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Front Cover | |
Title Page | |
Map of Florida agricultural experiment... | |
Table of Contents | |
Agricultural experiment stations... | |
Report of the director | |
Report of the administrative... | |
Agricultural economics | |
Agricultural engineering | |
Agronomy | |
Animal science | |
Botany | |
Dairy science | |
Editorial | |
Entomology | |
Food technology and nutrition | |
Forestry | |
Fruit crops | |
Library | |
Ornamental horticulture | |
Plant pathology | |
Plant science section | |
Poultry science | |
Soils | |
Statistics | |
Vegetable crops | |
Veterinary science | |
Central Florida station | |
Citrus station | |
Indian River field laboratory | |
Everglades station | |
Plantation field laboratory | |
Gulf coast station | |
South Florida field laboratory | |
Strawberry and vegetable field... | |
North Florida station | |
Range cattle station | |
Sub-tropical station | |
Suwannee Valley station | |
West central Florida station | |
West Florida station | |
Big Bend horticultural laborat... | |
Federal-state frost warning... | |
Potato investigations laborato... | |
Watermelon and grape investigations... | |
Index |
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Table of Contents | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Front Cover
Front Cover Title Page Page 1 Map of Florida agricultural experiment stations Page 2 Table of Contents Page 3 Agricultural experiment stations staff Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Report of the director Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Report of the administrative manager Page 24 Page 25 Agricultural economics Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Agricultural engineering Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Agronomy Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Animal science Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 84 Page 85 Botany Page 86 Page 87 Page 88 Dairy science Page 89 Page 90 Page 91 Page 92 Page 93 Page 94 Page 95 Page 96 Editorial Page 97 Page 98 Page 99 Page 100 Page 101 Page 102 Page 103 Page 104 Page 105 Page 106 Page 107 Page 108 Page 109 Page 110 Page 111 Page 112 Entomology Page 113 Page 114 Page 115 Page 116 Page 117 Page 118 Page 119 Page 120 Food technology and nutrition Page 121 Page 122 Page 123 Page 124 Page 125 Page 126 Page 127 Forestry Page 128 Page 129 Page 130 Page 131 Page 132 Page 133 Page 134 Fruit crops Page 135 Page 136 Page 137 Page 138 Page 139 Library Page 140 Page 141 Ornamental horticulture Page 142 Page 143 Page 144 Page 145 Page 146 Page 147 Page 148 Plant pathology Page 149 Page 150 Page 151 Page 152 Page 153 Page 154 Page 155 Plant science section Page 156 Poultry science Page 157 Page 158 Page 159 Page 160 Page 161 Soils Page 162 Page 163 Page 164 Page 165 Page 166 Page 167 Page 168 Page 169 Page 170 Page 171 Page 172 Page 173 Page 174 Page 175 Page 176 Page 177 Statistics Page 178 Vegetable crops Page 179 Page 180 Page 181 Page 182 Page 183 Page 184 Page 185 Page 186 Page 187 Page 188 Page 189 Page 190 Page 191 Page 192 Veterinary science Page 193 Page 194 Page 195 Page 196 Page 197 Page 198 Central Florida station Page 199 Page 200 Page 201 Page 202 Page 203 Page 204 Page 205 Page 206 Page 207 Page 208 Page 209 Page 210 Page 211 Page 212 Page 213 Page 214 Citrus station Page 215 Page 216 Page 217 Page 218 Page 219 Page 220 Page 221 Page 222 Page 223 Page 224 Page 225 Page 226 Page 227 Page 228 Page 229 Page 230 Page 231 Page 232 Page 233 Page 234 Page 235 Page 236 Page 237 Page 238 Page 239 Page 240 Page 241 Page 242 Page 243 Page 244 Page 245 Page 246 Page 247 Page 248 Indian River field laboratory Page 249 Page 250 Page 251 Page 252 Page 253 Everglades station Page 254 Page 255 Page 256 Page 257 Page 258 Page 259 Page 260 Page 261 Page 262 Page 263 Page 264 Page 265 Page 266 Page 267 Page 268 Page 269 Page 270 Page 271 Page 272 Page 273 Page 274 Page 275 Page 276 Page 277 Page 278 Page 279 Page 280 Page 281 Page 282 Page 283 Page 284 Page 285 Page 286 Page 287 Page 288 Page 289 Page 290 Plantation field laboratory Page 291 Page 292 Page 293 Page 294 Page 295 Page 296 Page 297 Page 298 Page 299 Page 300 Page 301 Gulf coast station Page 302 Page 303 Page 304 Page 305 Page 306 Page 307 Page 308 Page 309 Page 310 Page 311 Page 312 Page 313 Page 314 Page 315 Page 316 South Florida field laboratory Page 317 Page 318 Page 319 Page 320 Page 321 Strawberry and vegetable field laboratory Page 322 Page 323 Page 324 Page 325 North Florida station Page 326 Page 327 Page 328 Page 329 Page 330 Page 331 Page 332 Page 333 Page 334 Page 335 Page 336 Page 337 Page 338 Page 339 Page 340 Page 341 Page 342 Range cattle station Page 343 Page 344 Page 345 Page 346 Page 347 Page 348 Page 349 Page 350 Page 351 Page 352 Sub-tropical station Page 353 Page 354 Page 355 Page 356 Page 357 Page 358 Page 359 Page 360 Page 361 Page 362 Page 363 Page 364 Page 365 Page 366 Suwannee Valley station Page 367 Page 368 Page 369 West central Florida station Page 370 West Florida station Page 371 Page 372 Page 373 Page 374 Page 375 Page 376 Big Bend horticultural laboratory Page 377 Page 378 Federal-state frost warning service Page 379 Page 380 Potato investigations laboratory Page 381 Page 382 Page 383 Page 384 Page 385 Watermelon and grape investigations laboratory Page 386 Page 387 Page 388 Page 389 Page 390 Page 391 Page 392 Index Page 393 Page 394 Page 395 Page 396 Page 397 Page 398 Page 399 Page 400 Page 401 Page 402 Page 403 Page 404 |
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UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATIONS ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1964 INVESTIGATIONS LABORATORY UNIT / j . MAR/ANNA UNIT LA, NORTH FLORIDA EXPERIMENT STATION SUWANNEE VALLEY 4 EXPERIMENT STATION WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA - EXPERIMENT STATION FEDERAL-STATE WEATHER - FORECASTING SERVICE STRAWBERRy AND VEGETABLE FIELD LABORAToRY GULF COAST STA EXPERIMENT STATION INDIAN RIVER FIELD LABORATORY FLORIDA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT RANGE CATTLE A EXPERIMENT STATION CONTENTS Agricultural Experiment Stations Staff -..- Report of the Director --. ..--- --- Report of the Administrative Manager ----.----.. MAIN STATION Agricultural Economics --.--------------------- Agricultural Engineering --- -- - Agronomy ....---. .--- -- Animal Science ---- -------- Botany .------------ Dairy Science ----------- Editorial ---------- Entomology --- -------- Food Technology and Nutrition ----- Forestry -.--- ------- ---- Fruit Crops ..-..------- Library ...---- ------- Ornamental Horticulture -..... ------ Plant Pathology .. --- --------- Plant Science Section --- ------- Poultry Science ----.----------..------------ Soils --------------- Statistics .. -------------- Vegetable Crops .--.---.-..- .... -------.---- Veterinary Science .--- ---- -- BRANCH STATIONS Central Florida Station .. --- -- Citrus Station -.--...-------- Indian River Field Laboratory --- -- Everglades Station .- ....- ..-- ---- Indian River Field Laboratory ----.-- ,Plantation Field Laboratory ...---- Gulf Coast Station ....... ------- South Florida Field Laboratory .--- Strawberry and Vegetable Field Laboratory - North Florida Station .. .........-- Marianna Unit ..--. ------ Range Cattle Station --...-- ----- SSub-Tropical Station .... .-- ---- Suwannee Valley Station -.---- ---- West Central Florida Station ------ West Florida Station ---.- ...--.-..-----. ---- FIELD LABORATORIES Big Bend Horticultural Laboratory ._------------. Federal-State Frost Warning Service .-- -- Potato Investigations Laboratory -------- Watermelon and Grape Investigations Laboratory Page 4 14 24 -- 26 ----- 46 -..--- 51 68 --- 86 89 97 ..---- 113 ---- 121 .. 128 -.----- 135 ---- 140 -...-- .- 142 - -.- 149 .. 156 157 162 .. 178 -....--- 179-- --- 193 215 249 24-f ;81 322 326 340 343 \3534 3674 370 S371 AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATIONS STAFF 1963-64 BOARD OF CONTROL B. M. Harrison, Jr., Chairman, St. Petersburg Gert H. W. Schmidt, Vice Chairman, Jacksonville James L. King, Miami John C. Pace, Pensacola Wayne McCall, Ocala Chester E. Whittle, Orlando Charles R. Forman, Ft. Lauderdale J. Broward Culpepper, Executive Director, Tallahassee ADMINISTRATION J. W. Reitz, Ph.D., President E. T. York, Jr., Ph.D., Provost for Agriculture J. R. Beckenbach, Ph.D., Director J. W. Sites, Ph.D., Associate Director H. H. Wilkowske, Ph.D., Assistant Director D. R. Bryant, Jr., A.B., Administrative Manager G. R. Freeman, M.S.A., Superintendent of Field Operations W. H. Jones, Jr., M. Agr., Assistant Superintendent of Field Operations ACADEMIC STAFF The following abbreviations after name and title of Experiment Station Staff indicate cooperation with other organizations: Coll.-University of Florida College of Agriculture Ext.-University of Florida Agriculture Extension Service USDA-United States Department of Agriculture USWB-United States Weather Bureau FCC-Florida Citrus Commission MAIN STATION, GAINESVILLE Agricultural Economics Department H. G. Hamilton, Ph.D., Agricultural Economist and Head; also Coll. and Ext. R. L. Addison, Jr., M.S., Assistant Agricultural Statistician, USDA, Orlando D. E. Alleger, M.S., Associate Agricultural Economist B. R. Bennett, M.S.A., Assistant in Agricultural Economics, Orlando D. L. Brooke, Ph.D., Agricultural Economist T. L. Brooks, Jr., B.S., Assistant in Agricultural Economics H. B. Clark, Ph.D., Agricultural Economist; also Coll. C. D. Covey, Ph.D., Assistant Agricultural Economist M. R. Godwin, Ph.D., Marketing Economist; also Coll. R. E. L. Greene, Ph.D., Agricultural Economist; also Coll. J. R. Greenman, B.S.A., LL.B., Agricultural Economist; also Coll. R. R. Hancock, M.S., Assistant Agricultural Statistician, Orlando W. K. McPherson, M.S., Agricultural Economist; also Coll. W. T. Manley, Ph.D., Assistant Agricultural Economist, USDA J. E. Mullin, B.S., Agricultural Statistician, USDA, Orlando C. E. Murphree, D.P.A., Associate Agricultural Economist; also Coll. C. A. Outzs, B.S., Assistant in Agricultural Statistics, USDA L. A. Reuss, M.S., Agricultural Economist, USDA W. B. Riggan, B.S., Assistant Agricultural Economist; also Coll. G. N. Rose, B.S., Associate Agricultural Economist, Orlando Z. Savage, M.S.A., Agricultural Economist B. J. Smith, M.S., Assistant Agricultural Economist C. N. Smith, Ph.D., Agricultural Economist; also Coll. A. H. Spurlock, M.S.A., Agricultural Economist J. F. Steffens, Jr., B.S., B.A., Associate Agricultural Statistician, USDA, Orlando R. G. Stout, Ph.D., Assistant Agricultural Economist, Orlando H. G. Witt, M.S.A., Assistant Agricultural Statistician, USDA, Orlando Agricultural Engineering Department D. T. Kinard, Ph.D., Agricultural Engineer and Head; also Coll. and Ext. J. F. Beeman, Ph.D., Assistant Agricultural Engineer; also Coll. E. K. Bowman, B.S., Associate Industrial Engineer, USDA R. E. Choate, M.S.A., Agricultural Engineer; also Coll. W. G. Grizzell, B.I.E., Assistant Agricultural Engineer, USDA C. G. Haugh, Ph.D., Assistant Agricultural Engineer; also Coll. J. M. Myers, M.S.A., Agricultural Engineer; also Coll. J. B. Richardson, M.S., Assistant Agricultural Engineer; also Coll. I. J. Ross, Ph.D., Assistant Agricultural Engineer; also Coll. G. E. Yost, B.S., Assistant Agricultural Engineer, USDA Agronomy Department F. H. Hull, Ph.D., Agronomist and Head; also Coll. K. D. Butson, M.S., State Climatologist, USWB F. Clark, M.S.A., Agronomist J. R. Edwardson, Ph.D., Associate Agronomist; also Coll. H. C. Harris, Ph.D., Agronomist K. Hinson, Ph.D., Assistant Agronomist, USDA E. S. Horner, Ph.D., Associate Agronomist; also Coll. G. B. Killinger, Ph.D., Agronomist A. J. Norden, Ph.D., Assistant Agronomist; also Coll. P. L. Pfahler, Ph.D., Assistant Agronomist G. M. Prine, Ph.D., Assistant Agronomist E. G. Rodgers, Ph.D., Agronomist; also Coll. O. C. Ruelke, Ph.D., Assistant Agronomist; also Coll. S. C. Schank, Ph.D., Assistant Agronomist; also Coll. V. N. Schroder, Ph.D., Assistant Agronomist; also Coll. S. H. West, Ph.D., Assistant Agronomist, USDA Merrill Wilcox, Ph.D., Assistant Agronomist; also Coll. Animal Science Department T. J. Cunha, Ph.D., Animal Nutritionist and Head; also Coll. and Ext. C. B. Ammerman, Ph.D., Assistant Animal Nutritionist L. R. Arrington, Ph.D., Associate Animal Nutritionist; also Coll. J. W. Carpenter, Ph.D., Assistant Meat Scientist G. E. Combs, Ph.D., Associate Animal Nutritionist; also Coll. J. R. Crockett, Ph.D., Assistant Animal Geneticist; also Coll. G. K. Davis, Ph.D., Animal Nutritionist; also Dir. of Nuclear Science J. F. Easley, M.S., Int. Assistant in Animal Nutrition J. P. Feaster, Ph.D., Associate Biochemist J. F. Hentges, Jr., Ph.D., Associate Animal Nutritionist; also Coll. Marvin Koger, Ph.D., Animal Geneticist; also Coll. P. E. Loggins, M.S., Assistant Animal Husbandman; also Coll. J. E. Moore, Ph.D., Assistant Animal Nutritionist; also Coll. A. Z. Palmer, Ph.D., Associate Meat Scientist; also Coll. R. L. Shirley, Ph.D., Animal Nutritionist; also Coll. D. L. Wakeman, M.S.A., Assistant Animal Husbandman; also Coll. H. D. Wallace, Ph.D., Animal Nutritionist; also Coll. A. C. Warnick, Ph.D., Animal Physiologist; also Coll. Botany Department E. S. Ford, Ph.D., Botanist and Acting Head; also Coll. D. S. Anthony, Ph.D., Associate Biochemist; also Coll. G. J. Fritz, Ph.D., Assistant Plant Physiologist; also Coll. T. E. Humphreys, Ph.D., Associate Biochemist; also Coll. Yoneo Sagawa, Ph.D., Associate Botanist; also Coll. D. B. Ward, Ph.D., Assistant Botanist; also Coll. Dairy Science Department E. L. Fouts, Ph.D., Dairy Technologist and Head; also Coll. H. H. Head, Ph.D., Assistant Dairy Husbandman; also Coll. W. A. Krienke, M.S., Associate Dairy Technologist; also Coll S. P. Marshall, Ph.D., Nutritionist; also Coll. L. E. Mull, Ph.D., Dairy Technologist; also Coll. K. L. Smith, Ph.D., Assistant Microbiologist; also Coll. C. J. Wilcox, Ph.D., Assistant Geneticist; also Coll. J. M. Wing, Ph.D., Associate Dairy Husbandman; also Coll. West Florida Dairy Unit, Chipley J. B. White, B.S.A., Associate Dairy Husbandman Editorial Department Hervey Sharpe, Ph.D., Editor and Head; also Ext. K. B. Meurlott, B.A., Assistant Editor; also Ext. M. L. Sharpe, M.S., Assistant Editor Mary C. Williams, B.A., Assistant Editor Entomology Department L. C. Kuitert, Ph.D., Entomologist and Head A. A. DiEdwardo, Ph.D., Assistant Nematologist D. H. Habeck, Ph.D., Assistant Entomologist S. H. Kerr, Ph.D., Associate Entomologist V. G. Perry, Ph.D., Nematologist; also Coll. F. A. Robinson, M. S., Assistant Apiculturist R. E. Waites, Ph.D., Assistant Entomologist R. C. Wilkinson, Ph.D., Assistant Entomologist Food Technology and Nutrition Department R. A. Dennison, Ph.D., Biochemist and Head; also Coll. R. B. French, Ph.D., Biochemist C. B. Hall, Ph.D., Associate Horticulturist J. H. Johnson, Ph.D., Assistant Biochemist F. W. Knapp, Ph.D., Assistant Biochemist; also Coll. G. D. Kuhn, Ph.D., Assistant Food Microbiologist; also Coll. R. C. Robbins, Ph.D., Assistant Biochemist; also Coll. R. K. Showalter, M.S., Horticulturist Margaret E. Sosebee, M.S., Int. Assistant in Food Technology Ruth O. Townsend, R.N., Assistant in Nutrition C. H. Van Middlelem, Ph.D., Biochemist Forestry Department J. L. Gray, D.F., Associate Forester and Head; also Coll. S. L. Beckwith, Ph.D., Associate Forester; also Coll. P. W. Frazer, M.F., Associate Forester; also Coll. C. G. Geltz, M.S., Forester; also Coll. R. E. Goddard, Ph.D., Assistant Geneticist; also Coll. J. B. Huffman, D.F., Associate Forester; also Coll. C. M. Kaufman, Ph.D., Forester; also Coll. J. W. Miller, Jr., M.S.F., Forester; also Coll. W. J. Peters, B.S., Int. Assistant in Forestry D. M. Post, M.S.F., Assistant Forester; also Coll. E. T. Sullivan, D.F., Associate Forester; also Coll. K. R. Swinford, Ph.D., Forester; also Coll. R. K. Strickland, M.S., Int. Assistant in Forestry Fruit Crops Department A. H. Krezdorn, Ph.D., Horticulturist and Head; also Coll. and Ext. R. H. Biggs, Ph.D., Assistant Biochemist J. F. Gerber, Ph.D., Assistant Climatologist R. H. Sharpe, M.S., Horticulturist J. S. Shoemaker, Ph.D., Horticulturist J. Soule, Ph.D., Associate Horticulturist; also Coll. Library S. L. West, LL.B., B.S., Librarian and Head S. F. Bennett, B.S.L.S., Librarian A. C. Strickland, M.S., Assistant Librarian Janie L. Tyson, Assistant in Library Ornamental Horticulture Department E. W. McElwee, Ph.D., Horticulturist and Head; also Coll. and Ext. R. D. Dickey, M.S.A., Horticulturist G. C. Horn, Ph.D., Associate Turf Technologist; also Coll. J. N. Joiner, Ph.D., Associate Ornamental Horticulturist; also Coll. S. E. McFadden, Jr., Ph.D., Assistant Horticulturist R. T. Poole, Jr., M.S.A., Research Associate T. J. Sheehan, Ph.D., Associate Ornamental Horticulturist Plant Pathology Department Phares Decker, Ph.D., Plant Pathologist and Head; also Coll. A. A. Cook, Ph.D., Associate Plant Pathologist (on leave of absence) M. K. Corbett, Ph.D., Associate Virologist T. E. Freeman, Ph.D., Associate Plant Pathologist H. H. Luke, Ph.D., Plant Pathologist, USDA H. N. Miller, Ph.D., Plant Pathologist W. C. Price, Ph.D., Virologist D. E. Purcifull, Ph.D., Assistant Virologist D. A. Roberts, Ph.D., Associate Plant Pathologist; also Coll. R. F. Stouffer, Ph.D., Assistant Virologist Plant Science Section A. T. Wallace, Ph.D., Geneticist in Charge Poultry Science Department R. H. Harms, Ph.D., Poultry Nutritionist and Head; also Coll. and Ext. H. R. Wilson, Ph.D., Assistant Poultry Geneticist; also Coll. Soils Department F. B. Smith, Ph.D., Microbiologist and Head; also Coll. W. G. Blue, Ph.D., Biochemist H. L. Breland, Ph.D., Assistant Soils Chemist R. E. Caldwell, Ph.D., Associate Soils Chemist; also Coll. V. W. Carlisle, Ph.D., Assistant Chemist; also Coll. C. F. Eno, Ph.D., Soils Microbiologist J. G. A. Fiskell, Ph.D., Biochemist; also Coll. N. Gammon, Jr., Ph.D., Soils Chemist L. C. Hammond, Ph.D., Associate Soils Physicist; also Coll. C. C. Hortenstine, Ph.D., Asst. Soils Chemist R. G. Leighty, B.S., Associate Soils Surveyor T. C. Mathews, B.S.A., Assistant Soils Surveyor W. L. Pritchett, Ph.D., Soils Technologist W. K. Robertson, Ph.D., Associate Chemist D. F. Rothwell, Ph.D., Associate Soils Microbiologist; also Coll. D. O. Spinks, Ph.D., Soils Chemist; also Coll. L. G. Thompson, Jr., Ph.D., Soils Chemist G. M. Volk, Ph.D., Soils Chemist H. W. Winsor, B.S.A., Assistant Chemist T. L. Yuan, Ph.D., Assistant Chemist Statistics Department William Mendenhall, Ph.D., Statistician and Head Willard O. Ash, Ph.D., Statistician; also Coll. Ramon A. Bradley, B.S., Research Associate Vegetable Crops Department F. S. Jamison, Ph.D., Horticulturist and Head; also Coll. and Ext. D. D. Gull, Ph.D., Assistant Horticulturist L. H. Halsey, M.S.A., Assistant Horticulturist S. J. Locascio, Ph.D., Assistant Horticulturist; also Coll. A. P. Lorz, Ph.D., Horticulturist; also Coll. V. F. Nettles, Ph.D., Horticulturist; also Coll. B. D. Thompson, Ph.D., Associate Horticulturist; also Coll. Veterinary Science Department G. T. Edds, D.V.M., Ph.D., Veterinarian and Head; also Coll. Yuji Inaba, D.V.M., Ph.D., Interim Assistant Virologist W. W. Kirkham, D.V.M., Ph.D., Associate Virologist J. M. Kling, D.V.M., M.S., Research Associate S. E. Leland, Jr., Ph.D., Associate Parasitologist F. C. Neal, D.V.M., M.S., Assistant Veterinarian; also Coll. D. A. Sanders, D.V.M., Veterinarian C. F. Simpson, D.V.M., Ph.D., Pathologist; also Coll. L. E. Swanson, D.V.M., Parasitologist; also Coll. L. J. Wallace, D.V.M., M.S., Assistant Pathologist F. H. White, Ph.D., Associate Bacteriologist BRANCH STATIONS CENTRAL FLORIDA STATION, Box 909, Sanford J. W. Wilson, Sc.D., Entomologist in Charge J. F. Darby, Ph.D., Associate Plant Pathologist R. B. Forbes, Ph.D., Assistant Soils Chemist H. L. Rhoades, Ph.D., Assistant Nematologist W. T. Scudder, Ph.D., Associate Horticulturist P. J. Westgate, Ph.D., Horticulturist B. F. Whitner, Jr., B.S.A., Assistant Horticulturist CITRUS STATION, Lake Alfred H. J. Reitz, Ph.D., Horticulturist in Charge G. E. Alberding, B.S., Assistant in Chemistry, FCC C. A. Anderson, Ph.D., Assistant Soils Chemist L. B. Anderson, Jr., B.S.A., Asst. in Entomology-Pathology C. D. Atkins, B.S., Chemist, FCC J. A. Attaway, Ph.D., Assistant Chemist, FCC R. W. Barron, B.A., Asst. in Chemistry, FCC J. G. Blair, B.S.M.E., Associate Mechanical Engineer, FCC R. F. Brooks, Ph.D., Assistant Entomologist R. J. Collins, M.S., Int. Assistant Horticulturist G. E. Coppock, M.S., Associate Agricultural Engineer, FCC J. W. Davis, B.S.A., Assistant in Entomology-Pathology M. H. Dougherty, B.S., Assistant Chemical Engineer, FCC E. P. DuCharme, Ph.D., Plant Pathologist G. J. Edwards, B.A., Assistant in Chemistry A. W. Feldman, Ph.D., Plant Pathologist Francine E. Fisher, M.S., Assistant Plant Pathologist H. W. Ford, Ph.D., Horticulturist T. B. Hallam, B.S., Assistant in Entomology-Pathology R. W. Hanks, Ph.D., Assistant Plant Physiologist C. I. Hannon, Ph.D., Assistant Nematologist F. W. Hayward, Ph.D., Associate Biochemist S. L. Hedden, M.S., Assistant Agricultural Engineer, USDA C. H. Hendershott, Ph.D., Associate Plant Physiologist, FCC R. Hendrickson, B.S., Associate Chemist E. C. Hill, B.S.A., Associate Bacteriologist, FCC H. I. Holtsberg, B.S.A., Assistant in Entomologist-Pathology R. L. Huggart, B.S., Associate Chemist, FCC R. B. Johnson, Ph.D., Associate Entomologist P. J. Jutras, M.S., Assistant Agricultural Engineer J. W. Kesterson, M.S., Chemist L. C. Knorr, Ph.D., Plant Pathologist R. C. J. Koo, Ph.D., Assistant Horticulturist D. H. Lenker, M.S., Assistant Agricultural Engineer, USDA C. D. Leonard, Ph.D., Associate Horticulturist S. K. Long, Ph.D., Assistant Industrial Bacteriologist W. G. Long, Ph.D., Associate Chemist A. A. McCornack, M.S., Assistant Horticulturist, FCC M. D. Maraulja, B.S., Assistant in Chemistry, FCC W. R. Meagher, PhD., Associate Chemist E. L. Moore, Ph.D., Chemist, FCC M. H. Muma, Ph.D., Entomologist W. F. Newhall, Ph.D., Associate Biochemist M. F. Oberbacher, Ph.D., Associate Plant Physiologist, FCC R. W. Olsen, B.S., Biochemist R. Patrick, Ph.D., Bacteriologist A. P. Pieringer, Ph.D., Assistant Horticulturist R. L. Reese, M.S.A., Research Associate A. H. Rouse, M.S., Pectin Chemist G. F. Ryan, Ph.D., Assistant Horticulturist L. L. Sebring, M.S., Assistant in Library A. G. Selhime, B.S., Asst. Entomologist, USDA W. A. Simanton, Ph.D., Entomologist Ivan Stewart, Ph.D., Biochemist R. F. Suit, Ph.D., Plant Pathologist A. C. Tarjan, Ph.D., Nematologist S. V. Ting, Ph.D., Associate Biochemist, FCC K. G. Townsend, B.S.A., Assistant in Entomology-Pathology Kenneth Trammel, B.S.A., Int. Assistant in Entomology H. M. Vines, Ph.D., Associate Biochemist, FCC F. W. Wenzel, Jr., Ph.D., Chemist T. Adair Wheaton, Ph.D., Assistant Horticulturist R. W. Wolford, M.A., Associate Chemist, FCC Indian River Field Laboratory, Box 1351, Fort Pierce Mortimer Cohen, Ph.D., Associate Plant Pathologist R. C. Bullock, Ph.D., Associate Entomologist D. V. Calvert, Ph.D., Assistant Soils Chemist EVERGLADES STATION, P. O. Drawer A, Belle Glade W. T. Forsee, Jr., Ph.D., Chemist in Charge R. J. Allen, Jr., Ph.D., Assistant Agronomist R. V. Allison, Ph.D., Fiber Technologist H. W. Burdine, Ph.D., Associate Soils Chemist M. H. Byrom, M.S., Agricultural Engineer, USDA T. W. Casselman, M.S., Assistant Agricultural Engineer H. L. Chapman, Jr., Ph.D., Animal Nutritionist D. W. Fisher, M.S., Associate Agronomist, USDA W. G. Genung, M.S., Associate Entomologist V. E. Green, Jr., Ph.D., Associate Agronomist V. L. Guzman, Ph.D., Associate Horticulturist C. E. Haines, Ph.D., Assistant Animal Husbandman E. D. Harris, Jr., Ph.D., Associate Entomologist J. R. Iey, Ph.D., Assistant Soils Chemist J. F. Joyner, Assistant Agronomist, USDA W. H. Kahl, M.S., Assistant Agricultural Engineer R. W. Kidder, M.S., Animal Husbandman W. C. LeCroy, Ph.D., Assistant Agronomist F. leGrand, M.S., Assistant Agronomist J. R. Orsenigo, Ph.D., Associate Horticulturist T. E. Summers, Ph.D., Associate Plant Pathologist, USDA P. L. Thayer, Ph.D., Assistant Plant Pathologist F. H. Thomas, Ph.D., Assistant Chemist C. Wehlburg, Ph.D., Associate Plant Pathologist H. D. Whittemore, B.S.A.E., Associate Agricultural Engineer, USDA F. D. Wilson, Ph.D., Assistant Plant Geneticist, USDA J. A. Winchester, Ph.D., Assistant Nematologist E. A. Wolf, M.S., Associate Horticulturist Indian River Field Laboratory, Box 1351, Fort Pierce N. C. Hayslip, B.S.A., Entomologist A. E. Kretschmer, Jr., Ph.D., Associate Agronomist R. E. Stall, Ph.D., Associate Plant Pathologist Plantation Field Laboratory, 5305 S.W. 12th St., Fort Lauderdale F. T. Boyd, Ph.D., Agronomist R. D. Blackburn, M.S., Assistant Agronomist, USDA H. I. Borders, Ph.D., Associate Plant Pathologist E. O. Burt, Ph.D., Assistant Turf Technologist W. C. Mills, M.S., Assistant Drainage Engineer, USDA H. Y. Ozaki, Ph.D., Assistant Horticulturist W. H. Speir, Assistant Hydraulic Engineer, USDA L. W. Weldon, Ph.D., Assistant Agronomist, USDA GULF COAST STATION, Box 2125 Manatee Station, Bradenton E. L. Spencer, Ph.D., Soils Chemist in Charge D. S. Burgis, M.S.A., Assistant Horticulturist C. M. Geraldson, Ph.D., Associate Soils Chemist J. P. Jones, Ph.D., Assistant Plant Pathologist D. G. A. Kelbert, Associate Horticulturist E. G. Kelsheimer, Ph.D., Entomologist R. H. Littrell, Ph.D., Assistant Plant Pathologist R. O. Magie, Ph.D., Plant Pathologist Amegda J. Overman, M.S., Assistant Soils Microbiologist J. M. Walter, Ph.D., Plant Pathologist W. E. Waters, Ph.D., Assistant Horticulturist S. S. Woltz, Ph.D., Associate Plant Physiologist South Florida Field Laboratory, Box 973, Immokalee P. H. Everett, Ph.D., Assistant Soils Chemist Strawberry and Vegetable Field Laboratory, Box 629, Dover Paul Sutton, Ph.D., Assistant Horticulturist A. N. Brooks, Ph.D., Plant Pathologist NORTH FLORIDA STATION, Quincy W. H. Chapman, M.S., Agronomist in Charge F. S. Baker, Jr., M.S.A., Animal Husbandman T. J. Davidson, Jr., M.S., Assistant Soils Chemist D. R. Davis, A.B., Assistant Meteorologist, USWB C. E. Dean, Ph.D., Assistant Agronomist R. R. Kincaid, Ph.D., Plant Pathologist W. C. Rhoades, M.S., Entomologist