BULLETIN NO. . NEW SERIES. :E 1 EJ:Eo:R OF AgricuItuiaa eaioll Agricultural and Mechanical College, AUBURN, ALA. SUBJECTS. REPORT OF EXPERIMENTS WITH CORN, SWEET POTATOES, GROUND PEAS, TURNIPS AND GRAPES. ANALYSES OF FERTILIZERS, SOILS, ETC. WOODS OF ALABAMA-CONTINUED. METEOROLOGY. THE BAPTIST PRINTING CO., MONTGOMERY, ALA. 55
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Report of Experiments with Corn, Sweet Potatoes, Ground - AUrora
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BULLETIN NO. . NEW SERIES.
:E1EJ:Eo:ROF
AgricuItuiaa eaioll
Agricultural and Mechanical College,
AUBURN, ALA.
SUBJECTS.
REPORT OF EXPERIMENTS WITH CORN, SWEET POTATOES, GROUND
PEAS, TURNIPS AND GRAPES.
ANALYSES OF FERTILIZERS, SOILS, ETC.
WOODS OF ALABAMA-CONTINUED.
METEOROLOGY.
THE BAPTIST PRINTING CO., MONTGOMERY, ALA.
55
PEPOEJT
OF
j1ricftu a1 Expim Saiop,
Agricultural and Mechanical College,
AUBURN, ALA., JANUARY, 1889.
BOAR7 Off'' VI ITC S
COMMITTEE OF TRUSTEES ON EXPERIMENT STATION:
HON. J. G. GILCHRIST, HON. R. F. LIGON, HON. J. B. MITCHELL.
W. L. BROUN............. ............ President.J. S. NEWMAN ...-.............. Director and Agriculturist.N. T. LUPTON..................... Vice-Director-and Chemist.*P. H. MEL......................... ............ Botainist.
................ ... :........... Biologist.
ASSISTANTS.
ISAAC Ross .. . .. First Assistant Agriculturist in Charge of Live Stock and Dairy.JAMES CLAYTON... ........................... Seconli Assistant A griculturist.J. T. ANDERSON, PH. D ...... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . ..... First Assistant Chemist.L. W. WILKINSON, M. SC..... ... ......... Second Assistant Chemist.P. L. HuTcINSON......................... ....... Third Assistant Chemist.T. D. SAMFORD, B. Sc.... ... .. .................... Assistant Botanist.
*Pref. Mell also has charge of Meteorological Ohservations. ITo he filled.
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Repoi' of gricuIluI't$EXPERIMENT WITH CORN.
The object of this experiment was to inquire if corn could begrown profitably upon land hich chemical analysis classes aspractically sterile. The soil in question is a sandy drift with noclay within three feet of the surface. When the station tookcharge of it, it had been "worn out" and had grown up in stuntedpines and broom sedge. Chemical analysis showed the followingDercentage composition:
By order of the Board of Trustees, ten acres of this land werecarefully prepared and fertilized, an account of all expenses keptand products carefully weighed.
The land was thoroughly broken with turn plows on the 6th,7th and 8th of March, and the corn planted on the 15th and 16th-rows five feet, stalks three feet in the row. Compost of cottonseed, stable manure and English super phosphate was applied be-tween the hills of corn in the drill at the rate of iooo pounds per.acre. After the corn was planted heavy rains, followed by dryingwinds, baked the soil to such an extent as to render it neces: ary tore-break the land after the corn came up. This seriously checkedits growth by breaking its feeding, roots.
A_ drouth and heated term, which occurred while the plants werein flower, caused an estimated injury of twenty per cent. Cornplanted upon land adjoining, which was broken and planted afterthat on the ten acres was up, produced, with half the manure,twenty per cent more per acre. Ordinarily, early planted corngives best results, but the last season proved an exception in thislocality.
One acre adjoining the ten, and of same quality of soil, wasplanted without manure and cultivated in the manner usuallypracticed in this section of the State:
TEN ACRES CORN FERTILIZED-RESULTS.Fodder per acre ................................... 387.3 lbs.Shucks per acre .. ... "................i69.o6<<Corn per acre .... .................................... . 1 3 .68 b'shl's.
Total value of crop per acre........... ............ $15 oI-$15 01Cost seed corn per acre .......................... o 2oCost of fertilizer per a cr e. .. .. .. .. .. .. . ... . ... . .. . ... ..... 5 00Cost of labor per acre.............................4 z6--$ q 45
Fodder per acre... .... .... ... ........... 202. lbs.Shucks per acre.......................... .... 74-9 "Corn per acre .. ... ....................... .... 6.5 b'shl's.
