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UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT
STATION
REPORT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
ENDING JUNE 30, 1924
CONTENTS
PAGE
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL TO GOVERNOR OF FLORIDA.................................. 3R
BOARD OF CONTROL AND STATION STAFF............................... -------.......... 4R
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL TO CHAIRMAN, BOARD OF CONTROL.................. 5R
REPORT OF DIRECTOR.................................. ................----...... .................. ------- 5R
Introduction, 5R; Animal Industry and Dairying, 6R; Grass and
Forage Crop Investigations, 6R; Chemistry, 7R; Plant Pathology,
8R; Entomology, 8R; Horticulture, 9R; Pecan Investigations,
10R; Library, 10R; Editor, 11R; Citrus Experiment Station,
11R; Tobacco Experiment Station, 12R; Everglades Experiment
Station, 13R; Changes in Staff, 14R; Publications, 15R; Bulle-
tins and Summary of Bulletins, 15R; Press Bulletins, 17R.
REPORT OF AUDITOR ......- --.-. ------- -------..........................- 18R
REPORT OF ANIMAL INDUSTRIALIST..................-.........--...... ..--- --- --- 19R
Soft-Pork Investigations, 19R; Feeding Experiments, 19R;
Experiments With the Dairy Herd, 21R; Milk Records, 24R.
REPORT OF GRASS AND FORAGE CROP SPECIALIST....................................... 25R
Changes in Projects, 25R; Sorghum and Peanut Variety Tests,
28R; Velvet Beans, 29R; Oats, 29R; Plant Breeding, 30R; Peanut
Fertilizer Test, 31R; Sweet Potato Fertilizer Test, 32R; Rota-
tion Experiment, 34R; Napier Grass, 34R; Rice and Corn Variety
Tests, 36R; Kudzu, 36R; Winter Legumes, 36R; Lawn Grass
Studies, 37R; Carpet and Bahia Grass Plantings, 41R; Pasture
and Plantings at the Everglades Experiment Station, 44R.
REPORT OF CHEMIST --..............................--- ........-.................. .....................---. 47R
Dieback of Citrus, 47R; Nutrition, 48R; Soft-Pork, 52R.
REPORT OF ASSISTANT HORTICULTURIST......................... --................... 56R
Outline of Projects, 56R; Citrus, 56R; Tung-Oil, 57R; Berries,
58R; Persimmon, 60R; Grape, 61R; Ornamentals and Miscel-
laneous, 63R; Improvements, 63R; List of Plants, 64R.
REPORT OF THE PECAN CULTURIST.---.--.... ..--..................................... 72R
Variety and Stock Tests, 72R; Fertilizer, 73R; Rosette Experi-
ment, 73R; Disease Control, 73R; Insect Control, 73R; Cover
Crops, 74R; Thermogen Experiment, 74R; Nut Collection, 75R;
Literature, 75R.
REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST.....................-...---- ..........- ............................ 76R
Florida Flower Thrips, 76R; Root-Knot, 77R; Sulphur in the Con-
trol of Nematodes, 78R; Plant Bugs, 78R; Mealy Bugs, 78R;
Chinch Bug Control, 79R; Pecan Insects, 79R; Bean Jassid, 80R;
New Citrus Aphid, 80R.
REPORT OF PLA T PATHOLOGIST........................ ....................................... 84R
Pecan Scab, 84R; Citrus Canker, 85R; Melanose, 85R; Scaly
Bark, 85R; Truck Crop Diseases, 86R; Irish Potato Disease
Investigations, 88R; Citrus Blight Investigations, 91R; Tobacco
Disease Investigations, 94R; Plant Diseases Found in Florida
During 1923-24, 95R.
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN ---..........--....................... ......-...................... 114R
REPORT OF THE CITRUS EXPERIMENT STATION....--......................----- ......--- 117R
REPORT OF THE TOBACCO EXPERIMENT STATION......................................... 121R
REPORT OF THE EVERGLADES EXPERIMENT STATION.................................. 130R
MAY 21 iP
Hon. Cary A. Hardee,
Governor of Florida,
Tallahassee, Florida.
SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith the annual re-
port of the director of the University of Florida Agricultural
Experiment Station for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1924.
P.K. YONGE,
Chairman, Board of Control.
BOARD OF CONTROL
P. K. YONGE, Chairman, Pensacola
E. L. WARTMANN, Citra
J. C. COOPER, JR., Jacksonville
A. H. BLENDING, Leesburg
W. B. DAVIS, Perry
J. T. DIAMOND, Secretary, Tallahassee
J. G. KELLUM, Auditor, Tallahassee
STATION STAFF
WILMON NEWELL, D. Sc., Director
JOHN M. SCOTT, B. S., Vice Director and Animal Industrialist
J. R. WATSON, A. M., Entomologist
R. W. RUPRECHT, Ph. D., Chemist
O. F. BURGER, D. Sc., Plant Pathologist
G. H. BLACKMON, B. S. A., Pecan Culturist
W. B. TISDALE, Ph. D., Associate Plant Pathologist, Tobacco Ex-
periment Station (Quincy)
G. F. WEBER, Ph. D., Associate Plant Pathologist
RALPH STOUTAMIRE, B. S. A., Editor
J. H. JEFFERIES, Superintendent Citrus Experiment Statior
(Lake Alfred)
A. H. BEYER, M. S., Assistant Entomologist
C. E. BELL, M. S., Assistant Chemist
W. E. STOKES, M. S., Grass and Forage Crops Specialist
J. M. COLEMAN, B. S., Assistant Chemist
HAROLD MOWRY, Assistant Horticulturist
L. O. GRATZ, Ph. D., Assistant Plant Pathologist (Hastings)
A. F. CAMP, Ph. D., Assistant Plant Pathologist
A. S. RHOADS, Ph. D., Assistant Plant Pathologist (Cocoa)
GEO. E. TEDDER, Foreman, Everglades Experiment Statioi
(Belle Glade)
RUBY NEWHALL, Secretary
A. W. LELAND, Farm Foreman
JESSE REEVES, Foreman, Tobacco Experiment Station (Quincy:
J. G. KELLY, B. S. A., Lab. Asst. in Plant Pathology (Quincy]
IDA KEELING CRESAP, Librarian
ROBERT E. NOLEN, B. S. A., Lab. Asst. in Plant Pathology
H. E. BRATLEY, B. S. A. E., Asst. in Entomology
MARY E. ROUX, Mailing Clerk
K. H. GRAHAM, Auditor
RACHEL MCQUARRIE, Assistant Auditor
Report for the Fiscal Year
Ending June 30, 1924
Hon. P. K. Yonge,
Chairman, Board of Control.
SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith my report on the
work and investigations of the University of Florida Agricul-
tural Experiment Stations, together with the reports of the
heads of the several departments and branch stations, for the
fiscal year ending June 30, 1924; and I request that you trans-
mit the same, in accordance with law, to His Excellency, the
Governor of Florida.
Respectfully,
WILMON NEWELL,
Director.
INTRODUCTION
Increases in funds available for the Experiment Stations, made
possible by the generosity of the State Budget Commission and
the last Legislature, have resulted in a marked expansion of
Experiment Station activities during the year ending. Valu-
able results have been obtained from the work under way and
still more valuable results are in prospect, the number of pub-
lications has increased and the staff of investigators has been
enlarged.
There are now four Experiment Stations in active operation:
The Main Experiment Station at Gainesville, the Tobacco Ex-
periment Station at Quincy, the Citrus Experiment Station at
Lake Alfred and the Everglades Experiment Station at Belle
Glade. These stations are not regarded as separate and dis-
tinct "institutions," but rather as parts of an Experiment Sta-
tion system in which all lines of work are coordinated as far
as possible and the expenses of operation reduced to the mini-
mum. There are no "directors" in charge of the branch sta-
tions, all of them being supervised, by the director of the Main
Station at Gainesville. In like manner, each department head
in the Main Station plans or supervises the work in his particu-
Florida Agricultural Experiment Station
lar line at the branch stations. The latter are provided with com-
petent resident foremen or superintendents who care for the
property at all times and carry out in detail the investigations
planned by the station staff, most of whom have headquarters
at Gainesville.
ANIMAL INDUSTRY AND DAIRYING
In previous hog feeding experiments it has been shown that
the inclusion of protein in feed was necessary for an economic
fattening. Corn, which largely contains only carbohydrates, did
not give a good gain. During the year ending two feeding ex-
periments were conducted to test the relative value of the pro-
tein feed supplement to the corn ration for pork production. The
three protein-bearing feeds used were fish meal, tankage and
linseed meal. Fish meal gave the best returns. Tankage gave
satisfactory gains, while linseed meal was not satisfactory. The
check lot, fed corn alone, gave very poor gains.
Two experiments have been carried on in the feeding of dairy
cows. In the first, Napier grass silage was compared with Jap-
anese cane silage, fed in connection with a grain ration for milk
production. There was a slight difference in favor of the Jap-
anese cane. In the other test, a comparison was made of two
grain mixtures; one contained a mixture of 100 pounds corn
meal, 100 pounds wheat bran, 100 pounds bright cottonseed meal,
100 pounds ground oats and 50 pounds of alfalfa meal. The other
consisted of a mixture of equal parts, by weight, of two com-
mercial dairy feeds; one contained a high percentage of protein
and the other a low percentage. There was a slight difference in
favor of the mixed commercial feeds.
Some improvements were made in the dairy herd. Heifer
calves were retained out of the best cows, and a few high-grade
animals were purchased and added to the herd.
GRASS AND FORAGE CROP INVESTIGATIONS
One hundred twenty-eight species of plants were received from
the United States Department of Agriculture during the year and
planted to test their adaptability to this State.
One important experiment begun this year is a comparative
test of the green manure value of velvet beans, cowpeas, beggar.
Annual Report, 1924
weeds and crotalaria, the maintenance of soil fertility being one
of the major agricultural problems of the State.
Some of the pasture grasses which heretofore have proved
their worth were tested on both high and low grounds. Dallis
and Carpet grasses did better on low lands, while Centipede and
Bahia grasses did best on both high and low lands. It was also
observed that some of the grasses that sod quickly, like Bermuda
and Blue Couch, do not continue as well as some of those which
sod more slowly, such as Centipede, Bahia and Carpet grasses.
Extensive lawn grass tests are being made and among those
grasses best adapted to use in Florida are Centipede, St. Au-
gustine, St. Lucie, Atlanta Bermuda and Lovy-lovy.
Other experiments being carried on by this department in-
clude tests of methods of seeding pasture grasses, grazing possi-.
bilities of Napier grass, production of Napier grass and Jap-
anese cane for silage, sorghum varieties, high-producing strains
of peanuts, and varieties of oats for resistance to rust. A num-
ber of fertilizer tests are being carried on with peanuts, sweet
potatoes and .other crops.
In addition to the experiments being carried on in Gainesville,
a number of tests are being carried on cooperatively with the
farmers of the State, and a large number of grasses and forage
crops are being tested at the Everglades Experiment Station at
Belle Glade.
CHEMISTRY
The citrus groves in which tests are being made to determine
the cause of dieback and the effects of different kinds and
amounts of fertilizer have made good growth, and careful rec-
ords have been kept of them. But all of these experiments are
long-time projects and definite conclusions cannot be drawn for
a number of years. Such slight differences as there have been
to date could result easily from seasonal fluctuations.
A number of cooperative pecan fertilizer experiments were
inaugurated by the pecan culturist in representative groves in
northern Florida. These experiments, like those on citrus, will
have to be carried on for a number of years before anything
definite can be reported. In the meantime they entail consider-
able work and careful, painstaking observation.
Fertilizer tests also are being carried on with a number of
8R Florida Agricultural Experiment Station
other crops, including vegetables, field crops and fruits. In ad-
dition to this a number of analyses were made of plant and ani-
mal products in cooperation with other departments of the sta-
tion.
PLANT PATHOLOGY
The work on citrus diseases, particularly citrus canker and
melanose, has been continued along the lines reported last year.
Methods of careful inspection, disinfection, and burning of in-
fected trees, as inaugurated by the State Plant Board a number
of years ago, appear to be the only way to effectively control
citrus canker. Any carelessness in the application of this
method, however, generally proves disastrous. Melanose is con-
trolled commercially by only one Bordeaux-oil spraying at the
proper time, but emphasis must be laid upon the necessity of
following this with an oil spray for the control of insects.
Cocoanut bud-rot (Phytophthora faberi Maubl.) was found
down the lower east coast and much time was spent in this
vicinity, investigating the extent of the outbreak and devising
ways of controlling and preventing further spread.
There were a number of outbreaks of vegetable diseases, and
they demanded considerable time. The nailhead rust (Macros-
porium solani E. & M.) took a heavy toll of the tomato crop.
Another vegetable disease which has been under investigation is
downy mildew (Pseudoperonospora cubensis B, and C. Rostrow)
of cucumbers.
New lines of investigation taken up during the year include
citrus wilt and pecan diseases. Each of these problems has a
man giving full time to its study, and a worker has been assigned
to devote full time to the investigation of potato diseases, begun
heretofore.
SThe number of specimen of plant diseases sent in for idenifica-
tion is steadily increasing, and this requires a great deal of time
for examination and culture work.
ENTOMOLOGY
Investigations of the new citrus aphis were begun as soon as
the seriousness of the outbreak this year manifested itself. Im-
portant observations were made of its life history, habits and
means of control. Citrus varieties were infested in the follow-
Annual Report, 1924
ing order: King orange, Temple orange, tangerine, Pineapple
orange, Valencia orange and grapefruit. Other host plants ob-
served were wild plum, nightshade, Cestrum, Jerusalem oak,
milkweed, Asclepias, dog-fennel, Eupatorium capillifolium
Laird Small, cud weed, Gnaphalium and garden plants, such as
lettuce, peppers, etc. This aphis attacks the young tender leaves
of citrus, rarely damaging them after they are half grown.
In the control of the nematode (Heterodera radicicola Atkin-
son) under field conditions, the use of velvet beans as a summer
crop with cultivation and hoeing has continued to prove effec-
tive in reducing the number of worms, to such an extent that
the land can be cropped successfully with vegetables highly sus-
ceptible to its attack.
Other important lines of work under investigation are the
Florida flower thrips (Frankliniella bispinosa Morg.) and its
control in citrus bloom, the control of nematode with sulphur,
plant bugs with special reference to their control in citrus
groves, pecan insects and the bean jassid.
HORTICULTURE
Some individual tung-oil trees (Aleurites fordi) under obser-
vation proved much heavier and consistent bearers than others.
The tree on the station grounds designated as No. 2 has an un-
usually good record, and bears fruit in clusters rather than
singly, as is more often the case. Experiments with methods of
asexual propagation showed that budding and grafting are com-
paratively simple and practical, and by this means it should be
possible to reproduce in quantity heavy-bearing strains and
greatly increase the average production of the trees.
The number of varieties of bunch grapes which are being
tested was increased to 62. As heretofore, there is a great vari-
ation in the amount of growth. Some varieties grew as much as
20 feet, while others grew only a few inches. Some varieties
also are much more resistant to insects and diseases than others.
In addition to bunch grapes, a few new varieties of the musca-
dine group were planted as a beginning of a much larger col-
lection for next season.
Many other plantings of fruit and ornamentals were begun for
tests of varieties, rootstock, methods of propagation, fertilizing
and cultivation. Those of especial importance among these are
Florida Agricultural Experiment Station
citrus fruits, berries, pears, persimmons, pecans, avocados and
miscellaneous fruits and ornamentals. Some of these projects
will be enlarged and extended as money is made available.
There is an urgent need of more greenhouse and slathouse
room and for other equipment, as much of that now available is
far past the stage of usefulness.
PECAN INVESTIGATIONS
An appropriation of $7,500 a year for two years was made
by the last session of the Legislature for experimental work in
connection with nut-bearing trees, particularly pecans.
This department has spent considerable time gathering avail-
able information as to the most approved methods of orchard
management, studying varieties and their adaptability to various
parts of the State, soil types and disease resistance.
A seven-acre variety grove was planted at Gainesville, made
up of varieties that promise to be of value in this State. The
testing and proving of varieties adapted to this State is one of
the major problems in this industry; for some varieties have
produced well, more or less consistently, while others have been
of little value.
Cooperative fertilizer experiments are being carried on in a
number of areas of the State on different soil types, together
with experiments on cultivation, and on the proper methods of
maintaining soil fertility by the use of cover crops in connection
with commercial fertilizers.
A small nursery was established for the propagation of stand-
ard Florida varieties on a number of stocks, to determine if any
one stock is preferred for particular soil types. Among the
varieties planted in this nursery for trial as stocks are Hicoria
alba, Hicoria glabra and Hicoria aquatica.
LIBRARY
Owing to the crowded condition of the shelves, three double-
faced steel book ranges were added to the library, and two new
card cabinets were purchased to take care of the card indexes.
Much work was done by the librarian in completing the series
of publications of the United States Department of Agriculture,
of the State and of foreign experiment stations. Much of the
material found in the library had not been indexed and, there-
10R
Annual Report, 1924
fore, was not available to the workers of the station. This in-
dexing has been pushed as rapidly as possible and will be com-
pleted as early as time and funds will permit. The present
library room is entirely inadequate to meet the needs of the sta-
tion and of the Agricultural College, and there is great need of
the purchase of books to complete a workable research library.
One hundred thirty-one volumes were bound during the year
and 99 secured thru purchase or exchange, thus making a total
of 230 new volumes added to the shelves for the year.
EDITOR
Demands upon the editor have increased greatly during the
year. His duties are to edit all bulletins, press bulletins, other
publications of the Experiment Station and articles prepared by
various workers of the station. He is employed by the station
for only part time, the rest of his time being devoted to work
of the Agricultural Extension Division and the Agricultural
College, including the teaching of agricultural journalism.
CITRUS EXPERIMENT STATION
The last appropriation for the Citrus Experiment Station
made it possible to complete the superintendent's cottage, build
a laborer's cottage, dig a deep well and make other minor im-
provements. In cooperation with the State Plant Board a per-
manent spraying outfit was installed, consisting of a gasoline
engine, a deep well pump and pipe sufficient to cover four and
one-half acres.
Twenty of the remaining acres of land were cleared and are
being put in condition to plant during 1924-5 and 1925-6. This
leaves only approximately 10 acres available for further devel-
opment and additional lands will be sorely needed in the near
future.
The groves devoted to dieback and fertilizer experiments have
made good growth, as have also the trees in the nursery and
those in the bud-progeny planting.
The expenditures of the station for the year ending June 30,
1924, were as follows:
12R Florida Agricultural Experiment Station
RESOURCES
July 1, 1923. Appropriation (Chapter 9121) ................ $10,000.00
DISBURSEMENTS
Salaries ..................................... ................$ 2,400.00
Labor .......................... .... ...... .... ........ 3,126.06
Stationery and office supplies .......................................... 45.36
Scientific supplies ............. ..................................... 26.73
Feeding stuffs ..................... ........................ 299.82
Sundry supplies -...................................- 388.55
Fertilizers ........................-- ................ 147.75
Communication service ...................-----.....---...............--------. 30.54
Travel expenses ... ................................. ........... 124.73
Transportation ......................... ................... ...... 85.76
Heat, light, water, etc. ................................. ........ 23.33
Furniture and furnishings ........................................... 17.34
Library ...................................-..... 4.00
Scientific equipment ........................ ................ 178.57
Livestock ........... -.............................. -... .. 250.00
Tools, machinery and appliances.................................... ... 360.66
Buildings .-......................................... 2,401.76
Contingent ........................ .... .. .. ................ 89.04
Total ............... ............ .................. $10,000.00
TOBACCO EXPERIMENT STATION
The investigation of tobacco diseases was continued, both on
the Tobacco Experiment Station grounds at Quincy and in com-
mercial plantings in that vicinity. The strains of Big Cuba
which showed resistance to black shank (Phytophthora nicotianae
Van Breda de Haan) last season, in some instances continued to
show this resistance in their offspring. This offspring will be
carried thru a few generations with the hope of developing a
good quality of tobacco which will be resistant to this disease.
Other diseases under investigation are root-rot (Thielavia vasi-
cola Zoph.), wildfire (Bacterium tobacum Wolf and Foster),
black fire, Granville wilt, fusarium wilt, phyllosticta, leaf spot,
scab, frenching and mosaic.
The principal improvements of the year consisted of a small
greenhouse unit, 21x31 feet, and a well 422 feet deep. This well
supplies about 50 gallons of water a minute, which is sufficient
for present uses, but inadequate for irrigation purposes.
The expenditures of this station for the year ending June 30,
1924, were as follows:
AnnualReport, 1924
RESOURCES
July 1, 1923. Appropriation (Chapter 9121) ......:.............
DISBURSEMENTS
$13,500.00
Salaries --------------------------------------$ 5,744.17
Salaries ........ ......... ................................................ $ 5,744.17
Labor .............. ------------- ------------- 1,626.04
Stationery and office supplies ...............................------ 101.26
Scientific supplies ..-............ --------- ----------- 77.45
Feeding stuffs ............................... 143.29
Sundry supplies ......... .----..... -------- --------- 384.51
Fertilizers ----------------- 329.92
Communication service ...5.............---.... -.--. 9.40
Travel expenses .. ------------------------- 387.05
Heat, light, water, etc. ..--.--..-.........--------- ----- 438.16
Transportation .......................... ----327.28
Furniture and furnishings ...................................--- 85.58
Library ..-- -..................------------ ----- 20.47
Scientific equipment ......................--...... ..... 361.93
Livestock -.. .-.-------. ............5.00
Tools, machinery and appliances ...........---... ----------- 130.85
Buildings ................-........ .. -----------3,275.14
Contingent ...---- ...------------------------------------- 2.50
Total ............ -.....-....---.......... .. -----$13,500.00
EVERGLADES EXPERIMENT STATION .
On September 21, 1923, the State Board of Education author-
ized the Board of Control to take possession of the tract of land
which had been set aside for use as an Everglades Experiment
Station. The land at that time was flooded and the water did
not recede sufficiently for work to be commenced until December
of that year.
The Board of Control elected George E. Tedder as foreman
and he entered upon his duties December 10, 1923. Prior to
this date three seven-foot ditches had been made thru and around
the property and a residence and a small office building had
been erected under the direction of Chief Engineer F. C. Elliott.
Clearing of elder and saw-grass land was commenced in Decem-
ber and has progressed steadily ever since. Experimental plant-
ings included many grasses and forage crops, fruit trees, pine-
apples, field crops, such as corn, rice and sugar cane, etc. Im-
provements include a small power-house, shallow well and pump,
sewage disposal system, two implement barns and three labor-
er's cottages. Tractor, disc plow, rake, truck and other necessary
implements and tools were purchased.
The work and developments at this station are more fully dis-
cussed in the report of Foreman Tedder, which appears on a sub-
sequent page.
