VOL 3 NO. 4WITR95 HIGHLIGHTS of AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH ~I'~, ~~~~0. ~ .f *0~~~ 0A ft 41r '909~ 1! 4 e 64-Ce Light for Broiler How Much 2 I.Alahamoa's Chajnging Agriculture .. Nitrogen Nat Guilty .. ,Wild Garlic and Wild Onion Now Can Be Cantralled .Sericea--Short A,, A Nutritive Raughage Man-Made Weather far Cotton Research Fertility Important to Quality PrnduCtion AGRICULTURAL EXP[RIMENT STATION SYSTEM of the ALABAMA POLYTECHNIC INSTITULTE E RV IN G A LL 0of A LA BA MA S "A*,i '~ 'A WINTER 1956 \ I],lii too ,-\%I I KA ~ (I , I i) I li HOW MUCH? I I ir I It t I I it I I II II Is ) IIS CLAUDE H. MOORE, As~ociate Poul/try Husbaridra, FR ED MOULTRIE, Poultry I-Iusba,,dman' riliI I II I l t I~i( I I\ I tl A x i i tu ii Ii i 1.5 hum Ia tt iii 11 1 fill Iii ip tut li l )Iiii III (IIiii it itt its iiiii ti \i \ ith IIi1liiil . I iutil(, "lti lo-it 111 t ti it ,III ils i id ilt I I I \1\ I xI (,( I fI i i I I i x I *l II t II sI I it i I or fi 1))1 \I I l 15 hom ol i ii . turid111 iolit iti ct iit ii . s il\i~tiiiitl i iiit x ' t. xi I igit t t I ix xi.( i Ilot ixtilli ol si xhi i I. Il h i )\\ c\ .1 hiIlo t (of it i ( lx i t i Loc ( ii(. 9\iI to il I i t il ii ii tilii l (dit li'-(ii CIl tilt (-' I ()\tII lli it l w\ Itlt i I tll itt )( t i od (d S x i iI it Ic til tIll i I(. It I I t~ it wx (, I It' h iii I I I lt lit (it I If 2 I ( I ( I I 111 ( (sI i 1 1 ,, li x . -, 1 i .t 2. iI I S I (- 1 ll t S ii i It1 ioI ( ( [ .i I II I 1( IccIs d II il) 2f hit it iii .11,1 1 2 ii I )\ s I x 1. 2, 6 1ii 111 s ix i ll lIi I I S off TIiilw i 1o(41 tjitl tlitt liwlts t. 1 i 2, Itti l it x io diS 12. lit ii li lititi of lxx it tii wi i t sxix I ftii 12 i. l itd H Iii b hr \It I Results of Experiment xi tutu litr x ) it - c (dxik xi i t ii tiii \\ 111 it 2.21 2. 35 2.:39 2.239 2A .32 of' tainplictihi llil c lit ti ti dli \\ ithi I2 I I.I. ii I12 I % i x i ti it tilt Ilti Ii II i 1, 1ii I) .ili 2 1 1 1,, ( f - )IIIiI IIi I- I Is One of the 16 experimental d -, tho- stuidy of tlgttii fr bri Jtrx. Vnrtat, heat, and light are controlled automatically .n these units. :1 wipit tli ti tiijliit to ut i CliIl xi iitci il l (of it ii tio liii ii / it ti l(Iii it (t it iiil ill 1111 bititi This tittix iiti itt I 'Ii I x ( (. ittli ( I i I , tI ((. ill x i i4Il itx, (t ii iii trc iiwits ittIii pctiix x(i to-i (I t CI iii ) fixl, i b ill I i l litll xi6ti xi i ti i 2 I 1 m r (ofi litx I l it i(fill]\ i it I I(i I l I I ()t z It l Ii I i . u it I iitxx iti I (I I liit\Ce I s l I t(, II ii I tIlt, s Ix uix I I i I iF Iti It -zIx iliterti ll ti Is N\~ (11 i I s I I ROOM- CHANGING AGRICULTURE J. H. YEAGER, Associate Agricultural Economist F ARMING ain't what it used to be! There have been important changes in Alabama agriculture during the last quarter century. Farm operators, their facilities, machinery, crops, and live- stock have undergone considerable change. These changes have great sig- nificance not only for farmers but also for townspeople. Cotton and cottonseed accounted for 73% of all cash farm receipts as an average for the 5-year