Total value of crop per acre..................... ... $ 7 26-$ 7 26Cost of seed corn per acre................. ....... o 20Cost of labor per acre..................... ...... . 4 57
Total cost per acre ......... ...... ..... $ 4 77-$ 4 77
The accompanying experiment with fertilizers applied to groundpeas was undertaken with the hope of discovering a remedy for thetendency of this crop to produce faulty pods (pops) upon sandysoils.
The yield was so far beyond our expectation that extra painswere taken to secure accurate and absolute results. A given num-ber of hills were selected from each plat of apparently averagevigor, the vines carefully lifted and all peas collected and countedwith the results shown in the first column of the table. In orderto ascertain as nearly as possible the whole product, after thevines were lifted the ground was carefully raked to collect thepeas which remained.
To ascertain the effect of the different manures in reducing thepercentage of "pops," a measured peck of peas was taken from theprou of eacpot and t d peas and "pops" in eachaccurately counted. It will be observed that an application ofair-slaked lime gave the largest per cent ofgood peas, while theComplete manure a combination ofthe so-called complete manur wi thelime might possibly combine thelarge yield with good quality.
EXPERIMENTS WITH GROUND PEAS.
Planted March 6th and gathered November ist, 2d and 3d,1888. Object: To compare effects of different fertilizers.
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tkP1PRIM3tNT WITH SWEET POTATOES.
Planted May 7th, and gathered November 21st, i888.Object: To compare effects of different fertilizers.
PlatNo.
1 20 0 lbS. C. S. Meal....... ........................ 69.2o57.7283.42 100 Kainit............... ................................... 230.45 215.70 88.73 50 c. S. Hull Ashes ............. ... 32.22 118.33 89.54 200 English Acid Phos......................................245.72 232.45 90.9
10 200 " C. S. Meal &5o lbs. C. S. HAshes.....156.54 142.76 91.2ii 200 BE. S. Phosphate& 5o lbs. C. S. H. Ashes............... 5.65 240.55 93.312 200 " E. S 200 c. S. Meal ..... .. .. . 86.22 75.87 88.o13 200 4k E. S 200 &olbs.C.S.H.Ashes 3 7 .2 9 120. 9 5 88.214 No Manure......................... ......................... 9.15 78.57 86.2
*Plats i and 22 were injured by shade and roots of wild vegetation along a fence row.
FERTILIZERS FOR TURNIPS.
The following.questions were propounded to the turnip plant.Beds one acre in length and ten feet wide, were prepared andplanted August 22nd in plais as shown in the tabulated statement.The questions asked, are:
(a) What element or elements of plant food does the turnipplant need to be supplied on the soil in question?
b) From what source does it prefer to derive its nitrogen?c) From what source its potash?
(d) What are the comparative effects of acidulated phosphateand the raw phosphate?
(e) How do cow-lot and horse-lot manures compare in pro-ducing capacity with commercial compounds?
(f) What is the best distance at which to leave the plants inthe drill?
The Norfolk variety of turnips was planted on all. of the platsAugust 22nd. In order to detect the effect of the different ma-nures in securing and maintaining a stand, all were planted exactlyalike in the same seed and missing places filled by transplantingonce, and finally, the number of turnips on each plat carefullycounted. To compare the effects of the different manures in produc-ing tops and roots, the whole plants w~ere weighed when gathered.December 18th, then the roots weighed after removing the tops.In answer to the first question, kainit gave a larger yield than anyother single substance. See plat 5. It will be observed also, thatthe application of the same number of pounds of kainit and cot-ton seed hull ashes resulted in favor of the former, though thecotton seed hull ash contains an average of about twice the percentage of potash.
While cotton seed meal compared with sulphate. of ammoniawith reference to the percentage of ammonia in each gives better
59
result than the latter when each is used alone, the sulphate of am.monia gives better results where it was used either in combinationwith potash only, or with potash and phosphoric acid.
The former result in favor of the cotton seed meal may havebeen due to the fact that the latter contains both potash and phos-phoric acid, while the sulphate ammonia contains neither of these.See plats 2 and 3, and 8 to 13 inclusive, and 19 to 22 for compari-son of sources of nitrogen.
