IEII 1920
ALABAMA
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An : 11 on thr [z cctor of Elie Ex-
Ih-. Local Experiment Law in 1919
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Auburn, Ala., Feb. 18, 1920.
HON. M. C. ALLGOOD,
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-
periment Station of the Alabama Polytechnic Institute,
to make a full and complete annual report through 
the
Commissioner of Agriculture to the Governor of 
Ala-
bama, I herewith hand you my report of work 
done
under the Local Experiment Law in the calendar 
year
1919, with the request that you transmit this 
report to
his Excellency, Governor Thomas E. Kilby.
Yours very truly,
J. F. DUGGAR,
Director Experiment Station of
the Alabama Polytechnic Institute.
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
OF THE
ALABAMA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
B. B. Ross, Acting President
Board of Trustees
His Excellency, Thomas B. Kilby,. President- Ex-Officio
Spright Dowell, Superintendent of Education ----- Ex-Officio
H. D. Merrill -------------------------------Anniston, Ala.
Harry Herzfeld-----------------------Alexander City, Ala.
Oliver R. Hood-----------------------------Gadsden, Ala.
C. S. McDowell, Jr.-------------------------- Eufaula, Ala.
WT. K. Terry----------------------------- Birmingham, Ala.
W. H. Oates----------------------------------Mobile, Ala.
T. D. Samford------------------------------- Opelika, Ala.
MT. F. Feagin---------------------------- Montgomery, Ala.
J. A. Rogers ----------------------------- Gainesville, Ala.
C. M. Sherrod-----------------------------Courtland, Ala.
IP.S. Haley---------------------------------Corona, Ala.
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 B. F. Cauthen ---- Agriculturist
* M. J. Funchess ----- Agronomist
J. T. W illiam son - -------------- ------------
-- ------- Supt. Cc-operative Experiments in Agriculture
* H. B. Tisdale-Associate Plant Breeder
* 0. H. Sellers- --- -- --- -- -- --- Assistant in Agriculture
LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY INVESTIGATIONS
* Geo. S. Templeton, in charge
* E. Gibbens- --------------- -Assistant in Animal Husbandry
* G. L. Burleson---- Assistant in Animal Husbandry
ENTOMOLOGY
* W. E. Hinds, in charge
* F. L. Thomas - - - Assistant in Entomology
HORTICULTURAL INVESTIGATIONS
* G. C. Starcher, in charge
* C. L. Isbell-------------Assistant Horticulturist
JUNIOR AND HOME ECONOMICS EXTENSION
* *L. N. Duncan, in charge
"Miss Mary Feminear, Slate Agent Home Demonstration Work
** J. L. Herron---- -------- --- Assistant in Boys' Clubs
PLANT DISEASES
* G. L. Peltier, in charge
* E. F. Hopkins---------------------------------Associate
DRAINAGE AND FARM MACHINERY
M\. L. Nichols------------------------Agricultural Engineer
* Devoting only part time to Local Experiment Work.
* *In co-operation with United States Department of Agricul-
ture.

REPORT OF WORK DONE DURING 1919
UNDER THE LOCAL EXPERIMENT LAW
PART I
DIRECTOR'S SUMMARIZED REPORT OF WORK IN
ALL DEPARTMENTS.
BY
J. F. DUGGAR, Director of Experiment Station.
All of the work reported in this publication was
done under the terms of the Local Law passed by the
Legislature of Alabama in 1911.
This Law provides for a class of experimental work
not sufficiently technical nor sufficiently under the im-
mediate and constant supervision of trained experi-
menters to be supported by the Federal Hatch or
Adams funds, even if the whole of those funds were not
required for the experimental work conducted in the
fields, barns, and laboratories at Auburn.
The local experiment work thus provided by the
Legislature is more popular and more localized than
experiment station work proper, and differs from ex-
tension or demonstration work in that the local experi-
ment work requires well chosen check or untreated
plots and the keeping of careful records for publica-
tion for the guidance of farmers cultivating similar
soils.
PUBLICATIONS
The publications issued from the Local Experiment
Fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1919, consist of
the following:
Bulletin No. 206: "Grazing Peanuts With Hogs, Versus Market-
ing a Crop of Peanuts."
Bulletin No. 207: "Local Fertilizer Experiments with Cotton in
South Alabama 1914-1918, Inclusive."
Circular No. 39: "The Argentine Ant and How to Control It."
Circular No 40: "Annual Report of Director of Experiment Sta-
tion on the Work Done Under Local Experiment Law
in 1918."
FIELD. CROPS AND FERTILIZERS.
Among the lines of experimental work conducted on
274 farms throughout the state by picked farmers
working under the supervision of a representative of
the experiment station, the following experiments,
among others, were conducted.
Corn: Fertilizer experiments, including soil and
crop requirements; best combinations; best time of
applying nitrate of soda; effects of lime; tests of va-
rieties; breeding for increased yield; and multiplica-
tion tests to increase for local use the supply of seed
systematically bred up by years of careful plant-to-
row breeding at Auburn.
Cotton: Fertilizer requirements of cotton 
on each
of the principal soil types found in Alabama; best 
time
for applying nitrate of soda; and variety tests.
Forage Crops: These include testing, in a number 
of
localities, of an extensive list of forage plants and com-
binations of grasses and clovers, and 
in addition the
testing, in a larger number of localities, of 
smaller
numbers of forage plants believed to 
be especially suit-
ed to those localities.
Miscellaneous: In addition to the above the follow-
ing tests, among others, were also made with staple
field crops; fertilizer experiments 
with peanuts, sweet
potatoes, and sugarcane; variety tests of 
peanuts, oats,
rye, wheat, and velvet beans.
