CICULAR{ No. '14 ERAR 1
ALABAMA
Agricultural EIxperiment Station
OF THE
Alabama Polytechnic Institute
AUBURN
Annual Report of the Director of the Ex-
perimznt Station on Work Done Under
the Local Experiment Law in 1920
By
J1. F. DUGGAHI,
I)Iircc 143'
1921
Pent Publi4,hin.a Company,
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FEBRUARY, 1921
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Auburn, Ala., Feb. 10, 1921.
HoN. M. C. ALLGOOD,
Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries,
Montgomery, Alabama.
Dear Sir:
In accordance with Section 5 of the Local Experi-
ment Law, requiring me, as Director of the Experiment
Station of the Alabama Polytechnic Institute, to make
a full and complete annual report through the Com-
missioner of Agriculture to the Governdr of Alabama,
I herewith hand you my report of work done under
the Local Experiment Law in the calendar year 1920,
with the request that you transmit this report to Gov-
ernor 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
SPRIGHT DOWELL, President
Board of Trustees
His Excellency, Thomas E. Kilby, President -- - Ex-Officio
J. W. Abercrombie, 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.
W. K. Terry ---------------------------- Birmingham, Ala.
W. H. Oates------ ------------------------- Mobile, Ala.
T. D. Samford ------------------------------- Opelika, Ala.
W. F. Feagin------------------- ------ Montgomery. Ala.
J. A. Rogers ---------------------------- Gainesville, Ala.
C. M. Sherrod---------------------------- Courtland, Ala.
P. S. Haley--------------------------------- Cor'ona, Ala.
STAFF OF SPECIALISTS ENGAGED IN
WORK UNDER THE LOCAL EX-
PERI MENT LAW
J. F. DUGGAR, Director
AGRICULTURE AND PLANT BREEDING
* J. F. DUGGAR, in charge
E . F. Cauthen -- - - - - - - - - - --- -- - Agriculturist
M \. J. Funchess -- - ------------ _----Soils
J. T. W illiam son - - - - - - - - - - - - - ---
------ Supt. Co-operative Experiments in Agriculture
*H. B. Tisdale-------------------Associate Plant Breeder
LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY INVESTIGATIONS
G. L. Burleson
* F. L. Thomas
* J. M. Robinson
J. C. Grimes, in charge
--------- Assistant in Animal Husbaundry
ENTOMOLOGY
*W. E. Hins, in charge
- - - - Associate Entomologist
______ _____ _____ Assistant Entomologist
HORTICULTURAL INVESTIGATIONS
* G. C. Starcher, in charge
Lyle Brown----------------------Assistant Horticulturist
PLANT DISEASES
* - , in charge
DRAINAGE AND FARM MACHINERY
M. L. Nichols ---------------------- Agricultural Engineer
*G. A., Hart ------------- Drainage Engineer
* Devoting only part time to Local .Experiment Work.
* *In co-operation with United States Department of Agricul-
ture.

REPORT OF WORK DONE DURING 1920
UNDER THE LOCAL EXPERIMENT LAW
PART I
DIRECTOR'S SUMMARIZED REPORT OF WORK IN
ALL DEPARTMENTS
By
J. F. DUGGAR, Diretfor of Experiment Station.
By reason of a law passed by the Legislature of Ala-
bama in 1911, and generally known as the Local Ex-
periment Law, it has been possible for the Experiment
Station to conduct tests on farms throughout the state.
The work done under this state law is of a strictly prac-
tical character, the results of which may be promptly
utilized by anyone on reading the results or inspecting
the experiment fields which may be found scattered
throughout the state.
PUBLICATIONS
The publications issued during the calendar year
1920 under this fund were the following:
Bulletin No. 209: "Time of Applying Nitrate of Soda to Cotton."
Bulletin No. 210: "Time of Applying Nitrate of Soda to Corn."
Bulletin No. 212: "Poisoning the Boll Weevil."
Bulletin No. 214: "Summary of Investigations on Effect of
Tile Drains in the Lime or Prairie Section of Ala-
bama."
Circular No. 43: "Annual Report of the Director of the Experi-
ment Station on Work Done Under the Local Experi-
ment Law in 1920."
FIELD CROPS AND FERTILIZERS
As in other recent years the main subjects of study
were the fertilizers most profitable for cotton and corn
on the principal soil types of Alabama; the best
sources of nitrogen and phosphoric acid for such fer-
tilizers; the best varieties of cotton, corn, oats, peanuts,
cowpeas, soybeans and other forage crops for the dif-
ferent parts of Alabama. Especial attention was paid
to the species and varieties of grasses and clovers,
and of grass and clover mixtures, suited to the princi-
pal soils of the state.
The work o'f Mr. J. T. Williamson, Superintendent of
Cooperative Experiments in Agriculture, was supple-
mented by work done by the soil speciaiis of the Ex-
periment Station, Professor M. J. Funchess. The latter
collected and began the examination of soil samples
from all parts of the state for a determination of the
amounts of lime required to overcome the acidity in
each; he helped to make photographic records of the
growth of forage crops in numerous local experiments;
he'classified the soils of many experiment fields; and he
also supervised a plant-to-row corn breeding experi-
ment.