period, 1925-29. During 1950-54, cotton and cottonseed accounted for only 40% of all cash farm receipts. Peanuts comprised about 2% of Alabama farmers' cash receipts 25 years ago and approximately 5% today. All crops made up 85 cents of each dollar of cash farm receipts in 1925-29, but only 60 cents of each dollar in 1950-54, Figure 1. In 1955, a good crop year, the com- %of total cash farm receipts 1925-29 85% 1950-54 70 621 6o0 30 20 10 0 50 40 , All crops Livestock and livestock products position of cash farm receipts from crops, and income from crops as a per- centage of all cash farm receipts were almost the same as that during 1950-54. Income from Livestock Up Livestock and livestock products have become increasingly important as sources of income. In 1955, livestock and livestock products accounted for 41.6% of the total cash farm receipts. During 1925-29, they made up only 15 cents of every cash farm receipts dollar. In the last 25 years, all major classes of livestock have shown increases in the proportion of cash farm receipts they comprise. In 1955, the percentage of income from broilers, chickens, and eggs combined was 14.5% of total cash farm receipts. That from cattle and % of acreage planted U.S. 91% so - 78% 708 60- 40 30% 20 -18% F MEN? A 1940 1950 * Less than I% Fig. 2. Percentage of corn acreage planted with hybrid seed, Alabama and U. S. calves was 11.8; hogs, 7.6; and dairy products, 7.0%. Along with livestock farming have come changes in how farms are oper- ated. In 1930, about 65% of Alabama's 257,395 farmers were tenants. Today, only one out of three is a tenant. Cash tenants and croppers have declined more proportionally than share tenants. Farms Larger Alabama farms are getting larger, as an average. In 1980, the average Ala- bama farm was 68.2 acres in size. In 1955, it was 117.6 acres. There are 6,530 more farms of 260 acres or larger today than in 1930. In that year, only 640 farms were reported to be 1,000 acres or larger. The 1955 Census re- ported 2,365 farms 1,000 acres or over in size. Fig. 3. Percentage of cotton ginned of I in. or longer staple length, Alabama. Much of the machinery and equip- ment, commonplace on Alabama farms today, did not exist 25 years ago. Al- though many farmers have not mech- anized completely, the number of trac- tors on farms increased from 4,664 in 1930 to 65,175 in 1955. Also re- ported on farms were 65,360 trucks, 5,086 combines, 2,974 corn pickers, and 3,016 pickup balers. Better Living Conditions Work and farm life have been made easier with new and improved facili- ties. Last year, almost 90% of all farms reported electricity, 38% had running water, 16% had home freezers, and 18% reported television sets. Nev- ertheless, rural farm population con- tinues to go down. In 1930, one out of every two persons lived on farms, whereas 20 years later the ratio was one out of three. The urban population of Alabama in 1950 accounted for 43.8% of the total. Varieties of crops, breeds of live- stock, amounts and kinds of fertilizer, and farm practices have changed. As recently as 