Florida Agricultural Experiment Station
Expenditures made under the direction of the Board of Con-
trol in connection with the work of the Everglades Station, out
of appropriations made by the Legislature of 1921 and reap-
propriated (Chapter 9121) by the Legislature of 1923, were
made as shown below. These expenditures covered the period
between December 10, 1923, when work was commenced at this
station, and June 30, 1924, a period of six and two-thirds
months:
DISBURSEMENTS
Salaries ..................... ......... .... .. ..... .......... $ 1,116.66
Labor .................................................. ........ ......... 3,645.51
Stationery and office supplies ..............................-.... ... 87.66
Scientific supplies ....................... ........................... 26.77
Sundry supplies ............................................. ....... 503.97
Communication service ...................... .............. .. 31.06
Travel expenses..........-........... .... -........ 578.33
Transportation ..................... ..... ......... .. 514.04
Heat, light, water, etc. .................................. ... 237.23
Furniture and furnishings ............. ......... 912.76
Library ..... .............. ..... .. ................. 47.62
Scientific equipment .............. ................... .......... 364.68
Livestock ....................................... .. .. .......... 1.25
Tools, machinery and appliances ...................................... .. 2,365.95
Buildings ............................................... 1,959.64
Contingent .................... ... ... ..........--. ....-- 233.58
Total ...................---.... ........... $12,626.71
CHANGES IN STAFF
G. H. Blackmon was appointed pecan culturist and assumed
his duties on September 4, 1923.
Ed L. Ayers was appointed agriculturist and began work Au-
gust 1, 1923.
L. O. Gratz began work as assistant plant pathologist Au-
gust 27, 1923, and was stationed at Hastings in charge of potato
disease investigations.
Arthur S. Rhoads was appointed assistant plant pathologist
and assumed charge of citrus blight investigations with head-
quarters at Cocoa on November 1, 1923.
J. G. Kelley was appointed laboratory assistant in tobacco
disease investigations on August 18, 1923, and was stationed at
Quincy.
Geo. E. Tedder assumed his duties as foreman of the Ever-
glades Experiment Station at Belle Glade on December 10,
1923.
14R
Annual Report, 1924
R. E. Nolen was appointed laboratory assistant in pecan dis-
ease investigations and began work on November 1, 1923.
Milledge A. Baker began work as field assistant at the Ever-
glaldes Experiment Station at Belle Glade on June 3, 1924.
PUBLICATIONS
Following is a list of the publications issued by the Experi-
ment Station during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1924:
BULLETINS
No. TITLE- PAGES EDITION
168 Synopsis and Catalog of the Thysanoptera
of North America (Technical Publica-
tion) .-.....-..............--------- ----------. 100 2,500
169 Potato Diseases and Insects--..............---....... 64 15,000
170 Top-Working Pecan Trees.............................. 24 12,000
171 The Tung-Oil Tree in Florida....................... ------- 46 15,000
SUMMARY OF BULLETINS
No. 168, Synopsis and Catalog of the Thysanoptera of North
America: (J. R. Watson), pp. 100. This bulletin brings the
nomenclature of Thysanoptera up to date. The writer had col-
lected a bibliography of literature published since Molton's work
in 1911. It contains a translation of Karny's key of Thysanop-
tera of the World and keys to the species found in North Amer-
ica. Many are modified from Molton, Jones and others. Many
others are original. This publication contains a description of
nine new species and subspecies and two new genera. In the
translation, the key was brought up to date and is intended to
aid in identifying the Thysanoptera of North America. The
bulletin lists 84 species and 45 genera found in Florida to date.
The key contains a description of 87 genera and 335 species.
No. 169, Potato Diseases and Insects: (G. F. Weber), pp. 64,
figs. 55. All of the more common diseases and insects of the
potato are discussed together with methods for their control.
Particular attention is given to potato seed problems, as late
blight, one of the oldest and most serious diseases found in
Florida, is carried over on the tubers used for seed. Experi-
ments are given in detail showing the relative value of copper-
15R
Florida Agricultural Experiment Station
lime dust, commercial Bordeaux paste and home-mixed Bor-
deaux for the control of this disease. Other diseases described
are bacterial wilt (Bacterium solanacearum E. F. S.), blackleg
(Bacillus phytopthorus), early blight (Macrosporium solani
E. & M), black scurf (Corticium vagum, B. & C), southern wilt
(Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc.), mosaic, curly dwarf, leaf roll, yel-
low dwarf, spindle sprout, fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum
Sschl.), scab (Actinomyces scabies (Thaxter) Gussow), silver
scurf (Spondylocladium atrovirens Hartz.), wart (Synchytrium
endobioticum (Schilb.) Perc.), and powdery scab (Spongospora
subterranea).
The section on insects was written by Entomologist J. R. Wat-
son and discusses and gives methods of control for plant lice,
leaf hoppers, various plant bugs, flea bottles, blister beetles,
Colorado potato beetles, May beetles, hornworms, cutworms and
root-knot.
No. 170, Top-Working Pecan Trees: (G. H. Blackmon), pp.
24, figs. 20. Scattered thruout the pecan areas of Florida, there
are numerous seedlings and unsatisfactory varieties that may
be transformed by top-working into varieties of known worth.
This bulletin discusses in detail and illustrates every step in
the process, giving several methods of both grafting and bud-
ding. Particular emphasis is placed upon the necessity of car-
ing for the new top. Many sprouts or tender shoots will come
out on the original tree and must be held in check for the most
satisfactory growth of the buds or grafts. It is also often neces-
sary to stake or tie the new buds and grafts after growth be-
gins for they are tender and easily break off.
No. 171, The Tung-Oil Tree in Florida: (Wilmon Newell),
pp. 46, figs. 20. The Chinese tung-oil tree (Aleurites fordi
Hemsl.) is one of the most interesting of the plants introduced
from foreign countries by the Office of Foreign Seed and Plant
Introduction of the United States Department of Agriculture.
From the seed or nuts of this tree an oil is extracted which is
one of the best drying oils known. This oil is one of the impor-
tant ingredients of the water-proof varnishes, paints, linoleums,
oilcloths, etc., and its use is increasing yearly. The tung-oil tree
has been successfully grown in Florida since its introduction in
1906 and so far has been attacked by but few insects and dis-
eases. Those mentioned are nematode (Heterodera radicicola
Atkinson), cottony cushion scale (Icerya purchase Mask.), and
16R
Annual Report, 1924
latania scale (Aspidiotus lataniae Sign.). Investigations at the
station, together with information gained from other Florida
plantings, form the basis for this bulletin. It is likely that
cultivation of the tree will be found to yield satisfactory re-
turns on the small or average farm, where its production is
made part of a well-ordered farm practice and management.
PRESS BULLETINS
No. TITLE- AUTHOR
348 Growing Sweet Peas in Florida..............W. L. Floyd
349 Control of Tobacco Wildfire....--............W. B. Tisdale
350 Transplanting Pecan Trees..---.....-........- G. H. Blackmon
351 A Spray Schedule for Pecans---..............G. H. Blackmon
352 Bulletin Lists.
352-A Cultivating the Pecan Orchard-...-..-......G. H. Blackmon
353 Thrips in the Citrus Bloom--..-......--.......J. R. Watson
354 Melon Worm and Pickle Worm--............J. R. Watson
355 Purple Scale ....-..............................-...... J. R. Watson
356 Onion Thrips .-------.................................J. R. Watson
357 Control of Aphids on Citrus...................
358 The New Citrus Aphid-...........-...............J. R. Watson
359 New Method of Giving a Tree a New
Root System ----------........---------...........John H. Jefferies
360 Present Status of the New Citrus
Aphis ...-------.......... ---.......... -----... ... J. R. Watson
361 Ripe-Rot of Grapes and the Copper
Acetates as Non-Staining Sprays
to Control-..--.............----...... .-----Arthur S. Rhoads
18R Florida Agricultural Experiment Station
REPORT OF AUDITOR
Wilmon Newell, Director.
SIR: I respectfully submit the following report of the credits
received and expenditures vouchered out of funds as specified
during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1924.
Respectfully,
I
REREIPTS
Balance
A dam s Fund ..................... .. ..... ................
H atch Fund .......................... ......... ..............
State Appropriation,
M ain Station ......................
Three Sub-Stations .........-- .... 19,965.51
Board of Control, Nut-Bearing Ind. ...............
Sales Fund ..-.. --.. --................ .....----. 351.67
Everglades Station, incidental .......... ................
$20,317.18
EXPENDITURES
Hatch
Salaries .................... .......... ........ ...$15,000.00
Labor ................... ....... .... ... .
Stationery and office supplies .....................
Scientific supplies consumable .......... ..-.........
Feeding stuffs ........ ....... .............
Sundry supplies -........................ ........- ...
Fertilizers .....................- -
Communication service ............................
Travel expense -....... ........................ ....
Transportation of things --- --............. ......
Publications ............. .. ..........
Heat, light, water and power ...-........ ........--
Furniture, furnishings and fixtures ...............
Library ..................... .. ...... . ... .... ....
Scientific equipment --....................--..------ --
Livestock ..... .------... ----.-..------.. ...
Tools, machinery and appliances .. ................
Buildings and land .................... ...... .........
Contingent expense ............... ...... ...........
Balance .--...................--
$15,000.00
. H. GRAH
Receipts
$15,000.0
15,000.0
55,000.0'
28,500.0(
7,500.0'
9,377.6
8,690.2(
$139,067.8
Adams
$15,000.0
..............
.. .........
. ........
.. .........
............
..........
.. ..........
. ........
$15,00.0.
AM,
Auditor.
Total
0 $15,000.00
0 15,000.00
0 55,000.00
0 48,465.51
0 7,500.0C
1 9,729.2S
6 8,690.2(
7 $159,385.0E
Other
Sources
0 $28,224.8E
19,886.4'
1,102.1
1,781.01
8,420.1c
S 3,434.4(
S 2,831.8K
784.9!
6,337.5S
2,182.2'
3,890.5'
S 1,374.11
2,376.4:
1,867.4!
S 2,607.9!
S 914.5!
S 4,374.1!
12,414.0.
S 475.1'
24,104.9'
0 $129,385.01
Annual Report, 1924
REPORT OF THE ANIMAL INDUSTRIALIST
Wilmon Newell, Director.
SIR: I submit the following report of the Department of
Animal Industry for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1924.
Respectfully,
JOHN M. SCOTT,
Animal Industrialist.
SOFT-PORK INVESTIGATIONS
The soft-pork breeding work, as given in previous reports,
was continued along the same plan of work. The sows used
produced litters of pigs during the year. Samples of fat were
taken from all of these and the melting point of the fat de-
termined.
FEEDING EXPERIMENTS
Two feeding experiments were conducted during the year.
The first was started on October 11, 1923, and continued for
55 days. Twenty-eight hogs were used in the experiment, di-
vided into four lots of seven hogs each. The object of the ex-
periment was to compare the relative value of different protein
feeds as supplements to corn for pork production. The protein
feed tests were with fish meal, tankage and linseed meal.
The analyses of these feeds were as follows:
Fish Linseed
meal Tankage meal
Moisture .................................. 8.45 4.75 9.93
Ash 1................................ 18.40 41.00 6.00
Fat :...-............... ........ ....... .....12.70 12.15 5.30
Protein ........................................ 57.81 23.44 30.50
Carbohydrates ........................ 2.18 9.29 38.44
Fiber ........................................... 5.46 9.37 9.83
The various lots of pigs were fed as follows: Lot I, corn
only. Lot II, to each 9 pounds of corn 1 pound of fish meal
was added. Lot III, to each 9 pounds of corn 1 pound of tankage
was added. Lot IV, to each 9 pounds of corn 1 pound of linseed
meal was added. In other words, the rations fed were 90 per
cent. of corn and 10 per cent. of a protein supplement.
All hogs were weighed on three consecutive days at the be-
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Florida Agricultural Experiment Station
ginning and at the close of the test and the average of the three
weighing taken as the beginning and the closing weights.
The amount of feed given each lot of pigs varied somewhat.
The pigs fed corn only did not eat as much as those getting corn
and a protein supplement. The amount of feed consumed varied
from 3.5 to 5 per cent. of the live weight. That is, for each 100
pounds of live weight, from 3.5 to 4 pounds of the grain mix-
ture was fed daily. This applies to both feeding experiments.
The prices of the feeds used were as follows: Corn, $44; fish
meal, $65; tankage, $35, and linseed meal, $59 a ton.
TABLE 1.-WEIGHTS AND GAINS IN POUNDS OF 28 HOGS IN FOUR LOTS OF
SEVEN HOGS EACH
DATE Lot I Lot II Lot III Lot IV
Beginning of test
October 11, 1923 ...-.......... 1,108. 1,272. 1,233. 1,100.
Close of test
December 5, 1923 .................. 1,170. 1,858. 1,723. 1,553.
Gain in 55 days .................. 62. 586. 490. 453.
Average daily gain .................... .16 1.52 1.27 1.17
Average daily gain per
1,000 pounds live weight .......... .144 1.195 1.03 1.08
The above results indicate clearly the importance and value of
a protein supplement to be fed with corn. Corn is the great
grain feed for all classes of stock, yet corn alone will not pro-
duce profitable results in livestock production, unless supple-
mented by some-protein feed. In this experiment the results
show a marked increase in daily gain, when any one of the three
protein supplements is added to the corn ration.
The second feeding experiment started January 5, 1924, and
continued for 68 days, closing March 13. Twenty-four pigs were
used in this test. They were divided into three lots of eight
pigs each.
Each lot of pigs was fed as follows: Lot I, shelled corn and
linseed meal; to each 9 pounds of shelled corn 1.75 pounds of
linseed meal was added. Lot II, shelled corn and fish meal; to
each 9 pounds of corn 1 pound of fish meal was added. Lot III,
shelled corn and tankage; to each 9 pounds of corn 1.5 pounds of
tankage was added. The fish meal, tankage and linseed meal
were of the same grade and quality as those used in the first
experiment. The following table gives the weights and gains
of each lot of pigs:
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Annual Report, 1924
TABLE 2.-WEIGHTS AND GAINS IN POUNDS OF 24 HOGS IN THREE LOTS OF
EIGHT HOGS EACH
DATE Lot I Lot I] Lot III
Beginning of test
January 5, 1924 .............................................. 631. 630. 633.
Close of test
M arch 13, 1924.....................--......................... 811. 1,101. 941.
Gain in 68 days --------------------------180. 471. 308.
Gain in 68 days ........................................ 180. 471. 308.
Average daily gain ...................----.................. .331 .865 .566
Average daily gain per
1,000 pounds live weight .-.........................- .52 1.37 .89
The results of these two feeding experiments may be sum-
marized about as follows: (1) It is neither profitable nor eco-
nomical to use corn alone in fattening hogs for market. (2) The
results of these two feeding experiments indicate that fish meal
is a desirable supplement to corn for fattening hogs for market.
In both of these tests it produced satisfactory gains in weight.
(3) When tankage is used as a supplement to corn, good gains
in weight -were produced. The tankage used in these two ex-
periments was of rather low quality. (4) Linseed meal did not
produce as good gains as fish meal and tankage.
EXPERIMENTS WITH THE DAIRY HERD
A comparison of the value of Napier grass silage and Jap-
anese cane silage follows:
Eight cows were used in this feeding test, and were divided
into two lots of four cows each. The feeding test began Septem-
ber 17, 1923, and closed January 18, 1924, and was divided into
four periods of 28 days each, with four days between each period
for changing feeds.
The four cows in Lot I were fed Napier grass silage the first
period, Japanese cane silage the second period, Napier grass
silage the third period, and Japanese cane silage the fourth
period. The four cows in Lot II were fed Japanese cane silage
the first period, Napier grass silage the second period, Japanese
cane silage the third period and Napier grass silage the fourth
period. Each lot was fed the same grain ration, the only dif-
ference in feeding being the different kind of silage used.
The periods extended as follows:
First period, September 17 to October 14, 1923.
Second period, October 19 to November 15, 1923.
Third period, November 20 to December 17, 1923.
21R
Florida Agricultural Experiment Station
Fourth period, December 22, 1923, to January 18, 1924.
During these tests milk was produced by pound as follows:
Feeds used
Napier Japanese
grass silage cane silage
First period: September 17 to October 14 1,938.7 2,084.9
Second period: October 19 to Nov. 15 1,940.6 1,731.1
Third Period: November 20 to Dec. 17 1,589.5 1,797.3
Fourth period: December 22 to Jan. 18 1,190.5 1,277.9
6,659.3 6,891.2
Difference in favor of Japanese cane silage, 231.9 Pounds
These results show a small difference in favor of Japanese
cane silage for milk production. This difference, however, is
quite small when considering that this covers a period of 112
days.
The next dairy feeding experiment was a comparison of two
grain mixtures. For lack of a better name, one of these mix-
tures will be called a "home mixture," and the other will be
called "B and S mixture."
The home mixture was made up as follows: Wheat bran, 100
pounds; cornmeal, 100 pounds; bright cottonseed meal, 100
pounds; ground oats, 100 pounds, and alfalfa meal, 50 pounds.
The B. and S mixture was made up from equal parts by weight
of two commercial dairy feeds, one of which was a high protein
feed and the other a low protein feed.
Eight cows were used in this test and were divided into two
lots of four cows each.
The feeding test began March 9, 1924, and closed May 6, 1924.
It was divided into two periods of 28 days each.
During the first period, the cows in Lot I were fed B and S
feed mixture, and the cows in Lot II were fed the home mixture.
During the second period, the cows in Lot I were fed the home
mixture and cows in Lot II were fed B and S feed mixture.
During the first period, March 9 to April 5, the cows in Lot
I produced 1,355 pounds of milk and the cows in Lot II produced
1,558.5 pounds. During the second period the cows in Lot I pro-
duced 1,068.3 pounds and the cows in Lot II produced 1,457.2
pounds.
During the two periods the B and S mixture was fed, the cows
produced 2,812.2 pounds. During the two periods the home mix-
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Annual Report, 1924
ture was fed the cows produced 2,626.8 pounds, or a difference
of 185.4 pounds in favor of the B and S mixture.
THE DAIRY HERD
There has been but little change in the dairy herd during the
year. Heifer calves from the best-producing cows in the herd
were retained and those from the poorer producers were sold.
All of the purebred bull calves were sold to farmers or dairymen
in the State.
A few animals were bought. In August, 1923, the Jersey bull
Sophy's Wexford Noble 212494 was purchased from P. H. B.
Frelinghuysen, Morristown, N. J. This bull was sired by Fern's
Wexford Noble 172066, which was grand champion two years
in succession, 1922 and 1923, at the National Dairy Show. He
is out of Golden Fern's Noble Sophy 442029, a silver-medal cow
with a record of 8,514 pounds of milk and 515 pounds of butter-
fat. She is out of Sophy's Emily 352291, with a record of 13,792
pounds of milk and 723.5 pounds of butterfat. She is in turn
out of Lass 66th of Hood Farm, with a record of 17,794 pounds
of milk and 910 pounds of butterfat. This bull's dam and four
granddams have an average record of 12,954 pounds of milk and
717 pounds of butterfat. In other words, he combines the blood
of sires and dams of national show ring records with the blood
of dams of excellent production records.
Two Ayrshire heifer calves were purchased in February, 1924.
These are the only Ayrshires in the Experiment Station herd.
In other words, they are the foundation for an Ayrshire herd.
These calves are known as Prince Maker's Cinderella No. 81999,
out of Emma Starling No. 41674 by Strathglass Prince Maker
No. 25689. The other is Prince Maker's Snowdrift No. 82000
out of Muirhouse Snowdrift 4th No. 66041 by Strathglass Prince
Maker No. 25689.
The dairy herd was exhibited at the South Florida Fair from
January 31 to February 9. Nearly all of the animals exhibited
at this fair were bred and raised by the Experiment Station.
The list of awards follows:
Grand champion Jersey bull and cow (both bred and raised on
station farm) and grand champion Holstein bull.
First prize on the following Jerseys: Bull 3 years and over,
senior yearling bull, junior bull calf, aged cow, 3-year-old cow,
23R
24R Florida Agricultural Experiment Station
2-year-old cow, senior yearling heifer, junior yearling heifer,
senior heifer calf, junior heifer calf, aged herd, young herd, calf
herd, get of sire, produce of cow, and four females over 1 year
old, get of sire, two in milk, all bred by exhibitor.
Also first prize on senior yearling Guernsey bull, junior heifer
Guernsey calf, and second on senior Jersey calf and aged Guern-
sey cow.
MILK RECORDS
Daily milk records of each cow in the herd have been kept.
These will be published in bulletin form later.
Annual Report, 1924
REPORT OF GRASS AND FORAGE CROPS SPECIALIST
Wilmon Newell, Director.
SIR: I submit the following report of the Department of Grass
and Forage Crops Investigations for the fiscal year ending June
30, 1924.
Respectfully,
W. E. STOKES,
Grass and Forage Crops Specialist.
As last year the investigational work of the department has
been carried on in cooperation with the Office of Forage Crops
Investigations of the Bureau of Plant Industry of the United
States Department of Agriculture.
CHANGES IN PROJECTS
The outline of projects is the same as reported in the last an-
nual report, with the exception of changes as follows:
The fertilizer experiment with sweet potatoes followed the
next year by a peanut crop to get the residual effect of the fer-
tilizer was discontinued and in its stead a three-year rotation
experiment with corn, sweet potatoes and peanuts started.
An experiment designed to test the value of bunch velvet
beans, cowpeas, beggarweed and crotalaria as cover and green
manure crops was outlined and put into execution during the
year. These crops are grown in 1/30th-acre plots, being re-
peated four times; they are to be cut, weighed and turned under
for green manure and a corn crop grown on half of the land and
a potato crop on the other half the next year.
The green manure value will be measured by these two staple
crops, comparing the growth and yield made on the various
green-manured plots with the growth and yield of these crops
made on plots which grew none of the above-mentioned legumes.
Twenty cooperators were selected thruout the State to grow and
compare the growth of crotalaria with that of beggarweed, cow-
peas and velvet beans, as cover and green manure crops for
groves.
A test of methods of seeding pasture grasses was started on
the Experiment Station grounds in which high pine wire grass
land, classed by the United States Bureau of Soils as Norfolk
25R
Florida Agricultural Experiment Station
sand, is being used. It is handled in the following way before
seeding to a mixture of permanent pasture grass seed:
(a) No preparation given before seeding and kept
mowed regularly after seeding.
(b) Disked, the mixture of pasture grasses seeded
and kept mowed afterward.
(c) A thoro seedbed prepared, the mixture of pas-
ture grasses seeded and kept mowed afterward.
A test of methods of seeding pasture grasses was started near
Gainesville on the Florida Farm Colony for Epileptic and Feeble
Minded. It is identical with the one described above, except
that the land used is flatwoods wire grass land, of the Ports-
mouth series, and the plots will be kept grazed instead of mowed.
Experimental work with pasture, forage and some general
farm crops was started at the Everglades Experiment Station
at Belle Glade. A total of about three acres of saw grass muck
soil was cleared this year and broken, plotted and planted to
various pasture, forage and general farm crops. The experi-
ments started this year are more or less of a preliminary na-
ture, being small plantings designed to give information on the
growth of these crops on saw grass muck the first year after the
land is cleared. The plants were grown without any fertilizer,
inoculation or other special treatment.
PROGRESS OF THE YEAR'S WORK
During the year seed and vegetative material of 111 different
species of possible forage plants were received from the Bureau
of Plant Industry, United States Department of Agriculture,
Washington, for trial. Of this lot of seed and vegetative mate-
rial 78 were grasses, 30 legumes and 3 miscellaneous plants. All
of this material was planted either in the greenhouse or on the
experimental grass garden for study.
The test of bush velvet beans, soybeans, mung beans, cow-
peas and beggarweed as leguminous hay crops was continued
this year, promising to give interesting results. Three varieties
of soybeans-Laredo, O-too-tan and Mammoth Yellow-are in-
cluded in this test.
