CIRCULAR No. 34 FEBRUARY, 1916
ALABAMA
Agricultural IExperiment Station
OF 'THE
Alabama Polytechnic institute
AUBURN
Annual Report of the Director of the Ex-
periment Station on Work Done Under
the Locai Exper Meni Law in 1915
By
J. F. DUGGAR
Director
1916
Post Publishing Company
Opelika, Ala.
a :
Auburn, Ala., Feb. 23, 1916.
HON. J. A. WADE,
Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries,
Montgomery, Ala.
Dear Sir In accordance with Section 5 
of the Local
Experiment Law, requiring me, as Director 
of the Ex-
perimecnt Station of, the Alabama Polytechnic 
Institute,
to make a full and complete annual. report 
through the
Commissioner of Agriculture to the Goverinor of 
Ala-
bama, I herewith hand you my report of work 
done
under the Local Experiment Law in the calendar 
year
1915, with the request. that you transmit this 
report to
his Excellency, Governor Charles Henderson..
Yours very truly,
J. F., DUGGAR,
Director Experiment Station of
the Alabama Polytechnic Institute.
STAFF OF SPECIALISTS ENGAGED [IN
WORK UNDER THE LOCAL EX-
PERIMENT LAW
J. F: DUGGAR, Director
AGRICULTURE AND PLANT BREEDING
* J. F. Duggar, in charge.
E E. F. Cautbien- -- Associate Agriculturist
A l. J. Funchess - -- ----- Associate Agriculturist
J. T. Williamson- - - Field Agent in Agriculture
D. J. Burleson= - _ - --- Assistant Agriculturist
* 0. H. Sellers- -_ ---------- Assistant in Agriculture
* H. B. Tisdale ------ --------- - Assistant in Agriculture
F. E. Boyd-Assistant in Agriculture
LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY INVESTIGATIONS
* Geo. S. Templeton, in charge.
E. Gibbens- --------------- Assistant in Animal Husbandry
F. W. Wendt---- Assistant in Animal Husbandry
ENTOMOLOGY
* W. E. Hinds, in charge.
F. L. Thomas --- -- Assistant Entomologist
* E. A. Vaughan--------------ieldAssistant in Entomology
DRAINAGE
**Lewis A. Jones, in charge.
FARM MACHINERY
R. U. lBlasingamle------------------- Agricultural Engineer
HORTICULTURAL INVESTIGATIONS
* Ernest Walker, in charge.
J. C. C. Price--------------------Associate Horticulturist
G. V. Stelzenmueller ------ Field Assistant in Horticulture
JUNIOR AND HOME ECONOMICS EXTENSION
**L. N. Duncan, in charge.
* Liss Madge J. Reese----- State Agent Girls' Canning Clubs
**J. C. Ford --------------------------- In charge-Pig Clubs
* It B. Kerlin------ - ---
Assistant in Boys' Corn Clubs
PLANT DISEASES
* F. A. Wolf, in charge.
*Devoting only part time to Local Experiment Work.
**In co-olperation with United States Department of Agricul-
ture.
REPORT OF WORK DONE DURING 1915
UNDER THE LOCAL EXPERIMENT LAW.
PART I
DIRECTOR'S SUMMARIZE]) REPORT OF.WORK IN
ALL DEPARTMENTS.
By
J. F. DUGGAR, Director of Experiment Station.
This report is prepared and submitted in accord-
ance with Section 5 of an Act of the Legislature of
Alabamia, approved February 9, 1911, generally known
as the "Local Experiment Law." This Act makes pro-
vision for local experiments to be conducted by the
Experiment Station in as many of the counties of Ala-
bania as practicable, and for other agricultural ser-
vices to be rendered by this Station to the farmers of
Alabamila.
In 1915, as in each of the preceding four years, a
part of the experimental work done under this law
has been conducted in every county in the State. These
experiments are of a more popular and local nature
than is permitted under the funds appropriated to the
Experiment Station by Congress. The purpose in the
execution of this law has constantly been to extend
to. qll )arts of Alabama the advantage of having field
experim uents, feeding experiments, etc., made under
the same local conditions of soil and climate that sur-
roundl the farmers who gr ow crops and livestock in all
parts of the State.
Most of these experiments have had as their ulti-
mi.ate aimi to point the way to a diversified but entirely
safe system of agriculture, while others have as their
inmumediate object the determination of the best method
of growing cotton successfully, especially. in the pres-
ence of the cotton boll weevil or of cotton wilt or black
root. In other words, all activities under this law,
whlethier directed to improvements in, cotton culture or
to the encouragement of diversified farming, have
been part- of an anti-boll weevil campaign. Among
the. crops or other farm p~roducts on which these local
experiments have. thrown sufficient light to serve as a
guide for the local farmer's practice, may be especially
men tion ed the following:
4
The adaptability of the 
several new varieties or 
spe-
cies of velvet beans to the central 
and northern, as well
as to the southern, parts 
of the State. These experi-
ments, conducted for three 
years in nearly every 
coun-
ty, have had much to do 
with the rapid spread of 
the
cultivation of velvet beans, 
a. plant that is destined 
to
play a most important 
part in soil improvement 
and
stock raising throughout the 
entire State. Likewise, ex-
periments with various forage 
crops, including sudan
grass, soybeans,, wilt-resistant 
varieties of cowpeas,
bur clover, crimson clover, and 
the various vetches
and grasses have laid a more secure 
foundation for
the wise selection of the best forage crops 
for the dif-
ferent classes of soils found in 
Alabama.
Experiments with wheat, conducted 
under this law
for several years, have been one of 
the factors in prov-
ing the adaptability of wheat 
to large areas on which
no wheat had been grown in recent 
decades, and in
effecting a tremendous increase in 
the production of
wheat in 1915.
The data accumulated on varieties and fertilizer 
re-
quirements of peanuts constitutes the basis for a bulle-
tin, now in course of preparation, which will 
answer
the present wide-spread demand for information 
on
one of the crops that will be extensively grown 
in 1916
as a partial substitute for cotton.
Fertilizer experiments with cotton and 
corn have
been made in most of the counties 
of the State, aiid
will constitute, when continued long 
enough, the basis
for a fertilizer map of the State 
that should result ini
tremendous financial gains to farmers 
through the
more judicious use of fertilizers in 
accordance with
the various requirements of soils and crops.
The testing, on wilt infested land, of 
all available
varieties of cotton that have shown any degree 
of wilt
resistance has afforded a large amount of 
information.
The results of these experiments are 
being prepared
for publication in a bulletin that may 
be taken as a
safe guide for farm practice in the large 
part of Ala-
bama where black root of cotton occurs.