1940, less than 1% of the corn acreage in the State was planted with hybrid seed, Figure 2. In 1956 70.5% of the acreage was in hybrids. Tremendous improvement has been made in staple length of cotton. In 1980, approximately 1% of the cotton ginned in Alabama was 1 in. or longer in staple. In 1955, cotton 1 in. or longer in staple length accounted for 97% of the total, Figure 3. Changes are taking place daily. Nev- ertheless, agriculture remains a basic industry in supplying food and fiber for the population. % of cotton ginned 80- 60- 40- 20- 1930 19409 *Less- than 1% Fig. 1. Receipts from all crops and live- stock and livestock products as percent- ages of all cash farm receipts, Alabama. 1955 I Y o S[ER IC EA-4atir a14 a aatozu~t'e fr"4 I I I( I tx .1, i fjIttI-tsil II li i .) I .I( ( I li, Ix t I I I Itixi' Iit( I I ,I sl i lk I i iis It I Ii I I I i tit I I t h .\ Ix I 1 (. (it] li' I tI(,\ tII lt' t Iitx . liih i tIc i t I I C. i it' id, mill i t t i () I it tt'I I t *i Il i Iit t f , It \ c It tIsc I tI i] s lit dii l kI I t Ct lxI tl I )I ,\ ()II it t l iIc' Ila ittt i I(t \I lt itt H it It i i't x c t n t i Ixt (if I t l u t i xl )IIII xi~l st I'it I I I I It I i' (I i t I( it it Ii t i I i Ii i t tI i I i I c i t it 1 is. tIl li xt xt Il I I Iti xx I I l I t t t t Iif I to itH loI I t ttil l ' t 111 tI Ii i(lflil x I'i'ic ll I It ) I t ii . 2 1). t 15 d itit ii t pt' ii lx o t o ii \% ( v k t 0tI it i tt. lil :i x i ' tl xx iti ill 11). i til I li6 tt11 111 iI tI . tailx I IIt iIt ,) i ( ,tI lii t o II I xIi t I. )1 t l itit Ill (ilit ' IIi 2 I. I t Ii t ,t i I I 't' I i II lil ti It tll tI I t I to i )I I it I I t it elI xII 0I5 till itt t I fl ff \ 0 g o hicii it alli I xcittl di ti 1i ) t f I tt itt I dil il ;t i iiix II'hll t i l I it itti t 1tt\ I II III IIk I I I ,,1 itt it\ \ - i t lit I IYfIIiI ;IL I ; C (~i ~ d~il dr p c 1 , l t t - - II s ,I sIIIIII IIIII A . t titi' It)\ lii t llt til I liii * i lx \\ as ttI Ofi ",1 Ofiiti I it t' n t' if Iti xx - i I I I II Ii x c a x I ( i t i lI itIIt t lli 1 it l I I ( i i ,it t i s-t hu ll~ it I1 ill\ cs1I1'ittit Ii\\ i I ( It iiic it I I It i i ilk 111 , (()\s I tI I Io, It t I Ii 11111 x Ii I'l I ix t i Is xii itt '.1 I l,iil)( xif f11 IT- elii i tt i il l Ii l ttt titxt'i'i t ittii tt I I It 31 tli ' l i ii' pi tii\it] td s l i (- ii t Ii u I.\ sI I I I I )( 4] ite \\ it iixli t itti d l t o i itt 1 ().x lit xx tx ti ' ti ti It-\ii (1 th I it l Oi il ii.tI " ImI (i i tlp Iwd itt i lit i' l' ilt t lt i t If. )III it s ti ii t i itt ilt It( iisi t ithaix t ittiki i i p O lxi t xii ll ilit itt iit xxc it s, \ itilx I tl I ito I ' xl O\ i t ha t t ii iii it ilt l ix .1 ittitliiiI til it 1 ittiii 1111 l 1 11) I Of t i I()\ (, I r t i t i 's ii io d O I I IIIxix IT 5 1 ''- \~ -' ~ .