PLANT BREEDING
The Associate Plant Breeder, besides conducting at
Auburn, under other funds; investigations looking to
the improvement of corn and peanuts, has supervised
a considerable amount of plant breeding of a more
popular nature in other parts of the state. His main
work away from Auburn has been the testing of va-
rieties of wilt-resistant cotton, and the carrying on., in
a number of localities, of breedng experiments intend-
ing to separate for multiplication superior strains
from wilt-resistant varieties, and to develop wilt resis-
tance in certain popular varieties now susceptible to
wilt or blackroot. In estimating the importance of
the breeding up of varieties resistant to wilt or black-
root we should bear in mind that not only is this dis-
ease generally prevalent throughout the southern half
of the state but that it is continuously working its way
northward.
INSECT PESTS
A new insect pest, the Mexican Bean Beetle, has re-
cently invaded Alabama. Its coming threatens the'
growing of snap beans, cowpeas and of certain
other legumes just as ominously as the advent of the
boll weevil some years before threatene'd cotton pro-
duction,-a threat that we all know to have bee'n r'?!
-
ized in the annual tax of many millions of dollars that
the boll weevil has laid on the cotton growers of Ala-
bama.
Experimental work of surpassing importance has
been begun in 1920 by the Experiment Station under
this law in laying the foundations for a fight against
the Mexican Bean Beetle. Soon after its presence in
Alabama became known the representatives of 
the Ex-
periment Station, with some help from other agencies,
explored and mapped the area covered. The 
Mexican
Bean Beetle was found to occur in scattered localities
in thirteen counties in the northern part of Ala-
bama, being most abundant in Jefferson County and
around Blocton in Bibb County. In these localities
it completely destroyed fields of snap beans and cow-
peas.
Experiments were immediately started with a view to
devising means of combatting this new insect, which
was soon found to be unusually resistant, not only to
poisoning, but even to fumigation. The information
thus secured, though covering only a part of one season,
has been most useful in serving as a basis for warning
the public of the danger and regarding means of min-
imizing loss; in devising measures for retarding
the inevitable spread of the pest into all Alabama coun-
ties and into other states.
A start having thus been made the Experiment Sta-
tion is now in position to plan more intelligently for a
continuation in 1921 and in later years of its search for
methods of combatting this most serious pest.
So serious is the menace to the growing of garden
beans and of soil-improving crops, throughout the
state, that the department of entomology has been fur-
nished in 1920 with more than twice its share (ordina-
rily $2300) of the funds directly appropriated for work
away from Auburn with insects. This has been possi-
ble under that provision of the law allowing some dis-
cretion in administration as between the several orig-
inal items of allotment.
Extensive experiments in poisoning the cotton boll
weevil with calcium arsenate were continued in 1920,
the experiment fields of the year being located in Gene-
va, Russell ,and Macon Counties, each supervised by
an employee kept for a number of months in the locali-
ty to make the necessary applications, counts and rec-
ords. The results of these and of earlier local experi-
ments with the use of calcium arsenate are published
in Bulletin No. 212 of this Station.
There is urgent need for a continuation on a large
scale of these experiments in poisoning the cotton boll
weevil, so as to sectire data under a variety of condi-
tions of weather and of latitude with a view to deter-
mining when poisoning promises to be profitable and
when unprofitable. However, the present limited fi-
nancial support of the Experiment Station makes im-
possible a vigorous prosecution on an adequate scale in
the same year of both bean beetle investigations and
dusting experiments against boll weevil.
The entomologists have rendered assistance in the
fight against the grass worm that again in 1920 attack-
ed corn and many other grass-like plants in Alabama.
They have also recorded and prepared for publication
a list of insect pests found to occur in that year in
many parts of the state.
ANIMAL HUSBANDRY
Experiments with beef cattle under the Local Ex-
periment Law were conducted at Allenville 
in the win-
ter of 1919-20. Four lots of steers were fed to secure
additional data as to the relative advantages of feeding
velvet beans in the ground, soaked, or dry and un-
ground condition.
Two lots of cows were fed experimentally to ascer-
tain whether sorghum silage or Johnson grass hay is
the most expedient roughage for use in connection with
small amounts of cottons.eed meal for wintering beef
ca ttle.
With hogs an experiment has been begun on the
farm of Mr. Parke Thompson, Goshen, Pike County, to
determine, under south Alabama conditions, the rela-
tive values of corn or tankage, or a mixture of corn and
tankage, as a supplement to peanuts.
Investigations with poultry: The experimental work
ii this subject has been continued on the same poultry
farm as heretofore, near Citronelle, in Mobile County.
One of the main objects last year was to test the
relative values of peanut meal, velvet bean meal, and
other protein feeds, and to secure data bearing on the
most advantageous marketing and on the best basis
of selecting poultry.
HORTICULTURE
Studies and observations on the behavior and rela-
tive value of varieties of various fruits have been con-
tinued. Additional plantings of varieties of apples
have been made, including 10 varieties with an area
of 18 acres in Talladega County. In the same orchard
it is planned to make a study of the fertilizer require-
ments and of the best cultural methods for the produc-
tion of apples.
