- PI I
VOLUME 8, NUMBER 2 
SUMMER 1961
47
W" 
- I-
I
HIGHLIGHTS of
Agricultural Research
A Quarterly Report of Research
Serving All of Alabama
VOLUME 8, No. 2 SUMMER, 1961
THOSE EARLY YEARS - Review of Beginning Period of
Auburn's Agricultural Experiment Station
POULTRY RESPIRATORY DISEASES-Control Neededfor
Costly Diseases--
ALABAMA'S POPULATION - Constantly Changing As, Farm-
ers D ecrease in Num ber --------------------------
AQ2UATIC WEED HERBICIDES EVALUATED - Chemicals for
Control of Pond W eeds, Tested -------------------
YEAR-ROUND COMFORT -For Your Caged Layers With-
out Costly Cooling and Heating Devices-------------
ALEXANDRIA AND PRATTVILLE FIELDS - Are a Research
M eets Special N eeds -----------------------------8,
MARKETING TOMATOES FOR HIGHER RETURNS- Traces
Movement of Tomatoes to Market ------------------ I
JAPANESE QUAIL FOR ECONOMICAL RESEARCH- A New
Type Bird Used in Poultry Tests- I
DAIRYING IN ALABAMA - Ranks High As Income Source
for State F arm ers --------------------------------- I
STARR MILLET FOR SLAUGHTER CATTLE - Resultsof Graz-
ing Tests Using Millet- - -I-
SUMMERCRAZING AND FEEDLOT FINISHING- 2-Year-Old
Steers Finished in Black Belt Tests,-
WATER AND FERTILIZER APPLIED AUTOMATICALLY - Saves,
Labor in Treating Greenhouse Flowers --------------I
EARLY- vs. LATE-DiROPPED EWES - Reports, Research at
Uppe~r Coastal Plain Substation 1--------------------
3
4
5
6
7
-9
L4
L5
16
09 ete COC'C' This addition to the Animal Husbandry and Dairy
Building at Auburn University is already being used. The new wing
provides modern facilities foi: the departments of Animal Husbandry
and Nutrition, Dairy Husbandry, and Poultry Husbandry. In addi-
tion to research laboratories and offices, there are classrooms and
teaching laboratories. This addition is one of the buildings con-
structed with funds provided by passage of Amendment, 5 in 1957.
E. V. SMITH------
COYT WILSON - ----
CHAS. F. SIMMONS-
KENNETH B. Roy --
E. L. MCGRAW----
R. E. STEVENSON---
--------------D irector
--Associate Director
_Assistant Director
----- ---------- Editor
---- Associate Editor
----Associate Editor
Editorial Advisory Committee: COYT
WILSON; H. J. AMLING, Associate Horti-
culturist; K. M. AUTREY, Dairy Depart-
ment Head; E. A. CURL, Associate Plant
1tedea ated7rm
Patolgit; ND ENETH . oy
PUBLICATIONS
Listed here are timely and new publications
reporting research by the Agricultural Ex-
periment Station.
Bul. 326. Corn Earworm Control presents
effective methods of controlling this pest on
sweet corn.
Bul. 328. Bermudagrass for Forage in Ala-
bama covers research on common, Coastal,
and other varieties of Bermuda being grown
in the State.
Cir. 138. Soybeans for Oil in Alabama pre-
sents information on varieties and produc-
tion practices for soybeans.
Prog. Rept. 79. Controlling Chinch Bugs on
St. Augustine Grass Lawns reveals how this
pest can be controlled by using insecticides.
Prog. Rept. 80. Control of Ornamental Plant
Diseases reviews latest methods of prevent-
ing damage to ornamentals.
Prog. Rept. 81. Low-Cost Greenhouse gives
detailed instructions for building with re-
inforcing wire and plastic.
Free copies may be obtained from youir
County Agent or by writing the Auburn
University Agricultural Experiment Station,
Auburn, Alabama.
Published by
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT
STATION of
AUBURN UNIVERSITY
Auburn, Alabama
EARLY
YEARS...
LILLIAN FOSCUE
Graduate Assistant
THE HAND OF POVERTY lay heavy on
Alabama's countryside during the dark
days of Reconstruction.
The once proud and wealthy cotton
state was still proud but woefully im-
poverished. In the South of the 1870's,
a man was lucky to have his land, a roof
over his head, and his bare hands to
scratch out an existence for himself and
his family. A new -economy being con-
ceived demanded scientifically accurate
agricultural practices. The need had be-
come an extremely serious one.
Education was luxury beyond the
means of most Alabama citizens. On the
horizon, however, there was a ray of
hope that was to increase in brilliance
with each passing year.
Even in the midst of the chaos of civil
war, there were men who had faith
enough in the future of the United States
of America to pass a bill providing as-
sistance to each state to establish an ag-
ricultural and mechanical college, put-
ting higher education for the first time
within reach of the average American.
It was the beginning of the Land-Grant
College system.
Auburn's Beginning
In 1868 a Reconstruction Legislature
in Alabama accepted a Federal grant for
a land-grant college, but under the
terms of the Morrill Act, buildings and
grounds were to be provided by the
This article is one of a series on Au-
burn University and its Agricultural
Experiment Station System-its found-
ing and its contributions down through
the years to the progress of Alabama's
agriculture. The series is being pub-
lished in conjunction with Auburn's
Centennial Celebration.-Editor
State. Answer to the State's problem of
providing its part came when the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church South offered the
State its East Alabama Male College at
Auburn, chartered in 1856. Total assets
included a 4-story brick building, equip-
ment, and 200 acres of land. The Metho-
dist Conference had found itself with a
going college after the War but without
funds to operate.
The transition was "easy," the first
president, the Rev. Issac Taylor Tiche-
nor, said later. He was a Baptist minister
in Memphis, Tenn., when called to head
the new Alabama Agricultural and Me-
chanical College. Six students were grad-
uated the first year from a student body
of 103.
Five EAMC professors remained on
the A&M faculty. One was the Rev. B.
B. Ross, father of Bennett Battle Ross,
first dean of agriculture.
Need for Research
Practical agriculture was taught by
W. H. Jemison, a Georgian who left to
become quartermaster at the University
of Alabama in 1873 and President Tich-
enor also found himself professor of ag-
riculture.
The idea of an "experimental farm,
garden and orchard" was prominent in
the minds of the first administrators from
earliest days. In the first A&M catalogue
of 1872, it was stated that experiments
"with a view to advance the general
farming interests of Alabama" would be
conducted.
Establishment of Station
In 1883 the need for accurate crop
production information, together with
the necessity of regulating standards of
commercial fertilizers being sold in the
state, received the attention of the Legis-
lature. A fertilizer tax was levied with
one-third of the net proceeds to go to the
A&M College for the establishment and
maintenance of an agricultural experi-
mental farm or station "where careful
experiments shall be made in scientific
agriculture." In return a state chemistry
laboratory to test fertilizer samples was
to be maintained at the college.
With the proceeds from the fertilizer
tax, a 226-acre farm adjacent to the col-
lege was bought. J. S. Newman of the
Georgia Agricultural Department was
named director of the Station and special
professor of agriculture.
Experiments were begun immediately
and before the year's end the first bulle-
tin was issued. Care and management of
German carp was the principal subject
of this bulletin, although some data on
wheat experiments were included.
A number of experiments in fertiliza-
tion, horticulture, and animal husbandry
were underway when additional support
to agricultural research was gained
through the Hatch Act of 1887. This pro-
vided $15,000 a year for the Land-Grant
College in each state for agricultural re-
search. This marked the beginning of
federal-state cooperation in a nationwide
research program in behalf of farmers.
With Hatch Act funds many improve-
ments were added. More and more em-
phasis was being laid on the scientific
methods of study and research. Though
the classical influence would never be
curtailed at Auburn, the practical and
scientific was coming into its own.
Dr. William LeRoy Broun, one of the
foremost mathematicians of the country
and a recognized authority on physics
and astronomy, was at the helm as sec-
ond president of A&M. The men who
were to set the standards of excellence
that would carry the institution and ex-
periment station on toward fulfillment
of its destiny in the 20th Century were
beginning to assemble in the "village on
the plains" - men such as biologist
George F. Atkinson; Dr. P. H. Mell, Jr.,
botanist and meterologist; Dr. C. A.
Cary, veterinarian and lecturer; and J.
Fred Duggar, research professor of agri-
culture, administrator, and author.
From these beginnings grew Auburn
University and its Agricultural Experi-
ment Station System. "A gigantic agency,
to whose wonderful resources no limits
can yet be assigned" had been born -
to borrow words of the first Alabama
Commissioner of Agriculture, E. C. Betts.
3
W 1,17",Body cavity of this bird shows~typical 
signs of CRD. The
cheese-like substance (arrows) is
characteristic of the disease.
4 .A EDGAR, R. N. BREWER,
ndE C. MORA
Dept of Poulty Husbandry
CONTROL 
NEEDED for
Poultry Respiratory 
Diseases
POU' BY LiU lSP111tu-OBY diseases -Newx-
castle, inifections bronchitis, larx ngotra-
cleitis. amid CIII ( chronic respiratory
(isease) -are o)1 great importatice to
thitiduistix.