- v*~ Colt at left was tcd serico hay as I he only roughage;, one at rightt received sericea hay supplemented with cottonseed meal. VIFT NITROGEN- C S. ROHER IS, Arir,, Patboloqi', I ( , I I I ; I I I I s I , I \ s I I I I I I I I I ) I A I i I I I I I fit i I I I I I I-s 'I I ,st s I I I I I - I I I s n )X I( le I I i g I I I pillat; I I do, itild I I I I I r I )Its )].it t ( I I ri 11 g \\ I I Itc] I I I I I I s I( (11'ii I I I a t it I I I illil I I I 1 11 1, ;111( 1 \\ i If I I )l I I sc r i( of I sl I I I I ( l I cl it I I \\ i I I I t I Ici r i(']( I )I _ I ;I it I )I. I I I I,, I-cas( If I, ;Wricultill al Icialcr's llit\ c ellco(lragcd tlic philtilig of ilcrci ,'cs ()I oats alid Micilt. A scriolis dirc;tt h) Hlu lisc ()I oilts alld wh(%tt lot \\ illt( I ,,I il/ill" has dc- chye( I ill I ccel It ('al.s. \111111w] s off cattle triazilig, dws(I smid) oritills I ka\ dicd Irmll it dis('asc I-csciliblill" (r] itss Wtitill\ . I 'osscs I tit\ c I )(.(,I I I cpm tud 11 ()Ill IllillIV iticils (If Ille Stilt(. dill-illo tit(. picst ('it I it I I t I Ic If I( )"t le itt I Is 1)(.il I(, it I I I I I i I illd s I ) I I I I I c I I I I i k I I; I I I I i I . \ Its- s s I I I' I I I I s s :tIld r i; I z I. I S( r I I I I h )ss( f I.( )I I I I-c( -7 1 1 lilt ilild Iwilt S()Ili(' pcoldc liit\ c ed I I lilt I I Ic p )is( )I ill ig \\ its cilliscd 1) itl)1)1\ ill(,' Ili- tI()gcII-c()IItiIiIIiII(,' 1('l tilizCrs to ()ilts illid heilt. sillc( fliti-mycli I,,, c"sclitiiii for t r;lill th;lt I s to I w o, ra/( I I I A 1) 1 111111 it I E'XI )(-]'I I I Icl I t S t it t I( )l I i s c( )I I( I I I( -t if I o I ( S( ;i I-cl I to d et (.1.111111( I'(1CMIMICIldc(l allwillits ()I Iliti (qrcll c;tit calisc (If(, discitsc. 14'stilts 11.( )111 \\ ()I k Iccciltk cmu- ix iii it t AI IIIiti i tit ()lll it'i ti i i i' x xI IIc S( tl ut tiui t tt'lx oit l iili \ii\ x i tit 'k twis i l lt' I tit'c~ I ci' iliitit ox ti itss t t it tilti it r t Iix iii c i tit xTtx'' 1 twsc i if lititti t i lxx x i itIC isI o t t It cli iitiltcd t t'xtu a pici on ofii t Iliii t] " i toi Iill l _itt iii t x x tili's ixi Syimtp~t. tomsitiikiix i t I' II Oats and wheat can be sidedressed with ni- trogen without danger of causing green oat or wheat poisoning. In Alabama tests, no cat- tle were lost from this disease on oats that were sidedressed with up to 600 lb. of am- monium nitrate per acre. - ' ' ' I ' -''V '4 ''ii . ~5 - ~ , 1' )1 '. - Cow down with green oat poisoning looks similar to animal with milk fever. I it it ut I t til I(- I tt 1111 :11 'xl ( III-t I I I co 1 ti I i I III(sto tIl 2 tt (. Xil r It li te t it'o Niroe Notd Ivolve ili Itlwt i lim lO t itt s it c hat, ctttittc I tit Ii ll il (I p isi ih lll- do no tldc- cb li ti ix tu 4 x f i i ~ tx tlit (- ii'z i tsi )il ii ll li ii f r t o t 3 wcckttt t hes it ftx I(- lilt ii't .'I till x.1tt Abix u tiii i ltiili ix clixxiilx til lv. -- 4, ONOS a ' 'v 4e CONTROLLED V. S. SEARCY, Assistant Agronomist toi 1111 of xilti tgii lit' aliut x\ ilti oiiliiil. is i cre I And' .i i. it caillit bc doll xx it Ii clsi iii ii li ii xx)\ cti xt1 lix t'xfittwk Ii j liii(j. x \ l )xli ill x \ tts ix jix Ilaix t' iil h ft' xx \\ith x% iih tti, fi(t l fit Thul itt t' iii iltc xxii catll fOinit x\ ut 1 ititiii. \tfiillx flux ut' txxi tdixtiiit l:1 t' tit 'thi x)c oft te i ift i dt iS ti I I I Research in Alabama i i fii ii xxit l liy th m t' xx \cil ' H' 