Lime Requirements of Soils: 
In addition to field
tests intended to throw light on 
the needs of a number
of crops and soils for lime, a large 
number of samples
of soil has been collected for examination 
in the lab-
oratory by a method which indicates 
the approximate
amounts of lime required to 
overcome the acidity in
each soil. On a special trip 
for this purpose samples
were collected during the past 
year from four counties
in south Alabama. In 
the preceding year the samples
collected and examined 
had been taken from counties
in the northern part of 
the state.
These lime surveys and examination 
of samples will
be continued, with a view 
to testing soils from 
all
counties, and with a hope 
that the data will afford 
a
basis for the publication 
of a lime map of the 
entire
state.
PLANT BREEDING.
Only a part of the time of the plant breeder is given
to the local experiment work. He has conducted ex-
tensive breeding experiments in four localities in the
southern part of the state, with a view to the testing
of varieties and strains of cotton as to their relative
resistance to the cotton wilt.
He has supervised the multiplication, in numerous
neighborhoods, of wilt-resistant seed, previously bred
up at Auburn or elsewhere.
It is a source of gratification that in some localities
the progeny of seed systematically bred up at the ex-
periment station at Auburn, and subsequently tested
out locally under the Local Experiment Law, has to a
large extent supplanted other varieties on the farms of
the most progressive farmers.
ENTOMOLOGY.
In this department one of the principal lines of work
has been the poisoning of cotton boll weevils with cal-
cium arsenate.
In three, out of the four, localities in which the re-
sults of dusting were carefully investigated, there was
notable net profit from this operation in 1919, in spite
of almost continuous rainy weather.
The method of experimental work consisted in plac-
ing a representative of the station on a selected farm to
conduct the tests and make the records throughout the
late summer and the fall.
The entomologist reports that the sweet potato wee-
vil, the occurrence of which some years ago in the ex-
treme southern part of the state caused justifiable un-
easiness, is no longer to be found in Alabama. He also
reports that extensive examinations show that there
are no pink boll worms in Alabama, as the result of
three shipments of cotton made some years ago to Ala-
bama fields from the infested region in Texas.
ANIMAL HUSBANDRY.
The experimental work with beef cattle has contin-
ued in cooperation with Judge B. M. Allen on his plant-
ation at Allenville. Last year's work consisted of ex-
periments to determine the cost of wintering cattle of
various ages, the value of peanut meal as compared
with cottonseed meal, and the value of low-grade John-
8
son grass hay as compared with sorghum silage. One
hundred twenty head of cattle were used in these tests,
and, as usual, repetitions will be necessary before the
results are sufficiently conclusive for publication.
On sandy land at Union Springs experimental work
in feeding hogs was continued as heretofore. The third
year's results were secured as to the amount of pork
produced per acre by grazing on peanuts. The second
year's results were secured in feeding to harden the
pork of hogs previously grazed on peanuts. In this test
a period of seven weeks of exclusive grain feeding was
not sufficient to harden all of the hogs, according to the
requirements of the St. Louis market.
Several lines of feeding and management with poul-
try have been continued on a poultry farm at Citron-
elle.
HORTICULTURE.
A part of the time of one man has been available for
supervising local experiment work in horticulture.
Among the activities of the past year were fertilizer
experiments with apples in north Alabama; with
peaches in Butler County; and with Satsuma oranges
in Baldwin and Mobile Counties. A spraying experi-
ment with pecans and the testing of a number of stand-
ard and known fruits and nuts were among the local
activities of this department.
PLANT DISEASES.
This department has been concerned with obser-
vations and experiments relative to certain diseases of
cotton and other economic plants.
During the fall the associate pathologist has been
engaged in an intensive study of -the leaf spot that is
very injurious to bur clover. These studies, not yet
completed, seem to indicate that the disease may be
prevented by a very simple and inexpensive treatment
of the seed.
BoYs' CLUB WORK.
Before the passage of the Smith-Lever Act of Con-
gress in 1914 extension work with boys' clubs was
chiefly dependent for support upon an item in the Lo-
cal Experiment Law. Now boys' club work is chiefly
supported by extension funds provided under the
Smith-Lever Act of Congress and state laws related
thereto.
The total enrollment in 1919, including 
duplicate
membership in more than one kind of 
boys' agricul-
tural clubs, was reported as 7227.
DRAINAGE.
Cooperation has been continued as heretofore with
the Federal Department of Agriculture, whose drain-
age engineers, Messrs. Guy A. Hart and Lewis A. Jones,
with headquarters at Montgomery, have been succes-
sively in charge.
They report having made surveys for drainage or
terracing systems on 32 properties in 14 counties. They
have also made preliminary examinations of 6 large
tracts of bottom land with a view to the reclamation
and drainage of 40,500 acres of swamp land located in
6 counties.
AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING.
After an interim, the position of agricultural engi-
neer was filled September 1, 1919, by the appointment
of Professor M. L. Nichols. In the remaining four
months of the year he has made plans for future work,
and has made a beginning in some lines of experiment-
al inquiry. One of these is a determination of the
most practicable methods of repairing and roofing old
tenant houses and other farm buildings. Some work
has been done in adapting machinery to the hulling
of bur clover seed as a means of improving its germni-
nating power and in order to make more practicable
the treatment of the seed for the prevention of the
leaf disease of bur clover.
10
TREASURER'S REPORT, LOCAL EXPERIMENT
FUND FOR THE YEAR 1919.
Receipts
'To cash balance from 1918---------$ 4,715.69
To cash from State 1919-------------------------27,000.00
Total- -- -- --- -- $31,715.69
D isb Lrsemlents
By amount paid Agriculture---------------------$ 8,928.21
By amount paid Animal Husbandry_ 4,233.90
By amount paid Extension (Junior and H. E.) 4,623.99
By amount paid Drainage and Farm Machinery- 135.00
By amount paid Entomology-------------------2,348.26
.By amount paid Horticulture----------------- - -1,837.53
-By amount paid Plant Breeding----------------- 1,290.78
By amount paid Plant Pathology--- - 985.32
By amount paid Poultry Husbandry-------------- -- 779.77
By amount paid Printing and Administration -- - 2,249.40
By balance carried to 1920--- 4,303.53
Total- - -- -- - -- -- $31,715.(
Respectfully.