D. T. Sechler, Ph.D., Assistant Agronomist W. B. Tappan, M.S.A., Assistant Entomologist R. W. Wallace, B.S., Associate Agronomist Marianna Unit, Box 504, Marianna R. W. Lipscomb, M.S., Associate Agronomist RANGE CATTLE STATION, Ona W. G. Kirk, Ph.D., Vice-Director in Charge C. L. Dantzman, Ph.D., Assistant Soils Chemist E. M. Hodges, Ph.D., Agronomist J. E. McCaleb, Ph.D., Associate Agronomist F. M. Peacock, M.S., Associate Animal Husbandman SUB-TROPICAL STATION, 18905 S.W. 280th Street, Route 1, Homestead R. A. Conover, Ph.D., Plant Pathologist in Charge C. W. Averre, III, Ph.D., Assistant Plant Pathologist R. M. Baranowski, Ph.D., Associate Entomologist C. W. Campbell, Ph.D., Assistant Horticulturist R. W. Harkness, Ph.D., Associate Chemist P. G. Orth, Ph.D., Assistant Soils Chemist J. E. Reynolds, Ph.D., Assistant Plant Pathologist J. W. Strobel, Ph.D., Assistant Plant Pathologist M. O. Thomas, Ph.D., Associate Horticulturist D. O. Wolfenbarger, Ph.D., Entomologist T. W. Young, Ph.D., Horticulturist SUWANNEE VALLEY STATION, Box 630, Live Oak H. W. Lundy, B.S.A., Associate Agronomist in Charge WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA STATION, Brooksville W. C. Burns, M.S., Assistant Animal Husbandman in Charge, USDA WEST FLORIDA STATION, Route 3, Jay C. E. Hutton, Ph.D., Vice-Director in Charge L. S. Dunavin, Jr., Ph.D., Assistant Agronomist M. C. Lutrick, Ph.D., Assistant Agronomist R. L. Smith, M.S., Associate Agronomist FIELD LABORATORIES Big Bend Horticultural Laboratory, Box 539, Monticello H. W. Young, Ph.D., Associate Horticulturist in Charge J. R. Large, M.S., Associate Plant Pathologist A. M. Phillips, B.S., Associate Entomologist Potato Investigations Laboratory, Box 728, Hastings D. R. Hensel, Ph.D., Assistant Soils Chemist E. N. McCubbin, Ph.D., Horticulturist R. B. Workman, Ph.D., Assistant Entomologist Watermelon and Grape Investigations Laboratory, Box 321, Leesburg J. M. Crall, Ph.D., Plant Pathologist in Charge W. C. Adlerz, Ph.D., Assistant Entomologist C. H. Curran, D.Sc., Entomologist J. A. Mortensen, Ph.D., Assistant Geneticist N. C. Schenck, Ph.D., Associate Plant Pathologist L. H. Stover, Assistant in Horticulture Weather Forecasting Service, Box 1058, Lakeland W. O. Johnson, B.S., Meteorologist in Charge, USWB J. G. Georg, B.S., Assistant Meteorologist, USWB L. L. Benson, B.S., Assistant Meteorologist, USWB G. R. Davis, B.S., Assistant Meteorologist, USWB R. H. Dean, Assistant Meteorologist, USWB G. W. Leber, Assistant Meteorologist, USWB W. F. Mincey, Assistant Meteorologist, USWB B. H. Moore, B.A., Assistant Meteorologist, USWB 0. N. Norman, B.S., Assistant Meteorologist, USWB R. T. Sherouse, Assistant Meteorologist, USWB W. R. Wallis, B.S., Assistant Meteorologist H. E. Yates, Assistant Meteorologist, USWB REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR Fiscal 1963-64 saw two organizational changes at the University of Florida which should have a continuing effect on the research programs of the Experiment Stations. The first was the consolidation of all agricultural and forestry pro- grams into the INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES. A single appropriation will be made to the Institute, in lieu of separate appropriations to the Experiment Stations and Extension Service with the instructional budgets previously included in the "Educa- tion and General" appropriation of the University. The integrity of the four major units, the Agricultural Experiment Stations, the Agricultural Extension Service, the College of Agriculture, and the School of Forestry, will not be affected, but the reorganization recognizes the inter-relationships among these units, and should assist in coordination. The second organizational change is entirely within the Main Station. By a method of liaison appointments between and among departments, team research in both applied and basic areas should provide for better planning of future research, with a stronger program resulting. The primary responsibility for all applied research on agricultural commodi- ties will be centered on the heads of commodity-oriented departments, and that for basic research on the heads of discipline-oriented departments. In addition, in the late spring most personnel in the Experiment Station system participated in a series of conferences under the label "DARE". This program was instigated by Provost for Agriculture E. T. York, Jr., and DARE stands for the phrase Developing Agricultural Resources Effectively. Production projections were developed to the year 1975, and industry leaders participated in a thorough review of the present situation in our important industries, and the problems and needs which must be resolved if our agriculture is to realize its potential. Solid research progress was made in many agricultural areas, and the results are detailed in the reports which follow. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS Construction of a new $200,000 Gulf Coast Experiment Station at Bradenton is now underway by appropriation of the 1963 Legislature. This is a relocation of facilities on the Braden river farm and will materi- ally strengthen the research program of this station in the area. Two $50,000 appropriations by the 1961 Legislature were released, and new facilities and land were obtained for the Strawberry and Vegetable Field Laboratory at Plant City and the Big Bend Horticultural Labora- tory at Monticello. The land at Plant City was donated by the County Commissioners of Hillsborough County. With added research in vegetables the name of the former was changed to depict this broader program. Also renamed was the former Pecan Investigations Laboratory to the Big Bend Horticultural Laboratory to better reflect the enlarged horticultural program at Monticello. Both these laboratories are now occupied and in full operation. A grant of $212,000 by the Southern Regional Experiment Station Directors was made to Florida for construction of a regional pesticide Annual Report, 1964 residue laboratory which is now under construction at the Main Station in Gainesville. The Florida Citrus Commission, which collaborates with the Experiment Stations in research on citrus, made a grant to the Citrus Experiment Station of $143,000 for the purpose of adding to the packinghouse and processing building. This will add laboratories and offices for additional research staff. One hundred acres of Forman Field near Davie, Florida, was granted to the State of Florida by the U. S. Government for research and educa- tional purposes. This new site is 2 miles south of the present Plantation Laboratory and will be of significant importance in future research. Worthy of special mention also were three private donations of con- siderable merit. George Morikami donated 40 acres to be used primarily for vegetable research. This tract is a few miles southwest of Delray Beach. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Newbill of Fort Lauderdale donated a tropical plant collection which is now located at the new Forman Field site and will serve as a nucleus for a botanical garden for ornamentals research. Also, the "Duncan McCulloch Collection" of orchid plants and exotic plants was obtained from the widow of the late Duncan McCulloch of Gainesville and will be maintained for research and teaching at the University. RESEARCH PROGRAM New problems constantly occur in Florida's dynamic agricultural in- dustry. The Stations' responsibility is to meet the challenges as they become known, so the number of active projects underway is constantly changing. Active projects are initiated formally in accordance with the usually recognized procedures either by individual scientists or groups. The team approach to solving agricultural problems, which are continually becoming more complex, is a widespread practice throughout the Station system. All work is carefully coordinated and evaluated for most efficient use of research funds as well as most effective approach to the solution of a problem. Research planning is a continuing process. Following is a summary of the project changes during the year: McIntire- Projects State Hatch Regional AMA Stennis Total Initiated 20 4 2 0 1 27 Completed 26 3 1 1 0 31 Revised 2 0 0 0 0 2 Total Active 6/30/64 295 89 11 2 1 398 Total Active 6/30/63 301 88 10 3 0 402 Increase or Decrease -6 1 1 -1 1 -4 Except for some projects which were temporarily inactive during the year, the following reports by departments and stations contain the sum- mary of work of all projects plus additional reports of preliminary ex- ploratory research. Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations To obtain complete information on a given problem, commodity, or process, the reader should consult the index, since related work may have been done at several locations. This report reflects an outstanding service to growers, ranchers, and related agricultural industries as evidenced by the research contributions reported in the following pages. To keep the public promptly informed, field days, short courses, and conferences were held by various departments, branch stations, and field laboratories periodically during the year. STAFF CHANGES Appointments Willard Osborne Ash, Statistician, Statistics, July 1, 1963 Charles Dean Covey, Asst. Ag. Economist, Ag. Economics, July 1, 1963 Moulton O. Thomas, Assoc. Horticulturist, Sub-Tropical Station, July 1, 1963 Dale Herbert Habeck, Asst. Entomologist, Entomology, July 1, 1963 Charles Wilson Averre, III, Asst. Plant Pathologist, Sub-Tropical Station, July 1, 1963 Don Howard Lenker, Asst. Ag. Engineer, Citrus Station, July 1, 1963 Henry Herbert Head, Asst. Dairy Husbandman, Dairy Sci., July 1, 1963 Gail W. Leber, Asst. Meteorologist, Weather Forecasting Service, August 1, 1963 James Edward Reynolds, Asst. Plant Pathologist, Sub-Tropical Station, Sept. 1, 1963 William Cecil Le Croy, Asst. Agronomist, Everglades Station, Sept. 1, 1963 James Elmer Stearns, M.S., Int. Asst. in Poultry Husbandman, Poultry Sept. 1, 1963 William Mendenhall, III, Statistician and Head of Dept., Statistics, Sept. 1, 1963 William H. Kahl, Asst. Ag. Engineer, Everglades Station, Sept. 16, 1963 Bobby Ray Bennett, Asst. in Ag. Economics, Ag. Econ. Dept., Sept. 23, 1963 Ramon A. Bradley, Research Assoc., Statistics, Oct. 1, 1963 Larry Junior Wallace, Asst. Pathologist, Veterinary Sci., Oct. 1, 1963 Thomas J. Davidson, Jr., Asst. Soils Chemist, North Florida Station, Oct. 1, 1963 John Hal Johnson, Asst. Biochemist, Food Tech., Nov. 1, 1963 Robert Herdon Littrell, Asst. Plant Pathologist, Gulf Coast Station, Dec. 1, 1963 Harry E. Warmke, Plant Pathologist, Plant Path. Dept., Jan. 1, 1964, USDA Yuji Inaba, Int. Asst. Virologist, Vet. Sci. Dept., Jan. 1, 1964 Silas Fleming Bennett, Assoc. Librarian, Ag. Library, Jan. 1, 1964 Herbert Harris Bryan, Asst. Horticulturist, North Florida Station, Jan. 1, 1964 Jason Curry Outler, Int. Research Associate in Animal Nutrition, Ani. Sci., Jan. 13, 1964 Jack Leroy Fry, Assoc. Poultry Products Technician, Poultry, Feb. 1, 1964 Clarence Gene Haugh, Asst. Ag. Engineer, Ag. Engineering, Feb. 1, 1964 Walter Raymond Knudsen, Int. Asst. in Forestry, Forestry, Feb. 4, 1964 Curtis Williams, Asst. Ag. Economist, Ag. Economics, Mar. 1, 1964, USDA Johnnie Edmon Betts, Asst. in Ag. Economics, Economics, Mar. 1, 1964, USDA James Leslie Pearson, Asst. Ag. Economist, Economics, Mar. 1, 1964, USDA Annual Report, 1964 Dan Elwood Purcifull, Asst. Virologist, Plant Pathology, May 1, 1964 Richard Lee Phillips, Asst. Horticulturist, Citrus Station, May 1, 1964 Grover Cleveland Smart, Jr., Asst. Nematologist, Entomology, June 16, 1964 Promotions Norman Carl Schenck, Assoc. Plant Pathologist, Watermelon and Grape Lab., July 1, 1963 Charles Henry Hendershott, Jr., Assoc. Plant Physiologist, Citrus Station, July 1, 1963 Elmer Carl Hill, Assoc. Bacteriologist, Citrus Station, July 1, 1963 Robert Eugene Stall, Assoc. Plant Pathologist, Everglades Station, July 1, 1963 Emmett DeWitt Harris, Jr., Assoc. Entomologist, Everglades Station, July 1, 1963 Herbert Lee Chapman, Jr., Animal Nutritionist, Everglades Station, July 1, 1963 Richard Matthew Baranowski, Assoc. Entomologist, Sub-Tropical Station, July 1, 1963 Frank Sloan Baker, Jr., Animal Husbandman, North Florida Station, July 1, 1963 Fentress McCoughan Peacock, Assoc. Animal Husbandman, Range Cattle Station, July 1, 1963 John Earl McCaleb, Assoc. Agronomist, Range Cattle Station, July 1, 1963 William Guard Blue, Biochemist, Soils Dept., July 1, 1963 Charles Franklin Eno, Soils Microbiologist, Soils Dept., July 1, 1963 Thomas John Sheehan, Assoc. Ornamental Horticulturist, Ornamental Hort., July 1, 1963 Thomas Edward Freeman, Assoc. Plant Pathologist, Plant Pathology, July 1, 1963 Fred Clark, Agronomist, Agronomy, July 1, 1963 Cecil Nockols Smith, Agricultural Economist, Ag. Economics, July 1, 1963 Harold William Young, Assoc. Horticulturist in Charge, Big Bend Lab., Sept. 16, 1963 Robert Henry Harms, Poultry Nutritionist and Head of Dept., Poultry, Oct. 1, 1963 Dale Robert Hensel, Assoc. Soils Chemist in Charge, Potato Inv. Lab., May 1, 1964 Resignations Glenn Gilbert Goshorn, Asst. in Ag. Economics, Ag. Economics, July 31, 1963 Fred Russell Tarver, Jr., Asst. Poultry Husbandman, Poultry, Aug. 28, 1963 Ernest LeGrande Hobbs, Asst. Plant Pathologist, Gulf Coast Station, Aug. 31, 1963 William Fred Chapman, Jr., Asst. in Ag. Economics, Ag. Economics, Sept. 15, 1963, USDA Dale Warren Kretchman, Asst. Horticulturist, Citrus Station, Sept. 20, 1963 Huo-Ping Pan, Asst. Biochemist, Food Tech. and Nutr., Oct. 1, 1963 Raymond Robert Hancock, Asst. Ag. Statistician, Ag. Economics, Nov. 17, 1963 George Alton Brown, Asst. Soils Surveyor, Soils Dept., Dec. 28, 1963 Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations William Gordon Long, Assoc. Chemist, Citrus Station, Feb. 29, 1964 Anthony Alexander Di Edwardo, Asst. Nematologist, Entomology, Mar. 6, 1964 Marion Mathias Striker, Int. Asst. Soil Surveyor, Soils Dept., May 11, 1964 Glenn Ray Noggle, Botanist and Head Botany Dept., Botany, June 30, 1964 Johnnie Edmon Betts, Asst. in Ag. Economics, Economics, Apr. 18, 1964, USDA William H. Kahl, Asst. Ag. Engineer, Everglades Station, May 31, 1964 Harry Gene Witt, Asst. in Ag. Economics, Economics, May 31, 1964, USDA Retirements William Angus Carver, Agronomist, Agronomy, Jan. 31, 1964 Archie Newton Tissot, Entomologist, Entomology, June 30, 1964 Erdman West, Botanist and Mycologist, Plant Pathology, June 30, 1964 Deaths James Wesley Willingham, Associate Forester, Forestry, Feb. 3, 1964 Retirements Prior To 1963-64 Arthur Liston Shealy, Animal Husbandman and Head, Ani. Sci. Dept., 1949 Gulie Hargrove Blackmon, Horticulturist, Orn. Hort. Dept., 1954 Levi Otto Gratz, Assistant Director, 1954 Arthur Forrest Camp, Vice-Director in Charge, Citrus Station, 1956 Oudia Davis Abbott, Home Economist, Food Tech. and Nutr., 1958 Lillian E. Arnold, Associate Botanist, Plant Path. Dept., 1958 P. T. Dix Arnold, Associate Dairy Husbandman, Dairy Dept., 1959 Rudolf William Ruprecht, Chemist and Vice-Director, Central Fla. Sta- tion, 1959 Jesse Roy Christie, Nematologist, Entomology Dept., 1960 Mark W. Emmel, Veterinarian, Vet. Sci. Dept., 1961 J. Francis Cooper, Editor and Head, Editorial Dept., 1961. Joseph Robert Neller, Soils Chemist, Soils Department, 1962 Willard M. Fifield, Provost for Agriculture, 1962 William L. Thompson, Entomologist, Citrus Station, 1962 Ida K. Cresap, Librarian, Agricultural Library, 1963 Norman R. Mehrhof, Poultry Husbandman and Head, Poultry Sci. Dept., 1963 Auther H. Eddins, Plant Pathologist in Charge, Pot. Inv. Lab., 1963 Raymond B. Becker, Dairy Husbandman, Dairy Sci. Dept., 1963 GRANTS AND GIFTS Commercial grants and gifts accepted as support for existing programs during the year ending June 30, 1964. Financial assistance is hereby grate- fully acknowledged. Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, Illinois Fruit Crops Department-$1,000 Poultry Science Department-$2,000 Citrus Experiment Station-$2,500 Sub-Tropical Experiment Station-$500 Annual Report, 1964 Allied Chemical Corporation (General Chemical Division), Orlando, Florida Central Florida Experiment Station-$250. Everglades Experiment Station-$500. North Florida Experiment Station-$250. Sub-Tropical Experiment Station-$250. American Can Company, New York 17, New York Dairy Science Department-$18,455 Atlas Chemical Industries, Wilmington, Delaware Everglades Experiment Station-$1,000 American Cyanamid, Agricultural Division, Princeton, New Jersey Animal Science Department-$2,500 Sub-Tropical Experiment Station-$1,000 American Oil Company, Whiting, Indiana Citrus Experiment Station-$2,100 The Avocado Administrative Committee, Homestead, Florida Sub-Tropical Experiment Station-$500. Basic, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio Animal Science Department-$2,000 Citrus Experiment Station-$4,000 Brunswick Pulp and Paper Company, Brunswick, Georgia Forestry Department-$2,000 The Buckeye Cellulose Corporation, Foley, Florida Forestry Department-$2,000 California Chemical Company, Orlando, Florida Plant Pathology Department-$500. Central Florida Experiment Station-$500. Everglades Experiment Station-$1,000 Everglades Experiment Station-$1,000 Sub-Tropical Experiment Station-$1,000 Watermelon and Grape Investigations Laboratory-$500. California Pellet Mill Company, Crawfordsville, Indiana Everglades Experiment Station-$3,450 Chemagro Corporation, Kansas City, Missouri Central Florida Experiment Station-$1,000 Everglades Experiment Station-$200 Chilean Nitrate Educational Bureau, New York, New York Citrus Experiment Station-$3,600 Columbia Nitrogen Corporation, Augusta, Georgia Combined Units-$4,800 Container Corporation of America, Fernandina Beach, Florida Forestry Department-$2,000 Continental Woodlands, Savannah, Georgia Forestry Department-$2,000 Mrs. F. L. De Busk, Pensacola, Florida Plant Pathology-$50. Diamond Alkali Company, Painesville, Ohio Plant Pathology Department-$500. Plant Pathology Department-$500. Vegetable Crops Department-$136. Everglades Experiment Station-$750. Everglades Experiment Station-$750. Gulf Coast Experiment Station-$500. Sub-Tropical Experiment Station-$500. Watemelon and Grape Investigations Laboratory-$500. Big Bend Horticultural Laboratory-$500. Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations Distillers Feed Research Council, Cincinnati, Ohio Animal Science Department-$4,000 Dixie Lilly Company, Williston, Florida Animal Science Department-$25,000 The DOW Chemical Company, Midland, Michigan Agronomy Department-$500. Vegetable Crops Department-$1,132 Everglades Experiment Station-$500. Esso Research and Engineering, Linden, New Jersey Vegetable Crops Department-$750. Central Florida Experiment Station-$750. Everglades Experiment Station-$1,000 Watermelon and Grape Investigations Laboratory-$750. Falstaff Brewing Company, St. Louis 10, Missouri Animal Science-$2,475 The Federation Garden Circles, Fort Lauderdale Everglades Experiment Station-$2,500 (Old Plantation Field Laboratory) Florida Citrus Commission, Lakeland, Florida Agricultural Economics Department-$16,500 Citrus Experiment Station-$143,000 FMC Corporation, John Bean Division, Orlando, Florida Citrus Experiment Station-$1,500 Geigy Chemical Corporation, Yonkers, New York Agronomy Department-$3,000 Entomology Department $250. Entomology Department-$750. Central Florida Experiment Station-$500. Citrus Experiment Station-$250. Georgia, Florida, Alabama Peanut Association, Camilla, Georgia Agronomy Department-$5,500 Growers Administrative Committee, Lakeland, Florida Agricultural Economics Department-$5,092 Hoffman-LaRoche, Inc., Nutley 10, New Jersey Everglades Experiment Station-$3,500 Humble Oil and Refining Company, Baytown, Texas Citrus Experiment Station-$11,000 Hupp Corporation, Cleveland 10, Ohio Fruit Crops Department-$2,500 International Fortrition Company, Inc., Atlanta 5, Georgia Animal Science Department-$2,500 Poultry Science Department-$2,000 International Paper Company, Mobile, Alabama Forestry Department-$2,000 Jabsco Pump Company, Costa Mesa, California Dairy Science Department-$541. Koppers Company, Inc., Pittsburg 19, Pennsylvania Forestry Department-$200. Eli Lilly Company, Greenfield, Indiana Gulf Coast Experiment Station-$360. Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana Animal Science Department-$2,000 Mrs. Frederick E. Lykes, Tampa, Florida Fruit Crops Department-$250. Annual Report, 1964 Manganese Chemicals Corporation, Baltimore 26, Maryland Citrus Experiment Station-$4,000 McCulloch, Mrs. Duncan, Gainesville, Florida Ornamental Horticulture Department-$10,002 Miller Chemical and Fertilizer Corporation, Baltimore 15, Maryland Everglades Experiment Station-$400. Minute Maid Groves, Corporation, Orlando, Florida Citrus Station-$3,000 Monsanto Chemical Company, St. Louis, Missouri Poultry Science Department-$3,500 Everglades Experiment Station-$1,500 Naugatuck Chemical, Bethany 15, Connecticut Agronomy Department-$500. Niagara Chemical Division, FMC Corporation, Middleport, New York Entomology-$500. NOPCO Chemical Company, Newark 1, New Jersey Poultry Science Department-$1,000 Pabst Brewing Company, Milwaukee 1, Wisconsin Animal Science Department-$500. Phelps Dodge Refining Corporation, New York 22, New York Citrus Experiment Station-$2,000 Everglades Experiment Station-$2,000 Rayonier, Inc., Fernandina Beach, Florida Forestry Department-$2,000 R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Winston-Salem, North Carolina Agronomy and Agricultural Engineering Departments-$5,000 Rohm and Haas Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Sub-Tropical Experiment Station-$1,500 Shell Chemical Company, A Division of Shell Oil Company, New York 20, New York Food Technology Department-$3,000 Shell Chemical Company, A Division of Shell Oil Company, Atlanta 3, Georgia Central Florida Experiment Station-$500. Everglades Experiment Station-$1,000 Sub-Tropical Experiment Station-$500. Watermelon and Grape Investigations Laboratory-$500. Shell Development Company, A Division of Shell Oil Company, Modesto, California Agronomy Department-$500. Entomology Department-$500. Central Florida Experiment Station-$800. Citrus Experiment Station-$600. Everglades Experiment Station-$600. Everglades Experiment Station-$500. Scott Paper Company, Mobile, Alabama Forestry Department-$2,000 Smith-Douglas Company, Inc., Norfolk, Virginia Poultry Science Department-$3,000 Sociedad Nacional De Pesqueria, Lima, Peru Poultry Science Department-$3,000 Soft Phosphate Research Institute, Ocala, Florida Animal Science Department-$3,000 Soils Department and Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations Citrus Station-$3,000 Soils Department and Suwannee Valley Experiment Station-$1,500 Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, Asheville, North Carolina Forestry Department-$3,000 Forestry Department-$1,000 Forestry Department-$3,000 Southern Forest Disease and Insect Research Council, Atlanta, Georgia Entomology Department-$500. Southern Railway Company, Washington 13, D. C. Agricultural Economics Department-$26,250. The Standard Oil Company, Cleveland 28, Ohio Entomology Department-$900. Central Florida Experiment Station-$1,500 Citrus Experiment Station-$1,500 Citrus Experiment Station-$500. Sub-Tropical Experiment Station-$500. State Department of Agriculture, Tallahassee, Florida Vegetable Crops Department-$600. St. Regis Paper Company, Jacksonville, Florida Forestry Department-$2,000 Sun Oil Company, Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania Ornamental Horticulture-$1,000 Superior Fertilizer Company, Tampa, Florida Range Cattle Experiment Station-$350. Tennessee Coal and Iron, Division of U. S. Steel, Fairfield, Alabama Citrus Experiment Station-$1,200 Tennessee Corporation, Atlanta, Georgia Citrus Experiment Station-$1,000 Tennessee Valley Authority, Norris, Tennessee Forestry Department-$2,000 Thompson-Hayward Chemical Company, Kansas City, Missouri Citrus Experiment Station-$500. Citrus Experiment Station-$500. Big Bend Horticultural Laboratory-$750. Union Bag-Camp Paper Corporation, Savannah, Georgia Forestry Department-$2,000 Union Carbide Chemicals Company, New York 17, New York Citrus Experiment Station-$500. VegeFat, Inc., East St. Louis, Illinois Everglades Experiment Station-$1,500 West Coast Fertilizer Company, Tampa, Florida Citrus Experiment Station-$618. Grants for basic research were accepted from national agencies as follows: Atomic Energy Commission Agronomy Department-$10,926 Agronomy Department-$9,456 Agronomy Department-$17,000 Botany Department-$16,124 Food Technology Department-$35,698 Soils Department-$9,552 Veterinary Science Department-$17,500 National Science Foundation Agronomy Department-$9,600 Annual Report, 1964 Agronomy Department and Plant Pathology Department-$30,200 Public Health Service Animal Science Department-$34,500 National Institutes of Health Animal Science Department-$15,924 Animal Science Department-$34,349 Animal Science Department-$27,720 Animal Science Department-$9,000 Animal Science Department-$13,624 Botany Department-$11,200 Food Technology Department-$23,090 Plant Pathology Department-$30,921 Veterinary Science Department-$16,236 Veterinary Science Department-$12,660 Veterinary Science Department-$27,730 Gulf Coast Experiment Station-$8,470 United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Economics-$4,000 Animal Science Department-$2,000 Animal Science Department-$20,000 Plant Pathology Department-$4,000 Veterinary Science Department-$57,000 Citrus Experiment Station-$22,500 Citrus Experiment Station-$39,860 North Florida Experiment Station-$40,000 REPORT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER SUMMARY OF EXPENDITURES OF STATE FUNDS 1963-64 Fla. Agri. Exp. Sta. General Revenue Funds Salaries and wages Travel .. . Transportation and communication Utilities Printing .. Repairs and maintenance Contractual services Rentals Other current charges and obligations Supplies and materials Equipment .. Land and buildings Replacement fund . Plant fund $4,915,269.67 159,544.70 66,530.38 100,687.33 50,521.26 51,110.15 22,519.44 29,069.66 24,072.03 422,018.48 104,291.40 24,832.86 -0- 96,369.44 Incidental