Other subjects on which these local experiments 
are
throwing light may be found in the lists 
of experiments
made in the Agricultural, Animal Husbandry, 
Hort-
icultural, and other Departments, as mentioned 
in sue-
ceeding pages of this report.
PUBLICATIONS UNDER THE LOCAL EXPERIMENT LAW.
Fronithe funds provided under the Local 
Experi-
ment Law there were published in 1915 
one bulletin,
two circulars, four press bulletins, and four 
reprints
of earlier publications, making a total of 
eleven pub-
lications. The-number of pages in these was 
1.31, and
the total in all of the copies printed amounted 
to 1,332-
500 pages.
The following is the list of publications of the 
Ala-
bama Lxperimnt Station issued in the calendar year
1915 under the Local Experimcut Law:
Bulletin No. 184: Local FIrtilizei Experiments with Sweet
Potatoes; by the )irector and Field Agent.
Circular No. 31: Annual Report of the Director of the Experi-
ment Station on Work D)one Under the Local Experi-
ment Law in 1914.
Circular No. 33: Boll Weevil Control by Cotton Stalk Destruc-
tion; by the Entomologist.
Press Bulletin No. 77: Insecticides Uncertain for Boll Weevil
Control; by the Entomologist.
Press Bulletin No. 78: Chain 1rag for Boll Weevil Control;
by the Entomologist.
Press Bulletin No.-79: Fall Campaign Against the Boll Weevil;
by the Entomologist.
Press Bulletin No. 8(0: Cotton 1oll Weevil Infested Area and
Quarantine Line in Alabama, 1915 to 1916; by the
Entomologist.
In addition to the above publications the following reprints
were published:
Bulletin No. 181: Local Fertilizer Experiments with Corn in
South Alabama in 1911. 1912. 1913, 1914: by the
Director and Field Agent.
Bulletin No. 182: Local Fertilizer Experiments with Corn in
North Alabama in 1911, 1912, '1913, 1914; by the Direc-
tor and Field Agent.
Press Bulletin No. 3(1: Crimson Clover; by the Director.
Press Bulletin No. 31: Hairy Vetch; by the Director.
FERTILIZER EXPERI MENTS ANT) OTHER EXPERIMENTS WITH
FIELD ANT) FORAGE CROPS.
Forty distinct lines of popular field experiments
were conducted in 1915. Their locations included
practically every county in the State. The list of field
experiments conducted elsewhere than at Auburn by
the Agricultural Departmuent of the Experiment Sta-
tion in 1915 is as follows :
Alfalfa experiments.
Bur clover, variety tests.
Clover, Ladino versus white.
Crimson clover experiments, methods of inoculation.
Cotton, complete fertilizer experiments.
Cotton, time of applying nitrate of soda.
Cotton, extensive variety tests.
6
Cotton, tests of wilt resistant varieties.
Cotton, variety tests, short.
Cotton, breeding.
Corn, complete fertilizer experiments.
Corn, time of applying nitrate of soda.
Corn, variety tests, extensive.
Corn, variety tests, short.
Corn, breeding.
Cowpeas, variety tests.
Forage crop tests, extensive.
Japanese sugar cane experiments.
Johnson grass, fertilizer experiments.
Kudzu experiments.
Lespedeza, fertilizer experiments.
Oats, fertilizer experiments.
Oats, variety tests.
Oats, breeding experiments.
Oats, time of applying nitrate of soda.
Oats, treatment for smut.
Peanuts, complete fertilizer experiments.
Peanuts, variety tests.
Rotation experiment.
Rice experiments.
Sugar cane, complete fertilizer experiments.
Sweet potatoes, complete fertilizer experiments.
Soybean tests.
Sudan grass experiments.
Velvet beans, variety tests.
Velvet beans, versus cowpeas.
Vetch, variety tests.
Wheat, complete fertilizer experiments.
Wheat, variety tests.
Wheat breeding
PLAN rBREEDING.
In plant breeding the small State appropriation of
$1200.00 has permitted the testing, under the local con-
ditions of the different counties, of a number of varie-
ties of improved seed. Most prominent among these
have been new strains or varieties of cotton, oats, and
corn originated by systematic selection on the Experi-
ment Station farm at Auburn. Seed of these new va-
rieties are thus propagated and made available to the
farmers of every section of the State through the sup-
plies produced on farms near them. In this way it
has been practicable to first test locally and then to
arrange for the distribution,. at low prices, of new and
improved varieties, without demoralizing 
the public by
the distribution of free seeds. Farmers who have been
selected, by reason of their proved carefulness, for the
purpose of propagating such seeds enter into a signed
contract governing the precautions to be taken to keep
these seeds pure, and. making one-half the total pro-
duction of such seeds available to their neighbors at
stipulated maximum prices, which are far below those
that would otherwise prevail.
WORK IN DRAINAGE AND FARM MACHINERY.
Drainage work has been done in 1915 
under the
same plan as in former years. This involves co-opera-
tion between the Alabama Experiment Station and the
Office of Public Roads and Rural Engineering of the
U. S. Department of Agriculture. Under the terms 
of
this agreement Mr. Lewis A. Jones, U. S. Drainage En-
gineer, has been in charge of the experimental rain-
age work. His report shows that during 
the year 1915
surveys were made for tile drainage 
systems on 11
farms. On 2 of these the tiles were laid under the
supervision of the drainage engineer or his assistant.
One of the objects of experimental work in drain-
age has been to so interest farmers in the advantages
of drainage that public sentiment would lead to the
enactment of a state drainage law. Such a law, 
pat-
terned after that which has proved practicable in other
Southern States, was enacted by the Legislature in
1915.
This law permits the land owners of any region to
form a drainage district and to sell bonds 
against the
land for the construction of the necessary ditches..
Under this law, Mr. Jones and his assistants have re-
cently made a preliminary drainage survey of 
18,000)
acres of land in one body in Fayette and Lamar coun-
ties. It is not too much to expect that when these
plans are put into execution and the land drained an(
cleared, the increased value of these valley lands, 
(say
from $10.00 up to $65.00 per acre), will amount 
to
about a million dollars. The increased tax revenue on
this sum alone, would then be sufficient to pay each
year about six times the amount that is now paid by
the State for the support of the drainage and farm ma-
chinery work under the Local Experiment Law.
The work in farm machinery has consisted 
of the
collecting of additional information, for the benefit 
of
farmers, on tractors for plowing, on machinery for
harvesting or thrashing cowpeas, and in the giving of
information regarding various kinds of farm 
machin-
ery
In August, 1915, this work was placed 
under the
8
charge of a specialist in Agricultural Engineering,
Prof. R. U. Blasingame. He has given advice 
by per-
sonal visits, correspondence, and detailed drawings
relative to waterworks for the home and farm, farm
motors, barn plans, and various other questions con-
nected with farm machinery and farm structures.