M. A. GLENN,
Treasurer Alabama Polytechnic Institute,
Subscribed and sworn to before me, this the sixth
day of February, 1920.
B. L. SHI, Notary Public.
This is to certify that I have compared the account
with the ledger account of the Treasurer and this is a
,correct transcript of the same.
B. B. Ross,
Acting President, Alabama Polytechnic Institute.
PART II
DETAILED REPORTS OF 
HEADS OF DE-
PARTMENTS
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF COOPERATIVE
EXPERIMENTS IN AGRICULTURE
Professor J. F. Duggar,
Alabama Experiment Station,
Auburn, Alabama.
Sir:
The following is submitted as a report on the work
carried on under the Local Experiment Fund in 1919 by
the Agricultural Department of the Alabama Experi-
ment Station:
Lines of Experiments: Three or more experiments
with some field crop were conducted in every county in
the state, with the exception of Lee. The total number
of experiments arranged for 1919 was 422, with 268 ex-
perimenters.
Lines of Experimentation: Below are listed the thir-
ty-nine distinct lines of experiments which were con-
ducted during the year, 1919:
Corn, complete fertilizer experiments.
Corn, complete lime experiments.
Corn, time of applying nitrate of soda.
Corn, sources of nitrogen experiments.
Corn, extensive variety experiments.
Corn, short variety experiments.
Corn, ear-to-row breeding experiments.
Corn, multiplication.
Cotton, complete fertilizer experiments.
Cotton, complete lime experiments.
Cotton, time of applying nitrate of soda.
Cotton, sources of nitrogen experiments.
Cotton, extensive variety experiments.
Cotton, extensive wilt variety experiments.
Cotton, short variety experiments.
Cotton, short wilt variety experiments.
Cotton, wilt breeding experiments.
Cotton, multiplication.
Cowpeas, extensive variety experiments.
Fertilizer-Rotation experiments.
Forage crop experiments, extensive.
Forage crop experiments, miscellaneous, winter.
Forage crop experiments, miscellaneous, summer.
Medicago, short variety experiments.
Kudzu, multiplication.
Oats, extensive variety experiments.
12
Oats, multiplication.
Peanuts, complete fertilizer experiments.
Peanuts extensive variety experiments.
Rice, short variety experiments.
Rye, extensive variety experiments.
Soybeans, short variety experiments.
Sudan grass experiments.
Sugar cane, complete fertilizer experiments.
Sweet potatoes, complete fertilizer experiments.
Velvet beans, short variety experiments.
Vetch, short variety experiments.
Wheat, extensive variety experiments.
Wheat, multiplication.
Forage Crop Experiments: Special attention is being
given to winter forage crop experiments. The results
from this line of experimentation during the past sea-
son give very valuable information in regard to some
of the vetches, true clovers, wheat, oats and rye. De-
tailed notes and pictures were secured of each of the
tests.
Soil Acidity Studies: Continuing the soil acidity
work, started in 1916 in cooperation with the Division
of Soils, many soil samples were taken in Butler, Cone-
cuh, Escambia and Mobile counties during the summer
of 1919. These samples are to be used for laboratory
studies, especially with reference to their need for
lime. Further sampling of the various soils of Alabama
will be done from time to time.
Publications and Papers: Bulletin No. 207, "Local
Fertilizer Experiments with Cotton in South Alabama,
1914-1918, Inclusive," has been printed and distributed
since the last report of this kind. Other bulletins show-
ing the results of the experiments made by this Division
will be published this season.
A paper, on the "Need of Cotton for Potash on Coast-
al Plain Soils, giving an average of the one hundred
conclusive experiments in South Alabama, 1911-1918,
inclusive, was presented at the meeting of Southern Ag-
ricultural Workers in Birmingham last year.
Experimenters: When Local Experiment work was
begun by this Division it was very dificult to secure men
who were both satisfactory experimenters and in posi-
tion to make experiments more than one year. Much
of this difficulty has now been eliminated. In 1919
more than 74 percent of the experiments located by the
Superintendent of Cooperative Experiments in Agricul-
ture were on farms of men who had previously con-
ducted experiments. These men, as well as the other 25
13
,or 26 percent, are almost without exception men who
are interested in the experiments for the actual benefit
they will derive from them in their farming operations.
These experimenters are men who are capable, respon-
sible and careful; and quite a number of the 268 experi-
ienters have conducted the same experiments on their
farms from five to eight years. They realize the value
of persistent repetitions, of carefulness and of accuracy
in making experiments and are usually willing to in-
convenience themselves, if need be, in order to get the
information from these experiments.
Respectfully submitted,
J. T. WILLIAMSON,
Supt. of Co-operative Experiments in Agriculture.
REPORT OF ASSOCIATE PLANT BREEDER
Professor J. F. Duggar, Director,
Alabama Experiment Station,
Auburn, Alabama.
Sir:
I submit the following report of the work done in
Plant Breeding under the Local Experiment Fund dur-
ing the year 1919.
The breeding of cotton for wilt resistance under boll
weevil conditions was continued with additienal at-
tention to a better staple. Plant-to-row tests and in-
crease plots from previous row tests of wilt resistant va-
rieties were conducted cooperatively with farmers in
four counties as follows: Cook 307-6 wilt-resistant, in
Macon county; Cook 307-6 wilt resistant, in Barbour
county; Toole wilt resistant in Henry county, and Dixie
wilt resistant in Crenshaw county. The planting of
these row tests was personally supervised, and they
were visited several times during the year and compar-
ative notes made on the rows. In the fall about thirty
individual plant selections were made from each of the
row tests and increase plots.
