SOUTH CAROLINA. 235 



Work under the Hatch fund was pursued during the year by the 

 ditl'erent departments of the station. The entomological department 

 carried on field work on the cotton rootworm in the western part of 

 the State and on a ncAv wireworm in the southern part, where the soil 

 especially needs humus to prevent the injury. Experiments were 

 made with rye, grown as a trap crop, to keep the insect from attack- 

 ing the rice fields. The plum curculio was also studied, and during 

 the winter experiments and observations were made in the green- 

 house. The experimental field work previously carried on under 

 the State inspection and quarantine appropriations was placed in 

 charge of an assistant field entomologist, a position created for the 

 purpose and supported with State funds. Cooperative work on the 

 root louse and wireworm affecting corn and cotton is in progress with 

 this department. 



In phmt pathology the causes of sweet-potato rots were investi- 

 gated, and six different fungi not thriving at ordinary room temper- 

 atures were isolated. In a storehouse under temjierature control the 

 ordinary fungi could be kept out when the temperature ranged from 

 50 to 60° F., but a special fungus then appeared. The need of shift- 

 ing the location of storage pits from time to time was demonstrated. 

 Slips from diseased potatoes were planted for the purpose of study- 

 ing black rot. Work on a plant-disease survey in the State was car- 

 ried on in cooperation with this department. 



In horticulture the effect of frost on peaches grown in different 

 elevations and exposures was studied, varieties of apples, Japanese 

 persimmons, pears, grapes, and bush fruits were tested, and breeding 

 w^ork with different fruits was followed. Work was also pursued to 

 develop a variety of asparagus immune to rust, and attention was 

 given to fall and Avinter vegetables with reference to dates of plant- 

 ing and their resistance to low temperatures. 



The chemist conducted pot experiments with oats to determine 

 the availability of different forms of nitrogen used as fertilizer. 

 Soil analyses were made in connection with experiments with cover 

 crops on different types of soil in cooperation with this department. 

 An experiment was also in progress to determine the cause of failure 

 to grow cowpeas in a certain locality. Studies were made of basic 

 slag with reference to availability of phosphoric acid, and a number 

 of insecticides were studied analyticall3^ 



In agronomy, fertilizer, rotation, and breeding experiments with 

 cotton were continued, and observations Avere made to determine the 

 relative value of nitrate of soda, sulphate of ammonia, and cotton- 

 seed meal as sources of nitrogen for cotton, corn, oats, and wheat. 

 Various forage crops and cereals were tested, and a study was made 

 of the best plants for winter cover crops in a rotation of corn and 