INJURIOUS INSECTS.
During 1915 the boll weevil spread over a much
larger extent of territory in Alabama than in any for-
mer year. This is explained largely by the storm and
:high winds prevailing last August. Hence by the end
,of the migration season the boll weevil was found in
all except five Alabama counties, located in the ex-
treme northeastern corner of the State.
The. Department of Entomology has been active in
connection with the giving of information relative to
the boll weevil by visits, addresses at farmer's meet-
ings, and publications. Other insects, including the
grass worm, have also received attention.
LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY INVESTIGATIONS.
In 1915 one series of feeding tests with grades of the
beef breeds was completed at Allenville, and another
series begun on the same farm. In the latter series, in
-which 100 steers are being fed, especial attention is
given to the determination of the relative feeding value
of ground velvet bean pods in comparison with cotton
seed meal. The former promises to come into quite
general use as a food.
The use of alfalfa as a substitute for part of the
usual ration of cotton seed meal and the value of shelt-
er for fattening cattle are other matters covered by
these experiments.
Experiments with dairy cattle and hogs have been
continued, with some change of plan. A part of the
hogs used in these experiments have already been mar-
keted at the packing house at Moultrie, Georgia, so
that the effects of the various foods on quality of meat
and lard as well as on rate of growth are being deter-
mined from the .commercial standpoint as well as in
the laboratory.
Experiments in feeding mules are in progress on
Cottonwood Plantation, near Faunsdale, Marengo
County, the principal aim being to find means of re-
ducino the usual corn ration without decreasing 
the,
efficiency of the teams. Alfalfa, Johnson 
grass, and
cottonseed meal arc among the foodsunler investig-
tion.
Poultry experiments in co-operation with a pr(fCII--
sional-poultryman in Mobile County are 
being con-
tinued, and some of the results are being 
prepared f'or
publication.
LOCAL WORK IN HORTICULTURE.
Tests of varieties of vegetables and of fertilizers 
for
sweet potatoes, strawberries, Satsuma 
oranges, and
other horticultural plants have been 
continued; and
experiments have been begun 
with a number of new
horticultural crops, including pimientolpeppers.
A bulletin giving the results of local 
fertilizer and
variety tests of cabbages has been published.
The Department of Horticulture 
has been heavily
taxed with work relating to the citrus canker.
JUNIOR AND HOME- EcONOMICS EXTENSION WORK.
As heretofore, the State fund- for extensionihas beciu'
devoted to the support of boys' corn clubs, boys' 
p
clubs, boys' four-crop clubs, girls' canning 
clubs, etc.
The relorts of the specialists in these lines 
of work-
show the following enrollment 
in 1915:
Boys' Corn Clubs--------------3782
Boys' Four Crop Clubs----------490
Boys' Pig Clubs---------------2482
Girls' Canning Clubs ---------- 1490
Gratifying progress has been -made in lengthening,
the terms (luring -which the women county agents arc.
employed, and hence in the efficiency of the 
canning
club work and the other work in the special int.re 
=~
of girls and women.
One feature of the boys' corn club work 
was the~
holding of a special Boys' Corn -Club School 
of Prac-
tieal Agriculture at Auburn, July 26-31, 1915. This 
wac
attended by 221 corn club boys, who received 
instruc-
tion not only in corn culture but in a number of agricu-
tural subjects. The return to their home counties 
of
these boys thus instructed each summer cannot fait
to have a lbeneficial influence 
in improving the loemi
farm practice and in broadening the outlook of young
people on the farm.
Along p)arallel lines there wvas held at Auburn, June
10
12i--26, 1915, a school of instruction for members of the
,irls' canning clubs. This was attended by 42 girls, who
received instruction not alone in canning but in a
rnmifber of lines of home economics work. The inspi-
rational effects of this school for girls can scarcely be
overestimated.
During 1915 26 counties had organized pig cl)bwork,
and the demands for an increase in this line of.work
are pressing.
. The report of the pig club agent shows that the aver-
age net profit per hog owned by the members of the
buyFs' pig clubs was $7.21.
WORK WITH PLANT DiSEASES.
.The work of the plant pathologist, who devotes only
a part of his time to the local experiment work, was di-
reeted largely to the citrus canker, which threatens the
Satsuma orange and grapefruit industry in the south-
mri counties of the State, and to diseases of the peanut.
His work with a disease of bur clover that is some-
limes injurious suggests a promising means of preven-
five treatment. Pecan rosette and other diseases have
also engaged his attention. By lectures and corre-
spondence, he has lisseminated a large amount of in-
formiation relative to the cause 'and prevention of va-
ri ous plan~t(liseases.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT.
-eThe appropriation 
received from the 
State for the
support of all lines of local experiment work in agri-
culture, horticulture, drainage, farm ma chinecry, plant
breeding, entomology, and plant diseases, and for cx-
tension work with corn clubs, girls' canning clubs, etc.,
is $27,000.00. While such restriction of the work as to
permit the carrying over of at least a smuall balance as
a safe-guard against any delay in the annual January
payment is the usual policy, a slightly larger balance
is this year' carried over than usual, because of a re-
d uetion of printing and other activities rendered advis-
able (luring the latter part of the year as a result of de-
lay in the cashing of one 'of the warrants for the sup-
port of this work.
11
TREASURER'S REPORT, LOCAL EXPERIMENT
FUND, FOR THE-YEAR 1915.
RECEIPTS'',
To cash balance from 1914 - -- --- $ 3,058.86
To cash from Animal Husbandry 108.24
To cash from State ------ 27,000.00
$30,167.10
DISBURSEMENTS
By amount paid Agriculture -- $ 8,517.12
By amount paid Horticulture ___- - -- 2,363.10
By amount paid Animal Husbandry - - 2,965.31
By amount paid Junior and. Home Economies Exten-
sion-- 4,118.14
By amount paid Publications and Administration-2,102.86
By amount paid Entomiology 2,341.01
By mount paid.Drainage and F arm Machinery 831.25
By amount paidl Plant Breeding -- 1,113.53
By amount paidl Plant Pathology----------- - - 973.92
By, amount paid Poultry,------------- 564.76
By lI lance carried to 1916. - - ------ 4,276.10
$30,167.10
Respectfully,
(Signed) M. A. GLENN, Treasurer.
Subscribed and sworn to before me, this the 16th day
of February, 1916.
(Signed) B. L. SHI, Notary Public.
PART II
DETAILED REPORTS OF HEADS OF DE
PARTMENTS
REPORT OF ENTOMOLOGIST
Prof J. F. Duggar,
Director Alabama Experiment Station,
Auburn, Ala.
Dear Sir:
I submit below a report of the 
work done by the De-
partment of Entomology under the Local 
Experiment
Fund during the calendar year 1915.