A few individual plant selections were made from
cotton multiplication experiments. The best strains
from the plant-to-row tests of the several varieties are
isolated, multiplied rapidly and offered for sale by lo-
cal breeders, thus bringing into general cultivation the
best strains bred up by the Experiment Station.
Extensive variety tests of wilt resistant cotton were
conducted co-operatively with farmers in Macon, Rus-
sell, Autauga, Henry and Crenshaw counties. In each
of these experiments sixteen varieties of wilt resistant
cotton collected from different parts of Alabama and
other states were tested. All varieties used in 1918
were repeated in the 1919 experiments when possible.
Eight short variety tests consisting of three of the
best wilt-resistant varieties of cotton were conducted
in different parts of the wilt infected area of Alabama.
The few best varieties as shown by the extensive varie-
ty tests are the ones used in the short tests.
A number of isolation experiments of wilt resistant
varieties of cotton were placed with farmers with a
view of rapidly multiplying the seed of varieties par-
ticularly suited to the different localities.
Respectfully submitted,
HI. B. TISDALE,
Associate Plant Breeder.
REPORT OF ENTOMOLOGIST
W. E. HINDS
Auburn, Ala., Dec. 20, 1919.
Prof. J. F. Duggar, Director,
Alabama Experiment Station,
Auburn, Ala.
Sir:
Herewith I submit a brief report of the principal En-
tomological activities under Local Experiment Funds
for the calendar year of 1919.
1. Boll Weevil: Soon after the beginning of the
1919 season it became apparent to us that the boll wee-
vil was likely to survive hibernation in large numbers
and the situation appeared to be favorable for heavy
damage during the season of 1919. We therefore, un-
dertook to warn farmers to this effect and to cooperate
in the general campaign for reduction of acreage plant-
ed in cotton, through meetings with the bankers, far-
mers, and others, in every way possible. Of course, we
could not anticipate the unusually heavy rainfall oc-
curring during July and August 1919. This rainfall
however, not only favored the multiplication of the
weevils, but prevented the setting of cotton even more
effectively than the weevil would have done without the
rainfall.
Our principal work with the weevil this year has been
in connection with the demonstration of the possibility
and practicability of controlling the weevil by dust-
ing the cotton with Calcium Arsenate, according to
plans recommended by the U. S. Bureau of Entomolo-
gy. This work was first started in 1918, and in that
season did not give us profitable results, mainly due
to dry weather occurring in the early part of the fruit-
ing season and continuing for several weeks. This
drouth controlled the weevil to such an extent that poi-
soning was not necessary to secure a practically nor-
mal crop. In 1919, however, the situation was radical-
ly different, and we found that farmers were deeply
interested in the question of poisoning cotton, but com-
paratively few of them were willing to take steps to
provide the machinery and the poison necessary until
the matter had been proven to their satisfaction. We
considered therefore, that this project was of larger fi-
nancial importance than any other to which we could
16
devote our attention. Naturally, a matter of this kind
required the entire season to put through the test. 
This
work was planned and carried on to cover as many
representative points in the State as possible, and 
to
apply to as many varied soil and cultural conditions as
we might be able to cover within the limits of our
funds.
As a general result from this work, we can state that
at Dothan, Alabama, on Spann Bros'. Plantation, the
increased yield as a result of dusting showed a value
ranging up to better than $20.00 per acre. At Allen-
ville, on A. M. Collins' plantation similar results were
,obtained. At Orrville, on J. E. Dunnaway s plantation,
where the progress of the work was in charge 
of a
special agent, working for the Niagara Sprayer Co.,
but who cooperated by keeping records and 
giving us,
a report regarding his work, we find that on 
an area
of 75 acres dusted there is an average profit of better
;than '22.00 per acre. At Prattville on the McQueen
Smith Plantation, the expense of conducting the work
ranged somewhat higher and the results were some-
,what less than at other localities, so that it is probable
that little, if any profit will be realized at that point.
However, for the work as a whole, we can state defi-
nitely that the results are extremely encouraging in
spite of the most difficult season, so far as late fall con-
<ditions are concerned, that we .have had in many years.
During the period of the dusting work, rain fell upon
from two-thirds to three-fourth of the days during the
dusting period, thus making it extremely difficult to
keep the poison upon the plants long enough to secure
a control effect. This work must be continued through
the coming years to secure a reliable basis through
an average of several seasons, and in many localities
before making recommendations regarding dusting
work for the general cotton plantation.
2. Corn Insect Control: This project has been con-
tinued to some extent, but the main advanced step has
been to secure the inclusion of this in the demonst a-
lion program of the County Agents through the South-
ern two-thirds of Alabama. The principal point in
connection with corn insect control is to secure the se-
lection of a weevil-resistant type of seed ear and the
utilization of the trap plot method of concentrating the
first generation of these insects so that they may 
be
17
easily and economically controlled by proper handling
of this small trap plot of corn.
3. Red Spider: The Red Spider again appeared in
large numbers at numerous localities scattered through
the State, and did considerable damage. It appears
now that the type of dusting machinery used in con-
nection with boll weevil control can be utilized for the
distribution of finely-powdered sulphur for the con-
trol of the red spider. This matter is of sufficient im-
portance to call for further experimentation, and this
will be possible as the boll weevil control work becomes
more common, so that machinery is available.
4. Sweet Potato Weevil: The Sweet Potato Weevil,
occurring in the vicinity of Grand Bay, appears to have
been brought under complete control, and we trust has
been exterminated in that section. In connection with
the U. S. Bureau of Entomology, inspection has been
continued under the immediate supervision of Dr. O.
