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North Carolina State LiDrary O^
Raleigh
FORTY- FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT
NORTH CAROLINA AGRICULTURAL
EXPERIMENT STATION
CONDUCTED JOINTLY BY THE
NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
AND THE
NORTH CAROLINA STATE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
AND ENGINEERING
Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 1922
Statistical Report Year Ending December 1, 1922
LETTER OF SUBMITTAL
Raleigh, 1ST. C, June 30, 1922.
To His Excellency, Cameron Morrison",
Governor of North Carolina.
Sir:—I have the honor to submit herewith report of the operations
of the Agricultural Experiment Station, conducted jointly by the North
Carolina Department of Agriculture and the North Carolina State
College of Agriculture and Engineering, for the year ended June 30,
1922. This work is under the immediate direction of the "Joint
Committee for Agricultural Work," provided for in chapter 68 of the
Public Laws of 1913, and amended by chapter 223 of the Public Laws
of 1917, and the report is made in accordance with the requirements
of the act of Congress, approved March 2, 1887, and known as the
Hatch Act.
Very respectfully,
Director.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Letter of Submittal 3
Staff of Workers 5
General Summary of the Work of the Station During the Year .... 7
Financial Report 19
Report of the Division of Agronomy 21
Report of the Division of xVnimal Industry 37
Report of the Division of Entomology 54
Report of the Division of Horticulture 63
Report of the Division of Plant Pathology and Bacteriology 73
Report of the Division of Markets and Rural Organization 77
Report on Drainage '. 87
BOARD OF AGRICULTURE
*W. A. Graham, Chairman.
F. P. Latham Belhaven *A. T. McCallum Hot Springs
J. J. Harris Macon *C. C. Wright Hunting Creek
*R. L. Woodard Pamlico W. B. McClelland Stony Point
"Clarence Poe Raleigh H. Q. Alexander Matthews
R. W. Scott Haw River A. Cannon Horse Shoe
BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE COLLEGE
'Governor Cameron Morrison, Chairman.
M. B. Stickley Concord *T. T. Thorne.. .Rocky Mount
T. T. Ballenger Tryon *C. W. Gold. Greensboro
W. H. Williamson Raleigh T. E. Vann Como
*0. L. Clark Clarkton P. S. Boyd Mooresville
W. R. Bonsal Hamlet W. S. Lee Charlotte
D. R. Noland Crabtree C. F. Tomlinson High Point
Claude B. Williams Elizabeth City *J. F. Diggs Rockingham
Clarence Poe Raleigh E. R. Johnson ..Currituck
W. C, Riddick (President College) Raleigh
STAFF OF THE NORTH CAROLINA EXPERIMENT STATION AND
EXTENSION SERVICE
B. W. Kilgore Director, Experiment Station and Extension Service
C. B. Williams Vice-Director, Experiment Station
F. E. Miller Assistant Director, Branch Stations
J. M. Gray Assistant Director Extension
F. H. Jeter. Agricultural Editor
A. F. Bowen Bursar
Miss Mary H. McKimmon Bursar
Miss Mary S. Birdsong Secretary to the Director
H. C. Evans.. Auditor and Executive Assistant
AGRONOMY
C. B. Williams.Chief Division of Agronomy G. M. Garren Assistant in Plant Breeding
W. F. Pate Soil Agronomist S. W. Hill .Assistant in Plant Breeding
E. C. Blair Extension Agronomist L. G. Willis Soil Chemist
R. Y. WiNTERS.Agronomist in Plant Breeding fW. E. Hearn Soil Survey
S. K. Jackson Assistant in Plant Breeding fS. O. Perkins Soil Survey
CHEMISTRY
W. G. Haywood ..Fertilizer Chemist L. M. Nixon. Assistant Chemist
E. S. Dewar Assistant Chemist B. C. Williams Assistant Chemist
F. W. Sherwood Assistant Chemist Z. B. Bradford Assistant Chemist
B. Naiman Assistant Chemist C. L. Williams Assistant Chemist
ENTOMOLOGY
Franklin Sherman Chief, Division of C. S. Brimley Assistant Entomologist
Entomology T. B. Mitchell Assistant Entomologist
Z. P. Metcalf Entomologist W. B. Mabee .Extension Entomologist
R. W. Leiby Assistant Entomologist C. L. Sams .Specialist in Beekeeping
HORTICULTURE
C. D. Matthews ...Chief, Division of Horticulture
J. P. Pillsbury Horticulturist
L. H. Nelson Assistant Horticulturist
E. D. Bowditch Assistant Horticulturist
F. E. McCall Garden Specialist
R. F. Payne. Extension Horticulturist
C. L. Williams Research Assistant Horticulturist
"Members of Joint Committee for Agricultural Work.
Officers and Staff
animal industry
R. S. Curtis Acting Chief, Animal Indu&try Division
Earl Hostetler. „ Beef Cattle and Swine
F. T. Peden „ Beef Cattle and Swine
fGEORGE Evans Sheep Extension
W. W. Shay... ,. Swine Extension
J. W. Watts ... Assistant in Swine Extension
B. F. Kaxjpp Poultry Pathologist
A. G. Oliver ..Poultry Extension
E. G. Wardin Assistant in Poultry Extension
Stanley Combs Dairy Experimentalist
J. A. Arey Dairy Farming
fF. R. Farnham Assistant Dairy Farming
A. C. Kimrey Assistant Dairy Farming
tH. S. Wilson ...Assistant Dairy Farming
J. O. Halverson.. Feed Chemist and Specialist in Nutrition
PLANT PATHOLOGY
F. A. Wolf.... Plant Pathologist
S. G. Lehman Assistant Plant Pathologist
G. W. Fant Extension Pathologist
DRAINAGE
F. O. Bartel Drainage Engineer
MARKETS AND RURAL ORGANIZATION
B. F. Brown Chief, Division of Markets
Gorrell Shumaker Marketing Fruits and Vegetables
R. O. Moen.. Credit Unions
J. M. Workman Warehouse Construction
fP. H.Hart Cotton Grading
J. I. Johnson Assistant in Cotton Grading
fJ. P. Brown Warehouse Inspection and Operation
V. W. Lewis. .Livestock Marketing
|Frank Parker Agricultural Statistician
W. M. Rhodes, Jr . Assistant Agricultural Statistician
BRANCH STATIONS
R. E. Currin, Jr Assistant Director Edgecombe Branch Station
F. T. Meacham Assistant Director Piedmont Branch Station
S. C. Clapp Assistant Director Mountain Branch Station
Charles Dearing Assistant Director Coastal Plain Branch Station
E; G. Moss Assistant Director Tobacco Branch Station
J. L. Rea, Jr Assistant Director Blackland Branch Station
FARM FORESTRY
fH. M. Curran Farm Forestry Specialist
FARM ENGINEERING
E. R. Raney ...Specialist in Farm Engineering
FARM DEMONSTRATION
C. R. Hudson State Agent
S.J. Kirby Assistant State Agent
E. S. Millsaps ! District Agent, Piedmont District
C. C. ProffItt .District Agent, Mountain District
T. D. McLean District Agent, Central District
O. F. McCrary. ...:_ District Agent, Northeastern District
E. W. Gaither District Agent, Southeastern District
HOME DEMONSTRATION
Mrs. Jane S. McKimmon . . State Home Demonstration Agent
Miss Maude E. Wallace 1 .Assistant State Home Demonstration Agent
Mrs. Estelle T. Smith Eastern District Agent
Mrs. Cornelia C. Morris Central District Agent
Miss Martha Creighton Piedmont District Agent
Miss Pauline Smith.. Tidewater District Agent
fin co-operation with United States Department of Agriculture.
[0]
FORTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
NORTH CAROLINA AGRICULTURAL
EXPERIMENT STATION
For the Year Ended June 30, 1922
B. W. Kilgore, Director
F. E. Miller, Assistant Director Branch Stations
F. H. Jeter, Agricultural Editor
The true title of this report should be, "Why North Carolina is
Fifth in Value of Farm Crops." The Agricultural Experiment Sta-tion
and the Agricultural Extension Service of the State College of
Agriculture and the State Department of Agriculture are so closely
related in North Carolina that it is easy to take the results of in-vestigations
directly to the farmer through the extension organization.
The farmers, on the other hand, have freely used the service proffered
them and through the year, because of their close association, there
has been built a more solid and substantial agriculture in the State.
This past year has been one of service to the State by all the
workers of the two organizations. The year has seen the organization
of the two great cooperative marketing -associations, and while the
investigational workers did not devote such a large part of their time
to this work, they did give such aid as the limited time at their dis-posal
permitted, and there is no doubt but that the careful investiga-tions
previously made pointed the way to this successful undertaking
by North Carolina farmers. The year 1922, therefore, marks an
epoch in the farm life of North Carolina.
It marks an epoch also in that the farming population of the State
began its recovery from the after-effects of the Great "War and in
spite of local hardships at various points, in spite of some few cases
of marking time, on the whole the State is going forward in a pro-gressive,
wholesome way that is to be commended and admired.
The Experiment Station undertakes to solve the fundamental facts
about good farming. It wants to prove by actual tests the right way
or the wrong way to handle a farm problem, and after the solution
has been determined by long continued studies under all conditions,
it is passed on to the extension group to be transmitted in turn to
the men and women actually engaged in farming. It can be seen from
the following pages that the Experiment Station has tried to concern
[71
8 Forty-fifth Annual Report N. C. Agri. Exp. Station
itself with the big, outstanding- problems of farming in the State.
Some of the projects have been completed and the results have been
issued in printed form or otherwise given into the hands of the
farm folks. There are many problems that must be studied for
years and ia number of investigations are continued year after year
with reports being printed from time to time and with the project
remaining as a subject of study in order that the farmer may be
correctly informed each year. Other problems there are which are
of interest purely to those of a scientific mind and which furnish
material for other investigators to make of practical benefit to the
farmer. In this latter class, the Station also takes high rank, as some
of its investigators have contributed scientific papers to the best scien-tific
journals and publications of the day, and lectures before the
leading scientific organizations.
The agricultural press and the general press have carried many
articles giving reports on the work of the Station and in this way
the Station is also trying to render service.
CHANGES IN STAFF
Changes in staff since the last report include the following: Resig-nations
: W. W. Magill, Assistant Horticulturist ; Fred R. Yoder,
Specialist in Rural Credits; J. M. Dyer, Assistant Horticulturist;
Miss Mamie Sue Jones, Tidewater District Agent in Home Demon-stration
Work; J. E. Ivey, Assistant in Poultry Investigations; A.
S. Cline, Assistant Director, Blackland Branch Station; H. H. B.
Mask, Assistant State Agent in Farm Demonstration work; and R.
W. Green, Editor.
Appointments: E. D. Bowditch, Assistant Horticulturist; F. E.
McCall, Garden Specialist; R. F. Payne, Extension Horticulturist;
E. G. "Wardin, Assistant in Poultry Extension; G. W. Fant, Exten-sion
Pathologist; J. L. Rea, Jr., Assistant Director Blackland Branch
Station; H. M. Curran, Farm Forestry Specialist; S. J. Kirby, As-sistant
State Agent in Farm Demonstration work; Miss Pauline Smith,
Tidewater District Agent in Home Demonstration work; F. H Jeter,
Editor ; L. G. Willis, Soil Chemist, and R. O. Moen, Specialist in Credit
Unions.
PUBLICATIONS
Publications issued during the past year are as follows:
Bulletins
:
Number 243
—
Winter and Summer Fattening of Steers in North Carolina.
By R. S. Curtis, F. T. Peden and P. W. Parley.
Number 244
Methods and Cost of Raising Pigs to the Weaning Age.
By Dan T. Gray and Earl Hostetler.
Number 245
Rural Organization.
By Carl C. Zimmerman and Carl C. Taylor.
Director's Summary 9
Technical Bulletins:
Number 20
Studies on the Physiology of Some Plant Pathogenic Bacteria.
By Frederick A. Wolf, L. V. Shunk, and A. C Foster.
Number 21
—
The Gloomy Scale.
By Z. P. Metcalf.
Annual Report:
Forty-fourth Annual Report for the Year Ending June 30, 1921.
By Director B. W. Kllgore.
These publications are sent to the mailing list of the Station,
which now numbers about 7,562 names divided into small lists under
subject matter heads. Approximately 11,000 copies of the publica-tions
issued have been mailed to this list.
In addition to the above publications, a number of bulletins have
been issued by Experiment Station workers and published by the State
Department of Agriculture. These bulletins are reported in the Annual
Report of the Commissioner of Agriculture.
AGRONOMY
As in previous reports, the Agronomy Division maintains that
the soil survey is the basis of the intelligent planning and carrying
on of work in soil fertility, crop adaptation, crop rotation, and the
fertilization of crops. Despite the fact that there was a temporary
reduction in the field force, the division has surveyed about 900,000
acres during the past year. Cumberland and Haywood counties have
been finished, about one-half of Sampson has been worked, and the
Currituck-Camden area is now being surveyed.
The division conducts fertility investigations on all of the branch
station farms, as well as the central station farm located at the
college near Raleigh. General deductions made from these fertility
investigations show that on the mountain soils phosphoric acid, nitro-gen,
and lime are the main controlling plant food factors in crop
growth. Organic matter added to the soils will also increase the
average yields. Acid phosphate has proven to be the most efficient
carrier of phosphoric acid with general field crops, legumes and
grasses, though basic slag is also showing up as an efficient source
of this element. Soybeans for annual growth and red clover of the
longer growing varieties fit in well with the crop rotation adapted to this
section.
On the Piedmont soils phosphoric acid and nitrogen must first be
supplied for profitable crop growth. Potash is not so essential. It
has been shown also that there is a greater need for longer crop
rotations in which legumes are included and that organic matter is
very necessary on the heavy soils. Lime is beneficial where legumes
10 Forty-fifth Annual Report N. C. Agri. Exp. Station
are grown; acid phosphate is the most economical carrier of phos-phoric
acid; nitrate of soda and sulphate of ammonia are the best
carriers of nitrogen of the inorganic compounds, and cottonseed meal
is one of the best carriers of nitrogen of the organic compounds.