Tests of the effects of various amounts of nitrate of
soda on Satsuma orange trees have resulted in demon-
strating the great increase in the yields afforded by a
judicious application of nitrogen, and of its effect in re-
storing to a productive condition an orange orchard
seriously damaged by a freeze several years ago.
DRAINAGE
Assistance in farm drainage, including the making of
surveys and maps for the laying of tile drainage, was
rendered on 25 properties widely scattered throughout
Alabama, where the owners were ready to go to the
expense of installing systems of drainage.
A bulletin was prepared by the U. S. Drainage En-
gineer, cooperating with the Alabama Experiment Sta-
tion, which bulletin summarizes the results of several
years of experimental work in draining prairie land
with tile. The principal conclusions were that in this
class of soil the depth should ,usually be 3 to 31/2 feet
that a distance of 60 to 75 feet between the rows of tile
was most satisfactory; and that in the drainage of
prairie land it is more important to locate 
and tile
the seepy spots than to incur the expense of draining
large fields that are in fairly good productive condition.
In other lines of agricultural engineering the chief
features of the local work have been with the following
subiects:
Methods and cost of most effectively clearing cut over
lands in South Alabama.
Means of extracting from the stumps and refuse
wood a larger amount of valuable products as a means
of reducing the net cost of land clearing.
In addition, some preliminary work has been done
on wood preservation with a view to the renovation of
shingle roofs and other parts of old farm structures;
in adapting a machine to the distribution of fertilizers
for citrus trees; and in collecting data relative to the
relation between soil types and proper grades of ter-
races.
PLANT DISEASES
In addition to the work conducted by the plant breed-
er with a view to the development of strains and varie-
10
ties resistant to cotton wilt or blackroot, the plant pa-
thologist has made preliminary observations on va-
rious diseases of plants in many parts of the state.
These have included notes on diseases of various spe-
cies of vetch, bur clover and related species, sweet clo-
ver, Johnson grass, sudan grass, and other forage crops.
These have been taken with a view to making more ex-
tensively available the results that promise to come
from investigational work at Auburn under other funds
regarding these plant diseases. In this latter work,
incomplete experiments indicate that various methods
of seed treatment constitute promising means of com-
batting severai of these diseases.
The Experiment Station was unfortunate in losing
the services of the head of this department, Dr. G. L.
Peltier, who resigned April 1, 1920, to accept a more
lucrative position in another institution. His as-
sistant, Mr. A. F. Thiel, continued in charge and made
notable progress in the study of diseases of forage
plants, but for a similar reason resigned November 
15,
1920. Since that date the limited financial resources
of the Experiment Station have made it advisable to
leave the position vacant for at least a few months, 
so
as to permit the funds thus saved to accumulate for the
better equipment of the department when the position
is filled.
11
TREASURER'S REPORT, LOCAL EXPERIMENT
FUND FOR THE YEAR 1920
Receipts
To cash balance from 1919 $ 4,303.53
To cash from State 1920------------------------27,000.00
Total--------------$31,303.53
Dis bursements
By amount paid Agriculture---------------------$10,210.71
By ;iount paid Animal Husbandry -3,598.73
By amount paid Drainage and Farm Machinery 990.24
By amount paid Entomology --------------------- 4,744.52
By amount paid Horticulture----------------------1,702.49
By amount paid Plant Breeding-------------------1,272.90
By amount paid Plant Pathology ____----------967.32
By amount paid Poultry Husbandry---------------577.97
By amount paid Printing and Administration-------3,936.39
By balance carried to 1921------------------------3,302.26
Total-----------------------------$31,303.53
Respectfully,
M. A. GLENN.
Treasurer Alabama Polytechnic Institute.
Subscribed and sworn to before me, this the 24th
day of January, 1921.
B. L. Sm, 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.
SPRIGHT DOWELL.,
President, Alabama Polytechnic Institute.
PART II
DETAILED REPORTS OF HEADS OF DE-
PARTMENTS
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF COOPERATIVE
EXPERIMENTS IN AGRICULTURE
Prof. J. F. DUGGAR,
Auburn, Alabama.
Dear Sir:
Herewith I submit a brief report of the work done by
the Local Experiment Division of the Agricultural De-
partment for 1920.
Number and Location of Experiments: The exact
number of experiments conducted and their locations
cannot be given because the records containing this
information were destroyed in the Agricultural Build-
ing by fire on the night of October 16, 1920. However,
it can be safely said that more than 200 experiments
were conducted along at least 33 different lines. These
experiments were located on the most important soil
types and in fifty or more counties.
Lines of Experimentation: The following constitute
the principal lines of experiments which were conduct-
ed in the year 1920.
Corn, complete fertilizer experiments.
Corn, complete lime experiments.
Corn, time of applying nitrate of soda.
Corn, best sources of nitrogen.
Corn, best sources of phosphate.
Corn, extensive variety tests.
Corn, ear-to-row breeding experiments.
Corn, multiplication of bred-up strains.