In the test of Napier grass as a grazing crop, as outlined in
last year's annual report, the work progressed far enough to
indicate that Napier grass will furnish abundant grazing, if
26R
Annual Report, 1924
grazed cautiously. Continuously grazed plots were completely
killed in six months; whereas, the intermittently grazed plots
stood up well. (For plan of experiment see 1923 annual re-
port.) Apparently it pays to keep Napier grass well cultivated
while being grazed, as the cultivated plots are better than plots
not cultivated.
During the period covered by this report two more crops
of silage were cut from the Napier grass which was planted
in February, 1922, for the purpose of obtaining silage yield
records. The above-mentioned cuttings were made in July and
November, 1923. Cultivation, the same as for corn, was given
and no fertilizer was used. The average acre yield from two cut-
tings of five 1/18th-acre plots was 21.61 tons. The cuttings in
July averaged for the five plots 16.09 tons an acre, while the
November cuttings for the same plots averaged 5.52 tons to the
acre.
From the year's results, comparing the yields of sorghum,
corn, Japanese cane and Napier grass as silage crops, the data
indicates that Napier grass, unfertilized, out-yielded the high-
est-yielding variety of sorghum in the sorghum variety test by
14.98 tons to the acre. It also out-yielded the highest-yielding
corn on the station's corn-silage field by 16.61 tons to the acre,
and yielded only .17 tons to the acre less than the highest yield of
Japanese cane as cut for silage on the Experiment Station farm.
The corn and sorghums were liberally fertilized, while the Jap-
anese cane and Napier grass received no fertilizer.
The test of Japanese cane and Napier grass, irrigated and
not irrigated with the water from the overflow from the Uni-
versity septic tanks, is a joint project carried out in coopera-
tion with the Engineering Division of the Office of Public Roads,
United States Department of Agriculture.
The yields for the season of 1923 of both Japanese cane and
Napier grass are as follows:
Acre yield
Crop Sewage irrigation No irrigation
Japanese cane ................................34.97 tons 21.78 tons
Napier grass ....... ...................... 42.43 tons 21.61 tons
The Napier grass was cut twice during the year for silage,
once in July and again in November. The Japanese cane was
cut for silage only once during the year, in November;
27R
28R Florida -Agricultural Experiment Station
As mentioned in the last annual report it was planned to en-
large the experiment by irrigating at least one plot of Napier
grass with city water as a check on the sewage irrigation plots.
This change was made in July after the first cutting of Napier
grass for the year had been made. A plot is now being irrigated
with city water, attempt being made to use the same quantity of
water as goes on the plots receiving sewage water. The change
was made too late to give figures on the yield of the city-water
irrigated plot for the whole season.
The only other change in this experiment is the cutting down
of the size of the plots from a twelfth of an acre to an eight-
eenth of an acre. This was done in order to get a more even dis-
tribution of water on all irrigated plots.
SORGHUM VARIETY TEST
The results of the sorghum variety test this year, which in-
cluded 22 varieties of sorghum, confirm the test of last year, in
that large, late-maturing varieties continue to give heaviest
yield. Corn was used as a check in this test, and occurred four
times thruout the test. Sunflowers were also included.
It seems that on Norfolk sandy soil good varieties of sorghum
will out-yield corn, and that sunflowers do not yield enough to
be considered a possible silage crop under conditions of the test.
Honey sorghum, a sweet variety, was the highest yielder. The
grain sorghu ms made a good crop of grain, but it was severely
damaged by-disease, apparently due to high humidity. Of the
grain sorghums, Shallu seemed to be the most satisfactory under
Florida conditions.
PEANUT VARIETY TEST
The peanut variety test this year was planted with seed grown
on the Experiment Station grounds the previous year. Each
variety was planted in plots 1/92nd-acre in size, and repeated
four times. No fertilizer was applied, but at blossoming time
the north half of each variety plot was treated with land plas-
ter at the rate of 600 pounds to the acre. A study of the accom-
panying table, showing the yield of each variety with and with-
out land plaster, is interesting.
Annual Report, 1924
TABLE 3.-YIELD OF SEVERAL VARIETIES OF PEANUTS WHEN FERTILIZED
AND NOT FERTILIZED WITH LAND PLASTER
Yield to the acre'
VARIETY Treated Untreated
Nuts in pounds Nuts in Vines in
bushels Vines in bushels pounds
Florida Spanish.................................. 31.58 1435 30.05 1343
Va. Bunch (Hawthorne) .................. 43.05 1159 13.71 2079
Va. Bunch (Washington, '22).......... 56.12 1196 39.14 1678
Jumbo (Washington, '22)................ 58.79 1299 29.18 1862
African (Washington, '22)-............ 40.92 1643 31.95 1518
Valencia (Washington, '22) .......... 86.04 1494 34.45 1586
Improved Spanish (Wash., '22) ...- 31.40 1597 27.17 1494
Improved Spanish (P.D.Sta.of S.C.) 32.20 1610 24.10 1472
Spanish (Washington, '22) .............. 28.33 1264 26.43 1091
SThese figures represent the average of four plots of 1/184 acre each;
Virginia bunch, Jumbo and Valencia figured at 22 pounds a bushel; African
and Spanish at 30 pounds a bushel.
The 1924 variety test of peanuts is being carried out just as
last year, and on the same piece of land. The vines, after be-
ing weighed, are returned to the land, and the land plaster is
applied to the same half of the plots each year to study the cumu-
lative effect. During the winter a crop of oats is grown on
the land to turn under.
VELVET BEANS
The 1923 variety test of velvet beans was a failure, because
rabbits destroyed the stand. The variety test as planted before
the close of this fiscal year is a good stand, and will probably
give some valuable information.
VARIETY TEST OF OATS
Eight varieties and strains of oats were obtained for the va-
riety test from the Office of Cereal Investigations of the United
States Department of Agriculture. R. P. Bledsoe, agronomist
of the Georgia Experiment Station, sent seed of 29 varieties and
selections which have had several years of breeding for high
yield and resistance to rust. All were planted December 13,
1923, in rows 60 feet long and 18 inches apart and were studied
carefully during the growing season.
Special attention was given to rust resistance, as last year no
yield records were taken, but enough seed of each promising
29R
Florida Agricultural Experiment Station
rust-resistant strain was saved to continue the work, with a
view of finally developing a strain of oats that will withstand
rust well enough to yield a good quantity and quality of hay or
grain. Rust did not develop as early or as severely as it did
last year, judging the behavior of some of the same oats dur-
ing the two seasons. Rainfall during the winter and spring was
abundant enough to keep the oats well supplied with moisture
and growing all the time, which may account for the fact that
the oats did not go down with rust. On the other hand, rust
infection did not show up until the middle or the last of March
this season, whereas last season, with the same oats on the same
land as this season, rust was present by January 6 and severe by
February 13.
Strains from the United States Department of Agriculture,
standing out prominently as rust-resistant in the test, are as
follows: Red Rustproof C. I. 894, Red Rustproof (Hastings)
C. I. 884, Algerian C. I. 1571 and Red Rustproof (Ferguson No.
71) C. I. 1039. Kanota C. I. 839, while not as rust resistant
as the others mentioned, is so much earlier in maturing that this
year it made a good crop before the rust became severe enough
to do much damage. Several strains of oats from the Georgia
lot show considerable rust resistance and will be included in the
trials this fall.
PLANT BREEDING
The 20 highest-yielding selections of Spanish peanuts in the
elimination test from the selection work started in 1920, again
in every case out-yielded the improved Spanish peanuts of the
Pee Dee Experiment Station of Florence, South Carolina, whict
were used to plant the check plots. The yields as a whole wer(
not as high this season as last, but two of the selections thai
were among the five highest last year, were again among th(
five highest yielders, and it seems only a matter of one or twe
more years before some high-yielding seed will be available fo]
distribution.
The 100 high-yielding Spanish peanut plants selected from 50(
selections made in 1922 were grown in rows to themselves las
season and harvested in the fall of 1923, when the 20 highest
yielders in this lot were selected for further testing, with a viev
to eliminating all but the best strain. Before the close of thif
fiscal year both lots of 20 high-yielding selections had beei
planted.
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Annual Report, 1924
In connection with all of the peanut breeding work the Experi-
ment Station chemist is cooperating, by running oil and pro-
tein determinations each season.
The year's work with Napier grass and Merker grass im-
provement consisted of taking yields of silage twice a year on
491 individual seedling plants set out in April, 1922.
Cuttings were made in August and November, and the varia-
tion in yield for the first cutting was from 1/2-pound in the low-
est-yielding plant to 53.5 pounds in the highest-yielding. The
variation in yield for the second cutting was from 1/-pound in
the lowest-yielding plant to 25.75 pounds in the highest-yield-
ing. No increased plantings of any kind were made, as it was
deemed advisable to get the 1924 yields on each seedling plant
before attempting any selection work.
PEANUT FERTILIZER TEST
The most striking thing brought out in this work so far is
the fact that where Spanish peanuts have been grown in rota-
tion with corn and velvet beans for six years, and the peanuts
fertilized each year with acid phosphate, soft phosphate, hard
phosphate, dried blood and sulphate of potash singly and the
three forms of phosphate, each in combination with dried blood,
and then half of each plot treated with ground limestone, at the
rate of a ton to the acre each year up to 1922, when the rate
of application of limestone was cut in half, the yield of peanuts
for the various treatments, as well as the checks has decreased
materially in every instance by the use of ground limestone.
The six-year-average yields for the variously fertilized plots
shows no material increase over the six-year-average yield for
the no-treatment plots. It is to be recalled, however, that in no
case was a complete fertilizer used. The size of the plots is one-
thirty-fourth (1/34) of an acre each and they are run in tripli-
cate; every fourth plot being a check plot. The soil is typical
Norfolk sand.
It might be added that corn, following the peanuts to get the
residual fertilizer effect, was an unsatisfactory crop on this
class of land, and corn on the plots variously treated showed
no effect of fertilizers over the checks. But there is a marked
decrease in growth and yield on the limed area. Corn on the
limed area came up to a good stand, but soon began to turn
yellow and show a distinct chlorotic effect, finally dying out al-
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Florida Agricultural Experiment Station
most completely. This deleterious effect of lime was noticed
also on velvet beans. Growth of velvet beans on the unlimed
area was normal. Figure 1 shows a portion of the limed and
unlimed area planted to corn in 1924.
Fig. 1.-Unlimed corn on left, limed on right.
SWEET POTATO FERTILIZER TEST
This test was brought to a close with this year's crop, and a
three-year-rotation experiment was started on part of the land
in its stead. The yields this year were in line with those of pre-
vious years, showing a need for potash and nitrogen for potatoes
on Norfolk sand. The residual effect of fertilizers applied to
potatoes on a peanut crop following show again this year no
significant effect.
PEANUT FERTILIZER EXPERIMENTS
In the spring of 1922 four acres on the Experiment Station
plot field were laid out in 1/17th-acre plots for fertilizer experi-
mental work with peanuts, since the old peanut fertilizer experi-
ment as originally planned in 1918 had neither potash nor com-
plete fertilizer plots and did not vary the form or source of
nitrogen. It also was desired to test thoroly the use of calcium
sulphate, otherwise known as land plaster or gypsum, on pea-
nuts, since it is common practice with Florida farmers to use
it; hence half of each check and variously fertilized plot is
crossed with land plaster at the rate of 600 pounds to the acre
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Annual Report, 1924
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as blooming starts. It was also deemed advisable to test the
value of sulphur for peanuts; hence sulphur plots are included
in the test.
All fertilizer goes in the drill before peanuts are planted, ex-
cept land plaster, which is applied as blooming starts. The plots
are 208.7 feet long and 12 feet and 31/4 inches wide. Four rows
of peanuts are planted to each plot; every fourth plot is a check
plot and all treatments are run in duplicate, the same land be-
ing used each year. Peanut vines are returned to their respec-
tive plots and oats is used as a cover and green manure crop
each year.
Two years' results on this experiment are possessed and a
study of Table 4 might be of interest.
TABLE 4.-AVERAGE PEANUT YIELDS IN BUSHELS TO THE ACRE FOR VARIOUS
FERTILIZER TREATMENTS RUN IN DUPLICATE AND HALF OF EACH
TREATMENT LAND-PLASTERED. THE FIGURES IN EACH IN-
STANCE REPRESENT AVERAGES FOR FOUR 1-34-ACRE"
PLOTS AND ARE FOR THE CROP YEAR 1922-23
Land-plas- No land Difference
TREATMENT tered plots; plaster; bushels in
bushels to bushels to favor of
the acre the acre land plaster
Cottonseed meal .................... 20.0 15.7 4.3
Peanut meal ............................ 18.3 14.2* 4.1
Nitrate of soda ...................... 16.2 13.9 2.3
Land plaster .......................... 16.4 13.9 2.5
Acid phosphate ...................... 17.6 14.2 3.4
Sulphate of potash ................ 18.1 15.2 2.9
CSM-AP .................................. 18.3 14.9 3.4
PM -AP ......................---.. ........... 17.6 16.2 1.4
N. soda-AP .............................. 16.2 16.1 0.1
CSM-S. pot ............................ 20.01 17.6 2.5
PM-S. pot. -.....................-....-.... 22.7 17.7 5.0
N. soda-S. pot. ....................... 18.2 12.9 5.3
CSM-AP-S. pot. .................--.. 18.8 16.4 2.4
PM-AP-S. pot ..................-..... 17.9 16.1 1.8
N. soda-AP-S. pot. .....---........ 17.7 16.7 1.0
Sulphur ..-..-.....---- ...........-.......- 17.6 13.7 3.9
S-AP ----........................ .......... 13.4 11.7 1.7
S-N. soda .. .......................... 13.1 11.2 1.9
S-S. pot. -----.............................. 14.4 12.4 2.0
S-LP ......................................... 12.3 11.5 0.8
S-AP-N. soda-S. pot. .............. 13.4 12.1 1.3
S-AP-N. soda .......................... 10.6 8.9 1.7
S-AP-S. pot. ............................ 13.7 11.8 1.9
*Average of 3 1-34-acre plots.
No attempt will be made here to draw any conclusion, other
than to say that land plaster in each instance in combination
with all fertilizer treatments gave a slight increase. Also in the
Florida Agricultural Experiment Station
case of the check plots (figures not given in above table) where
no fertilizer was applied, those land-plastered slightly out-yielded
those receiving nothing.
ROTATION EXPERIMENT
The three-year-rotation experiment started this year involves
the growing of corn, velvet beans, peanuts and sweet potatoes,
each crop grown each year. There are six phases to this rota-
tion.
FIRST PHASE: Corn and velvet beans, peanuts and sweet po-
tatoes followed by a winter cover and green manure crop of
oats, corn and velvet beans and peanuts receiving 400 pounds
to the acre of 4-8-4 fertilizer with sweet potatoes receiving 800
pounds of the same fertilizer. #
SECOND PHASE: Same as first, except that no fertilizer is
used.
THIRD PHASE: Same as first, except that fertilizer is reduced
to half the amounts used in first phase.
FOURTH PHASE: Same as first, except that nitrogen is left
out of the fertilizer.
FIFTH PHASE: Same as first, except that velvet beans are
not grown in the corn.
SIXTH PHASE: Same as first, except that no winter cover
and green manure crop is used.
In addition, included in this experiment are plots run con-
tinuously in triplicate to corn, peanuts and sweet potatoes, re-
spectively.
All plots are a thirtieth of an acre in size.
There are six rows of corn to the plot and eight rows of pea-
nuts and sweet potatoes to the plot, respectively.
The fertilizer materials used are acid phosphate 16 per cent.,
nitrate of soda 15 per cent., and sulphate of potash 50 per cent.
FERTILIZER EXPERIMENTS WITH NAPIER GRASS
In the spring of 1923 fertilizer experimental work was started
with Napier grass. Two acres of Napier grass, planted in the
spring of 1921, is being used. The field, which is an acre wide
and two acres long, was divided into 28 plots. The grass is
planted in six-foot rows and the stand is almost continuous in
the row. There are three rows to the plot, except for the check
plots on the east and west edges of the field. The fertilizer is
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Annual Report, 1924
applied to both middles of the three rows, and the center row is
harvested for yield records. In the case of the check plots of
two rows each, the inner row is harvested for yield records; this
makes all plots three-one-hundredths of an acre in size.
A fertilizer analyzing 5 per cent. ammonia, 4 per cent. phos-
phoric acid and 7 per cent. potash is being used. This is made
from 18 per cent. nitrate of soda, 16 per cent. acid phosphate
and 50 per cent. muriate of potash. The rate of application is
1,000 pounds to the acre of the 5-4-7 fertilizer. Duplicate plots
are run for all treatments. One set of plots receives all fer-
tilizer in one application in the spring of the year just as growth
starts, while the other set receives the same fertilizer in two
applications, one in spring just as growth starts and the other
just after the first crop is cut for silage. The test is one in
which plots receive single elements, possible combinations of
two elements, and a complete fertilizer of three elements. And
in addition, plots are included to test organic and inorganic
ammonia from two sources.
The first year's results of the Napier grass fertilizer experi-
ment are presented in Table 5.
TABLE 5.-YIELDS OF NAPIER SILAGE IN TONS TO THE ACRE DUE TO VARIOUS
FERTILIZER TREATMENTS FOR 1923
All Fertilizer Applied Same Fertilizer but Applied
in One Application % in Apr. and 1/2 in Aug.
.S Treatment
U 0
1 1.75 1.00 2.75 Nothing ................. 15 3.00 1.67 4.67
2 3.25 1.66 4.91 Nitrate of soda .... 16 3.84 1.83 5.67
3 4.75 1.83 6.58 Ammonium sulph'e 17 4.00 2.50 6.50
4 3.66 1.92 5.58 Dried blood ............ 18 5.33 2.42 7.75
5 3.66 4.50 5.16 Cottonseed meal .... 19 3.92 2.33 6.25
6 2.75 1.50 4.25 Acid phosphate .... 20 3.08 1.58 4.66
7 2.42 1.33 3.75 Muriate of potash 21 3.58 2.17 5.75
8 5.75 2.00 7.75 Acd. phos.-nit. of s. 22 5.50 2.83 8.33
9 2.33 1.66 3.99 Nothing .................. 23 3.42 1.67 5.09
AP-Nit. of soda-
10 6.16 2.00 8.16 Mur. of potash .... 24 5.00 3.58 8.58
11 3.08 1.50 4.58 Nothing ................. 25 2.83 1.50 4.33
Acid phosphate-
12 3.33 1.50 4.83 Mur. of potash ...... 26 2.58 1.33 I 3.91
Nit. of soda-
13 6.66 2.42 9.08 Mur. of potash ...... 27 4.25 3.92 8.17
14 4.42 2.92 7.36 Nothing .................. 28 4.58 2.42 7.00
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Florida Agricultural Experiment Station
RICE VARIETY TEST
Twenty-two small lots of rice were received from C. E. Cham-
bliss, in charge of rice investigations for the United States De-
partment of Agriculture. These were planted in rows a rod
long on low ground on the Experiment Station farm.
CORN VARIETY TEST
Corn variety test work is being conducted this year at the
Experiment Station at Gainesville, and at the branch station in
the Everglades. The following varieties are in the test at
Gainesville: Florida Flint, Cuban Flint, Gist, special seed from
the Seminole Seed Company, Mosby's Prolific, Florida corn
from Thomas Company, Tisdale, Hastings' Prolific and a va-
riety furnished by M. N. Smith. Three rows were planted to
each variety, and the plantings are run in duplicate. For yield
record, only the center row will be harvested.
KUDZU
The kudzu planted in January, 1923, at the Experiment Sta-
tion on Norfolk sandy soil has not made enough growth to war-
rant either cutting for hay or pasturing. Half of this plant-
ing was hoed once and cultivated twice this year. But up until
June 30 no material benefit could be seen over the area not
cultivated. Small plantings of kudzu were made this spring to
further test the methods of setting and the best propagating
material to use. A stand of 77 per cent. was obtained of 100
plants received from C. F. Leach of Monticello.
WINTER LEGUMES
The following winter legumes were tested out on Norfolk
sand, known locally as high pine land, on Gainesville sandy loam
and on Portsmouth sand: Hairy vetch (Vicia villosa), annual
yellow melilotus (Melitotus indica), Hubam clover (Melilotus
alba, var.), biennial yellow sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis),
biennial white sweet clover (Melilotus alba), Tifton bur clover
(Medicago rigidula), Subterranean clover (Trifolium subterra-
neum, SPI No. 55707), Black medick (Medicago lupulina),
Spotted bur clover (Medicago arabica), Serradella (Ornithopus
sativus) and Dalea sp.
Part of each plot was tested with lime alone, acid phosphate
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Annual Report, 1924
alone and lime and acid phosphate. There were plots receiving
no treatment on the three classes of soils above mentioned.
On the Norfolk sandy soil, all winter legumes failed with all
treatments, while on the Gainesville sandy loam, Hubam clover,
Spotted, bur clover and Tifton bur clover (Medicago rigidula)
made a satisfactory growth with all treatments, no difference
being noted between check plots of untreated and variously
treated plants. On soils of the Portsmouth series, Hubam clover,
bur clover, Tifton bur clover (Medicago rigidula) and Subterra-
nean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) made a satisfactory
growth on all plots. No difference was noted between untreated
and variously treated plots. Lack of moisture seems to be a
factor in the growth of winter legumes on Norfolk sandy soils.
PASTURE AND LAWN GRASS STUDIES
This work, as outlined in the annual report of 1922-23 was
continued and enlarged.
Definitely outlined experiments, dealing with methods of
planting pasture grasses, were put into execution on the Experi-
ment Station farm and on State-owned lands of the Florida
Farm Colony for Epileptic and.Feeble Minded, both near Gaines-
ville. Attention was called to the outline of these experiments
under the heading "Change in Projects." The experiments are
so planned as to give definite information in regard to improv-
ing range pastures. With the time, method and rate of plant-
ing tests, as outlined in the last annual report, now going into
the second year, it is felt that some definite results are being
obtained. These results, if heeded by the people of Florida who
are interested in permanent pastures, will be of great value.
This is true because time continues to reveal the secrets of na-
ture, which are being unlocked by carefully planned and exe-
cuted experiments, carefully observed and cautiously inter-
preted.
The 11 pasture grasses, mentioned in the two previous annual
reports, set out in March, 1922, in the Experiment Station pas-
ture, have been continuously grazed since November, 1922.
Notes were taken on these grasses once a month, ever since they
were set, and the area was mowed often enough to keep weeds
from seeding. From these notes it is found that St. Lucie grass
was the first to sod over the area on which set, followed by
Bermuda grass, Giant Bermuda grass and Blue Couch grass, in
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Florida Agricultural Experiment Station
the order named. These monthly notes reveal the fact that, at
certain seasons of the year, some of these grasses are growing
best and furnishing good grazing, while at other seasons, others
of the lot are at their best. The notes also show that when pro-
pagating by rooted runners, the Bermudas are easiest to get to
live, followed by Bahia, Dallis, St. Augustine, Blue Couch, Car-
pet, Giant Carpet and Golden Beard grasses in about the order
named.
Since the area on which the grasses are set slopes from west
to east, the lower land being on the east end of all plots, the
notes show that some of these grasses do best on the lower area.
Some died out almost entirely except on the lower area, while
some made good growth all over the area on which set.
The grasses doing best on the lower area are Dallis and Car-
pet. Giant Carpet grass almost died out on the higher areas.
Centipede grass and Bahia grass are the two which have done
best thruout this test, on both low and high land. The good sods
quickly formed by the Bermudas and Blue Couch grasses did
not hold up as well as the sods made by the slower sodding
grasses like Centipede, Bahia and Carpet. Dallis, Bahia, Car-
pet and St. Augustine seemed to stand closest grazing. Blue
Couch grass seems to be tough, and is not kept closely grazed by
the cattle. Bahia grass is a slow but persistent sodder.