This grot l11 accotits for the gireatest
b roiil er lo sses du tri iig tI e gru ixsu iii eriod
aid is t espotisible tot oslore thii 99)% 
of
IT SI A eondein i at iot s for disease reassi 
.
Thle CRDI coimplex, chatracterized 1x 
a i
greneral itiflamiiatorx process, is 
the
gi eatest catise ot co n demn 
ationi.
Total loss from respiratorx diseases-
cost of tneulicatioii. death, redfuced xweight
i01(1 feed cot xet sion, doxx igralitig, 
and
co deiniation-was d estimated at toore
thati $100( inilliiii in 196)). Since 
oie-
third of the -Nation's 83 billion annual
pultrxY business and 72% of the biroilers
arte iti at dozen "broiler belt" Souttleasterii
States, respiratory diseases are 
of pimite
imomrtanice to sotiherti potltr-vmlei.
]In al tiutrti Agricultural Experirnt
Statioti stiulx , 2,788 ciitdeined 
birdsl
xwere stud~iedl. These xwere selected 
Irt i
55,00t0 cotndemsned birds from 211 
flocks
Mid trepr esen ted ior thi I1,250 
,000))
birds ptocessed. Thle greatest cautse 
of
cotidetmnation ( moire thiani 85%) 
xvas
(:ID, xxhich agrees closely xxithi 
U.SDA
figrutes. IHissever, t esudlts cit the 
-Xubut i
examitiation s (lbased il existing 
regli ia
tim s) rexvealedl that 1,2601 ot 
the 2,788
irdls shld ( have beet i paissed, 
cleat ie
M1id a I ssd, ori pats pasedI
Prevention and Vaccination
I'tcx eitiiiti is the hiest tiietliia 
of conl
trolling irespiratoiry diseases. Three of
thle hint call le cotitrolled 1bx \ pievetitiotn
atild xvaccitnation i. TIhe oither, CIII) is lie-
liesved toi be caused lix\ compIl icatio is fol-
lossitig Newxcastle (disease anid infectious
briotichitis, atnd call lie controlled by 
uts
ing stock that is free of PPLO ( pleit 
m-
lptieutm iiiia-like orgat iisins ). Ther e is nio
ktioxn iirug effectixve ini treatitig xviruts
(diseases. Howieve' tr, somelt drugs art'( effec-
tiv e ilit pxreetiitg spread atid dev elop-
ire t it of secotidaryV itnf ectiotns, 
such ats
those associated xvith CIII.
Chickeis canl be raised wxithout hay-
itng 'Newscastle disease, itnfectious bron-
chiitis, ori lary gitra-liitis. atid withi lit-
tle trouble ftront CIII. This is tdotie bx
I ) startitng xxithlitlsease-free stock all
frim the samne 
piarenit flock, (2) 
ha-itig
huit tic age bitrds otil a farmn 
at is time,
(3) elfitoimiatilla all traffic betsveenl 
farmls,
aid ( 4 )keepitig out xvilcl birds atid
roidents. Although this is successful, the
hazard of accidenttal ti atlitlissioti is great.
Ill cotnceiitratecd ponultry areas wvhere Pre-
eiltise 1c-tasires are iiot etifociced, totl
trol liv xac-itiatioti shouldl li sed.
KillccI vaccitie is safest for x accitiatitig
b~irds for prteeition of Newceastle' (disease'
because thetre is tno spread of thc virtis.
bitt it seldomn gisv-s loiglastitig pro(tec-
tioni. Fo- that teasoti, ttild or- less iifcc
tii iis lixke strtai t s of x iii is x ac-tm c 
atrc
uisted. If (lie x ac-iic is applied mclix idii
alsy iti thec eye at clay old, fair- protec-tioti
tlit h 21 to 28 class of' age c'ati lit
e-xpec-ted. A secotnd saccit atioti at 
3
" 2 to
4 xxe'eks syill lptritect thnough 9 to It)
weeks. Protectini lasts itiiicl lotigir 
if
\adccitJotij is del avct to1t ii ciciks atre
7to 14 dax s old, wxhen most pairetal
atitilioclx is gone and cannitot 
initee
wihiititnune response. One x aeciiiat jot
at this a~felist iallY rtcsfo i( e
init e thi a e bro f-g o tli 
e
Vaccination Methods
\Mass vacciniationi lot- Nexwcastle 
dis-
east' is 1istial I less cff ective thIatn ~ idl
vidlial appltcaitioti. io IWe effectiv 
e, tlie
\it s v ac-titne most lbe alix e and all bitrds
mnust get eniouigh x irns. Ileasomis that 
x ae
citiatiil fails incld-ile: applicationl ill
cbhlorin atedl wxater. failur e it ird s to
dini k, xvaccinei is in wxater too loni 
g be-
fome consmiiied, or v accine is exposed too
lotng to high temperatur tes.
\ aceinatio again st inf ectious broonchi-
tis is bleliexved to wxork in touch the satine
xxax . Hoxvxer, theme is at commn bielief
th at at respiratot v react itn friom the xirmtis
Or fromn a natuiral outhireak wxeakens blirdls.
Thiis xweakeninig of biirds xwithi PPLO inl
their lbodies is beliexved to result inl le-
\elopnliet it of at generalized it lill otnator-
process involv ing the air- sat-s and calls-
ing CIII).
Incidlence of lar- ' ngotracheitis is still
limnitedi to at fexx Alal atnia fartiis. Al-
thot lil xvacc-ination protects agaii ist it,
Pirexvetion of spread is thle best cotntrol
method at presetnt. V accinoat ion (-atl be
dlone olx~ wxithi permiissioni (if the State
\ tte i-it ciiall
Vaccination Sometimes Fails
A xvaccin ation or p)rexvention 
cottrol
1
)rogr-am may xvork for a xwhile and 
thent
suddenly fil. This happens xxhet the
vlnses ,ire initrodulcedl to a farmi by
coittamtiated serx ce men or equipment,
infected poultry' , xwild birds, or somec
other source. If chickenis havet no imntin-
itx , all] birds myax tither (lie or haxve
grossth sloxwed. Nattural ouitbreaks of 
iii-
lcctiiois bron chiitis are uisuall mitch 
less
setrious, particularly it bitrds are more
thatn 2 or 3 xweeks old.
Effectixve xvacciinatioti for- Newxxcastle
disease atnd infectious brotnich itis 
ate tistt
ally less (if a ''stress'' than iinatural ot
1brteak s. Al thou igh thetre is no axvailable
xvaccinie that gixves 1010% priotection, vac-
citiatioti reduces losses.
Once CIII is aqpparent, toeclicatioi
mnust be started jitieciatelN- atid 
-onl
tii ed lotng cmilou gh to help, it suall x 
5
dlays or 1oi ge-. M ed ication i) lix inject 
ion
is usuially ilote effectixve thii hx iioitli.
Onie itnf ect ion is wxidlespread, thecre 
is lit-
tle hope that tmedicatioti wxill effectivelxy
clear the itifectiiit .
STATE'S POPULATION
Constantly Changing.
J. H. YEAGER, Agricultural Economist
LKE LADIES' CLOTHING fashions, Ala-
bama's population changes every year.
Some of the more noticeable changes in-
clude an increase in numbers, movement
in place of residence, and shift in com-
position.
As listed in the 1960 Census, total
Alabama population was 3,266,740. This
puts Alabama in 19th place among all
states, including Alaska and Hawaii. In
1950 the State ranked 17th.
Alabama's population growth from
1950 to 1960 was less than the U.S.
average - 7% as compared with 18% for
the entire nation. Top percentage in-
crease was 39% in the West. Increases
were 16% in the South, 16% in the North
Central States, and 13% in the Northeast.
Based on rate of change from 1950 to
1960, Alabama ranked 29th among all
states.
Majority is Urban
Urban residents make up the majority
of Alabama's population. In 1960, 55%
were classified as part of the urban popu-
lation. This means they lived in places
of 2,500 or more population or in fringe
areas of cities having 50,000 or 
more
population.
The trend toward urbanization has
developed rapidly since 1940 (see chart).
Twenty years ago 70% of Alabama's pop-
ulation was classified as rural. Last year
the figure was 45%.
Not only has the urban proportion in-
creased, but changes have also taken
place within the rural portion. Numbers
of rural farm persons have declined along
with the disappearance of farms. How-
ever, rural non-farm population has in-
creased - from 25% of total population
in 1950 to 30% in 1960 (see chart). As
a percentage of the total rural popula-
tion, the rural farm part made up 56%
in 1950, but only 34% in 1960. The rural
non-farm part grew from 44% in 1950
to 66% in 1960.
Population changes in ' 60
Alabama are show
by the graphs. Shift 4
from rural 
to urba
composition during the 22
past century is shown 20
at top. Percentage of
urban, rural farm, and 0
rural non-farm seg-
ment is shown at bot-
tomn for the 1920-60
period.
............?'? ? .. 
..
... .. ..... ..... ....................... .. ... .,
One out of every five persons in Ala-
bama's 1960 population lived in the
three cities of 100,000 or larger. Only
1 in 18 lived in places of 2,500 to 5,000
population.
Average density of population was 60
persons per square mile in 1950 and 64
in 1960. Concentration varied from 14
persons per square mile in Washington
County to 568 per square, mile in Jeffer-
son County.