F. E. Winberg. The owners of properties on which
the weevil was found in 1918 were induced to adopt
such methods that the spread of the weevil was check-
ed, and its existence seems now to have been eliminated
by these measures. The weevil has not been found at
any other point in the State of Alabama.
5. Pink Bollworm of Cotton: Through information
received from the tracing service of the Pink Bollworm
Agents, working under the Federal Board of Horti-
culture in Texas, it appeared that three cotton mills
in Alabama had received cotton from pink bollworm
infected territory in Mexico at sometime about the
fall of 1916, and before the insects were discovered
in Texas and quarantine measures applied by the
Federal Board of Horticulture. Accordingly, in keep-
ing with the liberal policy of the Federal authorities,
it seemed advisable to conduct inspection work at each
of these cotton mill localities. This has been done in
cooperation with the Federal Horticultural Board,
which has sent inspectors to two of these cotton mill
localities, while the Department of Entomology has
furnished the inspection for the third location. Seve-
ral inspections have been made and additional work
will be done during the present winter. However, we
are glad to report that no trace of the pink bollworm
has been found in Alabama thus far.
The situation in Southeastern Texas is now more
18
threatening than during the season of 1918. At that
time, through the control work conducted by the Fede-
ral Horticultural Board and the Texas Department of
Agriculture, cotton growing was eliminated through-
out the pink bollworm-infested area in Southeastern
Texas. During 1918 inspectors covering that entire
non-cotton territory found and destroyed more than
three million volunteer cotton plants, upon which the
pink bollworm might have continued had the destruc-
tion not occurred. No trace of the worm was found
in that territory during 1918, and therefore, the cul-
ture of cotton under close supervision was permitted
during the season of 1919. In the late fall of 1919, it
was found that the worm had survived, probably in
buried particles of cotton of the 1917 crop, and infes-
tation was found in some twenty-five or thirty fields
located within the known 1917 area. Control work
through the complete destruction of stalks, bolls, seed
cotton, etc., and the exportation of all lint ginned in
this territory to non-cotton growing sections is now
under way. A recent visit to this territory indicates
that the control work is being done with such effective-
ness that there is little danger of the the pest spread-
ing from Texas into Alabama. At the present time,
therefore, we do not consider a quarantine by Alaba-
ma gainst the pink bollworm of cotton to be necessary.
Respectfully submitted,
W. E. HINDS,
Entomologist.
REPORT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDMAN
Auburn, Ala., Jan. 15, 1920.
Prof. J. F. Duggar, Director,
Alabama Experiment Station,
Auburn, Alabama.
Sir:
I respectfully submit the following report for the
Local Experiment work conducted by the Animal Hus-
bandry Department during the past calendar year:
BEEF CATTLE
The cooperative steer feeding work at Allenville,
Marengo County, Alabama, was continued throughout
the year. Judge B. M. Allen furnished the cattle and
the feed for the experiment, and the Alabama Experi-
ment Station furnished a trained man, Mr. Earnest Gib-
bens, to live on the farm and have personal supervi-
sion of the work.
A test was started this past winter to determine the
fodlowing points:
1. The cost of wintering beef cattle of various ages under
Alabama conditions.
2. The comparative value of an inferior quality of Johnson-
grass hay and sorghum silage as the roughage part of
the ration, for wintering mature breeding cattle.
3. The comparative value of high grade cottonseed meal
and peanut meal as the concentrate part of the ration
for wintering yearlings and calves when sorghum silage
is used as roughage.
One-hundred-twenty head of cattle were used and
fed daily as follows:
Lot 1. Twenty head mature cows, fed 1 pound cottonseed
meal and Johnson-grass hay.
Lot 2. Twenty head mature cows, fed 1 pound cottonseed
meal and sorghum silage.
Lot 3. Twenty head yearlings, fed 1 /2 pounds cottonseed
meal and sorghum silage.
Lot 4. Twenty head yearlings, fed 11 pounds peanut meal
and sorghum silage.
Lot 5. Twenty calves fed 11/2 pounds cottonseed meal and
sorghum silage.
Lot 6. Twenty head calves fed 11/2 pounds peanut meal
and sorghum silage.
It is planned to continue this work for several years
so that the average length of the feeding period for the
winter can be obtained, and that the cost of wintering
three ages of cattle may be determined definitely.
HOGS
The cooperative experimental work with hogs at
20
Union Springs, Bullock County, Alabama, was contin-
ued throughout the year. The work with this class of
animals was conducted on the farm of Mr. T. R. Mar-
tin. Mr. Martin furnished the hogs, feed, and equip-
ment, and the Alabama Experiment Station furnished
a trained man, Mr. G. L. Burleson, to live on the farm
and have personal supervision of the work.
The third test was completed during the year in the
experiment comparing grazing of peanut pasture with
harvesting the crop and selling it on the market. The
report for the first two years of this experiment will
be found in Bulletin No. 206 published by this Station.
This past year the peanut crop was very short, due
to an excessive amount of rain. About seven bushels
of peanuts to the acre were produced, and they yielded
about 81 pounds of pork to the acre, as compared with
a yield in 1917 of 391/2 bushels to the acre, producing
668.2 pounds of pork to the acre.
A second test to determine whether or not a dry lot
feeding period following peanut pasture would be pro-
fitable, and to determine the effect of a dry lot feeding
period.on the quality of the carcass, was finished dur-
ing the year. A bulletin will be isued giving a summary
and all the details of the experiment conducted for
three years on this subject.
This past year forty hogs were used in the experi-
ment. They were allowed to graze peanut pasture for
seven weeks. At the end of the grazing period the hogs
were divided into three lots and fed as follows:
Lot No. 1. Eight hogs, seven additional weeks on
peanut pasture.