Orchard grass, red top, and red clover should be included in the
pasture mixtures.
On the Coastal Plain soils results show that nitrogen and potash
are first needed for the most profitable crop production. Lime and
organic matter are also beneficial on these soils and increase the
efficiency of fertilizers. Acid phosphate is the best carrier of phos-phoric
acid; nitrate of soda and sulphate of ammonia are the most
efficient carriers of nitrogen. Results show also that larger amounts
of fertilizers than are generally used can be used with profit under
cotton on these soils.
For the muck and peat soils of eastern North Carolina, lime is
the first essential for a profitable crop. This is true, however, only
after proper drainage has been secured. Experiments show that
about two tons of ground limestone per acre broadcast over three
years is the Correct amount to apply. Burnt lime is about as good
as limestone and both give better results than marl. Planting and
cultivating on the ridge give better crop yields than disking shallow
and planting flat. On account of the general destruction of crop
diseases in this territory, there is a great need for better crop rotations.
In soil chemistry, L. G. "Willis was appointed during the year to
succeed Dr. J. K. Plummer and is now beginning a study of two
problems. His first problem will be to study the effect of different
soil treatments on the availability of potash in the common soil
forming minerals. The results are expected to show whether or not
the petrographic analysis of a soil can be relied upon to indicate the
needs of the soil for potash. Another problem will be to determine
the cause of unsatisfactory crop yields on the muck soils.
In experiments with tobacco, dolomitic limestone applied at the rate
of one ton per acre across one end of each of the 36 fertilizer plots
show that there is less leaf-spot trouble on the limed end than on
the unlimed section. The limestone does not depreciate the value
of tobacco. The division, therefore, recommends the use of dolomitic
limestone where the content of magnesium carbonate runs as high as
25 per cent. On the 20 plots where special potash work is being
conducted, results show that from 36 to 40 pounds of actual potash
is about the right quantity to use on the type of soil mapped as the
Durham sandy loam. Muriate of potash gives increased yields over
sulphate, though the burning quality of the tobacco so produced is
not so good as where the sulphate is used. On the 18 plots where the
different carriers of magnesium and potash are studied, results show
Director's Summary 11
that dolomitic limestone will control the disease known as "sand-drown/V
and that both the yield and quality is improved. Where calcite was
applied, both sand-drown and leaf-spot were serious except where
double manure salts and kainit were used as the source of potash.
On those plots where no limestone was applied, both sand-drown and
leaf-spot were serious except where double manure salts and kainit
were applied, and the yield of tobacco was from 35 to 40 per cent
less than on the other series. Breeding work and selections in im-proving
existing varieties of tobacco are still being carried on, and
satisfactory results are beginning to appear. Rotations are also being
worked out which are proving to give better yields and to improve
the quality of tobacco grown in this rotation. Experiments in which
tobacco follows cowpeas or soybeans to provide nitrogen show that
a crop of tobacco of average quality can be produced without the
application of nitrogen in a commercial form. However, this is not
recommended indiscriminately because of the fact that some growers
will produce tobacco of poor quality. It has also been definitely
proven that a permanent seedbed can be established at a convenient
location to the farm home, provided the seedbed is thoroughly steril-ized
from year to year with live steam. A seedbed of this kind when
once established will grow healthy, strong plants.
In crop improvement work the study of association and inheritance
of economic qualities in cotton has been continued and much data has
been secured for publication. The division is carrying on a "place
effect" study of cotton in cooperation with the Mississippi Experi-ment
Station.
At the Central Station Farm the division has made a number of
studies with new crops, with different seed selections and a number
of cultural tests. Some interesting facts have been developed about
many of these new crops and indications are that some of them will be
adapted to North Carolina conditions. Of the new strains of cotton
grown for the first time, the variety known as Delfos from the Missis-sippi
station gave the best results last year. Seed improvement work in-cludes
plant-to-the-row, and increase plots of cotton, corn, soybeans,
wheat, rye, and sorghum. All of the cotton breeding work is being
done on the strain of Mexican big boll variety. This strain is rapidly
gaining favor in North Carolina on account of its large yield and
extra length of staple. In plant-to-row tests a number of the rows
furnished staple 1% inches long and have been unusually productive.
Breeding work with corn is being continued with strains of Cocke's
Prolific. Unusual success has attended the work of the division in
the improvement of soybeans. Three pedigree strains of Virginia,
three of Haberlandt and eight of Mammoth Yellow soybeans have
been increased and compared with the original varieties from which
they came. The best strain of these varieties have been distributed
12 Forty-fifth Annual Report N. C. Agri. Exp. Station
to branch station farms and to private growers over the State, where
they are meeting with unusual success.
In cotton spacing tests it is shown that the unthinned plots con-tinue
to give the highest yields and in the other plots thicker spacing
has also yielded best. At each of the branch station farms an effort is
•being made to improve those crops best adapted to that particular
section, and so far excellent results are being secured. This is done
in the case of the Edgecombe Branch Station, where about 200 bushels
of highly improved cotton seed were sold in 1921 and 1,200 bushels are
offered for sale from the 1922 crop.
ANIMAL INDUSTRY
In this division the work of animal nutrition is receiving close
attention. Hogs are being fed various kinds of feeds to determine
the effect of oily feeds on the bodies in producing soft pork. The
division has also studied the nutritive value of the peanut and its .
results and effects. It has been known for some time that better
livestock is produced in the limeststone regions, and for that reason the
effect of calcium in commercial feeds is also receiving attention.
The division has found that there is no fishy flavor detected in
the resulting pork from feeding fish meal. Feeding hogs with various
amounts of oily feeds such as peanuts indicate that this oil is the
chief factor in making soft pork. A number of other tests are being
made to determine the effects of different feeds on the carcasses of
pigs, using 12 pigs on peanuts, 12 on soybeans, and making ship-ments
of three pigs to the Bureau of Animal Industry at intervals of
four weeks each, beginning with the close of the grazing period.
During the past year approximately $100 was won by the hogs bred
and owned by the Experiment Station.
At the Edgecombe Branch Station it was found that it costs $4.07
to raise a pig to the weaning age. It was found also that hogs
grazing on about 7
/10 of an acre of peanuts will make an average daily
gain of about % pound, at the cost of $11.40 per hundred pounds of
gain. These hogs may be finished at a cost of $7.70 per hundred
pounds of gain, using shell corn, tankage, and peanuts. At the
Blackland Branch Station it was found that corn can be marketed
through hogs for $1.10 per bushel instead of 65 cents, the prevailing
price of corn when the experiment was begun. At the Piedmont
Branch Station it cost $3.97 to raise a pig to the weaning age.
On this farm also it was shown that pigs made over a half-pound
average daily gain on soybean pastures.
With dairy cattle, the division is seeking to determine the effect
of cottonseed meal on cows and heifers in reproduction. Some inter-esting
results have been secured from the heavy feeding of cotton-
Director's Summary 13
seed meal, and the results show that this is not advisable. At the
Coastal Plain Station the division is seeking to develop a herd of
registered Jerseys. At the present time there are 53 registered Jerseys
on this farm, consisting of 23 cows in milk, which are producing an
average of above 300 pounds of butterfat during a year. Four years
ago only two cows of the herd had ever produced as much as 300
pounds of fat in one year, and this was done only once. The operating
expenses of the dairy are being taken care of by the cash receipts.
The increase in value of the herd and the manure have been sources
of profit.
Excellent results have been secured during the year in the study
of poultry. A number of scientific articles have been prepared by the
division and a great mass of correspondence has been carried on in
answer to letters of inquiry. It has been found that the normal tem-perature
of the adult is about 107.4 degrees F. and that at night the
temperature will fall to 105 degrees. This knowledge has been of value
in the study of fowl typhoid, in which the temperature rises as high
as 114.5 degrees F., or 7 degrees of fever.
A curve showing the rate of growth of single-comb White Leghorns
has been established from their period of hatching to 34 weeks of age.
The average size fowl weighing 8 or 9 pounds will breathe normally
about 20 times a minute. A hen of this same breed will breathe about
35 times a minute. It is not profitable to give a constant fourteen-hour
feeding period to laying hens by the use of lights, as the second
year shows a decrease in egg production. After the first of April
the extra light should be lessened. A fowl may go 365 days without
replenishing its grit, as shown by the fact that two hens were in
perfect health and good flesh at the end of this period during which
no grit had been given.
Extra facilities have been added to the division for carrying on
investigational work at the Mountain Branch Station and at the
Coastal Plain Station.
In feeding cottonseed meal to beef animals in reproduction, results
show, as in the case of the dairy animals, that excess amounts of this
feed cause abortion, weak calves, and soft bones. The milk pro-duced
from the cows receiving such ration fails to produce normal
growth with calves. When the meal has been fed to ewes in moderation,
there is no bad effect. Experiments show also that stomach worms
can be eliminated from sheep by the use of copper sulphate. Good
results have attended the feeding tests of cattle in western North Caro-lina,
and the work shows conclusively that beef cattle can be produced
profitably in that section.
14 Forty-fifth Annual Report W. C. Agri. Exp. Station
ENTOMOLOGY
Potato spraying and flea-beetle control work at the Mountain Branch
Experiment Station shows that a gain of 57 bushels of potatoes per
acre over unsprayed plot was secured on the plot treated with home-made
poison Bordeaux mixture. In boll weevil work, studies made
show that the migration of 1922 completes the invasion of the entire
cotton growing territory of Worth Carolina with the exception of
Currituck County. Two species of boll weevil parasite have been
reared, one of which is known to have killed 13 per cent of the
weevils in one field. Experiments in dusting with calcium arsenate
show a return of $25 worth of cotton per acre resulting from dusting
treatment costing $5.00 per acre.
Field tests conducted in the sandhill section of Worth Carolina show
that 38 per cent of the fruit on peach trees were wormy when not
sprayed, while an adjacent plot that had been carefully treated showed
only 6 per cent of the harvested fruit to be wormy.
The Division of Entomology is carrying along definite projects in
the study of pecan insects, the larger corn stalk borer, spraying of
potatoes, the use of laundry soap in water for aphids, insect survey
of Worth Carolina, black corn weevil, dusting cabbage and collards,
green clover worm, control of mosquitoes, cut-worms, household insects,
peach borer, canker worm, parasites of the Hessian Ely, and the bean-leaf
beetle. This bean-leaf beetle is an insect pest of the first magni-tude
that was first established around Birmingham, Alabama, in 1919.
It has since spread rapidly and in 1921 invaded the Worth Carolina
counties in the southwestern part of the State. Indications are that
it will be another serious pest affecting Worth Carolina agriculture.
The work in using laundry soap in water to control aphids has
been completed, and it was found that one pound of laundry soap to
four gallons of water will give good results. During the year, Wovember,
1921, to Wovember, 1922, 235 species have been added to the list
of insects being secured by the division, and the total has now been
brought up to 6,344. Experiments in the dusting of cabbage and
collards to control worms show that the pest may be controlled by
dusting every ten days with a mixture at the rate of one pound of
lead arsenate to six pounds of air-slaked lime, dusting while the plants
are moist. Experiments to control peach borer by the use of paradi-chlorobenzine
indicate that five-year-old trees will withstand an ap-plication
of three-fourths of an ounce of this material without in-jury
and that a high per cent, of the borers will be killed by the gas
given off. Some results have been secured in determining a safe date
for planting corn to escape the attack of corn root worm. Other
experiments have been made to determine whether a soil repellent can
be secured to use against this pest.
Directors Summary 15
HORTICULTURE
Due to the fact that there have been a number of changes in the
workers of this division, considerable effort has been given to a more
thorough organization of the work during the past year. The division
has attempted to develop a program of horticultural work that will
contain live projects definitely adapted to the basic and special problems
of North Carolina. Experimental work is being conducted with
apples, peaches, pecans, sweet potatoes and Irish potatoes. A number
of projects were discontinued temporarily for lack of funds.
The training and pruning experiments with apples at the Mountain
Station has been one of the outstanding pieces of work done by the
division last year. The results indicate that the growers have been
pruning the apple trees too severely, causing a reduction in the pro-duction
of fruit. Studies of pecan varieties have proved the value of
the Schley, Stuart, Alley, and Success varieties for Eastern North
Carolina. Additional proof has also been secured of the value of the
Coastal Plain region for successful pecan production. It was found
that it is necessary to cultivate pecans during dry weather.
Work with Irish potatoes has proven the value of the rural New
Yorker group for production and storage in "Western North Carolina.
An important phase of work in developing seed potatoes in Western
North Carolina for planting in Eastern North Carolina is being con-tinued
vigorously and indicates that a large seed potato industry can
be developed in the western part of the State to prove of mutual
advantage to both sections. The division is making a study of the
natural fruits of North Carolina, and paintings and photographs are
being made of the important varieties.
In peach breeding work, about sixty varieties of peaches were
planted at the Coastal Plain Station and an effort is being made to im-prove
commercial varieties grown, suited to North Carolina conditions.
Twenty varieties of peaches were planted at the Mountain Station to
determine the relative hardiness of these peach varieties in that section.
About 32 varieties of pecans are being studied to determine the best
varieties to use in this State. A study is also being made of the
individual trees so as to improve the standard yields by bud selection.
In vegetable culture about 29 varieties of sweet potatoes are being
studied to determine the most desirable varieties for Eastern North
Carolina, keeping in mind the production, marketing value, keeping
qualities, and food qualities of the varieties under consideration. Con-siderable
work is also being .done in studying storage methods. Variety
tests of Irish potatoes, using 20 different varieties, are being con-ducted
in Western North Carolina. The observation garden at the
Coastal Plain Branch Station continues to give valuable data as to
16 Forty-fifth Annual Keport N. C. Agri. Exp. Station
the different varieties and best planting dates for vegetables in Eastern
North Carolina.