Leading counties in percentage in-
crease in total population from 1950 to
1960, in order, were Madison, Dale, Mo-
bile, Montgomery, and Calhoun. Coun-
ties with the highest percentage urban
population in 1960 were Mobile 86%,
Jefferson 85%, Montgomery 84%, Eto-
wah 71%, and Tuscaloosa 70%.
Average size of households declined
slightly in all sectors of the population
from 1950 to 1960. Urban households
averaged 3.4 persons and rural 3.9 per-
sons in 1960.
The State population was 32% non-
white in 1950 and 30% in 1960. Num-
bers of non-white residents increased
0.1% during the 10 years.
Fewer Young Adults
Almost 30% of Alabama's population
was between the ages of 20 and 39 in
1950. This had dropped to 25% by 1960.
The reverse was true for 50 and older,
as shown below:
Age
9 and under
10-19
20-29
80-39
40-49
50-59
60-69,
70 and older
Pct. of total population
1950 1960
23.1
18.3
15.6
14.0
11.5
8.1
5.7
3.7
23.2
19.3
12.3
12.6
11.8
9.4
6.4
5.0
The number of persons under 18 years
of age increased 11% from 1950 to 1960.
Those 65 and older increased 32% in
numbers, about 3% per year.
Among the 19 years and younger
group, there were more males than fe-
males in 1960. The opposite was true
for those older than 20. The greatest
difference was in the 70-year-old and
over group, in which women outnum-
bered men by 25%.
Preliminary field evaluations of herbicidal
activity of promising chemicals ore made in
plastic pools shown at left.
- Il
.-. ~ .'.'.,
AQUATIC WEED
HERBICIDES EVALUATED
J. M. LAWRENCE, Assoc. Fish Culturisl
R. D. BLACKBURN, Asst. in Fish Culture
D. E. DAVIS, Botanist
S. L. SPENCER, Asst. in Fish Culure
P. G. BEASLEY, Asst. in Fish Culture
W ,I I II ill fish P 111(15 ii ri(_titlio iiitl
1rililliw i 'li als, dull X itti stiirdiwe I CXII
'I'll(, A\ihii'i Agric'ultuiial Iixperinelit
Retonh sentarcii Conductelclt\
tihe firStA Aittrlt iite dltieac fi t
IXc i.' d teSiiiiilit toddbt (1.(itl tX iiidt
wi crbi C 11 tt 11 011l c ihiXc l c ll jtl'
t~ii ist(i d foriiti herii'dlipropries
Thiaii ita C ltrt X'till'rre Agritii weds
tiiRiehserchSCX(' I Con t iCI i
I~ fir.stiatilmt ill tile a ti fi eld to'i
liiis( X 0 li tt'it XXmiu ea i c of I'XC c~i . it
im i[)l ill-g t oil' ilili' tof Xhc ii ( l til ithitl'
1114 ilt ii prpt tc to2 Xhlis Thle1) X111 111 test
fitM tt i )lll I i i i I'llX 1iitt '(l toil'tit'l
1960II. IlX the I (tl(iitil t e U.S'lit'i. Arm\
6'rso'Egier cnrcc \t ~
Outdoor Pools Used
'fl IX ('IIXX l to cilute lof e fuiijlliithe
it liilldt te lidill (oudoo pti'lstic
to(ItliX XI'jj (ltf 
1dgi i S( ill Cir t o~l x~
Resultslte care rlic pomiary lsbu
lieih XIit illilit h ii r ofiii t 4 Iii ili or
(Ili ji II's ii li th ims ;)11 1Il X ca tie ''i',i i ii
dl jlitit' XX (i f 11 t ll ii idtIl
teslillt dili quei' Als, 11111olile
4~
4y
Laboraory at left is u~t'd for evaluating he'rbicidal activity of chemicats on submetrge~d types
of aquatic weeds, at right for evaluating herbicidal activity of chemicals on emergent types
of aquatic weeds, Both temperature and lighting are controlled.
fish ar't [)r('XI't.
Test container at left shows method of stock-
ing with submerged types of aquatic weeds
and at right that of stocking with various
emergent types of aquatic weeds. Saran cov-
ering over container prevents contamination
of air with volatile chemical fumes.
At right is the windowless 30 ,32-ft. laying
house used in air circulation experiment.
Inset-closeup of thermostatic-control led
damper in vertical duct. Position of damper
determines the amount of air expelled and
amount of outside air pulled in.
YM('A X\ I 'iNI \I\ Nilli CagitI 1:1011o
fhick illx N ituiiitoll Soilidl comiifort III 
;
XX iiitolxess housie wXithiout costix i'iiiliiii.,
or liiit jili'x deices.
It is fte p roduct of research I 
IX tIe
Atii iri .Agiricult ural F xpe rim ci t Station.)
Tile puripose' \\as to fiiid at practical
i~liihol for ieguilatiiig teimperature aiiii
lliit\ aindi kee'ping lowxi ()lour lex ('
ill \viiilix (fo tss houlises tlesigiietf fori coo-
Station shlid that anuial cy(T prtidii
tioii \\ias liipped 4 to 5 doizeni per pllit
bIix T lIgt rat ili Ig. also called xtiiiii
A miajori priihlcii anid f actor affectiiig
ifcsig"ii of it light tight lix jugc houise' 
xxas
hiod\lichat g-ci ciated b\ the lillistl
ililIXI o airiii if tile inlside( tciiijlrature
xxcrc to rcmlaili i at alex el fax ti 
dde to
high produictioni.
Test Facilities
''l( test hia ing house ii ieaxiiied 30t
:32 ft.. wxithi ai S-ft. ccilii i. Two 
diiecks
of I (-iii. cagyes xci installed iii 
four
hack-to-hack rowxs doxx i the 
cvo tei por-
tioii of house, anid dhoible deck. 
sigle
,-()\\ agaiiist the tw ii side wxalls. Af the
rate of 2 birdls per cage, the ahox i ar-
rangeincn t proxvided cage space for 
1,:360t
b irds (68t0 per deck ),. or at population
dls\ofabot2 s.f.offorae
per la)n he sqlt.ofloo.ac
A piressuizct air distrihutioin sxstein
wxas ii ist all (d ti i oxide posit ive circi-
latinl andt veiitilationi. Thle air 
\\,its tlraxx i
fritli th l ooi r 1 ctl. mixedl wxith 
i i coinl-
ilig, a ir, anti (list ribuiited th roiuigh thriee
tiliiiior-iiil spaced 
coniiniuou s Ceiling
opitp t-Iiii. \x de that paralleled l the
ri0\xs of cages.
Iltciiciilatniii ot iiiteriiii air 
aiild loiN-
ill- ot iiiitxiili airits asctcomiplisheid 
x itli
i a ilpi.! located ill the 
x ertical duct
that cxtei diii froiiu thle floor 
to the Ceil-
iiigT. The posit ioul of at sii 
igle tdamper- de-
iixx t'toitiitt 
tiir iippiiig 
iepo prodliic-
tio i.- II igli_-r i/ st gi uto 
H en
\oh . N o. I . I9 Y~.
ci rculIat ed, whe ireas at t iit t li cit etm
all thle air cultd he cx ye
1
lcd.
A ci itiniouisix tperati ii fall proxvidedi
onle cioplete aii chanlge pe Iliiiiiite 
duri-
iiig siliiler mou01ths. The damper posi-
timn wxas coiitro lledt x itl t amalper imotor
cioiinected to ii dilfli itial thuermosutat.
\Vhei the out side air- temperature i 
equiial-
leti ( I becamiie hot tci th ani the in te rior
aii temperature, tlhe dilfferenitial the-rmo-
stalt causetd the mnotor tii clo~se the 
tdamper
iid the inii 'or aiir toi irecirul iatec. As 
fte
oiitsitle air~ becamne coiltdei than 
thle ili-
sidle aiir. the d iffermiiti al thermii ostat caxusetd
fte damnper to iipen aitd the interior 
air
ho e e'xliau isted. .A It xx- 
1
imit th e rmostat
closeid the tdamper xxheu cx er the 
iiisitde
t(emperatiure( fell heho\ ix t apreset 
lexvel.
Results
IIiiig fte suuuii'ie uIiinittls the 
initer-
ior ali- teiop'iatiiru' i t'iiieit( xwitlhiin 
2
F. of' thle ouitsidei xliail teiipferature. 
liii-
nliditx \\-its iio piriiflciii. thll llouisce-
malit iiig tli (I anti1-c f iiIrtuii alliniolia 
\a-
pill. Il ite xx iutei iiiiiitlis. fte 
ii side
tcipcftiatiire xaiii iiiIxxitlii 21 
F. tI fill,
uitsidti shlade tern p i at iii , iexcept 
thant it
iit[lot gil hcloxx- the fl exet. 
ltixN limit
thiermiostait sittliwg. Th'ei 
holuse iioixtio'1
()llt-i a if aiuiii li 111 i'iciiil 
t ill it i liixx
lixc l il u tle iltirc coiol xx tatfir sia-
stl ii. lthiuuigh ctliii'.i it, e 'tieriit 
\\aill
iiughlts. it tlitl bit accilinliate oil 
ix
lit her pat of ift(e structiurei. B3ird 
Imiort ilit v
anld egg piioiiictiii comparled fhix 
irall
wxith colixeli la
1
l cage lax iir lolises.