High grade English super phosphate was compared with rawphosphate presented to the Station by the Meridian PhosphateCompany, Meridian, Miss. In the former nearly all of the phos-phoric acid was soluble; in the latter it was all insoluble, but thequantity greater than in the former. It will be observed that theraw phospate was applied in twice the quantity per acre, but it willbe remembered that its cost per ton is but little more than halfthat of the super-phosphate. Considering the results on all of theplats to which the two forms of phosphoric acid were appliedalone, and in various combinations, the plant seems to have beenindifferent as to the source from which it derived this importantmineral element and seemed to have the means of procuring itfrom the raw as well as from the acidulated.
The effects of 212 tons of cow and horse-lot manure do notcompare favorably with one twentieth that weight of commercialgoods. See plats 27 and 28 and compare with 2 and 4. Finally,the turnip finds itself somewhat crowded at six inches in the drill,but lonesome at two feet. The best results both as to the aggre-gate weight and average size were obtained from those left to growone foot apart in the drill.
The season during the last fall was exceptionally favorable forgrowing turnips. The accompanying tabulated statement givesthe results in compact form.
6o
EXPERIMENTS WITH FERTILIZERS WITH TURNIPS.NORFOLK VARIETY. PLANTED AUGUST 22D.
z NAME.Z
0.
l440 bs. English Super-phosphate.220 " Sulphate Ammonia.............
3 440 cotton Seed Meal......4 220 " Cotton Seed Hull Ash.........5 440 "' Kainit.....................6 38o " Raw Phosphate.................7 No Manure..........................8 220 lbs. c. S. H. Ash, 220 lbs. Sulph. Am.9 220 " c. S. H. Ash, 220" Sulph. Am.,
440 English Super-phosphate.20220 lbs. c. S. H. Ash, 220 lbs. Sulphate
Ammonia, 88D lbs.Raw Phosphate..22 220lbs c S. H.-Ash, 44o lbs. C. S. M..22 220 " C. S. H., Ash, 4 4 0 " C. S. M.,
440 lbs. English Super-phosphate..23 220 lbs. c. S. H. Ash, 440 lbs. C. S. M.,
440 lbs. Raw Phosphate24 No Manure. ........... ....15 220 lbs. c. S. H. Ash, 440 lbs. English
Super-phosphate........... ...i6 220 lbs. C. S. H. Ash, 88o lbs Raw Phos..27 220 " Kainit, 440 lbs. Eng. Sup-phos....
1220" Kainit, 88o " Raw Phosphate....29 220 " Sulphate Ammonia, 440 lbs. Eng
Suiper-Phosphate.... ............20 220 lbs. Sul. Am., 88o lbs Raw Phos..27 440 lbs. C. S. M., 440 lbs. Eng. Sup-phos.22 440 lbs. c. S. M., 88o lbs. Raw Phosphate23 No Manure.. ..... ...... .. .2 4 4 4 01bs. C.S. H. Ash, 4 4 o lbs. Sulp. Am.,
440 lbs. Eng. Super-phosphate,Turnips 6 inches in drill..... ... .
25 440 lbs. C. $. H. Ash, 440 lbs. Sulph. Am,440 lbs. Eng.. Super-phos, Turnipsifoot in drili............ ....
26 440 lbs. c. S. H. Ash, 440 lbs. Suiph. Am,,440 lbs. Eng. Super-phos., Turnips2 feet in drill ....................
27 4400 lbs Rotted Cow Lot Manure...-28.4400 " I"C Horse Lot Manure ..
COMPARISON OF VARIETIES OF TURNIPS.-Twenty-five varieties of turnips were planted August 23d upon
thin, sandy land, well manured broadcast with compost, cottonseed meal and cotton seed hull ash. The difference in the standson the plats, due to the difference in vigor of the varieties in theirearly growth, was quite marked, though in nearly every case agood stand and in many a perfect stand was secured. Some ofthe seed of the varieties were purchased from D. Landreth &Sons, Philadelphia, and some presented to the station by theUnited States Department of Agriculture. Earliest BloomsdaleRed Top is the earliest of the twenty-five varieties; Milan Strap-leaf, second; Early Flat Dutch Strap-leaf, third; Purple TopStrap-leaf, fourth; and Large Early Red Top Globe, fifth. WhiteGlobe and White Globe Strap-leaf seem to be identical.
Each of these varieties has been put in hills in the open ground,as sweet potatoes are hilled, to test their keeping qualities. Thetabulated statement presents results of observations in compactform.