Cotton, complete fertilizer experiments.
Cotton, complete lime experiments.
Cotton, time of applying nitrate of soda.
Cotton, best sources of nitrogen.
Cotton, best sources of phosphate.
Cotton, extensive variety tests.
Cotton, multiplication of bred-up strains.
Cowpeas, extensive variety tests.
Fertilizer-Rotation experiments.
Forage crop experiments, extensive.
Bur clover and alfalfa, short variety tests.
Kudzu, multiplication.
Oats, short variety tests.
13
Oats, multiplication of bred-up strains.
Peanuts, complete fertilizer experiments.
Peanuts, extensive variety tests.
Rice, short variety tests.
Rye, short variety tests.
Soybeans, extensive variety experiments.
Sugar cane, complete fertilizer experiments.
Sweet potatoes, complete fertilizer experiments.
Vetch, short variety tests.
Velvet beans, short variety tests.
Wheat, short variety experiments.
Wheat, multiplication.
New lLies of Experimentation: Other experiments,
in addition to the Fertilizer-Rotation tests, comparing
acid phosphate, basic slag, and rock phosphate as
sources of phosphorus for corn and for cotton, were
added in the spring of 1920. Eight experiments in as
many different counties were conducted with each of
these crops.
Previous to 1920 all Sources of Nitrogen Experiments
and all Special Nitrate Experiments were fertilized
with nitrogen and phosphorus only, but in order to se-
cure further information on the potash requirements
of the various soils as relating to corn and to cotton
there have been added plots on which a complete fer-
tilizer is used.
Short Variety Experiments with Soybeans, carrying
three varieties of soybeans in comparison with one va-
riety of cowpeas, were changed to Extensive Variety
Experiments in which nine of the most promising va-
rieties of soybeans were used.
Forage Crop Experiments: Extensive Forage Crop
Experiments, each carrying twenty plots on which were
planted almost all of the promising true clovers,
vetches, and bur clovers, as well as melilotus, alfalfa,
and lespedeza, were located as follows:
Butler County on Myatt fine sandy loam.
Colbert County on Decatur silt loam.
Cullman County on DeKalb loam.
Etowah County on Connasauga clay or Colbert clay.
Elmore County on Kalmia sandy loam.
Escambia County on Greenville sandy loam.
Houston County on Norfolk sandy loam.
Jefferson County on Decatur clay or Decatur silt loam.
Limestone County on Decatur clay loam.
Limestone County on Clarkesville silt loam.
Perry County on Houston clay.
Tuscaloosa County on Cahaba loam.
One-half of each plot of the Extensive Forage Crop
14
Experiments was limed at the rate of two tons of
ground limestone per acre. Acid phosphate was used
on the central portion of each plot at the rate
of 400 pounds per acre. All legumes were inoculated
with pure cultures obtained directly from a reputable
laboratory. Detailed notes were carefully made on all
these experiments. Photographs were taken where
the comparative differences of the several forage crops,
or the fertilizer effects on them, were especially strik-
ing. However, all these records were destroyed by fire.
This line of experimentation is being continued in
1921 in nearly the same locations as in 1920. Potash in
the form of kainit at the ra-te of 400 pounds per acre
is being used in addition to the acid phosphate and the
ground limestone.
.Publications: Bulletins No. 209-'Time of Applying
Nitrate of Soda to Cotton" and No. 210 "Time of Ap-
plying Nitrate of Soda to Corn" were published joint-
ly by Professor E. F. Cauthen, of the Experiment Sta-
tion, and the writer.
A manuscript sgiving the results of "Local Fertilizer
Experiments with Cotton in North Alabama. 1914-19."
was practically ready for publication when it was de-
stroyed by fire. This bulletin was to have been the
nost complete we have ever issued on fertilizers for
,cotton. The manuscript contained a record of the yield,
increase, and profit, from each fertilizer in each of
more than 100 experiments; the soil type and, in 1(O-t
,cases, the date of planting, of fertilizing, and of th, first
picking. Monthly rainfall records for that part of the
State and other climatological data were included.
Multiplication of Improved Seed: Although the fire
of October 16 destroyed all records of the improved
seed that had been distributed to farmers making
experiments for the Station, a few records have been
saved. One of these shows that about 300 acres of
cotton planted in 1920 came originally from 22 pounds
of Cook No. 1010, a very productive strain that had been
bred up by the Alabama Experiment Station and seed
of which had been sent to an experimenter in the spring
of 1918. This man made, in 1920, more than 100 bales
of cotton from multiplication of ,the 22 pounds of seed
which was received three years previous.
Another experimenter sold in 1920 about 200 bushels
of seed of Cook No. 1938, also breid up at Auburn-all
-descended from a single bushel of seed obtained from
this station in 1918.
Seed corn which this Division has sent out is being
grown and kept pure by experimenters.
One experinenter had approximately twenty acres
in an Auburn-bred strain of Alabama' Blue Stein wheat
from seed which he originally obtained from this Sta-
ton.
Respectfully suibmitted,
J. T. WILLIAM1SON,
Superintendent Cooperative Experimen its.