Funds $ 93,887.33 6,332.20 9,044.15 14,403.53 532.75 21,201.58 3,897.44 21,688.45 12,782.41 419,833.88 116,710.95 46,554.09 -0- -0-- $6,066,836.80 $766,868.76 Grants and Donations Funds $317,737.43 23,557.40 4,666.96 4,883.46 2,660.27 11,194.36 14,794.89 77.00 3,247.68 110,885.54 167,645.36 42,339.62 -0- -0- Total State Funds $5,326,894.43 189,434.30 80,241.49 119,974.32 53,714.28 83,506.09 41,211.77 50,835.11 40,102.12 952,737.90 388,647.71 113,726.57 -0- 96,639.44 Total state funds $703,689.97 $7,537,395.53 SUMMARY OF EXPENDITURES OF FEDERAL FUNDS 1963-64 Regional Agricultural Total Hatch Research Marketing Federal Funds Funds Act Funds Salaries and wages $421,173.00 $ 45,786.00 $ 5,698.67 $ 472,657.67 Travel 2,476.65 2,239.51 4,716.16 Transportation and communication 29.07 29.07 Utilities -- 291.99 291.99 Printing 123.53 69.52 193.05 Repairs and maintenance 627.13 229.00 856.13 Contractual services 87.60 87.60 Rentals -... -0- Other current charges and obligations -0- Supplies and materials 1,155.94 14,237.74 257.92 15,651.60 Equipment 53,840.57 5,621.63 1,160.15 60,622.35 Land and buildings 18,695.11 5,587.43 24,282.54 Total federal expenditures ... $494,864.62 $ 74,868.77 $ 9,654.77 $ 579,388.16 Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS Research was conducted under 44 projects. Nine new projects were initiated, and two projects were closed. Eight of these projects were regional in cooperation with other southern state experiment stations. The department continued its arrangement of coordinating its research program with the Florida Citrus Commission in the area of economics and marketing of citrus fruit. During the year three bulletins, 13 agricultural economics reports, and five journal articles were published. FARMERS' COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATIONS IN FLORIDA State Project 154 H. G. Hamilton and A. H. Spurlock Minor revisions were made in the manuscript that was prepared in the fiscal period 1962-63. This manuscript was published, and the project is closed with this report. FACTORS AFFECTING COSTS AND RETURNS IN FLORIDA CITRUS PRODUCTION Hatch Project 186 Zach Savage Operating or cash costs per acre for 1962-63 were down 3 percent from 1961-62. These 1962-63 costs were the third highest of this project at $235.17 per acre and 7 percent above the 1956-61 average. Labor, power, and equipment costs at $109.12 were up 5 percent from last season and were the highest since 1959-60. Money spent for fertilizer materials at $63.34 was down 5 percent from last season and up 3 per- cent from the 1956-61 average. Money spent for spray and dust materials at $33.80 was down 7 percent from last season but up 34 percent over the 1956-61 average. Real estate taxes at $19.70 were the highest of this project, up 1 percent over last season and up 34 percent over the 1956-61 average. Other items listed as "miscellaneous" at $9.21 were down 38 percent from last season and down 4 percent from the 1956-61 average. This decrease in the item of miscellaneous was largely due to the increase in money spent for materials in frost protection. Proportionate increases in 1962-63 over the 1946-51 average were: average age, 35 percent; labor, power, and equipment, 50; fertilizer ma- terials, 32; spray and dust materials, 195; state and county taxes, 129; miscellaneous, 23; and operating costs, 58 percent. FACTORS AFFECTING BREEDING EFFICIENCY, ITS POSSIBLE INHERITANCE AND DEPRECIATION IN FLORIDA DAIRY HERDS State Project 345 (Revised) A. H. Spurlock Records of replacements, causes of losses, and disposal dates were con- tinued on five dairy herds. Data were combined with results previously obtained to determine length of life, depreciation rates, and reasons for replacements. The lifespan of 4,228 replaced cows averaged 6.4 years or about 4.4 years in the milking herd. After three years less than two-thirds of the original animals remained. After five years only 37 percent remained. Cows reaching age six (4 years in the herd) had a life expectancy of Annual Report, 1964 2.7 years and averaged 8.7 years of life; cows reaching age 10 had 1.7 years of life expectancy and averaged 11.7 years of life. Live disposals from the herd were principally for low production, 31.6 percent; mastitis or some form of udder trouble, 24.8 percent; and re- productive troubles, 17.6 percent. These three reasons or combinations of them were responsible for 78.5 percent of the live disposals. About 8 percent of the live disposals were for nonstated reasons. Death from all causes accounted for 13.5 percent of all disposals. (See also Project 345, Dairy Science Department.) INFLUENCE OF BREED COMPOSITION AND LEVEL OF NUTRITION ON ADAPTABILITY OF CATTLE TO CENTRAL FLORIDA CONDITIONS State Project 615 (Revised) R. E. L. Greene This experiment is designed to determine the relative productivity of cows of different proportions of English and Brahman blood when fed under pasture programs designed to supply low, medium, and good nutri- tion levels. Data are being accumulated on physical inputs and outputs for the various programs that will serve as a basis for the economic analysis. The experimental data will be supplemented with estimates of costs of performing various operations under ranch conditions to reflect expected net incomes from various programs if followed by commercial ranchers. (See also Project 615R, Range Cattle Station.) PASTURE PROGRAMS AND BREEDING SYSTEMS FOR BEEF PRODUCTION ON FLATWOODS SOILS OF CENTRAL AND NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA State Project 627 (Revised) R. E. L. Greene This experiment is designed to evaluate pasture programs varying in intensities of fertilization and levels of management in terms of forage production, nutrient balance, and rate and economy of beef production for a cow-calf program. The present experiment was started in 1957. It con- tains one all-grass, three grass-clover, and one irrigated grass-clover pro- gram, with varying rates of fertilization. Each is stocked with the esti- mated number of cows it will carry on a year round basis. The cows are managed according to the conditions of the pastures. They are fed supple- mental feed during the winter as needed to keep the cows in each program in about the same condition. The stocking rate is 1.45 acres per cow on programs 1, 3, and 4, 1.36 on program 2, and 1.33 acres on program 5. Summaries were made showing costs and returns for the 1962-63 season. As had been true in other years, program 2 had the lowest cost per pound of beef produced and the highest net return per acre. Program 1 had the highest cost per pound and a negative net return per acre. Program 2 is a grass-clover program that is fertilized with 300 pounds of 0-10-20 fertilizer per acre per year, but receives no topdressing. Program 1 is an all grass program that receives 450 pounds of 0-10-20 fertilizer and 180 pounds of N per acre per year. Cost of supplemental feed and minerals per pound of beef produced on program 1 was almost four times that on program 2. (See also Project 627, Agricultural Engineering, Agronomy, Animal Science, and Soils departments.) Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations THE EFFECT OF DIFFERENT FORMS OF NITROGENOUS FERTILIZERS ON THE YIELD AND QUALITY OF VEGETABLES State Project 660 (Revised) D. L. Brooke Data furnished on the yield response of tomatoes and cucumbers grown under plastic mulch in the spring of 1963 indicate that the application of fertilizers was carried beyond the level of economic returns for both crops. The application of more than 2,000 pounds per acre of Urea + KSO4 and more than 3,000 pounds of a commercial 6-8-6 fertilizer on tomatoes in the Manatee area resulted in physical decreases in yield per acre. There- fore, any expense for fertilizer beyond that level which would give a max- imum yield was not reflected in added value of product. The same situation was indicated for cucumbers under plastic mulch when the application of fertilizers was carried beyond the 1,000 pound level of Urea + KNO;: and Urea + KSO or 3,000 pounds of a commercial 6-8-6 mixture. The fact that the highest yields were experienced at the lowest level of fertilizer application indicates that further trials with lower levels of plant food should be attempted. (See also Project 660, Gulf Coast Station.) METHODS OF ESTIMATING FLORIDA CITRUS PRODUCTION State Project 685 R. G. Stout and P. E. Shuler' Estimates of fruit numbers per tree were determined from the pre- season surveys completed in September. The October orange crop was forecast at 64.5 million boxes and grapefruit at 27.5 million boxes. Final pick-out appears to be about 60 million boxes of oranges and 26.5 million boxes of grapefruit. A new survey was commenced in October to determine pounds solids, acids, brix, and ratio attributes of oranges by the three types, early, mid- season, and Valencias. Information on losses from the December 1962 freeze was collected and published as Agricultural Economics Mimeo Report EC64-7 entitled "Flor- ida Citrus Fruit and Tree Losses from the December, 1962 Freeze." For instance, components of the loss in the size of the Valencia crop totaled 27 million boxes. This loss was estimated to be 18.4 percent due to lack of attaining normal harvest size, 67.7 percent due to excessive droppage, and 13.9 percent due to other factors, largely, loss of juice. Experiment Station Circular S-150 was published which evaluated and illustrated a procedure whereby a grower could estimate the rate of juice loss of cold damaged fruit. An Agricultural Economics Report published, "Some Factors Contribut- ing to Year to Year Variations in Florida Orange Production," estimates that number of fruit per tree and droppage rates were equally important in year to year variations in Valencia production, while number of fruit per tree was the most important factor in early and midseaon variations in year to year production. An article was published in the Proceedings of the Florida State Horti- cultural Society, Vol. 76, 1963, entitled "Some Relevant Factors in Fore- casting Harvest Size of Valencia Oranges." 1 Cooperative with Florida Crop and Livestock Reporting Service. Annual Report, 1964 29 ECONOMICS OF FLORIDA DAIRY FARMING State Project 701 R. E. L. Greene and B. J. Smith Work on the economic study of dairy farms in west Florida was con- tinued in both the Pensacola and Tallahassee areas. The two major ob- jectives of the study have been to develop an economic description of dairying as it is carried out in these areas, and to get reliable data on the costs and returns experienced in 1962 by west Florida dairymen. The re- sults for each area will be reported in separate publications. The final report for the Pensacola area is now in the process of being duplicated, and the results for the Tallahassee area are currently being reduced to manuscript form. Records from 24 farms were used for the Pensacola report, and the same number will be used for the Tallahassee report. Based on the findings and assumptions of the study, the cost of producing milk in the Pensacola area was 67.6, 77.0, 59.5, and 66.7 cents per gallon for small, medium, large, and all farms, respectively, and the blend prices received were 50.7, 52.1, 52.1, and 51.8 cents per gallon respectively. The Tallahassee area showed per gallon costs of 65.8, 58.8, 54.5, and 58.9 cents, with blend prices re- ceived of 51.0, 48.2, 47.3, and 48.5 cents per gallon for small, medium, large, and all farms, respectively. COSTS AND EFFICIENCY IN HANDLING FLORIDA CITRUS FRUITS Hatch Project 895 A. H. Spurlock and (Regional SM-22) H. G. Hamilton Citrus harvesting costs for 32 firms, 1962-63, averaged as follows per 1-3/5 bushel box: picking oranges, 39.6 cents; picking grapefruit, 28.3 cents; and picking tangerines, 96.0 cents. Hauling from roadside to plant cost 12.9 cents per box. Costs of packing and selling Florida fresh citrus fruit per 1-3/5 bushel equivalent by 41 packinghouses, 1962-63, were as follows: Container Oranges Grapefruit Tangerines 1-3/5 bushel wirebound box $1.40 $1.16 - 4/5 bushel wirebound (half Bruce) box 1.73 1.48 $1.81 4/5 bushel fiberboard carton 1.50 1.29 - 5 lb. mesh bag in master carton 2.25 2.24 - 5 lb. poly. bag in master carton 1.96 1.77 - Differentials between containers and kinds of fruit were abnormal in 1962-63 because of conditions resulting from the freeze. Packinghouses varied in the cost of handling all fruit from 27 percent below average to 77 percent above average. Thirteen of the 41 houses were within 5 percent of the average, and 17 were within 10 percent. Average costs of processing, warehousing, and selling typical products from 23 plants were: single strength orange juice in 12/46 ounce cans, sweetened, $1.85; grapefruit sections in 24/303 cans, sweetened, $3.04; chilled salad sections, 12/32 ounce jars, $3.68. Frozen orange concentrate in 48/6 ounce cans cost $2.66, and per gallon excluding packaging ma- terials, $0.71. Processing of citrus by-products cost an average of $25.08 per ton for citrus pulp and meal, $19.01 per ton for molasses, and $0.1779 per pound for cold pressed peel oil. Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations Results of the year's work were distributed to citrus dealers, packers, and processors in three mimeographed releases for the 1962-63 season: (1) "Costs of Picking and Hauling Florida Citrus Fruits," (2) "Costs of Packing and Selling Florida Fresh Citrus Fruits," and (3) "Costs of Processing, Warehousing and Selling Florida Citrus Products." SIMULTANEOUS DETERMINATION OF MULTIPLE DEMAND FOR CITRUS Hatch Project 937 W. B. Riggan and M. R. Godwin (Regional SM-22) A 1 percent change in the estimated annual production of oranges by the U. S. Department of Agriculture is associated with a change in the on-tree price in the opposite direction of 1.5 percent in the short run and of 4.3 percent in the long run. Results of the study indicated a price elasticity of demand at the producer level of -0.23. In like manner, a 1 percent change in personal disposable income is as- sociated with a change in the on-tree price of Florida oranges of 0.9 per- cent in the short run and 2.6 percent in the long run. The equivalent in- come elasticity at the producer level is 0.38. Given a population of 180 million and the data on orange production and prices used in the study calculation, a change in production of 1 million boxes results in an on-tree price change of 4 cents per box in the opposite direction. Under the same assumptions, a change in personal disposable income of 1 billion dollars results in an on-tree price change of 1.7 cents per box in the same direction. The price elasticity of demand for fresh oranges at the retail level ranges from -2.0 in the short run to -4.0 in the long run. The price elasticity of demand for frozen concentrate is near unity, and the price elasticity for canned single strength juice falls in between the other two. A manuscript reporting the results of the research is being prepared. A preliminary report has been published in the Stations Journal Series. MARKET STRUCTURE OF THE NURSERY INDUSTRY State Project 951 C. N. Smith Further analysis of the data collected from a sample of 200 ornamental nurserymen was done. Results indicated that very large nurseries-those with 10 acres or more-accounted for more than $10 million of the $24 million total sales of all products by farms classified as nurseries which grew ornamental plants. Estimated sales of very small nurseries-those with less than 0.2 acre-made up more than $3 million of the total. Many small operations were garden centers with small growing areas or else had greenhouses in which orchids, potted plants, and flowers were pro- duced along with various other nursery products. It was estimated that 73 percent of all nursery stock sold by nursery- men in Florida was marketed in containers. More than half of the total retail marketing of almost $17 million consisted of landscape nursery sales. A manuscript embracing the results of this study as well as data from the census and from other sources is now in preparation. Annual Report, 1964 LABOR, MATERIALS, COSTS, AND RETURNS IN VEGETABLE PRODUCTION State Project 970 D. L. Brooke Costs and returns from vegetable crops in Florida were obtained from growers and summarized for 13 different vegetables in 10 of the major producing areas of the state. In general, the 1962-63 season was profitable for vegetable growers. Major exceptions to this were the ground-grown tomato crops in most of south Florida. Unfavorable weather during the growing season reduced yields on most fall and winter tomatoes, resulting in losses to growers. Weather was largely responsible also for losses on cucumbers and squash in parts of the lower half of the peninsula. Labor and material requirements data were released in Florida Agri- cultural Experiment Stations Bulletin 660. Nineteen vegetables were re- ported in one or more of the important producing areas. The data indicate increases in the use of machinery, equipment, materials, and semi-skilled labor and some decreases in the use of unskilled labor on vegetable farms. This reflects the rapid advances being made in technology. AGE OF HEIFERS AT FIRST BREEDING AS RELATED TO BEEF PRODUCTION State Project 995 R. E. L. Greene The objective of this study is to compare beef production and income from heifers bred first at one versus two years of age. Various physical production data that will serve as a basis of the economic analysis are being collected for experimental groups of heifers. These data are in the process of being assembled and analyzed in order to make a comparison of net returns for the two breeding systems. (See also Project 995, Animal Science Department.) CHANGES IN THE MARKET STRUCTURE FOR SELECTED FLORIDA AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES-MARKET ORGANIZATION AND STRUCTURE OF THE FLORIDA CELERY INDUSTRY AMA Project 1012 D. L. Brooke, W. B. Riggan (ES 672) and C. N. Smith The Florida celery industry has organized through the adoption of a state marketing order and a cooperative selling organization. The 49 growers in the industry market all of their product through 14 authorized sales agencies. Chains bought 24.7 percent, wholesale receivers and jobbers 41.2 percent, processors and repackers 5.2 percent, government 2.4 per- cent, independent retailers 0.2 percent, and brokers 26.2 percent of the 1962-63 crop. Four major bases of sale were used in selling Florida celery; F.O.B. Inspection Arrival Acceptance, F.O.B. Acceptance Final, and De- livered sales accounted for 92.6 percent of the celery sales. The fourth basis, Consigned, accounted for 7.2 percent for all sales. Shipments outside of Florida were made to 35 states, the District of Columbia, and Canada, and for European export. The Middle Atlantic states received 32.2 percent of Florida's celery, East North Central states 25.4 percent, South Atlantic 15.9 percent, and East South Central states 3.9 percent. Only 11.4 percent moved west of the Mississippi River, while 9.2 percent went to Canada and 1.9 percent to Europe. Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations Results of this study were presented in an M.S. thesis entitled "Organi- zation and Operation of the Florida Celery Industry" by G. H. Jung in April 1964. This project is closed as an AMA supported study with this report. CHANGES IN THE MARKET STRUCTURE FOR SELECTED FLORIDA AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES-MARKET STRUCTURE AND FACTORS AFFECTING INDUSTRY REVENUE FOR FLORIDA SWEET CORN AMA Project 1012 D. L. Brooke, W. B. Riggan (ES 672) and C. N. Smith The Florida sweet corn industry is the second vegetable group which has organized through the adoption of a state marketing order and has attempted a cooperative selling arrangement. The order is restricted to sweet corn produced in south Florida. In the 1962-63 season 89 growers sold sweet corn through 25 first- handler sales firms in Florida. These firms sold 12.5 percent of the volume through local brokers and 87.5 percent direct to wholesale or retail outlets in the market. Chains bought 45.5 percent direct from Florida sales firms. Terminal brokers handled 7.5 percent, wholesalers 44 percent, jobbers 1.3 percent, and independent retailers 0.2 percent. Government purchases were 0.8 percent of the Florida volume. The Florida sweet corn industry has operated predominately in the elastic portion of the demand curve for the past three seasons. Therefore, in only a few (2-3) weeks of the peak shipping period (May) could in- dustry revenue have been increased by restricting the volume of the prod- uct moving to market. Unless the cooperative selling organization can increase its volume to include a major portion of the sweet corn moving to market, it can do little to stabilize prices during the south Florida season. The marketing order can encourage planned volume movement to the point of satisfying demand during the major part of the season and preventing over-supply conditions in May. This project is closed as an AMA supported study with this report. IMPROVING METHODS OF HANDLING POTATOES AT THE PACKINGHOUSE State Project 1017 R. E. L. Greene This project was designed to develop and test improved methods, equipment, and facilities for receiving and temporary holding of potatoes at packinghouses, with major emphasis on bulk handling systems. Tests have been conducted in the Hastings area comparing a flat-bin system and small bulk boxes with the present hopper bodies and sloping-bottom bins. The results indicate that the flat-bin system would be a satisfactory system of receiving and temporary holding of potatoes handled in bulk. Work has been devoted to preparation of a manuscript on the study describing the experimental systems, specifications for their installation, description of operational procedures, and estimates of investment and costs compared with the present bulk-body sloping-body bin method. (See also Project 1017, Agricultural Engineering Department.) Annual Report, 1964 AN ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF FLUID MILK SUPPLY, MOVEMENT AND UTILIZATION IN FLORIDA Hatch Project 1018 R. E. L. Greene (Regional SM-10) and B. J. Smith Work was devoted to the problem of making low and high-level esti- mates of projected fluid milk demand and supplies in Florida for 1975, assuming price relationships similar to those that existed in 1963. Fluid milk demand was estimated based on an expected population of 8,500,000 in the state in 1975. The low-level demand was projected based on a per capital consumption level the same as that estimated for 1959. The projected low-level demand was 2045.5 million pounds of milk or 861.5 million pounds more than the estimated consumption in 1959. The low-level projection of supplies was 2038 million pounds. Estimates were made for demand and supplies for five areas in the state and took into consideration differences in expected rate of increase in population in each area. SUPPLEMENTAL FEEDING OF YEARLING STEERS ON PASTURE State Project 1027 R. E. L. Greene The objectives of this study are to determine the economic value of several methods of supplemental feeding of grazing yearling steers for approximately one year before they are placed in the feedlot and to de- termine the subsequent effects of these methods on their performance in the feedlot. Four groups of 20 yearling steers are confined to 10-acre lots of St. Augustinegrass pasture. Lot 1 is maintained on pasture alone. Lots 2, 3, and 4 are fed a concentrate mixture during the first quarter of the experimental year. Lot 3 is fed a concentrate mixture during the second quarter, and lot 4 during the fourth quarter. Results have been obtained for three years. The data on the pasture phase of the study were analyzed, using an average of the results for the three years. Feeding concentrates on pasture during the first and second quarters (lot 3) resulted in the largest increase in net returns. Compared to lot 1 that received no supplemental feed, the additional re- turns above the cost for feed were $4.77 per head for lot 3, $2.04 for lot 2, and -4 cents for lot 4. (See also Project 1027, Everglades Station.) BLACKSTRAP MOLASSES AND OTHER ENERGY-CONTAINING FEEDS AS A SUPPLEMENT TO PASTURE FOR BEEF COWS State Project 1028 W. K. McPherson The seasonal feeding of molasses to cows increases the margin between the cost of producing and the value of weaned calves when the price of molasses is relatively low and the prices of calves relatively high. The molasses-weaned calf price relationships under which the seasonal feeding of molasses is economically feasible are shown in Table 1. Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations Table 1.-Effects of Feeding Molasses Seasonally on the Margin Between the Cost and Returns from Producing Weaned Calves.