Conclusions
satistfictirx ,. i ix x ti.a grieatii 
aiiiiiiit
of xx l insuilationi xxviuld liax 
reiducediit
condeisatioi. A higlx reffectix c 
exterior
surface wxas requiired idiriiig the surmoer
months to reflect solar, sky,. aindt 
grounit
ratdiatio n.
Theii ten iperati re. xveintilatin 
ae. ntl a ir
distribuitioni sx'xten wa is satisfactuirx. 
'The
liii rei oci its for air exch ainge x 
ai iei xwithi
the o utsiidIt temfperature. 
TI)is xvarian ce
xxits mlet lbx chailiii i the fail 
Speetd once
(;eh spriiigf aitd fall. Onle aiir 
chiauigt'
cer\ Ililitte xxits ample idurinug 
the huot
test xxeatfier.- whereas aii aiir chauigc 
c\ en
2 inu mtes xx is satis at 1 
for ft(i r-
iniiitii Ir of the Near. Althoughl 
the rate
if aiir moveen't appearietd highi 
the i ate
per hbirdl \\itx reast i iilcl.
Til oinicluiisuiois dim ax i froml this 
still IX
are baised ii a hird teiisitx 
ot less thaii
I siq. ft. of floor area pcir 
laio g lieul.
TIhiis wxax requliiiretd to 1)rovXide It' 
ijlt'
hie l heat tiiiig thie ciiol scistiis. 
Thle
high x \eitilatitii rate tliiriiig the 
summliher
I"
COMFORT ao 
Veen
CAGED LAYERS
WALTER GRUB and C. A. ROLLO
Depatment of Agricultural Engifleering
AREA NEEDS MET
Alexandria Expermient Field
g "'
b I sSACH ii,\ Spcial it uPmroblem~s
iii nortihIiea sterni Al aba ma was intich pos-
sitli lix establ ishmin t iof the' Alexandiia
l'>Xpc'l iic'iit Uiclcl.
'i it' Alexaincdri a site \\-xxts selectecd tfo'
thie FiclcI beetiic it has both iredt aiid
stouic x ,ll\S Sosuithi it Sand \Iciitaiii.
:Gilliui I iCiiitx dliinated 9t0 acrecs tic tihe
\uliiuil1~ i -icmuituimi:c ICxpcriiiiit Stittiuui
Sx stcuc i [() the F~ ielcd.
Smilst oil thei Fieldi xxere ci iccec ici ill
pool.m plisistal ciiitiiii xx ici tlic aireat
xxt ox iittaic'tl for i iscalcli. Ytields xwith-
ouit fcirtilizciex \cii' ciitx- 12 lii. cit corn
ild 6(0tt)) l. ill Seed ccttciiu per' atcr.
A' iI exult cit properi feirtiliation altI
(rood intimiuigineiit, x iccis xx crc raisecil ii
the first fexx\ x etrx ti i tcicit 40 lii. o)f
COI'l ii aid I lialc ofl citton. \lotii, ree'mtlx.
ielils cit 7.5 hl. cit c'cci' n d .iit 2 bales
cit c'cttcmi has c bli prooe i \%c''cl txxll
xx c'atlic'r xxas [avorallc. \lthlogli thicsec
x icics atrc iiit hligh.1 tlic'x ari'c' a cilt in
pi'cx 'iic'it.1~i il pirolem'ns ccf cilti-
\li i hs c oixx cicc) iiic lit tiri datailt
Many Kinds of Research
Thei 1esciticli plicii in xxits cfle'sigiic'c
tio cclt:ijilii cidoIlitioci that xxuh hilc oi'cf
inc ist x ahuic' to fiIarmecrs of the c lii c'sti ct
X alli\S of cclillhcoi aid xii -rouiuiding cium
t ics. Kiods amiid aiiits ill fcirtilizer'
iillCCl biV ill eCiops gui cxxi iii tlti' a
ha li c ul sticldicc. Givc'tc'xt c'spccicsc' ats
ill oithe cci ils of, Ht.c State itis 1 ccii
Iro cii iitroI ciii. llc'spi uc it of \ai cii ciliops
'aV,
~ft: Comparative growth of rye (left) and
oats (right) is shown in small grain variety
tic Pp 
horsiclus, 
pictassilo.ll 
litle' sI 
dfill-.
Biescarcl xx ithI ferit ilizirs Ihas xhvlxi
that Iiiitiicit de(flicincies ill "o~ils eail Ni
c'i''cct'd ptils I fi tilizii igacei'-
iiigT to soiil te'st i'comendiucationus. Puich
Ii 'ns is 1 i llt iii g friom poocr phx s ictill cciit
ticn of cl tic xce sol it-' mno'e cifficulIt tc
cc rrct. Poort phyixsical ccii citiciii cit tcil
delay s plciiig authd pliitmig.r lnem'cases
cdifficumltices ill ,c'ttiucgr 'foodc Stiaics. pre'-
x cuts tilickl cilltix iticcc, aucl dce ilsc's
iinfiltrat in ccl xx itc'r iiito tic sicil,. moak-
i cois sciljct tic silotilr drmought.
'i'rictv tests wxithi c'cttolcii r i, ciats.
xx healt, xcv' Inc lix amid gu aili sorghum11
have c ccii ofl grIct salcit' tic facriiic''s ill
I ctc'rlii i g x irictic's 1best itclaptc'c tic
norcitheirnii Alab amna. ( t hi'r expcri men ts inl-
cIciic'I ccjec'ts cii tinic of pliitimig, see'd-
iiig rati's, scee d ccch P i') itit ito ici plae
inmt andic tiimic of aipplica.tioni ccf fc'u'rtili~lem
fori s ii icicis croccls.
IIIii a tci'strx \lpeimienit wsith cdiffcir-
ii it Sp'cie's cit p ine tret's plil ted tc il 9:,)0
Slash pit's mlacdt gciccc growsthc. TIhis xx\-its
thei fiirst timoc' Slash hiadc licci gri'c' this
f~i'l iicitlc iii Alaibiama. As t ic'stilt ocf this
xxiiik, iiiillioci s ofl tlcsc piiit's hacve ' hici
liluitc'illii thec i igiim.
Forage Research
Gooduc siehls of loiiiae il pastiirce
('lops hi]lit\, iie prouceccd. As lix cstick
pi'cithictitci has inicr'easedc ill thito eic Ic
sIi( 1cli c'iii
1
)liis Icils blcci Shifted to
xx crk xxitli fliigi c'rcpS. \hilm tists hisve
trials. Right: These winter pea, clover, and
vetch plots are in the winter legume variety
tests at Alexandria.
alot(1 g'isscs toi girow fori cattle antl flogs.
Soil ait
1 
xx Iite clovxer, liilii. ve tchi illaillfia.
x('i iea, I )li1isogi ss. johnisoligi ,. ciiti-
xililass. forage xoi gliciis.,ii and iir
o0, I siltyc. VarietY tests xx itl theise cro ps
hix e iresultedl ill i coitiic'idaitioc of spi'-
cifie i leties.
Livestock
The) tViIi , iii ii
1
or-taie oit clan xiiig
ill thle illei c has ledI tic cle~rehotiiiejit of ia
sinaill Ga ade A lati'S ocil the Field. lBe
in iii oeii ded i aet tees clix doped Irlinrc
Searchi are' folloxwetd cilit a tiie lc'ilit
tuo liollstrati' thtetir ('eetix eiiess.
'I' he 92 atere fa.rio iiiciities :35 aces oxfi
('i'iited ltill laud rented I coir anl adjaent
fairim. Altoit 2)5 mnadc H olsteiii and~ j'i -
xes cix' x are as eragi I m ab~out 9.0011) l.
of Iilik aiiiicallx . The feed t~t pit gi':tn is
lsc'( li'gt'ely oil teiopo'a'x gra/ilng fori
iii eil ,It xxIi Nitei . Pi lilelpil gril/tu
cropsl) areI Sttii-i iiild Cidi- I mjillet ill soilo-
ci'e iil Ab\hi cii 1ixu c'x(giss. anit cilli
Soil t'lo~ er iii xxilitei'. l)allisgi ass ioid
xxhite clovixer pe'rioiic'iit pastiiires iiid il-
ta liii'fo hav c'omplete' the louige 
1
)iii
c.riil . Ii iciuine to c'apitil. , iigeiicliit,
Ziiicl Ijlt-iiir xel';igc'x 11hiiiit S.375 pe'muth
froum this sli~illI dil-ii ciltirpitst.
J. COPE,
Prattville Experiment 
Field
FOIIrY ACRES sOf plots! 'Fliat'S tht' areaa
noc research at the Prattv 
ille Experimnit
Field.
This fild unit of the 
Auburn Agri-
cultural Experiment 
Station Ss stein wsas
estab~lishedl ini 1929 onl 49) 
acres dlonated
by Ai itatiga Couints '. Ani 
additional 40
ac'res was purchased inl 
19:37. The soil
is a leveli, Greensville 
fine sandy loam.
Tb is and s( jiilar redl-ctlored 
soils oct'iif)
abtout 6( t 000 acres i the 
Coastal Plainis
of' son th eri Alabama. 