REPORT OF ASSOCIATE PLANT BREEDER
Prof. J. F. DUGGAR,
Auburn, Alabama.
Dear Sir:
I submit the following report of work done in Plant
Breeding under the Local Experiment fund during the
year 1920.
The cooperative breeding of wilt resistant varieties
of cotton was continued. Plant-to-row tests and in
crease plots of the best strains of each ariety were con-
ducted in three counties as follows: Cook No. 307-6
wilt resistant strains in Macon County; Cook No. 307-6
wilt resistant strains in Barbour County; and Toole wilt
resistant strains in Henry County. These experiments
were closely observed during the year and the best
strains were ginned separately for rapid multiplication.
About fifty individual plant selections were made from
each row test and increase plot. The seed distributed
from the breeding plots have been followed by record
and observation and growers have been urged to gin
such cotton separately and to keep the seed pure for
planting.
The local breeding work has brought about very en-
couraging results as shown by the fact that last season
the demand for high grade planting seed descended
from strains bred up by this Station was greater than
the supply. The cooperative planting and ginning 
of a
single variety of cotton for the entire community has
been encouraged and is now being practiced by several
communities of the State.
A considerable number of crosses between the best
wilt resistant strains and several varieties of high 
yield-
ing non-resistant varieties and long staple varieties
were made for the purpose of increasing the 
yield and
quality of staple of the wilt resistant strains and 
of ad-
ding wilt resistance to the best varieties that 
are now
susceptible to this prevalent disease.
Seventeen wilt resistant varieties of cotton were test-
ed on wilt infected soil in four counties 
of Alabama-
namely, Russell, Macon, Crenshaw, 
and Henry. The
same varieties are included in these tests 
as in previous
years and new ones are also included. 
Out of the
seventeen varieties tested the five that 
have been lead-
ing for several years in yield of seed 
cotton and wilt
17
resistance are Cook No. 307-6 wilt resistant, Tri-Cook
wilt resistant, Toole wilt resistant, Lewis No. 63 wilt
resistant, and Hybrid No. 189 wilt resistant.
A number of isolation or multiplication experiments
with wilt resistant varieties of cotton were placed with
farmers with a view to rapidly multiplying the seed of
varieties suited to the different localities.
Two experiments on methods of thinning cotton on
wilt infected land were conducted in two localities.
It appears that by planting cotton rather thickly on
wilt infected soil and not thinning until a later date
than is customary, the weaker plants die before rather
than after thinning, thus obtaining ultimately a better
stand of cotton than by the usual methods.
Respectfully submitted,
H. B. TISDALE,
Associate Plant Breeder.
REPORT OF ENTOMOLOGIST
Prof. J. F. DUGGAR,
Alabama Experiment Station,
Auburn, Alabama.
Dear Sir:
We are submitting a joint report on Local Experi-
ment work for the calendar year 1920.
The principal work has been along the lines of cot-
ton dusting for boll weevil control, the control of the
grass worm and control studies with Mexican Bean
Beetle. Special attention is, therefore, devoted to
those subjects.
A list of the principal insect pests reported by cor-
respondence during the year, with a brief statement
regarding injuries and localities has been prepared for
publication.
Cotton Dusting on 1920: Following similar lines
to those started in 1919, cotton dusting experiments
were located at Geneva, Geneva County, Notasulga,
Macon County, and near Ft. Mitchell, Russell County.
Messrs. R. H. Turner, 0. W. Bridges and W. P. Whit-
lock were engaged temporarily to conduct the experi-
ments in these locations. The work at Geneva and No-
tasulga was designed primarily to give further 
informa-
tion upon the dusting at four or five day 
intervals of
application and the profitableness of treatment under
yield prospects ranging from less than one-half 
bale
per acre to better than one bale per acre. At Ft. Mitch-
ell the operation of twelve cart-dusting machines, 
rep-
resenting three different makes, gave 
an unusual op-
portunity for a comparative study of these 
machines
in operation under large plantation conditions.
Unfortunately a considerable portion of 
the detailed
records in this work was destroyed in 
the burning of
the agricultural building on October 16, 1920. 
However,
the principal results of 1920 work have been 
included
as Part II of Local Experiment Bulletin No. 
212 which
is now in the press.
Grass Worm: The grass worm or fall army 
worm
(Laphygma frugiperda) was first noticed 
at Tuscaloosa
and reported from Bibb County in early 
June. This
was the first generation and did little damage 
although
concern was felt regarding succeeding 
generations.
The first part of July the second 
generation appeared
19
in far greater force than was expected and did a tre-
mendous amount of damage especially to young corn.
A large amount of arsenate of lead and calcium arse-
nate was used in dusting and spraying at this time as
a result of the publicity given. Thirty counties were
infested by this generation of worms. Practically the
entire injury from the first and second broods occurred
on land that had been overflowed and under water for
some time during the flooded conditions of December
1919 and early spring of 1920. The third generation
appeared when expected and the remainder of the
counties in the State became infested. This brood on
the whole was not as injurious as the second, corn was
larger and the worms attacked grasses for the most
part. The western sections of Alabama suffered most
from this generation as the pasture lands in the Black
Belt were temporai-ily injured. The natural parasitic
enemies rapidly increased so that the fourth generation
was unimportant, although it appeared.
