Annual report of the North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station

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North Carolina State Library
Raleigh
The Work during 1 894 of the
N. C. Agr. Experiment Station
ISSUED BY THE
NORTH CAROLINA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
RALEIGH, N. C.
Seventeenth Annual Report
January 31, 1895
336
Publications will be sent to any address in North Carolina upon application.
N. C. Agricultural Experiment Station,
Office of Director,
Raleigh, January 31, 1895.
lo His Excellency Elias Carr,
Governor of North Carolina.
Sir: I have the honor to submit herewith a report of the opera-tions
of the North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station for the
year ending December 31, 1894.
This report is made in accordance with the following portion of
section 3 of the Hatch Act of the Congress of the United States for
the maintenance of agricultural experiment stations in the various
States and Territories:
"It shall be the duty of each of the said stations, annually, on or
before the first day of February, to make to the Governor of the State
or Territory in which it is located, a full and detailed report of its
operations, including a statement of receipts and expenditures."
Trusting that this report will prove satisfactory to your Excellency,
, I am, very respectfully yours,
H. B. Battle,
Director.
N. G. COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND MECHANIC ARTS
THE OSTOIRTJEI CABOLINA
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
INCLUDING
THE FERTILIZER CONTROL STATION
AND THE STATE WEATHER SERVICE,
UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE
BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE A. AND M. COLLEGE.
W. S. Primrose, Chairman, Raleigh.
W, F. Green Franklinton.
D. A. Tompkins Charlotte.
H. E. Fries „ Salem.
N. B. Broughto,n _ . Raleigh.
W. R. Williams Falkland.
J. B. Copfield _ Everett's.
W. E. Stevens Clinton
J. H. Gilmer Greensboro
W R. Capehart „ Avoca
J. R. McLelland Mooresvilla
R. W. Wharton.. Washington
T. B. Twitty Rutherfordton
J. F. Payne Alma.
STATION COUNCIL.
A.. Q. Holladay, W. S. Primrose, H. B> Battle,
Pres. A. and M. Oollege. ,
OFFICERS OF THE EXPERIMENT STATION.
H. B. Battle, Ph. D._ _ Director and State Chemist.
F. E. Emery, M. S Agriculturist.
Gerald McCarthy, B. So Botanist and Entomologist.
W. F. Massey, C. E Horticulturist.
C. F. von Herrmann (U. S. Weather Bureau) Meteorologist.
F. P. Williamson, D. V. S Consulting Veterinarian.
B. W. Kiloore, M. S _ Assistant Chemist.
F. B. Carpenter, B. S Assistant Chemist.
W. M. Allen Assistant Chemist.
C. B. Williams, B. S Assistant Chemist.
Alexander Rhodes Assistant Horticulturist.
Roscoe Nunn (U. S. Weather Bureau). Assistant Meteorologist.
A. F. Bowen Secretary.
ralbigh, re. o.
CONTENTS.
Letter of transmittal - Ill
Report o f Director . . . . . .
.
.. IX
What the Experiment Station has accomplished for the agricultural,
horticultural and material interests of the State x
How the division of agriculture has be*-n of beaefit xv
How the chemical division has been of benefit xvii
How the botanical and entorn -logical divisions have been of benefit xix
How the horticultural division has been of benefit xxm
How the meteorological division (State Weather Service) has been of
benefit - xxiv
The work accomplished during the past two years XXV
The Fertilizer Contr. 1 Station ... xxvi
The fertilizer control during 1893 ami 1894 xxvi
Digest of fertilizer laws now in force :. __ xxx
Increase in number of brands, and the difficult}' in a proper control xxxi
Valuations of fertilizers, and how they are determined xxxi
Bullet ns containing ferti izer analyses xxxiii
Mechanic il condition of fertilizers xxxiv
Fertilizers and .their constituents xxxiv
The Agricultural E xperiment Station *xxxv
Scope of work xxxv
Divisions of the station .. xxxvn
The station staff xxxvn
Equipment „ -. _ _ _ xxxvn
Publications of the station xxxviii
Regular bulletins XL
State weather service bulletins xliii
Special bulletins . xliv
Weekly weather crop bulletins xliv
Press bul etins . . .. .. xlv
Annual reports of the station r __ xlvi
Annual reports of the mete< >rolog ; cal division XLVI
Bienn al reports of the station _ xlvi
Informat on bulletins _ xlvi
Mailing the stati n publicati ns xlvii
Mailing routes in North Carolina for station publications . . _ xlvii
The collection of special agricultural information XLVin
A conservative and voluntary eed control XLIX
The insecr f*una of North Carolina.. ._ L
The d^iry industry _ LH
The marls and phosphates of North Carolina Lin
Veterinary investigations LIV
Some adulterations detected LIV
The importance of rati' nal stock-feeding LV
Means for reaching farmers _ lvi
Acknowle gments i lviii
The work of th,j agricultural division LXI
The work of the chemical division LXII
Th j work of the botanical and ntomological divisions LXIII
The work of the horticultural division LXV
The work of the meteorolog cal division ... LXV
Th^ work of the veterinary division LXVII
Report of the Agriculturist LXVIII
Report of the First Assistant Chemist LXXIV
Report of the Botanist and Entomologist lxxvii
Report of the Horticulturist LXXX
Report of the Meteorologist lxxxiii
Financial state ment LXXXVII
CONTENTS. VII
PAGE.
Horticultural tests and results with garden vegetables, fruits and bulb culture
(bulletin No. 94) - , 1
The fertilizer control during 1893, including the official analyses of spring and
fall samples, and a description of ingredients in fertilizers and their analyses
(bulletin No. 95) - - 21
Miscellaneous agricultural topics contained in the press service bulletins (bul-letin
No. 96) 53
Digestion experiments with soy-bean hay, cat-tail millet Johnson-grass hay,
sorghum fodder and b igas e, peanut-vine hay, cotton seed meal, cotton- seed
hulls, crimson-clover hay, corn meal, corn-and-cob me.tl, and corn silage
(bulletin No. 97) , - 85
Some leguminous crops and their economic value, including— I. legumines as
improvers of the soil; II. the cultivation of leguminous plants for forage;
in, the fungous and insecr enemies of legumi' es (bulletin No. 98)._. 133
Thread-worm of pork ( Trichina spiralis) (bulletin No. 99) 173
Our common inserts (bulletin No. 100) _ 181
Progress of the dairy industry in North Carolina (bulletin No. 101) 217
Encouragem nt to the dairv interests of North Carolina through the medium
of the State fairs (bulletin No 102) .'. 225
Miscellaneous agricultural topics contained in the press service bulletins of
January to June, 1894 (bulletin No. 103) 237
Why pull y.-ur corn fodder? (bulletin No. 104) . 261
The chestnut and its weevil. Nut cu'ture in North Carolina (bulletin No. 105) 265
Rational stock-feeding, including—I. definition of terms, and composition and
digestibility of foods; II, feeding standards; III, how stock rations can be
calculated; IV, s >me radons fed in North Carolina, and some rations sug-gested;
v. comments of practical stock breeders and feeders (bulletin No. 106) 277
Flowering bulbs in North Carolina, and their propagation for florists' use (bul-letin
No. 107) 321
Seed testing, its uses an1 ^methods (bulletin No. 108) _ 345
Feeding trials with animals, including—I, the effect of cotton-seed hulls and
meal as cattle food; II, cotton-seed me^l as a horse food: in cotton-seed
meal for pi^s; iv, cotton seed meal for calves; v, feeding skimmed milk to
lambs; vi, a pig-feeding test; vn, a system of feeding young calves (bulletin
No. 109) 417
The marls and phosphates of North Carolina (bulletin No. 110) 451
SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
DIRECTOR
*
OF THE
N. C. AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION,
FOR 1894,
TO THE GOVERNOR.
The North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station, in-cluding
the Fertilizer Control Station and the State Weather
Service, during the past year has concluded a period of its
life embracing one-sixth of a century. It appears that the
present is a fitting time to record something of its aims and
objects, the results that it has accomplished, and in general
the particular work that has been done for the agricultural,
horticultural, as well as for the material interests of North
Carolina.
The Experiment Station as it now exists, is a growth of
years and experience. It could not have sprung into life in
its present state, for the complete knowledge of the needs of
such an institution, as well as the fullest means and widest
facilities for conducting it, were lacking.
On the 12th of March, 1877, on the day of the ratification
of the law by the General Assembly, the Station was organ-ized
as a part of the North Carolina Department of Agricul-ture.
The Station thus organized was the first in the South-ern
States, and the second in America.
The objects desired by its establishment were twofold
:
1st. To protect the farmers of the State from the fraudu-lent
fertilizers then flooding the market; and
2d. To carry on experiments in the field (in the language
of the act) ''on the nutrition and growth of plants with a
view to ascertain what fertilizers are best suited to the various
crops of this State, and whether other crops may not be
advantageously grown on its soil."
Besides these two principal objects, the new institution was
designed to be a place of information on all subjects pertain-ing
to agriculture or horticulture or other material interests,
X N. C. AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 1894.
where farmers and others could seek information in regard
to farming or any of its allied branches. A place where
marls, soils, compost, fertilizers or any fertilizing ingredient
could be examined and their value reported; where feeding
stuffs could also be analyzed and their true worth ascertained ;
where insects injurious to vegetation co>uld be studied and
remedies recommended; where varieties of field crops, small
fruits, orchard fruits, grasses and clovers, and forage plants
could be tested ; where seeds could be examined for their
purity and vitality, and where special and detailed informa-tion
could be secured as the result of combined study, refer-ence,
and experience, in both scientific and practical branches.
The Station was first located at Chapel Hill in connection
with the State University. It was moved by legislative enact-ment
to Raleigh in 1881, where it is still located. Dr. A. R.
Ledoux was its first director until November, 1880, and was
succeeded by Dr. C. W. Dabney, Jr., until September, 1887,
when the present director took charge. In April, 1886, an
experiment farm was equipped for the purpose of conducting
practical field and stable work, and in December, 1886, the
State Weather Service was organized for the purpose of dis-tributing
by telegraph, weather indications, cold wave and
frost warnings, and to study the weather and climate upon
growth of crops in every section of the State. Up to 1888,
the Station was supported by the license tax on fertilizers,
after which time it received the benefit of the Hatch fund
from the general government. After this fund was received,
the scope of the work was greatly enlarged, and all parts of
it were put upon a systematic and permanent basis.
In 1888 the Station, by legislative enactment, was trans-ferred
from the Department of Agriculture to the N. C. Col-lege
of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, with which it is still
connected. As now constituted, the work of the Station falls
under the following divisions: Executive, Agricultural,
Chemical, Botanical, Entomological, Horticultural, Meteoro-logical,
Veterinary, and the Division of Publication.
, What the N. C. Agricultural Experiment Station has
accomplished for the agricultural, horticultural,
and Material Interests of North Carolina.
This may be imperfectly summed up as follows:
1. It has discovered and prevented fraud and adultera-tions
in the sale of commercial fertilizers and chemicals, and
by the proper control of the fertilizer trade, immense amounts
SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT. XI
in cash and prospective crops have been saved to the farmers
of the State.
2. By this wholesome restraint, the grade of the fertilizers
has been increased and at the same time the price of the same
has been reduced.
3. In endeavoring to extend practical information of an
agricultural character, it has printed hundreds of separate
and distinct bulletins in editions of thousands each, the aggre-gate
distribution of which runs into millions of copies.
4. The Station has inaugurated a system of educational
bulletins, designed especially to spread abroad special infor-mation
upon important subjects. This has been done with
the view of giving the work as practical cast as possible. No
less than 25 separate bulletins of this educational series have
already been issued.
5. One hundred and eighteen of the regular and technical
bulletins, embracing all character of agricultural and horti-cultural
information have been issued. The pages in each
range from 8 to 150. The editions of each of the late ones
number 16,500 copies. The regular bulletins are written
always in plain language for popular reading and embrace
subjects of immediate practical value.
6. Sixty-three of the monthly meteorological records from
every section of the State have been issued, including at
present the work of 73 observers each month. Seven annual
reports of the weather of the State have been recorded, and
monthly, seasonal and annual means and normals for each
locality, section, and the whole State, are being accurately
determined.
7. Our splendid climate is thus being shown to the world,
and correct climatic conditions learned that will assist in the
profitable growth of other crops.
8. One hundred and seventy-four weekly bulletins from
1888 through 1894 have been issued telling of the weekly
progress of the crops and the effect of the weather upon them.
9. A system of press bulletins was inaugurated in 1890, in
order to send to various newspapers the result of the Station's
work. An extension of the same plan by distributing the
short articles of these bulletins by plate matter has been suc-cessfully
pursued. These plans have been of incalculable
benefit to individual farmers.
10. Analyses of fertilizers are regularly and promptly made
during the spring and fall seasons of each year, and these
analyses are published immediately for the benefit of pur-chasers,
and every two weeks during the fertilizer season.
Xil N. C. AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 1894.
11. By the Station's urgent advice, the plan of home com-posting
is being widely used to the great advantage of the
lands, and the further saving in the values of high-priced
commercial fertilizers.
12. The phosphate beds of the State have been carefully
explored and accurately mapped.
13. Acid phosphate made from native phosphate has been
distributed and experimented with in every section of the
State, and its value shown to equal any similar material.
14. The marls of the State have been studied and many
hundreds of beds analyzed and their value reported.
15. In order to extend its usefulness, the Station has
analyzed many samples from individual farmers and others,
these samples embracing fertilizers, composts, mucks, marls,
phosphates, mineral waters, chemicals, minerals, and in fact
the greatest variety of materials.
16. Has analyzed the samples of coal from the coal survey
in the Deep and Dan rivers.
17. Has made investigations upon the possible adaptability
of the sugar-beet to various sections of the State, and a large
number of samples grown and analyzed.