This test will be observed monthly, as it will be of interest to
know which grass, or grasses, will finally prevail. It is real-
ized, of course, that no one grass is apt to occupy this area ex-
clusively. This is true more especially since the land varies
from well-drained Norfolk sand to a low area, probably of Ports-
mouth sand.
Vasey grass (Paspalum larranagai), Panicum repens, Para
grass (Panicum barbinode), Napier grass (Pennisetum pur-
pureum), and Maiden cane (Panicum hemitomon), which were
set on low land in the pasture in the spring and summer of
1923, as noted in the last annual report, were observed during
the year. Vasey grass made an excellent growth on low land,
was eagerly eaten by cattle, was little injured by a freeze of 22"
F., and is spreading from seed voluntarily.
Panicum repens made an excellent sod; cattle keep it closely
grazed. It was browned down by the above-mentioned cold but
put out early in the spring, and is continuing to spread and
form a good sod under constant grazing. This grass, it is be-
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Annual Report, 1924
lived, is a promising pasture grass for Florida, but, like Ber-
muda grass and Johnson grass, it has underground runners or
stems, which make it hard to get rid of. Its use is not recom-
mended unless parties desiring to use it are fully satisfied that
they want to lay down a part of their land to a permanent
pasture.
Para grass made an excellent growth, but was badly killed
out by. being grazed too closely before it became thoroly estab-
lished.
Napier grass died out completely on overflow land in the
Experiment Station pasture. It cannot be said, however, that
it will not grow on low, wet land, because it has been seen grow-
ing to perfection on lands in the Everglades frequently under
water.
Maiden cane never made much growth. Where found grow-
ing naturally it is excellent pasturage, but experience in taking
it up and setting where wanted has been disappointing.
The time-of-planting test of pasture grasses, as outlined in
last year's annual report, and which calls for the planting every
month in the year of plots of seed of Carpet grass and lespedeza,
Dallis grass and lespedeza, Bermuda grass and lespedeza, Bahia
grass and lespedeza and a mixture.of Carpet, Dallis, Bermuda
and Bahia grasses and lespedeza, was continued. These plant-
ings are run in triplicate or, in other words, repeated three
times, making 15 plantings each month in the year.
Since this experiment was started in March, 1922, 240 plots
were planted, 48 to each one of the five different pasture grass
combinations mentioned above. Records are held on these tripli-
cate monthly plantings for the 16-month period over which the
test has extended.
Each of these monthly plantings is made on different soil.
One is on high pine land classed by the Bureau of Soils as Nor-
folk sand; another is on high hammock land which would prob-
ably be classed as Gainesville sand or a gravelly phase of Nor-
folk sand, while the other is on a low piece of land which ap-
proaches Portsmouth sand.
In each case the weeds were hoed off, the ground raked
smooth, the seed sown broadcast, and the west half of each
plot raked after seeding. The plots were mowed often enough
to keep weeds from seeding. In the case of the plots on the high
hammock land half of each plot is fenced to keep cattle off, while
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Florida Agricultural Experiment Station
the other half is open, so that the station herd can run on half of
each plot at will.
From the notes taken on these plots up to date, it cannot be
said yet when is absolutely the best time, year in and year out,
to plant the grasses being used in this test to get the best per-
manent pasture, most economically and most quickly.
The data taken on stand and growth of plants, in each com-
bination on each class of soil, and under each method of handling,
will have to be studied carefully in conjunction with weather
records over a period of years in order to arrive at safe con-
clusions.
It seems, from results obtained so far, however, that plant-
ings can be made during the rainy season of late spring and
summer, with a reasonable degree of certainty of securing a
good stand and growth, if seed are good. This may or may not
be the best time to plant; the experiment has not run long
enough to tell. Early spring plantings last season were not
entirely satisfactory, so far as the grasses were concerned, but
the lespedeza stand and growth were satisfactory.
Fall and winter plantings of the grasses came up satisfac-
torily in most cases, but severe cold in late winter killed many
young seedlings, especially of Bahia grass. This would prob-
ably not happen every year, as last winter was colder than usual.
Midsummer plantings in one or two instances had some of its
young seedling plants killed by hot dry weather before they
established a root system.
From the observations so far, the preponderance of evidence
is in favor of covering lightly, tho there were exceptions to this.
Where lespedeza is seeded as heavily as 35 pounds to the acre
and where a good stand and growth are obtained, there is some
danger that the young pasture grass plants will be crowded to
death.
Lespedeza plantings of late summer and early fall did not
make the growth that late fall, winter, spring and early sum-
mer plantings made, and the volunteer crop the succeeding year
was not as satisfactory.
Cattle running on pasture lands of the kind of soil on which
these plantings were made, apparently did not interfere with
the stand and growth of the pasture plants used in this test,
except on trails made thru the plots by constant trampling bacl
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Annual Report, 1924
and forth. In fact, grazed parts of the plots seem better than
those not grazed.
This experiment, if properly conducted to get the greatest
amount of useful information out of it, would require the time
of one man, since, if it is carried out over a period of five years,
and undoubtedly it should be, there will be 900 separate plots
to record data from which to draw conclusions.
CARPET AND BAHIA GRASS PLANTINGS
Plantings of Carpet grass at the rate of 10 pounds of seed to
the acre, made on Norfolk sand, high pine land, in June, July
and August, 1922, made a complete sod in from 18 to 24 months.
Plantings of Bahia grass (Paspalum notatum), made on Ports-
mouth sand, a low, damp, dark soil with light, sandy subsoil,
at the rate of 20 pounds of seed to the acre on well prepared
land, have made a nearly complete sod in 24 months. These
plantings were so arranged that the cattle could run on them at
will.
Molasses grass (Melinis minutiflora) and Jaragua grass (An-
dropogon rufus), two South American grasses, planted in the
pasture in 1922, failed to survive the winter temperature of
22" F. They made a satisfactory growth and are liked by
stock, but would have to be planted each year in the latitude of
Gainesville.
BAHIA GRASS SEEDING ON NATIVE SOD WITHOUT PREVIOUS
PREPARATION
Bahia grass (Paspalum notatum) seed, sowed at the rate of
20 pounds to the acre in June, 1922, on a thin sod of native
grasses and weeds on Norfolk sandy land in the pasture, and
then half of the area disked lightly after seed were sown and the
other half not disked, gave a stand of better than a plant to the
square foot on both areas. This area was mowed regularly to
keep weeds from seeding and cattle were never taken off. The
Bahia grass has nothing like completely sodded yet, but is mak-
ing a slow, persistent growth and bids fair to finally sod this
area. This method of handling did not give as good a stand as
was obtained on a thoroly prepared, well-settled seedbed on the
same kind of soil, planted at the same time, and at the same
rate and the seed covered lightly; but the expense of handling by
this method is nothing like as great as the latter method.
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Florida Agricultural Experiment Station
Between eight and ten acres of land were cleared of trees
and stumps, preparatory to laying out additional permanent
pasture grass experiments, designed particularly to give infor-
mation on cost of establishing pastures, carrying capacity of
various pasture grasses, proper methods of handling and fer-
tilizing pastures, and other interesting points. These experi-
ments will not be started, however, until eight or ten more acres
adjoining have been cleared, so as to give large enough area to
start as many phases of the experiment at once as possible.
LAWN GRASS STUDIES
In the test of species or kinds of grass for lawn purposes,
plots of the following are included: Bahia grass (Paspalum
notatum), Giant Carpet grass (Axonopus furcatus), Centipede
grass (Eremochloa ophiuroides, SPI No. 02810), St. Augustine
grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum), Bermuda grass (Capriola
dactylon), Giant Bermuda grass (Capriola dactylon, var. mari-
timus), St. Lucie grass (Capriola dactylon, var. St. Lucie), Blue
Couch grass (Digitaria didactyla), Carpet grass (Axonopus
compressus), Atlanta Bermuda grass (Capriola dactylon, var.
Atlanta, SPI No. 03299), Dallis grass (Paspalum dilatatum),
Lovy-Lovy grass (Andropogon aciculatus, SPI No. 44097),
Korean or Japanese lawn grass (Osterdamia japonica, SPI No.
35078), Mascarene grass (Osterdamia tenuifolia, SPI No.
40609), Manila grass (Osterdamia matrella, SPI No. 42839 and
No. 19421) and Lippia repens, a creeping plant of the Vervain
family.
All these grasses are set in plots 10 feet wide by 25 feet long.
All ground was treated alike before the grasses were set and all
plots were arranged so they could be watered.
The first 10 grasses were set out in April, 1922, and the last
six during the summer of 1923. In November, 1923, the west
half of each plot was seeded to Italian rye grass at the rate of
40 pounds of seed to the acre. This was done to study the effect
of the growing of rye grass on the spring and summer growth of
the lawn grasses under test. No part of any of these plots was
mowed after the Italian rye grass was seeded until May 17, 1924,
at which time the Italian rye grass had started to seed. Up until
this mowing, the Italian rye grass on none of the plots had grown
taller than six or seven inches. The Italian rye grass made a
good growth on all plots, giving a nice green lawn all winter and
42R
Annual Report, 1924
spring, up until it was mowed, after which it gradually dis-
appeared.
The Italian rye grass had a tendency again this year to re-
tard the spring growth of all grasses in the test, this tendency
being less pronounced with St. Augustine, Centipede, Bahia and
Dallis grasses than with some of the others.
The grasses in this test that have made the most satisfactory
lawns so far are Centipede, St. Augustine, St. Lucie, Atlanta
Bermuda and Lovy-Lovy grasses. The various Osterdamia plots
and the Lippia plot have not sodded over yet.
St. Augustine grass was the only grass in the lot attacked
by chinch bugs this year, but the bugs were controlled by one
application of calcium cyanide dust.
The plot of Giant Carpet grass for the last two seasons was
badly killed out in spots by fungi, probably Rhizoctonia species,
which cause the disease known as brown patch in the grass
plots.
Beginning with the first mowing of the plots this year on
May 17, 1924, all mowings from all plots were weighed imme-
diately after mowing and weights recorded, after which a sam-
ple was turned over to the Chemistry Department for analysis.
Since all plots are treated alike, data secured by this analysis
will be useful in connection with pasture investigations.
Lawn plantings made on the campus of the University of
Florida in May, June and July, 1923, and mentioned in the last
annual report, were observed closely during the year. The soil
on which these plantings were made is high pine land, classed
by the Bureau of Soils of the United States Department of Agri-
culture as Norfolk sand. There is a scattering growth of pines
on the land.
The May and June plantings of lespedeza came up to a good
stand, made good growth and matured a heavy seed crop. The
seed started germinating late in December, 1923, and continued
germinating thruout the spring of 1924 until an excellent stand
was obtained. Dry weather in the late spring of 1924 killed out
a large part of the volunteer lespedeza crop.
The July plantings of lespedeza did not make as satisfactory
a growth as May and June plantings, did not mature as heavy
a seed crop before being killed by cold and, hence, did not give as
good a volunteer crop this spring as May and June plantings.
Good stands of Carpet grass and Bahia grass were obtained
43R
Florida Agricultural Experiment Station
from May, June and July plantings. Dry weather in late sum-
mer and early fall, however, killed some of the little Carpet and
Bahia grass seedlings of the July planting before they had de-
veloped a good root system. A temperature of 22" F., January
6 and 7, 1924, killed many of the July Carpet and Bahia grass
seedlings. The May and June plantings seemed large and
strong enough to withstand the drought and cold.
Fair to good stands of Dallis grass grew from May, June and
July plantings and little, if any, injury resulted from the drought
or cold.
Twenty acres of Norfolk sandy soil on the University campus,
with a scattering growth of large pines were disked thoroly three
times last spring and seeded in June to a mixture of Carpet,
Dallis and Bahia grasses and lespedeza at the rate of 15 pounds
of Carpet, 5 pounds of Dallis, 4 pounds of Bahia and 15 pounds
of lespedeza to the acre. Part of this planting will be used for
fertilizer test work, and the rest will be available for any kind of
lawn and golf course experimental work the station may be able
to pursue.
PLANTINGS AT THE EVERGLADES EXPERIMENT STATION
For a history of the handling of the soil on which these plant-
ings were made, the reader is referred to the annual report of
the foreman of the Everglades Experiment Station for 1924. All
plantings were made on what would be called first year saw
grass muck land. The land is really in the transition stage from
saw grass to weeds and elder, with saw grass still predominat-
ing on most of it when clearing was done in the fall and winter
of 1923-24. The last overflow of water on this land receded
November 15, 1923.
From the first of February, 1924, until June 30, 1924, 157
different plantings of pasture, forage and general farm cropE
have been made. The sizes of these plantings range from a
single row, 50 feet long, to twentieth-acre plots. The plantings
made to date are as follows: Fifty-one plantings of various pas-
ture, hay, soiling and silage grasses; 16 plantings of legumes
of possible pasture, hay and forage value; 8 plantings of miscel.
laneous crops such as rape, stock beets, buckwheat, sunflowers
chufas, cassava and asparagus.
Of the general farm crops, plantings of three varieties of oats
three varieties of millet, 10 varieties of sorghum, 10 varieties
44R
Annual Report, 1924
and selections of peanuts, four varieties of soybeans, five strains
of alfalfa, eight varieties of velvet beans, seven varieties of cow-
peas, eight varieties of field corn, and six varieties of garden
corn were made.
In some cases, plantings of the same crop were made at dif-
ferent dates, which accounts for the fact that the number ot
plantings and the number of varieties and kinds does not tally.
Fig. 2.-General view of plot field everglades experiment station
PRELIMINARY REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WORK
AT THE EVERGLADES EXPERIMENT STATION
Of the plantings of pasture, hay, soiling and silage grasses
that made a satisfactory growth, the following stand out promi-
nently: Bermuda grass (Capriola dactylon), St. Lucie grass
(Capriola dactylon, var. St. Lucie), Bahia grass (Paspalum
notatum), Dallis grass (Paspalum dilatatum), Vasey grass (Pas-
palum larranagai), Para grass (Panicum barbinode), Carib
grass (Eriochloa subglabra), St. Augustine grass (Stenota-
phrum secundatum), Centipede grass (Eremochloa ophiuroides),
Molasses grass (Melinis minutiflora), Napier grass (Pennisetum
purpureum), Merker grass (Pennisetum purpureum), Rhodes
grass (Chloris gayana), Echinochloa crus-galli, SPI No. 49693,
Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) and Teosinte (Euchlaena
mexicana).
Of the miscellaneous forage crops that made a good growth
so far, Dwarf Essex rape is outstanding. Of the general farm
45R
46R Florida Agricultural Experiment Station
crops planted, corn, soybeans and velvet beans did best, tho their
growth was not entirely satisfactory. The growths of peanuts,
cowpeas, beggarweed, kudzu, mung beans, golden millet and
amber sorghum was unsatisfactory.
MISCELLANEOUS
Many specimens, particularly of grasses, were identified for
parties over the State.
Many small lots of new grasses and forage crops were sent
on request to interested parties thruout the State and a few
to other States. Correspondence relating to pasture and forage
crops in increasing amounts was handled.
Annual Report, 1924
REPORT OF CHEMIST
Wilmon Newell, Director.
SIR: I submit the following report of the Department of
Chemistry for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1924.
Respectfully,
R. W. RUPRECHT,
Chemist.
The work of the department during the year was devoted to
citrus problems and nutrition studies.
DIEBACK OF CITRUS
The work on this project was continued as outlined in pre-
vious annual reports. The experimental grove at the Citrus Ex-
periment Station at Lake Alfred made a good growth and bore
its first crop of fruit. The crop was rather light and all of the
oranges were badly ammoniated. The ammoniation was general
thruout the grove and could not be correlated with any particu-
lar fertilizer treatment. As stated in last year's report, the
only trees that at any time showed signs of dieback were a few
in Plot 4, which receives its ammonia from three sources. In
an attempt to produce dieback three trees in each plot were given
a double quantity of ammonia in June, 1923. None of these trees
showed any sign of dieback, nor was the fruit from these trees
any more ammoniated than that on other trees not so treated.
Samples of tangerines, oranges, and grapefruit were taken from
each plot in December. A part of each sample was analyzed
immediately for sugars and acidity and the balance dried for
future analysis.
The trees at Gainesville made a normal growth, none of them
showing signs of dieback. All of the trees were somewhat in-
jured by the cold of January 6 and 7, 1924, when a temperature
of 22" F. was reached. The tank trees and tree No. 5 were
partly defoliated and some of the smaller branches were killed.
The oldest four trees in the tanks are slowly dying, apparently
being root-bound. It is planned to replace these trees this winter
with younger trees.
Drainage waters were collected from the tanks on 19 occa-
sions during the year. Some of these were composite so that
only 15 sets or a total of 116 samples were analyzed. The num-
47R
Florida Agricultural Experiment Station
ber collected was over three times the number collected the pre-
vious year.
Table 6 shows the total amount of drainage during the year
and the amount of plant food removed from each of the tanks.
The total amount of drainage was greater than during the pre-
vious year, while the total amount of plant food removed was
more in some cases and less in others. This can be explained in
part by the fact that the December application of fertilizer was
omitted. The trees were in such a thrifty condition that it was
thought this application could be omitted safely. The smallest
loss of plant food again was from the manure plots, tho the dif-
ference this year was not so great as during the previous year.
As was to be expected, the sulphate of ammonia plots lost the
largest amount of calcium and sulphates, while the nitrate of
soda plots lost the largest amount of sodium. The large loss of
ammonia as nitrates from the sulphate of ammonia plots, shows
that nitrification takes place rather rapidly, as no nitrates were
added to these plots.
The work with small tanks in the greenhouse was continued.
One of the trees receiving the double ammonia as nitrate of soda
died and was replaced in February. No dieback developed in
any of the trees. As there was no adequate way of weighing the
tanks, it was impossible to regulate moisture conditions as
closely as desirable and some of the trees suffered as a result.
The second set of small tanks was installed and planted to pine-
apple oranges on sour stock. These trees will be used to deter-
mine the effect of copper sulphate on soil and tree. In addition
to the trees in the small tanks some water cultures are being
used to study the action of copper sulphate on citrus seedlings.
NUTRITION STUDIES
Work on this project was greatly enlarged during the year.
In cooperation with the pecan specialist 10 new cooperative
fertilizer experiments were begun with pecans, as follows:
4 at Monticello, Jefferson County.
1 at Tallahassee, Leon County.
1 at Bonifay, Holmes County.
1 at DeFuniak Springs, Walton County.
1 at Lake City, Columbia County.
1 at Pensacola, Escambia County.
1 at Starke, Bradford County.
48R
TABLE 6.-TOTAL AMOUNT OF DRAINAGE DURING THE YEAR AND THE AMOUNT OF PLANT FOOD REMOVED FROM EACH
TANK. FIGURES ARE IN GRAMS, EXCEPT AS NOTED
Tank No. No. 1 No. 2 No. 3 No. 4 No. 5 No. 6 No. 7 No. 8
Fertilizer Sul. of Manure Blood Nitrate Nitrate of Sul. of Blood Manure
ammonia of soda soda bone amm. bone bone bone
Total drain-
age in liters .................. 1,019.33 832.79 768.14 734.12 907.55 946.31 815.91 742.30
Total solids .................. 3,616.41 1,945.32 2,198.14 2,994.90 1,240.29 1,606.09 875.54 932.84
Fixed solids ................ 2,628.26 1,728.14 1,738.24 2,303.89 865.97 1,232.83. 664.90 643.17
Ammonia .................... 59.61 .38 2.85 .29 .16 33.46 1.62 .12
Nitrites ..................... .22 none trace .03 trace .09 trace .07
Nitrates ...................... 255.67 8.95 194.46 540.82 394.20 222.93 140.01 89.45
Phos. acid ................... .56 .27 .41 .34 .33 .42 .30 .03
Sulphates .................... 1,809.08 1,062.42 885.44 1,179.46 337.63 787.53 346.80 338.27
Chlorine .................. 24.79 44.92 42.74 21.25 17.04 23.44 28.32 31.16
Calcium oxide .............. 591.83 278.57 416.94 487.53 67.50 145.07 102.80 68.08
Sodium oxide ................ 46.91 56.42 53.49 411.05 256.78 47.81 43.60 39.14
Potassium oxide ........ 238.50 329.64 250.02 245.75 146.12 258.84 192.19 185.49
Iron oxide ...................... .87 .23 .18 .14 .12 .21 .08 .11
Florida Agricultural Experiment Station
In four of these experiments, one at Monticello, Bonifay, De-
Funiak Springs, and Pensacola, a study of various sources of
ammonia is being made. In three experiments at Monticello the
effect of varying amounts of potash on scab is studied. In the
experiment at Tallahassee attempt is being made to determine
the optimum amount of fertilizer for the pecan. At Lake City
and Starke a comparison of different fertilizer formulas is being
made. As these experiments have just begun no results can as
yet be reported.
Another experiment with satsuma oranges was begun in co-
operation with R. L. McKenzie at Panama City in Bay County.
A grove of 270 one-year-old trees divided into seven plots, is
used in this experiment, which is a duplicate of the one at Round
Lake.and has for its object the determination of the best methods
of fertilization, both as to time of application and composition of
the fertilizer.
A new citrus experiment was begun at Vero in St. Lucie
County in cooperation with the Indian River Products Company.
A total of 1,020 trees are included in this experiment, divided
into eight plots with the following varieties in each plot:
3 Dancy tangerines.
24 Pineapple oranges.
39 Valencia oranges.
30 Marsh seedless grapefruit.
Each plot contains three rows of trees and is separated from
the neighboring plot by a row of buffer trees. The object of
this experiment is threefold. First, to determine if muriate of
potash can be used at any time as a source of potash without
injuring the quality or quantity of the fruit. Second, to deter-
mine which is the best source of potash for citrus production-
high-grade sulphate of potash, muriate of potash, or manure
salt. Third, to determine whether non-acid phosphate is as good
a source of phosphoric acid as superphosphate.
These trees were about three years old when the experiment
was begun and had made an unusually good growth. The first
fruit was gathered this year, but the crop was light, many of
the trees having only two or three fruits or none at all.
Study on the availability of various forms of phosphoric acid
for citrus trees was continued. (See 1918 Annual Report, P.
39R & 1922 Anual Report for description of the experiment).
The younger of the two groves has made such a rapid growth
that the trees are as large as on the older section. Some of the
50R
Annual Report, 1924
orange trees nearest the swamp have dieback, due to their loca-
tion and to the unusually high water in the swamp during the
year. The trees on the higher land show no signs of the disease.
Samples of fruit from all of the plots were analyzed for sugars
and acidity and one lot was dried for future work. The whole
grove had a good crop of grapefruit but a rather light crop of
oranges. No differences due to the different forms of phosphoric
acid used were noted either in the yield or in the acid and sugar
content of the fruit.
The experiment on the effect of high versus low potash fer-
tilization was continued on the old grove at the Citrus Experi-
ment Station. A slight modification was made in that plot 5 now
receives 3 percent of potash in the spring, 5 percent in the sum-
mer and 10 percent in the fall application instead of 3 percent in
all three applications as heretofore. The use of nitrate of lime as
a source of ammonia in plots 5 and 6 was also discontinued, due
to the difficulty of obtaining the nitrate .of lime. Nitrate of soda
is used in place of the nitrate of lime. Samples of both oranges
and grapefruit were taken from each plot and analyzed for acid-
ity and sugars, no perceptible differences being found. The
yield of the plots shows rather striking differences in that all
of 3 percent potash plots have a higher yield of grapefruit than
the 10 percent plots. In the oranges the reverse is true, tho the
differences are small. It is hardly safe, however, to conclude
that the 3 percent potash fertilizer is the best until the above
observations are confirmed by future crops.