Lot No. 2. Sixteen hogs, fed a ration of forty percent
tankage and corn for seven weeks.
Lot No. 3. Sixteen hogs, fed a ration of sixty percent
tankage and corn for seven weeks.
Consequently eight pigs of this experiment were on
peanuts for fourteen weeks. Thirty-two head had 
a
pasture period of seven weeks, then a dry lot finishing
period for seven weeks according to the ration indi-
cated for lots 2 and 3.
At the close of the finishing period the experimental
hogs were shipped to St. Louis and sold. The peanut 
fed
(oily) hogs sold for 8% cents. Part of the hogs in lots
2 and 3 were sold to Swift & Company on the basis 
of
the way the carcasses appeared when chilled out. One
half of the hogs from these two lots (fed a hardening
21
ration for seven weeks) were classified as soft and
were paid for on the basis of 81/'2 cents live weight. The
other half were classified as firm and sold for 131
cents live weight. Samples of kidney fat from these
hogs were sent to the Department of Chemistry at Au-
burn for determinations of melting point and iodine
value.
A third experiment was conducted during the year
to make a preliminary test in feeding velvet beans to
brood sows. Many reports have come to the Station
from farmers who use velvet beans indicating that vel-
vet beans are not a satisfactory ration for bred sows
and sows suckling pigs. This test has not continued for
a sufficient length of time to afford any definite con-
clusions.
POULTRY
The cooperative experimental work with Mr. Her-
man Schlueterbusch at Citronelle, Mobile County, Ala-
bama, was continued. The experiments conducted
were as follows:
1. A study of several feeds to determine their relative ef-
ficiency and economy in egg production.
2. A study of several feeds-beef scraps, skim milk, peanut
meal and velvet bean meal-as a source of part of the
protein in the ration to determine the relative efficiency
of each feed as influencing the egg yield and the cost of
egg production.
3. A study to determine the best age to market poultry.
4. A study of the influence of selection on egg production.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE S. TEMPLETON,
Animal Husbandman.
REPORT OF THE HORTICULTURIST
Prof. J. F. Duggar, Director,
Alabama Experiment Station,
Auburn, Alabama.
Sir:
We submit herewith a report on the work being
done with Local Experiment Funds in this Depart-
ment.
1. Variety tests of the following plants have been
continued during the year away from Auburn, and
notes have been taken on their condition and adap-
tion:
Apricots Loganberry
Butternuts Nectarines
Calomindin Olives
Caraca Peaches
Papaya Pistachio
Feijoa 
Prunes
Figs-Smyrna, Capri Ouince
Grapes Sapota
Guava Walnuts
Almond Chestnuts
2. The nitrate of soda experiment, using various
amounts per tree, has been continued in the apple or-
chard of Kelly Bros., at Jeff, Alabama. Late spring
frosts killed most of the fruit, so no yield record could
be made. Comparative growth notes were made.
3. Fertilizer experiments have been continued in
the orchard of Dr. 0. F. E. Winberg, Silverhill, Alaba-
ma, to test the value of various fertilizers, applied at
different seasons on Satsumas which have been in-
jured by freeze.
4. The experiment has been continued in the or-
chard of Mr. R. L. Brown, Irvington, Alabama, in
which trees that had been neglected and injured by
freeze were treated with different amounts of fertili-
zers in an effort to learn which would be most valu-
able. Results are so outstanding that people in the en-
tire citrus belt of South Alabama are following our sug-
gestions on fertilizers for Satsuma oranges.
5. A fertilizer experiment was started on vegeta-
bles with C. B. Blodgett, near Montgomery. Stock de-
stroyed the crops.
6. Fertilizer test with peaches at Bolling has been
continued. Results of this test are very satisfactory,
and will be published later.
7. A spraying experiment for the control of pecan
scab, was started with J. B. Clements, Benton, Ala.
23
8. All experimental notes since 1912 have been col-
lected and sunmmarized preparatory to publication, in
the form of a report of progress.
9. As funds for Local Experiment Work in Horti-
culture are so limited that one man cannot
spend full time on this work, it is thought best to re-
duce the number of experiments and place larger ones
in fewer places. Plans for this change are worked
out and will be carried on as present experiments are
.closed and published.
Respectfully submitted,
G. C. STARCHER,
Horticulturist.
C. L. ISBELL,
Assistant Horticulturist.
REPORT OF THE PLANT PATHOLOGIST
Auburn, Ala., Jan. 11, 1920
Prof. J. F. Duggar, Director,
Alabama Experiment Station,
Auburn, Ala.
Sir:
I am herewith submitting a brief statement relative
to the Local Experiment Work in the Department of
Plant Pathology for the past year.
In cooperation with the Plant Disease Survey, U. S.
Department of Agriculture, an intensive survey of the
State was made by Mr. L. E. Tisdale for the dreaded
European Potato Wart, which was recently discover-
ed in Pennsylvania. In spite of the fact that shipments
of European potatoes, similar to those which carried
the disease into Pennsylvania, had been made to Mo-
bile, Birmingham, and Huntsville, no signs of this dis-
ease were found in Alabama.
Observation and some experiments have been con-
tinued on the more serious diseases of corn, cotton,
cereals, forage, truck, and horticultural crops.
Owing to a cooperative agreement entered into with
the Bureau of Plant Industry, U. S. Department of Agri-
culture, on July 1, 1919, the Pathologist will devote
almost his entire time to a study of Citrus canker. This
agreement has made possible the employment of an
Associate Pathologist, who can devote much of his
time to Local Experiment work.
On Sept. 15, 1919, Mr. E. F. Hopkins, accepted this
latter position and immediately took up a study of the
diseases of forage crops and their control. He is giv-
ing special attention at this time to the diseases of bur
clover, vetches, soy and velvet beans.
