-
pany, who is interested primarily in
maximum volume production, might
elect to do no thinning and concentrate
on areas readv for final harvest. The
owner who grovws wood to keep his
sawmill operating 
will undoubtedly
elect to thin in order to gise growing
room to the potentially most valuable
sawlog trees.
The owner who gTrows trees for a
cash crop has a wide choice,. lie bases
his decisions on indixidual needs and
these guide rules:
1) Moderate thinning can be made
lo increase quality with little sacrifice
in quantity growth.
(2) Thinnings xield early financial
i turns that, because of comnpound in-
-,,rest, are worth relatively more than
later returns.
( 3) Sexvere thinmiimnigs generally re-
duce total volume growth.
(4) Frequent light thinnings that
merely anticipate mortality increase net
ol]mine b)ilt are not d;xlois cconomicallv
feasible.
IMPORTED FIRE ANT
-0ar~ dz e 
4atc
Cy. H-. BLAKF, Jr., Assistant Entomologist
I F, YOUc'VE N EVERi had a but txith
sting'ing ants, consider y ourself hsckv.
Whien the insect insvolved is the im-
ported fire ant, the bouit getnerally be-
comes a rout - and itt short order!
Imtportedl fire aints ate xviciouts stingers
.ini- attack xxithoitt proxvocation.
The itmported, or mound-lbtilding,
fire ant mnay le a stranger to matix
AlI anamianus, but it 5(outhern A labatna
it has introduced itself xxith a punch.
or tnotre precisely, wxith a sting.* It is
beliexved to have bieen brotigt into the
T
Utitted States at Mobile about 1925 ott
a shipment of fniit from South America.
Since that time it has spread to othei
areas and tiow is foutnd in approxi-
imitelx .30 Alabania counities.
Pest to Agriculture
Imxported fire ants ( xx otkers) are
reddish to reddish-black and range in
lettgth from 18' to 1,4 inch. They are
similar to mixn native ants. The im-
potrted fire ant is best identified by the
tx 'pe of mnouind itt xxhich he lixves. Their
Mounids yarx' itt height tiom approxi-
inatelv 6 inches to neat lx 2 feet (Fig-
It -(I 1, -xwhereas tsests of natix e attts are
utsualxy flat.
The lire atnt is oif economic itnpor-
tantme for these reasotns: 1I) it fre-
(piently attacks gretminatitig seed and
.outtg tender plants, ( 2) it builds tin-
s;iglitlx tuotiids that catn damiage tartn
ttsacliner't (- .3) it initerferes xxith har-
\ext of crops, and (4) its sting(- causes
extr emet inritationtan ntii ay result its
(bt.Its fields pl anted to row crops.
the ants sting' petrsotns liarx estingr such
crops as Straxwberries atnd potatoes. In
other fields bthl the aints and mounds
cause coincernt. The (tried tmounds cats
it isa goen tte r bars of' m mxx r5 atntd corm-
buttes. Silagre hits estitig tmachitnes atsd
combines become clogged xxith the
initist soil from the mounds to the ex-
tent that the machines must be stopped
for cleanin,4. The ants attack the op-
erators as the,% clean the machinery.
Research Yields Controls
Results of sev eral years' experiments
bv the API Agricultural Experiment
~- ~r-,0--
Fig. 1. Typical imparted fire ant mourd.
Station sihox that insecticides wxill con-
tri fire ants in pastures and in ro\x
cro>ps. Organic insecticides in dust.
sprax, and gr anular formulations, anti
in mixtures wxith fertilizer hav e been
tested. The materials hav e been ap-
plied to indiv idual ant mounds and to
itifested areas ly br oadcast application.
Most effectiv e and long lasting con-
trol of impor ted fire ants can be oh-
taned bx broadcasting- chlordane, (liel-
drin. or heptachlor in infested areas.
Four pounids of actual chlotrdane, or 2
pounds of heptachlor or tlieldrin are
atpplied per acre. In experiments that
are still in progress, these treatment>
h nIe effectix elv contr olled fire ants for
at least -2 vears. Dieldltin was effectix e
for .3 xyears in o te exper iment.
Fire ant nests ate frequentlx' locatet 1
alowmg ditches anld t oadlxxaxs and ini
w'oodlanids xxherec the on!ly practical
treatment is atpplication of the inseeti-
cides to the mountds. Chlor(lane as .t
10% dust or a 212% '7 emulsion sprax is
effectixve as a mound treatment. 'At
least 2 ounces of the dust or 1q pint
of the spray is applied to each hill.
Control is more complete wvhen the
moticl is raked doxx n before chlordane
is applied.
\lotmd treatment xwill kill ants in
mounds, but will not prevecut ants from
idjacent areas from reinfesting the
treated fields. As a result, the ant
tI-pulation is not materially reduced
vamxear to year. M-\ound treatment,
terefore, is used onlx in localities
,here area treatmenit is not practical,
in areas with spotted or light infesta-
* ton, or for temporary control preceditig
iarx est opetratiotns.