* Molasses Price $/T 20 25 30 35 40 Calf Price Change in Margin per Cow $/cwt. 10 $ -1.443 $ -3.01 $ -4.60 $ -6.18 $ -7.76 15 +1.02 .56 -2.15 -3.73 -5.31 20 +3.47 +1.89 + .30 -1.28 -2.86 25 +5.92 +4.34 +2.75 +1.17 .41 30 +8.37 +6.79 +5.20 +3.62 +2.04 35 +10.82 +9.24 +7.65 +6.07 +4.49 40 +13.27 +11.69 +10.10 +8.52 +6.94 The seasonal feeding of 633 pounds of molasses per cow increased the weight of weaned calves produced per cow 49 pounds. (See also Project 1028, Everglades Station.) A STUDY OF THE IMPACT OF OFF-FARM EMPLOYMENT ON THE USE OF AGRICULTURAL AND HUMAN RESOURCES IN A LOW-INCOME FARM AREA OF NORTHWEST FLORIDA Hatch Project 1030 (Regional S-44) D. E. Alleger With the publication of AES Bulletin 671, May 1964, the major phase of this project was terminated. An analysis of anomia, or the incidence of severe mental depression among rural households, is in progress. Data indicate that age, years of formal education, and kind of occupation are significant variables in ad- justment. For farmers, the size of family was also an important factor; the farmer in a two-person family tended to be anomic. In general persons under age 50, and those who had completed some high school education or better and who were employed in managerial or professional capacities were the most likely to be scored as adjusted. For all families, both farm and nonfarm, another significant personal adjustment factor was net worth ($10,000 or over). ECONOMIC FACTORS AFFECTING THE FLORIDA CHICK HATCHERY INDUSTRY Hatch Project 1035 R. E. L. Greene Work on this project consisted of completing a manuscript which presented the results of the study. This was published in the form of a mimeograph report. This project is closed with this report. MARKET DEVELOPMENT FOR HORTICULTURAL SPECIALTY PRODUCTS Regional Project 1078 (Regional SM-25) C. N. Smith Three field studies were initiated during the past year. Data on a study of consumer purchase patterns and preferences for cut and artificial Annual Report, 1964 flowers and for living and artificial foliage plants, conducted in Gainesville, are now being processed. A mail questionnaire concerning practices and attitudes toward orna- mental landscaping by lending agencies was mailed to 130 savings and loan associations in Florida. Approximately half were returned. A tabulation of responses to date indicated that slightly more than half of these lending agencies, when appraising the market value of a home, normally increased the appraised value by the cost of the landscaping. Fear of loss or damage through neglect was the major reason given by those who did not increase appraisals as much as landscaping costs. A desire for pamphlets and other information on the use and care of ornamental plants and for posters showing typical landscape arrangements with information on design plans and price ranges were among the major suggestions made by savings and loan officers as measures for achieving closer cooperation between lending agencies and ornamental nurserymen. A follow-up mailing of questionnaires will be made to savings and loan associations, and personal interviews will be made with a sample of non- respondents to determine whether their practices and attitudes are sub- stantially different from those who mailed in the questionnaire. Personal interviews were conducted with 50 real estate agencies in Tampa and a like number in Orlando to determine their attitudes toward landscaping. An analysis of this phase of the study has not yet been completed. (See also Project 1078, Ornamental Horticulture.) ACCURACY OF CATTLE GRADE AND PRICE REPORTS Hatch Project 1083 W. K. McPherson An analysis of prices paid for specific classes and grades of slaughter cattle in Florida auctions indicates that the price of beef carcasses in Chicago, the number of slaughter cattle offered for sale in the interior Midwestern markets, and the number of slaughter cattle offered for sale in Florida are the major factors that determine price. In some instances, these factors explain as much as 77 percent of the week to week price variations. ECONOMIC, LEGAL, AND ADMINISTRATIVE ASPECTS OF WATER USE AND CONTROL FOR AGRICULTURE IN FLORIDA Hatch Project 1084 J. R. Greenman Another draft of the manuscript entitled "Inheritance Laws Affecting Florida Farms and Farm Families" has been completed and will be sub- mitted to the Publications Committee for review by August 31, 1964. In the course of revising this manuscript, the additional research required was much more than originally contemplated. Preliminary work that has been done on the laws and administrative arrangements for the control and use of water in Florida has revealed that the work to be done is too great for manpower resources that are available. It is contemplated, therefore, that the work on water use and control will be dropped and that a study will be undertaken relating to the legal aspects of the corporate form of organization for agricultural businesses in Florida. Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations THE USE OF RIPARIAN LAND ON STREAMS FOR RECREATION AS A SOURCE OF INCOME FOR A RURAL AREA IN NORTH FLORIDA State Project 1085 C. E. Murphree A manuscript entitled "Resource Use and Income Implications of Out- door Recreation," which reports the results of this research, has been reviewed in the department. A revised manuscript is ready for transmis- sion to the Publication Committee for consideration as a Station bulletin. One of the conclusions of this project involves the economic implications of a decline in population. For an improvement in the economic status of the residents of a rural area, an increase in resident-owned resources must occur. Therefore, a decline in population which leaves resident-owned resource earnings unchanged elevates per capital income but does not change the income status of residents. On the other hand, the evidence is convincing that a substantial shift in the demand for riverfront land in the study area occurred between the end of World War II and 1962. It is estimated that the total increase in the value productivity of riverfront land during the period amounted to more than $3 million, and county residents were the recipient of approxi- mately two-thirds of this amount. While non-residents of the county will receive most of the future earnings of riverfront land, an intensive use of riverfront land for outdoor recreation stands to elevate the income status of county residents through an increase in demand for consumption items. THE COMPETITIVE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN FLORIDA AND CALIFORNIA ORANGES Hatch Project 1096 M. R. Godwin, W. F. Chapman, Jr.2 (Regional SM-22) and W. T. Manley2 The purpose of this project is to determine the extent to which fresh oranges grown in Florida and California are substitutes, and to obtain estimates of the demand characteristics for fruit grown in the two pro- ducing areas. Field work on this study was conducted during the spring of 1962 (see 1962 report). Work during the year has consisted of the completion of analytical operations and an evaluation of the findings. In retail pricing tests in- volving Florida size 200 and California size 138 fruit, the following price elasticity estimates were obtained: Florida Indian River, 3.07; Florida Interior, 3:01; and California, 2.76. In market tests involving slightly larger Florida size 163 fruit in contrast with the size 138 product from California, the price elasticity estimates obtained were 3.42, 2.30, and 2.51 respectively for Florida Indian River, Florida Interior, and California oranges. Additionally, the analytical results indicate that the two types of Florida oranges are substitutes for one another, but that neither of the Florida fruit types competes strongly with that produced in California. The weak economic linkage between Florida and California fresh oranges indicates that pricing activities or supply conditions in either of the two states have little economic effect on the other. The preparation of a manuscript presenting the full ramifications of the findings and exploring their implications from the standpoint of the Florida citrus industry is currently in progress. 2 Cooperative with Marketing Economics Division, ERS, USDA. Annual Report, 1964 SWEET CORN GRADING PRACTICES AND GRADE-PRICE RELATIONSHIPS Hatch Project 1126 A. H. Spurlock and W. B. Riggan No work has been done on the economic phase of this project during the year. Most prices have been set by the Sweet Corn Exchange under the Florida State Marketing Order Program. This precluded price variations within the U. S. Fancy grade due to the specific characteristics of the lot of corn. The economic work originally contemplated in this project of relating sweet corn price to quality, grade, external characteristics, and sale con- ditions has been done on a more adequate sample under AMA Project 1012. (See also Project 1126, Food Technology and Nutrition Department.) HANDLING FRESH CITRUS FRUIT IN PALLET BOXES State Project 1127 A. H. Spurlock Work sampling studies were made in two additional citrus packing- houses, representing the pallet box method and the full bulk system of handling citrus from the grove through the dumper or entrance conveyor in the house. Operations studied for each system were loading fruit in grove, transferring to semitrailer, unloading semitrailer into coloring room or fruit bin, and transferring fruit from coloring room to automatic dumper or entrance conveyor. Data on equipment and labor required for each system of fruit handling together with current capital and operating costs have been obtained and are ready to summarize. (See also Project 1127, Citrus Station.) MARKET ANALYSIS OF THE FOLIAGE PLANT INDUSTRY Hatch Project 1129 C. N. Smith Work consisted of the preparation of a manuscript to be submitted for publication. Industry groups were supplied with information generated by the recent survey of the marketing practices of the foliage plant industry. FORECASTING FLORIDA VEGETABLE PRODUCTION IN SPECIFIED PERIODS AND AREAS State Project 1133 G. N. Rose, B. R. Bennett, and R. G. Stout Mathematical models for forecasting the average yield of celery a week prior to harvest were developed based upon objective measurements in sample fields in the Belle Glade area. Sample design and measurements used were based upon the study "Growth Rates and Projecting Yields in Celery Production" by Roy G. Stout and Raymond R. Hancock, Proceedings of the State Horticultural Society, Volume 75, 1962. The most promising model was a least squares equation in which both the average diameter of plants and average distance between plants were utilized in predicting yield per acre. Analysis of a forecasting equation for 18 consecutive weeks Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations in which field measurements were known to have been consistent shows an average absolute error of 3.4 percent. Further testing of this method of short-run forecasting of celery yields and experimentation in establishing earlier forecasts are planned. Results of the 1963-64 study are being edited. Exploratory studies in objective methods for forecasting yields of sweet corn continue. If indexing of individual fields by location, acreage, time of planting, and variety can be accomplished, sampling of these fields for objective counts and measurements will be undertaken in 1964-65. Summarization of data on tomatoes relating the number of days from planting to initial harvest and the length of time between successive pickings is in progress. AN EVALUATION OF LAND USE IN FLORIDA State Project 1153 W. K. McPherson Since 1830 the population density of Florida has increased from 0.6 to 91.3 persons per square mile. The state is now more densely populated than Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, or South Carolina, but does not ap- proach the current population densities in New Jersey (806), Massachu- setts (654), New York (350), or Illinois (180). Florida's urban population has an average of 0.3 acres of land avail- able per person-more than twice the amount available to the residents of metropolitan areas, but considerably less than the residents and the amount available to the residents of the Midwest and mountain states. On the other hand, Florida has about 24 acres of agricultural and forest lands per rural resident-more than Georgia (19), South Carolina (12), Alabama (21), and Mississippi (20), and only slightly less than Iowa (26.5) and Cali- fornia (24.5). Cash receipts from the sale of agricultural and forest products per acre indicate that the agricultural land available for the production of these products is not being used as intensively in Florida as in some other agricultural states. In Florida, cash receipts from the sale of these prod- ucts is only about $23.00 per acre, much less than in Iowa ($74 per acre) and California ($64 per acre). However, Floridians use their land somewhat more intensively than other southern states, with the exception of North Carolina. AN ECONOMIC DETERMINATION OF THE FEASIBILITY OF TRANSPORTING GRAIN AND GRAIN-FED ANIMALS FROM SURPLUS GRAIN-PRODUCING AREAS TO FLORIDA State Project 1162 (Regional SM-11) W. K. McPherson To date, the results of this research suggest two tentative conclusions. Under the existing freight rate structure, Florida feedlot operators can afford to pay up to approximately 35 cents per hundredweight more than Illinois feeders for rations which result in a comparable weight increase of 1 pound for each 8 pounds fed. In April and November of 1962, and in November 1963, the cost of the least-cost formulation of the ration that will produce these rates of gain in Florida exceeded the cost in Illinois by from 21 cents to 32 cents-well below the 35 cent level. However, in No- vember 1963 just after the freeze that reduced the supply and hence raised the price of citrus pulp-the cost of the least-cost formulation of Annual Report, 1964 39 this ration reached 38 cents. This indicated that Florida producers had lost any competitive advantage they had in the feeding of cattle immedi- ately after the freeze. Under the same freight rate structure, and assuming that pork is shipped into the state in the form of lean cuts, bellies, spare ribs, and lean trimmings, rather than live hogs or whole carcasses, Florida swine pro- ducers can pay up to 261% cents more for a ration 3.3 pounds which will produce 1 pound of live hog, 0.7 pound of carcass, or 0.5 pound of the kind of pork that is commonly shipped into the state. In April and November of 1962 and 1963, the least-cost formulations of the ration that would achieve this rate of gain cost from 31 to 36 cents more in Florida than in Illinois, suggesting that Illinois producers had some comparative advan- tage in the feeding of hogs over this entire period. COMPETITION BETWEEN FLORIDA AND GREENHOUSE-GROWN TOMATOES State Project 1168 M. R. Godwin and W. T. Manley3 Vine-ripened and mature green tomatoes produced in Florida are marketed in direct competition with greenhouse-grown tomatoes produced in the northern regions of the United States during the late spring. This project is designed to examine the nature of the competitive relationships between the two types of tomatoes produced in Florida and the greenhouse tomato crop. Field work on this project was conducted during the spring of 1963 (see 1963 report). Work during the year has consisted of an analysis of the basic data collected to determine the demand characteristics for the three types of tomatoes and the substitution relationships between them. Tenta- tive results indicate that the demand for all three of the tomato types is elastic. For Florida mature green tomatoes a 1 percent change in price brought about a 1.68 percent change in the quantity purchased; for vine- ripened tomatoes a 1 percent change in price was accompanied by a 1.79 percent change in the quantity bought by consumers; for the green- house-grown product a 1 percent price change resulted in a change of 1.84 percent in the volume of the product purchased. Additionally, the study results indicated that customers will quite readily substitute vine-ripened tomatoes for the mature green type also produced in Florida, but that they are somewhat reluctant to substitute the mature green tomato for the vine-ripened product. Neither of the Florida tomato types are ready substitutes for the greenhouse-grown product. Final analytical refinements of the data are in progress, and the prep- aration of a manuscript reporting the results has begun. CONTINUING SURVEY FOR ESTIMATING NUMBER OF AND INCIDENCE OF DISEASED CITRUS TREES IN FLORIDA State Project 1170 R. G. Stout, J. W. Todd' and J. E. Mullin' Because of the severity of the freeze of December 1962. it was decided that estimates of tree numbers for 1963 would be based on sample data 3Cooperative with Marketing Economics Division, ERS, USDA. 'Cooperative with Florida Crop and Livestock Reporting Service. Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations collected after the freeze. The sample normally planned for 1963 was completed, and additional field men were employed to re-survey the sample that was originally surveyed in 1962 just prior to the freeze. Estimated tree numbers were published by the Florida Crop and Live- stock Reporting Service in their release of April 22, 1964, entitled "Florida Citrus, Inventory of Commercial Citrus Trees in Florida." The reduction in tree numbers from 1962, largely due to the freeze, was approximately 3 million orange trees, nearly 600,000 grapefruit trees, and 400,000 hybrids and others. The estimated numbers were as follows: all oranges in 1962, 40.5 million, and 37.5 million in 1963; all grapefruit, 6.4 million in 1962 and 5.8 million in 1963; all citrus, 52.1 million in 1962 and 48.3 million in 1963. An Agricultural Economics Report, "A Continuing Survey for Estimat- ing Numbers of Florida Citrus Trees," was published, describing in detail the procedures for conducting the survey and evaluating the reliability of the estimates. Statistical analysis of the estimates indicates good reli- ability in the large counties and for the state totals. MARKETING FLORIDA TURF AMA Project 1171 C. N. Smith (ES 835) Field work in the first phase of this project has been completed. A list of sod growers in Florida and their acreage in production was obtained from various sources. Field interviews were conducted with a sample of 26 of the 46 growers in the industry. A preliminary tabulation of results showed income from the marketing of turfgrass sod in 1963 amounted to $6,750,000. More than 70 percent of all grasses marketed consisted of St. Augustine types. Bahia, with 17 percent, bermuda, with 6 percent, and centipede, with 4 percent, were next in importance. Although only 1 percent of all sales were of zoysia grasses, 16 percent of the sales of this item went to out-of-state markets and 11 percent to foreign buyers. Further refinements will be made in the analysis of these data, and a report will be prepared. ECONOMIC POTENTIAL OF SELECTED SYSTEMS OF BEEF PRODUCTION IN THE SUWANNEE RIVER DEVELOPMENT AREA Hatch Project 1172 R. E. L. Greene The purpose of this study is to determine production practices of beef producers and to evaluate the economic potential of selected systems of beef production as a means of making a more profitable use of farm and human resources in the Suwannee River development area. Complete farm business records covering the 1962 calendar year have been obtained for 25 operating units in Columbia and Suwannee counties. These farms have been divided into two groups, those with less than 25 beef brood cows and those with 25 or more cows. The records are being analyzed to show present production practices of beef producers and costs and returns under present methods of operation. Projections will be made as to the effect on income if farmers adopted a higher level of production practices. Annual Report, 1964 41 INDUSTRY PERCEPTIONS OF MARKETING AGREEMENT PROGRAMS State Project 1173 M. R. Godwin and W. T. Manley' In this project the Florida Tomato Marketing Agreement is used as a case study to examine the extent to which the understanding and atti- tudes of affected industry groups influence the operational problems en- countered under Marketing Agreement programs. In view of the extensive interest in collective action in various sectors of the Florida fruit and vegetable industry, such information should be of assistance in designing programs that will be more effective in achieving the ends sought by producer groups. Work on this project has consisted of the development of a question- naire to obtain the desired information, the development of a sampling procedure, and the partial completion of the field interview operations. The questionnaire employed in the study covered the following basic elements of the problem: (1) grower perceptions of the capabilities and limitations of a marketing agreement program, (2) the conflicts arising from the differing orientation of various producing areas within the state, (3) the problem of common interest between the mature green and the vine-ripened tomato producer, (4) the problem of equitable treatment for the large and the small grower, and (5) the indirect value of the program to the industry (market information, compulsory inspection, container standardization, etc.). The sample design employed in the study involved stratification by the five producing districts of the state (i.e., Dade, the Lower East Coast, Immokalee, Ruskin, and Oxford) and a proportional sample of one-fourth of the growers in each district. At the end of the year 80 percent of the grower interviews dictated by the sample design had been obtained. DEMAND AND SUBSTITUTION RELATIONSHIPS FOR FROZEN ORANGE CONCENTRATE Hatch Project 1174 M. R. Godwin, W. F. Chapman, Jr.' and W. T. Manley" Over 60 percent of Florida's orange crop is utilized annually in the production of frozen orange concentrate. This product is marketed under nationally advertised, packer, and private labels. The nature of the market on which frozen concentrated orange juice is sold is such that these three brand-types not only compete with each other but also compete with other concentrated and synthetic products. Florida's citrus industry, in formu- lating marketing strategies designed to maintain and improve its position, has need of information concerning the effect of a price change on the sales of frozen orange concentrate. The purpose of this project is to provide this information by estimating consumer reaction to varying prices for orange concentrate in terms of an increase or decrease in the purchases of a particular brand, and the rate of substitution among the three basic brand-types. The study data were generated in 18 retail supermarkets located in the Cincinnati Dayton area of Ohio. The three brand-classes were offered to customers in these stores under rigid pricing and merchandising con- 5 Cooperative with Marketing Economics Division, ERS, USDA. 0 Cooperative with Marketing Economics Division, ERS, USDA. Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations trols commencing on May 11, 1964, and continuing through June 20, 1964. Daily sales figures were recorded under a predetermined schedule of vary- ing price situations, with all promotion of frozen orange concentrate by the cooperating agency being suspended during this period. These data included sales of the three types of frozen orange concentrate and shelf- disappearance of all other frozen concentrated juices and synthetic products sold in each store. The sales data collected in the test stores are currently being prepared for computer analysis. ECONOMIC PROVISIONS FOR OLD AGE MADE BY RURAL FAMILIES Regional Project 1187 (Regional S-56) D. E. Alleger and H. G. Hamilton This study was activated on August 1, 1963. The five participating states Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, and Texas plan to com- plete all field work by September 1964. It is anticipated analyses will be started during the first quarter of 1965. ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF THE MOVEMENT OF BEEF CATTLE IN FLORIDA State Project 1190 (Regional SM-23) W. K. McPherson Data describing the movement of cattle and calves to and from Florida auctions have been collected, edited, tabulated, and coded. These data are now being combined with data from other states for the purpose of determining the direction and computing the magnitude of the movement of beef animals between sub-state areas in the Southeast. ECONOMIC INTERPRETATION OF PROiDUCER OBJECTIONS TO SUPPLY MANAGEMENT IN MARKETING PROGRAMS Hatch Project 1199 C. E. Murphree Final approval for this project was made May 6, 1964. Consequently, work to date has been limited to developing a detailed method of procedure. THE STATUS OF RURAL ZONING IN FLORIDA State Project 1200 C. D. Covey The purpose of this project is to determine those counties in Florida which have legal authority for rural planning and zoning and which coun- ties are currently exercising this power. The enabling laws, zoning regu- lations, comprehensive plans, and administrative procedures will be ana- lyzed to determine their effectiveness in solving conflicting land use problems. An extensive search of Florida law was made to determine the legal basis for planning and zoning, or lack of it, in all Florida counties. Approximately 218 laws were examined to determine whether they were still in effect, repealed, or declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. Annual Report, 1964 A questionnaire was sent to the chairman of the Board of County Com- missioners in each county requesting preliminary information on the extent of planning and zoning in the county. Each county having zoning regulations in effect was requested to return a copy of the zoning regu- lation with the completed questionnaire. Informal personal interviews were conducted with county officials in 47 counties to obtain detailed information on the administration of or interest in planning and zoning in the county. County officials were questioned on matters such as: general public acceptance of zoning, general philosophy of zoning boards and boards of appeal, problem areas, adequacy of laws and regulations, and nature of their comprehensive plan. Twenty-five of the 47 counties visited were found to have enabling authority for county zoning, although the zoning authority in three of these counties was limited in some territorial manner. Out of the 25 counties with zoning authority which were visited, only 17 had implemented some degree of county-wide zoning. POOLING ARRANGEMENT FOR CITRUS COOPERATIVES UNDER DISTRESSED CONDITIONS State Project 1201 H. G. Hamilton Data on the type of pooling arrangement that each citrus association had before the December 1962 freeze have been obtained. Data have also been obtained on any changes that were made as a result of the freeze. These data when analyzed should reveal the type pool that enabled maxi- mum returns under distressed conditions and the type of pool that resulted in equal treatment of members. PRELIMINARY NON-PROJECTED STUDIES Movement of Citrus Trees From Nurseries.