THE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATIONS IN THE SEVERAL 



STATES AND TERRITORIES. 



ALABAMA. 



Agricultural Experiment Station of the Alabama Polytechnic Institute, 



Auburn. 



Department of the Alabama Polytechnic Institute. 



J. F. DuGGAR. M. S., Director. 



GENERAL OUTLOOK. 



The chemist of the Alabama Station has completed a study of 

 methods of clarifying cane sirup, in which he found acid calcium 

 phosphate satisfactory. The extensive variety tests with cotton, in- 

 volving the use of some 200 varieties, have been closed, and the results 

 are being prepared for pul)lication. Among the investigations re- 

 cently undertaken are experiments in curing hay artificially by means 

 of a blower in an old tobacco barn; a study of the transmission of 

 sorehead in chickens, which is thought to be carried by mosquitoes; 

 corn-breeding experiments near Montgomerj'^, and feeding experi- 

 ments with hogs, a line of work which was suspended for a time. 

 The study of cotton diseases by the botanist is being continued. 



The station has started at each of the nine district agricultural 

 schools in the State rotation experiments similar to those in progress 

 at the station. This, it is believed, will be a fine object lesson. The 

 station is cooperating with the Bureau of Plant Industry of this 

 Department in testing vegetables; in studying the shedding of 

 .squares, blooms, and bolls of the cotton plant, and in studying-prob- 

 lems in farm management in connection with the diversification 

 farms. In cooperation with the Bureau of Animal Industry, the 

 station is conducting feeding experiments with steers. 



This station still needs a stronger organization to correlate its work 

 in different departments and strengthen its attack upon leading agri- 

 cultural problenjs of the State. It is also in need of larger funds, 

 which will enable it to command a larger share of the time of men 

 on its staff and to extend its work more widely about the State. Tlie 

 peculiar local conditions make this especially desirable. The station 

 is maintaining a leadcrshij) in agricultural n)atters in the State, and 



in several lines is doing work of high value. 



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