18. Has made analyses for the State Board of Health of a
large number of potable waters, articles of food, etc.
19. Has made an exploration of the pyrites deposits in the
State to ascertain their applicability for the manufacture of
sulphuric acid. A large number of beds were examined and
analyzed.
20. The fishing interest of the east in reference to the catch
of "fat backs" for the manufacture of fish-scrap for fertilizer
purposes and for oil has been investigated.
21. Has conducted for many years past special tests of
seeds for purity and vitality, and now an efficient laboratory
standard is the result.
22. Materials for making complete fertilizers and home
mixtures for various crops, as well as the needs of the vari-ous
crops, have been exhaustively studied.
23. Special work upon cotton-seed, and the products made
from them has been conducted.
24. The by-products of the rice industry have been studied
and their value shown.
25. Early in its existence the Station made a special study
of kainit and its uses for various crop applications, and this
work was about the first undertaken in America upon potash
salts.
26. Finely ground phosphates or "floats" have been criti-
SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT. Xlll
cally examined as to their fineness and availability for fer-tilizing
applications.
27. Horn, leather, and wool waste have been studied as
possible adulterations in commercial fertilizers.
28. The following list embraces the number and variety
of samples analyzed and tested during each successive bien-nial
term since the organization of the Station:
April, 1877, to January 1, 1879 249
January 1, 1879, to January 1, 1881 760
January 1, 1881, to January 1
January 1, 1883, to January 1
January 1, 1885, to January 1
January 1, 1887, to January 1
January 1, 1889, to January 1
January 1, 1891, to January 1
January 1 , 1893, to January 1
1883 909
1885 1,095
1887 , 1,077
1889.. 993
1891 1,234
1893 1,486
1895 -. 1,828
Total 9,631
A classification of these samples is contained in the follow-ing
list:
Commercial fertilizers 3,438
Composts and manures. 75
Phosphates 303
Marls 435
Soils 395
Cotton-seed and products 106
Chemical and fertilizer ingredients 210
Grasses and seeds examined 1,268
Health analyses _ 64
Feeding stuffs 162
Minerals identified 1,008
Ores examined and assayed 138
Drinking waters 458
Mineral and boiler waters 603
Coals 35
Sugar-beets 62
Fertilizer analyses of fodders 11
Fodder analyses in connection with digestion experiments, 193
Urine analyses in connection with digestion experiments, 34
Milk, cream and butter 62
Cotton plant experiments 117
Tobacco, leaf, plants, stems, roots, etc 201
Special nitrate experiments 60
Miscellaneous 193
Total 9,631
29. The officers of the Station have aided largely in the
displays to illustrate the resources of North Carolina at the
expositions at Atlanta in 1881, at Boston in 1883, at Raleigh
in 1884, at New Orleans in 1885, at Raleigh in 1891, and at
Chicago in 1893.
xi.V N. C. AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 1894,
30. The Station always in the past and is now promptly
and cheerfully attending to every request made upon it for
particular advice in any branch of agricultural or horticul-tural
industry, or in any other way to benefit the material
interests of the State.
31. Many farmers' institutes, and other public meetings,
have been attended, and addresses made by various members
of the Station staff.
32. Field tests have been conducted in co-operation with
prominent farmers, and many results of value have been
reached.
33. By distributing a large number of copies of the work
on diseases of the horse, published by the U. S. Department
of Agriculture, many animals have been saved, as evidenced
by reports of the fact by their owners.
34. Further, in the line of veterinary work, a special bulle-tin
on a disease in pork has been issued, and also special
investigations have been undertaken upon tuberculosis and
other cattle diseases.
35. In order to encourage the raising of improved breeds
of stock and to advance the dairy interests in the State, and
believing in them lay far greater permanent prosperity than
any one-crop system, no less than sixteen distinct publica-tions
in editions of many thousands each have been issued
to further these improvements.
36. The Station instituted the plan for the establishment
of experimental committees by the various sub-alliances and
granges, and other organizations in the State. The object of
these committees was to study and discuss improved methods
of agriculture, and to aid in this the Station kept in close
communication with them by answering queries, suggesting
topics for consideration, sending them its publications, and
in other ways.
37. The publications of the Station are absolutely free to
any in North Carolina who will make application for them.
Wide distribution of this fact is made by placards at all post-offices,
by continual offers in the press of the State, and in
various other ways.
38. The publications go to every one of the thousands of
post-offices in North Carolina, and not one is omitted. The
mailing lists are consequently rapidly increasing.
In order to bring more prominently into view the work of
the separate divisions, the following summaries have been
prepared:
SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT. XV
HOW THE AGRICULTURAL DIVISION HAS BEEN OF BENEFIT.
39. By the publication of a bulletin on silos and silage,
which gives:
a. The amount of space required to store silage for dif-ferent
numbers of farm stock.
b. The construction of a silo with bill of materials.
c. Experience with silos and coatings to retard rotting
of walls.
d. Methods of harvesting and storing silage.
e. A number of economical rations for milch or beef cat-tle,
with and without silage.
/. An appendix showing details of the construction of
round silos.
40. The Station has demonstrated that mules and driving
horses may safely be fed on silage, by having thus fed three
seasons as long as silage lasted during each season.
41. Four and one-fourth tons of silage and one to one and
one-half tons of hay are sufficient coarse foods for one full-grown
horse or mule at work in one year, and this amount
can be grown on one acre in one year, with enough silage to
spare for two others.
42. It has been demonstrated that there is a small profit in
feeding beeves on cotton-seed hulls and meal.
43. The profit from husbanding the manure made in this
feeding may be greater when applied on our worn lands than
that on the stock in feeding.
44. After liberal applications of manure from well-fed
stock, it has been demonstrated that very poor lands "catch "
well in grass seeding, and yield good hay, which is too expen-sive
to be purchased.
45. That feeding for beef may be done at any time of year
when fresh food and suitable animals are at hand.
46. That animals fed in warm weather should be kept in
well-aired darkened stables to keep off flies.
47. Care should be exercised in feeding late in summer,
when hulls and meal may be damaged by chemical changes,
indicated by rancid smell in hulls and by changing color in
meal.
48. Digestion experiments, many of which have already
been concluded, help the agricultural interests:
a. By ascertaining the true composition and feeding
value of various ordinary foods, which can be easily raised
or procured on every farm.
Xvi N. C. AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 1894.
b. In showing feeders how much of each kind of food
may be used to combine rations most economically and to
secure the best return from a given amount of food.
c. By calling attention to the valuable home products for
food, and indicating how to use them to the best advantage.
49. The true digestibility of the more common food-stuffs
already determined, are cotton-seed, cotton-seed hulls and
meal, peavine hay, corn silage, sorghum fodder silage, and
bagasse, crimson clover hay, corn meal, Johnson-grass hay,
and soy-bean hay. These have been fed alone and in vari-ous
combinations with each other.
50. By co-operative field experiments with fertilizers in
every part of the State, it has helped to a better understand-ing
of the requirements of the soil and more rational use of
fertilizers. This saves expenditures and secures better returns
from the applications made.
51. Co-operative tests with various crops have brought
some of the best varieties in notice and have aided in a better
knowledge of the methods of cultivation.
52. Press bulletin articles have been issued on various
topics and given broadcast to the press, have reached many
farms and have carried in few words what may be of great
value to each in condensed experience, and in outlining ways
by which very desirable ends may be reached.
53. The special value of improving lands for wheat culture
by turning under ripe peavines has been fully demonstrated,
and an average increased yield of more than ten bushels per
acre of wheat was the result.
54. A plan of hillside ditching has been shown, which can
easily be followed and with very valuable results.
55. The results of feeding tests with common stock foods
have been carefully recorded in separate publications and
widely distributed.
56. The results of the digestion work with cattle on simi-lar
stock-foods and combinations have been published and
widely copied in the agricultural literature of the day. Few
States have done so much in this particular line of agricul-tural
research, and one so replete with useful and valuable
information.
57. There have been five distinct bulletins issued describ-ing
the co operative field tests with fertilizers and with varie-ties
of field crops, including cotton, corn, tobacco, wheat, pea-nuts,
and potatoes. These tests have been made by practical
farmers in every section of the State.
58. Much has been done in the way of introducing in vari-
SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT. XV11
ous sections of North Carolina valuable crops, such as crim-son
clover, soy beans, and different grasses and forage plants.
59. By personal correspondence with farmers in every sec-tion
of the State, very much general and specific information
to every inquirer has been given.
60. The object-lessons afforded to visitors at the Experi-ment
Farm is also a potent aid, because very many farmers
visiting Raleigh or the State Pair can look it over and find
some new points in practice to adopt.
61. The better points of practice here illustrated are taught
to the students at the Agricultural and Mechanical College,
who will carry back to their homes and adopt many things
which they will find to be to their advantage.
HOW THE CHEMICAL DIVISION HAS BEEN OP BENEFIT.
The Chemical Division has helped the farmer and others:
62. By determining, in conjunction with the Agricultural
Division, the digestibility of 18 leading cattle foods and fod-ders,
and more than 20 rations of them. This is of benefit
to the feeder:
a. In giving him a better knowledge of the value of the
different foods.
b. By showing the digestibility and value of the rations.
c. By indic.iting the best and most economical combina-tions
of foods for feeding.
63. In particular these experiments have shown
:
a. The clear and heavy loss of digestible nutrients from
roasting cotton-seed, to say nothing of the increased cost
of roasting.
b. Have indicated the beneficial effect of cotton-seed
meal by increasing the digestibility of coarse fodders, such
as cotton-seed hulls and corn silage.
64. By presenting the principles of stock-feeding, and
explaining and discussing the nutrients of foods and their
offices.
65. By stating the "feeding standards," showing amounts
of foods and nutrients to be fed for different purposes; by
presenting tables showing amounts of nutrients in different
quantities of our leading foods; and by explaining methods
for making rations by using the foregoing data.
66. By analyzing and disseminating knowledge of the
composition and value of various forage plants, wild and
cultivated grasses, grains, seeds, and by-products used as
stock foods or promising well for such use.
XViii N. C. AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 1894.
67. By analyzing the corn plant, cowpea-vine and soy
bean at different stages of growth to determine the best time
to cut them for obtaining the greatest amount of food mate-rial
of best quality.
68. By analyzing old and new foods on sale, presenting
opinion as to their value, and exposing fraud and adultera-tion.
69. The material known as "Compound Extract of Salyx"
has been analyzed several times; the exorbitant price is
shown at which it is sold for preserving food or certain pre-servatives
for milk, butter and other foods, and the danger
from their use has been pointed out.
70. The sugar content of varieties of sorghum grown on
the farm has been determined with reference to a knowledge
of those best suited for syrup-making, and those promising
best for making sugar.
71. Experiments have been made with a view of improv-ing
the methods of continuing the sorghum crop and in
making syrup from it.
72. By the examination of drinking waters, disease has no
doubt often been prevented, and aid given in obtaining a
pure water supply.
73. As a result of the analysis of mineral waters, many
properties have been developed.
74. By the analysis of soils, fertilizing materials, mucks,
marls, phosphates, limestones, coals, minerals, ores, etc.,
much valuable information has been given to farmers and
others.
75. Investigations in the laboratory have shown that 94.5
per cent, of the phosphoric acid, and 85.5 per cent, of the
potash in cotton-seed meal, and 94 to 98 per cent, of potash
in tobacco stems have been shown to be available by chem-ical
methods.
76. Investigations of the value of various other crude fer-tilizer
materials have been made and the results reported.
77. By collecting and analyzing the dung and urine from
a cow fed 21 pounds cotton-seed hulls and 4 pounds' cotton-seed
meal per day, it was ascertained that 82.4 per cent, of
the fertilizing constituents of the food were in the excrement,
which was worth 6.6 cents per day, and that the urine con-tained
38.4 per cent, of the weight, and 36.9 per cent, of fer-tilizing
value of the total amount of the excrement.
78. By demonstrating the cause of " burning" and "scorch-ing"
of foliage by arsenites when used as insecticides.
79. By giving means of preventing such injury.
SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT. XIX
80. By investigating the combination of insecticides and
fungicides, and indicating those that could be safely com-bined.
81. By educational exhibits at expositions and fairs, illus-trating
the general lines of work and results of the division.
82. By the study of fertilizers and fertilizing materials,
and methods for their analysis and valuation, the fertilizer
trade and the fertilization of crops have been placed on a
more rational and scientific basis.
83. The curing of tobacco has been studied, and the rela-tive
cost, yield and value of the product from the different
methods have been accurately determined.
84. Many samples of leaf tobacco have been examined in
comparison with that grown here, and stalks and stems have
been tested for their fertilizing qualities.
85. The examination of the beds of marl and phosphate
has been of benefit
:
(a). By showing their location, extent, and composition.
(b). In describing how and what soils are most particu-larly
helped by application of these materials.
(c). And by saving the cost that otherwise would go for
the purchase of similar material elsewhere.
HOW THE BOTANICAL AND ENTOMOLOGICAL DIVISIONS HAVE
BEEN OP BENEFIT.
86. The botanical division has tested for purity and vital-ity
over 600 samples of grass, clover and vegetable seeds
bought in the market or sent in by farmers.
87. Gross adulteration of such seeds in our markets has
been seldom met with since the Station published its work
in seed-testing, and local dealers have become more careful
in their purchases and manner of handling seed stocks.
88. Farmers have been shown the relative values of good
clean seed at a fair price, and cheap, deteriorated and weed-infested
seeds at any price.
89. A vast amount of technical work, relating to the estab-lishment
of a national laboratory standard of quality and a
standard method for testing seeds has been completed.
90. The proper quantity of seeds per acre for grass lands
has been calculated, so that rational mixtures of different
varieties can be made and any desired percentage of the
different species secured.