Genetic studies with bramble fruits, especially raspberries, show
that good wild stock can be secured so as to carry on the work of
crossing varieties at the station farm. Twenty-six combinations in
crossing rotundifolia grapes with other species were made in 1921,
and 49 combinations during the past year. This year 30 seedlings,
representing eight special species combinations, have been grown to size
for transplanting. The research work being attempted on the Central
Station farm is being carried along satisfactorily with good progress
being made in nearly all projects.
PLANT PATHOLOGY
In plant pathology it has been found that the organism causing
tobacco wilt will also attack a number of other crop plants, like
Irish potatoes, tomatoes, and egg-plants, as well as a number of com-mon
weeds. The rust resistant varieties of wheat tested in cooperation
with the Division of Agronomy are not suited to North Carolina. The
bacterial leaf blight of the soybean has been found to be distinct from
other bacterial diseases of clover which have been studied in the labora-tory
and greenhouses.
A number of scientific articles have been prepared by this division
for the various scientific journals during the past year, and of much
local interest was the one about Indian Tuckahoes, which are under-ground
structures known since the early settlement of America, but
remaining a botanical mystery until this investigation was made. This
paper was published in the Journal of Elisha Mitchell Society and
created considerable interest throughout the State.
MARKETS AND RURAL ORGANIZATION
The year 1922 was a great year for encouragement of cooperative
marketing in North Carolina. It saw the formation of the cotton and
tobacco marketing associations and the continued growth of coopera-tive
marketing in a smaller way among the individual farmers of the
State. Having in charge the State Warehouse System, the Division of
Markets reports that this system has grown from 3'2 warehouses
last year with an aggregate capacity of 49,050 bales of cotton, to 78
warehouses having a total capacity of 212,620 bales of cotton. All
cotton in these warehouses is insured by the State Warehouse Superin-tendent
and is carried in such a manner as to effect a large saving
to the growers.
There has been little demand for the classing of cotton during
1922 because of the organization of the cooperative cotton marketing
association. The division has operated only two grading offices out-
Director's Summary 17
side of Raleigh, in which about 12,000 hales of cotton have been classed.
The division is now cooperating with the cotton association in carry-ing
on classing work, and at present there are eight classers and five
helpers engaged in this work. The division also assisted in the con-struction
of two warehouses with an aggregate capacity of 10,000
bales. A survey was made of 300 towns as marketing and storage
centers for cotton. Plans have been drawn and warehouses con-structed
at four other points in the State, and when finished these
warehouses will have a total capacity of 26,000 bales. A number of
places have been visited during the year in the interest of improving
the warehouse facilities for cotton.
With livestock there has been great activity in the cooperative
marketing of hogs for farmers. During the year about 13 counties
produced and sold cooperatively about 33 cars of hogs, fed under the
direction of the Office of Swine Extension and sold through the
division. A great deal of this work has been done in the cotton grow-ing
section and has been largely a 'boll weevil measure. The division
has found that there are certain times during the year when hogs
bring a higher price, and is encouraging farmers to take advantage of
this market condition.
"With lambs, the market has been much better during the past
year and farmers have been encouraged to sell their lambs on local
markets when they received from 15c to 20c per pound gross weight,
and to make cooperative shipments later when the price is less. The
wool pool conducted by the division last year was thoroughly success-ful;
over 300 growers consigned nearly 45,000 pounds of wool for
which they received an average price of 30c per pound.
Some work has also been done in the cooperative sale of cattle, and
one sale at Spruce Pine where 300 head of cattle were sold gave
very satisfactory returns to the farmers taking part. An effort is
being made by the division to create a good market for cheese in
North Carolina and adjoining states. The cooperative factories in the
western part of the State are now producing around 400,000 pounds
of cheese per year. One other important project during the past
year was the carrying on of the farm fencing campaign to encourage
the building of pastures for growth of livestock.
With fruits and vegetables the greatest activity during the year has
been with sweet potato growers. Several local associations have been
welded into a State Federation, which had for sale 70,000 bushels
of potatoes last year. All the legal forms used by this federation were
prepared by the division.
With the assistance of the farm and home agents, a number of
curb and city market stalls have been organized and established for
2
North Carolina State Library
Raleigh
18 Forty-fifth Annual Report "N. C. Agri. Exp Station
the cooperative selling of farm produce. The division -has con-tinued
its work in the standardization of grades, in getting out news
about market prices, and in furnishing agricultural statistics to the
people of the State. The crop reporting service has done excellent work
during the past year in furnishing economic data and interpretations
about farming, and this work is now showing the most complete re-sults
of any period of its existence. In making the farm census, the
division has had reports from 85,000 farm tracts. Each report covers
34 basic items of information.
During the year Mr. R. O. Moen has been secured as specialist
in credit unions and an effort is now being made to put these organi-zations
on a sound financial footing.
FARM DRAINAGE
The Earm Drainage Division has continued its services in assisting
in the improvement of land now under cultivation by the use of proper
drainage and terracing methods. It has also helped in the establishment
of drainage districts in order to make other land fit for cultivation.
The division has assisted in teaching club boys over the State how*
to locate terraces, holding several schools for this purpose. During
the past twelve months 44 farms in 22 counties were visited for the
purpose of studying tile drainage. The area of the tracts covered by
this survey and for which plans and reports were prepared covers a
total of 1,016 acres on 16 farms. Over 88,000 feet of tile, reaching
about 17 miles, have been put in on 13 farms in nine counties. About
22,000 feet of open ditch was staked out for construction during the
year.
In terracing, 61 farms in 17 counties were assisted in preventing loss
of soil by hillside erosion and about 28 miles of terraces were laid
out. The division reports that the past year has been outstanding
on account of the great interest taken and the work accomplished in
tile drainage. In fact, it is the best record yet made by the division
in this line of work.
DIVISION REPORTS
More complete information as to the work of the Station will be
found in the reports by divisions, which follow the financial report.
FINANCIAL REPORT
The North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station,
In Account With the United States Appropriation, 1921-1922.
Dr.
Hatch Fund Adams Fund
To receipts from the Treasurer of the United States, as
per appropriations for the fiscal year ended June 30,
1922, under Acts of Congress approved March 2,
1887 (Hatch Fund), and March 16, 1906 (Adams
Fund) .$15,000.00 $15,000.00
Cr.
Salaries $ 9,096.33 $15,000.00
Labor 4,012.65
Postage and stationery 240.72
Freight and express 223.48
Seeds, plants and sundry supplies 289.99
Fertilizers 392.30
Feeding stuffs 736.07
Buildings and land 8.46
Total $15,000.00 $15,000.00
The North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station,
In Account With Farm and Miscellaneous Receipts.
Dr.
To balance on hand $ 920.49
Receipts from other sources than the United States for the
year ending June 30, 1922 7,417.87
Total $8,338.36
SUPPLEMENTAL STATEMENT
Cr.
Labor $ 25.00
Publications 91.22
Postage and stationery 12.58
Freight and express 16.63
Heat, light, water and power 467.62
Chemicals and laboratory supplies 120.90
Seeds, plants, and sundry supplies 31,25
Feeding stuffs • 24.54
Library 123.09
Tools, machinery, and appliances 231.45
Furniture and fixtures 44.25
Scientific apparatus and specimens 296.26
Traveling expenses 303.00
Contingent expenses 5,916.67
Buildings and land 633.90
Total $8,339.36
[19 1
20 Forty-fifth Annual Report N. C. Agri. Exp. Station
We, the undersigned, duly appointed auditors of the corporation,
do hereby certify that Ave have examined the hooks and accounts of
the North Carolina Experiment Station for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1922; that we have found the same well kept and classi-fied
as above, and that the receipts for the year from the Treasury
of the United States are shown to have been $30,000, and the
corresponding disbursements $30,000, for all of which proper vouchers
are on file, and have been by us examined and found correct, thus leav-ing
nothing.
And we further certify that the expenditures have been solely for
the purposes set forth in the Acts of Congress, approved March 2,
1887, and March 16, 1906.
(Signed) T. T. Ballenger,
J. F. Diggs,
Auditors.
(Seal)
Attest : A. F. Bowen, Custodian.
REPORT OF THE DIVISION OF AGRONOMY
To the Director:—During the .year the work of the Division of Agron-omy
has gone forward mainly along the same lines mentioned in
our last report. In the latter part of the year we secured the service?
of L. G. Williams to fill the position of Soil Chemist left vacant
by Dr; Plummer. We expect this addition to our force to be of im-mense
help in our soil investigational work and fertility studies. The
work in the main has been conducted along the general lines indicated
below
:
SOIL SURVEY
During the year, the soil survey work has been carried on actively
by the Division in cooperation with the Federal Bureau of Soils.
Since the last report, Cumberland and Haywood counties have been
finished, about one-half of Sampson has been worked, and work in
the Currituck-Camden area has been started. The areas finished
during the year embrace approximately 900,000 acres.
As stated in previous reports, anyone at all familiar with agricul-tural
work must realize that a soil survey properly conducted is of
the most fundamental importance to the intelligent planning and con-ducting
of work in soil fertility, crop adaptation, crop rotation and
the fertilization of crops. During the past few years there has been a
steadily growing demand for the reports and maps of the survey
of the different counties of the State. ISTot only have farmers shown
interest in these, but rural school teachers, prospective settlers, lumber-men,
highway engineers, secretaries of chambers of commerce, and
others.
The survey has suffered during the year a temporary reduction in its
force. It is hoped that it will soon be possible to increase the force
back to at least its original number.
SOIL FERTILITY
Soil fertility investigations are being made by the Division of
Agronomy at the following experimental farms
:
Central Station Farm at Raleigh
Mountain Branch Station Farm at Swannanoa
Piedmont Branch Station Farm at Statesville
Blackland Branch Station Farm at Wenona
Coastal Plain Branch Station Farm at Willard
Tobacco Branch Station Farm at Oxford.
[21 J
22 Forty-fifth Annual Report 1ST. C. Agri. Exp. Station
At Mountain Branch Station Farm
Field A.—An experiment is being conducted on Field A to determine
the correct amount of nitrogen, phosphoric acid, potash and lime to
apply on the crops grown in a rotation of corn, wheat and red
clover. This experiment is being continued and the results so far
secured indicate that phosphoric acid, nitrogen and lime are all
needed to produce large crops, with phosphoric acid the first plant-food
requirement. Lime used on red clover gives large gains, and when
the clover is turned into the soil it furnishes a part of the nitrogen
needed for larger crop yields.
Field D.—The experiment on this 'field is designed to show the
relative value of acid phosphate and finely ground rock phosphate as
carriers of phosphoric acid for crops grown on the Mountain Valley
soils when used alone, with cover crops, and with manure. In this
experiment, the rotation of crops consists of corn, oats, wheat and red
clover. The results so far show that acid phosphate is a more econom-ical
carrier of phosphoric acid than is rock phosphate used on this
soil. The fact is borne out when the two carriers are used with
nitrogen and potash, with stable manure, and with legumes turned
into the soil.
Field D (Continuous Corn with Crimson Clover and Phosphates).
—In this experiment, corn is grown every year and crimson clover is
sown each fall and turned under in the spring. The experiment is
designed to show the relative value of acid phosphate and rock phos-phate
used under corn when a cover crop is turned under each year.
Also, if sufficient nitrogen from the air can be secured by the legumes
in the rotation to maintain large crops of corn. The results so far
indicate that acid phosphate is the most efficient carrier of phosphoric
acid when compared with rock phosphate. This holds true until
the amount of rock phosphate used is about four times that of acid
phosphate. Under the latter conditions, the rock phosphate treated
plats are giving somewhat larger yields of corn. The experiment
has been running now eleven years and the residual effect of the
phosphates are beginning to show up.
Field F.—On this field the experiment is being conducted to study
the best fertilizer to use in a rotation consisting of Irish potatoes,
corn, wheat and red clover. Different amounts of nitrogen, phosphoric
acid and potash are used in order to determine the best fertilizer
formulas. Also muriate of potash, sulphate of potash and kainit were
used comparatively as sources of potash.
The different sources of potash have not materially differently in-fluenced
the yield of Irish potatoes. The normal fertilizer used for
potatoes was 800 pounds of an 8-4-6. This amount seems to pay
better than when the different plant-food materials were increased in
Agronomy 23
amount. The use of lime is showing up to advantage with the red
clover. i
Field B (Rotation).—This field is planned and used to study the
effect of growing crops continuously, in a two-year rotation and a
three-year rotation with fertilizer. One end of this field has been limed
to study the effect of liming with the different crop rotations. Con-tinuous
corn has shown to be nearly as good as when a rotation
of corn and wheat is used; but the yield of wheat was nearly twice
as good with the two-year rotation. Legumes in the two-year rota-tion
have given increased yields of both corn and wheat. With a three-year
rotation, when red clover was used, the yield of both corn and
wheat was greatly increased. The uses of lime and phosphates have
increased materially the yield of all the crops.
Field G.—This experiment is being made to compare phosphoric
materials with a complete fertilizer, with limestone, and with stable
manure. The results so far secured indicate that limestone and manure
with fertilizers give better results than when fertilizer is used alone.
Acid phosphate has proven better than rock phosphate, except when
large quantities of the latter are applied. Basic slag is showing up
fine, especially on the unlimed plants.
At Piedmont Branch Station Farm
Fields A, B, and C.—Fields A, B, and C of this farm are used to de-termine
the most profitable formulas and right amount of fertilizers
to be used with each crop, with and without lime, with a rotation of
crops consisting of cotton, corn, wheat and red clover. In this experi-ment,
acid phosphate, rock phosphate and basic slag are compared as
carriers of phosphoric acid, used with and without manure. In these
regular fertilizer experiments the results are quite conclusive in show-ing
that phosphoric acid, nitrogen and lime in some available form
are essential for larger and more profitable crop yields. It has been
found that up to a certain limit, increasing the amounts of the plant-food
materials has given increased yields. From observations made
while doing Extension work, it was found that farmers are not using
enough of any of these materials for best results. Increasing the
amounts of potash has not, however, generally resulted in much gain
in yield.