Mexican Bean Beetle: Our first information as to the
occurrence of this insect in Alabama was the receipt of
specimens sent in from the vicinity of Blocton and
Birmingham about the first of July 1920. Report of
the occurrence was made immediately to the U. S. Bu-
reau of Entomology and as soon as possible an investi-
gation was started to determine the extent of the infes-
tation. The best evidence that could be gathered indi-
cated that the species was brought into the Birmingham
district probably through car-load shipments of alfalfa
hay coming from Colorado, Arizona or New Mexico in
1918. Only two parties have been found who had no-
ticed the new pest on beans during the season of 1918.
In several cases, however, the insect was noticed in
Bibb and Jefferson counties during the summer of
1919, but was not reported to this Department, as the
seriousness of the matter seems not to have been ap-
preciated.
This dangerous pest has been known to be excep-
tionally free from natural enemies and very difficult to
control by insecticidal measures in its western habitat.
There it is reported as occurring at altitudes up to 7,000
feet and surviving winter minimum temperatures of
30 to 35 degrees below zero. The occurrence of this
species in this section threatens the continued profita-
ble production of all kinds of table beans, cow peas and
20
soy beans. The study of control measures was under-
taken in August, 1920, and will henceforth become our
principal line of Local Experiment work.
The principal information available about this insect
at this time is contained in a phamplet now being pub-
lished under the Local Experiment fund.
Miscellaneous Insect Pests: A review of the Depart-
ment records for 1920 shows that an unusual variety of
economic pests has been reported. Several of these
species are of serious importance and wide-spread dis-
tribution. Little is known regarding their control and
special study should be given to them as soon as may
be possible.
Respectfully submitted,
W. E. HINDS,
Entomologist.
F. L. THOMAS,
Associate Entomologist.
REPORT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDMAN
Professor P. F. DUGGAR,
Alabama Experiment Station,
Auburn, Alabama.
Dear Sir:
I respectfully submit the following report of Local
Experiment work conducted by the Animal Husbandry
Department during the past fiscal 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
feed for the experiment and the Alabama Experiment
Station furnished a trained man, Mr. Ernest Gibbens,
to live on the farm and have personal supervision of
the work. The tests conducted were to determine the
following points:
1. To compare the relative value of an inferior quality of
Johnson grass hay and sorghum silage as a roughage for
wintering cows when fed in connection with cottonseed
meal at the rate of one pound meal per head daily.
2. To compare the comparative feeding value of cottonseed
meal and velvet beans for fattening steers when fed in
three different forms-dry, soaked, and ground.
In the first test twenty head of mature Hereford cows
were used, and ere fed as follows:
Lot 1. Ten head; 1,pound cottonseed meal and Johnson
grass hay.
Lot 2. Ten head; 1 pound cottonseed meal and sorghum
silage.
In the second test thirty-two head of steers were fed
as follows:
Lot 1. Eight head; cottonseed meal and sorghum silage.
Lot 2. Eight head; dry velvet beans and sorghum silage.
Lot 3. Eight head; soaked velvet beans and sorghum silage.
Lot 4. Eight head; ground velvet beans and sorghum silage.
It is planned to repeat this work during this year in
order to secure additional data on the subject.
HOGS
The cooperative experimental work with hogs is be-
ing conducted on the farm of Mr. Parke Thompson,
Goshen, Alabama. Mr. Thompson furnishes the hogs,
feed, and equipment, and the Alabama Experiment
22
Station furnishes a man to live on the farm and do the
feeding.
The object of the test being conducted is:
1. To determine the pounds of live pork per 100 pounds
picked runner peanuts alone, and with various supple-
ments.
2. To compare on a basis of gains and melting point of
fat, corn with tankage, and a mixture of corn plus tank-
age, all used as feeds supplementary to peanuts.
Four lots of six pigs each were fed as follows:
Lot 1. Picked runner peanuts, in self feeder.
Lot 2. Picked runner peanuts and shelled corn, in self
feeder.
Lot 3. Picked runner peanuts and 60% tankage, in self
feeder.
Lot 4. Picked runner peanuts, shelled corn, and tankage
in self feeder.
POULTRY
The cooperative experimental work with Mr. 
Her-
mhan Schlueterbusch, Citronelle, Mobile County, 
Ala-
Lama, was continued 
throughout the year. The 
tests
conducted were as follows:
1. A study of several feeds to determine 
their relative effi-
ciency and economy in egg production.
2. A study of several feeds-beef scrap, 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 cost 
of egg
production.
3. A study to determine the best age at which 
to market
poultry.
4. A study of the influence of selection on 
egg production.
In addition to the above work a test was 
started dur-
ing the past fall to compare the relative 
value of veg-
etable and animal protein as influencing 
egg product-
ion.
Respectfully submitted,
J. C. GRIMES,
Head Animal Husbandry Department.
REPORT OF HORTICULTURIST
Prof. J. F. DUGGAR,
Alabama Experiment Station,
Auburn, Alabama.