In order to convey reliable information with regard to the gen-eral adaptation of varieties to this soil and climate, a large numberof the varieties of grapes generally grown by nurserymen are beingtested on the grounds of this station. Thirty-nine of these fruitedlast season, on Vines just three years old. The accompanyingtabulated statement of results of observations made upon the vinesan'd fruit may serve as a partial guide to those desiring to purchase.To render these observations very valuable and reliable, they mustbe continued through a series of years under the effects of differentseasons. In order to test the practicability of protecting the berriesfrom the attack of "black rot," insects and birds by means of paperbags pinned over the bunches, in early spring, about 7,000 bags wereused on varieties under test and in the commercial vineyard. Thecommon two-pound bags used by retail merchants were employedon the varieties to test the effects of bagging upon the berries-on thestandard commercial sort, to determine the question of profit fromtheir use. The effects upon the varieties is given in the tabulatedstatement as far as practicable in so compact form. The effectsof confinement in the bags are not alike in all the varieties. TheDelaware takes a soft rot in the bags or dries like raisins. ThePerkins is preserved perfectly in bags, but is not good whenthoroughly ripe, and hence it is not profitable to bag them.
The Hartford was planted on the lower edge of the vineyardwith a N. Western exposure-that most favorable to the develop-ment of black rot. All of these not protected by the bags rottedbefore they ripened, wnile the berries upon the protected buncheswere perfectly preserved and good August 18th, or 33 days afterripening. The Concord and Ives are well preserved in bags, theIves perfectly. The skin of the Concord is so thin that the berriesburst in the bags when very ripe and thus cause fermentation,which attracts insects.
The Ives improves in flavor for a month after it turns black andshipped well as late as August 19 th, forty days after the crop isusually marketed.
These standard varieties sold at five cents net when first ripewithout the bags early in July. Those protected and preservedin the bags brought ten cents per pound net a month later whenthe local crop not so protected had been consumed or destroyed.It costs one dollar to protect 500 pounds or i,ooo bunches ofgrapes. The bags should be put on as soon as the berries set.The bag is simply slipped over the bunch, folded around the stemand pinned. Before taking the bags out of the bundles in whichthey are packed, a small opening should be made in the bottomof each by means of a sharp knife or chisel in order that anymoisture which may accumulate in the bags in wet seasons mayescape. It is believed that it will not only prove desirable for theamateur grower to use the bags to prolong the season and irnsureexemption from attacks of rot, birds and insects, but those grow-ing grapes on a commercial scale may find it to their interest tothuis protect a portion of the crop.
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NOTE-The bulletins of this station will be sent free to any~farmerwho desires them. Address all requests to Experiment Station, Au-burn, Ala. J
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RkeporI of1N. T._Lupfton, heiit.During the quarter ending December 31, 1888, the work in the
Chemical Laboratory has been chiefly the analysis of commercialfertilizers received from the State Commissioner of Agriculture.This includes thirty-seven samples of fertilizers containing phos-phoric acid, nitrogen and potash, twenty-one acid phosphates, andtwelve miscellaneous samples, consisting of muriate of potash,cotton seed meal, tankage, Swan, Island, Mona Island, and Caribnatural guanos, also several phosphatic marls. In addition to these,six soils and sub-soils, and two specimens of coal have been an-alyzed, and a variety of minerals examined and their character determined.
2073 Muriate of Potash. 04 d1077 Cotton Seed Meal....1085 Tankage ............. .1094 SwaITIslaiid Guiano..1095 Mona Island Guano..1103 Swan Island Guano..1110 Carib Natural Guano....1118 Swan Island Guano....1120"Phosphate Rock..
BY WHOM SENT.
East Ala. Fert. Co., Clayton, Ala.
Troy i Troy, iFrank S. Ruberts, Mi.bile, Ala..Campbell & Co., 59 Wall St.. N. V.Frank S. Roberts, Mobile, Ala....W. J. Hudson, MoblleAla.Frank S. Roberts, Mobile, Ala...Troy Fertilizer Co., Troy, Ala....
Phospric Acid.
0 00
.... 46.25
.. . .. .. 47.487.0o . .352 1.99
7.14 .. .9.52 0 10
0.69 .0222.73 ..
.. 0.23 22.51 11.42 . ..
.0.79 26.57 7.48 ..
.. 0.84 15.76 6.68 . .
.0.62 23.59 6.66 ... . 0.38 ..