-Movement of citrus trees from Florida nurseries to Florida destinations at 1,588,978 trees in 1962-63 was the first season when less than 2 million trees moved since 1957-58. The movement in 1962-63 was 56 percent of the highest movement of these 35 years of records (1928 to 1963), which was in 1960-61. The 1962-63 movement was 77 percent of the 1955-60 average. The fiscal period of these data for 1962-63 was July 1, 1962, to June 30, 1963. Eighty-one percent of the 1962-63 movement was orange trees, 3 percent tangerines, 4 percent grapefruit, 4 percent tangelos, 4 percent other mandarin, and 4 percent lime, lemon, and other citrus. Eighty-five percent of the 1955-60 movement was orange trees. (Zach Savage) Florida Agricultural Production Index.-Index numbers measuring the total volume of agricultural production by commodity groups have been brought up to date through 1963. Crop production in 1963 was 5 percent lower than in 1962, but 71 percent above the base period, 1947-49. Live- stock and livestock products increased in volume by approximately 6 percent over 1962, and were 139 percent over the base period. Production of all crops and livestock was 3 percent lower than the preceding year and was 87 percent over the 1947-49 average. Production of citrus decreased in 1963 by 32 percent, due to the freeze in December 1962, and tobacco declined by 15 percent. Other groups increased in production over 1962 by 22 percent for cotton and cottonseed, Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations 13 percent for grains, 12 percent for all vegetables, 10 percent for poultry products, and 6 percent for meat animals. Total production is affected by crop acreage, numbers of livestock breeding units, and by yield or output per acre of per unit. In 1963 crop acreage decreased by 9 percent, and livestock breeding units decreased by 5 percent. Yields of crops in 1963 were 4 percent lower than in 1962 but 63 percent above the 1947-49 base period. Livestock yields or output per unit were 9 percent higher than in the preceding year and 59 percent above the base period. (A. H. Spurlock) Competition for Florida Fruit and Vegetable Crops.-The degree of competition which Florida faces is provided by tabulating weekly carlot shipments of selected fruits and vegetables from Florida, other states, and foreign countries during the Florida shipping season. Such data are valuable to growers and extension workers in determining the more desirable production periods during the Florida season. They are also available to industry groups in the preparation of statistics for hearings on freight rates and marketing agreements and in establishing annual movement patterns of Florida crops. Allied service industries may find them valuable in planning peak movement and supply requirements. "Florida Truck Crop Competition" was published as Agricultural Economics Mimeo Report EC64-5. (D. L. Brooke) Costs and Returns on West Florida Dairy Unit.-Assistance was again given to Mr. White of the Dairy Science Department in summarizing records to show costs and returns in producing milk and also cash costs of producing various crop enterprises. Previous summaries have been prepared for 1960, 1961, and 1962 on a calendar year basis. Because of the sequence of crops in the area, the records were shifted to a fiscal year basis, October 1 to September 30. The record for the past year was sum- marized on that basis. A summary was made showing comparisons with past years. (R. E. L. Greene) Agri-business Aspects of the Tomato Industry in 'Dade County.-The tomato industry is a major factor in the total agricultural economy of Dade County. The more than $19 million in grower sales of tomatoes in 1961-62 comprised nearly 37 percent of all income from farm marketing. Farmers growing tomatoes were estimated to have paid more than $18 million to other segments of the economy for production and marketing expenses. Estimated total expenditures for labor used in tomato production and marketing were more than $6 million. An additional $3,650,000 was expended for fertilizer and pesticides, $2,640,000 for containers, wax, glue, and labels, and almost $5,500,000 for other operating expenses. Additional income was generated through the interaction of the Dade County tomato industry with other segments of the economy. An article reporting preliminary results of the study was published in the Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society in 1963. A master's thesis on this subject is nearing completion. (C. N. Smith) Interrelationships of Food and Population.-The doubling of the cur- rent world population to a level of more than 6 billion by the end of this century presents a multitude of problems and a challenge for the people of the world to produce and distribute sufficient food to feed them. Al- though the provision of sufficient nourishment has always been a problem of mankind, the magnitude of the problem has changed immeasurably during the past several decades. The current rate of natural increase of Annual Report, 1964 45 the population in the developing nations of the world is far beyond that ever experienced by the developed nations. Many changes in the farm tech- nology developed for the temperate lands of the world must be adapted if rapid agricultural advances are to take place in the tropics, the area with major population increases. The human race is running out of arable land, water, energy resources, and certain vital minerals. The years immediately ahead are crucial if the exploding races of mankind are to be successful in expanding the food supply. For example, an increase of more than 35 percent in world food supplies will be required by 1975 if the world's population is to be sustained at its present unsatisfactory level of diet. If grain production in the less developed lands of the world is to be raised 10 percent by 1980 and another 10 percent by the year 2000, it will be necessary for output in developing lands to triple over the next 36 years. This addition would be equal to the entire world production of grain today. Two articles on the finding of this research have been published. One was a journal series paper presented at the Florida Soil and Crop Science Society. The second was in the Economic Leaflet series published by the Bureau of Economic and Business Research in the College of Business Administration at the University of Florida. (C. N. Smith) Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING Research done relates to the production of tobacco and vegetables, bulk handling of citrus pulp, handling of potatoes at packinghouses, problems in harvesting of sorghum for silage, and to land drainage and other subjects, with emphasis on determining efficiencies to be gained by the use of mechanical and physical means in the production and handling of crops and agricultural materials. The work involved eight regular projects, all but three being in cooperation with other Station units. PASTURE PROGRAM AND BREEDING SYSTEMS FOR BEEF PRODUCTION ON FLATWOODS SOILS OF CENTRAL AND NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA State Project 627 J. M. Myers One of the pasture programs being studied under this project involves the use of irrigation as a cultural practice. Irrigation applications were made with a portable pipe sprinkler irrigation system when the soil moisture deficit was equivalent to 1 inch of water below field capacity in the top 18-inch layer of soil. Rainfall for the year was about normal. Three applications of irrigation water were made in June 1964. It is concluded from the results of this experiment that irrigation of flatwoods pastures with a portable pipe sprinkler irrigation system will contribute little in increased production and is impractical. More frequent irrigation might produce higher yields, but probably would not improve the economic feasibility of this method of irrigation on flatwoods pastures. In this type of situation, high irrigation costs are inevitable with a portable type sprinkler system because of the frequent water applications and consequently the frequent pipe moves that are required to maintain a high level of soil moisture in sandy flatwoods soils during extended drought periods. Also, high irrigation costs are not usually justified for relatively low value crops such as a pasture that is used for producing beef with a cow-calf production system. A revision of this project will include a pasture program for evaluating seepage irrigation as a means of applying irrigation water. (See also Project 627, Agricultural Economics, Agronomy, Animal Science, and Soils departments) IMPROVED METHODS OF HANDLING POTATOES AT THE PACKINGHOUSE State Project 1017 E. K. Bowman and I. J. Ross Data and information obtained from the experimental handling opera- tions conducted in prior years were prepared for use in a manuscript. Drafting of the major part of a report was completed. Experimental handling operations were not continued in the Hastings area. In the Homestead area, tuber injury and cost factors were studied for two bulk handling systems relatively new in commercial application in that area and the entire state as well. One of these systems employed hopper-body trucks to haul the potatoes from mechanical harvester to packinghouse, where the potatoes were unloaded into drive-in bins using a bin loader. The other was a pallet box system in which the potatoes were Annual Report, 1964 hauled to the packinghouse in hopper-body trucks and transferred to pallet boxes. They could be held temporarily in the boxes and dumped onto the packing line when desired. Red La Soda potatoes were being handled in each case. Injury data were analyzed statistically. No significant difference in injury was found between the mechanical harvester and the single or two-row digger. Mechanical harvesters were not generally accepted in the Homestead area until the 1964 season. There was no significant difference in injury between receiving in hopper-body trucks or in field boxes. The same was true between drive-in bins or pallet boxes for temporarily holding potatoes. Comparative cost results have not been completed. A CONTINUOUS HARVESTING-CURING SYSTEM FOR BRIGHT LEAF TOBACCO Hatch Project 1034 J. M. Myers and I. J. Ross Experiments were continued to determine the relationship of various bulk curing techniques to tobacco quality and curing efficiency. As a means of reducing the cost of bulk curing, manufacturers of barns have built them so that the tobacco can be double loaded or cured in two layers with air passing through the bottom layer first and then into the upper layer. This results in a differential in the drying rate between the two layers of tobacco. Experiments conducted this year to measure drying rates in each of the layers indicate that for an average drying rate of 11.5 percent moisture loss in 48 hours of coloring, the drying rate is 15.5 percent in the bottom layer and 7.4 percent in the top layer. Earlier experiments have shown that a differential in drying rate of this magni- tude will cause the quality of tobacco in the two layers to be significantly different. The most common criticism of the quality of bulk cured tobacco by tobacco buyers has been the flat or pressed-out appearance of the leaves and the presence of excessive amounts of barn scald. Chemical analysis and physical tests of many tobacco samples indicate that the flat or pressed-out appearance is not indicative of lower quality. Physical tests have consistently indicated that bulk cured tobacco has greater filling value than conventionally cured tobacco. Barn scald is caused by inade- quate ventilation or excessive heat before the leaf is dry and can be practically eliminated by using an air flow rate of at least 30 cfm per square foot of curing area and by using reasonable care in loading tobacco to a uniform density in the bulk containers. DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF AN INTEGRATED SILAGE AND GRAZING SYSTEM FOR DAIRY CATTLE State Project 1053 I. J. Ross and J. M. Myers The yield and apparent digestibility of sorghum silage ensiled in the milk-to-dough stage of maturity was compared with the same crop en- siled after the grain had become hard. Approximately 23 tons of the hard-grain silage was prepared for this test. The silage consisted of approximately 20 percent grain and 80 percent forage by wet weight. The grain had an average moisture content of 18.1 percent (wet basis), and average fineness modulus of 4.14 (ASAE Standard, ASAE Yearbook, 1963) and a uniformity index of 3:7:0 (ASAE Standard). (See also Project 1053, Dairy Science Department.) Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations EQUIPMENT FOR REMOVING NON-FREE FLOWING GRANULAR MATERIALS FROM BULK STORAGE Hatch Project 1082 I. J. Ross A vertical screw bin unloader has been tested as a means for unloading dried citrus pulp from a hopper-bottom storage bin. Under the test condi- tions, the unloader removed the material in a consistent and dependable manner. The screw was rotated at speeds from 170 to 760 revolutions per minute. At these rotational speeds the flow rate from the bin was 105 to 365 pounds per minute with the higher flow rates obtained at the higher speeds. The power requirements at these speeds was between 0.015 and 0.54 horsepower. The higher power requirements were required at the higher speeds. Tests are being continued with the unloader in bins of citrus pulp that has been stored under more adverse atmospheric conditions. A technique for determining the 8 angle, one of the physical constants used in calculating the forces acting between particles of granular ma- terials in stacks, has been evaluated, and the constant determined for dried citrus pulp. Particle size, moisture content, and material pressure have been found to have a significant effect on the 8 angle at the 1 per- cent level of significance. Other phases of this project are in progress. The equilibrium moisture content of citrus pulp at different relative humidities is being determined. The mechanics of flow in enclosed tubes is being studied, and the pressures required to force air through stacks of citrus pulp are being evaluated. The feasibility of processing citrus pulp into a form in which it acts as a free-flowing material is being investigated. A SYSTEMS APPROACH TO VEGETABLE HARVESTING State Project 1203 J. F. Beeman Studies were conducted to determine some of the physical characteris- tics of sweet corn and celery which would influence the design and de- velopment of mechanical harvesting devices. Celery height and width, plant spacing, row spacing, and depth of root crown were determined for two varieties. The location of ears, angle of attachment, and stalk configurations were observed for commercial yellow sweet corn. An experimental celery cutter was developed and partially field tested. This mechanical cutter is designed to cut the celery stalk from the soil and elevate it to a height suitable for further handling. The results of initial field studies indicate that the capacity of this single row machine is equivalent to that of approximately 20 domestic hand cutters. Estimates were made of the mechanical damage to the celery stalks at field speeds ranging from 0.4to 0.8 miles per hour. There appeared to be no significant difference in the damage between speeds. The damage which did occur was limited to outside petioles, which would normally be removed before packaging. Observations were made of the present celery harvesting methods. Information on the capacity and inherent losses of the present system was obtained in an effort to establish a reference base upon which to evaluate a new system. Cinematographic techniques were used to obtain information regarding hand movements involved in picking cucumbers and mature green tomatoes. (See also Project 1203, Vegetables Crops Department) Annual Report, 1964 TEMPORARY LININGS FOR WATERWAYS AND EMBANKMENTS State Project 1212 J. M. Myers and R. E. Choate The object of this experiment is to determine design criteria for newly constructed waterways and embankments covered with erosion-retarding lining material and to determine hydraulic characteristics of the lining materials. Tests will involve the determination of the hydraulic characteristics of several existing temporary lining materials in combination with at least three representative types of Florida soils, and the effect of these lining materials on establishment of a permanent vegetable cover. A laboratory flume has been built, and experimental techniques have been developed to determine the tractive force that various soil surfaces will withstand. One cover material has been evaluated on one type of soil. It has been determined that Leon fine sand from horizon B has a per- missible tractive force of 0.005 pounds per square foot for bare soil and 0.18 pounds per square foot when the soil surface is lined with a heavy mesh fabric made of hemp fiber. PRELIMINARY NON-PROJECTED STUDIES Mechanical Harvesting of Tea.-Observations were made on Chinese- type tea which indicated that the length of leaves and the internode spacings might provide a basis for selective harvesting. A laboratory model of a mechanical plucking head was built to study this technique further. The large variability in the characteristics between plants limited further consideration of this technique until more uniform plants are available. A second possible method of harvest was studied which would make cutting selectivity a function of the strength of the stem. A model device performed well for selection, but damage to the remainder of the plant made the system unacceptable. Preliminary studies were made to determine the weights of leaves and of correctly plucked two leaves and bud in an effort to determine the feasibility of centrifugal separation. (J. F. Beeman) Drying Lychee Fruit.-The drying rates for lychee fruit as affected by air temperature and air velocity have been determined. Increasing the air temperature and the flow rate of the air passing through the fruit increases the rate of drying. The effects of these two factors, the effect of multiple layer drying, and blanching prior to drying on the quality of the dried fruit are being evaluated. (I. J. Ross) Handling and Packing Celery.-A replicated experiment was conducted to determine the degree of mechanical injury caused by handling celery in bulk from field to central packing facility. In the tests, celery stalks were cut in the field, dropped into pallet boxes (volume 40 cu. ft.), transported two miles and evaluated for mechanical injuries. The effect of stalk arrangement in the bulk container and the degree of petiole stripping completed in the field prior to placing stalks into the bulk container were evaluated. Random and oriented stalk arrange- ments were compared, and no stripping, partial stripping, and complete stripping were used as levels of the striping treatment. Injury was classi- fied as (1) major, severe injury sufficient to cause the stalk to be un- 50 Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations acceptable for shipping as scored by Federal-State inspectors; (2) minor, relatively minor injury, may or may not be sufficient to be scored as unacceptable by inspectors; and (3) bruising, very minor injury, without breakage or contusions and not scorable by inspectors. Significantly less scorable injury was received by stalks handled with no field stripping than was received by stalks that were handled after being partially or completely stripped. Bulk handling with stalks oriented in the container was significantly better than randomly arranged stalks insofar as scorable damage was concerned. Results of the experiment indicate that bulk handling of celery between field and central packing facility can be ac- complished with less than 1 percent of the stalks receiving injury that is severe enough to affect grade. (J. M. Myers and W. G. Grizzell) Annual Report, 1964 AGRONOMY Notable advances are reported under 29 research projects with field crops, forage crops, and pastures. Most of the projects are in cooperation with other departments and branch stations. Research is divided between physiological and biochemical problems of crop production; chemical weed control; and genetics and breeding of important crops. In addition many new foreign plant introductions were grown for observation and testing. Dr. W. A. Carver retired after 381/2 years of service. He developed three superior varieties of peanuts which are widely grown in this and neighboring states. He also left a wealth of valuable selections which are being continued. PEANUT BREEDING FOR SUPERIOR TYPES FOR MARKET AND LIVESTOCK FEED Hatch Project 20 W. A. Carver and A. J. Norden Crosses were made in the greenhouse in 1963 for the purpose of obtain- ing bunch and runner plant types with desirable size and shape of pods and seeds, low percent of pod breakage in handling, good flavor, and free- dom from seed decay. Yields of sound and mature seed, expressed in percent of common runner, in Florida Station tests during the period 1961 through 1963 are as follows: Dixie Runner 94, Early Runner 164, Florigiant 179, Bradford Runner 124, NC2 142, and F416 169. F416 is derived from a cross between Dixie Runner and F385. The plants of F416 resemble those of Dixie Runner. The pods are uniform, resist breakage, and approximate the size of Va. Bunch 67. Processed samples of F416 from the 1963 crop rated high in seed flavor and other qualities. Large scale shelling and processing tests of F416 are planned from the 1964 crop. High pod breakage and a large amount of loose shelled kernels (LSK) can result in significant losses to producers and processors of peanuts. A mechanical breakage study was made on 10 varieties of peanuts cured in stacks and picked on a carding type Lilliston picker in 1962 and 1963. Three :)-quart samples of pods from each variety were examined per year for a total of more than 4000 pods per variety. Pod breakage was recorded in percent of total pods examined, and the quantity of LSK was expressed in grams per pound. A range of 7.3 percent broken pods and 8.8 grams per pound of LSK was obtained between varieties. F416 had the lowest percentage of broken pods (2.3) and fewest LSK (1.2 grams/lb). NC2 had the highest percentage of broken pods (9.6), and Va. Bunch G26 the highest amount of LSK (10 grams/lb). F393, a jumbo runner line, ranked second to F416 in resistance to pod breakage. Florigiant showed better than average resistance to pod breakage when compared with standard Virginia types. (See also Hatch Project 20, North Florida Station, Marianna Unit.) PASTURE GRASS AND LEGUME RESPONSES TO VARIOUS FERTILIZER AND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES Hatch Project 295 G. B. Killinger For the fourth consecutive season Tifhi-1 bahia (a Pensacola hybrid) Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations produced more oven-dry forage than Pensacola bahiagrass, with all of the increase recorded during April and May. A Florida strain of white clover yielded more dry matter than 13 other white clover varieties tested. Several sources of Ladino, Louisiana S-1, and Nolins improved white ranked next in yield. All white clover plots treated with 40 pounds per acre of FTE 501 in the fall of 1961 yield- ed 29.8 percent more dry matter than those not treated. This was con- sidered to be a residual response from the minor elements applied to the proceeding seasons crop. Tensas, Chesapeake, Nolins', and Penscott were the outstanding red clover varieties. All yielded more than the white clovers but produced for fewer months of the season. Nine ryegrass varieties grown in a variety test produced yield in- creases of from 17 to 67 percent from a 15-pound per acre treatment of FTE 503. Average yield for all varieties and treatments was 5400 pounds of oven-dry forage per acre. Alfalfa plots treated with phosphate, potash, and boron yielded only half as much dry forage as plots treated the same but with 15 pounds per acre of FTE 503 added. FLUE-CURED TOBACCO IMPROVEMENT Hatch Project 372 Fred Clark Over 100 tobacco selections and varieties were tested during 1963 at Quincy, Gainesville, Branford, and Live Oak, Florida. The regional variety group (49) was included in this number. In re- viewing the regional variety data, there is evidence that many of the lines are susceptible to blackshank under Florida conditions. The search for a variety or varieties having good disease resistance and desirable agronomic characteristics was accelerated during the 1963 growing season. Resistance to several diseases, such as blackshank, rootknot, and brown spot, is the major goal. Until suitable lines are deveolped, growers are urged to ro- tate their tobacco to land that has been cropped or to plant grain for sods for three to four years. Fumigation plus rotation appears to offer the best combination for continuing growing old line varieties. Farms where the disease has occurred should combine the best com- mercial resistant variety with rotation and fumigation for best results. (See also Project 372, North Florida Station.) CORN BREEDING Hatch Project 374 E. S. Horner Tests were continued to evaluate new inbred lines for use in commercial hybrids and to compare different corn breeding methods. Release of a new hybrid, to be called Florida 200A, has been approved by a Station release committee. This hybrid supersedes Florida 200, which was released in 1957. The main improvements made in the new hybrid are better standability (less stalk breakage) and shorter plants. It is a product of the fifth cycle of recurrent selection for combining ability with F44 x F6, which is the seed parent. The pollinator is a synthetic variety made up by intercrossing six selected lines. Several other new inbred lines had excellent performance records in hybrid combinations. These lines are being further evaluated for combining Annual Report, 1964 53 ability with the two parents of Florida 200A, and are being used in a modified reciprocal recurrent selection program designed to make addi- tional improvements in this hybrid. An experiment was designed to determine the value of a generation of sib pollination following intercrossing of selected lines in recurrent selec- tion experiments. Such a procedure would result in more genetic re- combination than the usual method of initiating a new cycle of selection immediately following the intercrossing. It was found that the extra generation of sibbing increased the estimate of genetic variance from 0.14 to 0.25 when S, lines