Dear Sir:
The work carried on under Local Experiment funds,
beginning with 1912 and continuing until the end of
1919, has been summarized and is ready for publica-
tion.
Owing to the small amount of available funds, only
one-half of one man's time has been available for Lo-
cal Experiment work throughout the State. This has
very greatly limited the work that could be done and
much of the work started in earlier years had to be
abandoned because of the inability of one man to be
on hand to take the notes , and of the unreliability of
vegetable notes made by the average farmer. Probably
no class of plants is as difficult to secure data upon as
vegetable plants, which must be harvested at exactly
the right moment or data secured would be absolutely
worthless. Most of these vegetable and perishable fruit
experiments have been discontinued but a considerable
number of the variety studies, formerly started with
tree fruits, are being continued iii various sections of
the State. Some of these are proving notably success-
ful.
A number of fertilizer experiments on Satsuma had
to be abandoned because it was discovered that we
were dealing with three varieties of Satsuma instead
of one.
One new project has been started, however, and is
proving very successful-that of the study of the effect
of pruning, tillage and nitrate of soda on a frost dan-
aged Satsuma orchard located on the farm of Roberl
L. Brown at Irvngton, Alabama.
The small plantings located at many points in the
State of fruits for observation have been abandoned
for a fewer number of projects covering a larger acre-
age. The first planting of this character was made in
the Spring of 1920 on the farm of the Talladega Pres-
byterian Orphanage at Talladega, Alabama, and covers
eighteen acres, which will be enlarged, with ten or
more of the leading commercial varieties of apples uno-
24
der observation. Tillage, spraying 
and fertilizing prob-
lems will be stndied at this place.
Other projects will be started as soon 
as arrange-
ments can be completed.
Respectfully submitte~d,
G. C. STARCHER,
Horticulturist.
REPORT OF DRAINAGE ENGINEER
Prof. J. F. D UGGAR, Director,
Alabama Experiment Station,
Auburn, Alabama.
Dear Sir:
Under the cooperative agreement between the Ala-
bama Experiment Station and the office of Drainage-
Investigations, Bureau of Public Roads, U. S. Depart-
ment of Agriculture, the following drainage and ter-
racing work was accomplished during the year 1920.
SWAMP AND OVERFLOW
During the year very little progress was made on the
several large Drainage Districts started in previous
years. The high cost of materials and labor caused
the several districts to defer work until more favorable
conditions. Two proposed districts were inspected and
preliminary reports prepared outlining the procedure
to be followed in organizing drainage districts and giv-
ing an estimate of cost of the proposed work. These
districts were the Oakmulgee Creek district in Dallas,
Perry and Chilton Counties with an area of fronm
10,000 to 12,000 acres of creek bottom land along Big
and Little Oakmulgee Creeks, and the walnut Creek
swamp of from 600 to 700 acres surrounding the towl
of Cl.anton, in Chilton County.
A revision of the drainage plans and cost estimate
for the Fowl River and Mobile Bay View Growers, 
As-
sociation Drainage District was also made. This Dis-
trict is located a short distance south of Mobile and con-
tains 3,500 acres. It is understood that the petition for
the formation of this district is now ready to be pre-
sented to the Probate Court of Mobile County.
The Fayette and Lamar Counties Drainage District
has raised money to continue the canal location survey
and the work will be completed this Spring. Over
22,000 acres are involved in the plans of reclamation on
this district.
FARM DRAINAGE AND TERRACING
Assistance in farm drainage, involving surveys, maps
and reports, recommendations and inspections for
drainage, or in laying off terrace systems or making
recommendations for their installation have been given
in the following counties:
Baldwin, Bullock, Dale, Dallas, Elmore, Hale, Lime-
26
stone, Lowndes,' Macon, Marengo, Mobile, Montgomery,
Perry and Pickens, and in active cooperation with the
following County Agents: Mr. John Blake of Selma,
Mr. E. R. Jameson of Greensboro and Mr. G. V. Stelzen-
muller of Bay Minette.
The following is a list of the individual tracts.visited:
MIi'. A. C. Barnes,' Summerdale, BaldwiniCounty,'terraees
built;
-Mr. N:.J. Bell,, Calhoun, LowndesCounty, drainage survey
and installation.
-Mr. J. W. Brown,'Scott Station, Perry County, survey and
installation.
Calhoun Colored School, Calhoun, Lowndes County, survey
.and installation.
Dr. Chas. F. Chandler, Montgomery City, garden.survey and
installation.
Miss Rachnel Grook, Three Notch, Bullock County, inspection
and terraces.
Judge M. S. Carmichael, Midland City,Dale, County, survey.
Dr. J. G. Criel, Montgomey, inspection of ineffective system.
Mr. A. B. Hall,. Denton,; Lowndes County, survey and installa
tion.
'Mr. C. T. Hail, Grand Bay,' Mobile County, survey.
Mr. Axil Johnson, Fair Hope,'Baldwin, County, srvey.
iMrJ. J-L. Jones, Montgomery County, survey.
1Mr. A. Jung, Fair Hope, Baldwin County, terracing.