91. Seeds of new and promising forage plants have been
imported from Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia, and
XX N. C. AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 1894.
these plants have been grown and studied for several seasons
at the Station farm in order to learn their true worth before
disseminating them among the farmers of the State.
92. A very extensive field trial of all obtainable varieties
of the cow pea and soja bean have been carried on for two
seasons and valuable results obtained, which have been made
available to our farmers.
93. The native and introduced weed pests of this State
have been studied, and a bulletin giving the results has been
published.
94. By newspaper articles and lectures, the division has
endeavored to awaken a sentiment among the farmers of
the State in favor of legal enactments to prevent the impor-tation
and spread of noxious weeds, such as the Canada
thistle, dodder, and other costly pests.
95. One regular bulletin of 20 pages, and several parts of
bulletins, have been published on the subject of plant dis-eases.
These have included
:
(a). Descriptions and illustrations of diseases, sufficient
to enable any intelligent farmer to recognize them when
they attack his crops.
(6). Remedies and hygienic measures to prevent the
spread of these diseases.
(c). Illustrations of the best apparatus for applying
remedies.
96. One regular bulletin of 32 pages, and several parts of
bulletins, have been devoted to noxious and beneficial insects.
These bulletins have included :
(a). Name, illustrations, descriptions, and life histories of
all the more common and important noxious and useful
insects found in this State.
(b). Remedies and precautionary measures for repressing
noxious insects.
(c). Illustrations of apparatus for applying remedies.
97. Laboratory and field studies have been undertaken
with the purpose of discovering a practical method for spread-ing,
artificially, certain contagious bacterial diseases to which
insects are more or less liable.
98. A handbook on the best agricultural grasses and forage
plants has been prepared. This contains 100 pages and
includes:
(a). Descriptions and illustrations of all the best grasses
and clovers.
SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT. XXI
(b). Plain directions for sowing these plants, both as
single species and as mixtures, adapted to various sorts of
soil and for different purposes.
(c). The quantity of each kind of seed of known vitality
and purity, per acre, is given, so that guess work need not
be depended upon in laying down land to grass.
(d). Tables of analyses, showing the food and manurial
value of each kind of hay, are given, and thus their rela-tive
money value per ton calculated.
(e). The diseases to which grasses are subject are briefly
treated, and the value of irrigation, manures, etc., for grasses
are explained.
99. A large number of short and practical papers have
been contributed to the press bulletin issued by the Station.
These deal with various questions in economic botany and
entomology, and are calculated to be timely and of imme-diate
interest to farmers.
100. Lectures have been delivered before the State and
County Horticultural Societies, and exhibits made of spray-ing
apparatus and chemicals.
101. Numerous papers on economic botany and entomology
have been contributed to different newspapers which circu-late
largely in this State.
102. Many hundreds of specimens of noxious and useful
plants and insects have been identified for farmers and their
properties reported upon by letter to the senders.
103. Many photographs of root-systems of grasses, clovers
and grain-plants have been made to show the relation which
should exist between the root-growth and methods of culti-vation
of different crops.
104. Personal letters have been written to enquirers for
information of a botanical or entomological character.
105. All the more important discoveries in economic botany
and entomology, made by European scientists, have been
promptly made available to the readers of the Station bulle-tins
and newspapers of the State.
106. An extensive series of photographs relating to the
Station and its work have been contributed to the Station
exhibit at the World's Fair in Chicago. Specimens of appa-ratus,
records, and blanks, used in the botanical work of the
Station, have also been contributed to the same exhibit.
107. In conjunction with the Horticulturist of the Station,
a bulletin treating of orchard and garden fruits and their
diseases has been published. The botannical and entomo-logical
portion of which includes:
Xxii N. C. AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 1894.
(a). Illustrations and descriptions of parasitic fungi.
(b). Remedies for the same and apparatus for applying
them.
(c). Illustrations and descriptions of noxious insects.
(d). Remedies for the same and apparatus for applying
them.
(e). List of birds and quadrupeds injurious to fruit in
North Carolina.
108. In conjunction with the Agriculturist of the Station,
a bulletin treating of leguminous crops has been prepared
and published. This includes full notes of a two-years' test
of these plants and discussions of their value
:
(a). As improvers of the soil.
(b). As forage for animals.
(c). Their fungous and insect parasites.
109. A bulletin on the chestnut and its weevil has been
prepared and published. This includes a full discussion of
the losses entailed by the depredations of this pest, illustra-tion
and description of the weevil, with suggestions for pro-tecting
chestnut orchards.
110. A bulletin of 74 pages on seed-testing, its methods
and value, has been prepared. This is an exhaustive resume
of the subject, including:
(a). The uses and advantages of seed-testing.
(b). Experience of European countries in seed-testing,
(c). Methods and apparatus used in seed-testing.
(d). Structure and physiology of seeds.
111. A bulletin on the native medicinal plants of the State
and the cultivation of exotic and medicinal and essential
oil-bearing plants has been partly completed and will be
published during the year 1895. This will include:
(a). Illustrations and descriptions of all the important
wild medicinal plants of the State, with their particular
uses, and antidotes for such as are poisonous.
(6). Illustrations, descriptions, and uses of all the exotic
medicinal plants found to grow successfully upon the Sta-tion
farm.
(d). Methods of growing essential oil-bearing plants and
distillation of the same.
112. A bulletin on the parasites of domestic animals is
nearly ready for publication, including insect parasites of
horses, cattle, sheep, hogs, dogs, cats, and fowls, with reme-dies
for the same.
113. Notes have been made preparatory to a bulletin on
SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT. XX111
the fungous and insect parasites of cereal grain crops. This
bulletin will be ready early in the winter of 1895.
114. Notes on a bulletin on the insect pests of the house-hold
have been made, and a bulletin on this subject will be
ready in the fall of 1895.
115. A special bulletin upon tests of useful forage grass is
now ready for publication, and in conjunction with the
Agricultural Division, will include hay-making, the laying
down and care of grass lands, and diseases and insects
attacking grasses.
HOW THE HORTICULTURAL DIVISION HAS BEEN OF BENEFIT.
116. The Horticultural Division has made numerous tests
of vegetables and fruits and published the results, and is
engaged in raising seedling fruits to improve our ordinary
varieties.
117. Is testing all the most promising new small fruits as
they appear, and has produced seedling strawberries that
promise well.
118. Has introduced nearly 40 varieties of figs, and has
distributed free for trial over 6,000 fig trees.
119. Is making experiments in tea culture with prospects
for success, and has sent tea seed to over 100 applicants.
120. It is also engaged in investigating the culture of
flowering bulbs for commercial purposes, with the prospect
of introducing a new culture of value.
121. Has made experiments in protecting grapes and other
fruits from fungous diseases.
122. Has developed a plan for making the late crop of
Irish potatoes certain,, which is likely to prove of great value
to the State, since these potatoes are rapidly coming in demand
in the North for seed.
123. Has built a grapery for culture of exotic grapes under
glass, and is investigating the question of the profit of forc-ing
fruits and vegetables under glass, with the view of in-structing
our growers in this profitable branch of horticulture.
124. Has inaugurated and is continuing a series of educa-tional
bulletins on practical horticulture, including vegeta-ble,
fruit, and commercial floriculture.
125. The division has put itself into close correspondence
with farmers and truckers in all parts of the State, and has
answered thousands of letters asking information on all sorts
of topics.
Xxiv N. C. AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 1894.
126. Has attended Farmers' Institutes in nearly all sec-tions
of the State and addressed meetings of farmers in this
and other states on subjects of interest.
127. Has contributed articles on subjects of interest to
farmers in all the leading agricultural and horticultural
journals.
128. Has made the horticultural work of the Station of
constant value in the practical training of classes of students
at the College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, and through
them the work will be spread all over the State.
129. Special bulletins, describing the result of tests at the
Station of varieties of fruits and vegetables, have been
detailed as they were reached and widely disseminated.
130. Timely publications of interest have been distributed
concerning the culture of figs, the late crop of Irish potatoes,
onions, and the growing of celery.
131. A special bulletin on " Facts for Farmers," in plain
language for farmers' reading, has been sent out broadcast
over the State. The object of this publication was to describe
conditions affecting crop-growth, saving of manure, crop rota-tion,
fertilization of crops, and kindred information.
132. Another bulletin of great importance, is one on the
culture of orchard and garden fruits, prepared by the horti-cultural
and botanical and entomological divisions; is a com-plete
manual upon the subject, as evidenced by its complete-ness
and generally recognized value.
133. The propagation of flowering bulbs for commercial
purposes has been considered in a specially prepared publi-cation,
which paves the way for a very profitable industry in
North Carolina.
HOW THE METEOROLOGICAL DIVISION (STATE WEATHER
service) HAS BEEN- OF BENEFIT.
134. The work of the State Weather Service is arousing
much greater interest than ever before, and is educating the
people to the great importance of studying the effect of
weather and climate upon agricultural interests, which is
paramount.
135. Th*e Service has rendered practical benefit to the
people of the State by the distribution of daily weather fore-casts,
frost and cold-wave warnings, which may be put to
immediate use in the everyday operations of the farm :
(a). The daily forecasts, issued for 36 hours in advance
and distributed by telegraph to 60 places, and by mail to
SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT. XXV
nearly 500 towns in the State, are steadily improving in
accuracy, and hence in value to the farmer.
(b). The frost and cold-wave warnings yearly save thou-sands
of dollars of damage to the tobacco, trucking, and
fruit interests by giving information in advance of the
approach of sudden cold spells in autumn and spring.
136. The issue of the weekly Weather Crop Bulletin dur-ing
the season of growing crops, gives valuable information
to both farmers and merchants of the current condition of
crops and prevents outside misrepresentation, which would
be detrimental to their interests.
137. The Service has made a fair determination of the
climatic conditions of the State, with special reference to the
distribution of temperature and rainfall, and the local cli-matic
peculiarities of many places have been ascertained.
138. Charts of normal temperature and rainfall have been
published, which will be found of great value in studying
various important questions of the relations of the soil, crops,
and climate.
139. The accumulation of records of the meteorological
elements, now already carried on for eight years, is indispen-sable
for the study of important questions, the solution of
which has not yet been attempted by the Weather Service,
because the series of records is not long enough :
(a). Such questions are, for instance: What regions of
the State are climatically more suited to certain crops than
others? What conditions are most favorable for the pro-duction
of the largest crops of tobacco? Of cotton ? Of
corn ? What are the conditions of the weather which
cause insect pests to thrive?
140. By the publication of monthly and annual records
and their distribution, it has made widely known the splen-did
climate which North Carolina possesses, including par-ticular
points and sections in the State.
The Work Accomplished During the Past Year.
As has been previously stated, the North Carolina Agri-cultural
Experiment Station was established in March, 1877,
with a twofold object in view—first, to act as a Fertilizer
Control Station, and second, as an Agricultural Experiment
Station in the true sense of the word. Until 1887 the Station
was supported by the State from the tax on fertilizers, and,
as organized up to that time, was a part of the North Caro-
2
XXVI N. C. AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 1894.
lina Department of Agriculture. By legislative enactment
of that year the Station was made a part of the North Caro-lina
College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, and the funds
derived from the United States Hatch Act for the mainten-ance
of experiment stations in the various states and terri-tories
were appropriated to it. The Station receives also an
appropriation from the North Carolina Department of Agri-culture
for the work of the Fertilizer Control. The report of
the work of the Station for the year 1894 is embraced under
each of its legal functions, the first being:
I. THE FERTILIZER CONTROL STATION.
The beneficial results accomplished by the Fertilizer Con-trol
from the moment of its organization to the present time
are too well known to be necessary to repeat them here. A
history of the fertilizer trade in the State since 1876 would
be interesting and would show the vast advantages that have
accrued from its organization. The adulterated chemicals
and low-grade fertilizers (now happily very seldom seen) that
have been detected and brought to light, and the millions of
dollars that have undoubtedly been saved, illustrate the
value that the Control has been to North Carolina farmers.
The Fertilizer Control During 1894.
It will be remembered that up to 1891 the fertilizer trade
was controlled by a license tax on each brand. Commencing
from that year the tonnage charge has been in vogue.
In order to show the character of the trade for a num-ber
of years past, the subjoined table is inserted, giving a
description of the different brands on sale in the State during
previous years. It will be noted, however, that as licenses
did not lapse with the calendar year, a single brand could
extend through portions of two years. The numbers, there-fore,
while showing the number of brands licensed, do not
show the actual number on sale during each year. The large
increase in the number of brands after 1890 is due to the
change from the license tax on each brand to a definite charge
on each ton.
SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT. XXV11
1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894
Acid phosphates or
H simple superphos-phates
8 10 11 7 9 11 10 9 12 16 59 81 86 86
Superphosphates
with potash 9 15 15 10 10 9 8 7 5 4 13 24 22 24
Ammoniated super-phosphates
40 55 61 56 63 66 58 62 62 63 178 232 264 284
Ammoniated super-phosphates
with-er
out potash ._ — __ __ __ — — — __ 15 12 5 12
Potash, salts and
chemicals _ - - - - - - - - 22 29 38 44
Fish scrap — — — — — ________ 4 5 4 2
Miscellaneous 24653411214 68 10
Totals 59 86 92 80 85 90 77 79 81 84 295 389 427 462
The number of brands accredited to the several States is
as follows, and furnishes an interesting basis for comparison
1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1892 1893 1894
Massachusetts 33-2231462233 3
Connecticut 12243312111 ______
New York 365324311218 10 8
New Jersey 3311123244537 2
Delaware 22222444333—5 6
Maryland 21 25 45 42 SO 31 35 29 25 28 25 98 106 93
Pennsylvania — 1 1 — — 1 — 1 — 5 12 7
Virginia 7 9 15 17 20 18 21 14 12 12 16 96 106 146
North Carolina 3 3 6 6 8 9 10 11 13 14 18 78 89 98
South Carolina 5 6 9 14 12 11 11 10 13 15 13 85 82 97
Georgia - __ __ __ - .. __ __ __ - 13 7 1
Missouri __ __ __ __ __ __ — — __ __ __ __ 1
Totals 47 59 86 92 80 85 90 77 79 81 84 389 427 462
The foregoing and the following table are more particu-larly
valuable for comparison before 1891. During those
years the- number of brands indicated, in the best way obtain-able,
the amount of trade handled by the manufacturers in
the separate States. After 1891, the number of brands are
only of passing interest, because they do not give any indi-cation
of the sales of fertilizers.