During the year we continued a study 
of the methods
for the control of Satsuma insect pests with a series of
field experiments carried on near 
Mobile. A brief re-
port of the results of this work has been 
published in
the proceedings of the Gulf Coast Horticultural 
Society
for 1915.
An extensive study of the grass 
worm or fall army
worm (Laphygma frugiperda), begun by 
Field Assist-
ant J. A. Dew in 1912, has been published 
by the Station
in Bulletin No. 186. The completion of this 
publication
involved considerable additional work during the past
season when the grass worm appeared in 
large num-
bers in many localities, doing particular 
injury to fields
of cowpeas.
The major part of the Local Experiment work 
has
been in connection with the Mexican cotton boll 
weevil.
The weevil made the largest advance thus far 
recorded
during the fall of 1915. The winter of 1914 and 
1915
was quite favorable for the hibernation of the weevils
and they appeared in large numbers early in the 
season
of 1915, especially along the line reached by 
them first
in 1912. Many cotton farmers were so 
much alarmed
that they plowed up cotton after it had become knee-
high and planted the ground in other crops. This 
ac-
tion was advisable in some cases where the planter 
was
attempting to raise a larger acreage in cotton 
than he
could successfully handle under the prevailing condi-
tions of weevil infestation.
Weevils became very abundant throughout the south-
western third of Alabama before the first of August,
and the advance movement for 1915 was apparently
13
well started by the middle of that month. On or about
the 20th of August there occurred heavy winds from
the southwest which seemed to have been primarily
responsible for scattering weevils through more than
100 miles of new territory beyond the 1914 weevil line
in Alabama. This extensive new territory was infested
niainly during the last week of August and the weevils
became generally established, as they had time to pro-
duce one or two generations before the cotton was de-
stroyed by killing frost. The weevil infested area in
Alabama is shown in Press Bulletin No. 80. Only five
counties in the northeastern corner of the State are
now outside of the weevil line for 1915. In all prob-
ability these counties will become infested during 1916.
There is reason to expect that the weevils will reach
every cotton field in Alabama and that they will main-
tain themselves even in the northern-most part of the
State.
A study of the cotton ginning records available at
this date for Alabama during 1915, shows that the prin-
cipal area of decrease in yield coincides with the area
of heaviest weevil infesta tion. After making proper
allowances for the reduction in acreage, reduction in
use of commercial fertilizers and unfavorable climatic
conditions of 1915, it appears that these factors to-
gether account for a decrease of twenty to twenty-five
per cent. based upon the 1914 yield in the State. Those
counties uninfested by the weevil in 1915 showed a
reduction of twenty-three percent; those reached by
the weevils (luring the fall of 1915 lost twenty-seven per
cent; counties reached by the weevil in 1913 and 1914
together showed a loss of forty per cent, while those
counties reached by the weevil before 1912 and in
which it was most thoroughly established, showed a
reduction of sixty-three per cent. This would indicate
a direct loss due to weevils amounting to forty per cent.
in twenty-one of the oldest infested counties in Ala-
bama.
A campaign for early destruction of cotton to secure
the most complete and economical possible control of
the weevil for 1916 was carried out during the last week
of September and the first two weeks of October. This
campaign was conducted by four speaking parties
made up of representatives of the Experiment Station
staff and State Department of Agriculture, Demonstra-
14
tion Agents, and Railroad Agricultural 
Agents. These
parties held county meetings in forty-eight of 
theprin-
cipal weevil infested counties. Following 
the central
county meeting the Demonstration Agents in most
counties continued the work with community meetings.
in a number of community centers through their 
coun-
ties. This campaign apparently resulted in a much
larger destruction of cotton stalks with the subsequent
planting of winter cover crops than has heretofore
occurred in Alabama.
Through designation by the State Superintendent of
Education, November 5th, 1915, was observed as boll
weevil day in the schools of the State. This gave us a
welcome opportunity for co-operation in the furnishing
of information to the teachers. About 5000 sets of boll
weevil bulletins were thus distributed where we believe
they accomplished much good.
Additional new publications on the boll weevil in-
clude Press Bulletin No. 80, Cotton Boll Weevil In-
fested Area and Quarantine Line in Alabama, 1915-16;
Press bulletin No. 79, Fall Campaign Against the Boll
Weevil; Press bulletin No. 78, Chain Drag for Boll
Weevil Control; Press bulletin No. 77, Insecticides Un-
certain for Boll Weevil Control; Circular No. 33, Boll
Weevil Control by Cotton Stalk Destruction; Extension
Leaflet No. 8, Summary of Boll Weevil Suggestions.
Respectfully submitted,
W. E. HINos, Entomologist.
REPORT OF DRAINAGE ENGINEER"
Prof. J. F. Duggar,
Director, Alabama Experiment Station,
Auburn, Ala.
Dear Sir:
During the year 1915 the following drainage survey~
were made under the co-operative agreement between
the Alabama State Experiment Station at Auburn and
the Office of Public Roads and Rural Engineering, .
S. Department of Agriculture :
SURVEYS AND PLANS FOR TILE DRAIN SYSTEMS.
Name of Farm County No. of Acrcs
Surveyed
S. P. Storrs ---------------- Elmore- - 140
W. D. Null ------------------ Marengo-----------270
Inge-Reynolds-Hiunter tract __-Mobile - 20
E. B. Davis ----------------- Mobile-------------3Q
N. W. Morrisette ------------ Hale--------------20
Meadowbrook Farm _----Gr_____Greene------ -40
W. D. Johnson -------------- Greene-------------80
W. H. Spencer-- -Hale--------------40
N. J. Bell ------------------ Montgomery- 40
Chas. Anderson--------------Perry-------------10
W. W. Thompson ___________Macon-------------30
Supervision of construction was furnished for the
Inge-Reynolds-Hlunter tract and the W. D. Johnson
tract.
All of the tile tracts previously installd under the
direction of this Office were visited and the results of
the work noted.
Preliminary examinations and reports were mad(ICou-
the swamp and overflowed lands along. Huntsville
Spring Creek, Madison County (5,000 acres), and Leto-
hatchee or "~Big Swamp", Lowndes County (11,000'.
acres.)
Field ditches were surveyed for the farm of Mr. C
M. Sellers, Autauga County.
.The study of the action of soil water in tiled lane
was continued on the Elsberry plantation, Montgomery
County.
A drainage survey was made of approximately 18,000l
acres of swamp and overflowed. lands lying along the.
Luxapallila River in Fayette and Lamar Counties
Plans for draining this land will be prepared during
the early part of 1916. and it is hoped 
that the reclama-
tion work will be started in the near future.