Mr. E. R. Jamison, Creensboa o, Hale Coanty, survey.
M. Joe Lambert, Orrville, Dallas County, survey.
Mr. L. J. Lawson, Greensboro, Hale County,-survey.
Mr. B. W. Norris, Montgomery County, survey anci installa-
'lion.
Mr. A. D. Rich, Montgomery County, survey.
Mr. Cole Savage, Gordo, .Pickens 'County,'urvey and instal-
lation.
Mr. W. H.- Sith,Pattyille,- Autauga County, survey and in
stallation.
Mr. J. C. Tidmore, Moundville, Hale, County, survey.
iMr. Jas. Hi. Tolley, Belle Mina,! Limestone, County, survey.
Dr. L. B. Wilkerson, Shorters, Macon County, survey.:
Mr. Jno. R. Witt,i Belle Mina, Limestone County, installation.
Mr. C. A. Woods, Grand Bay, Mobile County, survey.
Data were obtained upon the effect of- tile drainage in
various sections of the State, the- crop yield measure
on several tile' drained. tracts- and comparisons made
with adjacent lands that were not tile drained. 'In-
creased crop yields from two to five -times the former
average yields were noted..
Three trenching machines have been located in' the
Black Belt Section during the year and have been used
iinstalling tile drains on some six or seven hundred
acres of land.
:Very' truly yours,
P. ST. J. WILSON,
Chief Engineer.
REPORT OF AGRICULTURAL ENGINEER
Auburn, Ala., Dec. 28, 1920.
Prof. J. F. DUGGAR, Director,
Auburn, Alabama.
Dear Sir:
In compliance with your request of November 
30,
concerning a report for the Agricultural Engineering
Department for the year ending December 31, 
1920, I
beg to submit the following:
Unfortunately the records which we had obtained
have been lost in the fire that destroyed the agricultu-
ral building, and it is almost impossble from memory
to make a satisfactory report.
Organization: The time allotted to the Experiment
Station work by this Department is five twenty-sevenths
of one man's time. The subjects in which we have
done some work are: (1.) Land Clearing; (2.) The use
,of the products of land clearing from destructive dis-
tillation; (3.) Preservative and Water-proofing treat-
ments for farm buildings; (4.) Suitable equipment for
chilling and cooling pork to assist in butchering in hot
weather; (5.) The modification of equipment to suit
our agricultural conditions; and (6.) Terracing.
Land Clearing: In land clearing a considerable area
was cleared in the vicinity of Mobile, amounting to
about seven acres in fat pine stumps. Various meth-
ods were tried with the use of explosives. We tried
out very carefully Hercomite, a 60 percent explosive;
20 percent Red Cross dynamite; 40 percent Red Cross
dynamite; and DuBell dynamite.
In this experiment we wished to find out the most
effective explosive, and our results tended to show us
that the higher percent explosives were the most eco-
nomical, since we obtained more power for less money.
Records were also made on the cost of burning
stumps. These data were collected from work on three
acres which were not included in the above seven acres.
In the three acres burned the cost was $15.00 per acr
with no returns. However, in the area blasted, the val-
ue of the wood, exclusive of the hauling, more than
equaled the labor and explosives used; the cost averag-
ed about $20.00 per acre, and the wood averaged seven
tons, selling at about $4.90 per ton.
28
A new method for blasting, stumps was tried out.
The old 'practice has been to place the charge of explo-
sive at an angle of approximately 45 degrees. This
left the cut-off parts of. the tap root of the stump near
the ground, and did not cut off a large amount of the
tap root. After a coniderable amount of experimen-
tation, we secured a new boring machine, and bored
rather deeply, placing the charge deep in the heart of
the tap. root, at least two feet down. Under these con-
ditions dynamitewas able to- cut the tap root off18
inches deep and to split up the stump. As a result of
this, work, a number of commercial distillers have
adopted this method of blasting. One of the companies
states that it has saved $5.00 per acre by this method.
Destructive Distillation: j'l.e work (using pine
stumps and.other waste, material available in the clear-
ing of cutover land) with destructive distillati o as
been rather limited. However, a considerable amount
of investigation has been done and relations established
with large distillers of wood. These men have very
crude and incomplete apparatus, but the data obtained
show that we can considerably increase the output by
improved methods.
Two or three new plants have been constructed, and
are now in operation, but none of them have as yet ar-
rived at the correct scientific basis necessary to the
most economical handling of this material.
Wood and Roof Preserving: In the water proofing
treatment and preservation of woods a considerable
amount of data was gathered looking to the methods
of renovating old shingle roofs.
Chilling Pork: Some work has been done on cooling
pork, so that it may be properly preserved.
Fertilizing Equipment: Some work was done in pre-
paring a machine which would properly distribute fer-
tilizer for citrus trees. The hand method that is now
used is very expensive. Modifications will be Badel of
apparatus now on the market for the purpose.
Terracing: In connection with other work with ter-
races, records are being made to determine the effect
of grade and its relation to soil types.
Respectfully submitted,
M. L. NICHOLS,
Agricultural Engineer.