A casual glance at the above table will show how the
number of fertilizer brands accredited to the States of Vir-ginia,
North Carolina and South Carolina have increased.
This is especially the case with North Carolina, where the
increase has been sixfold within the ten years previous to
1891.
As further illustrating this increase, the following calcula-tion
is inserted, which shows the proportion of the brands
on sale which were manufactured in the three States before
mentioned, as compared with the total number sold for the
different years :
THE NUMBER OF BRANDS OF FERTILIZERS MANUFACTURED IN THREE STATES,
VIRGINIA, NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTH CAROLINA, FOR THE YEARS 1880 TO
1894, IN PER CENTS OF THE WHOLE MUMBER.
1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1892 1893 1894
Virginia—_")
N. Carolina
J-
31.92 30.50 34.88 40.21 50.00 44.70 46.67 45.45 48.10 50.62 55.95 66.61 64.87 73.81
S. Carolina J
XXviii N. C. AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 1894.
In reference to North Carolina alone, considering only the
number of licensed brands before 1891 as showiug the rela-tive
amount of fertilizer sold, the change is more decided :
NUMBER OF BRANDS OF FERTILIZERS MANUFACTURED IN NORTH CAROLINA FOR
THE YEARS 1880 TO 1890, IN PER CENTS. OF THE WHOLE NUMBER.
~ 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890
North Carolina- ^6.38 5.08 6.97 6.52 10.00 10.47 11.11 14.30 16.46 17.28 21.43
The increase from 1883 to 1890 has been nearly fourfold.
The following extract is taken from the Report of 1888, six
years ago, and gives a prediction which is surely becoming
true: "What does this change foretell? Considering the
number of brands as indicative of the amount sold, these
figures prove almost conclusively that the home manufac-turers
are gradually driving the other more distant compet-itors
from the field ; that the distance from the source of
supply of the various ingredients from the market where the
fertilizers are sold, and the consequent high freight which
these fertilizers must pay, are proving each year a more
effectual barrier to their entering the State. Taking our own
State and the two adjoining, it is plainly seen that the three,
while they controlled one-third of the trade eight years ago,
now control one-half. North Carolina alone, eight years ago,
controlled only one-sixteenth ; now controls one-sixth. With
this increase—and there is now no reason now why it should
not continue—it is not hazardous to assert that in ten years one-half
of the commercial fertilizers sold in North Carolina will be
made in North Carolina. An additional reason for this asser-tion
is that the State, either alone or by calling on South
Carolina, can furnish all the raw ingredients, except potash,
sufficient to make all of the fertilizers needed here."
The prediction made in 1888 can now, at the close of the
year 1894, be seen to be surely coming to pass. The year
1891 was the transition period between the privilege tax
system and the tonnage system, during which time some
brands were sold under both systems. Manufacturers who
came in for the first time only purchased tags for a portion
of the year. Nothing definite, therefore, can be stated for
1891. But in 1892 the records are complete, and show the
exact number of tons placed on the market for which tags
were sold. Comparing with the whole number of tons sold
in North Carolina in 1892, for the fiscal year closing Novem-ber
30, the North Carolina manufacturers handled 36.95 per
cent, of the whole number. The same calculation for 1893
shows 37.73, and 42.15 per cent, for the year 1894. Even this
SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT. XXIX
estimate is too low, because no tags were used in many cases
when the manufactories dealt at their doors directly with
the farmers. Again, cotton-seed meal is not subject to tax,
and is very largely used for fertilizing purposes. It is impos-sible
to state how large this amount really is, but it should
be also added to the total accredited to home manufacturers.
Carrying on, therefore, the preceding table, the growth of
North Carolina manufactories and the trade controlled by
them, can very readily be seen. The statement shows that
the prediction made in 1888, that in ten years one-half of
the fertilizers sold in North Carolina would be made in the
State, is rapidly becoming true.
TABLE SHOWING THAT THE PREDICTION OF 1S88 IS BEING VERIFIED.
1880 1882 1884 1886 1888 1890 1892. 1893 1894
North Carolina manufacturers sold in")
the various years in percentages ol ^6.38 6.97 10.00 11.11 16.46 21.43 36.95 37.73 42.15
whole fertilizer trade— j
The increase of the whole fertilizer trade in the State from
1892 to 1893 was about 30 per cent. Very probably the
home manufacturers were not equipped to handle such a
large increase, and this may account for the small increase
(as shown in the above table) in 1893 over the year previous.
RELATIVE AMOUNT OF FERTILIZER BUSINESS IN 1894.
The following table shows the number of firms doing
business in North Carolina, together with the location of the
fertilizer factories and the relative amount of business done
during 1894, for the fiscal year ending November 30, as
determined by the sale of tags for the same period
:
FIRMS DOING BUSINESS IN NORTH CAROLINA IN 1894, WITH RELATIVE
AMOUNT OF SALES..
Number Number ^I®^gh™«^" Amount of
of Firms, of Brands. e °
v I™, Business
per nrm. Handled.
Firms located in North Carolina 30 98 3 42.15 per cent.
" Virginia 21 146 7 37.84 "
" " South Carolina 17 97 6 8.69 " "
11 " " other States... 43 121 3 11.32 "
Total 111 462 5 100.00 " "
It is noticeable that a larger number of firms from distant
States register brands, but their trade is trifling compared
with North Carolina firms. The average number of brands
per firm is twice as great in South Carolina than in North
Carolina. Virginia has a still greater proportion as com-
XXX N. C. AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 1894.
pared with North Carolina. It is also noticeable that North
Carolina handles nearly one-half of the trade, and that
North Carolina and Virginia handle nearly four-fifths.
Digest of Fertilizer Laws Now in Force.
In order to give a short and concise statement of all laws
now in operation in regard to the fertilizer inspection and
control, the following carefully prepared digest of existing
laws is inserted
:
No manipulated guanos, superphosphates, commercial fertilizers or
other fertilizing material shall be sold or offered for sale unless a ton-nage
charge of twenty-five cents per ton has been paid. Each barrel,
package or bag shall have attached a tag representing this fact, which
tags shall be issued by the Commissioner of Agriculture according to
regulations prescribed by the Department of Agriculture. The Depart-ment
of Agriculture has power at all times to have samples collected of
any fertilizer or fertilizing material on sale, which must be taken from
at least ten per cent, of the lot selected. These samples are taken from
the goods in the hands of dealers after they are shipped from the manu-factories,
and accordingly represent the true grade of fertilizers offered
for sale.
Every package of fertilizer offered for sale must have thereon a plainly
printed label, a copy of which must be filed with the Commissioner of
Agriculture, together with a true sample of the fertilizer which it is pro-posed
to sell, at or before the shipment of such fertilizer into the State,
and which label must be uniformly used and not changed during the
year. This label must set forth the name, location and trade-mark of
the manufacturer; also the chemical composition of contents and real
percentage of the ordinary ingredients claimed to be present, together
with date of analyzation, and that all charges have been paid. There
must be no variation in the guaranteed percentages, but the bags must
be branded with the exact chemical composition of the contents. No
fertilizer can be sold with a content less than eight per cent, of avail-able
phosphoric acid, two per cent, of ammonia, and one per cent, of
potash. Cotton-seed meal is exempted from paying the tonnage charge;
also land plaster, agricultural lime, oyster-shell lime, marl, and bulk
materials for manufacturing purposes.
It is a misdemeanor, and a fine of ten dollars for each bag, for an
agent or dealer to offer for gale any such fertilizer or fertilizing mate-rials
not properly tagged, or a consumer to remove it, or a railroad agent
to deliver it. Goods kept over from last season must be tagged to rep-resent
this fact, and all dealers are required to report to the Commis-sioner
of Agriculture the amount on hand at the close of the fiscal year,
on November 30.
Any fertilizer or fertilizing material that does not contain the ingre-dients
as represented by the label is liable to seizure, and, after being
established on trial, its value is recovered by the Board of Agriculture.
Any person who offers for sale fertilizers or fertilizing material without
having attached thereto labels as provided by law, is liable to a fine of
ten dollars for each separate package—one-half, less the cost, going to
the party suing, and the remainder to the Department; and if such fer-tilizer
is condemned, the Department makes analysis of the same and
has printed labels placed on each package, giving the true chemical
ingredients of the same, and fixes the commercial value at which it may
be sold. The Department of Agriculture can require agents of railroads
SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT. XXXI
and steamboat companies to furnish monthly statements of the quantity
of fertilizers transported by them. The Experiment Station analyzes
samples of fertilizers taken by the official inspectors, and publishes che
same whenever needful.
Increase in Number of Brands, and the Difficulty in
a Proper Control.
Daring the year 1890, the last year of the license tax sys-tem,
there were 84 brands of commercial fertilizers licensed
to be sold in North Carolina. It is very easy to see, under
those circumstances, where the number of brands was lim-ited,
how much easier it was to supervise the fertilizer trade
than under the present tonnage system, where the number
of brands is almost unlimited. Under the operations of the
latter system, the number of brands, including fertilizing
ingredients, offered for sale in the State, has increased from
84 in 1890, to 295 in 1891. For the year 1892, closing with
the fiscal year ending November 30, this number had in-creased
to 389, an increase of over 30 per cent, in a single
year. During the year 1893 the number had increased to
427, and during the year 1894 the number has further
increased to 462. There appears to be almost no limit to
this increase. The difficulties met with in the proper control
of the fertilizer trade, under these conditions, accordingly
have been very greatly increased.
Valuations of Fertilizers, and how they are
Determined.
The valuations of the three constituents, available phos-phoric
acid, ammonia, and potash, are intended to give the
market price for cash at the seaboard of the ingredients
making up a fertilizer. The cash prices for small lots in
bags, free on board cars, are intended. These valuations are
made up early in January of each year, to run through the
spring and fall seasons. It is expected that there will be
variations in the market price of the ingredients during the
course of the year, but experience has shown that this varia-tion
will be slight. This is because fertilizing materials are
largely contracted for in advance before the opening of the
year, and in many cases a large majority of the fertilizers are
already manipulated before the beginning of the season.
The valuation of the constituents are fixed by a careful
examination of existing conditions of the trade, the markets
at important centres, and from actual quotations given by
XXXii N. C. AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 1894.
seaboard manufacturers and dealers upon the various ingre-dients
used for manipulating fertilizers. These quotations
are for cash in small lots free on board and bagged.
The relative commercial valuation given to the three val-uable
ingredients for the years 1893 and 1894 was
—
For available phosphoric acid _ 5 cents per pound
.
For ammonia 15 " " "
For potash 5 " " "
The valuation for phosphoric acid and potash remain the
same as for the years 1891 and 1892. The ammonia for
1893 and 1894 (15 cents per pound) is two cents more per
pound than for the valuation for the two preceding years.
This increase was caused by commercial advances in the
price of ammoniates.
These figures were based on the actual retail cash price of
the unmixed ingredients at the seaboard, in bags.
By the commercial valuation of a fertilizer, using these
figures, a farmer could see the actual cash worth of the
unmixed ingredients used in the fertilizer, at the seaboard.
For interior points freights, of course, must be added. In
the bulletins showing the analyses of fertilizers, a table giv-ing
the various freight rates from seaboard to interior points
has been inserted for the convenience of readers. ,
YEAR.
AVAIDABLE
PHOS. ACID.
AMMO-NIA.
POTASH
RELATIVE
SEABOARD
VALUE OF UN-MIXED
INGREDIENTS.
KIND OF FERTILIZER.
CO
OS
a
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o5
a
fl O
cq
to
'55
\>>
a<
>>
CO
g
fl
pq
CO
'33
J*
«!
fl
<
>>
CQ
©
fl
eS
)h
S3
sO
>>
pq
CO
'ce
>>
"e3
fl
<
PQ
6
<o +a
fl
a
o3
3O
>>
pq
f 1890-
| 1891...
•{ 1892-
1 1893-
[ 1894-
f 1890-
i 1891-
1 1892-
1 1893-
L 1894-
f 1890-
1 1891-
i 1892-
i 1893-
L 1894-
12.92
12.21
12.25
12 93
13.73
12.04
11.17
11.22
10.38
11.27
9.11
8.11
8.70
8.37
9.04
12.25
12 06
12.01
12.04
12.00
10.90
10.29
9.97
9.60
9.77
8.53
8.24
8.10
8.05
8.06
ft 12.92
12.21
12 25
12.93
13.73
13.81
12.83
13.28
12.16
13.01
18.36
18.08
19.24
18.70
20.10
$ 12.25
12.06
Acid phosphates 12.01
12.04
12.00
Acid phosphates with pot-ash
2.41
2.59
2.63
2.59
2.85
2.29
2.51
2.46
2.47
2.76
1.77
1.66
2.06
1.78
1.77
2.02
2.20
2.65
2.56
2.51
1.42
1.50
1.53
1.40
1.47
1.71
1.88
2.12
1.97
2.21
12.32
11.79
11.50
Ammoniated superphos-phates
with potash
11.00
11.24
17.11
17.65
17.60
17.43
18.55
SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT. XXX111
The foregoing table shows the average percentage com-position,
bv analysis and by guarantee, of fertilizers sold in
1890, in 1891, in 1892, in 1893, and in 1894. The relative
seaboard value, both by analysis and guarantee, is calculated
on the basis of the last valuations employed, viz., for 1894
:
for available phosphoric acid and potash, five cents per
pound; for ammonia, fifteen cents per pound. Except in
one or two slight cases, all the materials are higher in grade
than is guaranteed.