16
Interest in (Irainage work is rapidly increasing in
-,Alabama. This is illustrated by the increased number
,of requests for advice and assistance received 
by this
Office.
The drainage law passed by the last session of the
"Slate Legislature furnishes the necessary legal ma-
,:inery for the organization of drainage districts to
. lam the large areas of swamp and overflowed
'ands.. The organization of drain tile factories in va-
r_ious parts of the state 
enables the land o-wner 
to pur-
dihase tile at a reasonable cost. With these advantages
:_-t is to be expected that the drainage conditions of the
:agricultural lands of the state will be rapidly improved.
very truly yours,
LEWIs A. JONES, Drainage Engineer.
REPORT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDMAN.
Prof. J. F. Duggar,
Director, Alabama Experiment Station,
Auburn, Ala.
Dear Sir:
I respectfuly submit the following report of the Local
Experiment work in the Animal Husbandry Depart-
ment for the past year:
BEEF CATTLE
The co-operative steer feeding experiments started at
Allenville, Alabama, last year, arc being continued.
Judge, B. M. Allen, Allenville, Marengo County, Ala-
Ibama, -f urnishes the cattle and the feeds for the work,
and the Alabama Experiment Station provides a man,
Mr. E. Gibbens, to live on the farm and have personal
supervision of the experimental work. One hundred
head of steers are now on feed at Allenville. The ques-
tions- under 'consideration are as follows
First, to determine the value of the following feeds
for fattening beef ca ttle:
(1) Sorghum silage, corn and cotton seed meal.
(2) Corn silage, corn and cotton seed meal.
(3) Corn silage, corn, cotton seed meal and alfalfa.
(4) Cotton seed Meal and corn silage.
(5) Velvet beans in'pod, ground, and cornisilage.
Second, ,to deterniine the value of paved lots for
fattening beef cattle.
Third, to determine the, value of shelter for young
cattle while being fattened.
Fourth, to determine whether or not there are any
toxic effects on hogs following steers that are being
fed cotton seed meal.
DAIRY CATTLE
The co-operative dairy cattle experinments with'M. WV.
Hall & Son, James, Alabama, Bullock County, were con-
tinned. The problems studied are as follows:
First, to determine the relative value of various con-
centrates. for milk productionm.
Second, to determine the cost of raising dairy heifers
to a producing age.
HOGS
During the year the experimental work on the' farm
of Dr. J. F. Yarbrough, in Henry County, near Colum-
bia, Alabama, was transferred to the farm of Mr. L. F.
18
Sessions, Ozark, Dale County, 
Alabama. Mr. Sessions
furnishes the hogs and feeds, and the 
Alabama Experi-
ment Station furnishes a trained man, Mr. F. W. Wendt,
to live on the farm and have personal supervision 
of
the experimental work.
Two lots of hogs were used in an experiment this 
fall
at Ozark, to determine the acre value, in terms of pork
produced, from a crop of peanuts.
The hogs were divided into two lots as follows:
Lot 1. Peanut pasture.
Lot 2. Peanut pasture and one-fourth ration of corn.
These hogs were shipped to the Packing House at
Moultrie, Georgia, and samples of the lard will be
analyzed to determine what influence the quarter ra-
tion of corn, fed while the hogs were grazing peanuts,
will have on the melting point of the lards.
An experiment was started during the year on Mr.
Sessions' farm, to study the best methods of producing
pork under farm conditions in South East Alabama.
Several crops will be studied to obtain data on their
value per acre for pork production.
MULES
An experiment was started April 1st, 1915, on Cotton-
wood Plantation, Allenville, Marengo County, Alabama,
to test the value of various rations for mules engaged in
farm work. Twenty-two head of mules were divided
into three lots, and fed on the following ration.
Lot 1: Corn and alfalfa.
Lot 2. Corn, mixed hay and cotton seed meal.
Lot 3. Corn and Johnson Grass hay.
It is planned to continue feeding experiments with
mules.
POULTRY
The experimental work with Mr. Herman Schlueter-
busch at Citronelle, Mobile County, Alabama, was con-
tinued throughout the year. The Mobile County ex-
periment is a study of various feeds to determine the
cost of egg production. Four lots were used in this ex-
periment, as follows:
Lot 1. Dry mash, cracked corn and oats.
Lot 2. Dry mash, and cracked corn.
Lot 3. Purina chowder.
Lot 4. Dry mash, cracked corn and oats.
Yours very truly,
GEO. S. TEMPLETON, Animal Husbandman.
REPORT OF HORTICULTURIST.
Prof. J. F. Duggar,
Director, Alabama Experiment Station,
Auburn, Ala"
Dear Sir:
Under the Local Experiment Fund, experiments have
been inaugurated as follows: The same test is fre-
quently made at two or three different 
points:
Variety and fertilizer tests with sweet potatoes; Irish
potatoes, seed selection; dasheen; new bush muskmel-
ons; new watermelon; cucumbers; fertilizers and 
varie-
ties; rhubarb; pimiento pepper; navy beans; Chinese
celery and cabbage; strawberries, fertilizers and cover
crops, varieties, cultural methods in Alabama; pepper-
mint and spearmint for extracts; ginsing; tea; coffee;
bulbs; sweet peas; Satsuma oranges, fertilizers and
cover crops; English walnut; pistachio; and olive.
New tests undertaken (1916) : Smyrna figs; Vinifera
grapes; spraying, fertilizers and pruning experiments
with apples in North Alabama.
A bulletin on cabbage giving three years results of
fertilizer tests at Bessemer, is now in press.
With two or three exceptions the results secured this
far in the various tests are encouraging and promise
to be of much interest and value.
Mr. G. V. Stelzemuller, Field Agent, held demonstra-
tion meetings, and addressed several horticultural
meetings during this year, besides visiting the co-opera-
tors at their several points from one to three times dur-
ing the year.
Respectfully,
ERNEST WALKEn, Horticulturist.
REPORT ON JUNIOR AND HOME ECONOMICS
EXTENSION
Prof. J. F. Duggar,
Director, Alabama Experiment Station,
Auburn, Ala.
Dear Sir:
Below I am giving you brief reports on the following
lines of work in progress in this department for the past
year:
Boys' Corn Clubs,
Boys' Four-Crop Clubs,
Girls' Canning Clubs,
Home Demonstration Work,
Boys' Pig Clubs,
Boys' CoRN CLUBS
I. B. Kerlin,
State Agent, Corn, Club Work.
Enrollment and Average Results.