MISCELLANEOUS SUBSTANCES.
STATION NO. 1061-COAL FROM H, G. MCCALL, CALERA, ALA.
Fraxinus (Ash.)-The trees of this genus grow rapidly and at-tain a height of forty feet or more. The quality of the wood isvery much the same in all species--the white ash, however, is con-sidered to be the best. The wood possesses great toughness anddurability. Experience has shown that in the case of white ash thesecond growth is superior in toughness to the first growthof timber. The wood is well adapted for all purposes requiring lightcolored, tough and hard material as in the manufacture of carriages,oars, cabinet work and blocks for pulleys. The roots are finely veinedand sometimes have knotty convolutions, which resemble certaincompound figures and are susceptible of high polish. In the trunkthere is little difference between the sap and heart woods andtherefore a large proportion of the stem is suitable for cabinetwork and most farm utensils. It has been estimated that the cohe-sive power of the wood is about 160 pounds to the square inchwhen the load is applied transversely. The tensile strain persquare inch is 5,495 pounds. The crushing strain per square inchis 2.4 tons. In selecting the timber care should be taken to obtainthe wood that is gray white, because when the color changes to adark shade, it is an indication that the wood is decaying. Thebest season for felling the tree is in winter, and it should be cutinto boards soon after felling, because if left in the log state, crackswill open on the surface and severe loss be sustained. If the treesare cut in any other season than winter the timber will perish quiterapidly. The flexibility of the wood renders it unfit for the fram-ing timbers in buildings.
The leaves of the white ash fall so early it should not be placedby itself on the lawn if transplanted, but should be clustered withother trees, so that its ragged condition, when denuded of itsleaves, will not be perceptible. It requires a moist, cool,deep soil, andstands transplanting well on account of numerous small fibrous roots.The green ash is a very handsome tree and will be quite showy onlawns; it is, however, smaller than the others. This tree is foundon river banks in moist soils. The red ash resembles the white,but differs from it in the down over the young branches and lowersurfaces of leaves. It has a broad spreading head and is quitegraceful in a landscape. The bark of the ash is used for tanningcalf skins and for dyeing black, green, and blue.
For medicinal purposes the ash is highly prized. The white ash fur-nishes an excellent tonic and astringent. The extract of the barkis valuable for salt-rheum and other cutaneous diseases. Whenused as an infusion, it is good in some cases of constipation anddropsical affections. When the leaves are rubbed on the stingmade by mosquitoes, the inflammation is reduced at once. "A de-coction of the leaves is said to be an antidote to the poisonlof lamb-
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kill, or sheep laurel (Kalinia Augustifolia) when taken by lambs."(Trees of Mass.)
Aesculus pavia, L. (Buckeye.) The tree is ornamental, but thewood is of poor quality. The bruised branches and bark are usedto stupefy fish so that they may be easily caught.
Cephalanthus occidentalis, L. (Button Bush.) A handsomeshrub growing to a height of six to twelve feet. It is generallyfound in damp places. The bark is used as a remedy for inter-mittent and remittent fever, and the inner bark of the root formsa bitters that is thought to be good for-coughs.
Bumelia lanuginosa, Pers. (Buckthorn.) Grows from fifteen tothirty feet in height. The wood has been used but little, if any, inthe arts, although it is very hard. The berries make a good vege-table paint .and a first-rate dye. They are also stronglypurgative or cathartic, but the action is so strong and severe theremedy is but little used now. The tree has been tried with somesuccess as a hedge and for this purpose may be propagated bymeans of seed, cuttings or layers. It requires a rich, moist soil andwill stand transplanting and training very well. Thd juice of theberries, evaporated to dryness with alum or lime and gum arabic,make the color sap green.
Juglans nigra, L. (Black Walnut.) A graceful tree with astraight trunk and broad branching head. It grows quite rapidly,and is a valuable tree to transplant and cultivate for lawn, or forthe fruit or timber. The wood is dark purple, becoming almostblack with age. The fineness of the grain, toughness and dura-bility make it valuable for many purposes. Even the roots of thetrees are now cut up for veneering, and beautiful variegated slabsare thus obtained. The nuts furnish an oil that is used in mixingpaints and is not congealed by cold, and the sap is said to yieldsugar that will crystalize on evaporation. The bark when properlytreated gives strength to the stomach and is recommended in fevers.The hull of the nut is used to make an excellent dye. The wal-nut and butternut furnish in the young stage of the fruit an excel-lent material for pickles.