Bulletins Containing Fertilizer Analyses.
The plan adopted during the season of 1892 for the first
time, for publication of analyses of fertilizers, has been con-tinued
during 1894. This plan proved very acceptable to
farmers and buyers, and gave them a complete record of the
standing of the various brands already analyzed. Early
in January of 1894 an analysis bulletin was published to
include the various analytical determinations in detail,
namely: Moisture, soluble, insoluble, reverted, and avail-able
phosphoric acid, nitrogen and ammonia, potash, and
relative commercial valuation. There were also given the
guaranteed percentage of available phosphoric acid, ammo-nia,
and potash, and the guaranteed value, using the Station's
figures for the valuation of the unmixed ingredients at the
seaboard. All analyses that were made during the year
1893, both in the spring and fall seasons, were inserted
therein. As buyers do not purchase their fertilizers to a
great extent before March 1st, this gives ample time to dis-tribute
the bulletins to the hands of those who desire to use
them in their purchases. This first complete bulletin was
sent to the full mailing list of some 14,000 names. Upon
the back of the title page was stamped : "Analyses for 1894
will be sent out every two weeks only to those who apply.
Write postal to Dr. H. B. Battle, Raleigh, N. C."
Replies to this notice were used as a basis by which to send
out the bi-weekly fertilizer analyses, which were issued every
two weeks during the winter and spring season of 1894.
These bulletins contained only the main results of analyses
of each sample, viz. : Available phosphoric acid, ammonia,
potash, mechanical condition of fertilizer, and relative com-mercial
value, together with the percentages and valuation
guaranteed by the manufacturer. These short forms were
chosen to facilitate printing the bulletins, the object being to
place the analyses before those who need them just as soon
XXxiv N. C. AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 1894.
as could be done with the least delay. For most practical
purposes these short statements of analyses answer as well as
the complete forms in giving the result only of the detailed
work which has been done upon them.
Mechanical Condition op Fertilizers.
An improvement has been made in the statement of the
analysis by the insertion of the mechanical condition of the
fertilizer. As a fertilizer in a fine state of subdivision is of
more value because it is more available to the plant in the
soil than a coarse one, the mechanical condition of each
sample as it is received from the inspector is stated. In the
same way a dry fertilizer is more easily handled and dis-tributed
than a damp or moist one, and is consequently of
greater value. Heretofore this question has not been con-sidered,
but the inevitable result, by calling attention to the
matter, will be that more care will be bestowed upon it by
the manufacturers, and consequent improvement of the con-dition
of the fertilizer. Another beneficial effect will be to
educate purchasers and users to the importance of finely
divided fertilizers and those that are free from excessive
moisture.
Fertilizers and their Constituents.
Few of the farmers who read analyses of fertilizers and
profit by the statements in their purchases, understand the
composition of fertilizers and the constituents that are ordi-narily
contained in such fertilizers. In connection with the
published analyses in the bulletin at the beginning of the
past season <f 1894, it was endeavored to explain these mat-ters.
The following subjects were treated : The manufacture
of commercial fertilizers; the ingredients used for making
fertilizers, i. e., those furnishing j hosphoric acid, embracing
mineral phosphates, phosphates of fossil origin, phosphates
from bone, slag phosphates, phosphates from guano, and
phosphates from miscellaneous sources ; those furnishing
nitrogen (or ammonia), embracing chemicals, ingredients of
animal origin, and of vegetable origin ; those furnishing
potash, embracing potash salts, and those from organic ori-gin.
Adulterations in fertilizers were also discussed, as well
as bulky portions of fertilizers, and when analyses are made
for farmers, including a statement showing the necessity for
accurate sampling. The analysis of a fertilizer was also con-
SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT. XXXV
sidered, and the terms used were explained, also how the
valuation of constituents are determined, how values per ton
are calculated, and how they can be utilized by farmers.
II. THE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION.
The second object designed by the State laws of 1877 was
the establishment of a true Agricultural Experiment Station.
Its functions were to be both scientific and practical, and
experiments were to be carried on in various branches of
agriculture. In the language of the act, " shall carry on
experiments on the nutrition and growth of plants, with a
view to ascertain what fertilizers are best suited to the
various crops of this State, and whether other crops may not
be advantageously grown on its soil." This work was con-ducted
from time to time, previous to 1887, after which time
its scope was largely augmented by the provisions of the
Hatch Act in providing the means to carry these objects
into effect.
The work of the Station, thus enlarged, now embraces
—
I. Chemical and Microscopical Work, including
1. The analysis of all fertilizers legally on sale in the State.
2. The analysis of agricultural chemicals, of composts and home-made
fertilizers, and all materials from which they can be made.
3. The analysis of soils, marls and mucks.
4. The analysis of feeding stuffs.
5. The examination of seeds with reference to their purity, and
capacity to germinate.
6. The examination of grasses and weeds.
7. The study of insects injurious to vegetation.
8. The analysis of milk, butter and other dairy products.
9. Investigations of fungous diseases of plants, and remedies
designed to eradicate them.
10. Such other chemical and microscopical investigations as are
demanded from time to time.
II. Experimental Work in the Field, Stable, Dairy, and Labora-tory,
to include
1. The effect of different fertilizers on various soils of the State.
2. The study of improved methods for the cultivation of the staple
crops.
3. The study of the best treatment of worn-out lands.
4. The study of the best system for the rotation of crops.
5. Chemical investigations, with practical experiments with cattle,
on the value of the various forage crops, especially those com-mon
in North Carolina.
6. Investigations upon the growth of new crops for this climate, in
comparison with those we now have.
7. The construction of the silo, and value of ensilage.
8. The study of the growth of cattle using different feeding stuffs.
Investigations in the production of milk and butter under different
conditions, and with various implements.
XXXvi N. C. AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 1894.
10. Digestion experiments with stock, to ascertain the real value of
various food stuffs.
11. Experiments with the various feeding rations, to ascertain how
far the feeding standards can be relied on.
12. Tests to compare the different varieties of fruits and vegetables,
to ascertain those worthy of trial.
13. Investigations designed to develop the vineyard and trucking
interests of the State.
14. Investigations upon the diseases of cattle and domestic animals,
and the dissemination of information concerning the treatment
of various diseases.
15. Such other work from time to time as may be deemed advisable
for the interest of the agriculture of the State.
III. The Collection and Distribution of Meteorological Data,
such as will directly aid the various agricultural and horticultural
industries of the State. The work is of benefit in
1. The distribution of telegrams to various portions of the State,
giving the probable state of the weather for the succeeding
twenty four hours.
2. A foreknowledge of the coming of frosts and cold waves, thereby
protecting fruit, trucking and tobacco interests.
3. The collection of various meteorological data; and thus, by obtain-ing
a more perfect idea of the various climatic conditions, to
extend to other localities the crops found useful in portions of
this and other States.
4. The collection and distribution of weekly reports showing the
effect of the weather on crops during successive periods of their
growth.
IV. A Bureau of Information upon all subjects connected with the
agricultural industries of the State. Under this head is included
1. Publications of the Station, embracing six different classes of
bulletins and three of reports. These publications contain the
results of the investigations carried on, as well as a resume of
work done elsewhere, in order to instruct or advance the gen-eral
agricultural interests.
2. Direct correspondence, through the various divisions of the Sta-tion,
with individual farmers, information being always given
as promptly and carefully as possible by those most competent
to do so.
3. Personal contact of the Station force with farmers and others at
institutes and fairs, visits to farms, etc.
V. Samples for Examination.—Samples, when sent by citizens of the
State, for chemical or other examination, will be examined and their
value reported free of charge, under certain conditions and stipula-tions
—
1. If the experimental work of the Station will not be retarded
thereby.
2. If the samples come from the sender's own lands.
3. If they are of sufficient public interest, and the Station is free to
publish the results.
4. If the samples are taken and sent according to the Station's
printed forms, and are fully described.
SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT. XXXVH
Divisions of the Station.
In order to facilitate the work of the Experiment Station,
it has been subdivided into
—
1. Executive Division. 5. Entomological Division.
2. Chemical Division. 6. Horticultural Division.
3. Agricultural Division. 7. Meteorological Division.
4. Botanical Division. 8. VeterinaryDivision.
9. Division of Publication.
The Station Staff.
As at present constituted, the Station staff includes
—
H. B. Battle, Ph. D Director and State Chemist.
F. E. Emery, B. S Agriculturist.
Gerald McCarthy, B. Sc Botanist and Entomologist.
W. F. Massey, C. E Horticulturist.
C. F. von Herrmann(U. S. Weather Bureau). Meteorologist.
F. P. Williamson, D. V. S Consulting Veterinarian.
B. W. Kilgore, M. S Assistant Chemist.
F. B. Carpenter, B. S ..Assistant Chemist.
W. M. Allen Assistant Chemist.
C. B.Williams, B. S Assistant Chemist.
Alexander Rhodes Assistant Horticulturist.
Roscoe Ntjnn (U. S. Weather Bureau) .Assistant Meteorologist.
A. F. Bowen Secretary.
Equipment.
The headquarters of the Station are in the Agricultural.
Building, immediately north of the Capitol. In the north
wiDg are located the offices, the chemical laboratories and
storerooms. On the basement floor is the document room,
where are kept the publications of the Station. On the third
floor is situated the mycological laboratory, botanical and
entomological work-rooms; also the meteorological division
of the Station, organized as the State Weather Service, co-operating
with the United States Weather Bureau. On the
roof of the building and on the third floor are located the
various instruments for recording meteorological observa-tions.
A thirty -five foot staff for displajnng flags to dissemi-nate
weather forecasts is also upon the roof, where the signals
are visible to a considerable distance.
The Experiment Farm is located about one mile and a
half west of the city, and adjoins the Fair grounds of the
State Agricultural Society. It is in close proximity to the
grounds of the North Carolina College of Agriculture and
Mechanic Arts, and the students have access to the experi-
XXXV111 N. C. AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 1894.
ments, and study their progress and their results. On the
farm are located the experimental dairy, silos, and barn, in
which are the cattle under test for production of beef, milk,
and other purposes. Field-crop tests are also conducted, as
far as is possible, upon the land of the farm. Here, also, is
the field and plant-house work of the horticultural division.
The experiment farm is connected by telephone with the city
offices. The electric cars on the Hillsboro street line of the
city stop in easy walking distance of the farm.
Publications of the Station.
The publications of the Station have heretofore been clas-sified
to facilitate preparation as well as preservation. The
bulletins and reports being of such varied character, and
mailed to different lists, there must necessarily be some con-fusion
unless this be done.
^Accordingly, the following classification has been adopted
:
A. Bulletins —Regular. Each edition 14,000 to 18,000
copies. For popular reading, with scientific terms
avoided as far as possible. Numbered consecutively
82, 83, 84, etc. Sent to all names on the Station
mailing-list. Last issued during 1894 was No. 110.
B. Bulletins.—Technical. Each edition 3,000 copies. Num-bered
consecutively 1, 2, 3, etc. ; also with correspond-ing
number according to date of issue, 77b, 80c, etc.
Sent only to scientific list and exchanges. Summa-ries
of these issues appear in regular bulletins. Last
issued during 1893 was No. 7—9 id. This series of
bulletins have now been merged into A.
C. Bulletins.—Meteorological Division (State Weather Ser-vice).
Each edition 1,800 copies. Numbered con-secutively
1, 2, 3, etc. Sent only to meteorological
list and to exchanges. Subject-matter is mainly
meteorological data of various stations in North Caro-lina.
Last issued during 1894 was No. 63.
D. Bulletins—Special. Each edition varying in number
from 500 to 60,000 copies. For special purposes, as
the demand requires. Numbered consecutively 1, 2,
etc. Sent only to special names, as occasion demands.
This series includes the bi-weekly fertilizer bulletins.
Last issued during 1894 was 21.
SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT. XXXIX
E. Bulletins.— Weekly Weather Crop. Each edition 1,600
copies. Numbered consecutively 1, 2, 3, etc., during
the year of issue. Printed during 1888, 1889, 1890,
1891, 1892, 1893 and 1894. Gives weekly the effect
of the weather upon crops during the growing season.
Sent only to crop bulletin list and exchanges. Last
issued during 1894 was No. 26.
F. Bulletins.—Press. Each edition 600 copies. Num-bered
consecutively 1, 2, 3, etc. Short reading articles
for newspaper columns. First number published May
24, 1890. Sent to newspaper exchanges and to chair-men
of experimental committees of alliances and
granges. Last issued during 1894 was No. 66.
G. Annual Reports of the Station.—Each edition 3,000
copies. Numbered consecutively with years, 1-1878,
2-1879, 3-1880, etc. Prior to 1888 these reports con-tained
results of the year's work, and took the place
of the separate bulletins which appeared thereafter.
The annual reports now contain copies of the regular
bulletins issued during the year. Sent to exchanges
only, and not to general mailing-list. Last issued was
16th for 1893.
H. Annual Reports of the Meteorological Division,
constituting the State Weather Service. Each edition
2,000 to 4,000 copies. Numbered consecutively with
years, 1-1887, 2-1888, 3-1889, etc. Includes monthly
and annual means of meteorological data at various
stations in North Carolina and for the State, with other'
records made and work done during the year; also
copies of meteorological bulletins of series C issued
during the year. Sent to meteorological exchange list
only. Last issue was seventh annual for 1893.