During the year 1915 the corn club work was organiz-
ed in all the counties of the state with a total enrollment
of 3,782 boys. It is usually difficult to secure reports
from boys, but this year we have made a special effort
to secure reports and as a result 23.8 per cent. of the
total enrollment inmade reports on their yields. The.
boys reporting made an average of 55.7 bushels of corn
per acre at an average cost of 37 cents per bushel. The
average yield. of corn for the State for 1915 was 17.5
bushels. It will be seen, therefore, that the club mem-
bers made an 'average of 38.2 bushels per acre more
than the average for the State. Estimating corn at $1.00
per bushel and deducting the cost, the club members
made an average of $35.10 profit per acre. Working on
the same basis as the boys, the average profit for the
State was $5.25 per acre. The average corn club mem-
ber, therefore, made an average profit of $29.85 more
per acre than was made by the average farmer.
Methods Used in Organizing Clubs.
In all cases the county farm demonstration agent is
the county leader. All of these clubs were organized
with the county as the unit. In a number of cases,
however, local clubs were organized by school districts,
and in such cases the local teacher was the leader. We
made every effort to draw the county superintendent
and the rural teachers into this club work. During the
21
organization of the work we secured lists of the teach-
ers by counties and wrote them special letters urging
them to organize the club work and 'enlist theboys.
We enclosed a return envelope and an enrollment sheet
for the teacher to use in replying. A large number of
the boys were enrolled in this way through the teachers.
When a boy's name was received in this way, we im-
mediately mailed him an enrollment card for him to
sign and return. No boy was considered a regular
member of the club who had not filled out one of these
enrollment cards and returned it. At the end of the
enrollment season lists of regular members were made
in alphabetical order by counties, copies of these lists
being sent to the county superintendents and county
agents.
Methods of Instructing Boys.
We mailed the boys a number of circulars bearing on
different phases of corn growing, and during the year
we wrote them a number of circular letters. Of course
county agents visited and instructed the boys as they
traveled.
Cover Crops.
In the various circulars we urged upon the boys the
importance of planting winter cover crops, especially
clovers. It is impossible, however, to give any definite
estimate of the number who do this. We secured
enough crimson clover seed to give each boy who at-
tended our Short Course here in the summer of 1914
enough to plant one-fortieth of an acre. These seed
wereinoculated before we sent them to the boys. Most
of the boys lost their clover, however, from the severe
cold weather last winter. Of course the boys in the
Four Crop Club planted an acre of oats in the fall, and
a large number of the Pig Club boys planted various
crops for pastures.
Suggestions for Improving the Club Work.
(1) Closer supervision of the work, and personal
visits to the homes and acres of corn or to prize pigs.
(2) A definite and permanent set of prizes to be plan-
ned and announced in advance of the organization of
the work in the county. We secured the passage of a
special law during the rechnt session of the Legislature,
which we think will largely solve the matter of prizes.
Gathering the Prize Acres.
A great deal of trouble has been experienced in the
22
past in getting accurate records of large yields. We
have overcome this to a great extent by requiring the
boys to give us an estimate on what they think they will
make sometime in advance of the gathering. We send
out cards for this estimate in July and August. When
these are received we tabulate them by counties and
send a copy of the list to the county agent. We at the
same time write the boy telling him not to gather his
corn until he receives instructions from his county
agent. We send each boy a franked envelope addressed
to his county agent and tell him to write his county
agent. We ask the county agent either to supervise in
person the gathering of these large yields or to desig-
nate two reliable men in the community where the boy
may live to witness the gathering. This plan has work-
ed remarkably well for the past two years.
Boys' Corni Club School of Practical Agriculture.
Our regular school for the corn club boys was held
Ihere in Auburn, July 26 to 31 inclusive. We had in at-
tendance. this year a total of 221 boys, representing six-
ty-four counties. This was a remarkably successful en-
terprise again, and has become a permanent feature of
our Boys' Club Work in Alabama.
Diploma for the Corz Club Boys.
We designed a very attractive little diploma this year
to give every boy who made a report. A copy of this
was filed in the Washington Office. It had a most de-
sirable effect in getting reports from boys and
especially in causing boys who failed with their crop for
various reasons to write us a personal letter, County
agents, county superintendents, and other county lead-
ers in a number of cases have called the boys together
who were entitled to diplomas and had a Boys' Corn
Club Rally in connection with awarding the diplomas.
This has been very valuable indeed in stimulating inter-
est in the work.
Four-Crop Club.
In this work each boy plants four crops as follows:
one acre in corn; one in cotton; and one in fall oats;
which is followed by cowpeas for hay after the oats are
harvested. During 1915 we enrolled 490 boys in. this
work. Each boy plants three acres a's iiidicated above.
There were 88 boys that made reportson all four crops.
The average pfrofit per acre on cotton was $34.82; on
corn $31.76; on oats $13.50; and on hay $23.42. The
23
prize for this work in each county 
was a pure bred
Shorthorn bull 'given by the Central of Georgia 
Rail-
way. This prize is awarded to the boy getting 
the best
total results on the three acres with all four crops.
REPORT OF GIRL' C1 uII AND HoNWEDEMONSTRATION WORK
iN ALABAMA.
December 1914 to December 1915.
MADGE J. REESE, State Agent
Girls' Club and Home Demonstration'Work.
Canning Clubs.
In the past -year in Alabama there werenineteen
counties doing organized Canning Club Work, witha
total enrollment of 1490. This is the same number of
-counties organized in 1914, and a decreased enrollment
,of -525 members. Smaller enrollment was encouraged
in order that closer supervision could be given and the
standard of vork done by the girls raised. rhe coun-
ties organized were Autauga, Baldwin, Calhoun, Chit-
ton, Conecuh, Dexalb, Etowah, Franklin, Jefferson, Ma-
,con, Marengo, Marshall, Mobile, Monroe, Pickens, Pike,
St. Clair, -Tuscaloosa, and Walker.
The clubs members were enrolled in 150 clubs. Each
county had its county agent who supervised the work
of the clubs. In 1915 the average term of service of the
county agents was eight lmonths, while in 1914 it was
four: mouths. In 19151 six county agents were 01 (uty
'or: tvelve months, and only four for less than six
mzonths. 'As a result of the increased average term of
agents and. closer supervision, the report of, the work
(lone by the clubs in the nineteen. counties is twice what
it was for 1914.
Sixty-four per cent. of' the enrollment, or 957 girls,
have reported the following:
Number of containers' of tomatoes canned .froml
t enth-acere club gardens- .1-- 3 -- = 9,.449
Number. of containers. of beans, okra, peas, peppers
and beets canned from tenth, acre club gar-
dens- - - -- - 27,187
Number of containers of- fruits: and vegetables from
home :garden and .orchard, - --- _---_114,185
Total number of containers, all products - _--- 7 300,821
Value of vegetables sold fresh and used at home _ $4760.00
Total value of canned products and fresh vegetables _$61,998.02
Total' cost of products - - - $ - 18,268.48
Total profit _- -_-- - - $43,729.54
(Rteport of containers based n No. 3? tins and quart jars.)