The yields of grapefruit and oranges in the potash experiment
are shown by the following figures:
|Plot l|Plot 2|Plot 3|Plot 4IPlot 5SPlot 6
Grapefruit ... ...--... -----.. 2,962 484 1,781 873 1,617 52
Oranges ........... 316* 735 933 1,361 1,6 1,333 1,531
*Plot 1 has only seven orange trees.
The experiments at the Tobacco Experiment Station were con-
tinued as outlined in last year's annual report. For details in
regard to these experiments, see the report of that station.
The pecan experiments in cooperation with the Bureau of
Plant Industry, United States Department of Agriculture, were
continued as heretofore. In the experiment in Jacksonville some
slight changes had to be made, because some of the trees were
found to be of a different variety from the others in the experi-
ment. The first crop of nuts was harvested from this grove this
51R
Florida Agricultural Experiment Station
year. The grove at Baldwin made a good growth and yielded a
good crop of nuts.
A new experiment with celery in cooperation with the Bureau
of Plant Industry was begun at Sanford in Seminole County. A
tract of some three acres equipped with sub-irrigation and drain-
age tile, is used in these experiments. There are 59 plots each
100 feet long and four rows wide, each receiving a different fer-
tilizer treatment. Among the questions, answers to which are
sought, are the following: The best formula of commercial fer-
tilizer, the optimum amounts of fertilizer, best source of ammonia
in mixed fertilizer, and the influence of top-dressing with nitrate
of soda in varying amounts. A good crop of celery was harvested
this spring. It is planned to grow a crop of lettuce this fall and
another crop of celery next winter. As only one crop has been
harvested no conclusions in regard to the different fertilizer
treatments can be drawn.
The experiment with satsuma oranges at Round Lake was
continued. The trees set their first fruit this year but it was
not permitted to mature, as it was thought best to let the tree
devote its entire energy to making a stronger top. The cold of
January 6 and 7 killed all of the trees back to the top of the
banks; none of them died and all made a good growth this spring.
No difference in cold injury due to difference in fertilizer treat-
ment was noticeable.
The sugar cane investigations were confined to fertilizer tests
with Japanese cane, cyaha 10, at Gainesville. In this experiment
various forms of potash were compared to determine their influ-
ence on the quality of the syrup. A light crop was harvested
this year. While the yields varied considerably, the variations
between duplicate plots were just as great as the variations
between differently fertilized plots. A sample was taken from
each plot at the time of cutting and the juice extracted by grind-
ing in a small hand crusher. The juice was then analyzed for
sugars and acidity. No consistent differences due to different
fertilizer treatment were found.
Due to lack of funds this experiment was discontinued for the
present.
SOFT-PORK INVESTIGATIONS
The chemical work on this project has been the same as during
the previous year, namely, to determine the melting point, iodine
52R
Annual Report, 1924
number and refractive index of the fat samples. A total of 96
fat samples were tested during the year. A detailed report of
this work will be found in the report of the animal industrialist.
MISCELLANEOUS
Study of the mineral matter content of Florida-grown grasses
and grains was continued. Seventeen additional samples were
analyzed during the year. In addition to the above, 30 samples
of Napier grass from the various fertilizer plots were analyzed
to determine what effect, if any, the fertilizers used had on the
mineral content of the grass. A study of table 7 will show that
the fertilizer had practically no effect on the amount of the
various elements taken up by the plant.
Two new fertilizer materials are being tested in the small
1/1,000-acre concrete plots. These are non-acid phosphates made
at Lakeland and a biological fertilizer made in St. Augustine.
These new materials are compared with standard mixtures of
commercial fertilizers. A crop of English peas was planted last
fall but was killed by the cold of January 6.
This spring a crop of Black Valentine beans was planted. The
beans made a good growth on all of the plots. It is impossible to
draw any conclusions from this one crop. It is planned to con-
tinue this experiment until enough crops have been grown that
definite conclusions as to the value of the materials can be
drawn.
.In addition to the work on the projects, analyses were made on
a wide variety of materials for various departments of the sta-
tion, such as pecans, soils, peanuts, feeding stuffs, fertilizers,
forage crops, etc. Among such materials were two samples of
Chinese tung-oil nuts, the analyses of which are of more than
passing interest, due to the increasing importance of these nuts
as a commercial crop. The analyses are given below:
Aleurites Aleurites
moluccana fordi
Percentage Percentage
Meats ................................................... 31.45 60.20
Hulls .......... ....~......... ........... ................ 68.55 39.80
Moisture in meats ................---........-............. 8.80 3.65
Oil in meats (ether extract).....................-.........- 58.20 57.15
Oil in whole nut............................. ..-................- 18.33 34.30
It will be noted that the percentage of oil found in the meats is
about the same in both varieties. As the moluccana, however,
53R
TABLE 7.-ANALYSES OF NAPIER GRASS FERTILIZED WITH DIFFERENT MATERIALS. THE SAMPLES WERE TAKEN JUNE 13,
1923. MINERAL ANALYSES ON MOISTURE-FREE BASIS.
0
0 3 .5 00 Fertilizer
a o 0 go 0 a 0
cd C; w od c P .0 0 ox dIx ;" x -)x Z a)
4Z S 4 P4 P U4 5 P 4o too Uo 0 O U 02 4 P -4
6998 4.00 8.63 2.30 6.88 47.53 30.66 1.54 3.58 0.16 0.67 0.02 0.06 0.11 1.21 0.49 1.13 1 None.
7010 4.71 5.89 1.60 8.73 45.41 33.66 0.93 2.33 0.25 0.49 0.09 0.05 0.10 1.13 0.39 0.82 2 Nitrate of soda.
7009 4.03 5.40 1.91 9.69 46.57 32.40 0.76 1.96 0.19 0.49 0.08 0.05 0.09 1.04 0.51 0.65 3 Sulphate of am-
monia.
7002 6.12 6.08 1.81 9.06 44.64 32.29 1.03 2.23 0.46 0.59 0.06 0.05 0.03 1.24 0.61 0.75 4 Dried blood.
7003 5.70 6.26 1.97 8.31 45.06 32.70 0.98 2.63 0.35 0.48 0.08 0.06 0.03 1.33 0.55 0.87 5 Cottonseed meal.
7006 6.90 7.73 1.92 8.15 44.87 29.83 1.59 3.00 0.23 0.56 0.06 0.06 0.02 1.05 0.57 0.81 6 Superphosphate.
7011 5.77 7.79 1.66 8.44 44.63 31.71 1.31 3.47 1.20 0.41 0.07 0.06 0.03 1.30 0.37 0.78 7 Muriate of potash.
7007 5.08 6.19 1.85 10.63 42.22 33.03 1.00 2.57 0.15 0.55 0.12 0.07 0.05 1.20 0.48 0.60 8 Superphosphate,
nitrate of soda.
6999 3.34 7.04 2.00' 7.81 46.11 33.70 1.13 2.83 0.10 0.49 0.03 0.06 0.05 1.22 0.39 0.87 9 None.
7005 6.40 8.10 1.97 10.94 40.53 32.06 0.95 4.13 0.48 0.53 0.08 0.08 0.05 1.48 0.59 0.89 10 Nitrate of soda
Superphosphate
Muriate of pot-
ash.
7000 4.00 7.80 2.15 7.38 46.30 32.37 1.28 3.00 0.12 0.52 0.03 0.08 0.11 1.14 0.43 0.82 11 None.
7004 4.70 8.47 1.94 7.81 45.17 31.91 1.24 3.75 0.40 0.44 0.07 0.05 0.12 2.03 0.51 0.85 12 Superphosphate
Muriate of pot-
ash.
7008 4.59 5.81 1.95 10.00 43.08 34.57 0.73 2.50 0.36 0.50 0.16 0.05 0.02 1,25 0.42 0.50 13 Nitrate of soda
Muriate of pot-
ash.
7001 4.28 7.45 2.26 10.00 42.31 33.70 1.08 3.17 0.23 0.52 0.03 0.04 0.03 1.24 0.51 0.88 14 None.
Annual Report, 1924 55R
has a much thicker hull, the percentage of oil in the whole nut is
almost twice as great in the fordi. It was also noted that the oil
from the moluccana was considerably lighter than the oil from
the fordi and did not "dry" as rapidly. It can be readily seen
from the above that the Aleurites fordi is a better variety to
plant. As noted in the figures, the oil content was determined
by extraction with ether. This gives a higher percentage of oil
than can be obtained by crushing the nuts as in commercial
extraction.
Florida Agricultural Experiment Station
REPORT OF ASSISTANT HORTICULTURIST
Wilmon Newell, Director.
SIR: I submit the following report of the Department of
Horticulture for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1924:
Respectfully,
HAROLD MOWRY,
Assistant Horticulturist.
OUTLINE OF PROJECTS
Projects now under way include the following:
Citrus: Varieties, rootstocks, culture and propagation.
Tung-oil (Aleurites fordi Hemsl.): Propagation culture,
and particular attention to fertilization.
Berries (Rubus, spp.) : A test of varieties with inclusion of
material which later may be used for breeding purposes; culture
and propagation; distribution of promising new varieties as
available.
Pears: Collection of species and varieties leading to later
breeding work.
Persimmons: Culture, variety, rootstock and pollination in-
vestigation.
Grape: Variety, cultural and rootstock tests with both mus-
cadine and bunch types.
Avocado: Rootstock, propagation and variety investigation.
Limited to hardy types owing to location of test grounds.
Miscellaneous fruits: Propagation and culture; test of newly
introduced species and varieties under local conditions.
Pecan: All plantings in cooperation with pecan culturist
whose report covers this work in full.
Ornamentals and Miscellaneous: Cultural tests to determine
adaptability to Florida conditions; propagation.
CITRUS
Citrus plantings on the test grounds were considerably dam-
aged by the cold of January 5, last. With the exception of
satsuma oranges on Citrus trifoliata rootstock, practically all of
the citrus trees (orange, grapefruit, lemon and citron), regard-
less of rootstock (rough lemon, sour orange and grapefruit),
under three years of age in the grove were killed to the bank
56R
Annual Report, 1924
and a large proportion of the older trees partially or wholly
defoliated. The exposed location of this grove makes it peculiar-
ly susceptible to cold damage.
The degree of hardiness of some rootstocks over others when
planted side by side in the nursery row was clearly demon-
strated. None of the Citrus trifoliata or Citrus trifoliata hybrids
showed any appreciable degree of injury at 220 F. in either
nursery or grove. In the nursery rough lemon and grapefruit
were killed to the ground; sour orange in most instances was
severely damaged; bittersweet on higher ground showed little
injury while Cleopatra mandarin stood at the top of the list
(excluding Citrus trifoliata and hybrids) with little damage. It
should be noted that the Cleopatra stock was at this time in a
light flush of growth and not by any means completely dormant.
What effect this flushing during midwinter will have on varieties
worked on it is still a matter of conjecture and should not be lost
sight of until definitely determined. From 7- to 10-year-old
satsumas on Citrus trifoliata rootstock were not injured. A
three-year-old satsuma on sour orange stock lost but few leaves,
while another planted close by of same age on rough lemon root
was killed outright.
Two species of Crotalaria, beggarweed and cowpeas were
planted in the grove this season to determine their comparative
value as cover crops.
Excellent results in the elimination of frenching of satsumas
were obtained by applying 20 to 40 pounds of stable manure to
the tree (8 to 10 years of age) in early fall.
To the list of varieties, as given in last year's report, have
been added Neiwa kumquat, Wase satsuma, Clementine 'orange',
calamondin and some selected buds from three varieties of
oranges.
In the satsuma project a test of varieties will be made on
several hardy rootstocks.
TUNG OIL (Aleurites fordi Hemsl.)
Additional tung-oil plantings were made in December, bring-
ing the total field acreage to six. These last plantings will give
a comparative test of plantings of older nursery stock, both
pruned and unpruned, with one-year plants. A test of 14 fer-
tilizer mixtures is being made but sufficient time has not elapsed
to show any definite results.
57R
Florida Agricultural Experiment Station
There is a great variation in the fruiting habits of Aleurites
fordi in the older plantings on the horticultural grounds. The
tendency of the majority of the trees is to bear but one fruit to
the twig. One tree, however, bears its fruit in clusters, the
maximum noted on any one twig being 11. The average yield
of this tree is much greater than that of any of the others. Young
seedlings of this tree have in some instances inherited this de-
sired characteristic, but observations possible at this time show
that the majority have not.
In the effort to perpetuate this multiple-fruiting strain, bud-
ding and grafting experiments were inaugurated. Excellent
results followed the use of either the patch bud or sprig graft
made at any time after the sap rises in spring until late July.
Early working is preferable because a maximum bud growth is
obtained the first season. None of these buds is as yet old
enough to bear fruit. Experiments with budding now under way
indicate the possibility that budded trees may be transplanted to
the field from the nursery within one season from planting of
seed. This would make possible the planting of budded trees
with no loss of time over that required by seedling stocks.
A number of successful attempts were made at rooting the
tung-oil tree from cuttings. These cuttings callous readily but
are slow in rooting and the percentage rooted makes present
methods impractical.
As previously reported the tung-oil tree is a host of the cottony
cushion scale, Icerya purchase Mask. It is believed that no
great concern need be felt over such infestation, as virtually all
of the scale are eliminated during the dormant period of the tree.
Reinfestations in late summer may be kept under control by the
introduction of the vedalia or Australian lady beetle, Rodolia
cardinals Muls.
Other species of Aleurites which are being tried on the Station
grounds are A. cordata, A. moluccana and A. montana. None of
them, however, promises any exceptional value.
BERRIES (Rubus spp.)
Thirteen varieties of berries, including blackberry, dewberry,
raspberry and hybrids, were planted this season. It is the inten-
tion to include in this planting as many promising varieties as
may be obtained. This will give not only a variety test from
58R
Annual Report, 1924
which promising new varieties might be distributed, but will
furnish ample material for breeding purposes.
The Nessberry (dewberry-raspberry hybrid) fruited this sea-
son, 15 months after planting. Some of the plants produced a
fair crop and quality of fruit was good. This berry promises to
be a valuable addition and will be tested in various parts of the
State to further determine its adaptability. The following is a
list of berries now being grown on the Station grounds. All
were planted this season:
COMMON NAME- VARIETIES-
Berry (unknown species).--......--..--- ....----..No. M504
Blackberry ...-..-----.--..---------------- No. M608
Dallas
Florida Marvel
Himalaya
McDonald
Logan
Dewberry ..-.........-...-- .....-........Haupt
Mays or Austin
Young
Nessberry (raspberry-dewberry hybrid)............Varieties Nos. 1-9 inclusive.
Raspberry ............---.......---. ---...Cardinal
St. Regis
PEARS
Twenty-nine varieties of several species of pear (Pyrus spp.)
are now included in the pear plantings. As wide a range of
species and varieties as circumstances will permit will be in-
cluded in these plantings for the purpose of providing material
for extensive breeding experiments in an endeavor to produce a
better quality, blight-resistant pear.
LIST OF VARIETIES
SPECIES- COMMON NAME- VARIETY-
Pyrus betulaefolia ..............Birchleaf pear................... SPI. No. 21982
*Pyrus calleryana ................Callery pear............................. SPI. No. 56688
*Pyrus chinensis ..................Chinese pear.................... No. M402
*Pyrus chinensis ..................Chinese pear.......................... No. M460
*Pyrus chinensis ..................Chinese pear...................... No. 38263
Pyrus chinensis ................. Chinese pear.............................. SPI. No. 30308
SPI. No. 30361
SPI. No. 38270
SPI. No. 38264
SPI. No. 28497
SPI. No. 23443
SPI. No. 38242
SPI. No. 38266
No. M68
59R
Florida Agricultural Experiment Station
Pyrus communis ....................Common pear........................... *SPI. No. 33207
*Conkleton
*Griesa-Douglas
Garber
*Keiffer
*LeConte
Wollies Keiffer
Stark Wallace
*Pyrus pashia ........................Pashi pear.................................. SPI. No. 56336
*Pyrus serotina ......................Pear .......................................... SPI. No. 30351
*Pyrus serotina x communis..Hybrid pear.............................. SPI. No. 55805
*Pyrus sp. ................--- .........--Chinese seedling pear............ SPI. No. 56765
*Pyrus sp ................................Chinese seedling pear............ SPI. No. 56491
*Pyrus sp. ................................Chinese seedling pear............ SPI. No. 56347
*Pyrus sp .-.............................--Pear (hybrid?)-----........................ Hood
*Planted this year.
PERSIMMON
Practically all of the older plantings of persimmons on the
test grounds are either dead or have passed the stage of maxi-
mum production. Other plantings were made with an increase
in number of trees and range of varieties. Included are some
species on which rootstock tests will be made. Most varieties
of the Japanese persimmon (Diospyros kaki) when grafted on
native stock (Diospyros virginiana) are short-lived. Rootstock
tests, with stocks other than the native, to determine their lon-
gevity and adaptability are included in the persimmon project.
LIST OF VARIETIES
SPECIES-- COMMON NAME- VARIETY-
Diospyros kaki ......................Japanese persimmon.....-.......... SPI. No. 56389
SPI. No. 26491
*Fuyugaki
*Gailey
*Hachiya
*Okame
*SPI. No. 22366
*Taber's No. 23
*Tamopan
*Tanenashi
SPI. No. 22350
*Triumph
Diospyros montana ......---... Mountain persimmon.............. SPI. No. 28684
*Diospyros sp. ........................Persimmon ................................ SPI. No. 56309
*Diospyros sp. ..................... Persimmon ................................ SPI. No. 56308
*Diospyros sp. ........................Persimmon ................................ SPI. No. 56310
*Diospyros sp. ........................Persimmon ................................ SPI. No. 56133
*Diospyros sp. ........................Persimmon ................................ SPI. No. 56132
*Diospyros virginiana ..........Common persimmon..................... ..
*Planted this year.
60
Annual Report, 1924
GRAPE
Sixty-two varieties of the so-called bunch grape and 14 varie-
ties of the muscadine are now included in the grape plantings.
Those of the bunch type, with few exceptions, are hybrids. These
plantings were made primarily as a variety test in order that
poor varieties may be eliminated and those which show merit be
given further trial and cultural tests. Results of the first season
show a range in growth between varieties varying from a few
inches to 20 feet. Thirty-two of the 44 varieties planted in
January, 1923, set fruit this their second season. Three varie-
ties showed infection of downy mildew (Plasmopara viticola);
three showed an infestation of grape-leaf folder (Desmia funer-
alis); and three showed a leaf infestation of grape phylloxera
(Phylloxera vitifoliae). During early spring months all were
more or less severely infested with brown grape aphis (Macros-
iphum sp.).
LIST OF VARIETIES
Vitis munsoniana .................................................. Mustang
Vitis tiliafolia ...................................... .......... SPI.'No. 44060
Vitis sp. ................................. ..... ......... SPI. No. 46787
Vitis spp ................................. .......................... No. M 202
America Husmann
Armalaga *Jacquez
*Bailey Jaeger
Bell *Jaeger 43
Blondin James SPI. No. 3410
Brilliant *Kilgore
Captain Ladano
Captivator Last Rose
Carman Lomanto
Catawba Longfellow
Champanel Lukfata
Cloeta *Luola
*Concord Manito
*Cream *Manson
*Delakins Marcus
*Delaware Marguerite
*Dr. Collier Mathilda
Eden SPI. No. 3408 *Mericadel
Edna *Memory
Ellen Scott Minnie
Elvicand Mish SPI. No. 3412
Ericson *Male Muscadine
Extra *Muscadine "V47R9B2"
Fern Muench
Flowers SPI. No. 3409 Neva
*Goethe "New Variety"
Gold Coin *Niagara
Headlight Nitodel
*Herbemont President
61R
Florida Agricultural Experiment Station
*Rommel Valhallah
Ronalda Volney
R. W. Munson *Wapanuka
*Sabinal W. B. Munson
*Salamander Winchell
Salem Wine King
Scuppernong
*Smith *Zinfandel
Thomas SPI. No. 3414 SPI. No. 44060
Seedling No. R4B2 Willard *Planted this year
AVOCADO
A small avocado planting, chiefly of Mexican varieties, was
made. The location of the horticultural grounds restricts these
plantings to those of the hardier types. Rootstock tests will be
made to determine what effect the different types, as stocks, may
have on hardiness of the scion. Limited propagation tests are
being conducted.
Trees of the Mexican type on the horticultural grounds, over
10 years of age, suffered little or no damage, other than to bloom,
by a temperature under 220F. while sour orange trees adjoining
were defoliated.
Following is a list of trees planted last season:
B lake ........................ .................................- ..-.....
Chisholm ................... .... .. .......... ...............................
Collinson .....................- .......... SPI. No. 55509
Gottfried ..................................................
Itzamm a .......................... ................................... SPI. No. 55736
M ex. ....... ...... .. ........ ................. ...........No. M 67
Mex. .............................. .............------No. M545
Mex. ......................... .. ....... ........... No. M546
Mex. ................................. ...-. .......- .--.No. M547
Puebla .................................................
ORNAMENTALIS AND MISCELLANEOUS
Taken as a whole, ornamental plantings constitute no small
part of the plantings made within the State. Culture, adapt-
ability to soils and climate, and propagation of these plants, as
well as miscellaneous fruits, are being given due attention within
the limits of present equipment. A large part of present plant-
ings consists of such plants.
For purpose of determining whether or not tobacco seed could
be matured under glass between seasons, seed of last season's
crop were planted in the greenhouse August 14. The first seed
ripened March 26; approximately half matured by April 15 and
all by June 20.
62R
Annual Report, 1924
Several varieties of cotton were grown under supervision of
this department last peason.
IMPROVEMENTS AND REPAIRS
Improvements made during the last fiscal year consist in the
construction of a 20 ft. x 30 ft. slat house for plants, corral for
mules, several propagation frames, one additional line of over-
head irrigation in nursery and erection of an all-metal non-climb-
able fence with all posts set in concrete on the north boundary
line of the horticultural grounds. Extensive repairs to the
greenhouse were necessary and all permanent buildings were
repainted. The increased acreage of this department necessitated
purchase of an additional mule and more farming implements.
During the fiscal year numerous varieties of both ornamental
and economic plants were added to the plantings on the hor-
ticultural test grounds. These plantings bring the present total
of species to above 350 in number, with the number of plants in
each varying from one to several hundred. Several of the species
are further represented by one or more horticultural varieties.
These plants were collected from various sources within the
United States and also include a large number which were im-
ported from foreign countries thru the United States Department
of Agriculture. Approximately 30 acres, including greenhouse,
slat sheds, etc., are' now exclusively devoted to their culture.
Plantings on test grounds at present include the following (those
marked were added during the past season):
List of plants on horticultural grounds not enumerated above:
SPECIES- COMMON NAME- VARIETIES-
Abelia grandiflora.............Glossy abelia-.................
*Acacia longifolia....................Sydney wattle............---
Acacia sp. ............. .......................... No. M174
Acacia sp. (horrida?)... ............................ .......
Acacia sp. ............................... .... No. 2577
Acalypha wilkesiana..............Copperleaf -----.................
*Acanthophoenix sp.................Palm ........................................
*Actinidia coriacca.................... .... .........