TnIese soils itre
highls, produictiv e 
wheni properly fer-
tilized and iniotlaged.
Fertility Studied
Mlany experimeiits 
base lbeeil eon-
dsuctedl to dletermine i 
espouise of various
crops to nitirogenl, phosphoius. 
potassium.
sulfr lii nagnesin in, in 
ihior elements, and(
lime, R-esiilts are beitig 
used inl calibrat-
ing soil tests to giv e 
accurate fertilizer
recommel iulations. lied 
soils like the
Greenv ille have, as at 
rule, shoss ii less
response to phosphorus, 
potash, and lime
than gray Sodls of similar 
texture. Past
fertilizer andi lime treatments, 
10)55es er,
often hav e more effect 
onilnuitrient needs
thal (loe's soil ty pe.
C"ottonl at Prattv ile usually 
responds to
about 8( 11b. of N. ;30)1lb. 
of R,0-, and
6( 11b. of K.,0. Corn 
needs 90 l1). of N
an~d :30)1lb. each of 1<0O., 
and K,0. Cot-
ton respondls to lime, 
but comos has not
shossi is a ieed( for lime at this 
location.
Fertilizer placement studies 
onl gra '
saiiidy sotils near the Prattv 
ille Field
showed that iniiserad fertilizers 
shonuld
be place(] inl the rosw for cotton. 
Wheni
appliedi 2 inl. to the sidle 
and 2 iii. be-
low the seed, 2(01(1). 
of 4-12-12 swsas
equisvaleint to 60( 11b. broadcast. 
Both
treatmn)uts rece'ived eqfu 
al ailmoun1 ts id'
N sitledressingr
Crops Evaluation
\ aricth anld species tests s'sitli 
swinter
grasses and( legumnes tire conducted 
each
x'ear. As nesw crops btecome 
asvailable.
the~ are( compared ss ith those 
alreads
as ai lahI e tio d etemine nc le 
ir ad aptati 1)1
to entiral Alai~na. Smnall 
grails tests
hasve shoss ii thlat rx ,e is superior 
to wheat,
oaits. amid larles for carivl 
grazimlg. Crimni
solhas been thle most sattisfactory 
closer
for w inter grazing andt for 
seed prottuc-
tionl onl this uplaiid Soil.
In vetchi trials, Auiburi I \oolx 
pod has
beeni the top produicer 
of for~age and
g reem I ma nil re4. Warmrir is 
equi al to Ihairs
andI \illiamrette for hterbage 
and is best
for seed produiictioi. It a1seralge( 
1,4:33
lb). of seed per acre for 
the last 2 sYears.
Inl ani alfalfa s arietv test coiiductedl
fromn 1954 through 19.58, 
1:3 v arieties
asveraged mnore than 412 
tWuts Of 'VIs e-trs
Iha , per year. Best av ailable 
varieties and
thteir Yieldls aix': OklIalitoia 
commo i,
9,741 lit.: lxliusai (oiiton, 9.616 
lb.,
Atlamitic. 9,502 lb.; Narragransett. 
9,456
lb.: \\'dliamnsbiirg. 9,389 lb.: 
Vetrnal,
9,3:32 11).: anld DiiPits, 9,26 11b. 
per'
For mails s ears, expcirimeinits wXithi still
iner crmops we rc citncenitirated l inily 
ol
cottoti am]it coti. Ili rcenit 5 ears. reseairch
has beeii ex
1
)aitilcd tot include tempoirary
Mid1( perimil t s'it umm0))er fora~ige 
citops,
sit> Ieai s, and giraiii si rgh iii. Some stim-
oe r fiorage cirops tht h iasu c I cci 
tested
illis (ottstail lieuinutda, Peiisaicitla 
bali ii,
Dallisgrass, Cahi-1 alnd 
Starr millet,
job lst onglass. ai(i seniea.
Cotton-Hog Management Unit
Sinici' 194, 27 acres oif landit thalt 
is
un sitable form irest'aich plotts has 
bte'i
opeted itC s at sinall f ario ti o tdi'ntnistrati
use of recosmmnuided practices oilit a rin
scale. Fivt' acres are 
planted iii cottoii,
1 9 acres in cioii1, and :3 Iac('s 
ill teml-
pt rary jiltd perinai lent graz 
inig crops f or
hogs. As (rage sales lou 1.5 
s\cars hase
b~eeni $2,914 and1( expenises $i,1:36. 
This
leavs s$1,.778 -$66 per acre -retiirni 
to
capital, r'egu lar labotr, ilid 
unlin ageinw(itt.
(:ost tf extra I L io for ci 
t toii chli 1 iig
and pickin g is ichided inl 
expenses. This
liilit has dem'unistraited that 
at cotton hog
farml of, this t pt' caii ible pro 
fitabilei if
laagdpri per>.
N: f
Aerial view of Prattville Experiment 
Field shows arrongement ot
field plots that ore used for 
all types of agronomic research.
Yields of small grains are 
measured when clipped to 
simulate
grazing (foreground) and when 
managed for grain (background).
Y' FIELD 
RESEARCH
Agronomnist
%.
- "'sA consumer examines the qua[-
41' ity of tomatoes shipped in by
4r truck.
A,
IVI
TOMATOES for HIGHER 
RETURNS
D. R. STREET o-,d E E. KERN
Department of Agricultusral Economics
111 \ 
1
, \sif PitX 1 ti \1 i k I\(. l'itt',N tool t ll
Tomatol' Maketing eswleah ro
tliweri. relit Ximotrettttt for iis ctit 7,5%
tciti oX t't'k r trt . I ititit itslii
Th.i tecniqueli I sit idesX~i a sit ii for'
sill til' IillI ii -Xit lli ceX Xi t t i l l
Shippin Marktten Ansalyze
XX It I' lill t lX ('(1 itt Ilii'tomtoeiiti, XXl itl sitia
10ft tu l, crp il A iblilt ite
](Ii p liiilit i'' ic 11) s i t ic ioi si IX ills' iil
oiIIIIX shouldh liiX\( (,ii(- toi Atitti Baiti-
loo, andI iil hisl t l i lijtIlt ill li slit
1
)
tit i'tiu tech ni qu'eii''Iiii5 t iliii Ipro-
\il( h itrpt ll" ptitern at ',iiiisi'ie thel
ritslttitii .
1
)stii \ tii\\ e d X ti e loill
l. I t lii rth k e l at 'ils ol l t o shi.t i ipt
Alabiil robilem Arnalyzle dohl r
XXl tX it ii ste il Itt i ii iX ts I l\\(. er, lXili))ti-
ii tt '.'stt I', 2 4 . ! t, 2 ii
Albio'. iii itX it I \\ ttl ii' l iltif 'it lt' I. ill (
it tt4ittel ittxilt i(ittt' fr i ii tit'i t cx i l i ii m it ii
iilld it cittiei idi. i'lti'is o ft tuppties
bu i !4 itticesi fi-~i 154. iii' s tres. Ill t'-
iii i.1riitt X slo t XIX i ii r t XX.d jotbbers
poi til 'i lit i ii Fir 5t
1
)li hl ii si4 lii i ll.-t
io flcproduc and Maretigo ii
li iii I)silt i uplt e X 5551(1
W--nn10n
Bsitso,-
'4
Optimum and actual shipping patterns of
Alabamao tomatoes are shown in the above
chart.
'I III I is I o oi t I- I I tI, iikt theii
cit'st fr i)tIltir tX it5t'.Ii haI we Is ti t e ilil
'XlceasXX . his~~tI i ilsi. ii l tirsut' of1re-
siXlc (I ill' pol'tryl and ai l st u dies (( ill-
I lil l(.li I III flic(1 I loti t' i iti ~ I t' ('ci
II is h elike.Jaanese c uaiiCotr
IlX c1tiltti)A li lt ola is ilul i cr of \tts
( )u"iller o till (1111 Cil- IIi \CT~it AX
liitl ltilCIa Epr i ilt Cllstat X . 0~'cIX
ot~ ~ ~~ ~~~;) its ,l Ifd~ I I'C t,) I , t ('(l~lpl
1
Resarcpdanaes ofuQual
\is iltiX cIX 111.it(ail bird 1b\1 tilsi/
2)) to :3)) ili cils an it lriault1ulc o stlt's
cost Oioflj Othi qul~kcil sec'o Ixllen iriiiits
a bi'kird, tbtl has nt tclo 2 sXi)C-
litt. Ti bi r d i tslt lecit' th itt' 111cl
Liooatl Xf c'1111Itillil \o is ati t CIX S ii.
Mod~t ~hi IA A X tearlsmt as 3ciais
lfits l i lIt lle toC eII-taIXill researc ptlil-
til il t )X til) c a s. ilt iteIloftis ll p ilc
Itis 1 t I tiaX\-s ilil itisllXh iiit til 111)-
2to 30 hCitid catilXl be Cnalnah lot tlll,~c
XXt ith es 2 c 1tirtil ile ls t let til ll i i)
JAPANESE QUAIL for
ECONOMICAL RESEARCH
W. D. IVEY, Asst. Prof. Zoology-Entomotogy
J. R. HOWES, Asst. Poultry Husbandmawn
IV W
Coturnix quail eggs of various color patterns left, compared with an egg of the bobwhite
quail, right of center and a medium large white Leghorn egg at extreme left. At right,
2-week old partial feathered Coturnix quail chicks.