Field D (Rotation).—This experiment is designed to work out the
same general results for the Cecil clay soil as is indicated as being done
for the Toxaway soil of Field D at the Buncombe farm.
In a comparison continuous cropping and the same crops in a two-year
rotation have given about the same results. When legumes
are used in the two-year rotation, better results are secured; and
when the rotation is broadened and red clover is used for one year
24 Forty-fifth Annual Keport N. C. Agri. Exp. Station
out of three, increased yields are the result. With the addition of
limestone, the ^gumes make a much more satisfactory growth.
Field F (Different Nitrogenous Materials).—This experiment was
started to compare some commonly used nitrogenous materials that are
being used by fertilizer companies in making different fertilizer mix-tures.
In studying different carriers of nitrogenous materials under
cotton and corn, the efficiency of the materials tried, when measured
by crop yields, have been as follows : First, nitrate of soda ; second,
nitrate of ammonia ; third, sulphate of ammonia ; fourth, cottonseed
meal; fifth, calcium cyanamid; and sixth, sewage sludge. These results
are in accord with other results secured during a long period of years.
Field G.—This experiment is designed to show the relative value for
the soils of this farm of acid phosphate and different amounts of
rock phosphate ; beginning with 500 pounds of rock phosphate to the
acre once in every three years and going up as high as 3,000 pounds per
acre once in every three years. The crops used on this field are
corn, wheat and red clover.
In comparing acid phosphate with rock phosphate in different
amounts, acid phosphate has given greater efficiency, except when
8,000 and 4,000 pounds of rock phosphate per acre were used every
three years broadcast. From these results, it is believed that if
farmers wish to use rock phosphate, it should be applied in large
quantities at stated intervals in order to furnish enough available
phosphoric acid to the crops the first year.
Field K (8oft Phosphate).—This field is used to study the compara-tive
value for increasing crop yields of acid phosphate and soft phos-phate
rock used on corn, cotton and wheat. Studying the results with
acid phosphate and soft rock phosphate with corn, cotton and wheat,
they are very positively in favor of acid phosphate. When the amount
of soft rock phosphate was doubled the yields were not increased.
It has been noted by the superintendent of the Iredell farm the
marked improvement of the texture of the soils of the experimental
plat to which lime has been added, as is evidenced by the portion
washing less and plowing better than where no lime has been added.
Logan Field.—This field is used to study the comparative value of
burnt lime, hydrated lime, and ground limestone used in amounts
varying from one, two, to three tons per acre, applied every four
years in a rotation consisting of velvet beans, rye, cotton, cowpeas,
oats, vetch, red clover and crimson clover. In this test, acid phosphate
is added in sufficient amounts for larger crops and the rotation is
designed to furnish enough nitrogen for large crops.
The results from this field are inconclusive at the present time,
especially as to the right amount and form of lime to use. So far,
with the rotations used, enough nitrogen has been gathered by the
Agronomy 25
legumes grown in the rotations to supply the non-leguminous crops with
nitrogen to make very good yields. It is hoped that this experiment
will show the value of long rotations, including the legumes, and in
cutting down of fertilizer bills.
At Edgecombe Branch Station Farm
This year, the only experiment carried on at this farm was a con-tinuation
of the Rotation Experiment (Field D), designed similarly to
the one being conducted at the Piedmont and Mountain farms.
The main fertilizer experiments were discontinued during the year.
These have in the past shown the need of the soil for nitrogen and
potash for larger crop yields. Still larger gains were made when
nitrogen and potash applications were increased two and three times the
normal amounts. The use of phosphoric acid has shown good results,
especially when moderately good applications of nitrogen and potash
have been made. Lime has shown to good advantage and can be
recommended for use in any good crop rotation scheme. From the
results, it is evident that farmers might use, especially for cotton,
larger quantities of fertilizer per acre. They might increase the
amount from 400 to 500 pounds to 700 or 800, or more per acre for
best paying results, when cotton is selling at a reasonable price.
From the results on Field D, the practice of growing either cotton
or corn continuously in the same field is to be discouraged.
When summer or winter legumes are used in rotation with cotton
and corn crops, yields have been increased some and when a three-year
rotation is used, even greater yields are secured. It will be
possible, it appears, by the use of legumes in a longer rotation, to cut
down fertilizer bills to some extent.
At Coastal Plain Branch Station Farm
Field A.—This field is being used for an experiment to work out
the best fertilizer formulas to use for cotton, corn, oats, and vetch
in a three-year rotation in which summer or winter legumes are
used every year. One-half of this field is limed once every three
years, to study the relative effects of lime against no lime on the
growing of legumes for building up the productiveness of the soil and
on the efficiency of the different fertilizer treatments.
The results so far secured indicate the value of the use of more
nitrogen and acid phosphate on this soil for both cotton and corn
than is commonly used. When nitrogen was added in large quantities,
larger crops were secured. The use of lime has given very good results
and its use broadcast every three or four years with a rotation,
including oats and vetch and soybeans, is recommended.
26 Forty-fifth Annual Report N". C. Agri. Exp. Station
Field B.—In this experiment, a study is being made of the relative
efficiency of different carriers of phosphate with and without lime.
The rotation is the same as is 'being used on Field A. Acid phosphate
has shown greater efficiency than either phosphate rock, soft phos-phate
or basic slag on this type of soil, as measured by the increase
in crop yields from a unit application of phosphoric acid.
Field E.—This is an experiment which is designed to determine the
plant food deficiencies of the soils occurring in that section of the
State. Results show that this type of soil is in need of nitrogen and
potash for greater crop yields. When both of these are used, phos-phoric
acid aids in making larger yields of crops. The use of lime
has been found to give good results with leguminous crops.
The attention of visiting farmers has been called to the decidedly good
effects of the use of lime, the disastrous effects of using no ferti-lizer
and the poor economy of using heavy applications of fertilizers
without the use of lime and the growing and turning under of organic
matter.
At Blackland Branch Station Farm
' Field A.—The experiment at this farm consists of a study of differ-ent
fertilizer applications for corn, oats and Irish potatoes. No
fertilizer combination used has given any practical increase in crop
yields, while the use of lime gave a decided increase. Thus far,
corn has been the only crop grown successfully. The field has now
been divided across the plats into three one-acre plats which will be
used for corn; for oats and soybeans; for Irish potatoes every year.
Only one year's results have been secured from the residual effects
of fertilizers and lime previously added to the different plats.
Lime Field.—In this experiment, burnt lime, marl and ground lime-stone
are compared, using one, two, three and four tons per acre of
each. Fertilizer is used on plats with the different amounts of
ground limestone to determine if fertilizer will pay on this soil. The
results thus far secured show that between two and three tons of
lime are needed on these peat soils for the best results with corn
when the lime is applied once every three years. A complete fertilizer
with limestone has not given any crop increase over the use of ground
limestone alone used at the rate of one, two, three and four tons per acre
broadcast. Marl has not given as good returns as either hydrated lime
or ground limestone.
Cultural Experiments.—In this experiment, different crops are used
with the land disked four inches; plowed eight inches and rolled; and
plowed twelve inches and ridged. Results so far secured indicate that
ridge culture and disking four inches deep are best for corn and
soybeans on this kind of soil. With small grain crops, rolling seems
Agronomy 27
to be an advantage. Stable manure has given good results, but causes
crab-grass to grow and gives a lot of trouble.
Grass Plats.—This experiment consists of fifteen plats with the
different mixtures of grasses that were thought to be of value for
pasturage and hay in that section of the State.
Miscellaneous Experiments
To study the effect of cowpeas on the yield of crops, an experiment
is being conducted on Alamance Silt Loam in Anson County. The
cowpeas are being grown and turned under with and without lime.
This experiment was started to check up the prevailing local opinion
that the yield of crops was decreased when a crop of cowpeas is
turned previously into the land. The plowing under of cowpeas on this
type of soil has been found to give beneficial results, which is con-trary
to local opinion where these soils occur, but it is in harmony
with the idea that organic matter from cowpeas is beneficial in the
soil to future crops.
In the study of the use of gypsum on peanuts on the farm of B. B.
Everett, Palmyra, it was found last year that where this material was
applied to peanuts it gave an increase in the crop yield of more
than enough to pay for the material and the expense of making the
application.
In a study made of the plant-food needs of Huston sandy loam
soil in Cumberland County, in cooperation with the Federal Bureau of
Plant Industry, it was found that all plant food ingredients are
needed for best results with cotton. The results, too, indicate that
best returns come from the use of about 900 pounds per acre of a
fertilizer analyzing about 8 to 10 per cent phosphoric acid, 5 per
cent ammonia and 4 per cent potash.
In cooperation with the Bureau of Plant Industry, some coopera-tive
work, too has been carried on on the Georgeville sandy loam type
of soil in Randolph County. The results thus far indicate very
strongly that phosphoric acid and nitrogen are at present the main
limiting plant-food factors for large crop yields. Potash used alone
seems to give about the same or less than no fertilizer treatment.
This is in accordance with previous results on heavy soils of the
Piedmont section of the State.
Results from cooperative fertilizer work with the Bureau on cotton
in Craven County on the Portsmouth sandy loam type of soil have
shown that the use of phosphoric acid and nitrogen gave best results.
Potash has shown some gains after phosphoric acid and ammonia
are applied. Under cotton boll weevil conditions, it is advised for
soils in average condition to increase the phosphates in fertilizer mix-
2S Forty-fifth Annual Keport N. C. Agri. Exp. Station
tures for cotton on these soils to at least 12 per cent, and use with
it about 5 per cent ammonia and 3 per cent potash.
In the fertilizer experiment at Wilkinson on Portsmouth fine sandy
loam soil, an application of fertilizer has not shown very much in-crease
over the untreated plats. With cotton, basic slag and finely
ground rock phosphate have given some increase in yields. Phosphates
alone have not given very much increase over the no-treatment plats.
]Yew Soil Experiments
New experiments have been started in cotton-variety fertilizer studies
on Norfolk sandy loam near Whiteville; and on Portsmouth fine
sandy loam near Edenton; also fertilizer experiments to determine the
best fertilizer formulas for cotton grown on Norfolk sandy loam at
Salemburg; on Marlboro fine sandy loam at Koseboro; and on Norfolk
sandy loam at Speed.
A study of effect of potash on the yield of corn and cotton
grown on Alamance silt loam has been started at Monroe.
Some General Deductions from Field Soil Fertility Investigations
For Mountain Soils.—It has been found that phosphoric acid, nitro-gen
and lime are the main controlling plant-food factors in the growth
of more profitable crops on mountain soils. This includes both bottom
and uplands. Organic matter incorporated in these soils has been
found to increase crop yields materially.
Acid phosphate is the most efficient carrier of phosphoric acid with
general field crops ; with legumes and grasses, basic slag has been found
also to be an efficient source of phosphoric acid.
In any scheme of crop rotation adopted, there should be included
both annual and perennial legumes. Soybeans for the annual and red
clover for the longer growing periods, fit in and do well in this section
of the State.
For Piedmont Soils.—Phosphoric acid and nitrogen have to be
supplied for the most profitable growth of crops on these soils. Potash
is not nearly so essential. Longer crop rotations than are usually
used, including more legumes, are needed. Organic matter is very
essential for most of the heavy soils of this section. Lime is very
beneficial especially when legumes are grown. Acid phosphate is the
most economical carrier of phosphoric acid ; and nitrate of soda and
sulphate of ammonia are the best and most efficient carriers of nitro-gen.
Cottonseed meal is one of the best carriers of nitrogen in the
organic class. In any pasture mixture of grasses, orchard, redtop
and red clover should be used for best results.
Agkonomy 29
For Coastal Plain Soils.—Our results are conclusive in showing the
need generally with most soils of this section of nitrogen and potash
for larger and more profitable crop production. Lime and organic
matter are very beneficial on these soils and greatly increase the effici-ency
of fertilizers applied to the crops. Acid phosphate gives better
returns than do other carriers of phosphoric acid tried out. Nitrate
of soda and sulphate of ammonia stand out as the most efficient
carriers of nitrogen. Cottonseed meal is one of the best organic
carriers of nitrogen for Coastal Plain soils. On an average, larger
amounts of fertilizers could be used with profit for cotton on these
soils than is usually used, provided the right kinds are used and the
crop is properly cultivated.
For Much and Peat Soils.—Lime is very essential for profitable crop
production on these soils, after proper drainage has been established.
Two tons of ground limestone broadcast to the acre every three
years seems to be about the correct amount to apply. Burnt lime is
about as good as limestone, and both have been found to give better
results than has the use of mlarl. This may be partially explained
by the fact that the marl applied was much coarser than the other
liming materials applied. Native grasses are choked out by crab grass
when stable manure is applied to these soils. Planting and cultivating
on a ridge has given crop increases over what was secured by disking
shallow and planting flat. Better crop rotations should be established
in this section of the State than is generally being used on account
of the destructiveness of crop diseases and insects.
Publications
A bulletin on "The Results of Fertilizer Experiments with Corn on
Mountain Soils" has been submitted for publication. Bulletins on the
"Relative Efficiency of Different Nitrogenous Materials Used on North
Carolina Soils," "Value of Lime on Peaty Soils," and "Results of
Fertilizer Experiments with Wheat Grown on Piedmont Soils" will
soon be ready for the printer.
Field Work in Soil Surrey
There were found 40 different types of soil in Cumberland County;
17 in Cherokee; and 8 in Haywood. Typical samples were taken for
chemical analyses of all these types, including the subsoil. Cumber-land
has both Piedmont and Coastal Plain soils, which accounts for
the large number of soil types found in that county.
Over sixty per cent of the soil area of the State has now been sur-veyed,
and it seems very desirable that the whole area of the State
should be finished in the next few years.
30 Forty-fifth Annual Report "N. C. Agri. Exp. Station
SOIL CHEMISTRY
After remaining vacant for several years, L. Gr. Willis has been
appointed to fill the position of Soil Chemist, succeeding Dr. Plummer.