Adiantum tenerum................Fan .maidenhair fern..............
*Agathis grandis......................Dammar pine........ ...........
Agyneja impubes................................SPI. No. 41261
*Albizzia julibrissin.............Silktree ..... .......................
Allamnanda cathartica...........Allamanda .............................Henderson A.
Allamanda nerifolia............Allamanda ...............................Oleander Alla-
manda
63R
64R Florida Agricultural Experiment Station
SPECIES- COMMON NAME- VARIETIES-
A lpinia sp.................................... .. ... ................
Antigonon leptopus.............Rosa-de-montana ..............
A ralia sp....................................................... .................
Araucaria excelsa................Norfolk Island pine..............
*Ardisia crenata....................Coral ardisia............................
Aristolochia sipho... .............Dutchman's pipe................
Arundinaria nitida............Bamboo ................................
*Asparagus falcatus..............Sickle thorn...................
Asparagus plumosus............Asparagus fern...............
Aspidistra lurida............... ............................
*Azalea indica.........................Indica azalea.........................Brilliant
Duce-de-Rohan
Formosa
Glory-of-Sun-
ninghill
No. 422
Pine- Forest Inn
No. 6
Pine Forest Inn
No. 7
Pride of Dorking
Prince of Orange
Bamboo sp......................................................SPI. No. 23260
Bamboo sp.......................................... ..... .....SPI. No. 23241
Bambusa argentia striata....Silver-striped bamboo..............
Bambusa area striata........Golden-striped bamboo............
*Bauhinia purpurea................Purple bauhinia.......... .......
*Bauhinia variegata (alba)....Buddhist bauhinia............
*Benzoin sp..................................... ..................... .. SPI. No. 56292
*Berberis buxifolia................Megellan barberry................
*Berberis sargentiana............Sargent barberry............---
*Bignonia speciosa...............Painted trumpet-.........
Bignonia unguis-cati..............Cat-claw trumpet..........
Bignonia venusta....................Flaming trumpet (Flame
vine) ------.......
Billardiera longiflora...............................................................
*Bougainvillea spectabilis......Bougainvillea .......................Crimson Lake
*Bougainvillea glabra san-
deriana .............................Bougainvillea ..........................Sander
Brunfelsia sp............................................ ..............
*Bryophyllum sp.................... .................. ........................
*Buddleia forresti............................ ........ ................................SPI. No. 56294
Buddleia officinalis................Pale buddleia.................
*Buxus sp...................................Box ..... -....................
Cactus sp............ ...-.... ........ .. ......... .............. No. M205
*Caladium sp.................. .....................................No. M 571
*Callistemon citrina................Bottlebrush .....................
*Callistemon lanceolatus........Bottlebrush ..........-........
*Callistemon rigidus................Bottlebrush ..................
*Callitris verrucosa................Cypress-pine .........--......
*Callitris verrucosa-blue......Cypress-pine ...........-......
*Callodendron capense........................... ........ .....
Carica papaya........................Papaya ..............-----------
*Carloduvica elegans...........Palm .............................
*Carloduvica incisa..................Palm ..................................
*Carloduvica palmata..............Palm .............................
*Caryota mitis..........................Fishtail palm..... ..............
Casuarina cunninghamiana..Australian-pine ----.... --...............-- Cunningham
beefwood
Annual Report, 1924 65R
-A
SPECIES- COMMON NAME- VARIETIES--
Catha edulis............................Kat .......................................
Cattleya sp............................... Orchid ......................................No. M 454
Ceratonia siliqua....................Carob ........................................
Ceris siliquastrum..................Bladder-nut (Judas-tree).....
Chamaecyparis thyoides........White cedar... ..................
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana..Lawson cypress........................
Chamaedorea elegans............Palm .........................................
*Chamaerops humilis-.............Hair palm..................................
Chilopsis linearis....................Desert willow..................
Chiococca alba............. .....................................................SPI. No. 33096
*Chlorophytum sp.................................................................. No. M553
Cinnamomum zeylanicum......Cinnamon ..................................
Cinnamomum camphorum....Camphor ..................................
Citrus spp. (See report
1922-23) ...... .. ................... ...............
*Clematis paniculata..............Sweet autumn clematis..........
Clerodendron thomsonae... ...Thomson glorybower...............
Clerodendron siphonanthus..Turks-turban ............................
Clivia sp...................................Kafirlily ................................... No. M264
Cocos australis...................... Pindo palm..........................
Cocos alphonsei......................Palm ............ ...................
Cocos bonetti..........................Bonnet palm....................
Cocos datil..............................-Datil palm..............................
Cocos entre-rios...................... Palm ........................................
Cocos eriospatha....................Apricot palm........... .................
Cocos plumosa........................Palm ..................................
Cocos yatai..............................Palm ........................................
Codiaeum variegatum .........Croton ........................................Ten varieties
Cornus florida..........:.............Flowering dogwood................
Corypha elata ..........................Palm .......................................... SPI. No. 35689
Cotoneaster frigida ................Himalaya cotoneaster..............SPI. No. 38760
Cotoneaster pannosa..............Silverleaf cotoneaster..............SPI. No. 32936
Crinum sp...................................................................................N o. M 336
Cunningha'mia lanceolata...... China-fir ..................................SPI. No. 44665
*Cuphea hyssopifolia..............Hyssop cuphea...............-----
Cuppressus lusitanica..........Portuguese cypress...............
*Cupressus benthami..............Knight cypress..........................Knightiana
*Cupressus torulosa................Bhutan cypress......................
Cycas revoluta.- Sago cyca...........Sago cycas..............
Cydonia japonica....................Flowering quince.............
Cyrtopodium tenerum............Orchid .................... ..............
Datura arborea-------......................Floripondio (Angel's trum-
pet) ..-----
Dendrocalamus strictus........Male bamboo..... .................
Deutzia scabra........................Deutzia ......................................Pride of Roches-
ter
Dieffenbachia sp..-------...................Tuftroot .............................
Dombeya wallichi..................Scarlet dombeya-..............
Dracaena godseffiana................................. ..............
Dracaena sp ...--------......... ....-..-..-...................................... No. M245
Duranta plumieri..................Golden dewdrop..............
*Eleagnus pungens................. Thorny eleagnus....------.....
Eriobotrya japonica..............Loquat ..................................... SPI. No. 31485
SPI. No. 31486
SPI. No. 31487
SPI. No. 23698
Eragrostis curvula................"University" grass..................SPI. No. 12799
*Eucalyptus rostrata..............Creek gum......................
*Eucalyptus tereticornis........Slaty gum..................................
66R Florida Agricultural Experiment Station
SPECIES- COMMON NAME- VARIETIES-
*Eucalyptus viminalos............Manna gum..... ................
*Eucalyptus rudis ...-....... Desert gum......-............
Eucalyptus sp..................Eucalyptus ...................
*Eugenia hookeriana..............Bush-cherry .........--------....
Eugenia uniflora....................Surinam-cherry ..... .......
*Euonymus americana............Strawberry bush.............
Euonymus japonicus....-........ Evergreen burningbush.......
Euonymus patens......--..........Spreading euonymus-...........SPI. No. 23027
*Euonymus radicans acutus..Sharpleaf wintercreeper.......
Feijoa sellowiana...................-----Feijoa ....---.........-----.....SPI. No. 26120
SPI. No. 8525
*Choice
*Coolidge
*Superba
*Ficus altissima........................Lofty fig--..... ........---------
Ficus aurea..............................Florida strangler fig.........
*Ficus benjamina......................Benjamin fig.......-............
Ficus carica............................Common fig .......... ..---------Celeste
Green ischia
Ficus elastica.................-..--..India rubbertree ..............
Ficus glomerata...........-.....-------..............---- ........ SPI. No. 52496
*Ficus infectoria.....................- Dotted fig-..............---------
Ficus macrophylla-....-........-- Moreton bay fig--............
*Ficus nitida-----............---......Indian "laurel"...............
Ficus padifolia.....-------- --------........... SPI. No. 44116
Ficus pumila...............---- .. Climbing fig...................
*Ficus rubiginosa--.......-..........Rusty fig.............................
Ficus sp.... -------------------SPI. No. 52406
Ficus sp.................................. ...................................................... I. N o. 52406
*Ficus sp. (glabella?).............................------...........No. M577
Ficus sp ------- ----- -SPI. No. 52407
Ficus sp...-----------............. --------............... --------------------......SPI. No. 52408
Ficus sp...... ..SPI. No. 52410
Ficus sp --------------....................................---------------------- ............................ No. 52410
Ficus utilis..............................Zulu fig.... ....-------.-----...SPI. No. 29359
*Ficus villosa............................Shaggy fig...............--------
*Fragaria ................................Strawberry ..-----.. --------..
Gardenia florida....................Cape-jasmine .....-----....---
Gaylussacia sp-...........------ Huckleberry --- -------
Gerbera jamesoni~............... Flame-ray gerbera...........
H edera helix............................English ivy...............................
Hedychium coronarium....... ..Common gingerlily..................
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis............Chinese hibiscus....................... Double scarlet
Single scarlet
White-wing
Hibiscus sp......----.. ------------.. .. .....-. No. M347
Hicoria pecan..........................Pecan ....................... ---- ... (See report of
pecan culturist)
Hydrangea opuloides............Hydrangea ........-------------
*Hyophorbe verschaffeltii...... Pignut palm.........................---
Ilex cornuta.......................-- Chinese holly---.........---. ---
Ilex opaca........................---.... American holly......................--
Ilex paraguariensis-....-.......-.Yerba mate.. ---.............-----
Ilex sp ..........------. ---.. ..- Holly ......--. .---...--- -----.SPI. No. 51788
Ilex vomitoria........................------- Yaupon ....--------..------
Ixora coccinea........................Scarlet ixora----.....------
Jacobinia coccinea..................Scarlet jacobinia---.... ----..
Jasminum beesianum ............Rosy jasmine--..........------
Jasminum (gracillimum?)....Slender jasmine..........-------
*Jasminum humile....................Italian jasmine-..........------
Annual Report, 1924 67R
SPECIES- COMMON NAME- VARIETIES-
Jasminum sambac..................Arabian jasmine..................... Grand Duke
*Jasminum sp...........................Jasmine ....................................--- ----- No. M501
Jatropha sp.......--... .----. ----........-.............--- ...--..............No. M212
*Juglans regia..........................Persian or English walnut....
Juniperus communis..............Common juniper..............
Juniperus communis var.......Weeping juniper......................
Juniperus pachyphloea..........Checkerbark juniper................ SPI. No.' 27497
*Juniperus procera..................East African cedar................ SPI. No. 55484
Juniperus horizontalis..........Creeping juniper ..............
Juniperus virginiana............Red cedar..........................
Jussiaea leptocarpa................Primrose willow..................
Kentia sp.................................---- Palm ...------....................................No. M333
Koelreuteria formosana..................-.. ..--....
Lagerstroemia indica............Common crape myrtle.---......Dwarf "blue"
Dwarf crimson
Purple
White
Pink or rose
Scarlet
Lantana sellowiana................Weeping lantana---......-----..
Lantana spp---.......................-----Lanana .........................
Lantana commersoni (bor-
bonica) ..............................--Palm ........... .---------
Laurocerasus caroliniana...... Cherry-laurel .................
Leonotis leonurus-----..................Lion's ear..................................
Leucaena glauca..................--Lead-tree .......................
*Ligustrum ovalifolium......... California privet...................... Common
*Ligustrum ovalifolium
aureomarginatum .......----......California privet...................-.. Yellowedge
*Ligustrum japonicum............Japanese privet............ ....
*Ligustrum lucidum-...............Wax or glossy privet..............
*Ligustrum coriaceum............Dwarf privet...................
Ligustrum quihoui--...............Quihou privet...................
Litchi chinensis.......----...............Lychee .............---------.....
*Lonicera sempervirens..........Trumpet honeysuckle.........
Macadamia ternifolia............Queensland-nut ..................
Magnolia grandiflora............Magnolia ............................
Malus angustifolia............... Southern crabapple..............
Malus sylvestris....................Apple on Crataegus root-
stock .................-------...................No. M168
Delicious
King David
S. S. Queen
Malus sylvestris....................Apple ............... ...........
Metrosideros tomentosa........Bottlebrush ....................
*Michelia fuscata....................Banana-shrub .................-
Momordica charantia............Balsam-pear ...................-
Monsterra sp...........................................................
*Moraea iridioides..................Natal-lily ..........---------.....
Morus nigra............................Mulberry ....-...................
Morus alba tatarica..............Russian mulberry.............
Muehlenbeckia platyclada....Ribbonbush .......................
*Musa gillettii..........................Banana ......... ------............................ SPI. No. 56785
*Musa sp......---------...........................Banana ................................
Myrica cerifera-.....................Southern waxmyrtle................
Myrtus communis..................True myrtle........................
Myrtus communis
microphylla ........................Rosemary myrtle................
68R Florida Agricultural Experiment Station
SPECIES- COMMON NAME- VARIETIES-
*Nandina domestica.............Heavenly "bamboo"................
Nectranda sanguine ............................................. ............... SPI. No. 34981
Nephrolepis exaltata
bostonienis ..................Swordfern ...............................Curly
Pierson
Scott
Teddy junior
Verona
*Nerium oleander atropur-
pureum plenum................Oleander ........................
*Nerium oleander...........--....Oleander .................................... California
Dr. Golfin
Frederick Gui-
bert
Mrs. F. Roeding
Carneum
Madonna grandi-
flora
Mme. Sahut
Savort
Seedling
Single pink
Single white
Splendens
Splendens varie-
gata
*Nolina tuberculata...............................................................
*Olea europeae.........................Olive .................................. Fayum SPI. No.
44709
Mission
Oncidium lanceanum..............Orchid ...............-..
Ophiopogon japonicus.-.......Japanese snakebeard.........
Oreodoxa regia (Roy-
stonea regia) ...................Royal palm................................
Oroxylon indicum.................East Indian trumpetflower....SPI. No. 35468
Osmanthus american ..........Wild olive............................
Padus virginiana....................Wild black-cherry............
*Pandanus utilis................. Common screwpine...........
*Pandanus veitchi...................Veitch screwpine................
Panicum palmifolium
(Chaetochloa palmifolia)..Palmgrass .......................
*Parkinsonia aculeata...........Parkinsonia ... ....................
*Paspalum quadrifarium.......Ornamental grass.............. SPI. No. 04217
*Paspalum sp...........................Ornamental grass................SPI. No. 04243
*Passiflora sp.......................... Passionflower ................... No. M566
Phajus (giganteum?)............Orchid ................................
Phoenix canariensis................Canary date palm..............
Phoenix dactylifera...... Da p...........Date palm ........ .....
*Phoenix ousleyana................Palm ...................................... SPI. No. 54767
Phoenix reclinata..................Senegal date palm.................
*Phoenix roebelini....................Roebelin date palm...............
Phoenix, sylvestris.................India date palm..... .............
Phyllanthus angustifolius ...................................................
Phyllostachys quilioi
bambusoidess) .................Japanese timber bamboo........ SPI. No. 24760
Piptadenia rigida....................................................................... SPI. No. 237
Pistacia chinensis..................Chinese pistache................
*Pittosporum eugeniodes........Tarata .............................
Pittosporum tobira..........Pittosporum tobira............
Annual Report, 1924 69R
SPECIES- COMMON NAME- VARIETIES-
*Pittosporum tobira
variegatum ........................Whitespot tobira......................
Plumbago capensis...............Cape plumbago....................
*Podocarpus macrophylla......Yew podocarpus........................
Podocarpus sinensis..............Podocarpus ..............................
Poinciana regia......................Royal poinciana.....................
Polystichum adiantiforme....Leather fern.....................
Pothos aureus............................ ................ ..........
Poupartia axillaris..................................................................... SPI. No. 36164
Psidium cattleianum ..............Cattley guava............................
Psidium guajava ....................Guava ......................................
Pterocarya stenoptera..........Chinese wingnut..................... SPI. No. 45587
Punica granatum..................Pomegranate ............................ *SPI. No. 27966
*SPI. No. 8646
*SPI. No. 27049
*SPI. No. 33229
*Quercus sp ..............................Oak ............................................ SPI. No. 56350
*Raphiolepis umbellata ..........Yeddo hawthorne.... .............
Retinospora spp.....................Hinoki cypress..........................
Rhapidophyllum hystrix......Needle palm..... .............
Rhapis humilis........................Reed rhapis.........................
Rondeletia cordata....................................................................
Rosa ......................................Rose .......................................... British queen
Louise Phillipe
Tausendschon
Sabal causiarum....................Porto Rico hat palm.............
Sabal palmetto-....................Cabbage palmetto...................
Saccharum arundinacae........Ornamental grass....................
Saccharum ciliare..................Ornamental grass.................... SPI. No. 17991
Saccharum sp.........................Ornamental grass ..-.....-...... No. M73
Sanchizia glaucophylla............ .........................................--
Sapindus sp.............................Soapberry -------
Sapium sebiferum..................Chinese tallowtree------.........
Schinus terebinthifolius........Brazilian peppertree............
*Schinus molle..........................California peppertree..............
Seaforthia elegans
(Loroma amethystina)....Palm .........................................
Sesbania longifolia................Sesbania .................................--
Severinia buxifolia.................................. ..
Solanum jasminoides............Jasmine nightshade..................
Spiraea spp...........................-.Spirea .................................--- Anthony Waterer
Reeves
*Stephanotis floribunda..............................
Sterculia platanifolia............ Chinese parasoltree..................
Stokesia ............................................-------------
Strychnos spinosa.................Kaffir-orange .......................... SPI. No. 25170
*Tacsonia. lanata.................. ..Passionflower ..........................SPI. No. 56592
*Tacsonia mollisima ...............Softleaf passionflower............ SPI. No. 56593
Tecoma (argentia?)................ ..................................
*Teccma stans..........................Florida trumpetbush...........
*Telanthera sp.........................Alternanthera ... .................
Thea sinensis..........................Tea ........................................
Thrinax microcarpa,............Brittle thatch palm.................. SPI. No. 39392
Thrinax sp...............................Thatch palm.............................. No. M334
Thuja .... ...............................Arborvitae ................................ American pyra-
midal
Rosedale hybrid
Golden oriental
George Peabody
Tithonia diversifolia............................ ...........................
70R Florida Agricultural Experiment Station
SPECIES- COMMON NAME- VARIETIES-
Trachelospermum
jasminoides ........................Confederate-jasmine ..............
Vaccinium sp...........................Blueberry ..................................No. M58
Vanilla planifolia..................Vanilla ....... ........................
*Viburnum carlesi....................Fragrant viburnum........
*Viburnum odoratissimum....Sweet viburnum.................
*Viburnum odoratissimum
nanum ...........................................
Viburnum prunifolia ..............Blackhaw ...........................
*Viburnum suspensum............Sandankwa viburnum............
*Viburnum tinus......................Laurustinus .....
Vitex agnus-castus................Lilac chaste-tree......................
Washingtonia filifera............California Washington palm..
Washingtonia robusta..........Mexican Washington palm....
Wisteria sinensis....................Chinese wisteria................
Zamia floridana......................Coontie ......... ......................
Zamia pumila........................St. John's Coontie................
*Zanziber officinale................Ginger .................. ................
*Ziziphus jujuba--.................Chinese jujube..........................*SPI. No. 38245
*SPI. No. 38249
*SPI. No. 22684
*SPI. No. 22686
*Ziziphus mauritiana..............India jujube............................. *SPI. No. 55485
*SPI. No. 45638
*SPI. No. 45685
*Ziziphus mistol......................Jujube ...................................... SPI. No. 44442
*Ziziphus sp.............................Jujube ...................................... SPI. No. 51408
Annual Report, 1924
Fig. 3.-Young tung-oil tree cutting rooted in
sand seven months from time of placing in sand.
71R
Florida Agricultural Experiment Station
REPORT OF THE PECAN CULTURIST
Wilmon Newell, Director.
SIR: I hereby submit the following report of Department of
Pecan Investigation for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1924.
Respectfully,
G. H. BLACKMON,
Pecan Culturist.
Since its organization this department has devoted consider-
able time to gathering available information as to the most ap-
proved methods of orchard management as practised by pecan
growers of Florida and also to studying different varieties as to
their adaptability to various areas of the State, soil types, disease
resistance, and to studying these areas of Florida to which the
pecan is best adapted.
It has been found that the pecan (Hicoria pecan) tho not in-
digenous to Florida, thrives and makes rapid growth and satis-
factory production in many of her soils.
In a general way it can be said that the area of Florida best
suited to the commercial culture of pecans is from Jacksonville
west to Pensacola and south to Gainesville. To be sure, there
are plantings located in other parts of the State, but this will
take in most of the successful orchards.
VARIETY AND STOCK TESTS
In cooperation with Assistant Horticulturist Harold Mowry,
a variety test and stock nursery were started. The variety test
is composed of five trees each of 19 varieties of pecans (Hicoria
pecan), three trees of two varieties of English walnuts (Juglans
regia), three trees of Japanese walnut (Juglans sieboldiana var.
cordiformis), and two trees of a walnut (Juglans regia No.
56091) from the United States Department of Agriculture, Plant
Introduction Department. The trees were set during the plant-
ing season of 1923-24. The most approved methods of orchard
management are being employed in order that all varieties being
tested may have an equal showing so that accurate results may
be obtained. In addition to the variety orchard 17 varieties are
being tested in the horticultural grounds.
The nursery is composed of seedling pecans and hickories from
eight different sources. The seedlings are being grown for the
72R
Annual Report, 1924
purpose of studying rootstocks and methods of propagation. Look-
ing to the development of a better black walnut (Juglans nigra),
this nut was also added to the nursery planting.
FERTILIZER EXPERIMENTS
In cooperation with the chemist, 10 cooperative fertilizer ex-
periments in seven counties were started, various combinations
of ammonia, phosphoric acid and potash, as well as the separate
materials being used to determine which will give maximum pro-
duction and highest quality of nuts, and also the effect of pot-
ash on scab.
Owing to the short time that this work has been carried on
no definite results have been obtained.
ROSETTE EXPERIMENT
In further cooperation with the chemist and plant pathologist
an experiment was started in January in the orchard of N. D.
Wainwright, Starke, Bradford County, to determine the most
satisfactory methods in controlling rosette. Several different
treatments are being employed but no definite results can be
reported at this time.
DISEASE CONTROL
In cooperation with the Department of Plant Pathology a thoro
and systematic study is being made in the laboratory of the
organism causing pecan scab. The work is being handled by R.
E. Nolen, who is devoting half of his time to this and other pecan
diseases. A carefully planned spraying experiment to deter-
mine the most successful method of controlling pecan scab is
being conducted in the orchard of J. H. Wells, Baldwin, Duval
County.
INSECT CONTROL
In cooperation with the Department of Entomology, a study
of the life history and control methods of different pecan insects
is being conducted by A. H. Beyer. In this connection a field
experiment in spraying is being carried on in the orchard of
H. H. Simmons, Jacksonville.
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Florida Agricultural Experiment Station
COVER CROPS
To determine the most satisfactory cover crop for pecan or-
chards, six experiments in five counties, testing five different
legumes, were started this summer.
Fig. 4.-Pecan variety orchard, showing cover crop of Brabham cowpeas.
THERMOGEN EXPERIMENT
A 36-inch square of perforated thermogen was applied to each
of 45 trees for the purpose of testing its value when used on
newly set pecan trees. After watching the trees carefully and
comparing them with those untreated, it was decided to conclude
the experiment July 24, 1924, as no results were obtained other
than the fact that it was much more difficult to keep the soil free
of vegetation adjacent to the trees, due to the obstruction caused
by the thermogen which prevented hoeing. Therefore the con-
clusion is that thermogen is of no value to young pecan trees.