Walnut trees are rapidly disappearing from the State because ofthe great numbers cut annually for lumber; and unless some stepsare taken to protect them they will soon be unknown in the forestsof Alabama. It would be a wise plan if the people of the Statewould plant even a small number of the trees each year, to takethd place in some degree of those now being cut. The cultivationof walnuts will well repay the outlay.
Fagus ferruginea, Ait. (Beech.) This is a large and gracefultree and the wood is very hard, fine grained and will takea very fine polish. The color of the wood is red, with a delicatesilky gloss, and it cleaves very easily. It makes an excellent treefor the lawn, but for one drawback: the leaves remainuntil nippedby the frost and fall very slowly, producing constant litter on thegrass throughout the winter.
Betula nigra and Cuta, L. (Black (and cherry birch.) Thecherry birch g ows 70 feet high, with a diameter of two to threefeet. This'is a beautiful tree and flourishes best in mountain
69
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districts. The wood is a delicate rose color, takes a good polish,and deepens with age, but never becomes dark. It is even grainedand works with ease. The variegated cast given to the wood bythe annual rings adapts it for panels in cabinet work. The bark asa dye gives a beautiful drab color to wool.
Catalpa bignonioides. (Catalpa.) This is a handsome tree thatgrows to a height of 6o feet or more and two to four feet in diam-eter. The growth is rapid, but the grain of the wood is close andwill take a fine polish. The color of the wood is grey white, andit is quite durable. It is commonly believed that the seeds arepoisonous, but the United States Dispensary states that they havebeen used with good results in cases of asthma. It is best, how-ever, to begin with small doses of the decoction made from theseeds.
Castanea vesca, L. (Chestnut.) The wood of this tree is coarsegrained, but retains considerable elasticity and is very durable.There is but little sap wood. It is used for fences, and whereverwood of durability is required. The grain, however, is so coarseand so porous it is not well suited for cabinet work where highpolish is desired. The color of the wood is light yellow or brown.When the bark is treated with iron, an exceedingly black ink isobtained from the tannin, which abounds in the bark. The treethrives best in granite or sandy soils and submits readily to trans-planting. The nuts may be improved in size and flavor by culti-vation, but there are certain varieties to be found in the wild statethat produce unusually large nuts, and it is best to select these fortransplanting, if the yield of nuts is the chief object. The trees ofthis State seem to be subject to a blight or some destructive dis-ease that is rapidly destroying them. This is particularly truewhen other trees are cut from around them. This subject isworthy of careful investigation, and it will be a problem for theexperiment station to solve in the future. There is a very goodmarket for the nuts and many of them are sent each year toEurope. One great drawback, however, in keeping the nutsconsists in the fact that they wither and become mouldy. Theymay be kept successfully by placing them in boxes of clean, mod-erately dry sand and the boxes buried in the ground, where theywill be neither too wet nor too dry, and of sufficient depth to be outof the range of sudden atmospheric changes. Before burying, allwormy and imperfect nuts must be carefully pickyd out. In usingthe wood for fence posts, it is best to select old trees, because experience has shown that young wood will soon decay-within six oreight years unless coated with tar or other preservatives. The woodmakes an inferior fuel. The bark of the chinquapin, a species ofthe same genus, is used in medicine as an astringent and tonic inintermittent fevers.
The following woods are added to the list given in the last bul-l etin:
XanthoxylumCarolinianuni, Lam.Euonynius Americanus, L.Cliftonia ligustrina, Banks.
text .bulletin.)
7'
1eteo oloicl 1epo ,
P. H. MELL.
T. D. SAMFORD, Assistant.
Climatic influences upon vegetation are of the greatest impor-tance. The success or failure of crops is due largely to the stateof the weather. , It is a well known fact that, not only the warmthof the atmosphere, but also the heat in the soil is necessary togermination of seeds as well as for the development of the plant.
Recognizing the importance of these principles, meteorologicalobservations have been made at this station for the purpose ofmore accurately determining the effects of the weather upon cropsand to ascertain the exact temperature of the soil at differentdepths, as well as the conditions affecting climatic changes.
To accomplish this work the station is furnished with a com-plete set of atmospheric meteorological instruments, and also withthirty soil thermometers, divided into three sets, ranging in depthfrom one to ninety-six inches.