were crossed, and from 0.00 to 0.22 when S2 lines were crossed. The results are in agreement with expectation, and indicate that an extra generation of sib pollination in each cycle may be worthwhile. The test is being repeated in 1964. (See also Project 374, North Florida, Suwannee Valley, and West Florida stations.) PERMANENT SEEDBEDS FOR TOBACCO PLANTS State Project 444 Fred Clark The production of healthy tobacco seedlings is very important for the success of a tobacco crop. Not only is the production important, but the efficiency of production is also important. Therefore, a constant search is being carried on to find ways to produce healthy plants as easily and cheaply as possible. During the 1963-64 growing season, two fumigant mixtures were com- pared with methyl bromide: (1) a mixture containing 30 percent ethylene dibromide and 70 percent methyl bromide; (2) a mixture of 10 percent ethylene dibromide and 90 percent methyl bromide. All these performed satistfactorily for the control of weeds. There was a slight plant reduction from the two mixtures when compared with methyl bromide. Translucent perforated plastic film when compared to solid film and cheesecloth looked exceptionally good again this year. The plants grown under perforated plastic film were as early as those grown under solid film, and no management of the covers is needed. There was over a month's difference in time in the production of seedlings grown under plastic as compared to cheesecloth during this plant growing season. NUTRITION AND PHYSIOLOGY OF THE PEANUT Hatch Project 488 H. C. Harris Applications of calcium carbonate and boric acid in another experiment with Florigiant peanuts on Lakeland fine sand under controlled conditions in the greenhouse again had a marked effect on the yield and nature of peanuts. Plants without an application of boron showed pronounced deficiency symptoms (previously described) in two months. Previous ex- perience indicates that these plants will not produce peanuts, if boron is not applied. A calculated 0.2 pound boric acid per acre dissolved in water and poured around the plants caused the deficient plants to begin growing in less than a week, and the new growth did not exhibit visual boron deficient symptoms until about 10 days before harvest. This made the middle part of the plants appear free of symptoms, while both extremes appeared affected. A calculated 2.2 pounds of boric acid per acre completely eliminated the hollow-heart defect, but calcium carbonate in the treatment appeared to have no visual effect on the abnormality. The peanuts with the 0.2 pound late application of boric acid produced some seed, many of Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations which had the hollow-heart defect, but some of them appeared normal. When both calcium carbonate and boron were left out of the treatment, the percentage of hollow-heart defect was less than where boron alone was not applied. Flower counts were made. Few flowers were formed before applying boron; but after the application, flowering rapidly increased. The elimina- tion of calcium carbonate from the treatment appeared to have little effect on flowering. FERTILIZATION AND CULTURE OF FLUE-CURED TOBACCO Hatch Project 555 Fred Clark The fertilizer analyses test was continued during 1963. Ratios of 5-10-10, 4-8-12, 3-12-9, and 3-9-9 were used. An 8-0-24 topdresser was used to supply additional nitrogen and potash. Yields were not high because of late cold and extended drought which enhanced early flowering of plants. Ratios appear important only insofar as to sources of material from which they are made. Pounds of essential plant food, in balance, appears to be the most essential combination for maximum yields and leaf quality. Combined with proper fertilization, control of nematodes is needed for best results. Consequently, new materials are being tested for their effec- tiveness against nematodes; however, of the many tested during the 1963 crop season, none proved superior to D-D or ethylene dibromide. The regional sucker control test was conducted with limited success. Many of the new materials were very toxic to the tobacco leaf. This phase of agronomic research on tobacco is being accelerated. Seeds of several tobacco varieties were grown under plastic and cheese- cloth, and the seedlings were transplanted at two different dates during 1963. Plastic grown seedlings produced the highest yields; however, the yields were not as significant following the April 5 transplant date. PASTURE PROGRAMS AND BREEDING SYSTEMS FOR BEEF PRODUCTION ON FLATWOODS SOILS OF CENTRAL AND NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA State Project 627 G. B. Killinger Periods of frost starting in October 1962 and extending into April 1963 coupled with extreme drought from mid March to mid May limited clover growth, which resulted in lowered grass yields for the season due to a shortage of nitrogen. The pasture fertilization by programs and total oven-dry forage yields are shown in the following table: Lbs. 0-10-20 Lbs. Nitrogen Lbs. of Forage Program per acre per acre per acre 1 450 120 8247 2 300 0 4907 3 500 0 6398 4 700 0 6505 5 900 0 6128 Annual Report, 1964 For the sixth consecutive year the yield of dry forage harvested from program 2 was markedly less than that harvested from programs 3, 4, and 5. Liveover white clover on programs 2 through 5 has been good this season and should favorably influence 1963-64 clover development. (See also Project 627, Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Engineer- ing, Animal Science, and Soils departments.) MEASUREMENTS OF THE METEOROLOGICAL ELEMENTS OF THE MICROCLIMATE Hatch Project 760 G. M. Prine, V. N. Schroder, O. C. Ruelke, S. H. West and K. D. Butson 2 A study was made of the relationship of winter temperatures to the amount of winter injury to pasture grasses, especially pangolagrass. The severest injury occurred during winters when frequent freezes (32 F or colder) were followed by warm periods with minimum daily temperatures above 50 F. Winter injury was less severe when freezes were less frequent and were followed by a cool period when minimum daily temperature was not above 50 F. The removal of the bottom five leaves from Florida 200 corn at the early tassel stage reduced the yield of grain per plant 10 percent at a population of 9,000 plants per acre and 5 percent at a population of 18,000 plants per acre. The lower five leaves contributed 3 times more to in- dividual plant yield of ear corn at 9,000 population (.06 lb.) than at the 18,000 population (.02 lb.). In other studies on semiprolific hybrid corn it was found that a "critical period" exists near or during the silking stage, when a good light environment is essential for the maximum numbers of ears per plant to develop. The effect of the growth regulators, 2,4-D, gibberellic acid, Cycocel, Verdan, and succinic acid, applied as foliar sprays or seed treatments on the growth of Coker 67 corn was studied under field conditions. Small increases in grain yield were obtained from several of the treatments, which are being investigated further. The yield of F57-734 soybeans was reduced 27 percent by shading at 50 percent of daylight intensity over a two-month period beginning when approximately 50 percent of plants had begun to flower. Shading reduced the number of seed pods developing per plant, increased the height of main stems, and increased the seed weight. BREEDING AND EVALUATING NEW VARIETIES OF SOYBEANS FOR FLORIDA State Project 761 Kuell Hinson 3 Breeding for high protein is complicated by negative correlations be- tween percent protein and yield. Some negative correlations have been interpreted as genetic associations; however, it is also recognized that environmental differences that influence yield may also influence percent protein. The influence of environmental yield differences on percent pro- tein and percent oil was measured in 72 plots of Jackson and 72 plots of Hardee grown within a 2.5 field area at Gainesville in 1962. The area was Cooperative with Crops Research Division, ARS, USDA. 2Cooperative with U. S. Weather Bureau. Cooperative with Crops Research Division, ARS, USDA. Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations characterized by above-average soil variability. Yields of Jackson plots ranged from 18 to 41 bushels per acre, and yields of Hardee plots ranged from 26 to 51 bushels per acre. The following correlations were obtained between yield and percent protein and percent oil. % protein % oil Jackson .80 + .28 Hardee .44 + .29 All four correlation coefficients are statistically significant. The four lowest yielding plots of Jackson had an average percent protein of 41.9 compared with 38.4 for the nine highest yielding plots. Differences of this magnitude are important in selecting for high protein genotypes. It is not clear if the two varieties are inherently different in their response to en- vironment or if the difference in maturity caused them to respond differently. However, the need for some consideration of relative yield levels is clearly indicated in selecting for high protein genotypes. INTERRELATION OF ENVIRONMENT TO THE PHYSIOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY OF PLANTS IL ORGANIC ACID METABOLISM OF PLANTS IN RELATION TO MINOR ELEMENT NUTRITION Hatch Project 766 V. N. Schroder and H. C. Harris Organic acid levels in several plant species have shown considerable variation due to changes in the supply of major elements as well as minor elements and other factors. Sunflower has been included as a test plant because it is responsive to these changes and because separate chromato- graphic analyses can be made of leaf and petiole tissue. In general, citrate is present in leaves and petioles except under unusual circumstances, and the variation in quantity is not large. Malate shows a great deal of varia- tion and is usually found in both leaves and petioles, although at times is found in only one of these places. This suggests that there may be con- siderable movement of malate through the petiole, or that conversion in the leaf is rapid. Leaves with no apparent visual differences from soil- grown plants given a complete fertilizer or given a fertilizer without potassium show differences, especially in malate, succinate, and fumarate. Leaves from plants without additional potassium are much higher in malate and lower in succinate and fumarate. Plants without additional sulfur and plants without additional magnesium are usually low in citrate and malate and relatively high in fumarate. INFLUENCE OF CULTURAL PRACTICES ON THE INCIDENCE AND CONTROL OF INSECT INFESTATIONS IN FLUE-CURED TOBACCO Hatch Project 780 Fred Clark An acre of tobacco was grown, in cooperation with the Entomology Department, for the purpose of testing seven insecticide materials for the control of tobacco pests. Ethyl Methyl Guthion and TDE treated tobacco produced the best yields, with an acre value of more than $150 over the untreated check. Hatch 780 is closed with this report. (See also Project 780, Entomology Department.) Annual Report, 1964 57 SMALL GRAIN IMPROVEMENT BY BREEDING AND SELECTION Hatch Project 783 P. L. Pfahler Oats.-The extent of genetic diversity for environmental variability in the Avena genus indicates that hybridization and selection may be effective not only in increasing but stabilizing grain and forage production. Results also suggest that grain production of a genotype is not completely con- trolled by crown rust resistance but is conditioned by a complex inter- action of genetic and environmental variables. The hybridization and selection program is being continued. Several promising lines are being purified and tested. Rye.-An interspecific hybridization program involving two wild rye species, Secale montanumi and S. rarilocii, which are classified as perennial in their native habitat, and three adapted varieties of cultivated rye, S. cereale, was successful, with moderate quantities of seed produced in all combinations attempted. Under Florida conditions, the perennial habit of S. vavilovii was not retained; however, 2 percent of the individuals from S. montantum have completed two cycles of reproduction and may be peren- nial under these environmental conditions. No dormancy period was present in most individuals of both species, and death occurred after a brief period of vegetative growth immediately following the first cycle of repro- duction. Very little male sterility as measured by unfilled pollen grains was observed in the F, hybrids, and relatively large quantities of F. seed were produced. The F, plants did not require increased daylength for the initiation of reproduction as did the two parental wild species. Seed treatment of rye with fungicides, insecticides, and their combina- tion did not stimulate seed production or vegetative growth. (See also Project 783, Plant Pathology Department and North Florida Station.) FORAGE AND PASTURE GRASS IMPROVEMENT BY BREEDING Hatch Project 850 W. A. Carver and S. C. Schank Penitsetnu glancom. X P. spicatim crosses and later hybridizations from these parents were given a final evaluation and selection during 1963. Mature plant weights were taken from the most promising inbred lines and F, intercrosses between them. An increase or 35 percent gain was found in one selection. During August of 1963, over 67 interspecific crosses were attempted, using various Digitaria species as parents. Because seed set was so low, breeding techniques and laboratory and greenhouse procedures were de- veloped to handle the caryopses of the purported crosses. Progeny from 13 of these crosses verified that the hybridization techniques were successful. Parents and Fl progeny of these crosses were also grown in the field. Detailed cytogenetic studies on six Diyitaria species and their progenies by N. V. Tan, graduate student in agronomy, has aided our understanding of sterility in this genus. This project is being closed out, but promising breeding materials will be carried over to a new project on grass breeding. TESTING SOYBEAN BREEDING LINES AND VARIETIES State Project 909 Kuell Hinson' Soybean varieties grown in other parts of southeastern United States have not performed satisfactorily in northcentral Florida. Tests of var- Cooperative with Crops Research Division, ARS, USDA. Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations ieties and breeding lines were continued to identify better adapted types. Two promising breeding lines were identified and have now become named varieties. The Hardee variety was released for seed production in 1962. It has continued to perform better than older varieties. Planting seed was avail- able for planting about 1000 acres in Florida in 1964, and seed should be in plentiful supply in 1965. Breeding line F58-3786 was named Bragg in 1963. The average yield of Bragg was 20 percent more than the yield of Jackson for the years 1959-63 at Gainesville and Live Oak. Seed of Bragg should be adequate to meet moderate demands for planting seed in 1965. Both Bragg and Hardee are resistant to shattering, which was a major weakness of older varieties. They appear to be well enough adapted to permit an expansion of soybean production in northcentral Florida. Bragg is 7 to 10 days earlier in maturity than Hardee and is better adapted to the northern two or three tiers of counties. Hardee is adapted over the entire area but is relatively better on the lighter soil types of the northern tiers of counties and in areas further south. (See also Project 909, Central Florida, North Florida, and Suwannee Valley stations.) THE INTERRELATED EFFECTS OF MINERAL NUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES, ENVIRONMENT, AND HEREDITY ON THE NITROGEN METABOLISM OF PLANTS Hatch Project 950 H. C. Harris Last year in greenhouse experiments F6A and L578 corn responded markedly to an application of copper on Leon fine sand but not on Lake- land fine sand. A boron application had no noticeable effect on the growth of either crop on either soil. The same experiment with Dixie 18 corn on Lakeland fine sand was repeated this year with the same results as last year. In nutrient solution studies with both F6A and L578 corn, boron greatly increased yields. The L578 variety responded more to boron than the F6A. The information in general indicates the boron requirement for corn is low. In cooperation with Dr. S. H. West (ARS, USDA) studies concerning RNA metabolism and differences in seed of various colors have been made. Older alfalfa seed have a larger percentage of dark colored seed. Water extracts of the dark seed have more proteins, nucleotides, amino acids, and related substances, suggesting that an alteration takes place within older seed. Histological work, which is in progress, indicates that changes do occur. These results suggested that other changes in seed might be shown by this type of study, and calcium- and boron-deficient Florigiant peanut seed were investigated. Boron deficiency of peanuts results in hollow-heart defect between the cotyledons of a seed. If the deficiency is severe, the tips of the plumules are small and seem to slough off as shown in Figure 1A. On the other hand, calcium deficiency seems to be deep-seated in the vascular system as shown in Figure lB. EFFECT OF AGE OF SOD ON YIELD OF BAHIAGRASS AND SUBSEQUENT FIELD CROPS State Project 971 A. J. Norden This project was initiated in 1959 to study the deterioration of bahia- grass plantings and the effect of sod of various ages on the yield and qual- Annual Report, 1964 '71 '^*' 'i . - Figure 1.-Photomicrographs (50X) of stained longitudinal sections through the plumules and hypocotyls of Florigiant peanut seed; A (left) boron deficient, and B (right) calcium deficient. ity of crops that follow. Each year since 1960, previously designated plots are seeded to bahiagrass and the remaining plots planted to corn during the even-numbered years and to peanuts during the odd-numbered years. Bahiagrass yields were taken in 1963 during the months of June, July, August, and September. Two-year-old stands of bahiagrass produced higher yields of dry forage, 6707 pounds per acre from four cuttings, than did one-year and three-year-old stands, which produced 5986 and 5386 pounds per acre respectively. The percent nitrogen in the grass decreased rapidly after the July harvest. 60 Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations Duplicate soil samples are taken yearly from each plot and analyzed for plant nutrients. The available calcium, magnesium, and potash de- clined from a high level in the first-year sod plots to a moderate level in the three-year-old sod plots. The level of phosphorous declined slightly. The plant parasitic species of nematodes within each sample were iden- tified and counted by Nematologist Dr. V. G. Perry. Eight species of plant nematodes were identified in the experimental area; however, only sting, lance, ring, and stubby root nematodes were found in sufficient numbers to be considered significant factors. Although sting nematodes reportedly infect peanuts, the varieties Early Runner and Florigiant used in this experiment were not affected, and populations of sting nematodes decreased. This indicates that either these peanut varieties are resistant to the sting nematode or physiologic variations exist within the nematode species. Populations of stubby root nematodes increased on plots seeded to corn but were low on peanuts. THE PHYSIOLOGICAL AND ECOLOGICAL RESPONSES OF FORAGE CROPS TO DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTS EFFECTED THROUGH MANAGEMENT PRACTICES Regional Research Project 998 G. M. Prine, V. N. Schroder, (Regional S-47) O. C. Ruelke, S. H. West' and K. D. Butson" Severe winterkill of pangolagrass occurred during the winter of 1963-64 where more than 50 pounds per acre of nitrogen was applied on September 9, 1963, to stimulate growth of the hay crop harvested on November 4, 1963. Fertilization with 60 pounds per acre of potash on November 12 following the hay harvest did not effectively reduce the average percentage of winter killed plants where more than 50 pounds per acre of nitrogen was used. The total available carbohydrate (TAC) content was increased in roots and crowns, but was unchanged in stems of the pangolagrass by the addition of potash. Various rates and kinds of growth regulating substances were applied to a number of forage crops including alfalfa, blue lupine, pangolagrass, Pensacola bahiagrass, Coastal bermudagrass, pearlmillet, and napiergrass. Maleic hydrazide at rates up to 18 pounds per acre applied prior to the last hay harvest did not maintain the winter dormancy or minimize winter- injury of pangolagrass. Changes in plant morphology and chemical com- position were found in response to various growth regulating substances. These changes are being studied further to see if they will improve the persistence and quality of forage crops. Uracil, thiouracil, and guanine enhanced the ability of blue lupine and pangolagrass to withstand freezing temperatures. Potassium gibberellic acid simulated the fall growth of alfalfa (see Figure 2). An alfalfa selection being developed under Project 1154 was the most productive and among the most persistent of 16 alfalfa strains studied. The hay yield of the alfalafa selection in the second harvest season was twice as great as in the first harvest season. The prospects appear good that it will be possible to maintain alfalfa stands for two or more harvest seasons with better adapted varieties and improved management practices. SCooperative with Crops Research Division, ARS, USDA. 1 Cooperative with U. S. Weather Bureau. Annual Report, 1964 /I 3 / rr KGa y Figure 2.-Hairy Peruvian alfalfa on November 27, 1963, showing effect of 100 ppm potassium gibberellate spray applied November 18, 1963, (right) compared with untreated plants (left). A CONTINUOUS HARVESTING AND CURING SYSTEM FOR FLUE-CURED TOBACCO Hatch Project 1034 Fred Clark Most of the data collected under this project during the 1963 tobacco season was primarily directed to the engineering phase of the project. Agronomy was responsible for the production of the leaf used during the curing tests. Consequently, most of the information will be presented by Agricultural Engineering. (See also Project 1034, Agricultural Engineering.) INDUCED MUTATION RATE MODIFYING AGENTS IN OATS Hatch Project 1036 A. T. Wallace Research was continued on the objectives, i.e., developing treatments that will produce the highest mutation rates at the Vb locus in oats and investigating the nature of the induced mutations. In an experiment testing the interaction of diethyl sulfate and gamma rays, the maximum mutation rate obtained was 52 X10-/M2 seed. This rate was 8 times that obtained by gamma rays alone and 4 times that obtained by diethyl sulfate alone. A hypothesis has been suggested to explain this highly synergistic effect. These treatments are being tested at the DDT locus in barley to determine if the synergistic action can be repeated at another locus. In addition to the ability to induce high mutation rates in plants, plant breeders are interested in the genetic nature of the induced mutations. To obtain in- formation on this aspect of mutation breeding, a number of mutants are 62 Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations being examined phenotypically, cytologically, and genetically. The accumu- lated data from a phenotypic classification of progeny from 66 different mutants indicate that the individual mutants carry changes at a number of loci other than the Vb locus. The variation probably represents changes produced -simultaneously but independently of the mutations at the Vb locus. A testing of 80 mutants for their reaction to crown rust indicates that in all cases, including the two partial resistant mutants to H. vic- toriae, a portion of the crown rust resistance of the parent was lost. The meaning of these results for plant breeding purposes is not yet understood. DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF AN INTEGRATED SILAGE AND GRAZING SYSTEM FOR DAIRY CATTLE State Project 1053 A. J. Norden The third cycle of a rotation system comparing yields from consecutive plantings on the same land of spring corn, summer sorghum, and fall oats with yields obtained from the conventional procedure of spring corn and fall oats was completed. An average of 23 percent more dry matter was obtained per year from the three-crops-per-year rotation compared to the two-crops-per-year system. Dry matter yields of corn, sorghum, and oats averaged 9,816, 7,529, and 1,149 pounds per acre, respectively, from the third cycle of the three- crops-per-year rotation plots compared to 11,047 and 1,782 pounds of corn and oats, respectively, from the two-crops-per-year plots. The corn yields from the two rotation systems were not significantly different. However, the reduced oat yields from plots which had produced a summer crop of sorghum were significant, a fact which was not evident in the first two cycles of the rotation. The three-crops-per-year rotation plots received an average of 290, 140, 200, 533, 352, and 32 pounds per acre of N, P20,, K2O, CaO, MgO, and fritted trace elements, respectively, compared with 160, 92, 136, 533, 352, and 20 pounds per acre for the two-crops-per-year rotation plots. The level of available CaO and MgO were somewhat lower in the three-crops-per- year plots than in the two-crops-per-year plots, which may have been responsible, to some degree, for the reduced yields on these plots during the past year. The pH level was similar (6.0) in plots of both rotations, and only small differences existed in levels of available P2sO and K0O. (See also Project 1053, Dairy Science and Agricultural Engineering departments.) CHEMICAL CONTROL OF WEEDS IN FIELD CROPS Hatch Project 1087 M. Wilcox and E. G. Rodgers New or unproved herbicides were applied in duplicate to corn, soybeans, peanuts, and alfalfa. The more promising herbicides were included in advanced yield trials of from four to six replications. Studies of the metabolism of herbicides continue. Peanuts.