The first year =club girl begun her work with the one
tlenth acre garden ill tom~atoes. The second year club
24
girl who had already been successful in growing and
canning tomatoes, grew tomatoes on one-half of:her
tenth-acre garden and beans on the other half. The
third and fourth year club girls, in addition to the to-
matoes and beans, grew a third vegetable, either okra,
peas, peppers, cucumbers, or beets. It was necessary
for girls to take care of the surplus fruits from the or-
chard at the same period that they were canning their
demonstration garden products, but the experience ac-
quired in putting up the vegetables made them more
capable of properly canning fruits.
Etowah is the banner county for the State for 1915:
Number of containers of club garden products 33,114
Number containers of home garden and orchard
products ..-- 33,127
Total number of containers, all products 66,241
Total value of all products $13,514.32
Total cost $ 3,602.33
Total profit $ 9,911.99
The county had an enrollment of 135 girls, and of
these 114 reported. About 20,000 cans of the girl's prod-
ucts will be sold in the town of Gadsden. The mer-
chants, bankers, women's clubs, and the Gadsden
Chamber of Commerce stand behind the girl's clubs
and make them feel that they have an assured market.
The work of several other counties deserves special
mention. Tuscaloosa County,, a close second to Eto-
wah, has an excellent report. Eighty-one girls made
an average of $23.77 from their tenth-acre products.
They canned 53,155 containers from club gardens and
home orchards, making a total profit of $9,828.48.
The counties having the largest per cent. of girls.
reporting were Calhoun and Mobile. One hundred
and nine, or 94 per cent. of Calhoun's girls sent in
reports. These girls filled 29,990 containers. Ninety-
three per cent. of Mobile's girls sent in reports. Forty-
five Jefferson County girls reported 26,382 containers.
Two hundred and seventy six club girls in Conecuh,
'De Kalb, Franklin, Pickens, St. Clair, Marengo, and
Monroe canned an average of 325 containers each.
Our markets are good, and all of the clubs have
marketed their products in their own counties. The.
clubs of some counties have had more orders than
they were able to fill. Our motto for 1915 was "Qual-
ity rather than Quantity." In the same proportion
that the quantity of work done has increased this
year, so has the quality of work done by the girls im-
25
proved. In some of the counties the girls are not only
putting on the market a commercial standard 
of can-
ned fruits and vegetables, but are marketing 
a superior
quality of fig preserves and citrus fruit products.
Canning club girls have, besides their work in gar-
dening and canning, done some purposeful manual
training work. They have designed and made baskets
and boxes for containers of their products and for
holiday gifts. Some beautiful baskets of native ma-
terial have been made by the girls. Incidentally, there
has been some good work done in sewing. Six hun-
dred and seventy girls made the uniform canning club
cap and apron.
Winter gardens have been encouraged by the coun-
ty agents, and as a result, there are 448 farm women
and girls in the nineteen counties growing spinach,
lettuce, radishes, and cabbage for market and home
use.
Back of all competitive exhibits of the girls' products
at the county fairs, there has been a motive more
laudable than that of following a time worn custom.
The real purposes of the exhibits have been to help
give a working definition of desirable standards
through showing qualities that make for excellence.
Most of the club girls visited the county fairs and
studied the packs and standard. Every county except
one put on an exhibit at a county or state fair or at
some public place in the county. The exhibits were
most satisfactory, every county showing its training in
commercial packing. Most of the judging was done by
the state agents of the department. The Short Course
for Prize Winning Girls given at Auburn last summer
was perhaps one of the most effective agencies in im-
pressing upon the girls the high standards desired in
the work. The girls who attended the course are today
leaders in the club work in their respective counties.
The club work has been given the heartiest co-oper-
ation by farm demonstration agents, county superin-
tendents of education, rural teachers, commercial
clubs, business men, county fair associations, and wo-
man's clubs. Financial co-operation has been given
by county boards of revenue, county boards of educa-
tion, state normal schools, district agricultural high
schools, and chambers.of commerce. For every dollar
expended for salaries of the county agents in the Girls
26
Club and Home Demonstration Work, a profit of $4.22
was realized for the State of Alabama.
Home Demonstration Work.
In counties where the Girl's Club Work has become
well established and the agent's efficiency proved,
demonstration work for the farm women has been
started. Only the county agents who are on duty
from eight to twelve months are required to organize
Home Demonstration Clubs. The mothers and the
women generally have aided the girls in the various
phases of their work, but the time has come in the
process of the development of the 
organization when
the women are eager to make some demonstration
themselves. In 1915 there were 221 farm women en-
rolled in the Home Demonstration Clubs in eleven
counties.
The work was begun by the county agents going
into the homes and aiding the women in properly
cooking and serving vegetables and utilizing the prod-
ucts canned by the club girls. A few bread demonstra-
tions have also been made by the women.
In cooking and serving the products grown by the
girls and women, there is a need for simple demon-
stration in improved kitchen equipment and utensils.
The home-made fireless cooker has been one of the
first devices to be used. Under the instructions of the
county agents, forty-four home-made fireless cookers,
six iceless refrigerators, eight fly traps, and two wheel
trays have been made by the women. The agents are
also encouraging the installing of cheap and simple
waterworks systems in the kitchens of the rural
homes.
The first approach to problems of sanitation in the
farm homes has been made in the canning demonstra-
tions where there is a need for absolute cleanliness
and sterilization. Following such demonstrations, it
is easy for the agents to suggest the use of sanitary
measures with reference to milk, water, and protec-
tion of foods. Because of such suggestions, 41 houses
have been screened in five counties.
The work done in 1915 with the farm women has
payed the way for more extensive and effective work
for 1916. Several agents are now busy organizing
Home Demonstration Clubs vhich Will have regular
meetings throughout the year and whose members will
27
make definite demonstrations and give reports of
same. A few. egg marketing circles 
have also been or-
ganized in connection with the Home 
Demonstration
Clubs. One success leads to another, 
and we can
more easily accomplish the end in view, 
the improve-
ment of the farm home, by taking.one 
step at a time
and not trying to do all of these things at once.
Boys' PIG CLUBS.
J. C. FORD,
State Agent, Pig Club Work.
Viewed from almost-any angle, tie Pig Club work 
in
Alabama was more than 100 per cent. 
more successful
in 1915 than in 1914. The following counties, 
26 in
nunmber, were organized: Autauga, 
Baldwin, Bullock,
Butler, Chilton, Clay, Colbert, Cullman, 
Fayette, Gene-
va, Henry, Jefferson, Lamar, Lauderdale, 
Lee, Macon,
Madison, Marion, Marshall, Pickens, Pike, Russell,
Shelby, Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa, and Walker. 