In carrying out the soil fertility investigations, it is necessary for the
Soil Chemist to work out many problems in order to reinforce and
interpret the field results on crops and fertilizers.
Two problems are now being started as follows:
A study will be made of the effect of different soil treatments on
the availabilty of the potash in the common soil forming minerals.
This will comprise pot culture tests with muscovite and biotite micas
and feldspar; orthorclase and microcline, the common soil forming
potash minerals of the State, using rye and wheat as winter crops and
soybeans and cowpeas as summer crops. The influence of the fineness of
division of the minerals on the availability of their potassic constituents
will be determined as well as the effect of lime, organic matter, and
the nature and amounts added of different nitrogenous fertilizers.
The results are expected to show whether or not the petrographic
analyses of a soil can be relied upon to indicate the probable needs
of the soil for potash under different cultural practice^.
Experiments have been started, too, to determine the cause of un-satisfactory
yields on the muck soils of the Eastern section of the
State. This work will be developed as a study of the nature of the
acidity of these soils and methods will, if possible, be devised for ihe
elimination of toxic compounds present in them.
EXPERIMENTS WITH TOBACCO
Eor the past few years quite a large amount of experimental work
is being conducted at Oxford under the immediate direction of E. G.
Moss, and at Reidsville with E. H. Mathewson in charge. This work
is being carried on in co-operation with the Office of Tobacco Investi-gations
of the U. S. Department of Agriculture. Below is given a
brief resume of some of the more outstanding results.
At Tobacco Branch Station! Farm
Main Fertilizer Experiments.—There are 36 fertilizer plats in this
experiment on which are being tested out the different sources of nitro-gen,
phosphoric acid, and potash. One half of each of these plats
dolomitic limestone has been broadcasted at the rate of one ton per
acre. Results thus far secured show, dolomitic limestone has increased
the yield on all the plats, that there was less leaf spot trouble on the
limed end than on the unlimed end of plats, and that the limestone
did not depreciate the value of the tobacco, while previous experiments
with the use of ground calcite showed the calcite did darken the
Agronomy 31
tobacco. For that reason we would not recommend the average ground
limestone for tobacco, but do not hesitate to recommend dolomitic
limestone where magnesium carbonate runs as high as 25 per cent.
Special Potash Field Work.—The Special Potash Experiment con-sists
of 20 plats on which is used different amounts of sulphate and
muriate of potash, with and without ground limestone. The nitrogen
and phosphoric acid under those plats remain constant and the potash
varies from 12, 24, 36 to 80 pounds of actual potash per acre derived
from sulphate and muriate of potash. Results show that 36 to 40
pounds of actual potash per acre is apparently about the right quantity
to use for best results on the type of soil, mapped as the Durham
sandy loam. The muriate of potash gives an increased yield over the
sulphate of potash, but does not improve the burning quality.
Magnesium and Potash Experiments.—This consists of 18 plats on
which is used Trona muriate, German muriate, Nebraska sulphate,
German sulphate, double manure salts, and kainit. On one series of
plats is applied dolomitic limestone at the rate of 1,000 pounds per
acre in the drill at the time of applying the fertilizer. On the other
series is used ground limestone derived from calcite. On the third
series no lime was applied. Results show that on these plats where
dolomitic limestone was applied no "sand drown" was present and
both yield and quality of tobacco were improved. On plats where cal-cite
was applied "sand drown" and leaf spot were serious on all plats,
except where double manure salts and . kainit were used. On series
where no lime was applied both "sand drown" and leaf spot were
serious, except where double manure salts and kainit were applied and
the yield of tobacco was 35 to 40 per cent less than on the other two
series of plats.
Special Fertilizer Tests.—These consist of 12 plats on which were
used C. P. fertilizer materials testing out the effects of magnesium
sulphate as compared with magnesium chloride; also studying the
effects of sodium chloride and sodium sulphate, and potassium nitrate
as compared with dicalcium phosphate. The results in these tests have
not been ascertained yet as this was the first year e
this series of plats
were run.
Variety Tests.—We were continuing our work with the different
varieties of tobacco which has been carried on for the past several years.
We have begun to do some breeding work and selections. The breed-ing
consists of crossing a variety which cures bright and makes big
growth and poor body and texture on to a variety which has body and
weight but does not cure out as well as some of the others, with the
hope of getting a combination which will make a better tobacco than
we have at present. It is felt we are getting some very satisfactory
results along this line.
32 Forty-fifth Annual Report 1ST. C. Agri. Exp. Station
Rotation Experiments.—We are trying out several rotations of two,
three and four years duration. The one that gives, perhaps, the most
satisfactory results is the three-year rotation which consists of to-bacco,
first year; oats second year, followed by cowpeas or soybeans
for hay or to be plowed under as conditions may justify; Abruzzi rye
for seed the third year.. After the rye the stubble land is to be plowed
deep in the fall of the year, to be planted to tobacco the following season.
On farms where tobacco land is limited and a short rotation is desired,
this seems to be one of the most satisfactory rotations that could be
suggested. Our results thus far have shown that where such a rota-tion
is followed the tobacco crop shows improvement both in yield
and quality.
Tobacco after Cowpeas.—This experiment has been running for ten
years, using cowpeas or soybeans to provide nitrogen, with a liberal
application of phosphoric acid and potash supplied, but no nitrogen
is applied of a commercial form. Where tobacco is planted fairly
thick in the drill and is harvested by priming, provided it is not topped
too low, a crop of tobacco of average quality is produced. There are
four crops grown on this land, tobacco followed by oats, oats followed
by cowpeas or soybeans plowed under, and land seeded to rye to be
plowed under in the spring. This is a two-year rotation; however, we
do not recommend such a rotation to be followed indiscriminately, as
many farmers would undoubtedly get in trouble and produce tobacco
of poor quality, but it could be used with satisfactory results if followed
very intelligently.
Permanent Tobacco Seedbed.—A permanent seedbed can be estab-lished
at a convenient location on the farm, provided it is thoroughly
sterilized from year to year with steam. Such a seedbed when once
established will grow healthy plants more consistently than a seedbed
located at different places. The only handicap to this plan is the
scarcity of portable steam boilers on tobacco farms.
At Reidsville
The work being^ carried on at Reidsville is planned similarly to
that being conducted at Oxford. The results there, as at Oxford,
were quite striking in showing the marked influence of the use of
magnesia in overcoming entirely or greatly reducing the ravages of
"sand-drown." It is regretted to have to report that late in the year
the work at this farm sustained a great loss in the losing of Mr.
Mathewson from the work, to take up work in the Orient with a
big commercial tobacco company.
Agronomy 33
CROP IMPROVEMENT
Adams Project
Project No. 1J+.—The cotton study of association and inheritance of
economic qualities has been continued. This work has consisted of
preparation of data and notes for publication and further study of
certain smooth seeded types that were not included in the plantings
during the past three years, on account of the lack of space. Due
to old seed and unfavorable spring weather, a very poor stand was
'secured in the plantings of this season. Sufficient seed were saved to
continue the strains. The results from this project are being put
in shape and it is hoped to publish them with the deductions some
time during the coming year.
Project No. 15.—The "Place effect" study of cotton conducted in
cooperation with the Mississippi Experiment Station has been con-tinued.
The unfavorable weather in the spring destroyed so many
seedlings that a fair comparison of the two sources of seed was
rendered impossible on account of the irregular stand. It is planned
to continue this work for another year.
At Central Farm.—The field crop work at the Central Station
farm has consisted of trials with new crops, seed selections and cul-tural
studies. In the trial plats were included the Subterranean clover,
seredella, Yicia disperma, Jap.an clover (Tennessee strain No. 76),
three new varieties of cotton, four new varieties of soybeans, and
two strains of the annual sweet clover. . The Subterranean clover is
a Bureau of Plant Industry introduction from Australia and has
given very promising results. Judging from its growth, earliness of
seeding in spring and resistance to drought, it will be superior to
burr clover for soil improvement and grazing. The young seedlings
which volunteered on the plats in the summer withstood the dry, hot
weather of August and September. This crop is being tried this fall
on a larger scale here and in another section of the State. The narrow
leaf vetch {Yicia disperma) has continued to show more resistance
to the false anthracnose that has been very destructive to ordinary
hairy vetch. Seed of the Japan clover, strain No. 76, from the
Tennessee Experiment Station, was grown in comparison with ordinary
commercial seed. The Tennessee strain has been found to be more
upright in growth and much superior in quantity of growth.
Of the new strains of cotton grown for the first time on this farm,
Pelfos from Mississippi Station has given the best results.
34 Forty-fifth Annual Report N. 0. Agri. Exp. Station
The seed improvement work includes plant-to-row and increase plats
of cotton, corn, soybeans, wheat, rye and sorghum. On this farm all
of the cotton breeding work is confined to strain No. 6 of Mexican
Big Boll. It has continued to gain favor in the State on account of
its large yield and extra length of staple. In the plant-to-row plats,
a large portion of the rows furnished 1% inch staple and have been
unusually productive. The corn breeding work has been continued
with the strains of Cocke's Prolific that has been grown on the farm
several years. No other seed improvement work of the Division of
Agronomy has yielded better returns than the soybean work. Three
pedigreed strains of Virginia, three of Haberlandt, and eight of Mam-moth
Yellow soybeans were increased and compared with the varieties
from which they came. The best strains of these varieties have been
distributed to the Branch Station farms and to private growers of the
State where they are being increased. Haberlandt No. 38 and Vir-ginia
No. 11, have shown up well in community tests throughout the
Piedmont section. The selection of Mammoth Yellow for higher
oil content has been continued.
Some interesting results have been secured from a chance hybrid
between the Haberlandt No. 38 and Virginia soybeans. Some E3
plants were grown this year. In the lot was considerable variety of
types ranging between the two parent varieties. One of the most prom-ising
selections from the F3 material is the progeny of one plant, all
of which are of the Virginia type of growth, having yellow seed in-stead
of brown. The main stems are stifTer than the original Virginia,
furnishing a more upright plant at the time of harvest.
Strain No. 12 of Leap's Prolific wheat has been continued, though
the 1922 crop was not offered for sale on account of the mixture of
volunteer oats and rye in it. Seed of it have been recleaned by hand
for further increase this fall. Through the variety studies on this
and other farms it was found that the earlier North Carolina wheats
are more productive on the average North Carolina soil. Our average
yield for the State of approximately 8 bushels of wheat per acre in-dicates
that a large portion of our wheat is grown on land low in fertil-ity.
The variety tests made upon soils which produced 15 to 20 bushels
per acre have been misleading when the average conditions of our
State are considered. The tests on soils producing 8 to 10 bushels
per acre have shown conclusively the need for an early maturing
variety of wheat. To meet this need, the Division of Agronomy has
started work on the selection and increase of an early variety known
as Alabama Blue Stem. This variety is an early strain of Purple
Straw which has given splendid results in field trials during the past
three years. The strain was secured originally from the Alabama
Experiment Station. The pedigreed strain of Abruzzi rye was in-creased
on a larger scale. Several plant selections were made for
Agronomy 35
the plant-to-row comparison and increase. Three hundred bushels of
this strain were sold to growers of the State to be grown for seed
purposes. On account of the high production of the Honey or Japanese
Seeded Eibbon sorghum in the variety tests, work has been started
in the selection and increase of seed of this variety. Plant selections
have been made and are being examined for juice and sugar content.
The Field Culture work has consisted of cotton spacing tests in
which distances between hills were as follows : "No thinning/' 8, 12,
18, and 24 inches in 4-foot rows. The unthinned plats have con-tinued
to yield highest and in each of the other plats the thicker
spacing has yielded more than the thinner spacing.
Hay Mixtures.—Small broadcast seedings of different varieties of
cowpeas, soybeans, and sorghum, were planted to determine the varieties
which matured nearest the same time and were best suited for hay
mixtures. Data was secured upon the habit of growth and time of
maturing of five varieties of sorghum, seven varieties of cowpeas and
six varieties of soybeans.
At Mountain Branch Farm.—The work at the Mountain Branch
farm has consisted of seed selection with corn and soybeans, and
variety tests of wheat, oats, rye and soybeans. The plant-to-row breed-ing
of Bigg's corn has been continued with encouraging results. This
Branch Station has become a source of good seed in that section of
the State and its seed are likely to become more popular on account
of the recent standing of this corn in community variety tests of that
section of the State. The increase of Haberlandt Wo. 38 soybeans at
this farm has been more successful this summer on account of the
longer season between frosts. In order to insure its maturity in that
section, a large number of plants were selected this fall.
At Piedmont Branch Station.—The field crop work of this farm con-sists
of cultural studies of wheat and oats, and improvement work with
cotton, corn, wheat, oats and A'bruzzi rye. The past season completed
a six-year test of rate and date of seeding wheat and oats. The
results of this test are being prepared for publication. The pedi-greed
strains of cotton, wheat, oats and rye are being increased for
sale to growers cf that section.
At Tobacco Branch Station.—The Tobacco Branch Station has been
used for the increase of any early strain of Purple Straw wheat,
Abruzzi rye, and seed corn.
At Edgecombe Branch Station.—At the Edgecombe farm, seed im-provement
work with Mexican Big Boll cotton and Biggs' corn has
been continued. The Mexican cotton has been isolated down to one
pedigreed strain, Wo. 18. This strain has less vegetative growth than
the original strain and has proven more productive. The staple is
l 1
/! q inches and its yield has been equal to that of Cleveland Big Boll,
36 Forty-fifth Annual Report N". C. Agri. Exp Station
our highest yielding short staple cotton. The corn work at this farm
has been delayed by the introduction of two new varieties last spring.
The number of varieties will be reduced to one and new selections will
be made this fall. Two hundred bushels of improved cotton seed
were sold from this farm last season and 1,200 bushels will be offered
this season.
At Coastal Plain Branch Station.—The work at this farm has con-sisted
of seed improvement of Cleveland Big Boll cotton and the in-crease
of two pedigreed strains of soybeans from the Central Station
farm.