Respectfully submitted,
GEO. L. PELTIER,
Plant Pathologist.
REPORT OF DRAINAGE ENGINEER
Prof. J. F. Duggar, Director,
Alabama Experiment Station,
Auburn, Alabama.
Sir:
Following is a brief resume, prepared for your ref-
erence, of the work done by this Office during the cal-
endar year of 1919, under the cooperative agreement
between this Office and the Alabama Experiment Sta-
tion.
From January 1st to March 31st, and from September
16th to December 31st, Mr. Guy A. Hart, Drainage En-
gineer, was in charge of the Office at Montgomery.
From April 1st to September 15th, Mr. Lewis A. Jones,
Senior Drainage Engineer, was in charge of the Office
with Mr. Hart assisting.
SWAMP AND OVERFLOW
At the request of Hon. Edward B. Almon, U. S. Rep-
resentative from the Eighth District of Alabama, pre-
liminary examinations were made upon two proposed
drainage districts in Jackson County. The Roseberry-
Dry Creek District, south and east of Scottsboro, em-
braces an area of approximately 9000 acres. The pro-
ject is entirely feasible, the cost being estimated from
$10 to $15 per acre. In the report on this District it is
recommended that the District be organized and
the surveys made. The Sauta Creek District is located
a few miles west of Scottsboro and embraces an area
of approximately 6000 acres. Plans with the estimated
cost of construction were made for this District, the
cost being about $13 per acre. This District has pro-
ceeded to organize under the Alabama Drainage Dis-
trict Law and will soon reach the point where they will
be able to issue bonds and start the construction work.
Preliminary examinations were also made on the fol-
lowing proposed districts: The Double Creek district
in Marengo County, near Demopolis, area of district
approximately 7000 acres. Recommended that a com-
plete survey be made of the district and the cost of the
improvements determined. The Haysop Creek Drain-
age District in Bibb County with an area of approxi-
mately 6000 acres has recently taken the first steps
toward the organization of the district under the Drain-
age Law. This project appears to be quite feasible, the
26
cost very reasonable, the lands exceedingly fertile, and
the people anxious to proceed. The Cubahatchee
Creek district in Macon and Bullock Counties involves
an area of approximately 9000 acres. A survey of the
proposed district was recommended in order to deter-
mine the probable cost of the drainage improvement.
The Freeman Creek bottoms, with an area of about
3500 acres, were examined and a survey recommended
in order to determine the best location for the necessary
channel to effect the desired drainage.
The proposed district of the Mobile Bay View Grow-
ers Association in Mobile County, for which plans and
estimates were made by this Office in 1916, has taken
on new life and an effort is now being made to reorga
nize this district under the new Drainage District Law
passed by the last session of the 1919 Legislature.
FARM DRAINAGE AND TERRACING
Assistance in tile drainage, involving surveys, plans
and recommendations for drainage, or in laying off ter-
race systems have been given to the following tracts,
some of them having completed the improvements:
R. G. Arrington- Montgomery, Montgomery County
R. R. Banks- --------- -- Smithsonia, Lauderdale County
A. C. Barnes------------------ Summerdale, Baldwin County
H. P. Brown Uniontown, Hale County
Benoit Coal Company _ - - -Benoit, Walker County
Dr. C. F. Chandler-_-___ -ClMontgomery, Montgomery County
A. M. Collins-----------------------Alleville, Hale County
H. T. Collins----------------------Allenville, Hale County
J. D. Collins -------------------------- Gallion, Hale County
C. F. Crawford ------------------- Gallion, Marengo County
Gid Dearman -------------- Ward, Sumter County
J. J. Dinsmore-------------------- Falkville, Morgan County
R. L. Dolbey------------------ Summerdale, Baldwin County
Chas. Ford ------------------------ Gallion, Hale County
Leo Frmmnk ---------- Magnolia Springs, Baldwin County
A. B. Hall ------------------------ Benton, Lownde-s County
F. P. Hall--------------------Florence, Lauderdale County
Sam Harrison--------------------_ _ _ _ _Gallion, Marengo County
W. C. Harrison-------------------- Gallion, Marengo County
Hicks Brothers- --------------_ _ _Autaugaville, Autauga County
B. F. Hughes ------------------- Faunsdale, Marengo County
W. C. McKnight----------------- Faunsdale, Marengo County
Dr. J. J. Pettus----------------Belle .Mina, Limestone County
J. T. Reeder----------------- Smithsonia, Lauderdale County
J. W. Rutland -------------------- Cherokee, Colbert County
F. T. Richardson ------------- Mooresville, Limestone County
F. G. Sharretts----------------- Summerdale, Baldwin County
W. H. Smith -------------------- Prattville, Autauga County
B. F. Sullivan--------------- _ _ _Summerdale, Baldwin County
Miss C. R. Thorn------------------ Calhoun, Lowndes County
27
Miss Mary Wilson-------------Fort Davis,Bullock County
Gilbert G. White-----------Belle Mina, Limestone County
John R. Witt --------------- Belle Mina, Limestone County
Several inspection trips were made to observe the
effect of previously installed drainage systems. Some
of these were found to be in poor or inoperative
condition and recommendations were made to the
owners that the outlets be improved and better care
taken of the systems. The benefits to land and crops,
derived from the installation of the various drainage
systems, were carefully noted and brought to the atten-
tion of others in the vicinity of those doing drainage.
Considerable more interest is now being shown toward
drainage than has ever been shown before and it is
hoped that the work will proceed as well as it now
promises.
Very truly yours,
P. ST. J. WILSON,
Chief Engineer.
REPORT OF JUNIOR AND HOME ECONOMICS
EXTENSION DEPARTMENT.
Auburn, Ala., Jan. 6, 1920.