LiX\ (IIIlirg iIlotill~g it afIc I t'Icedtt rate.
I t'IIBl\ C I I itC c.1T111c1) ill' s ite I t rvtI id
Research Possibilities
to tile t' ( ofC ~ thlis irid? ChlickcllX ihave
An adult mole Coturnix quail is shown at left and adult female at right.
ctiil asiXc facets abioult tiit'iii lit' still
col. o thrc XXtiesse hul
1
'c Xtill cilcklild
ight i itp11tat btill l I [() iii t 111' lectsl
tiill ird it i is l il It \il to tt' li t 'o
is ll IlI w1111.1) ' W Il lll co11)('I is cil
questiois iti I i ' l t 11 t'tI 11 111
XXiie llllsX II XX iii' to sp ed til're
A l II'lt (ii ALABAMA is 110t t'IliI_('rt(
il (1a i i StaIte, siii o'(f milk ran~ks 11igh i1s
$38 illion~i ill 1959 17.4% tot'1111 tli
fll-ill ret'tipts ) da irx ill ra ~nked fonirth
its iI 5111 tI of illom tlfo r Alaibami 111 arill-
XVo lt' (If iiik sold( iv IXAl liti 11t llrnl-
cri las incereasetd steaii sincet 1925.
Illxx'eier toltil jprioduttlIii iii 1939 xxvas
iluk mariketed ini 1959 xx\as 6.58 millili
hI.. x \-its a 6011 of toill State pi iIdlit'
igI'w sidets duirinlg I925-30. Xiarketinigx lft
miIlk ill thet Stitt', extettied trInn til-
Fluid Milk Important
('iltilllion sit'( lot Grade A milk ini 1939.
Thee ex're 1,977 Gradce A dajir xielids
in t'll xSxat'I i tt9l58. OfI thes Al,~ 1611
12
~
~
~" ~ I I
a~./(~l. ~ a a (~
i~a
5
2. '5 x~ ' 'i'' 2'
a' ' I
~ ''I
~ '~'a
Ia
~ 11
''I
I,
~'1aa~
la-it'
as -
I 'a II. ~ , V
a l~~' af'
II
Mil~ik Coerlt Board tl o xx ode Itiltrlitt't
il il th StaIe, 'illher1 5 l ii prduer J sildI
1959tes bIt I i l 1 ixot ill it tnIl 1111 II11-
(h e of' cioic E tt xctit' f lr thks CinI the~
fIx the Bllirdtioll~ t tilut' Iflil'xlIrillill Ix.
It il11tes Cows1k ill P~roduion I
ilk 311 spe 1r
31 tol 49 -----
0( tol 89
Tol 1I li \\1 Flo \151F
Lb.
(i,6 1:3
6i,8:36
6(S 18
7,011
7.0-55
6i529
Pct. P0.
.34 -1
42 56
5(it
552 6i9
576i
15 56
DAIRYING-Coming of Age
in Alabama
LOWELL E. WILSON, Assstnt Agricultur'al Economist
CHAHM IPAUSTICS oi, Ai-kBANIA Gitm)i. A 1), mi, lli ims S-runoi), ii) lli im Sizi
Changes in volume of milk marketed,
amount used on forms, and total milk pro-
duction on Alabama farms during the 1925-
59 period are illustrated by the graph.
I)iI nil fliuid I II lk pro) I I(lers .
cowsx inl milk, wxith im ixerit~e oft 51.
Most (ot tin' Sallerl herd wixerte ill tile
Sanld Xiolloiltl, imstonelI' alnd ieiliex-
See XValiex AXreas. Iferd(1 irolilit Birinliii-
lhiio and in the Black Belt xx i 1-ii.g
ix\ t'rai Til7 cows . IHerds (It Wt oi- illorc
COWSx' ininijitteti to miix 12% o~f all herds
Grade A Herds Decreasing
G;radet A hetrds tias tlecliiit't iii recenti
carsi iiig t 5('s hexdstli ~Iltin' becoe
rl ill a ln t' Ilo uii IIli per Sto\ has t( ill
dIle I \cfller ilt' P i'diot A lf i xte Ilililm
tiie' fo plae'x itlln iti eowtisI it'e
miltetl list' ()\l,- of ilil t Iiixo rll 
l e l t
ticIxte plt aned tlicrteirs ii rdilk ze
Since xtoiorion (It tre plcmtliers iitl
iexcos ha igear 1111 for it'ger hiirdis1
tUs. ofi blk it'rai picee d x rpid lye
Sil i ti p r li'trs. reoati se of taks.i
At 'reel of'g tlk titoks h( i itis /I'co more
xlloxx largte iieemont tle li'\ usixg
but'lli nlae1985Ahgh.rco
PB0Dt*(:I1( it 1,00 
1
1). fat 
1
steer froin
wxheni using small grain-clox er grazingi~
fo~llowed b\1 it period of dIi xlot fatteing.~
(,'a th e sanie he accomishe~d d x ith a
gTrazni g~ P
1
I'aitg a htie?
Grazing System Tested
''li \ cAuburn IAgricutltutral Expit iit
Stat ioni souight to anlswxer this queistioni
in it 3 \ear expeimnit. Y eairling steers5
Wee natx ed to permanent pasture at 
the
end ofi a small gi aini-eloxer grazing pe-
ritd. The (frazed area wxas then seeded
tot Start m iillet. As soon ats forage growxth
permnitted. the steers wxere returned 
to)
the millet aiii growxsth p)erfor1mance wxas
measur ed. The purpose \\-ias to dleterinjile
if grazinig two crdiops in sequenee 
wXould
(1) mlateriallx increase xx eighit of 
the
animals, and ( 2) improxve their slatighter
finlish oxver the wxeight gain and finish
p)roduiced lX tine crop (small graini-
clover ).
Although7 I the test wxas for a 4 
x ear
period, tihe millet in 1956 wxas 
at eoiII-
T ALE 1. PERiFORMiANCE OF ANIMiALS
GRAE Oz ttN S-rAIIs MmILLET,' 1956-592
T'otal 11o. ai~sll in s olvs --e -- 
48
A% crage gi a/og sason, (lays 
44
AS ei , da is ( ilv gain, 11).1.1
Ax iraae S , isOIil gain per
aioal, lb).----- 
48
A\ crg ,is laui hiter grade~l end (of
graing -- -tilitv- 
+'
lit 1 956 Starr im illet irop )XXu it acoilete
failtii ecauise of dry' wxeathesr. Thecse dlata
are ave(r5ages for the 1957. 1958, and 19.59
gr azingt~ seasonls.
'Ini 1957 iiilals grazed 
Junec 26-Anig. 12,
45 (lax 5; ini 19.58, July 1 1-Ausg. 19, .39 das-
inl 1959, mille t wvas grazed June 19 tot Aug.
:3, 45 axys.
fplete failure hecause of dry xxeather; re-
suilts summarized in Table I are axver-
ages for only ' years. The axverage graz-
ing time xvas 44 (lays and tlse average
gaiil per animal xxas 48 11).
Fotr the 3 year s that mlillet xxas seeded
folloxxingu oats elox er, thlere xxas a 44-
(lax interv al betxx ten oats-clover graz-
iing and miillet grazinig. During this inl
tei xal the steers girazed excellenlt girass-
eloxver pastiire. The gain dunriing this pe-
riod axveraged 51 lb). per an iinal. Thle
yearlinlg steers after girazin g oats-cit xer
gfaiiied ai a lxeragc of 99 l1). per head 
onl
the pastuire anid millet. iii general the
steers gi,laded loxx Standar d at thle enid
of Ioats-elox er grazing. Further grazing
of millet did not improv e the girade. The
results showv that finish tii the steer s \\,as
noit imprnxved anjd the gain wvas smnall foi
the added labori of dliskiilg the laild and
seediing millet after oats-clix er grazing.
Pros and Cons of Millet
The per acire gaini and ecarry ing ca-
p~acity diata fotr imill et are sti i i am 
ized ill
Tab~le 2. An illiptrtait adx aiitagre tf ofl_
TAL 2. PIm OisiNIAC i iii CAi iiL O nN
GIIAIN Ci,~. ox AZ(; G, 1957-59
Live xxight gain, lb).
TFotal anhil d graizinig (lay"s
.A\ crage daily stockinig rate
Pcsr acrte
1.6
1:36
.3.1 2
1~a~1U
-S K
Steers are shown grazing Starr millet at the Tennessee Valley 
Subsiahor,
let is that it piroxvidles grazing,1 for a large
litiolet iof allnials. Wh'len sow5il oii land
ftollowxin g oats-clox er graz in~g, tI Iis stud 'dx
shinxwed that millet proviXidled .44 dax s tof
(4razi ig at the rate iof 3 amiii mals peir acrei.
M Iillet aind oither sum moler ainallsl canl
lie uised as telilosrarN grinIg erops fioi
carix ing aiials diir )(g late suiimimier vili
til ain alternalte feed supplY is axvailale.