At Blackland Branch Station.—At the Blackland farm work lias
been continued on the improvement of Latham's Double corn for that
section. Special attention is being given to the selection of seed which
will give a firmer corn, shorter shanks, better shucks covering and a
higher yield. The seed plats of this season have some very promising
strains.
In closing this report, I wish to commend most heartily the fidelity
to duty of each individual member of the working staff of the Division
of Agronomy. Dr. Winters and his co-workers have actively pushed
the experimental work in crop improvement; Mr. Pate in soil fer-tility;
and Mr. Moss and Mr. Mathewson in the tobacco investigations.
Respectfully submitted,
C. B. Williams,
Chief, Division of Agronomy.
REPORT OF THE ANIMAL INDUSTRY DIVISION
To the Director:—The following report sets forth the fundamental
lines of work which have been conducted 'by the Experiment Station
workers during the past fiscal year. It is not necessary to state that
it would be impossible to go into the details of this work because of
the magnitude and variety of subjects on which work has been done.
The work of the Animal Industry Division is not only going along
well but the scope and influence of the work is constantly broadening
as shown by the extraordinary number of calls for information from
our investigators in different lines of work.
The following subjects covered are of State-wide importance and
many of them are of South-wide importance. The latter is particularly
true of the work being done in the Experiment Station and represented
by such problems as soft pork, mineral requirements of growing ani-mals,
effect of cottonseed meal on the health and reproduction of
breeding animals, and the digestive co-efficiency of feeds in fowls.
ANIMAL NUTRITION
J. 0. Halverson, In Charge
Assistants, F. W. Sherwood and B. Naiman
1. Soft Pork Studies.
The following feeding projects, in cooperation with Mr. Hostetler, have
been successfully completed; analytical work on Soft Pork Experiment
5 is being completed and data worked up on all experiments with
which will be incorporated a review of the Soft Pork Investigations.
Completed to Date.
1. (a) Lot feeding to 108 lb. pigs on peanuts;
(b) On peanut meal, both for 131 days.
2. Individual feeding to 150 lb. pigs for 70 days.
3. Individual feeding to 120 lb. pigs for 77 days.
4. Individual feeding 67 lb. pigs for 110 days.
5. Individual feeding to 103 lb. pigs for 74 days, with hardening
feeds.
Projected Work.
The complex effect of food on the body carcass of the hog is pronounced.
Three distinct lines of attack are contemplated, given briefly in separate
report.
I37|
38 Forty-fifth Annual Report N. C. Agri. Exp. Station
2. The Nutritive Value of the Peanut.
These studies are Hearing completion; the following are completed:
(a) The raw peanut without hulls but with sheath.
(b) The roasted peanut without hulls, but with sheath.
(c) Peanut meal without hulls.
(d) The study of Nutritive Value of peanut meal in the form of
baked bread, without the addition of wheat flour, will take considerable
more work. The unexpected results obtained tend to give futher in-sight
into the feeding value of the heated peanut meal and its defi-ciencies.
(e) Studies are now under way supplying the deficiencies of the
peanut kernel by means of the peanut leaf itself, soybean leaf, and
alfalfa leaf in varying amounts.
3. Mineral Supplements, Chiefly Calcium, for Southern Animals.
One phase of this problem of practical importance in limestone-free
regions is the calcium content of commercial mixed feeds. Two years'
work, including the analysis of 120 mixed feeds containing six or more
feed ingredients exclusive of salt, has been done in cooperation with
the feed laboratory. This work is completed ready for publication under
the title of "The Calcium Content of Mixed Feeds in Relation to the
Feeding Requirements of Animals," by J. O. Halverson and L. M. Nixon.
4. The Nutritive Quality of Butter from Cows Fed Exclusively on
Dry Feed, Cottonseed Meal and Hulls. (Combs and Curtis Project).
By feeding the butter from such dry-fed cows to growing albino rats,
an attempt is made to ascertain whether fat Soluble A is present in the
normal amount. Six series of such feeding experiments are nearing
completion. This work is being done on the butter-fat on hand. Certain
definite results have been obtained, but more butter-fat is needed to
eliminate the influence of the length of storage upon the fat-soluble A
content.
5. Publications—Year, 1922.
(a) Extension Pamphlet—The Optimum Diet with the Relative Im-portance
in the Diet of Fruits, Vegetables and Milk.
(b) The Need of Milk in the Diet.—'Sunday edition News & Observer.
(c) The Calcium Content of Mixed Feeds in Relation to the Feeding
Requirements of Animals, by J. 0. Halverson and L. M, Nixon.
N. C. Academy of Science, May 19, 1922, University of North Carolina.
Southeastern Meeting: Feed, Food and Drug Officials, Asheville, August
24, 1922.
Other Activities:
(a) A Series of Lectures and Demonstrations were given on The
Effects of Various Diets before the Annual Conference of Home Demon-stration
Agents.
(b) Co-operated with the Home Demonstration Division at the State
Fair.
(c) Co-operated with the Extension Division of Dairying in the Char-lotte
Milk Campaign and Statesville Live Stock Show with exhibits.
Animal Industry
SWIjVE EVYESTIGATIONS
Earl H. Hostetler, In Charge
The following special experiments were carried out during the past
year:
1. Fish Meal for Swine.
Object: To determine if pigs of different weights will consume enough
fish meal in the ration to transmit a fishy flavor to the meat.
Plan: (a) To allow two pigs of different weights to have fish meal
and shelled corn from a self-feeder.
(b) To feed one pig 10% of fish meal in the ration.
Record: Table 1. Fish Meal for Swine.
Pig No. Initial
Weight
Final
Weight
Davs on
Feed
Feed Consumed
' Shelled Corn Fish Meal
34
36
18
126
63
128
280
95
321
114
43
118
888
230
743
19
15
82
Pigs No. 34 and 36 were fed the shelled corn and fish meal in
separate compartments of self-feeder, while Pig No. 18 was fed a mixture
containing 9 parts cracked corn and one part of fish meal. It is
interesting to note the variation in the amount of fish meal consumed
by Pigs No. 34 and No. 18 since they were of practically the same
initial weight and on feed practically the same number of days.
No "fishy" taste was detected in any of the meat from these three
pigs which would seem to indicate that the danger of tainting pork from
feeding fish meal to swine is negligible.
Results: No "fishy flavor" was detected.
2. Soft Pork Studies in Cooperation with J. O. Halverson.
A. Individual Work.
Object: To determine the effects of feeding various amounts of oil
(peanuts) on the carcass of pigs of various weights; keeping the energy
and protein equal in each case.
Plan: (a) To make up rations containing approximately 8, 12, 16,
and 20 per cent oil, then in addition to these four rations have one
ration containing peanuts alone and another ration which shall be used
as a check, containing 60% corn meal, 30% shorts, 5% tankage and
5% linseed meal.
(b) This work as planned will necessitate only one pig on each
ration.
40 Forty-fifth Annual Report 1ST. C. Agri. Exp. Station
Record: Table 2, Soft Pork Investigations with Individual Pigs.
No. of
Experiment
No. Pigs
Used
Average
Final
Weight
Average
Daily
Gain
Feed per
100 pounds
Gain
Cost per
100 pounds
Gain
2
3
4
5
5
6
7
5
260
227
218
224
1.56
1.41
1.43
1.69
335.0
327.0
286.1
332.0
$ 14.21
12.50
11.23
8.79
Results: The results so far seem to indicate that oil is the chief
factor in making soft pork, although enough work has not been done
to make it conclusive.
B. Lot Work.
Object: To determine if the size of the pig, when he is put in the
finishing lot, after being fed on so-called softening feeds, is a factor in
determining the firmness of the carcass after a 60-day finishing period
on shelled corn and tankage self fed.
Plan: To feed 30 pigs as soon as weaned on peanuts alone for at
least eight weeks. Thereafter to divide these 30 pigs into three lots
of ten pigs each, using pigs in Lot 1, weighing approximately 90 pounds;
in Lot 2, weighing over 100 pounds and in Lot 3, weighing less than 80
pounds.
Record: Experiment in progress.
Results: Incomplete.
3. Soft Pork Studies in Co-operation with Bureau of Animal In-dustry.
Object: (a) To determine the effects of feeding peanuts from a self
feeder in a dry lot, and the effects of grazing soybeans with a 2y2%
ration of shelled corn, upon the carcass.
(b) To determine the effects on the carcass of pigs by finishing
them in a dry lot for 12 weeks on corn and fish meal, self fed,
after 8 weeks on softening feeds.
Plan: To use 12 pigs on peanuts and 12 on soybeans, making ship-ments
of three pigs to the Bureau of Animal Industry at intervals of
four weeks each, beginning with the close of the grazing period.
Record: Experiment in progress.
Results : Incomplete.
4. Exhibit of Pure Bred Duroc Jersey Swine at 1922 North Carolina
State Fair.
Object: To determine the merit of our hogs as compared with others
in the show ring.
Plan: To use such animals in the herd as are available for this
purpose.
Record: Fifteen hogs were entered in the show and competed in a
creditable manner.
Results: The winnings amounted to $91.00.
Animal Industry 41
Edgecombe Branch Station Farm
The herd of grade Berkshires that has been kept at this farm is being
disposed of as rapidly as possible.
In May, 1922, nine pure bred Hampshire gilts and a Hampshire boar
were purchased for this farm and will be maintained to produce pigs
for experimental work and to use for demonstration purposes.
The special experiments completed at this farm during the past year
are as follows:
1. Cost of Raising Pigs to Weaning Age.
Object: To determine the cost of producing pigs to the age of ten
weeks.
Plan: To use the farm herd for this purpose.
Record: • Reported in Experiment Station Bulletin No. 244.
Results: Each pig cost $4.07.
2. Peanuts for Swine.
Object: (a) To determine the amount of pork produced by a given
area of peanuts.
(b) To determine the condition of the carcasses after pigs have
been grazed on peanuts for 8 weeks.
(c) To determine the effects of an 8 weeks finishing period
on corn and tankage after pigs have been grazed for 8 weeks
on peanuts.
Record: Table 3. Peanuts for Fattening Swine.
A. Grazing Period.
Period: September 27, to November 22, 1921—56 days.
No. in
Lot Ration
Average
Final
Weight
Average
Daily
Gain
Feed Per 100
Pounds Gain
Peanuts
Cost Per 100
Pounds Gain
18 Peanuts 151.9 .87 .76 A. $11.40
B. Finishing Period.
Period: November 22, 1921, to January 17, 1922—56 days.
No. in Ration
Average
Final
Weight
Average
Daily
Gain
Feed Per 100 Pounds Gain
Cost Per
Lot
Shelled Corn Tankage
100 Pound
Gain
9
Shelled
Corn and
Tankage
238.4 1.95 370.8 30.9 7.70
42 Forty-fifth Annual Report N. C. Agri. Exp. Station
Prices Used:
Shelled corn per bu $ 1.00
Tankage per ton 70.00
Peanuts per acre 15.00
Results:
1. One acre of peanuts produced 151% pounds pork.
2. None of the pigs were strictly "hard" after an 8 weeks finishing
period on corn and tankage.
Note: For some unaccountable reason the gains made on peanuts
during this experiment were extremely low.
Record of Farm Work Animals.
This experiment was closed December 31, 1921, and a complete record
of the work done is shown in September, 1922 Bulletin of the Depart-ment
of Agriculture.
Blaekland Branch Station
The swine work at this farm was begun in January, 1922, by the pur-chase
of a car load of pigs in South Georgia. Six of these pigs were
retained on the farm at the close of the following experiment for use
as brood sows.
The special experiment carried out is as follows:
Marketing Corn in Eastern North Carolina Through Hogs.
Object: (a) To determine if the corn grown on the farm could be
marketed through hogs more profitably than to be sold as grain,
(b) To compare tankage and fish meal as supplements to corn
for fattening swine.
Plan: (a) To purchase one carload of pigs in South Georgia and
feed them out on corn raised on the farm, for a sufficient length
of time to make two carloads of hogs for market.
(b) To divide the pigs obtained into two equal lots, feeding
lot 1 on shelled corn and fish meal, and lot 2 on shelled corn
and tankage, using three self feeders in each lot.
Record: Table 4. Tankage vs. Fish Meal.
Period: February 1 to April 12, 1922—70 days.
Lot
No.
No. in
Lot
Ration
Average
Final
Weight
Average
Daily
Gain
Feed Per 100 Pound Gain
Cost Per
Shell
Corn
Fish
Meal
Tank-age
100 pounds
Gain
1 68
67
Corn and
Fish Meal
Corn and
Tankage
151.5
146.9
1.16
.96
330.3
364.5
43.5 $5.14
2 49.8 5.83
Note: On March 16, 40 hogs out of Lot 1 and 29 hogs out of Lot 2 were sold.
Results: (a) The corn was marketed through the hogs for $1.10
per bushel instead of 65c, the prevailing price when the experi-ment
was begun.
(b) Fish Meal was more valuable as a supplementary feed
to corn than tankage.
x\nimal Industry 43»
Piedmont Branch Station Farm
A pure bred herd of Poland China hogs is kept at this farm for experi-mental
and demonstration purposes.
Cost of Baising Pigs to Weaning Time.
Special experiments conducted during the past year are as follows:
Object: To determine cost to produce pigs to weaning age—70 days.
Plan: To use all sows and litters for this purpose.
Record: Reported in Experiment Station Bulletin No. 244.
Results: Each pig cost $3.97.
Value of Soybean Pasture for Swine.
Object: To determine value of allowing pigs to graze soybeans, begin-ning
the test about time the beans are in the "dough stage."
Plan: To use 16 spring pigs and allow them a 2% ratipn of shelled
corn 910 and tankage v10 , in addition to the soybeans.
Record: Table 5. Soy Bean Pasture for Swine.
Period: August 31, to October 13, 1922.