Time to Treat
The insecticides are applied to pas-
tt ires in late winter or earlyv spring, Fig-
oire .2. Generallx; little toliattre is on
the g,,rotundl (Irit this period, atid most
of the insecticide xwill fall on the soil.
This mnimizes the pr oblem of insecti-
cidal residues and anits wxill be killed
before thc x begin their spring swvarms
to establish new, colonties.
Since fertilizer apiplications are gren-
erally applied to pastutres in late fall
or xx inter, the insecticidles tnax lie ap-
Plied wxith the fer tiliier iand cost of one
Operl i~ M11 xxii t.'
tkl
Fig. 2. For controlling fire ants in pas-
tures, insecticides can be applied with fer-
tilizer and save one operation.
SOIL TESTING-
Leading toi eior
dangecs l fto' z)afn
C. M. WILSON, Soil Chemist
SOIL TESTING is leading to many basic
changes in Alabama's fertilization pro-
gram.
Results from 3 years of testing by
the API Agricultural Experiment Sta-
tion emphasize the imperative need for
the program. This need is brought
home to the farmer at a time when it
is important to have soil tested pre-
paratory to fall planting.
A summary of 19,187 of the 20,144
samples tested in the Station's labora-
tory from the time the program was
started on February 1, 1958, until Jan-
uary 1, 1956, points up the following
facts:
(1) Alabama soils generally are now
better supplied with phosphorus than
with potash, and (2) the majority of
Alabama soils are moderately to
strongly acid.
Of the samples tested, 42% showed
high phosphorus content in contrast to
only 9% that showed high potash; 58%
of the samples was medium to low in
phosphorus content, whereas 91% was
medium to low in potash content.
CASES WHERE BASIC FERTILIZERS ARE
NEEDED
Region Even High P LowP
Region PK' low 
K
2 
high K'
Pct. Pct. Pct.
Limestone Valley- 79 10 11
Sand Mountain.... 79 6 15
Highland Rim..... 88 9 8
Piedmont ---------------- 75 12 13
Black Belt ---------- 71 25 4
Coastal Plains..... 78 6 21
State average----- 75 8 17
1 4-12-12, 8-8-8 or 0-14-14 recommended.
2 4-16-8 or 0-16-8 
recommended.
' 4-8-16 or 0-10-20 recommended.
In the first 3-year period of
the soil testing program,
1953-55, 20,144 samples
were tested. The map shows
volume of testing by coun-
ties, each dot representing
100 samples. Six counties
in the Wiregrass and three
in the Tennessee Valley
areas lead the State with
500 or more samples per
county.
Phosphorus Buildup
The foregoing conclusions are not
surprising when these factors are con-
sidered: (1) Phosphorus is not lost
from the soil by leaching nearly as
much as potash, and will build up more
rapidly in the soil; and (2) a majority
of mixed fertilizers used in the past has
been of the high phosphate-low potash
types, such as.4-10-7 and 6-8-4.
Several years ago when new land was
still being brought into production and
when relatively low rates of fertiliza-
tion were being practiced, soils of the
State were in general more deficient in
phosphorus than in potash. A long pe-
riod of fertilization with high rates of
fertilizers has brought about a change.
Data now indicate a need for fertilizers
having an even ratio of phosphate to
potash in a majority 
of the cases.
Given in the table are the percentage
of cases where the three basic kinds of
fertilizers (even phosphate-even 
potash,
high phosphate-low potash, and low
phosphate-high potash) are needed.
Beneath the table, recommended grades
to meet these needs are listed.
The high acidity of Alabama soils
can be corrected by a sound lime pro-
gram. If soil testing accomplishes only
one purpose-promotion of a good lime
program-th'en it is well worth all the
money invested. Farmers in the State
are applying about 150,000 tons of
lime annually, whereas they should be
using approximately 1,000,000 tons
every year.
Farmers' Opportunity
The Station's soil testing laboratory
is equipped to handle up to 30,000
samples annually. In excess of 9,000
samples have been analyzed this year
and at least 4,000 more are expected.
To date, only a small percentage of
Alabama farmers is taking advantage of
soil testing. Many farmers are missing
the opportunity to do away with guess-
work and fertilize according to needs.
Soil testing for fall planting is just
as important as testing for spring plant-
ing. In past years about two-thirds of
the samples came into the laboratory
during the winter and early spring and
about a third in late summer and early
fall. Often, farmers will wait until the
last minute to send in samples. The
Station recommends that the samples
be sent in 1 to 2 months before plant-
ing to allow ample time for liming.
Instructions for sampling are easy to
follow. Cartons and instructions can
be obtained at your County Agent's
office.
Qt I ~L CAN'T hide their agre behind
feati ers'!