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Annual Report, 1924 75R
NUT COLLECTION
A collection of nuts, consisting of 45 varieties, all of which
were grown in Florida except one, were assembled and placed in
permanent museum jars. This display is kept for ready ref-
erence in the Experiment Station building.
LITERATURE
The following literature was prepared and published: "Trans-
planting Pecan Trees," Press Bulletin 350; "A Spray Schedule
for Pecans," Press Bulletin 351; "Cultivating the Pecan Or-
chard," Press Bulletin 352A, and "Top-Working Pecan Trees,"
Bulletin 170.
Florida Agricultural Experiment Station
REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST
Wilmon Newell, Director.
SIR: I submit the following report of the Department of
Entomology for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1924.
Respectfully,
J. R. WATSON,
Entomologist.
FLORIDA FLOWER THRIPS
Studies in the control of the Florida Flower thrips (Frank-
liniella bispinosa Morgan) on citrus were continued. The re-
sults obtained from spraying a block of Valencia oranges were
unusually good. These trees were sprayed once while in full
bloom, March 16, 1923, with a solution of lime-sulphur (3 gal-
lons) and nicotine sulphate (8/4-pint) to 150 gallons of water. A
careful count of the oranges on each tree in March, 1924, showed
less than a third as many oranges sufficiently scarred to lower
their grades from "brights" to goldenn" as on the unsprayed
trees. It was estimated that the increased value of the oranges
due to the spraying amounted to about 20 cents a box. Usually
a single spraying reduces the amount of marked fruit by about
half that found on checks. The better showing in this case was
probably due to the fact that the bloom on the different trees in
the block came out at about the same time, thus increasing the
efficiency of spraying.
In September results obtained in control of thrips in the sat-
suma grove at Cottage Hill were tabulated. Best results were
obtained on trees dusted with a bellows-type hand duster. A
blast can be delivered directly into each clusterof blooms. This
dusting is also cheaper than spraying, as it is a one-man job,
whereas spraying requires at least two men and a horse. Dust-
ing with a mixture of finely ground tobacco was also quite
effective, but less so than the nicotine sulphate-lime dusts.
The freeze of the first week in January so injured the satsuma
trees in the western part of the State that they put out prac-
tically no bloom this year. As a result it was not possible to
continue the experiments in thrips control.
There were few thrips in the citrus bloom this year. March
and the first part of April were unusually wet and cold. Heavy
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Annual Report, 1924
rains washed many thrips from the blossoms and dashed them
to death on the ground, and cold weather slowed up the breeding
of those that lived thru the rains. As a result of the scarcity of
thrips in the bloom, few experiments in their control were at-
tempted, other than tests in the Valencia grove mentioned above.
ROOT-KNOT
Experiments in the control of root-knot by means previously
found efficient were continued. These included soil fumigation,
and the growing of bunch velvet beans or cowpeas under constant
and clean cultivation.
Along the lines of soil fumigation much attention was given to
the attempt to substitute calcium cyanide for the double applica-
tion of sodium cyanide and ammonium sulphate previously em-
ployed. It is as yet too early to form any definite conclusions as
to the comparative efficiency of the two substances.
The sodium cyanide and ammonium sulphate method was given
a thoro trial on a two-acre celery seedbed at Sanford to see if it
would work out as satisfactorily under conditions of soil and
irrigation there as at Gainesville.
Sodium cyanide was applied to the soil in solution at the usual
rate (600 pounds to the acre). Irrigation water (sub-irriga-
tion) was then turned on and brought nearly to the surface. The
ammonium sulphate (900 pounds to the acre) was then scattered
over the soil and the crystals disked in. The water was brought
to the surface and then allowed to drain off. From the stand-
point of nematode control the test was not as definite as desir-
able, due to the fact that few nematodes developed on the check
plots. But no injurious effects were noted on celery planted a
month later, and this was the main point on which information
was sought.
Further tests were made with bush velvet beans and resistant
varieties of cowpeas under constant and clean cultivation for re-
ducing the number of root-knot nematodes in the soil. In addi-
tion to bush velvet beans and Brabham cowpeas used during
previous years, tests were made with the new Victory cowpea.
This proved much more heavily attacked by nematodes than Brab-
ham cowpeas. The best results, as heretofore, were obtained
with velvet beans. A careful inspection was made of a legume,
Crotalaria, which is attracting much attention as a cover crop..
It seems to be immune to root-knot.
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Florida Agricultural Experiment Station
A series of tests were commenced in an attempt to control
nematodes on peach trees and fig trees. In cooperation with the
horticulturist of the L. & N. Railroad, a series of tests were
started to determine the practicability of controlling root-knot
on peach trees by the use of calcium cyanide. Similar tests were
started with sulphur on peach and fig trees, and with covering
the roots with mulching paper.
USE OF SULPHUR IN THE CONTROL OF NEMATODES
Early in the year 1923 the Experiment Station concluded an
agreement with the National Research Council for cooperative
work in the use of sulphur in combating nematodes. R. L. Trigg
was located at Gainesville on a fellowship given by several sul-
phur companies to the National Research Council. Mr. Trigg
found that the application of between 200 and 500 pounds of
sulphur to the acre resulted in a marked diminution in the num-
ber of nematodes in the soil, and had a stimulating effect on plant
growth. But it was not found possible to entirely eradicate the
worms, no matter how much sulphur was used. The application
of amounts much in excess of 500 pounds had an injurious effect
on plants planted later.
In September Mr. Trigg resigned. The fellowship has not
been filled, but these experiments are being carried on by the
Experiment Station.
PLANT BUGS
In cooperation with the Station's grass and forage crops
specialist the relation between Crotalaria when used as a cover
crop in citrus groves and the larger plant bugs, especially Nezara
viridula, was carefully investigated. The fleshy green pods of
this plant are attractive to Nezara viridula and there was a
question as to whether the presence of Crotalaria in a grove
would not be a menace to the fruit. But a careful investigation
of groves in which it was used last year showed that instead of
being a menace it was distinctly an insurance against "pumpkin
bug" injury, if correctly handled. Immature pods are more
attractive to the bugs than even tangerines and serve as a trap
crop to keep the bugs off the fruit.
MEALY BUGS
The early part of the summer of 1923 was characterized by a
heavy infestation of mealy bugs which gave the growers much
78R
Annual Report, 1924
trouble before it was finally brought under control largely by
the carniverous caterpillar Laetilia coccidivora. Various spray
solutions were tried out. Perhaps the most satisfactory was
nicotine sulphate (1 to 800) in lime-sulphur solution at rust-
mite strength. Lime-sulphur alone when used with good pres-
sure was efficient, as was also a good grade of carbolic acid
(1 percent solution). The oil emulsions did not penetrate satis-
factorily. The mealy bug parasite (Paraleptomastix abnormis
Girault), introduced from California by the Experiment Station,
was recovered.
CHINCH BUG CONTROL
Experiments carried on during the year proved that the most
effective method of controlling chinch bugs on St. Augustine
grass is by the application of 25 percent calcium cyanide dusted
on the grass at the rate of 150 pounds to the acre.
PECAN INSECTS
Biological studies were conducted with relation to the life
history and parasites of the most important insects injurious to
pecan trees. These were divided into three groups: insects in-
jurious to foliage, those injurious to trunk and limbs of the tree,
and those injurious to nuts.
In cooperation with the pecan specialist a complete file is
being kept of insect infestations reported by growers, if of
economic importance.
A series of experiments in the control of leaf case bearer, cigar
case bearer, bud moth, nut case bearer, and scab, is being con-
ducted in the grove of H. H. Simmons, Jacksonville. The trees
in the experiment were sprayed March 29, just as the foliage
was beginning to appear, and again on April 27, the following
formula being used: 4 pounds of lead arsenate, 12 pounds lime,
2 pounds calcium casenite, 200 gallons of water. On varieties
known to be susceptible to scab the above formula was used in
Bordeaux mixture instead of water. On June 29 an inspection of
the experiment showed practically no trace of leaf or cigar case
bearer and little scab.
It is planned to conduct these experiments thruout a series of
years with others added from time to time, such as experiments
in the control of spittle bug, scale insects, phylloxera, and hick-
ory aphis, by means of oil emulsion, nicotine sulphate and other
contact insecticides.
79R
Florida Agricultural Experiment Station
BEAN JASSID
The bean jassid experiments of the year centered around use
of the new device previously found efficient in spraying experi-
ments with nicotine sulphate and Bordeaux mixture, both as
dusts and as sprays.
A series of comparative experiments was conducted with cop-
per-lime dusts to which was added 3 percent nicotine. In these
experiments the following results were obtained: When the cop-
per-lime dusts were applied thoroly to the foliage it was found
that they did not adhere as well as Bordeaux mixture. When
nicotine dusts were used under the enclosure or hood in the
spraying device mentioned above, the percentage of kill was
about the same as that with the spray. Effects of copper-lime
dusts were not as lasting as those of Bordeaux, which acts as a
repellant for the bean leaf-hopper.
NEW CITRUS APHID
The most important insect outbreak of the year was that of a
new' citrus aphid. As early as the spring of 1923 complaints
were made of an unusual outbreak of aphids in Hillsborough,
Polk and Pinellas counties. These complaints were renewed in
the fall, and in the spring of 1924 the outbreak assumed alarming
proportions. At first it was supposed that it was an unusual out-
break of the melon aphis (Aphis gossypii). But in April the
assistant entomologist, A. H. Beyer, visited the region in question
and at once recognized that the insect was not Aphis gossypii,
but he was unable to identify it. To date the insect has not been
identified. It has probably been in the State in small numbers
for several years. During the spring it spread rapidly thruout
the citrus belt and by early June had covered almost the entire
citrus belt (excepting the satsuma area).
As soon as the seriousness of the outbreak and the fact that a
new citrus pest of the first magnitude had to be dealt with were
recognized, a careful study of the new insect, including its life
history, natural parasites and predators, and control measures,
was instituted. The assistant entomologist was located at Lake-
land, and devoted his entire time to a study of the insect. A
brief summary of the life history and control measures follow, as
reported by Mr. Beyer, as well as other work done by him.
SOR
Annual Report, 1924
The work of the assistant entomologist, in addition to the
routine work of the office, may be outlined under the following
subjects: life history studies of insects of economic importance
on the pecan, parasitic and other enemies, and control measures
from the standpoint of efficiency and economy; methods of con-
trol of chinch bugs on St. Augustine grass; continuation of work
done in previous years on the bean jassid, including additional
studies on habits and further results in control measures; and
an intensive study during the last few months of the new citrus
aphis, including feeding habits, dispersion, natural enemies, host
plants, and the most effective and economical methods of control.
GENERATION STUDIES OF CITRUS APHID
Generation studies were carried on with the new citrus aphid
from May 2 to June 20 in the field at Lakeland. Since that time
these studies were transferred to Gainesville, where they are
now being conducted.
The reproductive period of the female was found to vary dur-
ing the time of these studies from 2 to 11 days, with an average
of five young a day. The longevity of the females used ranged
from 3 to 21 days. The maximum number of young produced by
a single female was 61, and the minimum was 8. The birth
rate was highest in the early life of the female and the largest
number of young were produced during morning hours. The
percentage of winged individuals ranged from 45 to 69.
Experiments also were conducted on many plants as hosts,
both in the laboratory and in the'field. In the field it was found
on wild plum, and in the laboratory it was bred on nightshade
(Cestrum), Jerusalem oak, milkweed (Asclepias), dog-fennel
(Eupatorium capillifolium (Lam.) Small), cudweed (Gnaphal-
ium), lettuce and peppers. At present, however, experiments
are most successful on Chinese spirea on which the insect in
question seems to have all the habits and characteristics of a
species on its native host.
The first experiments in control, conducted on April 10, when
the outbreak was at its peak, consisted in testing spraying as an
effective control measure. When nicotine sulphate was used in
a spray of 1 to 800 combined with either whale-oil soap -or
laundry soap, 1 pound to each 10 gallons of the above mix-
ture, it was found that efficient results were obtained, where
81R.
Florida Agricultural Experiment Station
possible to get the spray into actual contact with the insect. Bul
this was not always possible, because of the abundance of th(
curled foliage which served as a protection for many of th(
insects. With the contact dusts, however, especially the 3 per.
cent nicotine dusts, the kill was estimated at about 95 percent
The spraying experiments showed an average killing of 85 per.
cent.
These experiments were conducted on three-year-old Templh
orange trees in the Templetown Groves, Lake Wales, on Apri
10, between 9:30 a. m. and noon. It was a bright sunny day
with a temperature of 80 degrees with a westerly wind blowing
about 15 miles an hour.
The accompanying figures give the relative cost of spraying
and dusting.
SPRAYING MACHINE: 300-gallon; equipped with rods anc
two lines of hose, spraying four rows at a time.
MIXTURE:
Lime-sulphur solution (1 to 40 ) 7V gal., cost...........$1.2(
Nicotine sulphate.........(1 to 800) 3 pt., cost........... 5.0'
Calcium casenite ...................... 2/2 Ib., cost.... ..... 51
COST OF MATERIALS ............... ........-............- 6.8S
TIME:
Actual spraying......................102 min.
Including loading................120 min.
Labor three men at $0.25 an hour.......................... 1.5(
TOTAL COST OF SPRAYING... .................... .......... 8.31
GROUND COVERED: 548 trees, or 4.3 trees per minute at cost o:
$0.015 per tree.
DUSTING MACHINE: Dust made in hopper of machine by adding
3 pints of nicotine sulphate to 50 pounds of hydrated lime
and allowing agitator to run for 5 minutes.
MIXTURE:
Hydrated lime............................ 100 lb., cost............$ 1.11
Nicotine sulphate......................... .... 6 pt., cost........... 10.1,
COST OF MATERIALS........................ ......... 11.2'
TIME:
1 hour, 30 minutes.
Labor two men at $0.25 an hour.................................. 7
TOTAL COST OF DUSTING...................-- ..............--$11.9
GROUND COVERED: 332 trees, or 3.4 to the minute at cost o:
$0.036 a tree.
A stop was made at each tree of from 5 to 10 seconds. There
fore, more dust was used and less ground covered than in th(
commercial practice of never stopping and only throwing a clou(
of dust over the tree. In this instance the tree was dusted front
three sides.
82R
Annual Report, 1924
Similar experiments were conducted in Lakeland, to which
were added oil sprays, kerosene emulsion, soap solution, and the
following dusts: Sulphur, calcium arsenate, combinations of
lime and sulphur, and calcium cyanide.
The lowest per-
centage of kill
was obtained A
from the sulphur
dust, medium re-
sults were derived
from oil, kero-
sene emul sion,
and soap solution,
and the highest
efficiency fr om
the nicotine and
calcium cyanide
dusts. However,
the calcium cyan-
ide was effective
only when ap-
plied to the trees
under tents, in
which case 4
pound was ap-
plied to a four-
year-old tree .
This tree was left
Fig. 5.-Character of injury caused by the new
under the tent for citrus aphis.
four minutes.
This gave approximately a 100 percent kill. Some injury was
experienced, however, to the tender foliage as a result of the
burning caused by the dust. The nicotine dusts, which gave an
average of 95 percent kill, were safe from standpoint of burn-
ing of foliage, and had the added advantage of being less
destructive to parasites than the calcium cyanide.
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Florida Agricultural Experiment Station
REPORT OF PLANT PATHOLOGIST
Wilmon Newell, Director.
SIR: I submit the following report of the Department of
Plant Pathology for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1924.
Respectfully,
O. F. BURGER,
Plant Pathologist.
On August 27, 1923, L. O. Gratz assumed duties as assistant
plant pathologist in charge of potato disease investigations. As
soon thereafter as possible, suitable laboratory quarters were
obtained and equipped at Hastings.
Arthur S. Rhoads was appointed assistant plant pathologist in
charge of citrus wilt investigations with headquarters at Cocoa,
Florida. He began work on November 1, 1923. The citrus wilt
investigations are being conducted in cooperation with the citrus
growers of Brevard County. Various growers have contributed
$1,900 and the Experiment Station has contributed $3,000 to
carry on this work. During the year the State Plant Board gave
a little financial assistance in this work.
J. G. Kelley was appointed laboratory assistant in tobacco
disease investigations and was assigned to the Quincy laboratory.
He began work August 18, 1923.
R. E. Nolen was appointed laboratory assistant in pecan dis-
ease investigations and began work November 1, 1923.
In addition to the work on citrus diseases, the plant patholo-
gist spent a month in Miami, where an outbreak of coconut bud-
rot occurred. While he did the field work, the associate plant
pathologist did the culture work with the fungus. The fungus
isolated was Phytophthora faberi Maubl.
The pathological work on cereals, truck, fruit and ornamentals
was carried on during the year by G. F. Weber.
PECAN SCAB
The work on pecan scab (Fusicladium effusum Wint.) is
being carried on by R. E. Nolen. Particular attention is being
paid to the life history of the fungus. Isolations of the fungus
were made. Several different varieties of pecans were inoculated.
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Annual Report, 1924
CITRUS CANKER
The work on citrus canker was given special attention this
year. Several trips were made with members of the State Plant
Board to Davie, to study the conditions under which the last out-
break of canker occurred. It was the general conclusion that
the three most important disseminating agents were man, ani-
mals and wind.
Grapefruit seed were planted under a screened cage on one of
the infected properties from which all citrus trees had been
eliminated. These seed sprouted, but no canker appeared on the
young seedlings. It appears that canker cannot live long in the
soil. No canker was found on the roots of any of the trees that
were destroyed.
The laboratory studies were carried on to ascertain how canker
lives over and causes a new outbreak. The organism can live on
sterilized potato agar, cotton cloth, pine shavings, and soil for a
long time. But on the unsterilized cotton cloth, shavings, and
soil it lives but a short time.
MELANOSE
The Field work for the control of melanose was carried on
with the aid of E. F. DeBusk and various county agents. Exper-
iments were conducted in a number of counties and the results
substantiate the data published in Bulletin 167 of this Station.
It has been observed that if the spray is not applied in time,
the disease is not controlled. When Bordeaux-oil is used to con-
trol melanose it must be followed with oil emulsion spray to con-
trol insects. If there is but little melanose in the grove, it is
advisable not to spray. It was found also that those groves
sprayed with Bordeaux-oil generally had less fruit to drop than
the unsprayed grove.
SCALY BARK
In cooperation with Nursery Inspection Department of the
State Plant Board a survey of the scaly bark situation in the
State was made last autumn. In some groves scaly bark had
done considerable damage by spotting fruit, leaves and young
twigs. In other groves it was found that the disease was present
Taoqto 1I11s uI "augup qonui 2uIop jou suM Inq 's2pi aoq uo
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Florida Agricultural Experiment Station
groves where the disease had existed for a long time, and at one
time had caused severe damage, it was causing but little damage.
It has been demonstrated that the disease can be carried on bud-
wood. In one grove the disease seemed to have been spread by
a pruning crew. In some old groves, owners said that the disease,
tho present, was not spreading; neither did they take extra pre-
cautions to keep it in check. They considered it as a negligible
factor.
WITHERTIP
On February 27, 1924, some diseased twigs of grapefruit,
which were gumming badly at the buds, were received from
Clearwater. The area from which the gum was exuding was
usually dark brown to black. Information was also received
that the grove from which these specimens were taken, was
badly damaged by some disease. Upon inspection of the grove
it was found that as much as two-thirds of many trees were
dead. All of the trees were affected more or less. The grove
had been fertilized and sprayed, and was well cultivated. Cul-
tures were made from the diseased specimens, and Colleto-
trichum gloeosporioides Penz. was always obtained. Therefore,
it was concluded that this was an unusual manifestation of
withertip.
WORK WITH TRUCK CROP DISEASES
Work and findings in the control of diseases of truck crops are
reported below. This work is directly in charge of G. F. Weber,
associate plant pathologist.
About half of the time of Dr. Weber was required in culturing
and identifying organisms that cause plant diseases. The greater
part of the diseased plant specimens were received thru the mail
or brought directly to the laboratory. Some, however, were col-
lected in the field. These diseases were on a large variety of
host plants and were received from all parts of the State. Many
identifications of diseases were made also for nursery and quar-
antine inspectors of the State Plant Board. Correspondence
relative to plant diseases and their control was considerably
greater than last year.
Numerous meetings of vegetable growers and farmers were
held in various parts of the State by the Agricultural Extension
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Annual Report, 1924
Division, in which the associate plant pathologist discussed spe-
cific plant diseases and their control.
Two papers entitled, "Ephelis mexicana, Fr., Balansia hypoxy-
lon (Pk.) Atk., on Sandbur (Cenchrus echinatus L.)" and "Poria
cocos (Schw.) Wolf. Developed on Tuckahoe Found Attached
to Orange Tree Root," were presented before the Phytopatho-
logical section of the American Association for the Advancement
of Science at the Cincinnati meeting.
The 1923 cucumber season was exceptionally disastrous to the
growers of Florida because of the state-wide epidemic of downy
mildew. The first reports of the disease came from southern
counties where the first plantings were made. During the sea-
son, which was exceptionally wet, the disease spread rapidly
over the whole State, traveling northward, and as a consequence
bearing vines were killed early in the season. Because of the
seriousness of the disease, and because of the diversity of opin-
ions as to proper control methods, several plots were dusted with
copper-lime dust and one plot was both dusted and sprayed in an
effort to get comparative data on control.
Owing to the severity of nailhead rust (Macrosporium solani
E. & M.) on tomatoes in almost all areas of the State, and the
difficulty of controlling the disease by the use of copper-lime
dust or Bordeaux spray, a variety seed plot was planted. Seed of
the principal commercial varieties of tomatoes in the United
States were secured and planted at Vero. Continued notes and
observations were made during the season and it was found that
most of the northern types of tomato were susceptible to the
disease. Seed were selected and will be planted next year in an
effort to find more resistant types.
In addition to the two major projects already mentioned some
experimental work was carried on on the Experiment Station
grounds to control Corticium Stevensii (Noack) Burt. on pear
trees. This disease which has proved disastrous was controlled
perfectly by the application of 4-4-50 Bordeaux mixture. The
sprays were applied during the spring, beginning with a dormant
spray and ending after the new growth had developed.
An extensive survey of a downy mildew on wild millet also
was carried on and it was found that this disease is present in
five counties of Florida, in fact, it has been found on the host
plant wherever it grew. At present this disease is not of eco-
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Florida Agricultural Experiment 'Station
nomic importance, but is closely related to certain destructive
diseases found on sugar cane in the Orient.
Last season specimens of citrus seedlings which had damped-
off were sent to the laboratory for examination. Cultures were
made of these specimens; Rhizoctonia species were found.
Inoculation experiments were conducted on Irish potatoes in
which the organism was compared with Rhizoctonia solani,
Kuhn. It was found that both species caused similar diseases of
potato plants.
Almost every year fig trees in the vicinity of Gainesville have
been completely defoliated in early summer by a fungus (Phy-
sopella fici (Cost.) Arth.) which causes a disease known as rust.
This disease attacks only the leaves of the fig tree and usually
appears soon after the fruit begins to ripen. Several fig trees
which had for the last two seasons been completely defoliated
were sprayed with 4-4-50 Bordeaux mixture several times; this
almost completely controlled the disease. The check trees were
defoliated as usual, while the sprayed trees held most of their
leaves during the whole season.