Ration
Average
Final
Weight
Average
Daily
Gain
Feed Per 100 Pounds Gain
Cost Per
100 Pounds
Lot Gain
Grain Pasture
16
Soybean
Pasture
with Grain
111.6 .59 295.0 .547 A. $11.24
'
Results: Pigs made only .59 pound average daily gain.
Note: The area used was seeded to soy beans, but because of a late frost one-half acre was
replanted to cow peas. The cow peas were beginning to dry up when the pigs were turned into the field.
Record; Table 4. Tankage vs. Fish Meal.
3. Feeding of Parni Work Animals.
This work is being carried on at the present time in the same way
as in former years, but new work will be undertaken as soon as a
definite plan can be decided upon. The results of the past seven years
are shown in the September, 1922, Department of Agriculture Bulletin.
Co-operative Project with U S. Department of Agriculture
Soft Pork Work.
The eight States that are co-operating in soft pork work this year,
ship all hogs to the Bureau of Animal Industry Farm at Beltsville,
Md.. to be slaughtered. After these hogs are slaughtered the carcasses
are held in the cooler at an approximate temperature of 36° F. for
forty-eight hours. At the close of the cooling period a representative
committee makes a physical examination of these carcasses to determine
their condition.
This committee is composed of the following men:
Earl H. Hostetler, Raleigh, N. C, representing the experiment stations.
Howard Smith, Baltimore, Md., representing the packers.
Dr. Walters, Washington, D. C, representing the Federal Department.
In addition to the physical grading made by the above committee, a
44 Forty-fifth Annual Report N. C. Agri. Exp. Station
chemical examination is made on one sample of back fat and one sample
of leaf fat from each carcass.
In the work that has been done up to the present time approximately
1,000 hogs have been used and in addition to the eight States that are
cooperat ng th s year the Bureau of Animal Industry is including tests
made at Beltsville, Md. and at McNeill, Miss.
DAIBY EXPERIMENTATION
Stanley Combs, In Charge
Central Experiment Farm
1. Object : To Determine the Effect of Cottonseed Meal on Cows and
Heifers in Reproduction. (Cooperative, Combs and Cur.tis).
This herd consists of sixteen grade Ayrshire cows in the milking herd
with six yearling heifers and a herd bull. Two of these cows have been
in the herd since 1915. The other fourteen were purchased from the
Pinehurst Dairy as calves and during January, 1920, as yearlings. They
were divided into lots and fed as follows:
Grain Ration
Cottonseed meal—1 part
Cracked Corn
Cottonseed meal—1 part
Crushed corn—1 part
Cottonseed meal
Cracked corn—3 parts
Wheat bran—1 part
Linseed meal—1 part
Roughage
Cottonseed hulls—ad libitum
Corn stover—1 part 1
Corn silage—2 parts J lib
Cottonseed hulls—1 part
)
Corn silage—2 parts [• i-.
Corn stover—1 part J
Alfalfa hay—1 part
Corn silage
—
-2 parts / libitum
This young herd was bred to calve the first time during the fall of
1921. On these rations indicated in the first four lots above some of
the animals aborted before five months, while others carried their calves
the full length of time. However, the calves that were carried full
time were weak, small, some blind, and none lived over sixty hours.
Those aborted were deformed, blind, and some appeared to have very
soft bones and showed oedema in various portions of the animal
body.
The following is a brief discussion of the work of these cows as in-dividuals:
Cow No. 102 aborted twins in 1921. Never came into milk. Ration
changed to cottonseed meal 90 pounds, calcium carbonate % pounds, butter
fat 2 pounds, casein 10 pounds, early in the year. She was bred April
3, 1922. Has gained in flesh and seems to be safe with calf.
Cow No. 103 aborted October 1921. She is being continued on the same
ration this year. "Was bred March 24, 1922, and is with calf.
Cow No. 104 failed to breed in 1921. Her ration was changed to
100 pounds cottonseed meal and % pounds calcium carbonate. She was
bred January 19th. Failed to conceive, and died during the summer.
Her ovaries were diseased.
Cow No. 106 produced a calf that lived 36 hours during 1921. Her
1922 ration consists of cottonseed meal 90 pounds, casein 10 pounds,
calcium carbonate % pounds. .She was bred January 21, 1922, and still
carries her calf. The cow is blind.
Animal Industry 45
Cow No 107 aborted July, 1921. Early in November, 1921, she developed
cataracts in both eyes. She is now totally blind. Her ration for 1922
is cottonseed meal 100 pounds, butter fat 2 pounds, calcium carbonate
% pounds. She was bred April 23, 1922, and appears to be with calf.
Cow No. 105 calved normally in check lot during 1921. She was
transferred to Lot 1 early in the year. In about two months she be-came
weak and sluggish, finally developing a severe fit or spasm. After
suffering from this for four or five hours we were able to help her up
and move her to a shed, and shade. She appeared to be suffering from
some kind of poison. However, rats suffer in much the same way when
suffering from vitamine starvation. Thinking this might be the trouble,
she was given yeast. One pound1 was given before she regained her
appetite. She has received one pound each week since this time. She
was bred March 28th and again at a later date. She is probably with
calf at present.
The four cows in Lot 11 produced calves last year that were weak
and died soon after birth. Several years ago Wisconsin found a ration
made up entirely from the corn plant satisfactory. Therefore, half this
lot was changed to their ration which consists of cracked corn 5 pounds,
corn gluten meal 2 pounds, and corn stover 7 pounds. Three of these
cows are due to calve during the next few days while the fourth is due in
January, 1923.
Cow No. 402 aborted in 1921. Her ration was changed to cottonseed
meal 90 pounds, casein 10 pounds, and calcium carbonate % pounds. She
was bred January IS, 1921, and dropped a living calf weighing 62
pounds on October 30th. This calf was very weak, but by careful
feeding we have been able to keep it alive so far.
Cow No. 403 aborted during 1921. Was kept on the original ration and
bred March 1, 1922. She aborted again July 27, 1922. Her ration was
changed to cottonseed meal 96 pounds, U-Cop-To Special Steam Bone
Mineral Meal 4 pounds, together with Pleischmann's yeast each week.
She will be bred during November, 1922.
Cow No. 303 aborted during 1921. Cow No. 304 dropped a weak calf
during 1921, which soon died. Both cows were continued on the same
ration for another year. They were bred on April 12th and March 23d
respectively and are both with calf at present.
Lot No. 5 is our check lot and all animals are in good condition and
have never been off feed. They produce normal calves each year. Two
have already calved.
The milk produced by these experimental cows during the winter and
spring of 1922 was fed to calves with the object of determining its growth
producing quality. Nineteen calves were used. Curves have been plotted
showing the effect upon the milk produced by these various rations.
Calves fed milk produced by the cows in Lot 1 made only about one-half
as much gain in weight during the first six months as did the calves that
received milk produced in Lot 5.
The calves fed milk from Lot 5 mi.de the be?t gains. Lots 3 ami 2
came in for second placs. Lot 4 came next, while tho milk produced
by the cows in Lot 1 made the poorest gains.
Data is also available showing the amount of milk produced by each
cow in the various lots and its cost per hundred pounds.
46 Forty-fifth Annual Report 1ST. C. Agri. Exp. Station
Coastal Plain Station Farm
2. Herd Development.
A herd of fifty-three registered Jerseys is now on this farm. This
herd may he divided as follows:
23 cows in milk
10 bred heifers
15 open heifers and calves
1 herd bull
3 young serviceable bulls
1 bull calf
Herd development work has been given first consideration during the
last year, the same as in the past. The daughters of Eminent 19th are
all in milk and most of them have been tested officially and have won
their Register of Merit Certificate. Some have made good records. Pender
Eminent Lass E, No. 369040 completed her second re-test in July with
13,774 pounds of milk and 792.48 pounds of fat, Class A. A. This makes
her the Grand Champion Fat Producing Cow of North Carolina over all
. breeds and entitles her to the American Jersey Cattle Club's Gold Medal.
She is the third and best daughter of Eminent 19th to win a gold medal.
Thus, when Lass E. finished her record, Eminent 19th, became the South's
first and only Gold Medal Bull. Only twenty-four such bulls have
ever been produced in the United States. His daughters hold the Junior
two-year-old Class State Record for production, the Senior three-year-old,
and the Junior four-year-old in addition to the Grand Champion of all
breeds. In considering all his Register of Merit daughters that are out
of Register of Merit dams, it is found that he has increased their
production 35%. This is a remarkable increase considering the fact
that the dams were good producers as is indicated by their official records.
His daughters out of ordinary, or average, cows would show a larger
increase than this.
A few of the granddaughters of Eminent 19th are not in milk. Ten
more are safe with calf to a son of Eminent 19th. They are a nice
appearing lot of heifers and give promise of maturing into high pro-ducing
individuals. They are sired by Rumina's King No. 160969. King is
a line bred "Eminent" bull. Search is not being made for a suitable
junior herd sire to breed to the daughters of King.
Owing to the lack of silage, not much experimental feeding was ac-complished
during the past year. This work consisted largely of the
continuation of the projects which were already started. The cooperative
velvet bean meal work conducted with the South Carolina and Alabama
Stations was completed. In this experiment it was quite noticeable that
the cows preferred the wheat bran with cottonseed meal rather than the
wheat bran and velvet bean meal. In fact, under pasture conditions we
found it necessary to add crushed corn to the ration in order to get
the animals to consume enough of the grain ration to maintain their
milk flow. The cows consuming the velvet bean meal lost flesh more
than animals receiving cottonseed meal.
The calf feeding work was discontinued during the year; i.e., no more
animals were added to either of the two lots. The animals already started
on the work were continued on the ration. They should all finish during
the coming year. This work was a comparison of the feeding value of
peanut meal with cottonseed meal as a protein carrier for maturing dairy
heifers. So far the actual results show very little difference in the
Animal Industry 47
feeding value of these two feeds. However, cottonseed meal is much
more readily obtained, is usually a few dollars cheaper per ton, and gives
less trouble while in storage. The peanut meal seems to cake and
finally mould when held in the feed room for some time. These are
factors worth considerable consideration. Peanut meal should have a
place in livestock feeding. It is a good feed and will add variety to the
protein content of the ration.
During the spring and summer the milk produced daily by this herd
was summarized for the purpose of determining the effect of weather
conditions upon the daily production of milk. Two years and six months
records have been reviewed. The weather report has been obtained from
the Wilmington weather bureau covering the same period of time. The
milk produced during the early spring months shows a variation of five
gallons per day; i. e., the days with 75% or more of sunshine show an
increased production of this amount over those days with less than
75% of sunshine. The humidity reports have not yet been assembled, but it
is planned to do this at a future date.
COMPARISON OF 1921 PRODUCTION WITH 1922 PRODUCTION
Month
Cows
in
Herd
Milk Fat Milk Fat
Cows
in
Herd
28
28
25
25
26
26
26
25
25
24
24
24
13491.1
13845.1
13722.
1
12223.9
10385.0
14027.2
13193.5
14602.6
12906.3
12104.4
12126.7
9659.2
698.90
774.48
736.10
665.94
518.90
707.65
682.40
749.20
619.72
613.12
598.88
488.07
9934.7
10373.5
11620.7
12216.6
12468.0
16266.5
14003.8
10674.4
9610.3
11053.6
11188.7
9716.7
527.90
589.26
633. 72
648. 15
654.81
844.46
713.52
546.99
496.86
560.52
562.36
500.22
22
22
22
22
23
23
23
22
22
July 22
22
23
Totals 25K 152,287.1
$7,081.35
5972.0
7823.36 139127.5
$6,469.41
6229.5
7278.77 23|
Total values
Average production per cow.. . ... . 306.5 325.9
Four years ago only two cows in the herd had ever produced as much
as 300 pounds of fat in one year and they each produced this amount
once only. The average for the past two years has been above 300 pounds.
The operating expenses have all been taken care of during the past
two years by the cash receipts. The' increase in the value of the herd
and manure have been sources of profit to the farm.
POULTRY INVESTIGATIONS AND PATHOLOGY
Dr. B. F. Kaupp, In Charge
A Study of the Diseases of the Fowl:
Encephalocele of a Baby Chick.—A case of encephalocele of a baby chick
was studied in one case. The eyes were only partially formed with no
eyelids. There was a fleshy looking mass protruding from the top of the
skull which upon microscopic examination proved to be a portion of the
cerebrum.
A Horny Growth from, the Foot of a Hen.—From the top of a Barred
Plymouth Rock hen there had developed a horny growth one and one-half
inches in diameter at the base and more than two inches long.
48 Forty-fifth Annual Report N". C. Agri. Exp Station
Edema of the Larynx.—Edema of the pharyngeal mucous membrane
was studied in a Pit Game cock. The mass measuring more than two
inches long protruded from the mouth.
Polypus of the Oviduct.—A case of a tumor measuring two cm. in di-ameter
was located in the oviduct of a hen. This prevented the hen
from laying. The tumor was attached to the wall by means of a pedicle.
Many fowls have been sent to the laboratory for study and diagnosis
and two outbreaks of a disease resembling fowl typhoid are now being
studied and will be reported on in full in the next annual report. These
cases were treated by a vaccine made from the germs isolated from the
two respective territories. The vaccine proved quite efficient in the treat-ment.
2. Laboratory Studies.
'Normal Temperature of the Adult Fowl.—In order that we may know,
from a clinical standpoint, the normal temperature of the fowl, many
series of tests were made. This included taking temperatures of the same
fowls in the morning, noon, evening, and at midnight to determine the
average day temperature and also when the surplus temperature was
eliminated from the body. It was found that the normal temperature of
the adult fowl is 107.4° P. and at night the temperature will fan to
105° F. This knowledge has been of value to us in the study of Fowl
Typhoid in which the temperature ranges as high as 114.5° P. or 7° of
fever.
The Study of Temperatures of the Houses with the Draft System, and hy
the Diffusion System..—The unit system house was used in these tests one
end being ventilated by diffusion and the other by draft. It was found
that the difference in temperature depended upon the direction of the wind.