-2,4-DEP plus PCP at 2 plus 8 pounds per acre and sesone plus DNBP at 2 plus 3 pounds per acre gave commercial weed control and as high yields as a hand-cultivated check. 2,4-DEP plus DNBP at 3 plus Annual Report, 1964 1% pounds per acre performed similarly, as previously reported. R-1607 and Prometryne at 4 and 21/ pounds per acre respectively gave yields which were non-significantly less than the hand-cultivated check (3 and 6 percent respectively). Field Corn.-Fenac and dacthal at 1 plus 6 pounds per acre gave good commercial weed control and non-significantly higher yields than the culti- vated check. Atrazine, simazine, and combinations of 2,4-D and dacthal performed well, as previously reported. Soybeans.-Ametryne at 1 pound per acre and TD-66 plus dacthal at 2 plus 5 pounds per acre continue to be the best treatments, giving com- mercial weed control without harming the soybean crop. Alfalfa.-The most promising post-emergence treatments are H-8043 at 1 pound per acre, and 2,4-DB plus dalapon at 3/4 plus 1 pound per acre. 2,4-DB and dacthal in combination are effective both pre-emergence and post-emergence. Metabolism.-A gas chromatographic procedure has been developed which separates the herbicide dicamba from its suspected hydroxy metabo- lite. The two acetic homologs, which probably have the same relationship, are also separated. The procedure involves the acetyl methyl esters, pre- pared by treatment with acetic anhydride followed by diazomethane. (See Project 1087, Central Florida, Everglades, North Florida, and West Florida stations, and Marianna Unit, North Florida station.) QUANTITATIVE GENETIC STUDIES OF CORN AND CERTAIN SMALL GRAINS State Project 1100 P. L. Pfahler Corn.-Interplant competition and its relationship to homeostasis was investigated. Various genotypes represented biological competition with number of plants per hill used as physical competition in a complete fac- torial design. The height of the mature plant was more affected by bio- logical competition than physical competition, with level of heterozygosity appearing to be the prime contributing factor. Number of seed and weight of seed per plant decreased with increasing levels of physical competition. A greater degree of homeostasis or reduction in environmental variability was achieved at low levels of physical competition and competition with the same genotype. Seed exposure to 8000 r units of gamma irradiation produced in the resulting plants: (1) no reduction in female sterility as measured by the number of seed per plant; (2) a significant decrease in the weight of seed per plant; and (3) a small but significant reduction in male sterility as measured by the percentage of unfilled pollen grains. The pollen obtained from plants grown from gamma-irradiated seed appears to possess greater ability to fertilize even when very low dosages are involved. Small Grains.-Under space-planted conditions, inter-varietal hybrids of cultivated rye (Secale cereale) produced significantly more forage and grain in comparison to the parental intra-varietal hybrids. In solid-seeded stands, no significant difference between inter-varietal hybrids and parental intra-varietal hybrids in forage or grain production was obtained. How- ever, inter-varietal hybrids may be potentially important, since reduced environmental variability was observed. Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations LEACHING CHARACTERISTICS OF CERTAIN HERBICIDES IN SELECTED SOILS Regional Research Project 1131 E. G. Rodgers and M. Wilcox The leaching of propazine and two wettable powder formulations con- taining 50 and 80 percent active ingredients of prometryne applied at 2 or 4 pounds per acre was studied in columns 6 inches in diameter and 23 inches in depth of Lakeland fine sandy soil as influenced by different amounts and frequencies of simulated rainfall. Propazine moved downward in con- centrations lethal to cucumber seedlings to a depth of at least 18 inches; increased amounts and frequencies of simulated rainfall and the higher rate of application contributed to more intensive leaching. This compound was considerably less toxic to oats than to cucumbers in the seedling stage. Prometryne was lethal to these seedlings only in soil from the top inch; oats often survived in soil from this top horizon. This herbicide did not move below the top inch of soil in concentrations adequate to cause serious stunting sufficiently to determine any leaching pattern. No real difference was apparent in the leaching behavior of the two formulations of prome- tryne. These results suggest that prometryne probably would be safer than propazine to use as a pre-emergence herbicide in areas where heavy rainfall may occur between planting the crop seed and emergence of the seedlings. Greater leaching of the latter material may cause it to come into contact with the germinating crop seedlings and cause injury. NATURE AND FUNCTION OF CYTOPLASMIC FACTORS INVOLVED IN HEREDITY IN HIGHER PLANTS Hatch Project 1134 J. R. Edwardson It has been found that genes suppressing variegation in tobacco do not exert their effect through pollen-tube competition. The study of inheri- tance of leaf variegation in petunia is continuing, and a study of the inheritance of leaf variegation in corn has been started. An examination of asexual transmission of sterility factors in petunia is continuing, using polyploid sterile stocks and diploid fertile scions. The possibility that cytoplasmic sterility factors may be transmitted by pollen is being in- vestigated in petunia and corn. Inheritance studies are in progress on the restoration of fertility to cytoplasmic male sterile petunias. Studies are continuing on inactivation of sterility factors in corn by gamma irradiation. A difference in response to radiation damage by corn lines containing cytoplasmic sterility factors in comparison to the response of normal corn lines is being studied. A cytological search for sterility factors in corn and petunia is continuing. BREEDING FOR DISEASE RESISTANCE IN LUPINES Hatch Project 1135 J. R. Edwardson Field tests of the effectiveness of Thimet in controlling vectors of Bean Yellow Mosaic Virus in sweet yellow lupine are continuing. Inheritance studies of resistance to Phomopsis and to Bean Yellow Mosaic Virus in yellow lupine are continuing. An examination of the effectiveness of herbi- cides in eliminating virus infected seedlings from plantings of yellow lupine has been initiated. Attempts to increase the degree of resistance to Stem- phylium fungi by selection in progeny of hybrids of blue lupine are con- tinuing. Annual Report, 1964 WHITE CLOVER AND ALFALFA BREEDING Project 1154 E. S. Horner Selection for improved summer persistence and productivity in white clover and alfalfa was continued. White Clover.-Evaluation of an experimental variety developed by intercrossing 12 selected clones was continued. Excellent summer persis- tence and good fall growth were again obtained with this variety in 1963. The only apparent deficiency in it is a lack of sufficient bloom to provide for reseeding in case the stand is lost due to drought. Individual plants which had produced seed during the summer were harvested, and a spaced-plant nursery was established from this seed in the fall of 1963. Selection for summer persistence, forage productivity, and seed produc- tion capacity will be done in the fall of 1964. About 45 percent of the plants were blooming to some extent on May 1, 1964, which indicates that progress was made by selection for capacity to bloom under Gaines- ville day-length conditions. Two introductions from Israel, PI 214207 and PI 214208, were the most promising of 38 that were tested. They are being evaluated on a larger scale in 1964. Alfalfa.-Evaluation of 136 introductions and 130 polycross progenies is being continued at Gainesville another year because, with the exception of some introductions, survival in the summer of 1963 was quite good. Several introductions from India show promise in regard to persistence and vigor. At the Beef Research Unit, on the other hand, there was very little survival because of flooding during the summer. Seed was harvested from about 100 surviving plants in the spring of 1964. This will be used to establish another planting on flatwoods land in the hope that adaptation to poor drainage can be improved. A strain developed by five generations of selection for vigor and persistence again performed well in plots. Completion of the sixth genera- tion of selection was delayed because of unusually good survival in 1963. EVALUATION OF INTRODUCED PLANTS SPECIES AND VARIETIES FOR ECONOMIC USES Hatch Project 1166 G. B. Killinger (RRF Contributing to Regional Project S-9) Hibiscus cannabinus Linn. (kenaf) shows promise of producing suffi- cient dry-matter on flatwoods soils (Leon fine sand) to make it an econ- omic pulp crop. Plant introductions of kenaf (23 P.I.'s) did not exhibit any yield superiority over Everglades 41, an Everglades Experiment Station variety. Crotalaria juncea Texas 374 and PI 248491 did not produce enough dry-weight plant material to be considered as a pulp crop. Sunflower (Helianthus annus) introductions (40 P.I.s) and varieties hold some promise as a seed crop for bird feed or industrial uses. Dwarf types as introductions and Minnesota varieties Arrowhead and Mennonite may facilitate harvesting of the seed crop by combine. Erucastrum abyssinica, PI 243913, an introduction from Ethiopa, a rape or mustard-like crop, produced over 1500 pounds of seed per acre and survived adverse winter weather conditions which destroyed many other so-called winter growing crops. Erucastrum seed contain 33 percent oil and may have a place on the industrial market. Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) varieties and introductions were destroyed by diseases, Stemphylium and others, in late spring. EVALUATION OF INTRODUCED AND NATIVE PLANT SPECIES FOR PASTURE, FORAGE AND OTHER USES State Project 1167 G. B. Killinger, E. S. Horner, G. M. Prine, S. C. Schank and A. J. Norden Paspalum nicorae introductions PI 202044, 276248, 276249, and 284171 have made satisfactory growth and may be acceptable pasture species. Siatro (Phaseolus atropurpureus) produced an abundance of forage during the first season with limited seed set and perenniated. "Abon," a new giant type of Persian clover, for one season only has yielded as much dry forage as red clover and twice as much as commercial Persian clover. Ten accessions of perennial wild peanuts are being evaluated for forage possibilities. Arachis glabrata, PI 118457, over a 2-year period yielded 4,860 and 5,600 pounds per acre of hay respectively, with a crude protein content of 10.7 to 16.2 percent. Alfalfa introductions from India, PI 196221-22, 196228, and 196231-35, are being used in a breeding program to acquire a broad gene base population. White clover PI 214207 and 214208 from Israel have shown good persistence, have bloomed well, and are being incorporated in a breeding program. Silage sorghum tests at Gainesville from 1960 through 1963 showed the highest dry-forage yields (61/ tons per acre) from the tall, late maturing sweet sorgo types, with only 5 percent grain in the forage, while several sorghum hybrids averaged 5 to 6 tons of dry-forage per acre with 18 to 34 percent grain. Sorghum X sudangrass hybrids produced 41/2 tons per acre of dry-forage containing 31 percent grain. Rescuegras (Bromus catharticus) selections were made within a superior introduction to improve the perennial growth habit of this species. New Digitaria species (211) from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, collected in Africa, have been established from vegetative material. Half the Digitaria species grown at Gainesville failed to survive the 1962-63 winters. Digitaria pentzii introduced from Taiwan as PI Nos. 279651-52 in March 1962 winterkilled at one location but has survived more severe cold at the Beef Research Unit. Approximately 250 other grasses, Andropogons, Bothriochloas, and Dicanthiums, are under test. PRELIMINARY NON-PROJECTED STUDIES Corn Culture in Grass Sod Controlled by Herbicides.-An investigation was initiated to study the feasibility of growing corn in pasture grass sods with minimum tillage by controlling growth of grasses with herbi- cides. The only tillage was the opening of a narrow furrow in which to seed corn kernels. Coker 71 corn was seeded at 14,000 plants per acre in 38-inch rows on March 19, 1963, in pangolagrass and Pensacola bahia- grass sods. The herbicide treatments were as follows: (1) untreated; (2) 4 pounds per acre of atrazine applied February 27; (3) 4 pounds per acre of atrazine applied March 21; (4) 3.6 pounds of dalapon and 2 pounds of atrazine per acre applied February 27; (5) 3.6 pounds of dalapon and 1 pound of 2,4-D per acre applied February 27; and (6) 7.2 pounds of dala- Annual Report, 1964 67 pon and 1 pound of 2,4-D per acre applied February 27. The grain yield of corn growing in pangolagrass for treatments 1,2,3,4,5, and 6 was 12, 59, 56, 66, 22, and 52 bushels per acre, respectively. The grain yield of corn growing in Pensacola bahiagrass for treatments 1,2,3,4,5, and 6 was 11, 65, 52, 62, 43, and 61 bushels per acre, respectively. Herbicide treatments varied in their initial kill of grass and in length of time regrowth of grass was suppressed. The grasses were not completely killed by any treatment, and most killed areas of grass were healed over by the time that the corn was mature. Many problems were found which must be solved before the planting of corn in herbicide-controlled sod becomes a recommended practice. Conven- tional plowing of sod and cultivation of corn will probably give highest grain yields where it is practical to destroy the grass sod in this manner. (G. M. Prine) 68 Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations ANIMAL SCIENCE Research was conducted on 47 projects. New projects included studies on toxicity of forage nitrate for beef cattle, physiological aging of cattle, and carcass maturity as related to palatability, marketability, and federal standards for grading beef, market grades of beef from steers castrated at various ages and beef from bulls as related to age at time of slaughter and biochemical and physiological aspects of digestive disorders in cattle. Grants-in-aid totaling approximately $165,000 were obtained from va- rious commercial companies, foundations, and the National Institute of Health, U. S. Public Health Service for use in research studies. The department has continued and enlarged its cooperation with other departments and branch stations on nutrition, breeding, physiology, genetics, and meats studies. PASTURE PROGRAMS AND BREEDING SYSTEMS FOR BEEF PRODUCTION IN FLATWOODS SOILS OF CENTRAL AND NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA State Project 627 M. Koger Five pasture programs are being evaluated by grazing with cows and calves which are also utilized in the cattle breeding study. The five pasture programs include (1) an all-grass program fertilized at the rate of 450 pounds of 0-10-10 plus 180 pounds of N annually per acre. The remaining programs are clover-grass, fertilized at varying rates as follows: (2) 300 pounds of 0-10-20; (3) 500 pounds of 0-10-20 annually plus nitrogen as needed up to 60 pounds per acre; (4) 700 pounds of 0-10-20 plus nitrogen as needed; and (5) 900 pounds of 0-10-20 plus nitrogen as needed on irrigated pasture. The weight of calf weaned per acre was 345, 387, 324, 343, and 340 pounds, respectively. The breeding systems being compared are: (1) straightbreeding to Angus and Hereford, (2) crisscrossing of Angus and Hereford, (3) criss- crossing Angus and Brahman, and (4) crisscrossing Hereford and Santa Gertrudis. Weaning rate of 1963, based on number of cows bred, was 86, 93, 86, and 91 percent respectively. Average weaning weight per calf was 504, 498, 514, and 512 pounds for the respective groups. (See also Project 627, Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Engineer- ing, Agronomy, and Soils for other phases of this cooperative study.) HERITABILITY OF PERFORMANCE ESTIMATES ON ABERDEEN ANGUS, BRAHMAN, AND HEREFORD CATTLE State Project 717 J. F. Hentges, Jr. and M. Koger Relative breed performance data were compiled on registered Angus, Brahman, and Hereford cattle and calves which were maintained under similar environmental conditions. These data will be collected for a 10-year period to permit calculation of heritability estimates of performance factors. During 1963, Brahman calves had heavier average birth weights (59 pounds) than Herefords (57 pounds), and Herefords had heavier birth weights than Angus (54 pounds). Preweaning average daily gains for heifer calves were 1.9, 1.6, and 1.5 pounds for Brahmans, Angus, and Herefords, respectively. Similar data for bull calves were 2.1, 1.8, and 1.7 pounds for Brahmans, Herefords, and Annual Report, 1964 Angus, respectively. At weaning time, mature Hereford cows averaged 1101 pounds in weight, which was heavier than Brahmans (1083 pounds) or Angus (1076 pounds). Until 1963, type scores and estimated slaughter grades of weaning calves were higher for Angus and Herefords than Brahams. In 1962, Brahman males had the highest average type score. In 1963, Brahman and Hereford males had identical average type scores of 11.0 as compared to 10.2 for Angus, while the average type scores for females were 11.6 for Angus, 10.9 for Brahmans, and 10.4 for Herefords. Angus and Hereford bulls reached puberty at earlier ages on the average than Brahmans; however, motile sperm were seen in the semen of several Brahman bulls between the ages of 14 and 18 months. Angus cows have consistently weaned the largest calf crop. Detailed data on other per- formance factors were recorded for later analyses. NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS OF PIGS WEANED AT AN EARLY AGE Hatch Project 738 G. E. Combs, H. D. Wallace and T. J. Cunha To further define the vitamin D requirement of young pigs and study nutrient interrelationship with vitamin D, 75 pigs were fed rations con- taining 0, 50, 100, 200, or 400 I.U. of supplemental vitamin D2 per pound. All animals were housed in the absence of direct sunlight from birth to eight weeks of age. The weight gained by the group receiving no supple- mental vitamin D was significantly greater than those receiving either 50 or 200 I.U. of vitamin D; no other significant differences were found with respect to weight gained. Neither feed consumed nor feed efficiency was significantly influenced by ration treatment. The absence of any visual bone abnormalities coupled with the finding that no significant differences existed in bone ash among treatments indicated that all levels of vitamin D were equally effective in promoting adequate skeletal development. The quantity of blood, serum calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium was not significantly altered by ration treat- ment. The effect of vitamin D on the apparent digestibility of dry matter, fat, protein, calcium, and phosphorus was studied by the chromic oxide indicator technique. The digestibility of calcium was enhanced by the highest level of vitamin D but not to a statistically significant extent. Phosphorus digestibility was not influenced significantly by level of vita- min D. Although significant differences were found in protein digestion, a consistent pattern was not obtained; pigs fed rations containing 50 or 400 I.U. of vitamin D had lower digestion coefficients than those given no supplemental vitamin D. Coefficient of digestion for dry matter and fat were not significantly influenced by altering the ration concentration of vitamin D. THE NUTRITIONAL AVAILABILITY OF COMPONENTS OF LIVESTOCK FEEDSTUFFS Hatch Project 755 C. B. Ammerman, L. R. Arrington, G. K. Davis, and T. J. Cunha Samples of dried citrus seeds were separated into hull and kernel fractions, and proximate analyses were made. The average values for the major feed nutrients in the whole seeds, kernels, and seed hulls expressed Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations in percent on a dry matter basis were: ash, 3.4, 2.8, 4.4; protein, 16.2, 19.5, 6.1; ether extract, 45.1, 59.2, 2.3; crude fiber, 13.2, 3.1, 48.1; and nitrogen-free extract, 22.1, 15.4, 39.1, respectively. When supplying 88 percent of the total protein in the ration for lambs, protein in dried citrus seed meal was equal in digestibility and biological value to protein from two samples of soybean meal. High quality dried citrus pulp was equivalent to an 80 percent corn meal-20 percent cob meal mixture for fattening steers in drylot. The two feeds were mixed in the concentrate portion of the ration at ratios of 0:66, 22:44, 44:22, and 66:0 with numerically higher gains resulting where a combination of the two feeds was fed. Long bermudagrass hay was fed as 6 to 6.5 percent of the total feed intake during the major part of the 105-day feeding period. No significant differences in gain were evident, but those steers receiving a combination of dried citrus pulp, and corn and cob meal tended to have a higher dressing percent, more fat over the rib eye, and a higher carcass grade. NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS OF RABBITS State Project 768 L. R. Arrington, C. B. Ammerman and G. K. Davis Feeding trials were conducted using dried citrus pulp to determine its value in meeting nutritional requirements of rabbits. A complete commercial rabbit ration was modified with additions of 15, 30, and 45 percent citrus pulp for growing rabbits and 15 and 30 percent for breeding rabbits. Voluntary feed intake and weight gains of weaning rabbits fed citrus pulp were less than controls, but feed efficiency was not reduced. Feed intake and gains were reduced with increasing levels of pulp up to 30 percent but were not further reduced with 45 percent pulp. Six of seven females consuming 15 to 30 percent pulp produced and nursed normal litters. Feed intake of the females was reduced, and weaning weights of the young were approximately 85 percent of controls. The nutritive value of dried bakery product for rabbits was studied in one feeding trial. A complete commercial ration as control was modi- fied by addition of the test material to make up 50 percent of the total ration, and soybean meal was added to provide an intake of protein equal to the control. Average daily feed intake and gain (grams) and feed to gain ratio for the control and bakery product rations were 79 and 55; 17.3 and 16.1; 4.6 and 3.4, respectively. The improvement in feed effi- ciency was attributed to the higher energy intake from the bakery product ration. INFLUENCE OF NUTRITION, BREED, AGE, AND SEX ON RESPIRATORY ENZYMES IN THE TISSUES OF CATTLE, SWINE, AND SHEEP1 State Project 805 R. L. Shirley, G. K. Davis, H. D. Wallace, A. C. Warnick, J. F. Hentges, Jr., A. Z. Palmer and P. E. Loggins Sixty purebred Hereford cattle that were half brothers were divided equally at eight months of age and allotted in two dietary protein groups and fed for 182 days in the feedlot. One group was fed 15 percent protein for 98 days and then 13 percent for 84 days; the other group was fed 1In cooperation with W. G. Kirk at the Range Cattle Experiment Station. Annual Report, 1964 13 percent and then 11 percent protein during the corresponding periods. Each protein dietary group had 10 animals that had been castrated at three months of age, 10 castrated at six months of age, and 10 that were bulls. When the animals were slaughtered, blood serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (SGOT) activity was determined. The bulls and early and late castrates fed the high protein levels had 146, 128, and 107 Sigma- Frankel units of activity, while the corresponding groups fed the low protein rations had 120, 118, and 109 units, respectively. Serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) activity was determined on the same ani- mals, and the means of all treatment groups were in the range of 20.1 to 22.2 Sigma-Frankel units. None of these transaminase enzyme activity values indicate a condition of muscle dystrophy to exist in cattle on any of these treatments. Three cows 17 years old that had been on the phosphate source project since 1948-49 were slaughtered and found to range in SGOT values from 93 to 118 Sigma-Frankel units and to have SGPT values ranging from 29 to 34 Sigma-Frankel units, which indicated freedom from muscle dystrophy. ANGUS, BRANGUS, AND ANGUS X BRANGUS CROSSBREDS FOR BEEF PRODUCTION IN THE EVERGLADES State Project 922 M. Koger This project is designed to study the comparative performance of straightbred Angus, straightbred Brangus, and Angus-Brangus crossbreds. The crossbred animals will be produced from a crisscross system. The cow herd will be divided into four groups: Herd 1-Angus cows mated to Angus bulls; Herd 2-Angus-Brangus crossbred cows mated to Angus bulls; Herd 3-Angus-Brangus crossbred cows mated to Brangus bulls; and Herd 4-Brangus cows mated to Brangus bulls. The project has been underway only four years; thus it will be several years before breed composition will stabilize. The average weaning weights of calves produced by the four foundation herds in 1963 were 387, 381, 462, and 439 pounds, respectively. Weaning rates were 70, 73, 85, and 69 percent, respectively. EFFECT OF A CONTROLLED TEMPERATURE ON REPRODUCTION IN BRAHMAN CATTLE Hatch Project 938 A. C. Warnick Part of these data were collected in cooperation with certain purebred Brahman breeders. The average age at first corpus luteum (puberty) was between 19 and 22 months for Brahman heifers compared to 15-16 months in crossbred heifers descended from Brahman and Shorthorn. The heavier weight heifers at 205 days of age tended to exhibit puberty at a younger age. There was greater ovarian activity and size of uterus during the summer in Brahman heifers compared to other seasons. The average gestation length in Brahman cows was 292.8 days, and the average calving interval was 409.9 days. The average length of the estrual cycle was 27.6 days for 53 Brahman heifers checked during a full year at Gainesville. The average duration of estrus observed during four seasons on a limited number of heifers was 6.73 hours, with ovulation occurring 25.6 hours from beginning of