IRISH POTATO DISEASE INVESTIGATIONS
Work and findings in the control of diseases of Irish potatoes
are reported below. This work is directly in charge of L. O.
Gratz, assistant plant pathologist.
This work was done at Hastings, St. Johns County, where
the Station maintains a laboratory for this special work.
SEED POTATOES
Practically all of the potatoes planted in this vicinity are of
the Spaulding Rose No. 4 variety. Approximately 65 percent to
70 percent of these were state certified. Maine and New York
supplied most of this seed stock, the bulk coming from Maine.
The seed potatoes this year were of exceptionally good quality,
as they were grown under more or less ideal conditions. Little
disease was apparent in or on the tubers. An occasional lot
was found which showed considerable Fusarium dry rot.
SEASONAL CONDITIONS
The season was abnormal. At planting time weather and soil
conditions were ideal, but later continued cold and wet weather
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Annual Report, 1924
was directly responsible for a heavy reduction in yield. In gen-
eral vines remained small thruout the season.
DISEASES
LATE BLIGHT (Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary)
was first reported on April 1. The disease became quite general
later in the season. A severe outbreak was apparently averted
by weather conditions unfavorable for the rapid spread of the
disease. In addition, applications of copper-lime dust by most
growers aided in partly controlling the disease. Failure to secure
better control was due in part to delay in making the first appli-
cation of the dust, because weather conditions were unfavorable
for dusting early in the season and thoroness in applying the
dust was lacking. Few growers sprayed with Bordeaux mix-
ture, but those who did so obtained good control.
Much experimental work is needed to determine what methods
are necessary to secure better commercial control of late blight.
The question of relative efficiency of dusting and spraying has
not been settled. For dusting, the time of application, the inter-
val of time between applications, the amount of dust to use, the
strength of dust to apply, and the relationship between climatic
conditions and dusting are all points which need investigating.
EARLY BLIGHT (Macrosporium solani, E. & M.) was ob-
served first on April 10. The disease was not general but caused
severe foliage injury rather late in the season in a few fields.
Four thoro applications of copper-lime dust, using 20 pounds to
each application to the acre, did not check the disease. Early
blight was not found on the vines sprayed with Bordeaux mix-
ture or on the check rows in the sprayed fields, so no informa-
tion on control by spraying could be obtained.
FUSARIUM WILT (Fusarium oxysporum Schlecht. and re-
lated organisms) was found only occasionally.
RHIZOCTONIA (Corticium vagum B. & C.) losses were esti-
mated to be below 1/2 percent for over 75 fields inspected. Occa-
sional plants were found in practically all fields.
SCAB (Actinomyces scabies (Thax.) Gussow) lesions were
observed only occasionally. The disease is considered of minor
importance in this vicinity.
SOUTHERN WILT (Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc.) was found only
occasionally in a few fields.
BLACK LEG (Bacillus phytophthorus Appel.) caused a loss
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Florida Agricultural Experiment Station
of 1/2 percent. Occasional black leg plants could be seen in prac-
tically every field.
BACTERIAL WILT (Bacillus solanacearum E. F. S.) is one
of the more important diseases in the Hastings area. The aver-
age loss was estimated at from 1 percent to 2 percent. That the
disease may become serious is evidenced by the fact that in about
four acres on the end of one field at least 60 percent of the
plants were badly diseased.
MOSAIC (cause unknown) in the Spaulding Rose No. 4 va-
riety was mild. The general average percentage of diseased
plants, however, in this variety was high, reaching at least 15
percent. The maximum and minimum percentages of diseased
plants for the many fields inspected were 50 and 1 percent.
LEAF ROLL (cause unknown) plants were found only occa-
sionally.
SPINDLE TUBER (cause unknown) was difficult to detect.
In general all of the vines were small because of unfavorable
climatic conditions. Then there were many weak plants in some
brands of potatoes especially, which, even tho dwarfed lacked
both typical vine and tuber symptoms.
EXPERIMENTAL WORK
This work consisted of experiments on spraying, dusting,
variety, source and strain tests.
Fifteen lands of one acre each were used to determine the
relative efficiency of 20-80, 25-75, and 30-70 copper-lime dusts.
The three dusts were tried on adjacent lands thru a series of
five applications. Four checks were scattered thru the field at
definite intervals. Four night applications of 20 pounds an appli-
cation to the acre were made at 10-day intervals, and the yield
was carefully checked. The vines did not indicate any difference
between the different dusts, or between the dusted and the un-
dusted, and yields did not vary consistently enough that any
conclusions could be drawn. Late blight was not observed in
this field. Early blight was severe, but was not controlled.
On several other farms dusting was compared with no treat-
ment. On the first farm little difference in yield could be noticed.
On the second, where a half acre land was compared with adja-
cent half-acre lands, dusting gave an increase of 8.3 barrels to
the acre. On the third farm, where three 1/-acre plots con-
stituted the experiment, there was a consistent increase which
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Annual Report, 1924
averaged 3.3 barrels to the acre. In the last experiment none of
the vines was scarcely over a foot high and the total yield was
low.
An experimental plot of five acres was arranged for the pur-
pose of testing out different varieties, and different strains of
Spaulding Rose No. 4 potatoes obtained from different sources.
The different varieties planted were Irish Cobbler, Green Moun-
tain, Russet Rural, Bliss Triumph and Spaulding Rose No. 4.
These were obtained from different parts of different states.
Results were obtained which warrant further extensive investi-
gations along this line.
Several different strains of Maine seed potatoes were com-
pared and differences in yields were consistently obtained. In
another plot in cooperation with W. H. Scoville four Maine
strains and one New York strain were compared on five 11-row
beds 800 feet long. The results were consistent thruout, indicat-
ing that one Maine strain in particular was a low yielder and
that the New York strain was but little better.
In cooperation with G. W. Atkinson, Maine, Wisconsin and
New York Spaulding Rose No. 4 potatoes (called Kings in Wis-
consin) were compared, and, here the strain from New York
proved the highest yielder. These results are contradictory with
those of previous tests and demonstrate that with so many dif-
ferent strains of the same variety conclusions cannot be drawn
from one season's work.
Preliminary tests were made to ascertain the advisability of
treating cut potatoes with a dehydrating agent before planting.
Data which were rather indicative were obtained, and these tests
will be continued.
CITRUS BLIGHT INVESTIGATIONS
Work and findings in the control of citrus blight are reported
below. This work is directly in charge of A. S. Rhoads, assistant
plant pathologist.
An investigation of citrus blight, wilt or leaf-curl, an obscure
disease that has troubled growers for approximately 50 years,
was begun in December, 1923, at Cocoa, where a field laboratory
was established in February, 1924.
Citrus blight, which occurs at several points in the State, is
especially abundant in the groves of Brevard County, where it
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Florida Agricultural Experiment Station
occurs on practically all types of soils planted to citrus trees.
In general it may be said that blight seems to occur most abun-
dantly on the lighter, drier types of soils, especially where under-
laid by coquina rock, and least abundantly on low hammocks. Not
only does blight appear to occur least frequently in low hammock
groves, but when trees on such sites do become blighted they
appear, as a rule, to decline less rapidly than do blighted trees
on the lighter, drier types of soil. While blight unquestionably
occurs most frequently on the higher, drier types of soil, espe-
cially where underlaid by coquina rock, it often occurs where
there is no underlying rock, so that rock alone cannot be regarded
as the direct cause of the trouble. As a matter of fact, groves
on sour orange stock more or less closely underlaid by coquina
rock were observed where one part that was well drained showed
a great abundance of blight and an adjoining, but lower and
poorly drained, part showed virtually no blight. But, on the
other hand, a dying of many trees resulted from prolonged
standing water.
Just as blight apparently occurs on all types of soils, it seems
to occur on practically all kinds and varieties of citrus trees
regardless of rootstock. It occurs on sweet seedling trees and
on trees budded on sweet seedling stock. It likewise occurs on
trees budded on rough lemon and sour orange stock. That the
occurrence of blight is not directly related to fertilization or
other cultural practice appears quite evident, since it occurs both
in groves that have been well fertilized and cultivated and in
town lots and yards where the trees often have had no fertiliza-
tion or cultivation for several years.
The blight situation has been carefully studied for any possible
clue to either the nature and cause of the disease or its mode of
control. Numerous observations were made of blighted trees
in order to determine the manner and rapidity with which the
disease develops and the tree declines. In addition to a large
number of general photographs a series of photographs was made
of various trees just beginning to show blight, the same to be
repeated at intervals, in order to definitely depict the exact mode
and rate of the decline of these trees.
Several blighted trees on sour orange rootstock that had passed
their period of usefulness were removed to study the root system
in relation to soil and disease. In many cases, altho by no means
all, these trees were more or less closely underlaid by coquina
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Annual Report, 1924 93R
rock. In a few cases the roots were more or less extensively
decayed. Two types of rot were found, one a friable, light brown
rot and the other a white, delignifying rot in which the growth
layers of the wood separated readily from one another. In what
was thought to be the incipient stage of the light brown rot a
species of Fusarium was isolated. In the great majority of the
blighted trees removed, however, the roots exhibited no decay or
discoloration, being perfectly sound and with the bark green,
except for an occasional dead root tip. These roots in general,
however, were either strikingly deficient or virtually lacking in
fibrous feeding roots and in some cases the wood felt dry to the
touch and appeared as tho partially seasoned or cured. Nothing
in the way of a microscopic examination indicated the presence
of an organism, except in the case of rotted roots.
The occasional finding of a blighted tree with rotted roots is
believed to be merely a coincidence. And rotted roots are not
considered to have any definite relation to the occurrence of
blight, especially since they occur frequently on trees, particular-
ly in the case of those on rough lemon rootstock, which do not
exhibit a blighted condition. Neither is there any evidence of
decay or discoloration in the wood of the dead or dying limbs and
branches on blighted trees or anything in their microscopic ap-
pearance to indicate the presence of an organism that may be
responsible for the trouble. It is clearly evident, however, that
the trees die back by virtue of the failure of the roots to support
the top rather than from any dying of the top.
Several hundred buds and grafts were made from material
taken from various typically blighted trees, of which photographs
were made for record. In all cases the budwood was selected
from branches on which the foliage showed a distinct wilting
and curling, or had dropped off more or less completely, so that
future developments in the growth of these young trees should
show whether blight can be transmitted by budding.
In a nursery at one grove two rows of two-year-old sour
orange trees were used to make a comparative study of the
growth produced from budwood selected from blighted trees and
that produced from budwood selected from healthy trees. In
one row over 50 trees are now successfully budded with buds
from healthy pineapple orange trees and in the next row over 50
trees are now successfully budded with buds from six different
blight trees, all being pineapple orange except for one Valencia.
Florida Agricultural Experiment Station
The budding of large numbers of older sour orange trees witi
buds selected from various blighted trees, duly recorded b3
photographs, was done successfully at other groves and, insofai
as the buds lived and developed shoots, they developed a per
fectly normal and healthy growth. It is also planned to set thest
trees in groves for future observation. An attempt is beinj
made to work over, by budding and grafting in various ways,
few old sour orange and rough lemon trees and one grapefruit
tree, all of which have long since reached bearing age.
Thus far, aside from the greatly decreased percentage oj
success secured with the budding and grafting done with mate
rial selected from blighted trees, as compared with that selected
from healthy trees, only one general peculiarity was noted witi
the buds and grafts taken from blighted trees. This is th(
occasional development of flowers and setting of fruit by growth
developed from such buds. This peculiarity, however, can b(
attributed to the tendency of many blighted trees to develop ai
abnormally heavy bloom, and to the fact that rather old bud
wood was often selected from these trees because of the genera
scarcity of anything even approximating good budwood.
In addition to the budding and grafting experiments, an at
tempt was made to propagate cuttings taken from various blight
ed trees but was not successful because of dry weather and prob
ably the lack of a suitable propagating box in which a high de
gree of humidity could be maintained.
An experiment to save blighted trees by setting out about then
young sour orange trees and, after they become established, in
arching them into the trunks of the blighted trees, was started<
with three blighted trees.
Microscopic and cultural studies of the roots, trunk am
branches of blighted trees were begun with the hope of demon
strating either the presence or the probable absence of a causa
organism. These have not progressed sufficiently yet to war
rant any conclusions.
TOBACCO DISEASE INVESTIGATIONS
Work and findings in the control of diseases of tobacco will b
reported in the report of the Tobacco Experiment Station, be
ginning on page 121R. W. B. Tisdale, who is immediately ii
charge of all work at that branch station, is associate plan
pathologist.
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Annual Report, 1924
PLANT DISEASES FOUND IN FLORIDA DURING
1923-1924.*
ACACIA (Acacia farnesiana)
RUST (Aecidium, sp.) was collected at Oneco, causing some
damage to the foliage. Not prevalent.
ALLAMANDA (Allamanda neriifolia)
ANTHRACNOSE (Colletotrichum, sp.) was collected in Gaines-
ville; caused a partial defoliation of a number of plants.
AMORPHA (Amorpha canescens)
RUST (Uropyxis amorphae (Curt.) Schrot.) was reported last
year in the uredinia and telia stages. Early this year the aecia
were found upon the same plant.
APPLE (Pyrus malus)
RUST (Gymnosporangium juniperi-virginianae Schw.) was
collected on apple leaves at Gainesville. The trees were not
severely attacked altho individual infections appeared extremely
virulent.
ARBOR VITAE (Thuja orientalis compact)
DIEBACK (Diplodia, sp.) was found causing considerable dam-
age to ornamental plantings in Jacksonville. The disease was
widespread but not generally considered severe.
ARTICHOKE (Helianthus tuberosus)
BACTERIAL ROT (Bacteria, sp.) caused considerable damage to
tubers in experimental plots at Gainesville.
SOUTHERN BLIGHT (Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc.) readily attacked
the plant stalks near the surface of the soil quickly girdling them
and killing the plant, but did not prove important.
ASH (Fraxinus americana)
LEAF SPOT (Cercospora fraxinites Ell. & Ev.) caused consid-
erable damage, in several instances resulting in partial de-
foliation.
RUST (Aecidium fraxini Schw.) was found attacking the seed
covering and petioles, deforming them and causing premature
dropping.
*The diseases here listed are in addition to those listed in the station's
annual report for 1922-23.
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Florida Agricultural Experiment Station
ASPARAGUS (Asparagus officinalis, L.)
STEM LESIONS (Cercospora caulicola Wint.) caused the plants
to be completely defoliated and to drop their smaller branches.
Not common, but severe infection was found.
ASTER (Aster, sp.)
WILT (Fusarium incarnatum (Desm.) Sacc.) was collected at
Gainesville where it was attacking the roots and stems of host
plants.
AVOCADO (Persea americana)
FOOT ROT (Diplodia, sp.) caused some loss especially in nursery
stock and in young plantings in the field. It was not widespread.
POWDERY MILDEW (Oidium, sp) was found quite prevalent dur-
ing the rainy season causing large pale green spots on the leaves.
Not serious.
BALSAM (Impatiens, sp.)
LEAF SPOT (Cercospora, sp.) caused considerable damage to
local flower beds by leaf spotting and defoliation.
DAMPING-OFF (Rhizoctonia, sp.) of seedlings was prevalent in
many instances, reaching 50 percent of the plantings.
BALSAM PEAR (Momordica charantia)
LEAF SPOT (Macrosporium cucumerinum Ell. & Ev.) was found
well scattered but of no serious consequence.
ANTHRACNOSE (Colletotrichum lagenarium (Pass.) Ell. &
IHals.) was found sparingly on the fruits of the host plant.
FRUIT SPOT (Cercospora cucurlitae Ell. & Ev.) was almost in-
variably found attacking all fruits that reached -maturity. It
was very destructive.
WILT (Fusarium vasinfectum) was found on only a few plants
in a limited area. The plants were killed.
BAMBOO (Bambusa, sp.)
LEAF SPOT (Helminthosporium, sp.) caused considerable dis-
coloration and considerable dropping of foliage, but was not
important.
BANANA (Musa, cavendishii, Lamb)
BACTERIA (Bacterium muscae) caused a considerable killing
back of the leaf tissue advancing from the margins to the midrib.
The diseased areas were black while the healthy tissue was green.
There. was no period of yellowing in the change from green to
96R
Annual Report, 1924
black. A bacterial organism was consistently isolated but inoc-
ulations were not made.
FUSARIUM (Fusarium, sp.) was found in several places in the
State. The disease is of a serious nature, killing the tree about
the time it bears fruit. The limited area affected makes the dis-
ease unimportant at present.
ROOT-KNOT (Heterodera radicicola) was found causing a par-
tial wilting of plants near Miami.
BAY (Tamala borbonia)
ALGAE (Cephaleuros virescens Kunze) was collected on the
lower, shaded leaves. The parasitism of this organism is ques-
tioned.
BEAN (Phaseolus vulgaris)
BACTERIAL LEAF SPOT (Bacterium phaseoli E. F. S.) was more
prevalent in bean fields this year than last. The disease was
widespread, attacking beans practically wherever grown in the
State.
WILT (Fusarium, sp.) was reported from one locality and the
fungus isolated from the specimens was a Fusarium, sp.
LEAF SPOT (Isariopsis griseola Sacc.) on beans near Flora-
home practically ruined portions of a large field, causing consid-
erable loss by defoliation.
MOSAIC (cause unknown) was found in a field near Plant City
on Lima beans. It was typical material. Nearby plants at-
tacked by the same disease were tomato, pepper and ragweed.
POWDERY iMILDEW (Erysiphe polygoni D. C.) was prevalent
in scattered localities. The actual damage done was small.
WATERY ROT (Sclerotinia libertiana .Fckl.) was prevalent in
bean fields especially on low ground and where the rows were
close together and foliage was luxuriant.
SAND INJURY (blowing sand), of a serious nature to young
plants and tender foliage, was reported from central portions of
the State.
BEET (Beta vulgaris)
SOUTHERN BLIGHT (Scerotiwm rolfsii Sacc.) was found at-
tacking the fleshy parts of the plant and producing abundant
sclerotia.
ROOT-KNOT (Heterodera radicicola) practically caused a total
loss of a five-acre beet field in the central part of the State.
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Florida Agricultural Experiment Station
BEGGARWEED (Desmodium tortuosum)
LEAF SPOT (Cercospora cruenta Sacc.) was found to be wide.
spread but not of a serious nature, causing some defoliation.
BEGONIA (Begonia semperflorens)
LEAF SPOT (Cercospora sp.), collected on the wild plant was
of no consequence.
BLACKBERRY (Rubus, sp.)
LEAF SPOT (Septoria rubi Westd.) was common on both wild
and cultivated plants last season, causing defoliation and stunted
fruit.
HUCKLEBERRY (Gaylussacia dwnosa)
GALLS (Exobasidium vaccinii (Fckl.) Wor.) were collected or
the host at different places in the central part of the State.
BLUEBERRY (Gaylussacia frondosa)
GALLS (Exobasidium vaccinii (Fckl.) Wor.) were collected
on wild plants in several localities in central Florida. They were
also sent in from western counties.
CABBAGE (Brassica oleracea, var. capitata)
WATERY ROT (Sclerotinia libertiana Fckl.) caused some dam.
age to cabbage in the head while standing in the field. Such a
condition was quite common during the year, but previously has
been found very rarely.
CACAO (Theobroma cacao L.)
FRUIT ROT (Diplodia cacaoicola Hen.) was collected near Mi.
ami, but was not common.
CABBAGE (Brassica oleracea, var. caitata)
FRENCHING (cause unknown) was observed on the leaves ol
several trees apparently from lack of correct environment.
CAROB (Aratonia siliqua)
LEAF SPOT (Pestalozzia, sp.) was common and characteristic
on this plant. The defoliation was slight, and the disease did nol
prove important.
CARROT (Daucus carota)
ROOT-KNOT (Heterodera radicicola) was severe in gardens
causing the fleshy parts to develop irregularly.
98R
Annual Report, 1924
ROOT ROT (Rhizoctonia, sp.) was collected in several instances
where it was doing serious damage. The' fungus apparently
enters the root thru the lenticels causing a deep rot to develop.
CAULIFLOWER (Brassica oleracea, var. botrytis)
BACTERIAL SPOT (Bacterium maculicolum McCull.) was col-
lected at Quincy and reported serious in numerous gardens.
CELERY (Apium graveolens L.)
PINK ROT (Sclerotinia libertiana Fckl.) was destructive and
well scattered. Last season it was quite scarce while this year it
was common.
MOSAIC (cause unknown) was more general than the previous
season but was not serious except on late crops.
BROWN STEMS (cause unknown) was found in a few instances,
however, it was not common.
CHERRY (Prunus virginiana)
LEAF SPOT (Cylindrosporium padi Hasst.) was prevalent in
the vicinity of Gainesville on wild cherry. In many cases con-
siderable defoliation took place.
TWIG BLIGHT (Monilia fructigena Pers.) was serious during
the early growing season. In certain instances a large percent-
age of the new shoots was killed.
CHERIMOYA (Annona cherimola)
ANTHRACNOSE (Colletotrichum gloesporioides Penz.) was
collected at Tropic, attacking the fruit and causing a definite rot.
CHESTNUT (Castanea dentata)
LEAF SPOT (Leptothyrium castaneae (Spreng.) Sacc.) was
found common on several trees in the vicinity of Gainesville.
LEAF SPOT (Monochaetia pachyspora Bubak.) caused some de-
foliation. The spots were often large, involving a quarter or
half of the leaf.
LEAF SPOT (Scoleosporium fagi Lib.) was collected near
Gainesville but was not important.
CHINQUAPIN (Castanea pumila)
LEAF SPOT (Monochaetia pachyspora Bubak.) was found caus-
ing a considerable spotting of leaves.
99R
Florida Agricultural Experiment Station
COFFEE (Coffea arabica L.)
ANTHRACNOSE (Gloeosporium sp.) was collected at Ft. Pierce
causing a withering of the upper half of the leaves, but was not
common.
CORN (Zea mays)
BROWN SPOT (Physoderma zeae-maydis Shaw.) was found in a
field near Miami causing considerable damage. Forty percent of
the plants were affected. The disease is quite common and gen-
erally distributed over the State.
LEAF SPOT (Phyllosticta, sp.) was found on leaves of corn; it
caused no damage, altho it was well distributed.
COSMOS (Cosmos bipinnatus)
MOSAIC (cause unknown) was observed during the season on
several plants in Gainesville. It was apparently not transmis-
sible since healthy plants grew beside it several months.
COWPEA (Vigna sinensis)
POWDERY MILDEW (Oidium balsamii Mont.), collected at Plant
City, had grown over the entire surfaces of 80 percent of the
leaves. Very severe. Not found important elsewhere.
CRAPE MYRTLE (Lagerstroemia indica L.)
BLOTCH (Cercospora, sp.) was collected in Gainesville causing
promiscuous spotting of leaves.
CRATAEGUS (Crataegus, sp.)
RUST (Gymnosporangium globosum Farl.) was collected at
Micanopy, showing the aecial stage in a virulent form. It was
severe on these plants but not common otherwise.
DAHLIA (Dahlia pinnata)
SOUTHERN BLIGHT (Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc.) was found gird-
ling the stalks of plants, and also attacking the tubers.
BLOSSOM BLIGHT (Shoanephora, sp.) was found causing seri-
ous blighting of flowers. They were attacked often before fully
opened. Not reported outside of Gainesville.
DAISY (Arctotis grandis)
LEAF BLOTCH (Cercospora, sp.) was collected causing a leaf
spot which resulted in the shedding of leaves.
100R
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