I. Biennial Repobts of the Station. Sent to the Gov-ernor
for transmission to the General Assembly.
Each edition 500 to 3,000 copies. Numbered consecu-tively
First, Second, etc. These reports are demanded
by local authorities, and are not intended for general
distribution. Last issue was Eighth Biennial Report
for the years 1893 and 1894.
J. Information Bulletin —Designed to be distributed for
the purpose of collecting information concerning prac-tical
and useful plans of farm management or methods
of cultivation of different crops, etc., to be collated
thereafter for use in general bulletins. The last issue
for 1894 was No. 5.
xl N. C. AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 1894.
Since the above plan was adopted, it has been found that
some confusion occurred in the classification of A and B
(Regular and Technical bulletins). To lemedy this, it was
determined to merge the latter series into the former, and
give a popular summary of the technical work, which sum-mary
is alone to be sent to the general list of farmers
throughout the State. The full detailed report of the tech-nical
work is mailed, as usual, to the scientific and exchange
lists. Others can secure each of these publications by special
application therefor. This plan prevents wasteful distribu-tion
of bulletins to those who do not have the time or the
inclination to investigate the detailed portions of the tech-nical
work, and supplies to farmers only what they most
generally wish to know, i. e., the results of the work.
The title page of the Station's regular publications has
been somewhat changed in order to lay greater stress upon
the subject-matter of the bulletin. It is believed by this plan
that the attention of readers will be more attracted to the
subject and a greater interest in it will be caused.
Publications During the Year 1894.
During the year 1894, seventy-eight distinct publications
have been issued, subdivided as follows:
Series A—17 bulletins, containing 506 pages.
C—12 t i i 200
D— 6 i a 80
E—26 i (< 26
F—10 [< (< 10
G— 1 i i i 50 H— 1 i a 140
J— 5 i (« 5
Total during 1894, 78 bulletins, containing 997 pages.
A. OF THE REGULAR BULLETINS, 17 ISSUES.
No. 94.—January 1, 1894. 20 pp.
Horticultural Tests and Results with Garden Vegetables,
Fruits, and Bulb Culture.—Table of contents. Tests of garden
vegetables: cabbages, melons, garden corn, cucumbers, egg plants,
lettuce, onions, potatoes and tomatoes. Result of tests during 1893.
Test of fruits: strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, grapes, figs,
and peaches. Prevention of grape rot. Grapes under glass. Bulb
culture: tuberoses, lilies, gladioli, and hyacinths. Propagation of
hardy roses. Acknowledgments.
No. 95.—January 12, 1894. 32 pp.
Fertilizer Analyses and the Fertilizer Control During 1893,
including: The Official Analyses of Spring and Fall Samples, and a
Description of ingredients in Fertilizers and their Analyses. Table
SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT. xli
of contents. The Fertilizer Control Station. Digest of fertilizer
laws in force in North Carolina. The manufacture of commercial
fertilizers. Ingrediente ueed for making fertilizers, including those
furnishing phosphoric acid, nitrogen (or ammonia), and potash.
Adulterations in fertilizers. Bulky portions of a fertilizer. When
analyses of fertilizers are made for farmers. The analyses of a fer-tilizer
and an explanation of terms used. How the valuation of
constituents are determined. How values per ton are calculated,
and how they can be utilized by farmers. Analyses of 262 samples
of fertilizers taken and analyzed during the year 1893. Freight
rates from the seaboard to interior points.
No. 96.—January 20, 1894. 32 pp.
Miscellaneous Agricultural Topics, contained in the press service
bulletins of June to December, 1893.
No. 97.—January 30, 1894. 48 pp.
Digestion Experiments with soy bean hay, cat-tail millet, Johnson
grass hay, sorghum fodder and bagasse, peanut-vine hay, cotton-seed
meal, cotton-seed hulls, crimson clover hay, corn meal, corn
and cob meal, and corn silage. The digestibility of foods and diges-tion
experiments. Terms defined. Different rations experimented
with. The animals employed. Summary of results. Table show-ing
composition of foods used in experiments. Table showing sum-mary
of coefficients of digestibility and nutritive ratios. Digestion
experiments reported in detail with weights of food, analyses of
same, analyses of excrement, and resulting percentages digested,
with mean nutritive ratio. Summary of coefficients of digestibility.
No. 98.—March 1, 1894. 40 pp.
Some Leguminous Crops and their Economic Value, including
(1), Legumines as improvers of the soil; (2), The cultivation of
leguminous plants for forage; (3), The fungous and insect enemies
of legumines. Some legumines tested by the Station. The forage
plant garden, including full notes taken during growth. The varie-ties
of cowpeas and their comparative merits. Japanese peas and
beans.
No. 99.—April 15, 1894. 8 pp.
Thread-Worm of Pork (Trichina Spiralis).—Description of trichina
spiralis in flesh and in the encysted form; and mature forms of
trichina spiralis. Cuts of same.
No. 100.—March 26, 1894. 36 pp.
Our Common Insects.—Classification of insects. Insect names and
organs. Sub-class of hexapoda. or six-footed insects. Sub-class of
arachnida. Sub-class of mirapoda. Sub-class of malacopoda. How
to combat noxious insects. How to collect and preserve insects.
Books for students of entomology.
No. 101.—August 2, 1894. 20 pp.
The Progress of the Dairy Industry in North Carolina.—Descrip-tive
matter showing progress in dairying and reasons therefor.
Table showing the progress of the dairy industry in North Carolina
from 1879 to 1889, compared with other States.
No. 102.—August 3, 1894. 12 pp.
Encouragement to the Dairy Interests of North Carolina,
through the medium of the State Fairs. Testing dairy cows at the
3
Xlii N. C. AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 1894.
State Fair of 1894. Premium for best dairy cows. Conditions of
the tests. Rules for conducting the tests. Records of tests. Appli-cation
for cows to be tested for premium at State Fair 1894. Food
consumed per day by cows for test during ten davs previous to test.
Result of tests. Testing dairy cows at the State Fair of 1893. Table
showing result of dairy test at State Fair of 1893.
No. 103.— August 17, 1894. 24 pp.
Miscellaneous Agricultural Topics, contained in the press service
bulletins of January to June, 1894.
No. 104.—August 18, 1894. 4 pp.
Why Pull Your Corn Fodder?—Reasons given for rejecting this
method and adopting the better plan of cutting and curing the whole
stalk.
No. 105—September 4, 1894. 12 pp.
The Chestnut and its Weevil. Nut Culture for North Caro-lina.—
The chestnut weevil. Remedies. Appendix. Chestnuts.
Pecan. Persian Walnuts.
No. 106.—September 6, 1894. 44 pp.
Rational Stock Feeding; including (1), Definition of terms and com-position
and digestibility of foods; (2), Feeding standards; (3), How
stock rations can be calculated; (4), Some rations fed in North Caro-lina,
and some rations suggested; (5), Comments of practical stock
breeders and feeders. Composition of feeding stuffs. Functions
of nutrients. Functions of food in the animal body. Digestibility
of feeding stuffs. Average composition and digestible nutrients in
feeding stuffs. Coefficients of digestibility. Amount of digestible
matter in feeding stuffs. Nutritive ratio. Rations fed to horses.
Rations fed to colts. Rations fed to milch cows. Rations fed to
beeves. Rations fed to young stock and bulls. Rations fed to sheep.
Rations fed to swine.
No. 107.—September 6, 1894. 24 pp.
Flowering Bulbs in North Carolina, and their Propagation
for Florists' Use.—Flowering bulbs in North Carolina. Commer-cial
culture of flowering bulbs. General discussion. Appendix.
Plates (drawn from nature) illustrating various bulbs grown in North
Carolina.
No. 108.—September 22, 1894. 76 pp.
Seed Testing, Its Uses and Methods.—The uses of seed testing.
Seed testing in the United States. The seed control system in
Europe. The method of seed control. The physiology of the seed.
The structure of the seed. The germination of the seed. The prox-imate
composition of the endosperm. The mineral constituents of
the seed. The effect of temperature on the germination process.
The action of light and electricity upon the germination of seeds.
The action of chemicals upon the germination of seeds. The specific
gravity of seeds. The volume- weight of seeds. The life of the
plant embryo. The harvest stage. The germinating stage; seed
viability. The inert stage. Practical seed testing. Viability, purity
and germination of seeds. Seed, their impurities and adulterations.
Limit of possible error in seed testing. Method and apparatus used
in seed testing. Germinating apparatus. Seed separators. Simple
and compound microscopes. Volume-weight apparatus. Sampling
apparatus. Analytical balance. Miscellaneous apparatus. Record
books and blanks. North Carolina Station records and blanks.
Zurich Station blanks. Appendix. Index.
SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT. xliii
No. 109.—October 15, 1894. 34 pp.
Feeding Trials with Animals; including, (1) The effect of cotton-seed
hulls and meal as cattle food. (2) Cotton-seed meal as a horse
food. (3) Cotton-seed meal for pigs. (4) Cotton-seed meal for calves.
(5) Feeding skimmed milk to lambs. (6) A pig feeding test. (7)
A system of feeding young calves.
No. 110.—November 8, 1894. 48 pp.
The Marls and Phosphates op North Carolina.—Includes the
geology, distribution, varieties, and uses of marls and phosphates.
Description and analyses of all the beds reported. Manufacture of
acid phosphate from mineral phosphates.
C. OF THE STATE WEATHER SERVICE DIVISION, 12 ISSUES.
No. 52.—January 31, 1894. 18 pp..
Monthly Meteorological Summary for North Carolina, Jan-uary,
1894.—Contents: General remarks, tables of normal tempera-ture
and precipitation, barometric pressure, air temperature, precipi-tation,
humidity, wind, weather, miscellaneous; dates of halos,
coronse, hail, sleet, fog, frost, snow, etc. Tables of daily mean,
maximum, and minimum temperatures, daily precipitation, charts
of normal temperature and precipitation for January in North Caro-lina.
Monthly summaries from 63 observers.
No. 53.—February 28, 1894. 18 pp.
Monthly Meteorological Summary for North Carolina, Feb-ruary,
1894.—Contents similar to No. 52. Monthly summaries from
68 observers.
No. 54.—March 31, 1894. 18 pp.
Monthly Meteorological Summary for North Carolina, March,
1894.—Contents similar to No. 52. Monthly summaries from 68
Observers.
No. 55.—April 30, 1894. 18 pp.
Monthly Meteorological Summary for North Carolina, April,
1894.—Contents similar to No. 52. Monthly summaries from 68
observers.
No. 56.—May 31, 1894. 18 pp.
Monthly Meteorological Summary for North Carolina, May,
1894.— Contents similar to No. 52. Monthly summaries from 69
observers.
No. 57.—June 30, 1894. 18 pp.
Monthly Meteorological Summary for North Carolina, June,
1894.—Contents similar to No. 52. Monthly summaries from 70
observers.
No. 58.—July 31, 1894. 18 pp.
Monthly Meteorological Summary for North Carolina. July,
1894.—Contents similar to No. 52. Monthly summaries from 71
observers.
No. 59.—August 31, 1894. 18 pp.
Monthly Meteorological Summary for North Carolina, August,
1894.—Contents similar to No. 52. Monthly summaries from 69
observers.
xliv N. C. AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 1894.
No. 60.—September 30, 1894. 18 pp.
Monthly Meteorological Summary for North Carolina, Septem-ber,
1894.—Contents similar to No. 52. Monthly summaries from 68
observers.
No. 61.—October 31, 1894. 18 pp.
Monthly Meteorological Summary for North Carolina, Octo-ber,
1894.—Contents similar to No. 52. Monthly summaries from
66 observers.
No. 62.—November 30, 1894. 18 pp.
Monthly Meteorological Summary for North Carolina, Novem-ber,
1894.—Contents similar to No. 52. Monthly summaries from
62 observers.
No. 63.—December 31, 1894. 18 pp.
Monthly Meteorological Summary for North Carolina, Decem-ber,
1894.—Contents similar to No. 52. Monthly summaries from
58 observers.
D. OP THE SPECIAL BULLETINS, 6 ISSUES.
No. 16.—February 24, 1894. 10 pp.
Fertilizer Analyses and the Fertilizer Control.—First bi-weekly
edition, season of 1894. Valuation of ingredients for 1894, and
digest of fertilizer laws in operation. Freight rates from the sea-board
to interior towns. Analyses of 31 samples analyzed by the
fertilizer control.
No. 17.—March 10, 1894. 14 pp.
Fertilizer Analyses and the Fertilizer Control —Second bi-weekly
edition. Contents similar to No. 16. Analyses of 74 samples
analyzed by the fertilizer control.
No. 18.—March 24, 1894. 16 pp.
Fertilizer Analyses and the Fertilizer Control.—Third bi-weekly
edition. Contents similar to No. 16. Analyses of 109 sam-ples
analyzed by the fertilizer control.
No. 19.—April 7, 1894. 18 pp.
Fertilizer Analyses and the Fertilizer Control.—Fourth bi-weekly
edition. Contents similar to No. 16. Analyses of 169 sam-ples
analyzed by the fertilizer control.
No. 20.— April 21, 1894. 20 pp.
Fertilizer Analyses and the Fertilizer Control.—Fifth bi-weekly
edition. Contents similar to No. 16. Analyses of 204 samples ana-lyzed
by the fertilizer control.
No. 21.—May 22, 1894. 2 pp.
Fertilizer Analyses and the Fertilizer Control —Sixth bi-weekly
edition, issued as a supplement to No. 20. Analyses of 15 samples
analyzed by the fertilizer control.
E. OF THE WEEKLY WEATHER CROP BULLETINS, 26 ISSUES.
Nos. 1 to 26.—April 9, 1894, to October 1, 1894. 1 p. each.