'itxiixN A(I xic i I il li' i E i l lt i t I itt' tit has ci t i f it lx x il ii \itl i wit' 'ticIitts it'liti ftxf't dwif x'eiiitiii icIift 2. I) li ii it-Icl lil t l, lis i lf f e t oll\\il](riili Rdesu l wi~ co s This plot was given no herbicide treatment. Note the large popu- lation of wild garlic, which is typical Of many postures in t he State. xt.riuifit ut wi uutiiil ill xx lit u.'ii li 'xIS illi ii flit iltlt'x tct'x. \\ ilii g'iilit' hils tcaicil. hiii tltt' 2 1 - tti xi i \1 f)1 \ct tilti it'f 'it'iiit'. il fi clsxxii'ii ig flit ct'ixf tt 21-1) utut'\1ii 4ff. 2,4-1) ii -'S-.-~ I 1'~ 74") Recommendations I i Ix ltN ()hiilimti'(I ""I-1) ix (d xx iitt . 11 i miiiii i in ()1 2,4-1) is Iitil.d b)' i lt' fto M id 1/4 11) (d t tjit i liltisiht l d ii1( (ifi I ii if t t 50 ,al. ()I 'slit i i1.t fit iitil flit' 2.11) 11 all t'',til- iti t ()1 2.it 1 t ii ts] tix i llt' Iivftt ('ii t is iii t 'itx Fm i ll, i pti o- duti i l, ' t c if ( i I ti I7 I wl I i ~ I wii t x tI 2.4o I) x ill lwc'sl \i xt't iiiiixlx' t ilg( tit' n4 ii I\tlit i t - all .It m il i s no~xxit 111 ! ('i i w i ii x l 'iilit ' b\i it aiiw 1 ti bii- ,I \ to ap l II' - -' Thti ~ ~ W 2-1.rt ) 2 -)w l o Ile: AI '' .4 x 455 I vs41 I 4 In a 2-yeor period, wild garlic in plots w~as controtled most eftectively by treatments with MH-40 (above) and with 2,4-D (below). V 'it (1 1 )( )(I \ i .(- I i t I s( Xits ii I S. I"( C;I I ,i ,li (IX , I I ((Xi tr i hs' li Ii , I "o"i XI Ii ()I 1 I(t;il i I Ii ii\ i(tXtit(, S ialiits :1 5-1) *iIrt" 11111 pIX~ M1) \icit , ii i i X it lit 1 1 .II 1 ducc X i l ii tiiiiliths cscii~ IX X II i ii't t lo siiit 01 i IX tllicili ii iii iiii lci 11,111 ici t), gIicX toi (iitiiilii XXt.itilir SoftIor itd drollii beX l i X ij liil- I I 'l \I1 i(,I lt IX .I V ~ pei l i XicIIt ii .t 1 1 XX 111(1 XX CXX t i i'. 111( foi. it ii ((Iii MAN-MADE WEATHER ao COTTON RESEARCH R. D. ROUSE and W. F. SOWELL Depart-ent of Agronony and So i I i ~t and t -4 a \it It if Ica ) I d seto Xlii i I I I i )S Ij i ( 1 5I i fI i i XI _i . If i tI~ itI( 8 Ii 4t.~ a o tii flrlc \ ti. Thc oi p iii tht tii tIiI(I ti i I i A ii2 't i It I Ii i ifro tie s n 11ll y o d i\ill 11c h l h r '1.- ~I. a' 4 ~ j I - V /t ~ I~ ~,i Fig. 2. Chamber-grown plants that failed ta set boils at 72 F. as indicated by the absence of boils on lower part of plants. However, they set an excellent crop with temperature raised to 85 F. Best Conditions Determined i~ttil piiiiii ts X i iitii ii liii hoi iii t XtiliiiX itt hi ut lo t i tsil l iXXls griIiX i 1iii(ti t coiip 1 lotIc i iti ilitt cnrt cniionIX. I icic fi t h bes(I t coni d 1 itn XX r (FrIo\ti\- filly cttiiJli it d iiI X X iim boX set. XIti toiX. et i Iiiill Xdt I \\iitis liii it tl ctI 1.11 l ws not (Xl hl i \I lii tii( da,\ tcl-ilti l iii i tsiiX li t l \ i s T 2i 1i t '. S5 .i li (.11T i i2 i tti\ it pii tt1 ii i tli Xl th cil lii 1)1r tws X ph ill ti iitXc to i lit. bolls it il2 F. ii it i i iLit I'. t t tisl c( ofi boil lls Iitiiiiit. IXc XXiiI I' thei lants. iii ot IXI l~~l bo i 1 tltl it Xc S IIT l ivtil itcothu ti lr \\atsI ii iii ii lit ITh