[lie feasibmlitv of usingy millet as a gmraz-
in g croill fi- Iall-dritpped calxves duliiing
thle peiod iimiiediatelxy after wxeainig biut
pi ti to) beinin ig of cool seasom I giraziig
las not beell adeqluately tested.
Iestes oiimillet has e en soiilaia
loiwxer thami that otil lutih, spriing, glass-
It i me pieiiiamneint pastures. TIheirefore,
Mtillet graziing is relatixvelx illisatislaetirx
mi lJly t-i productiiti of slauighlter heel.
STARR MILLET - aj, a
4ctftfteemeotrat 5ayce c'wf
Po SLAUGHTER CATTLE
R. R. HARRIS, Asst. Animal Hlusbandman
W. B. ANTHONY, Animal Nutritionist
J. K. BOSECK, Supt. Tenn. Valley Substation
E. M. EVANS, Assoc. Agronomist
SUMMER GRAZING
and
FEEDLOT 
FINISHING
of 2-Year-Old 
Steers
LA. SMITH and H. W. GRIMES, 
Black Belt Subt~sation
T. B. PATTERSON, Associate 
Animal Breeder
7170l tile ilost pol 'tdil loalagYerriel t
tent of Black Belt catttlemoen. IiUnder thlis
55 sterr. calxkes it-( m tarketed ofl cowss at 6
to 9 mnolths of agre.
Unttil recenlt 5ers 'd5.i 0st coit iletcial
herds (I l1ackedl ,it tli ient bee qut li it\ 
t(
producltte it tsx 0-55 . calf 01 
l tt couild
gfo either to slaughflter or to feed]ot 
Hlow -
('5 r, t his situ0ation t has citait ged 
i~ll large
ntumblers o (f Alabamtta cals Stllo\\ "ot to
itloi stertil I e(lots.
Management Studied
her otf ia aticatl 
1
)rltgtails that caut he
profiltl\ ttscl tol fitlisli steetrs for tttar-
ket itt Alabaatt.
(Ole I) ograutt that has hleett stttdied 
at
the Black Belt Subhstattiott iti)1x Cs soot-
ttet gTrazittg antd feedlot htidsltiug 
of 2-
star-old steers. Itt tlte study, 2-s 
ear-old
H erefotrd( steer s that had heen't carried
t\\ot witers atttd grazedl duiring the 
ill
tet settiutg st iminet wer etc 
sed. hjeCtis e
of thte stood ,x Nwas to comtpare 
twxo grotups
of steers uttdet differentt 
mtanagemtentt.
Gru I steers wxere gtrazedl Ott 
Dallis-
gYrass pastur e duiritng spting 
attd earls
xuttttilier xx hett p'e tultttettt palstitte 
gt asse:s
tisttalls ha e thteit highest 11oittitis 
e \ale.
Follow ~ittg gfraitt the( grlt0u
1
) \\'as fitt-
tslted ill (Irs lot.
(;tott
1 
If steers grazed thtrttughtout 
tlt(-
gt ow ll s(IiOt t an were stup1lettettted
w i th gt out d shelled et tt t 
at tI e rate of
Fr of hodv xx iiht. B~oth 
gr0ltips wsere
slatilgltered at tI e sit toe 
titoie -it) late
( )toher.
lthc test stetets werte( Gtood 
and Chtoice
feteters. The\' xx ce (lid ied equtally he-
tx \\ t'tt ltots atcot (ittg tto 
wxeightt itili
gtFi de. Intt tial \ae .tIit i 
steel. \xs s e-
cr1it ted IbY a lotcal Ihot x ver. The sti 
til
cox ereo 2 seatrs (I 1958 
alit
1 
1959) xx itlt
14
the sattte 1)roceduttte lollo\\e t'I ach sNeat.
Itt 1 958 tlo., steers xx ete plaice'( ott
grazittg Apr il 26. Groupil I steers wxet
ito (IrN ht oil ltte 201 antd the test
('tited October 1-1. TFie followsittg x eat
thte cottrtespont dittg dates wxere MxaN 7,
Itnkl 24, anud ( cttl ii 28.
One at 1(1 totIC-IilI atctes tf ptote Dallis-
gTrit pastte wa is aillottedl per steer itt
each~ of' the 2 syears. Ctazitg itlt htt sea-
stlts wxas ott atseCtage ofliitN .Jlo chliitate
dIiffIeretntes itl f orage fi tal its caut sedI hx
itttettsitx td o grazttng mtttd itcatiott thte
steers xwetc rottated btetw ent tpasture(s
es et 2 wxeeks. Each yeat, its Groulp 
I
steetrs x e lacited ttll the feedlt steers
ttf bothl gt'oit
1
s 55 'r itttlltt'( xxitht :36
Intg. of stilIbcsttttl.
Flte 19.58 (Itrhtt t tiot tcosit st ed 
of
Itong ('atey ptea hit,, ledl Ite c httice plus
at 12 tto I tmixtutte ttf grotlid shtelledl 
cttrtt
ittt(I 41'/, cotttottseed iteal. lDrxlot 
trationt
IlC(d itt 1959 xxits it bletnd oft 50% gtroutndi
stnapped corn, 26.5% No. 2 johnsotigiass
hay. 12.5% cottottseed meal (36% prot-
telii). 1(0% toolatsses, atid 1 7, satlt. 
Trhe
Results Obtained
IDesp ite stattitng thIte steers otti feed
grat(iatlix itt 1958, a fex tmild 
catses of
foutnilet occurred. .Althtought te( ftottnder
xwas ttot seriois, it pt'ttitlv lttowetred daI~ls
gTaitis at (Id inttcasedl feed 
te(qired p'l,
cwxt. Gains~ of 2.9 11) daily xith 
1,216
l1). of teed trequtiredI per cxx t. of gaiti wetre
obltaitned itt 1959. No ittutider 
occuredI
that sear exe w't xith steers platced 
ott 1(111
tecil at the beginttittg of the feedintg 
Pe-
rtiod. N\ot ll] dlilferettces tit 
gain catl t e
attribIumted to tI e toctctrren ce ofI 
foutntter,
stttc( thtetre xwere' differettces itt 
rtttitlt
txween'i the 2 y earts.
Based tttt tlte 2' \v ait veratge', 
(;tOlt
I steetrs gaitneud Ilaster -2.0.3 11). 
per head
dal ts comttpared xxitht 1.87 11). for
Gtoutp II steers. Ill atdditiont, 
faster gititt
\N its refl ectt'd itt it htighet r 
degree toI fitntish
loss)\ Choice its comtpatredl xxith Gtood.
lictuttt pet stee'r xx-its oftt\' slighttly 
gre'ter
ftt tlt- dr ,t'vlott itt tlp see 
tabhle ), xwhIich
Nx is laruc l tt itiditiatitttoi 
It s lo erie
cost for thte paturte ,roitt.
AlIthou gh titt is ,etiieridI I rect I 0 metil 
ed
thtat st ee's gt to tttmarket at ttt iget 
itges
itttI att lighter xx igLhts. 
2-year-old steers
finlished b\s uttilizitng pitstlt' 
attid graiti
ttta'N sioxx ~tidIitnittitl 
prtoifit. Ilitt' e x-
plitelt . thee' xx as 
solo 'it atantage tt
lit ilizit g the Patstu re 
d t t rtt g carlx' sea-
01t1t S rEERS, 1958-59 As 
EHAxE
Steers per groitp. noI.-
As . inti tial xvight, 11).
Axv. gatint ott pastture
(67 daxys ), 11).
AN gitinl itt (I~tX
A.gittl oIn pa(stitrI' +I
(itSs) ) .h
TIotail gatitn per ste'er
( 173 diLVS), I1)
Avx. fitnal xxeight. 11).
l'c'id attd pasture cost
pe(r stt 'en
TotalI colst per steelr
Ftnal x altte pet steer
Rteturtt to labhor andt
i5 i'stittetit
Ax slitogl ter gtatde
Groupt I ( rotip 11
22
817
9t)
262
:352
1t 69
$ 77.58
,S187 .92
.8265.50t
$289.81
,$ 24.31
It 155
Choice
21
816
.324
324
I, f1t0
$ 62.92
S187.4.5
8250.37
$27:3.8:3
$ '2:3.46
Gtood
,'( Grou I stiers xx rc oitt pastii 10beft 
it'
fitislong ilt (ItS Itt. Grou 11ti I rcixc tl -
Ie"ttttt5I! 'wile oit pastttre.
2 Fe'( cost its eritgi't $41.39 wi' tonl 
it,
t958 atnd 8:39.50 itl 19,59, itntllud~in 
g gritntdI-
ittg andt( tilittg. Pastilc citO g "'.t i xts~ 
$:3 Iwot
steer per tttli ( I t1 ,((0j5 t)per 
stel r)
Plastic tubing 
at left is 
use d in 
applyin 9
fertilizer-water solution. Plants grow~n by
tis svstc'm ore shown at riqh
d (1(1 l 1c a x sstcll of I
Expel illiclit Statioii sllo\ txhalt this xxx-,
fiojis are' fittit'ill andi cost of' eii)liit
is nil e fhlj offset h\x sitx illTsx ill lilhot.