Weekly Weather Crop Bulletin.—Issued every Monday afternoon
during the crop season, 345 reporters representing all of the 96
counties in the State.
SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT. xlv
F. OP THE PRESS BULLETINS, 10 ISSUES.
No. 57.—January 27, 1894. 1 p.
Articles : No distribution of plants, seeds, etc. The Experiment Sta-tion
bulletins. Formulas for composts and home-made mixtures for
cotton and corn. Soy (soja) beans ought to be planted. Lathyrus
sylvestris, or flat pea. Advanced meteorological summary for
North Carolina—December, 1893. Cold waves. Analyses of fer-tilizers.
Satsuma orange trees. Keeping nitrate of soda. Clover
and grass for loamy land ; peanuts; chufas. The cultivation of onions
and Irish potatoes.
No. 58.—March 29, 1894. 1 p.
Articles : The Experiment Station bulletins. Some late bulletins of
the North Carolina Experiment Station. Field peas. Cabbage
insects. Advanced monthly summary of meteorological reports for
North Carolina—February, 1894. Cotton-seed hull ashes. How to
deal with the potato beetle and cabbage worms. Culture of pecans.
Proper temperature to churn. Profitable poultry. Grapes and
blackberries for market. Benefit of peavines to land. Location for
peach orchard. Fireblight of apple tree.
No. 59.—April 25, 1894. 1 p.
Articles : The Experiment Station bulletins. Adulterated cattle food.
A good mixture for tobacco. Advanced monthly summary of me-teorological
reports for North Carolina—March, 1894. Bulky por-tions
of a fertilizer. North Carolina weekly weather crop bulletin.
Spraying orchards and vineyards. Dehorning cattle or calves.
Blight of tomato and potato. Cultivation of cranberries. Nitrate
soda for strawberries. Injury to acid phosphate by marl.
No. 60.—May 3, 1894. 1 p.
Article: Distribution of soy (soja) beans.
No. 61.—May 25, 1894. 1 p.
Articles: Crimeon clover for hay or seed. Crimson clover seed dis-tributed
in 1893. Experiences with crimson clover. Another fraud
exposed. Advanced month! v summary of meteorological reports
for North Carolina—April, 1894. Distribution of soy (soja) beans.
Directions for cooking soy beans or peas. Chicken cholera and its
prevention. Cultivation of barley. Cucumbers for pickles. Shells
and lime.
No. 62.—July 27, 1894. 1 p.
Articles : Everbearing mulberries. Three forage plants for sandy soil.
Recent bulletins of the North Carolina Experiment Station at Ral-eigh,
N. C. A new potato pest. Raising cabbage for market.
Onions. Remedies for borer of peach tree. Grass for permanent
pasture. Nitrate of soda, and ashes. Crimson clover, timothy,
Bermuda grass.
No 63.—September 4, 1894. 1 p.
Articles: Curing cow-pea vines. Why pull your corn fodder? Cab-bage
and its diseases. Advanced monthly summary of meteorologi-cal
reports in North Carolina for July, 1894. Value of corn and cobs
ground together for stock food. Feeding of colts. Cultivation of
onions. Lime will injure stable manure. Clover and grass for pas-ture
on sandy soil. Warts upon cows.
Xlvi N. C. AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 1894.
No. 64.—September 25, 1894. 1 p.
Articles: Title page changed. The chestnut and its weevil. The army
worms. Crimson clover in 1894. The weather in North Carolina
during 1893. Self-suckiag cows. Advanced summary of meteoro-logical
reports for North Carolina—August, 1894. Scuppernongs
can be pruned. Bones as fertilizers, and how to utilize them. Hol-low-
horn and hollow-tail.
No. 65.— October 20, 1894. 1 p.
Articles : Recent bulletins of the Experiment Station. Keeping sweet
potatoes through the winter. Advanced monthly summary of me-teorological
reports for North Carolina—September, 1894. The Rus-sian
thistle. Error in report of crimson clover seed yield for 1894.
Pea and bean weevils. Ripening tomatoes in winter. Variety of
asparagus for planting. To destroy sprouts and stumps. Creamer
or separator for southern North Carolina. Bees and bee worms.
No. 66.—November 29, 1894. 1 p.
Articles : Setting out a peach orchard. Value of one day's cow rations
as a fertilizer. North Carolina weather during October, 1894.
Flowering bulbs in North Carolina. Improve your stock. Rational
stock feeding. Tokay grapes. Value of manure. Blue joint grass.
Destroying wild onions. Mixing fertilizers at home. Asiatic pears.
G. OP THE ANNUAL REPORTS OF THE STATION, 1 ISSUE.
No. 16.—Report of the Station for 1893. 50 pp.
Letter of transmittal. Officers of Board and Experiment Station.
Report of the Director. The fertilizer control station. The Agri-cultural
Experiment Station. Report of the Agriculturist. R-port
of the First Assistant Chemist. Report of the Botanist and Ento-mologist.
Report of the Horticulturist. Report of the Meteorolo-gist.
Financial statement for the year ending June 30, 1893. Ap-pendix.
H. OP THE ANNUAL REPORTS OF THE METEOROLOGICAL
DIVISION, 1 ISSUE.
No. 7. Report of the State Weather Service for 1893. 64 pp.
List of Board of Control and officers of the Experiment Station. Pub-lications
of the State Weather Service for 1893. Annual meteoro-logical
summary, 1893. Collection of meteorological data, and list
of meteorological stations and observers during 1893. Weekly
weather crop bulletin and list of crop correspondents during 1893.
List of stations in North Carolina receiving weather forecasts, cold-wave
or frost warnings by telegraph or mail. Comparisons of tem-perature
and precipitation at stations in North Carolina, United
States, and in foreign countries. Index.
I. OF THE BIENNIAL REPORTS OF THE STATION, 1 ISSUE.
No. 8.—Biennial Report for 1893 and 1894. 140 pp.
Report of Director.
J. OF THE INFORMATION BULLETINS, 5 ISSUES.
No. 1.—November 18, 1893. 1 p.
Inquiries as to Composts, Home-made Manures and Home«»mixed
Fertilizers.
SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT. xlvii
No. 2.—December 16, 1893. 1 p.
Inquiries as to Care of Stock and Food and Rations Given.
No. 3.—March 30, 1894. 1 p.
Inquiries as to the Use op Lime and Marl.
No. 4.—April 12, 1894. 1 p.
Inquiries Concerning Clover Seed Distributed in 1893.
No 5.—November 20, 1894. 1 p.
Inquiries as to Success with Soy Beans.
Mailing Routes in North Carolina.—In order to facilitate
mailing the bulletins, the Station sends the various publica-tions
according to the same plan regularly in use in the
United States Railway Mail Service. The State is subdivi-ded
into mail routes, arranged according to railway lines
and convenience in reaching the various offices. Mail-bags
are packed for each of these routes, by the Station, and trans-mission
through the Raleigh postoffice and the railway mail
service is not delayed. The plan of mailing routes is as
follows
:
MAILING ROUTES FOR STATION PUBLICATIONS FOR NORTH CAROLINA.
1. Goldsboro and Greensboro, East:
Cumberland County.
Greene County.
Johnston County.
Wayne County.
2. Goldsboro and Morehead: 8.
Carteret County.
Craven County.
Jones County.
Lenoir County.
Pamlico County.
3. Tarboro and Washington:
Beaufort County.
4. Newbern and Wilmington:
Onslow County. 9.
5. Wilson and Wilmington, South:
Brunswick County.
Columbus County.
New Hanover County. 10.
Duplin County.
Pender County. 11.
Sampson County.
6. Washington & Charleston, North:
Edgecombe County.
Nash County.
Wilson County.
7. Norfolk and Raleigh:
Bertie County.
Dare County.
Franklin County. 12.
Gates County.
Halifax County.
Hertford County.
Martin County.
Northampton County.
Pitt County.
Vance County.
Warren County.
Norfolk and Edenton:
Camden County.
Currituck County.
Chowan County.
Hyde County.
Pasquotank County.
Perquimans County.
Tyrrell Countv.
Washington County.
Raleigh postoffice:
Randolph County.
Wake County.
Chatham County.
Keysville and Raleigh.
Granville County.
Raleigh and Charlotte:
Anson County.
Bladen County.
Harnett County.
Moore County.
Montgomery County.
Richmond County.
Robeson County.
Union County.
Goldsboro & Greensboro, West:
Alamance County.
Caswell County.
Durham County.
Xlviii N. C. AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 1894.
Guilford County. 17. Salisbury and Knoxville.
Orange County. Buncombe County.
Person County. Burke County.
Surry County. Caldwell County.
Stokes County. Catawba County.
13. Washington and Charlotte, North: Haywood County.
Rockingham County. Iredell County.
14. Washington and Charlotte, South: McDowell County.
Davidson County. Madison County.
Davie County. Mitchell County.
Rowan County. Watauga County.
Stanly County. Yancey County.
15. Wash, and Char., South—No. 2: 18. Taylorsville and Charlotte:
Cabarrus County. Alexander County.
Cleveland County. 19. Asheville and Columbia:
Gaston County. Polk County.
Lincoln County. Transylvania County.
Mecklenburg County. Henderson County.
Rutherford County. 20. Asheville and Murphy:
16. Greensboro and Wilkesboro: Cherokee County.
Ashe County. Clay County.
Alleghanv County. Graham County.
Forsyth County. Jackson County.
Wilkes County. Macon County.
Yadkin County. Swain County.
The Collection op Special Agricultural Information.
A special publication of the Station has been instituted,
designated as the "Information Bulletin," for the express
purpose of collecting information from practical farmers
upon special agricultural subjects. Many farmers, after
years of practical experience, are in possession of certain
plans and methods which they have ascertained to be suit-able
to their needs and surroundings. It is for the purpose
of collecting such information, classifying and embodying it
in a publication of the Station for the benefit of all alike,
that the plan was adopted.
The following is from the prefatory note accompanying
a late bulletin
:
The well known Hatch Act passed by the United States Congress in
1887, upon the provisions of which the agricultural experiment stations
in the various States and Territories depend, contemplated the collection
of practical information on agricultural subjects, as well as in dissemi-nating
among the people the information thus collected, for the first
words of this act, after the enacting clause, read
—
" That in order to aid in acquiring and diffusing among the people of the United
States useful and practical information on subjects connected with agriculture, etc.
This Station, therefore, in order to bring together such agricultural
information, now widely distributed, and at the same time valuable from
the result of constant practice and experience, sends out this Informa-tion
Bulletin for the purpose of collecting information upon the subject
SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT. xlix
stated below, and embodying the result in a general bulletin soon to be
issued. It is to the interest of all who receive this Information Bulletin,
and who have had experience in the special subject below, to write full
and complete answers to the questions, for they in turn will be benefited
by the general bulletin upon this subject, to be issued as soon as it can
be completed.
Up to date there have been five of these bulletins issued
:
No. 1. Enquiries as to composts, home-made manures, and home-mixed
fertilizers.
No. 2. Enquiries as to care of stock, and food and rations given.
No. 3. Enquiries as to the use of lime and marl.
No. 4. Enquiries concerning success with clover seed distributed.
No. 5. Enquiries as to success with soy beans distributed.
A Conservative and Voluntary Seed Control.
The Station has for some time past been investigating the
subject of field and garden seed, and the possible adultera-tions
and impurities that may occur in them. The question
of vitality has also received attention. The labor involved
in concluding this work, which has been presented in Bulle-tin
108, has been very great and has extended over several
years. The following remarks are extracted from the pre-face
of that bulletin:
The question of good seed for planting is known to be a
most important one. While there are many well-established
seed houses who would not knowingly deceive in placing
their goods on the market, yet it is certain that there are
others who are not so scrupulous, who sell bad and adulter-ated
seed either through ignorance or design. Evidence upon
this point is too strong to admit of a doubt. Even the con-scientious
seedsmen may be liable to buy adulterated seed
and sell them to others without knowing their true character.
Seed testing is of value both to seedsmen and to pur-chasers.
To seedsmen, on the one hand, in enabling them to
understand the real nature of the material they buy before
selling to others; to buyers, on the other hand, to enable
them to know if the seed they propose planting are vital seed
and free from every objectionable weed adulteration.
An official seed control may be open to many objections,
and might not be advisable at this time. A voluntary seed
control does not possess the objectionable features of a legal
enactment, and it may prove to be a satisfactory solution to
the present difficulty. Such a control is managed without
the enaction of law. It is inaugurated by means of the vol-untary
co-operation of both sellers and buyers, and is gov-
1 N. C. AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 1394.
i
erned by the laws of trade and mutual benefit. The funda-mental
principles upon which such a control is based is the
progressive spirit of seedsmen who agree to sell living seed
of certain stated percentages of vitality, and free from adul-terations.
If, after testing, it is found that the seed does not
reach this quality, or contains any adulterations, the seeds-men
agree to take back the seed, paying transportation
charges each way, or else refund a proportional part of the
cost of the seed ; no claim for damages to extend beyond
thirty days, or after the seed is sown. The guarantee is
only a guarantee that the seed is what is claimed for it, and
does not extend to the quality of the crop. Evidently there
are too many conditions affecting the growth of the seed in
the soil for any guarantee to be given as to the yield. Bad
preparation of the land, too deep or too thin covering of the
seed, bad weather conditions, are some of the most common
conditions injuriously affecting growth of crops, and for
these the seedsman is certainly not responsible.
Competition is the soul of trade, but fair competition is
possible only when competing goods are sold upon their
real merits, as must be the case when seed are sold under a
definite guarantee based upon a standard method of scientific
analysis. If some enterprising dealers, knowing thoroughly
the quality of seed they sell, voluntarily state that the goods
are what they claim, and subject to the above guarantee,
then it will not be strange if they should commence to han-dle
the bulk of the trade. Purchasers undoubtedly will buy
where they can get the best seed for the money.