There was from one to four degrees difference which makes ventilation by
draft slightly in favor of ventilation by diffusion in the summer time.
Rate of Groioth of Single Comb White Leghorns.—A growth curve was
established at the central plant for the pullets of the S. C. White- Leghorns
from hatching to 34 weeks of age or the time when the pullets go into
the laying pens.
The Relative Value of the Various Vegetable Proteins was published in
Poultry Item in a series of ten articles. Animal food is necessary to
place pullets into heavy early egg production. Animal food is essential
for best growth. When pullets are reared on very limited animal food
when put into the laying pens and given a mash with animal food they
soon come into full laying.
In the Veterinary Journal was published under the heading of "A
Contribution to the Study of Tumors of the Domestic Fowls" the result
with illustrations of a compound tumor from a Golden Wyandotte cock
lympho Carcomas of S. C. White Leghorns, Myxo-Sarcoma of a Barred
Plymouth Rock cock, and an interesting case of volvulus or gut tie of a
hen.
The effects of velvet bean meal upon growing chicks was published in
the Journal of the American Association of Instructors and Investigators
in Poultry Husbandry.
An article on the rate of growth of the S. C. Rhode Island Reds, both
males and females, was published in Poultry Science.
The Effects of Weather Temperature upon the Temperature of the
Hen.-—It was found by taking the temperature of the same fowls the first
day of each month that the temperature of a fowl that was, say 107° F.
Animal Industry 49
in the winter time, may be 110.5° F. in the summertime on a hot noonday.
The temperature of the body of the hen is affected by the temperature of
the surrounding atmosphere.
The Normal Respirations of the Fowl.—A study was made of the number
of normal respirations made by the hen per minute. It was found that an
average sized cock of 8 or 9 pounds will breathe normally about twenty
times a minute. A hen of the same breed will breathe about thirty-six times
a minute. This knowledge is of value in the study of disease. A hen with
fowl typhoid with a temperature of 114° P. breathes 120 times a minute.
The Effects of Feeding Hours on Egg Production.—Extending the length
of feeding hours on pullets is profitable, but it is not profitable to give
a constant 14 feeding hours to laying hens. The second year shows a
decrease in egg production.
After the first of April the extra light should be gradually lessened
to normal daylight till the following late fall or winter when the short
days and high priced eggs attain.
How Long Does a Hen's Toe Nails Grow in 365 Days?—This question
was answered by measuring the toe nails of two Barred Plymouth Rock
hens at the end of 365 days. They had grown 1.9 cm.
The Fate of Grit in the Gizzard.—It was found that a fowl may go 365
days without replenishing its grit. At the end of this time there was
enough grit in the gizzard of the remaining two hens to grind the food,
as shown by the fact that the hens were in perfect health and in good
flesh.
the Cost of Hatching Baby Chicks Artificially.—When the eggs cost
30c per dozen for hatching, a chick was produced for 9c and when the
eggs cost $1.50 per setting of 15 eggs the chicks cost 29c.
The Effects of Latitude on Egg Production.—This work is in its third
year. In the second year the results were similar to those of the first.
There are more possible hours sunshine at Winnipeg, Canada, but there
are more actual hours sunshine at Raleigh, N. C. The hens at Raleigh
weighed heavier than those at Winnipeg, and the birds at Raleigh laid'
more eggs per hen than those at Winnipeg, Canada.
The Digestive Coefficients of Poultry Feeds.—A summary is being made
of the seven years' work on the determination of the digestive coefficients
of poultry feeds conducted on poultry. This covers 19 feeds and 101 in-dividual
tests. To the world's work of 89 individual tests we have added
101, and from thfs have compiled a table of digestible nutrients of 30
poultry feeds based on poultry digestion trials.
Assistance to Fairs of the State.
During the fall several fairs were given assistance by sending senior
students to judge poultry-
Mr. W. F. Armstrong, a senior student in Agriculture, specializing in
poultry, judged the Forsyth County Fair at Winston-Salem and also the
Johnston County Fair at Smithfield, N. C.
Mr. G. L. Booker, a senior student in Agriculture, specializing in poultry,
judged the poultry at the Person County Fair at Roxboro, and also the
Fair at the Franklin County Fair at Louisburg, N. C.
Mr. J. F. Johnson, a senior student in Agriculture, specializing in
poultry, judged poultry at the Old Hickory Fair at Lexington, N. C, and
also at the Knightdale Community Fair in Wake County.
4
50 Forty-fifth Annual Kepoet ~N. C. Agri. Exp. Station
,4. Extension Lectures by Members of Poultry Organization.
February 17, 1922, Prof. D. H. Hall gave a talk at Farm Life School at
Zebulon, N. C.
February 24, 1922, Mr. J. E. Ivey gave a poultry talk at Farm Life
School at Cary, N. C.
February 22, 1922, Dr. B. F. Kaupp gave a poultry talk at Method High
School at Method, N. C.
May 2, 1922, talk before Central Carolina Poultry Association meeting at
Greensboro, N. C, on European Poultry Observations.
By Dr. B. F. Kaupp.
June 29, 1922, a dissection of a fowl and a description of the course
of the feed through the digestive tract. Demonstration of caponizing.
By Dr. B. F. Kaupp.
August 6, 1922, A talk before the Farmers' Convention on Culling of
Fowls with demonstration. By Dr. B. F. Kaupp.
February, 1922, Dr. B. F. Kaupp gave dissection and description of
digestion of the fowl before the Virginia State Veterinary Medical
Association at Richmond, Va.
Dr. B. F. Kaupp gave a talk before the Madison Square Garden edu-cational
program at New York in January, 1922, on things learned by
his European trip of poultry study and gave talks along this same
line before the Poultry Science Club, The Research Society, and The
Swine Club.
The Mountain Poultry Plant Work
5. Poultry Work at the Mountain Branch Station Farm.
The work intended for the Mountain plant was removed from States-ville
to Swannanoa in April, 1922. There was some work during the
year done at the Iredell Test Farm.
Velvet Bean Meal Tests.—14 pounds of velvet bean meal were mixed in
each 100 pounds mash mixture. The chicks receiving the velvet bean
meal with water weighed an average of 0.84 pounds each at the end of
eight weeks, while the chicks receiving this same ration with the addi-tion
of milk, weighed an average of 1.15 pounds each and the controls
receiving no velvet bean meal but ground oats instead, averaged 1.43
pounds each at the end of eight weeks. The control flock produced
a pound gain on .319 pounds feed while those on velvet bean meal and
milk produced a pound on 4.9 pounds feed and those on velvet bean
meal and water produced a pound on 8.1 pounds.
Value of Eggs from a Farm Flock.—The value of the eggs per hen
for the year at the Iredell Farm was $3.01 and the number of eggs was
113 per hen. These hens had been culled two years and the start was
made from 76 eggs per hen per year.
Tne Coastal Plain Poultry Work
6. Poultry Work at the Pender Test Farm.
From 100 hens kept at the Coastal Plant $930.30 worth of products
were sold, leaving a surplus of 51 fowls at the end of the year in addition
to the 100 of the old stock. The net profit per hen, after all over-head
had been paid, was $1.67.
Incubator House Experiments.—The experiments with an incubator
house built entirely above ground and on the plan of a sweet potato
house proved successful up to the hot weather about the middle of May.
Animal Industry 51
Animal Feed Tests.—At this station tests are being run to determine
the value of the various animal feeds. It is found that for best results,
birds whether growing or laying, must have animal feed such as digester
tankage, meat scrap or milk. These three feeds are about equal from
a feed standpoint.
Rate of Growth.—The rate of growth of S. C. Rhode Island Reds is
being carried on. A growth curve representing normal growth is being
determined and plotted. From this we can measure the value of the
various feeds.
Cause of TJnlivable chicks.—The cause of weak chicks is being studied.
It was shown that chicks made weak from improper incubation would
cause a poor hatch, heavy loss as growing birds as well as range birds
and heavy loss as layers. The birds were not strong and transmitted
a weakness to their chicks the following year.
7. Miscellaneous.
Circular Letters Issued.—1,700 circular letters were issued to boost
the Seventh Official State Poultry Show November 30, to December
1 and 2, 1922.
There were distributed 2,200 bulletins and reprints.
Correspondence.—During the year 2,196 letters were written to persons
inquiring in regard to disease, feeds, feeding, supplies, poultry house con-struction,
where they could buy eggs and breeding fowls, and many
other problems confronting the poultry keeper.
State Association Work.—The head of the Department acted as secre-tary
of the State Poultry Association during the year and was its official
delegate at the Annual Meeting of the American Poultry Association
which convened at Knoxville, Tenn. August 8-12, 1922. He also gave
a talk before the Central Carolina Poultry Association which is located
at Greensboro, N. C.
Culling Demonstrations.—A culling demonstration was given before
the Farmers' Convention at State College the first week in August, 1922.
Articles and Papers.—During the year three technical articles have been
furnished scientific journals and thirty-six to the Poultry Press. In
addition to this there have been issued two popular circulars for distri-bution
in the State, one on the operation of the incubator and the other
on culling and feeding.
BEEF CATTLE AND SHEEP INVESTIGATIONS
R. S. Curtis, In Charge
1. The Effect of Cottonseed Meal on Beef and Dairy Females in
Reproduction.
This project has been reported on in detail under the Office of Dairy
Experimentation with Mr. Stanley Combs in charge. This work is being
conducted jointly by the Office of Beef Cattle and Sheep and the Office
of Dairy Experimentation, and it is, therefore, considered unnecessary
to repeat the accomplishments on the project at this time.
It may be stated, however, that this is one of the big problems con-fronting
the cattle producers of the South, and more especially in the
cotton producing areas where the tendency is to feed large quantities
of cottonseed meal. Good progress has been made on the project. A
report on progress was made at the last meeting of the Southern Agri-cultural
Workers held at Atlanta, Ga.
52 Forty-fifth Annual Keport N. C. Agri. Exp. Station
Great danger in feeding too much cottonseed meal is shown in the
tendency toward abortion and abnormal development of the foetus which
seems to be lacking in mineral matter in the bones and otherwise a
retarded or incomplete development.
Wintering and Summer Fattening of Cattle in "Western North
Carolina.
The following summary gives the results of wintering cattle in Western
North Carolina on various rations, the problem being to determine how
cattle can be most economically handled and return the largest profits
under these conditions.
Lot
1
Lot Lot
3
Lot
4
Lot Lot
6
25
831
764
-67
$15.34
25
826
775
-51
$16.01
25-
799
740
-59
$13.49
25
795
741
-54
$15.34
827
748
-79
$15.34
25
851
776
-75
Total cost of feed per head 112 day period $17.12
The following prices were charged for feeds used:
Cottonseed meal $ 45.00
Cottonseed hulls 18.00
Corn silage 7.50
Straw 10.00
Mixed hay 30.00
Corn and cob meal .75
Corn stover <
.
, 15.00
The rations given below were used in the above experiment:
Lot 1. Hay 10 lbs., cottonseed meal 1 lb., crushed corn and cob 1 lb.
Lot 2. Hay and straw mixed, 5 lbs., corn silage 15 lbs., cottonseed meal
lb.
Lot 3.
Lot 4.
lb.
Lot 5.
lb.
Lot 6.
Hay and straw mixed 5 lbs., corn silage 15 lbs.
Hay 10 lbs., cottonseed meal 1 lb., crushed corn and cob meal
Hay 10 lbs., cottonseed meal 1 lb., crushed corn and cob meal
Cottonseed meal 2 lbs., cottonseed hulls 12 lbs.
At the conclusion of this wintering period these cattle were placed on
pasture for 140 days with the following gains made by each lot:
Lot
1
Lot Lot
3 .
Lot
4
Lot
5
Lot
6
Average daily gain in pounds 2.39
$2.98
2.30
$3.09
2.59
$2.75
2.39
$2.98
2.S2
$2.53
2.50
$2.84
This work shows conclusively that beef cattle cannot only be produced
profitably in Western North Carolina, but also that the use of corn silage
Animal Industry 53"
in a wintering ration and cottonseed meal and hulls in a wintering
ration are not detrimental in making gains the following summer on
pasture.
It has been thought that these two rations produced deleterious effects,
but extended work along this line does not so prove.
3\ Effect of Cottonseed Meal Upon the Reproductive Qualities of
Ewes.
The work which has been done at the Central Experimental Farm
and the Piedmont Branch Station along this line shows that when these
products are fed in moderation that there is no deleterious effect, either
in the condition of the animal or in their reproductive qualities. The
work shows that the feeding of cottonseed meal may be practiced safely
up to three-fourths of a pound per animal daily and with large sheep
as much as one pound per animal daily.
The work at the Piedmont Branch Farm was considerably inter-rupted
last year owing to the fact that all the pastures were plowed up,
with minor exceptions, and it was necessary to alter the work somewhat.
The above results, however, are clearly evident.
4. Cleansing Sheep of Stomach Worms.
One of the greatest drawbacks to sheep production in this country,
and especially in the South, where the rainfall is excessive, is the stomach
worm. Up until the past few years this problem has baffled sheep
producers and Experiment Station workers. The difficulty has been to
get a dosage of treatment of sufficient strength into the stomach of
the sheep. It has been found, however, that bluestone or copper sulphate
is very effective and treatments under proper conditions will no doubt
save large numbers of sheep.
The following treatment has been tried out and found to be effective:
For lambs, one and one-half ounces copper sulphate, 50 c. c. water.
For ewes, three ounces copper sulphate, 100 c. c. water.
This treatment should be given after the sheep have been kept off
feed and water over night. This is very essential in order that the treat-ment
does not become absorbed by the food in the stomach.
This concludes the fundamental lines of work which are being
performed by the various Experiment Station workers.
Respectfully submitted,
R. S. Curtis,
Animal Industry Division.
REPORT OF DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY
To the Director:—In presenting this report of the work for the
year I shall, as suggested by you, include also a brief discussion
of the progress or results on all the projects, outlines of which have
been filed wi