The( s , vstem li tia t , lso tb adlaptedi to ft'e
System Nat New
stldi' lerliireqireent of sait ll
1
illi )11
LabOiatoiv inlltodx for thiese tests has c
lbt'(' devt'eloped h iisn a titoniaticali
conitrolledl. lrii n this dexveloped the id-at
of coiine'ciadlx rossii ig pilants wxith out
pit's ehitet wxiditsprtd l use iof this nietf it
to c inie rciai plant cu ltur e.
Liqutid tcrti~jii,:iti ( fertilizer s dis-
soilvetd il iis'tt'l ) hls loli 
4 
blli used fIx
I ipitd ilipilit io oi f dlii)liits of c'il
eleilelit addttd, alit
1 
sax iiits ill laibotr ir'-
(iiii i-iiiei its arc r easioins fori using I Iiis
WXithlin iccelit x cis, iiii'\fco'iislx a c-
ciii ,. iiitoiiatic iiieiii dt-x ices lhd5 c
I ec~i dec ehpet forii thiis fl prise. These
ticvices in ject intto the irr igatio n xx atei
it fprestet t ill lit tof it irtiIiLzi' stock sto
Ilitioiii lind, xxithli the limits of the tie
liet'. wIi x ter floxx dities initt 11ter- the
coiincentraititoin. 
The t 
txice ina\ 
be it- _~
stalle'd fitiinaiicnitx iiito aii ir rigatiton isxs-
tell ii nid st arts an ftolinat icali x\]tl xxIvcixxater
heriiis tti fiowx
t'jtiuiii'iilt has fecii ties lopt't speia~ll\
ftir lrehifitise coindtitiiiis. 'The two t iniin
t \ pt's ill e (1I) at spt'cial nozizle that
sprii " s xxa~ter pairallel tto the Stiil surface.
aitld (2) jiti foraited dilStiC ttliii i thl~t
pl nits sinali jets ot xxawi tti ta fll] til thet
sotil su rface at remi lar iitelais. Al thou tigh
these hasvt peirmitted aippiiitili tif xxia
tt'i tti lii-gt' areas siliiltalloisl the
iperat ioi ihIais listiallv heci i Illdilia
toi grtix iig tirtps is iitt a lit'x itd aindt
~Ilk
FLOWERS cat l
wteied~ aad #eo6g6
5
ed
AUTOMATICALLY
TOKUJI FURUTA, Assoc. H-orticulturist
Il\e~r Its 'SuIlielv t'lis not fbet-l 55 itfspr'ait
ac'teptiiit't if aix tif flt piiipiist't xxxS
tt'iiis.
Applicatian Tests Canducted
tto crops wvith aii itiioinaticaillx 'iiit cotolitt
xx stein. Coninieltidl ci uipliiciit iisu-d ill-
tiirated pliastit' t ti ing atntd tht' nozzles f oi
decx itt'tht diti iitt re'tquire aii ioitside
soturte ot pii erx ii hiagietit' wxatei 5 alx ts,
Crops groiwn i toi date atrc siiaptiiagitius
iiti ci irsxiiiit hem iii ix oIt t'itt iss els.
ratt'fd iiti it soil bfoiriin the crtiops weriet
plefe pis itiiiii t'iteimt'its) xv55l5 dppllt't
eth t iln it ie hpdifis \5 trt i rrigatctI. P1 aoi s
gicxx 'tallx xxetl inl Stii mixture's itt
t'lai loam id 12 peat MhitSS 0- 2 lilk
sii ti an d 12 pceif t ioss. Ptioi ci- rest i ts
werte ott iiotcc xxhlen on~v banik san i ix
.Siiil liiixtiiis tx itf tx pts. Auitiiiitit' ctii-
fiiii ha ei ci.l~ siusfll lAl
Test Results Cited
ft'e 'fft'ttis t'iitss ot ft' nitliitlo. Wiat-ir
\\its apfplit't ill shilill stivt~iiils tti iillx
xli all art'ax if, thit ci t ire siiil sillIact'
'h'rit'i t'as tiiohli~ lateral il l ~it'lit'iit ot
t xx water iiilii etilil' soi that all platits
xxetre affet'ted ti iallx XX'.ith it//It's, pls
Daiily irri igat iti t wxas iii t iii ct'sxiiiv
WXatt'r aipplited this freiplitly wxas dtlti
:3 tii 4 (ftl" \s w5as supio~ tr fto til ii iIgii-
:3-thus iiitt'ivals wxas best. Planits irrigfated
tx t'i 4 dies5 maitdt fpoorietst griiwsth . 1'hec
\oiiihie itf stil \\-its hlmited to ittdepthi ot
6 ilt. WXhilt' tht' pliits xxerc siiiall, t'liittigl
xati'i \xxits axvailabile xxithittit fii'ijil1ciit
iri iatiiiii. Nloii't fleiticllf iiriigatioin \it s
iicle t''rt s pxjl ants gie t' liirger. L\.in ia-
tutu ittftroits shoiwsed tha~t plilts gi utsx-
ilig ill ploits irr'igatedl c\ i-is .3 tlais had~t
)llt't thie tirop xx\is plaiitt-d iltld iiii
tiillx\ iii igated. it xxais poissile to gi tis
it to ii illui It xx Ith atit i iiic t ii~l 
EARLY EWE LAMBS grow into ewes 
that
produce early lambs!
Results of experiments at the Upper
Coastal Plain Substation, Winfield, from
1955 to 1960 show that flock replace-
ments should be selected from lambs
born in October, November, or Decem-
ber. During the first three lambing sea-
sons, these replacements consistently pro-
duced more early lambs than did re-
placements born between January 1 and
March 15.
The research was done to provide Ala-
bama sheep growers with information on
whether to select replacements (1) from
late-dropped lambs, or (2) from more
expensive early-dropped lambs.
Experimental Procedure
In April and May of 1955, 15 early-
dropped ewe lambs were bought from
Alabama growers. Fifteen late-dropped
lambs were purchased in July. This was
repeated in 1956 and again in 1957, mak-
ing a total of 45 each of early and late
lambs.
All were kept 
through three 
lambing
seasons. Most of these lambs were from
Dorset sires crossed on various breeds.
The early lambs weighed 70 to 85 lb.,
whereas the late lambs ranged from 60
to 75 lb.
The flock had adequate to excellent
grazing most of the time. This was sup-
plemented with alfalfa hay and grain
when grazing was short. During winter
months, each ewe received 1/4 lb. of cot-
tonseed meal pellets per day. The ewes
had access to phenothiazine salt mixture
and were drenched three or four times
each year. Three Dorset rams were placed
with the flock during the first half of
May each year and remained in the flock
until about October 1.
Results
Results are summarized in the table.
During their first lambing season, 19 of
the 45 early ewes lambed before Jan-
* Superintendent, Upper Coastal Plain
Substation, and Associate Animal Breeder,
Main Station.
uary 1. None of the late ewes dropped
lambs before January 1. This was to be
expected because the late ewes were
still immature. In the second lambing
season, 37 of the 42 early ewes remain-
ing in the flock dropped early lambs as
compared with 21 of 43 late ewes. The
early ewes in the third season continued
to drop a higher percentage of early
lambs than did the late ewes. However,
the differences were not as great as in
the first 2 years.
Survival of lambs from early and late
ewes did not differ appreciably. Death
losses ranged from about 22% to slightly
more than 30%, with an average death
EARLY- etLATE-
DROPPED EWES
W. W. COTNEY and 
E. L. WIGGINS*
REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF EWES FROM EARLY-DROPPED LAMBS AS COMPARED
WITH EWES FROM LATE-DROPPED LAMBS
Item Total Ewes Lambing Lambs dropped Lamb
Iewes
1  
Early' Late
3  
Total Born Raised crop
No. No. No. No. No. No. Pct.
First season
Early ewes 45 19 10 29 32 22 48.9
Late ewes-- 44 0 2 2 3 3 6.8
Second season
Early ewes 42 37 0 37 45 35 83.3
Late ewes ....................... 43 21 2 23 27 19 44.2
Third season
Early ewes -40 36 1 37 50 37 92.5
Late ewes -- 37 30 1 31 35 26 70.3
SNumber of ewes in flock at beginning of lambing season.
2 
Born before January 1.
Born after January 1.
FREE Bulletin or Report of Progress
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
AUBURN UNIVERSITY
E. V. Smith, Director
Auburn, Alabama
Permit No. 1132-5/61-10M
PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE TO AVOID
PAYMENT OF POSTAGE, $300
loss of 25.9% from early ewes and 26.2%
from late ewes. Neither was there a sig-
nificant difference in number of twin
lambs from early and late ewes. Of the
ewes that lambed, 23.3% of the early
ewes and 16.1% of the late ewes pro-
duced twins. The lamb crop raised from
early ewes ranged from 48.9% for the
first season to 93.5% for the third sea-
son. For the late ewes, the range was
from 6.8% to 70.3%.
Conclusions
It is generally agreed that Alabama
sheep growers have a better chance of
being successful if they follow a breed-
ing program that will result in lambs
being born in October, November, or
December. These lambs are ready for
market in April or May and bring a bet-
ter price than lambs born in January,
February, or March and go to market in
July or August. Even though the early
lambs are more expensive, these experi-
mental results show that they are a bet-
ter investment as ewe replacements for
the grower who is producing lambs for
early sale. Late lambs, even at less cost,
are poor investment as replacements.