The whole matter may be left now with an enlightened
and discriminating public.
The Insect Fauna op North Carolina.
The State has never had a systematic investigation of the
insect life within her borders. Such a survey, conducted
de novo in the usual manner of such surveys, would be very
costly and would consume much time. A plan, however, is
in contemplation, which is outlined below, by which the
expense would be reduced to a minimum, and an additional
beneficial result would accrue from the investigation. The
plan contemplates co operation with the public schools of
the State, and the collection by their pupils of insect speci-mens
in their immediate locality. The various sections
would thus be thoroughly investigated, and collections em-bracing
all parts of the State would be brought together. A
(SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT. H
bulletin detailing the systematic classification of insects has
already been prepared for the purpose of being used in the
proposed collections. This bulletin has special reference to
ordinary insects and insects injurious to crops. The reasons
that governed the preparation of it are
:
First, in order that the people of the State should have
the means of studying and understanding the numerous
insects, both foes and friends, constantly noted on every side.
It is evident that this can be done to better advantage if
the structure, classification, and life history are known in
connection with a knowledge of a particular specimen when
it is being studied. Second, to extend a spirit of investiga-tion
and study among the children of the State, both at their
schools and at home. It is expected that this will be accom-plished
by creating an interest in the collection of insects,
and their preservation for permanent interest and value. In
this way, if the activity of the children is aroused, it will
undoubtedly extend to the parents, and to both will result
a better knowledge of insects and methods designed to
destroy them. Many simple remedies can be applied that
would save many crops to their owners if only these reme-dies
were known. To aid in the creation of interest in the
study of insects, the preservation of beneficial species, and
the destruction of noxious ones, it is probable that the Experi-ment
Station will offer cash prizes for the most meritorious
collections of insects collected and named according to the
classification of the present bulletin. The offer will doubt-less
be made only to the public schools of the State and their
pupils. Third, to increase our own knowledge of the insect
fauna living in the borders of the State, and in this study
collections carefully made as above described and procured
from all parts of the State will be invaluable. The flora of
North Carolina has been studied widely, and is among the
richest and best known in the world. In fact, the name
Caroliniana appears as a part of the specific name of plants
more frequently than that of any other State. This is doubt-less
due to the researches of two of her citizens of world-wide
reputation, Dr. L. D. von Schweinitz, of Salem, and
Dr. M. A. Curtis, of Wilmington, and of Michaux, the elder
and younger, and other European botanists, who did most
of their collecting in North Carolina. The flora of the State
embraces some six thousand distinct species, due to the varied
elevations within her borders and the consequent diversifi-cation
of climate. As there is such close connection and
mutual dependence between plants and insects, it is doubtless
Hi N. C. AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 1894.
the fact that there is relatively as large insect fauna within
the State, and as interesting as the flora. No such attempt
has ever been made to systematically study our insect life.
It is desirable that a beginning should be made, and collec-tions
from different portions of the State carefully made by
the various schools would be of great assistance in the work.
At the same time, collections made in this way would tend
to increase the interest of school pupils in natural sciences,
would teach them the value of observation of the life and
events around them, and which, in addition, would be of
marked value to them in after-life as agriculturists. This
interest would doubtless extend to their parents, who would
in turn derive benefit from their labors.
The Dairy Industry.
Recognizing the need of some change from the one-crop
system so largely used in the cultivation of tobacco and cot-ton,
the Station has endeavored to give special encourage-ment
to the dairy interest in North Carolina. Milk, butter
and calves are safe money crops that do not exhaust the land.
Home made fertilizers can be made, and thus a saving in the
purchase of commercial fertilizers is affected; and such a
system compels the use of best breeds, whose increase are
also of particular value. No less than eleven separate bul-letins
have been issued, in editions of many thousands each,
which gave special assistance in the care and feeding of
stock, building of silos, and to the encouragement of the
dairy industry.
While there is room for very great improvement for the
future, still our State has added to the dairy industry and
the care of improved stock much more in the past decade
than is generally supposed. As summaries of these improve-ments,
the following statement is offered, based on official
figures of the tenth and eleventh censuses:
1st. That North Carolina has increased her farming capac-ity
twenty per cent, during the ten years preceding 1890.
2d. That North Carolina has discarded thousands of com-paratively
worthless milch cows and other stock.
3d. That North Carolina has introduced better breeds of
dairy and other stock, and has made other improvements
dependent upon this fact.
4th. That North Carolina has increased the number of her
improved milch cows, in proportion to the number of her
SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT. liii
improved acres, more than any other State, with the excep-tion
of Florida.
5th. The the total yield of milk, butter and cheese in
North Carolina shows very great increase as the result of
improved stock.
6th. That the average yield per cow in North Carolina
has increased during the ten years previous to 1890 far
greater than has been the case in most of the other States,
and the actual yield is better than most of the Southern
States.
7th. That the number of butter factories in North Carolina
are increasing, and it is likely this result will prove as advan-tageous
here as has been the case in the older dairy states.
These encouraging results are due
—
1st. To the changing conditions in the agriculture of the
State, which demand that home supplies be first made; and
next, that money crops be undertaken as far as they can
economically be produced.
2d. To the adoption of the " no- fence" laws in almost
every one of the middle and eastern counties.
3d. To the encouragement and assistance afforded by the
Station and other organizations, agricultural journals, and
enterprising individuals.
4th. To the awakening of the people of the State to the
benefits derived from the discriminating care of improved
stock, and other advantages following in its train.
Should our people be content with what has been done?
There is need for greater improvement. Instead of having
but little over one per cent, of the milch cows of the United
States within our borders, and producing about one per cent.
of the milk of the United States, North Carolina ought to
have at least five per cent., both of the number of cows and
production of milk, by the year ^900; and with this increase
the State would show corresponding improvements in all
agricultural industries. And there is no reason why this
should not be.
The Marls and Phosphates of North Carolina.
The work of the Experiment Station, from the earliest
period of its existence, has embraced the chemical examina-tion
of natural deposits that might be used for agricultural
purposes, as well as other materials that could be so utilized
from the by-products of other industries, or those that could
be saved and used by careful management on the farm. The
Hv N. C. AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 1894.
Station has thus been of material assistance in giving a more
definite idea of the value of such materials, as well as advice
to those who were, perhaps, unconscious of their proper use.
Since the establishment of the Station, in March, 1877,
many hundreds of analyses of marls and phosphates have
been made. These are collected in a special bulletin (110),
and such information of the location and extent of the depos-its
as could be gathered from our records is also inserted. A
description of the geological features of the formations,
together with their distribution, varieties and uses, are inclu-ded.
A chapter on the manufacture of acid phosphate from
mineral phosphates is also appended in order to give a more
perfect idea of this very important material.
Veterinary Investigations.
For some time the Station has desired to have the services
of a competent veterinarian upon its staff, but owing to lack
of funds it has been unable to do so. Temporary arrange-ments
have, however, been entered into with F. P. William-son,
D. V. S., as Consulting Veterinarian to the Station, and
up to date one educational bulletin has been issued, and such
veterinary work has been completed as was required in the
progress of the feeding and digestion work in the agricul-tural
division. Further detailed statements can be seen by
reference to the work of the veterinary division.
Some Adulterations Detected.
During the year two notable adulterations have been de-tected
and brought to light. The first of these was adul-terated
wheat bran. This stock food is purchased largely
from the west, and, judging from the following examination,
it would seem that it is being deliberately adulterated. Of
wheat bran purchased on the Raleigh market, a one-pound
sample was drawn and examined and found to contain 10.96
per cent, of the following: unground kernels of wheat, oats,
cockle, chess or cheat, and several other varieties of weed
seeds. Some of the light wheat seed were, in addition,
affected with burnt or stinking smut (pucinia rubigovera).
The cockle seed (lychnis githago) was present to the amount
of 2.77 per cent., or 55.4 pounds per ton, and the chess or
cheat (bromus secalinus) was present to the amount of 1.01
per cent, of the whole, or 20.2 pounds per ton. The stock at
the Station would have consumed about 2£ tons per month
SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT. lv
(at the rate then being fed), and a monthly saving of fifteen
tons of stable manure could be secured. Feeding this adul-terated
bran, the manure from it, after many of the whole
weed seeds had passed through the animals, would be amply
sufficient to seed any ordinary field with very objectionable
weeds, to the great detriment of the growing crop. This
result would easily offer one explanation to the vexed ques-tion
of " Can wheat turn to cheat?"
The other adulteration detected was the sale by a traveling
party of cabbage seed, "recommended by the United States
Agricultural Department as the best for the Southern States,"
"grown and warranted by the Junaluska Seed Company,
Junaluska, N. C." The seed was worthless, and consisted in
the main of European wild cabbage. Both the name of the
post-office and the seed firm were fictitious, and the whole
transaction was fraudulent. It was ascertained that the same
people had previously sold similar seed under the title of the
Reems Creek Company. Publication was at once made of
the circumstances, and it is hoped that future transactions
can be avoided.
The Importance of Rational Stock Feeding.
The subject of stock feeding is of such importance that
the Experiment Station continues to call attention to it, not
only in conducting experiments to determine the digestibility
of various common foods in daily use, but also in distribu-ting
information designed to be of immediate value to the
stock feeder.
There are in North Carolina, according to the latest returns
(State Auditor's Report of 1894)—
Horses 146,725, valued at $7,497,225
Mules 111,463, " 6 475,251
Cattle 624 716, " 4,806 663
Hogs 1,136.256, " 1,620,117
Sheep and Goats 396.564, " 390.168
Total 2,415,724, " $20,789,424
Assuming that the very small sum of fifteen cents per
month for each head could be saved by more careful feed-ing,
there would be saved to the people of the State over
four millions of dollars annually, a sum approximating nearly
one-sixtieth of the total assessed real and personal property
of the whole State,
Wi N. C. AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION 1894.
All stock feeds are not the same in quality. Some are
richer in some ingredients than others. These ingredients,
when eaten in food, act differently in building up the body.
Some make flesh; some make bone; some make heat and
force. Foods, therefore, vary greatly in value for different
purposes. Again, the constituents may not wholly be avail-able
to the animal. A portion of a certain constituent may
be easily digested, while the other part may pass entirely
through and go off as waste. If the manure is not preserved
it is really an absolute waste. The digestible portions of the
various constituents must be determined by actual feeding
tests with animals, while the constituents must be carefully
analyzed, chemically. By actual feeding it has been ascer-tained
what quantity of these digestible constituents is
needed for different purposes of feeding to produce fat, or
growth, or sustain vigor when worked. In this way we can
lay down a rule for feeding animals, and, knowing the foods
we have at hand, and the digestible proportions, it will be
easy to combine them according to the best advantage.
Of such importance is the subject considered, that two
bulletins have been issued within the past two years touch-ing
specially upon the rational and practical feeding of stock.
These are in addition to the result of experiments upon the
digestion of various common stock foods, which are included
in separate publications. The last of these bulletins (106)
contains also detailed results of correspondence with leading
stock feeders and breeders, in which different feeding rations
are given and discussed.
The people of the State, in order to make money, must
save it, and to accomplish this no better way can be sug-gested
for immediate trial than more careful feeding of their
stock. To this end a thorough understanding of the princi-ples
underlying it is essential. Our people must weigh their
stock foods and mix them in the right proportions if they
desire to stop a tremendous leak in farm economy.
Means for Reaching Farmers.
As the main plan for carrying before the farmers the work
and results reached at the Station, the bulletins are foremost.
It is one thing to conduct agricultural investigations de-signed
to benefit farmers and others and to reach important
results. Accurate and painstaking care are essential, com-bined
with the requisite skill and experience. Without these
the results, when reached, are inaccurate and misleading.
*
SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT. lvii
After important and valuable results are secured, it is en-tirely
a different matter to bring these results before the
attention of those for whom they were particularly designed
to benefit. This phase of the question has been especially
considered, and various methods have been pursued to arrive
at the best result. The usual bulletins of the Station are
intended, in a great measure, to supply this demand, and
they have been prepared so as to reach the plain, matter of-fact
farmer, who has little inclination to study difficult tables
and abstruse discussions. At the same time the technical
and scientific work and results are not lost sight of, but are
distributed in the technical series to persons particularly
interested in them. The popular bulletins, containing sum-maries
of important results, as well as the educational series
of bulletins, have accomplished most beneficial results by
their widespread distribution. There appeared to be, how-ever,
an important link in the dissemination of information
of the work and results of the Station which was not yet
filled. This, however, by the adoption of the press bulletin,
was corrected, and short, concise articles upon these subjects
were thus distributed and found their way in newspaper
columns, increasing their circulation many fold. The addi-tional
plan of sending out plate-matter containing these
articles still largely increased the circulation and reached
the attention of thousands that did not before have the
opportunity of considering the Station's work.
Much has been done also through direct correspondence
with farmers, and their queries have included every branch
of farming and kindred pursuits. Each division of the Sta-tion
conducts its own correspondence, and all queries sent
in are referred to the appropriate division most able to give
the fullest and best answer. These questions and replies,
when of sufficient public interest, are printed and distributed
by means of the press service plate-matter. The members
of the Station staff also, whenever practicable, visit farms,
farmers and their meetings, attend farmers' institutes and
deliver talks and addresses, as well as write for agricultural
newspapers and journals.
It is confidently believed that never before in its history
has the Station done so complete and acceptable work as
now, and that the people of the State are far more alive to
take advantage of the offers of assistance by the Station,
and to benefit themselves by its results.
lviii N. C. AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 1894.
Acknowledgments.
The Station takes pleasure in acknowledging the receipt
during 1894 of the books and pamphlets, journals and news-papers
stated below. The reports and bulletins of the U. S.
Department of Agriculture, and of the various Experiment
Stations in the different States and Canada are not included