ti i I oill plti it r \iiI i Xi t l i a tlh ir i hll .p t soiithat ti( tiniX Fig. t .Cotton at squaring stage in grewt ebamnbir at is being studied under controlled environmental conditions. Auburn where batl shedding I lll I I liIl i /i llZ aplf))l i'ttji lix citi iii '.t I a i lciix lt producion ( 4il ill i F lii 111! i lit ii 2)Tisu hii l fwcl ttjt' l ii i 3 l i~ N il" jeillw it stili li i ittt Iiilx kxitd (Ii iti itilizi i'i I t ) it~ l (4 t sou i l, ()I itiila i t\ i'll" xxi\ lth i (((( fi I xxit ') ) 1i ititl f ilt~ x) Ijil l -i Ii t ii'u x i This lis 'lijxssr ttii i Ifito 1 iipp I x\ ciil it itt ()(7 liIfi ii f77il. hca\ f Ii it xx it ci t ~ ti11lll iI xx x l ii I xii fl i t I .] III]i'tc Sli lxxiutl )LtI t I illt xx iiil x ultcxxi I I)IIt ilii ix i m 1(,i' tit xx iilltu xx ix 272 lit I to(.iltj xiii x lix t lb.i ill~ l f t ' th ciil xi xxI T x v il i it j i I t c fl*' its i 22:1' 11). andlf frit \ il pcrtlt ti tci' i 'fli8 1i) i s compi'- tiio x j it xx c ix \5 i.i it it \its li I xx ix c 2x ) 1) .f i lt i' i ti llli l llii x jl i 5 g eil Nti ITlii. ile 7'fi' 'l ii fI I le I\ (I iii I iui'l fill( it \\ its 27 Ill( aii ii _ ti c \\c~ tI l i lx iii '\itisi 15111). li'xiiltx (I xtii xix ill 20) \iillbllil xx ixltif l'fh'\( that ix \i litcrll (lix ii ijlilii lii tic il iill tloxc iir \c xitcil ati ippiiix j 50 tol 700 7111). oit S-8S xper i i tll' xx jil ilt ii c11ff ifi. iii (i IIicii I hiS~lit~rl"(It "Ill (flitil t\il. \\ tcd li'l) aitiiix 51) 11)f illilil xx ix x ix i 1 )fpljii fI(] ittr I t uh littil thu;I Ilii'e I. xi li afit lict iti' of 2i tioi : 11). of iiil I tixihtti lit 1 t'I cc ii ili l. 'lt ~('itti ni )s( i it A x1 11 ) 1 lit ' (,r '\\ e i i''i I I xi it I 1t)xix I x ilpit e.ie o-2 i '4 / Left -Growth of 2-year-old Elberta peach tree on land with no winter legume turned under: right- 2-year-old El- berta on land where manga- nese bur clover was used as a winter cover crop. FERTILITY emzartt 94444q ftcdtedo T. B. H-A6LER Associate H-orticulturits C. C. CARLTON, Superintendent, Chilton Area H-orticulture Substation E. V. Stuvili (:OYT NVI\ISON (tEAS. F. SINII\IONS KE:NNETHi B. Roy-- BEBYI 11 tL. SuLIJAIS_ bE. STEVENSON_ FREE Bulletjn or Report of Progress AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION of the ALABAMA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE E. V. Smith, Director Auburn, Alabama Permit No. 1132- 11 56-8M Director As'soc. IDirector Asst. D~irector ---- Editor Assoc. Editor -Asst. Editor PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE TO AVOID PAYMENT OF POSTAGE, $300 Ife #t aw 7estd PUBLICATIONS I'd t l ie. '1 hii itIx and 1 li''t\ tI)Ili t, iiii I li, i \jw izil Nit l, Spcciiil I cailct. (.cucrtl Icrtilizcr Ilcc Spcial Leaf~let. Siiiail Grain Vatrieties for 'till 1 li't, Itt tllillt li I \icti- I1ttiflet 48. Pchl'I Varieties for Alabamatl xstiti 1 Ii eratiol oIf O utdoor Brootder pi '. t' it, ttiiit tpict Illafi bc iitihi fi \giil of AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH A\griciltiil Exjitiiiiieit Staition of the Alabanma 1Pohxtechnic Institute Auburn, Alabamna