Two of these sets of soil thermometers are placed on the top ofa hill which is exposed to the constant sweep of the winds andthe full strength of the sun's rays. The third set is situated inbottom land on the banks of a running stream. This set is moreor less shaded by. a rank growth of vegetation. Over each instru-ment is placed a box perforated with holes to allow a free circula-tion of air and at the same time to exclude the heat rays of thesun. The character of the soil is sandy and is well drained.
In studying the data of these instruments the following conclu-sions may be drawn: During the summer months the upperlayers of the soil are ten to fifteen degrees warmer than the atmos-phere, but become cooler with depth, and in July a depth of fivefeet below the surface shows a temperature ten degrees coolerthan the upper layer. In the fall and winter the reverse of this istrue, that while the upper layers of the soil are still somewhatwarmer than the atmosphere, yet the lower layers increase 'inwarmth, proportionally so with depth. For instance, the month ofJuly shows a temperature, at the depth of ninety-six inches belowthe surface, eleven degrees cooler than the air; while Decembershows a temperature at the same depth nearly fifteen degreeswarmer than that of the air.
It is also observed that while the range of temperature of theatmosphere fluctuates considerably, that of the soil is more con-stant; and further, that the daily range steadily decreases fortwenty-four inches, below which depth it is practically nothing-seldom being higher than a half of a degree, and from the figuresin the table below it will be seen that the daily range of tempera-ture is several degrees less in the bottom than it is on the hill;showing the effects of location of land, moisture in soil, and the
72
effects of exvaparation cattsed by the sweep of the winds-thebottom being greatly protected from this agent.
Again, it will be seen that there is but little difference in thetemperature of the bottom land and upland, during the fallmonths. During the hot summer the bottom is a little cooler;during winter it is a little warmer than the upland, and wheneverthe temperature is about forty degrees and below, then the bottomland is several degrees warmer than the upland.
DATA FROM OTHER INSTRUMENTS.AT MOSPHIERIC PRESSURE (In Inches.)
Monthly mean ....................................Maoximurn......................................Date.................. ,.................
MiSnimum .....................................Date ...........................................Monthly range ................................
PRECIPITATION.Total in inches.. ......................... .........................Greatest daily.....................................................Date................................. ...........................Number of rainy days ........ ...... ..................... ..Nu~mber of clod~dy days................. ...... ................... .Number of fair days ............................... ,.NIumberbf clear dayB ............. ....................
WINO .Prevailing direttion frorm..........................Total monthly movement (in miles)................................. .Average daily movement..... ...... ....... ............... ........Greatest daily movement ..... . ..... ... ................ ..Date.................. ........ ........................... ........
Oct. ,J Nov.3o.06o 30.06030.340 30.360
I8 1229.740 29.770
II 9.6oo .590
4.39 4.96i.o8 2.15
25 89 6
15 125 7
N.W E.3.632 4.361118.2 250.4
220. 27).29 14
Dec.
30.233
30.x250
23
29.720
.440
2.94
6.
9.'3
9
S.E.
76
APPENDIX.In response to a number of inquiries for the act establishing
the experiment stations in connection with the Agricultural andMechanical colleges of the different States and Territories, wegive below:
THE HATCH ACT.An Act to establish agricultural experiment stations in connection with the col-
leges established in the several States under the provisions of an act approvedJuly second, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, and of the acts supplementarythereto.
Be it enacted in the Senate and House of Representatives of the United Statesof America in Congress assembled, That in order to aid in acquiring anddiffusing among the people of the United States useful and practicalinformation on subjects connected with agriculture, and to promotescientific investigation and experiment respecting the principles andapplications of agricultural science, there shall be established, underdirection of the college or colleges or agricultural department ofcolleges in each State or Territory established, or which may hereafterbe established,- in accordance with the provisions of an act approvedJuly second, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, entitled "An act donatingpublic lands to the several States and Territories which may providecolleges for the benefit of agriculture and the mechanic arts," or anyof the supplements to said act, a department to be known and desig-nated as an "agricultural experiment station:" Provided, that in anyState or Territory in which two such colleges have been or may be soestablished the appropriation hereinafter made to such State or Terri-tory shall be equally divided between such colleges, unless the Legis-lature of such State or Territory shall otherwise direct.SEC, 2. That it shall be the object and duty of said experiment
stations to conduct original researches or verify experiments on thephysiology of plants and animals; the diseases to which they are sever-ally subject, with the remedies for the same; the chemical compositionof useful plants at their different stages of growth; the comparative ad-vantages of rotative cropping as pursued under a varying series of crops;the capacity of new plants or trees for acclimation; the analysis of soilsand water; the chemical composition of manures, natural or artificial,with experiments designed to test their comparative effects on crops ofdifferent kinds; the adaptation and value of grasses and forage plants;the composition and digestibility of the different kinds of food fordomestic animals; the scientific and economic questions involved in theproduction of butter and cheese; and such other researches or experi-ments bearing directly on the agricultural industry of the United Statesas may in each case be deemed advisable, having due regard to thevarying conditions and needs of the respective States or Territories.