\Vlieii a biologist looks at the syiulr
feathers of a quail lie can determine
( 1) wxhether thle bird hatched during
the past summner, or (2) the date of
hatch, if the bird isn't oxver 135) das
old.
A study fin xxhich 520) Alabamra
sportsmn supplied over 11,0(00 wings
iii the 1955.56 hunting season dbs-
closed that 83.5 per cent o~f the quiail
killed wxere yo(ung of the sear. This
ithdicates that hens ton an av erage
hatched and raised at least 10) VOung(.
This is twice the number raised per
lien dulitn the drought year of 1954.
Trhe high production of q~uail fin 19.55
is unusual xvhen one considers that the
hatch xwas unseasonablx late. Studies
in 1952, 1953. anid 1954 indieated that
the peak of hatch camne fii June. In
1955, hiowev er, the peak wxas delay'ed
until Auigust and two-thirds of ft'
hatch caine off after Jul v 1. This dehas-
or about a mtonth and a half suggest~s
that somne factor, probably climrate, tie-
st ox etl large numbers o;f earls' nests.
A quail swill repeatedly' try to renest if
its ntests aie destroved. As far as is
knoswn, it is rare for ai quail to bring,
ofIf motre th an onie briood in a sum mer.
Second broods base not been found
in Alabaima. The asverage quail lass 14
egg(.s. xxhich ai e incubated 2:1 das s.
k Comparison of p crc enltag-es iot
stoing_ fii the soil piox nices shiowxs that
the Tennessee \ allex for the second
scar in ;t rosy letl in prtiductis its o)1
(i tail ( 4.T"3r youn g ). The Piedmont
hiad the lowest percentage of x ouiig
7.c is 1935.
C'hilton Coinits letd the State ssithi
S9t.21" s olui. Barbo ur xx as second.
Buitler third, Ciillman fioirthi, (>siii
ton filth, anti Escaiiia-sixth.
A/
The greatest lharsvest of
madle duiring the first half
xx'eek huntinga season. The
duringf the first 6 sx'eeks of
weith the harsest fallingr off
ter the holidays.
qutail xwas
of the 12-
peak caine
the seasotn,
sharplY .if-
V..
';..~ I
C
- C'
5,5 '-5,
_4
FEATHERS-
ffte a~ge4% ae
ARNOLD 0. RAUGPEN, Leader
abamna Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit*
The increase fin quil xx usgs receiv ed
bv the Rlesearch Unit, the increase ill
atIMberS itt qtiail heard calling~ alongE a
call count rouite during the 1955 nest-
irgT season, andi faxvorable comtmenits of
huniteirs support the outstanding pro-
tduction of quail in 1955.
E. V. SMITH------
COYT WILSON-----
A-Order of replacement of flight feo- CHAS. F. SimmoNs
thers indicates age and hatching 
dote. KENNETH B. Roy--
B-Light tips ore found only on young BRLH ELR
of year. In this case, (A) indicates age 
BRYL E. SELES
of 82 days, (B) young of year.R.ESTVNO--
FREE Bulletin or Report of Progress
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
of the ALABAMA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
E. V. Smith, Director
Auburn, Alaboma
Permit No 11;32-8/56-8M
-------Director
Assoc. Director
_Asst. Director
---------Editor
--Assoc. Editor
----Asst. Editor
PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE TO AVOID
PAYMENT OP POSTAGE, S300
* Jintly sp: onsored kib the A\labama na-
partitint itt ('itsers ation, AP-I Aa2ric iltural
E xjpi rinwnt Statiou. L'. S. Fishtind WX icd-
life S rx ti, aind W Xildtlif It\Iana.zei ent In-
stit itt'.
Ilewt "~d 7c4ue4
PUBLICATIONS
Listed h~ere are timely and new publica-
tions reporting research by the Agricultural
Experiment Station.
Progress Report 59. Fattening Rations for
Finishing Steers after Summer Grazing
presents as compar ison of fiv e rations for
finishing steers after summer _erazuvns
Progress Report 64. Increasing Weight
and Slaughter Grade of Thin Beet Calves
by Grazing and Feeding reports results of
finishinQ cals es byv grazing and feeding.
Leaflet 41. Storing Shelled Corn in Ala-
bamna deScribes ;ate storage inetho'ls and
gixes results of stiira~ze ex perilil ents.
Leaflet 30. Control of Soil Insects and
Leafhoppers Attacking Sweetpotatoes gix es
methods of controlliin wxiress orins, leaf-
ihoppers. and other ssset tpotatoi)nsects.
Circular 117. Harvesting and Storing Sil-
age reports results of 3 years of testing
sil(age harvesting methods in Alabamra.
Free copies may be obtained fromt your
county a,_ent or by writing die API Agri-
':ultural Experiment Station, Auburn, Ala-
bama.
HIGHLIGHTS
of
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH
Published Quarterly by
Agricultural Experiment Station
of the Alabama Polvtechnic Institute
Auburn, Alabama