Prof. J. F. Duggar, Director,
Alabama Experiment Station,
Auburn, Alabama.
Sir:
I submit herewith a brief report on the Boys' Club
Work for the calendar year 1919:
REPORT OF BoYs' CLUB WORK IN 1919.
State Organization
L. N. Duncan, Superintendent Junior and Home Economics
Extension Department.
J. C. Ford, State Pig Club Agent.
P. O. Davis, Assistant Boys' Club Agent.
J. L. Herron, Assistant Boys' Clubs Agent.
In addition to the above force Mr. C. E. Newman and
Mr. C. R. Bowers were with us for a short while during
the early part of the year 1919 and added valuable as-
sistance.
Plan of Work.
Below is given in brief the plan of work which we
try to follow as nearly as conditions will permit.
Club work belongs to the county agent and our busi-
ness is to assist him. All club literature and reports,
both to and from the club members, pass through his
hands.
In order to make the work systematic and to save
the time of the agents, we are pushing a definite plan
of work for each county according to the following
outline:
1. With the County Agent and the County Superintendent
of Education we select about ten schools where organized
club work is to be done.
2. Explain this plan to the teachers concerned and secure
their active cooperation.
3. Call a general meeting at each of these schools and ex-
plain the purpose of club work to parents and children to-
gether.
4. Enroll and organize the boys into a Club and select about
three progressive, public-spirited men for an Advisory Com-
mittee.
5. After explaining the purposes of an Advisory Committee
to the members they are each urged to attend all meetings, en-
courage and advise the boys and assist them with their re-
cord books, etc.
6. Close the year's work in the fall with a community or
County Fair or Club Show and sell together the club products
for sale.
The above plan will be extended and made to fit in
29
the new'Boys' and Girls' Club Act passed by the 1919
Legislature.
ENROLLMENT AND ACTIVITIES OF MEMBERS.
Boys were enrolled in all of the 67 counties'of the
State as in previous years.
The activities and the number of boys.enrolled in
each activity are as follows:
Pig Club. .Corn Club Calf Club Peanut Club Grand.total
4269' 1997 218 593 7227
During the year there were 163 organized clubs that
made full reports. There were a great.many more or-
ganized clubs that met regularly and used the programs
prepared by our office but did not report.
SHORT COURSES,
During the year county short courses were held in
the counties indicated below:
Attendance
Cullman------- ---------------------------- 44
-Lauderdale-------- ----------------------- 28
Morgan---------------------------------------28
Madison------- - ------------------ 28
Lamar-----------------------------------29
Jackson--------------------------------30
Winston---------------------------------10
Limestone--------------------------------25
Shelby------------ ----------------------- 30
Jefferson --------------------------------- 14
The regular Annual-Short Course was held at Au-
burn, August .1-16, and was pronounced the best one
that we have ever held. There were 175 boys from 41
counties.
HOME DEMONSTRATION WORK
A full detailed account of this phase of our work. has
been, submitted. Since this work is supported' by
general Extension Funds and not from Local .Experi-
menit Funds this report is. not printed here.
Summary
Counties organized (11 months)--------------- 35
Counties: organized (less than. 6 months)------5
Agents employed (11 months)---------36
Agents employed' (less than 6 -months)-----
Total- number of -organized clubs for girls' and
.women in 3.5 counties --------- ,------434"
Total enrollment of. girls. and women ---------- 5886 -
Total value- of all club products.* -- ------ _ _$596,374.46
Respectfully submitted,
L. N. DUNCAN,
Superintendent Junior aind, Home Economics Depart-
REPORT OF AGRICULTURAL ENGINEER
Auburn, Ala., Jan. 9, 1920.
Prof. J. F. Duggar, Director,
Alabama Experiment Station,
Auburn, Ala.,
Sir:
After the interim when the position of Agricultural
Engineer was vacant, the work in Agricultural Engi-
neering was commenced under the writer on Septem-
ber 1, 1919, and at the present date can only be said to
be fairly started. Since most of the problems are re-
lated to crop production, the greater part of the work
falls of necessity during the growing season.
Several projects have been started but in no case
has there been gathered a sufficient amount of data
for a report on results obtained.
A problem of considerable importance in Alabama
is that of housing farm labor. There are thousands of
cabins in various stages of disintegration in this state
and with the present price of materials it is an impor-
tant item to put them into a sanitary and comfortable
state for the laborers. In this connection screening and
suitable water supply must be considered. One of the
most important phases of this is the repair of the roof.
A great deal of material has been gathered and stu-
died, and arrangements made for field tests on this sub-
ject, but as yet work is in progress on only one build-
ing.
A problem of importance particularly in the southern
part of the state is the cooling of meats in the summer
months. Plans are being prepared of smokehouses
which can be temporarily converted into cooling rooms
and the pork or other meats thus cured without mov-
ing them from one building to another. 
A study of
materials and methods of cooling is under way and ar-
rangements have been made for the construction 
of
several such houses during the coming summer.
Some time has been given the problem of separating
bur clover seed from the pods or burs, since 
the use
of hulled seeds apparently increases the stand. 
It is
considered by many that some means should 
be avail-
able for the farmer to separate these seeds 
from the
pods on the home farm. Several means 
were tried but
the saws on an ordinary cotton gin were found 
to work
31
most satisfactorily. Experiments in this line will be
continued.
Arrangements have been made for some experimen-
tation to determine the ?adjustibility of different plows
and soil-preparation tools on different soils when the
planting season opens.
Some work of an experimental nature is needed in
terracing land, first to determine the cost of these op-
erations; second, to determine types of terraces and
grades best suited to our different soils. A number
of fields have been terraced in seven counties by differ-
ent methods but as yet no results have been gathered
to permit the drawing of any definite conclusions.
Respectfully submitted,
M. L. NICHOLS,
Agricultural Engineer.