SEc. 3. That in order to secure, as far as practicable, uniformity ofmethods and results in the work of said stations, it shall be the duty ofthe United States Commissioner of agriculture to furnish forms, as faras practicable, for the tabulation of results of investigation or experi-ments; to indicate from time to time, such lines of inquiry as to himshall seem most important; and, in general, to furnish such advice andassistance as will best promote the purposes of this act. It shall bethe duty of each of said stations, annually, on or before the first day ofFebruary, to make to the governor of the State or Territory in which itis located a full and detailed report of its operations, including a state-ment of receipts and expenditures, a copy of which report shall be sentto each. of said stations, to the said Commissioner of Agriculture, andto the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States.
SEC. 4. That bulletins or reports of progress shall be published atsaid stations at least once in three months, one copy of which shall besent to each newspaperin theStates'and Territories in which they arerespectively located, and to such individuals actually engaged in farm-
77
24
ing as may request the same, and as far as the means of the station willpermit. Such bulletins or reports and the annual reports of saidstations shall be transmitted in the mails of the United States'free ofcharge for postage, under such regulations as the Postmaster Generalmay from time to time prescribe.
SEc. 5. That for the purpose of paying the necessary expenses ofconducting investigations and experiments and.printing and distributingthe results as hereinbefore prescribed, the sum of fifteen thou anddollars per annum is hereby appropriated to each State, to be speciallyprovided for by Congress in the appropriations from year to year, andto each Territory entitled under the provisions of section eight of thisact, out of any money in the Treasury proceeding from the sales ofpublic lands, to be paid in equal quarterly payments, on the first dayof January, April, July and October in each year, to the treasurer orother officer duly appointed by thegoverning boards of said colleges toreceive the same, the first payment to be made on the first day ofOctober, eighteen hundred and eighty-seven: Provided, zowever, Thatout of the first annual appropriation so received by any station anamount not exceeding one-fifth may be expended in the erection,enlargement, or repair of a building or buildings necessary for carryingon tree work of such station; and thereafter an amount not exceedingfive per centum of such annual appropriation may be so expended.SEC. 6. That whenever it shall appear to the Secretary of the Treas-
ury from the annual statement of receipts and expenditures of any ofsaid stations that a portion of the preceding annual appropriationremains unexpended, such amount shall be deducted from the nextsucceeding annual appropriation to such station, in order that theamount of money appropriated to any station shall not exceed theamount actually and necessarily required for its maintenance andsupport.
Sac. 7. That nothing in this act shall be construed to impair ormodify the legal relation existing between any of the said colleges andthe government of the States or Territories in which they are respect-ively located.SEc. 8. That in States having colleges entitled under this section to
the benefits of this act and having also agricultural experiment stationsestablished by law separate from said colleges, such States shall beauthorized to apply such benefits to experiments at stations so estab-lished by such States; and in case any State shall have established,under the provisions of said act ot July second aforesaid, an agriculturaldepartment or experimental station, in connection with any university,college or institution not distinctly an agricultural college or school,and such State shall have established or shall hereafter establish aseparate agricultural college or school, which shall have connectedtherewith an experimental farm or station, the Legislature of such Statemay apply in whole or in part the appropriation by this act made, tosuch separate agricultural college or school, and no Legislature shallby contract express or implied disable itself from so doing.
SEC. 9. That the grants of money authorized by this act are madesubject to the legislative assent of the several States and Territories tothe purposes of said grants: Provided, That payments of such instal-ments of the appropriation herein made as shall become due to anyState before the adjournment of the regular session of its Legislaturemeeting next after the passage of this act shall be made npon theassent of the Governor thereof duly certified by the Secretary of theTreasury.
SEC. IO. Nothing in this act shall be held or construed as bindingthe United States to continue any payments from the Treasury to anyor all the States or institutions mentioned in this act, but Congress mayat any time amend, suspend, or repeal any or all the provisions of thisact.