Eighteen
of the above counties were organized in 
1914, with an
enrollment of 1207 luelbers, 213 of whom 
made re-
ports. Tie following summary presents 
phases of tie
work in 1915.
Summary of Pig Club Work ii Alabama 
1915.
1. Number of counties organized------------------26
2. Total number- of members enrolled-2482
3. Total number of members reporting-840
4. Per cent of members reporting --- 
33.44
5. Number of hogs in spring ----------- 
1024
6. Average number of hogs per member-----_- 
- - 1.22
7. Average weight per hog (831 weights 
reported)- 43
8. Average value per hog (839 values reported)-- 
$5.67
9. Number of hogs sold or killed by members--- 
- 396
10. Weight of hogs sold or killed by 
members (306
reported) ---- - - - - - - --- - - - -- 
- 60012
11. Average weight of the 306 hogs 
---------- 196
12. Value of hogs sold or killed (373 reported) 
--- $5715.05
13. Average value of the 373 hogs 
--------- 15.33
14. Number of hogs owned by members 
at time of re-
porting----------------------------- 
-- 1006
15. Weight of hogs on hand (582.reported) -------- 
79712
16. Average weight of the 582 hogs 
--- ------- 137
17. Value of hogs on hand (599 reported) 
------ $8719.97
18. Average* value of the 599 hogs--------- 
14.56
19. Cost of feeds (858 reported) ------- 
------ $3979.66
20. Average cost of feed for the 858 hogs 
-- -- -- -- --- 4.64
21. Average cost per lb. gain, about----------------- 
.04
22. Net profits (598 reported)-------------------$4311.65
23. Average net profit for the 598 hogs -- -- 
-- -- -- --- 7.21
24. Number of hogs lost by death------------------- 
180.
28
25. Total number hogs sold, killed, lost 
and on hand_ 1582
26. Average number per member reporting 
1.88
27. Number of members who raised registered hogs 144
28. Number of members who raised litters of pigs 110
29. Number who bought their club pigs 
276
30. Number who raised their club pigs 
297
31. Number whose pigs ran on pasture 386
32. Number who fed soiling crops 261
33. Number who reported pure breds for sale 53
34. Number who expect to buy pure breds for 1916 279
Without going into a full discussion of this sum-
mary, I wish to call attention to lines 27 to 34 inclusive,
as showing, in a measure, the constructive nature of
the work. It will be seen that.many are already rais-
ing registered hogs, quite a number having animals of
their own raising for sale, while a large number are
planning to get registered hogs for 1916. Steps are
being taken to assist those who wish to buy or sell
pigs. Lines 29 and 30 show the proportion of members
who bought and who raised their club pigs. Many of
those who raised their pigs have registered animals,
while nearly all who bought got good blood.
Nearly 400 members ran their hogs on pasture. To
further encourage the use of pasture and soiling crops,
seed were furnished to nearly 800 members (all who
reported promptly) to make pasture for their pigs
during the winter or spring. All received rape seed
and many received in addition bur clover, crimson
clover, and Bermuda grass seed. All who received
these seed agreed to make a report, when requested to
do so, showing their results.
The organization and management of the work was
practically the same in 1915 as in previous years. The
county was the unit, with the county farm demionstra-
tion agent as the county head of the work. The active
co-operation of the school authorities was enlisted in
every county. Local clubs were formed in school dis-
tricts where a resident teacher or a successful breeder
of live stock could be made the leader. Club members
and those co-operating in this work were never per-
mitted to lose sight of the fact that the real object of
the Pig Club work is to make of its members success-
ful animal husbandmen and trained citizens.
As was to be expected, there is much difference in
the results obtained in the different counties. Fayette
is easily the banner county of the State, and doubtless
also of the entire United States. The enrollment for
29
this county numbered 313 with 119 making 
reports.
These 119 members raised hogs valued at $1885.20.
No State show was held though most of the counties
held contests. Where permitted to compete 
in open
classes the boys usually carried off the best prizes.
In a number of counties where no county fairs 
were
held, Pig Club exhibits were arranged. In every case
they created great interest and enthusiasm.
Respectfully submitted,
L. N. DUNCAN,
Supt. of Junior and Home Economics Extension De-
partment.
REPORT OF THE PLANT PATHOLOGIST.
Prof. J. F. Duggar,
Director, Alabama Experiment Station,
Auburn, Ala.
Dear Sir:
I respectfully submit the following brief statement
of the work done in the Department of Plant Patholo-
gy under the Local Experiment Fund during the year
1915.
Most of the available funds have been utilized in
field studies on the control of peanut leaf spot and of
citrus canker. The work on peanut diseases was con-
ducted near Eutaw, Ala., and that on citrus canker
near Mobile, Ala. Valuable information on both of
these studies-has been secured and has been prepared
for publication.
Several additional problems have been undertaken,
among which are the control of bur clover leaf spot,
tests on the blight resistance of the Sand Pear, and a
study of peanut wilt and fruit rot, and a decay of
onions caused by Sclerotium Rolfsii.
It has been found that the bur clover leaf spot or-
ganism is carried over on the burs and that it can with-
stand the heat of summer. It may attack the seed
leaves of the seedling plants first, pass to other of the
leaves, and pass the winter on the green leaves of the
growing plant. Seed treatment should therefore be of
value in preventing this disease when the plant is
being grown in a new locality.
The so-called blight proof pear can be made to de-
velop blight when it is'inoculated with cultures of the
blight bacteria from apples. Similar results were se-
cured in New York where trees were sent to test the
influence of changes in locality on blight resistance.
In the field studies several fungi have been found in
plants not previously reported as hosts for these fungi.
Among them are Sclerotium Rolfsii associated with a
decay of onions, a study of which is in progress. The
same organism has been found to cause a disease of
seedling grapefruit trees. This fungus was reported
in 1914, from the Isle of Pines as productive of a rot of
citrus fruits which hang in contact with the soil. This
is the first observation of its occurence on Citrus in the
United States. The fungus associated with the red rot
31
of peanuts has been found on Irish potatoes and Ad-
zuki beans (Phaseolus angularis), on both of which
hosts it has not previously been recorded.
Sclerotium Rolfsii has also been found to cause a
typical wilt disease of peanuts and a rot of the fruits.
A brief treatise on certain citrus diseases and pecan
rosette has been prepared and published in Proceed-
ings of the Gulf Coast Horticultural Society.
A resume of the work on pear blight has been pre-
pared for publication in the Proceedings of the Ala-
bama State Horticultural Society for 1915.
Numerous letters of inquiry relative to the more
common plant diseases have been received and an-
swered.
Very respectfully submitted,
FREDERICK A. WOLF,
Plant Pathologist