estrus and 18.9 hours from end of estrus. Of all ovulations, 26 percent Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations occurred without estrus during the year, with a higher incidence during the winter months. Only 5.9 percent of all estrous periods were not accompanied by ovulation. There was a positive correlation of overall reproductive performance and temperament score, with the gentler heifers having increased reproductive activity. All heifers were bred to a fertile bull and one-half killed three days after breeding and one-half killed 39 to 41 days postbreeding to obtain data on fertilization rate and embryonic survival. Sixty-seven percent of the heifers had a fertilized egg at three days, while there was 64 percent with normal embryos in the 39-41 day group. This would indicate little embryonic mortality in Brahman heifers. An egg was not recovered from 21. percent of the heifers, possibly indicating a faulty egg pick-up mechan- ism. There were 12 percent of the heifers at three days with unfertilized eggs. FACTORS INFLUENCING BEEF TENDERNESS Hatch Project 975 A. Z. Palmer and J. W. Carpenter During the past year analytical procedures have been selected and em- ployed in a fundamental study to characterize protein alterations that occur during rigor and aging of beef and to relate such alterations with tenderness. The accuracy of the various methods has been established by the uniformity of triplicate values of single samples. Qualitative data pertaining to the number of components of sarco- plasmic and fibrillar proteins have been obtained but are insufficient for a meaningful statistical analysis at this point in the study. The value of dried citrus pulp was compared with ground corn and cob meal for fattening steers. Twenty Hereford and four Angus yearling steers were randomly assigned to four feeding treatments; the rations varied in ratio of citrus pulp to corn and cob meal. Tenderness of broiled short-loin steaks, as determined by taste panel and by Warner-Bratzler Shear, differed significantly between lots; the steers fed the ration con- taining no citrus pulp provided the less tender steaks, but differences among the lots were not great. In another study, the feeding value of dried citrus meal was compared with corn meal for fattening steers. The five rations fed varied in calcium: phosphorus ratio from 1.0:1 to 3.0:1. Short-loin steaks were cut 1-inch thick, broiled to 165 F internal temperature, and tested for tenderness by taste panel and by Warner-Bratzler Shear. Differences in tenderness were not found between lots. MANAGEMENT AND COST FACTORS RELATED TO MULTIPLE FARROWING Hatch Project 977 H. D. Wallace, G. E. Combs and M. Koger Since August of 1960, approximately 20 sows have been farrowed every two months on a year around basis. A total of 21 separate farrowings have been completed to date involving a total of 422 litters which averaged 10.60 live pigs at birth and 9.21 live pigs when weaned at two weeks of age. During the past year, the number of live pigs born per litter has continued to increase, and at the present time the herd is averaging about SCooperative with W. K. McPherson, Agricultural Economics Department; T. C. Skinner, Agricultural Engineering Department; and S. J. Folks, Florida Power Corporation. Annual Report, 1964 12 live pigs per litter. It appears that litter size has reached a level near optimum and greater emphasis must now be given to a study of methods of improving survivability. As litter size has increased, survivability has tended to decrease slightly. Farrowing results indicate relatively minor effects of season on litter size, but weaning weights and survivability have been affected adversely by hot weather. Conception rates continue to average lower during the hot months of June, July, August, and September. Accumulated data indicate that double matings improve litter size sig- nificantly. A nutritional study designed to evaluate dried corn distillers solubles as a source of unidentified factors for the sow will soon be com- pleted. Litter size has been slightly greater for supplemented sows. When terramycin was fed to sows at a high level during the farrowing period, two-weeks weaning weights of the pigs were improved about /4 pound per pig. AGE OF HEIFERS AT FIRST BREEDING AS RELATED TO BEEF PRODUCTION State Project 995 M. Koger and A. C. Warnick Since 1958 one-half of the replacement heifers at the Beef Research Unit have been bred as yearlings to calve first at two years of age. Calves from these two-year-old heifers are being vealed at the start of the breed- ing season on March 1. The other half of replacements have been bred to calve first at three years of age. To date the calves vealed off the two-year-old heifers have just about paid for the extra expense of early breeding. Subsequent production of heifers bred at two years of age has been almost identical with that of heifers bred to calve first at three years of age. FLORIDA FEEDS AND BY-PRODUCTS FOR SWINE FEEDING State Project 999 G. E. Combs and H. D. Wallace Raw and heated treated soybeans were evaluated for inclusion in swine rations. Heat treatments consisted of autoclaving ground soybeans for 15 and 30 minutes at 120C (20 p.s.i.) and for 120 minutes at 110C (4 p.s.i). Raw beans were fed with and without 5 percent added animal fat. When compared with pigs fed solvent-extracted soybean oil meal, the weight gain of all pigs fed the ground whole soybean was unsatisfactory. The addition of 5 percent fat improved the daily gains of pigs fed raw beans, with an additional linear increase in weight gain being obtained by in- creasing the length of autoclaving time. Feed required per pound of gain was decreased by the addition of 5 percent fat, and additional linear decreases with this criterion were also obtained by increasing autoclaving time. A study was conducted to determine if a dried bakery product con- sisting of unused material from the production of bread and other bakery items contained sufficient amounts of various B-complex vitamins to per- mit satisfactory growth with pigs. The bakery product was included at the rate of 30 percent and was fed with and without supplemental niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, and choline. Similar vitamin treatments were also formed with rations containing no dried bakery product. Pigs which received the supplemental vitamins gained more rapidly and efficiently than those which did not receive the vitamin supplement. These data 74 Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations indicate that for maximum utilization, rations that contain 30 percent dried bakery product should be supplemented with niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, and choline. EVALUATION OF FEED ADDITIVES IN SWINE NUTRITION State Project 1002 H. D. Wallace and G. E. Combs Work has been completed on the use of zymo-pabst, a mixture of diges- tive enzymes, in starter rations. The material proved ineffective. Mono- sodium glutamate has consistently enhanced palatability of starter rations but did not improve performance of pigs when critically tested in this regard. High levels of copper have produced marked responses in the gains and feed conversion of young pigs. Toxicity was not observed in short time (6 wk.) feeding trials when copper was fed as copper sulfate at a level of 250 ppm of copper. Neither zinc nor iron at levels of 250 or 500 ppm effectively stimulated rate and efficiency of gain. In a study compar- ing natural bacitracin with zinc-bacitracin, it was determined that the two antibiotic preparations were equally effective. INHERENT BODY SIZE IN CATTLE AS RELATED TO ADAPTATION TO FLORIDA State Project 1003 M. Koger and A. C. Warnick This is a new project cooperative between the Department of Animal Science, North Florida Experiment Station, and State Prison Farm, Rai- ford. Cattle of different inherent sizes will be developed by selection. Data will not be available until differences between the different groups are developed through selection. In 1963 the average weaning weight of calves was 453 pounds, with a pregnancy rate of 83 percent. (See also Project 1003, North Florida Station.) THE EFFECT OF NUTRITION ON REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF SWINE State Project 1010 A. C. Warnick and H. D. Wallace Crossbred gilts on a high energy ration were 13 days younger and 46 pounds heavier at first estrus than comparable gilts on a low energy 52 percent alfalfa leaf meal ration. The number of ova shed at first estrus was significantly higher in gilts on high energy vs. low energy. However, the low energy ration gave an increased percentage of embryo survival at 25 days postbreeding. The average number of live embryos per gilt was not statistically different among rations, although it varied from 11.3 embryos on high energy (H.E.) to 10.9 embryos on both the high alfalfa, low energy (A) and low alfalfa, low energy rations (GSC). Levels of alkaline and acid phosphatase of the endometrium, embryos, and corpora lutea were not statistically different between the three rations. Acid phosphatase of chorionic fluid was significantly higher in gilts on the "HE" and GSC" rations compared to those on the "A" ration. The correlation between endometrial acid phosphatase activity and number of viable embryos for the three treatment groups was 0.598 (P< 0.01), -0.582 (P<0.01), and -0.395 (NS) for the "HE", "A", and "GSC" Annual Report, 1964 groups, respectively. Correlations between endometrial alkaline phospha- tase and the number of viable embryos for the respective groups were 0.431 (P<0.05), -0.637 (P<0.01), and 0.090 (NS). It is possible that differences in the correlations of phosphatase activity with embryo numbers are correlated with the estrogen and progesterone hormone production and its effect upon uterine environment. EFFECTS OF GAMMA RADIATION AND DIETARY DEFICIENCIES ON THE PLACENTAL TRANSFER OF MINERALS AND THEIR DISTRIBUTION IN THE FETUS Hatch Project 1044 J. P. Feaster An investigation of the effects of gamma radiation of the pregnant gilt on the transfer of radioactive iron (FE-59) to the fetus has been completed. Eight of the 15 pregnant gilts used in the study were exposed to 400 r whole-body Co-60 radiation on about the 93rd day of gestation. Forty-eight hours after irradiation they were given single intravenous doses of Fe-59 and sacrificed 24 hours later. Seven other pregnant gilts, serving as controls, were given doses of Fe-59 without prior exposure to Co-60 radiation. Radiation caused a significant (P<0.01) increase in the amount of Fe-59 transferred to the fetus. Fetuses of nonirradiated and irradiated gilts averaged 0.397 x 10-: and 1.60 x 10'" percent of the administered Fe-59 dose per gram of tissue, respectively, or 0.308 and 1.24 percent per whole fetus. Individual maternal and fetal tissues and organs which were assayed for Fe-59 content were liver, spleen, blood, sternum, heart, and muscle. A comparison of Fe-59 content in the tissues of the gilts of the two lots showed lower concentrations in the irradiated animals than in controls except in liver and heart. Fe-59 values were significantly higher in tissues of fetuses of the irradiated gilts than in the fetuses of controls. In the control lot maternal Fe-59 concentrations were higher than fetal, but in the irradiated lot, fetuses showed Fe-59 concentrations from 2 to 20 times as high as concentrations in the corresponding maternal tissues. PRELIMINARY EVALUATION OF DIETARY FACTORS OF INTEREST IN THE NUTRITION OF CATTLE, SWINE, AND SHEEP USING LABORATORY ANIMALS Hatch Project 1045 L. R. Arrington, R. L. Shirley, J. P. Feaster and C. B. Ammerman Iodine toxicity studies were continued with rats and rabbits to further identify and characterize the toxicity and evaluate other dietary factors possibly related to the toxicity. Toxicity of 2500 ppm iodine, which, resulted in lactation failure in rats, was not alleviated with 2 percent NaCl. The addition of thyroid and thiouracil to the diet of pregnant rats resulted in some mortality of the young but less than that caused by iodine. Thyroid increased and thiouracil decreased feed intake and weight gain of weanling rats. Twenty-five hundred ppm iodine as KI or Nal also significantly reduced feed intake and gain of rats and rabbits. Female rats and rabbits which had been fed toxic levels of iodine were changed to control diets and rebred; they produced and nursed normal litters, in- dicating no permanent harmful carry-over effects. Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations The chemical composition of dried bakery product was determined, and the feeding value studied with rats. Composition, in percent, was: protein, 9.1; fat, 13.0; fiber, 1.0; ash, 3.4; and energy, 4.5 Kcal per gram. The dried bakery product was equal to corn meal for rats when fed at levels up to 66 percent of a natural ration or a purified diet with added vitamins. When fed at this level in a purified ration without added vitamins, growth was unsatisfactory, indicating a deficiency of some vitamins. The bakery product with added fermentation mixture (Nujets) but without added vitamins in the diet promoted slightly better growth than the dried bakery product. Diets with 66 percent bakery product and added vitamins and calcium as the only added mineral promoted growth equal to the control. EFFECT OF SOIL PHOSPHORUS RESIDUES ON PANGOLAGRASS PASTURES State Project 1061 R. L. Shirley, J. F. Easley and G. K. Davis In September, December, March, and June blood was obtained from cattle on pasture that received the following types of fertilizer from 1948 until 1958: none, superphosphate, superphospate and lime, triple superphosphate, rock phosphate, colloidal phosphate, and basic slag. After 1958 the cattle have been tested for effects of residual phosphate. These treatment groups had mean hemoglobin values of 11.1, 11.5, 11.8, 11.6, 12.1, 10.5, and 11.1 grams per 100 ml of blood, respectively. Their cor- responding hematocrit values were 50.4, 49.2, 49.2, 48.6, 51.1, 45.5, and 48.3. Mean values for the control and phosphate treatment groups for mg calcium per 100 ml plasma were 10.2, 10.0, 9.7, 10.2, 10.1, 9.8, and 10.1. The control group had the lowest mean of 4.6 mg of phosphorus per 100 ml of blood plasma, while the above phosphate treatment groups had values of 5.6, 5.8, 6.1, 7.4, 6.6, and 5.8, respectively. (See Project 1061, Range Cattle Station.) GEOGRAPHICAL AND SELECTION EFFECTS ON LAMBING DATE Hatch Project 1063 P. E. Loggins, M. Koger, (Contributing to Regional Project S-29) A. C. Warnick and T. J. Cunha The 1964 lambs are the second crop produced from the experimental design to study the effect of geographical location on the reproductive performance of sheep. Forty-nine Rambouillet ewes of Alabama, Florida, and Texas origin plus 52 Florida Native ewes were exposed to rams of the same breeding. Vasectomized rams were used from April 15 to Sep- tember 15, 1963, to determine earliness of estrus and breeding dates. Intact rams were placed with the ewe flocks beginning July 1 for a 60-day breeding season. All Rambouillet and Florida Native ewe groups were found to be in anestrus prior to July 1. Ten of the Rambouillet ewes had shown estrus by this date in the 1963 breeding season. The average dates of first estrus in the breeding ewes were as follows: Alabama Rambouillets, July 22; Florida Rambouillets, July 22; Texas Rambouillets, July 27; and Florida Native, July 25. The lambing percentages for the 1964 lambing crop were as follows: Alabama Rambouillets, 100 percent; Florida Ram- bouillets, 106 percent; Texas Rambouillets, 70 percent; and Florida Native, 127 percent, with average lambing dates of December, 12, 24, 26, and 18, respectively. Annual Report, 1964 The lambs were weaned on February 28, 1964, at an average age of 70 days. The lambs received creep feed and were continued on a full feeding program following weaning until market date, May 20, 1964. The Alabama Rambouillet lambs averaged 66 pounds; Florida Rambouillet, 72 pounds; Texas Rambouillet, 62 pounds; and Florida Native, 67 pounds, with live slaughter grade of low choice, top choice, top good and low choice, respectively. Average market weights of lambs in all groups were low for profitable lamb production. MINERAL REQUIREMENTS OF CATTLE Hatch Project 1079 C. B. Ammerman, L. R. Arrington, R. L. Shirley and J. P. Feaster Soft phosphate and calcium fluoride supplying 134 ppm fluorine, and sodium fluoride, supplying 67 ppm fluorine, did not affect feed intake or body weight gains of steers fed for 91 days. Percent fluorine concen- tration in the ash of the measured proximal fourth, center half, and distal fourth of the metacarpal for soft phosphate was 0.420, 0.370, 0.603; sodium fluoride, 0.340, 0.303, 0.477; and calcium fluoride, 0.163, 0.133, 0.210. Levels of fluorine were significantly influenced by treatment (P<0.05). Phosphorus-32 in three inorganic phosphatic compounds was adminis- tered orally to calves and steers. Phosphorus-32 in reagent grade dicalcium phosphate was absorbed and retained in larger amounts than that in defluorinated rock phosphate or soft phosphate. Apparent absorption values for the dicalcium phosphate, defluorinated phosphate, and soft phosphate were 70.0, 61.2, and 53.5 percent, respectively. In further studies evaluating sources of iron for ruminants, radioactive iron as ferric chloride, ferrous sulfate, ferrous carbonate, and ferric oxide was administered orally to lambs. Iron-59 uptake by the red blood cells and tissue deposition of iron-59 indicated that the chloride, sulfate, and carbonate forms of iron were not significantly different in biological availability. The iron in ferric oxide was significantly less available. (See Hatch 1079, Dairy Science Department.) INTERRELATIONSHIPS OF RATION, RUMEN BIOCHEMISTRY, AND ANIMAL PERFORMANCE Hatch Project 1117 J. E. Moore, R. L. Shirley, C. B. Ammerman and L. R. Arrington The development of a rapid gas-liquid chromatographic technique for determining the carbon dioxide concentration of rumen fluid was employed in further studies on the buffering properties of rumen fluid. These studies demonstrated a direct relationship between the pH, the buffering proper- ties, and the bicarbonate concentration of rumen fluid. When a concentrate was fed as a single meal to fistulated steers previously fed hay, rumen pH and rumen fluid bicarbonate concentration decreased rapidly after feeding, with concurrent changes in the buffering characteristics of the rumen fluid. The addition of 2 percent sodium bicarbonate to the concen- trate reduced the rates of these changes. However, six hours after feeding the concentrate there were no differences between treatments. The effect of supplemental nitrogen on the rumen fermentation of low quality hay was investigated with fistulated steers. Soybean meal and soybean meal plus urea were superior to urea and urea plus starch in terms of voluntary hay consumption and the digestion of cellulose in Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations the rumen. All treatments increased rumen volatile fatty acid and ammonia concentrations. The highest rumen ammonia levels were observed with supplements containing urea. Urea alone promoted the highest accumula- tion of rumen ammonia, but the addition of starch reduced the rumen ammonia concentration. FORMULATION OF BEEF CATTLE FEED MIXTURES FOR INCREASED EFFICIENCY OF UTILIZATION State Project 1132 J. F. Hentges, Jr., A. Z. Palmer and J. E. Moore Two experiments were conducted with beef steers to study the effect of physical form of diet and ratio of dried citrus meal to corn meal in the diet on degree of unsaturation of rib and kidney fat. Rumen volatile fatty acids were measured and related to degree of unsaturation of body fat. No differences were found in degree of unsaturation of kidney fat among groups of steers fed high concentrate diets containing either flaked or ground corn and a pelleted diet containing corn meal. Fatty acid com- position and iodine number of fat over the 13th rib revealed that diets containing 72 percent corn produced a higher degree of unsaturation than diets containing either 31.6 percent dried citrus meal: 36.0 percent corn or 63.2 percent dried citrus meal. The higher unsaturation of fat in corn-fed steers was due to a higher oleic acid and a lower palmitic acid content. These changes were associated with a higher starch content in the corn diets. Rib fat was more unsaturated than kidney fat because of a lower stearic and a higher palmitoleic and oleic acid content. Rumen microbial metabolism, evidenced by proportions of volatile fatty acids in rumen fluid, was altered by changes in ratios of dried citrus meal to corn meal in diets. High correlation coefficients of -0.997 and 0.999 were found be- tween dietary starch and molar proportions of ruminal acetate and pro- pionate, respectively. The acetate to propionate ratio was narrowest when the starch content of the diet was highest. Correlation coefficients of 0.576, -0.573 and 0.514 were found between acetate to propionate ratio in rumen fluid and palmitic acid, oleic acid, and iodine number of rib fat, respectively. BIOCHEMICAL AND CYTOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS OF INHERITED DWARFISM IN BEEF CATTLE Hatch Project 1136 J. R. Crockett, M. Koger, (Contributing to S-10) J. P. Feaster, and A. C. Warnick Specific matings were made this breeding season to produce embryos of dwarf, carrier, and non-carrier genotypes. The embryos are being taken by caesarean at varying ages in order to make gross studies in an attempt to bracket the age at which the dwarf gene exhibits itself. Blood samples have been collected from the three genotypes and prepared for electro- phoretic analysis. BIOCHEMICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF DIGESTIVE DISORDERS IN CATTLE State Project 1155 J. F. Hentges, Jr., and J. P. Feaster Five preliminary and four detailed experiments have been completed on the cause of "founder", a digestive disorder widely prevalent among cattle fed high concentrate diets in feedlots. In preliminary experiments, Annual Report, 1964 yearling steers which had been fasted for 24 hours showed no behavioral changes following intraruminal injections of up to 6.0 grams of histamine. Intravenous injections of up to 100 micrograms of histamine produced respiratory difficulty, slowing of heart rate, weak pulse, muscle tremors, and moist rales in lungs. In two feeding experiments, excessive quantities of a high concentrate feed mixture were consumed by steers which had been fasted 48 hours, but the symptoms of founder were observed in only 4 percent of the animals. These symptoms disappeared when an antihis- tamine was administered. Wide variability among animals was evident for voluntary feed intake, rumen acidity, and symptoms of "founder". Detailed experiments revealed (1) a rapid absorption of histamine from the duodenum of steers as evidenced by a decrease in saphenous artery blood pressure, (2) apparent absorption of histamine sprayed on the wall of the posterior dorsal sac of the rumen as evidenced by a decrease in ruminal motility, blood pressure and respiration rate, (3) transitory tenderness of the foot after injections of histamine via the saphenous artery, and (4) toxicity of Compound 48-80, which was injected intra- venously to measure the effect of this histamine-releasing drug in cattle. SELENIUM IN GROWTH, REPRODUCTION AND HEALTH OF CATTLE AND SHEEP' State Project 1156 R. L. Shirley, Marvin Koger, P. E. Loggins, J. E. Moore, J. P. Feaster and T. J. Cunha At the Beef Research Unit, 80 mature cows that were three years or older, 25 heifers born in 1961, and 28 heifers born in 1962 were injected subcutaneously approximately every 90 days for the second year with 2.5 mg of selenium as sodium selenite per 100 pounds of body weight. Each age group had an equal number that were not injected with selenium. The combined pregnancy rate for those that received selenium was 93 percent compared to 96 percent for the control groups. The corresponding average percentages of calves weaned were 87 and 93, respectively. The average weaning weight of the eight-month-old calves of the cows that received selenium was 510 pounds compared to 504 pounds for the control calves. None of these treatment effects were statistically significant. To determine if there was any evidence of white muscle disease in lambs this year, serum glutamic oxalacetic acid and glutamic pyruvic acid transaminases were determined on weanling lambs raised at the University Sheep Unit and at a farm about 60 miles east of the University. Low and normal values were found for the two enzymes, indicating that there was no evidence of muscle dystrophy, which may be due to either vitamin E or selenium deficiency. MARKET GRADES OF BEEF FROM STEERS CASTRATED AT VARIOUS AGES AND BEEF FROM BULLS AS RELATED TO AGE AT TIME OF SLAUGHTER Hatch Project 1204 J. W. Carpenter and A. Z. Palmer Sixty Hereford half-sib males were assigned to five treatments. The treatments consisted of animals castrated at birth, three months, six months, eight months, and non-castrated bulls. All animals were weaned and entered the feedlot at the same time. A high concentrate ration was : In cooperation with H. L. Chapman, Jr., and R. W. Kidder of the Everglades Station. Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations fed (ad libitum) for 182 days before slaughter at the University Meat Laboratory. The effect of the treatments on feedlot performance, slaughter and carcass characteristics, and palatability of steaks was studied. In addition one-half of each carcass was boned and closely trimmed for cut- ability studies. This study is in the final stages of completion, and data have not been statistically analyzed. Study II: Forty-two bulls and 42 steer calves of Braford breeding from feeding trials at the Everglades Experiment Station were used in this study. This study was designed to determine the effects of age at time of slaughter on slaughter and carcass characteristics, palatability of steaks and roasts, and especially carcass classification. Although the study is in the final stages of completion and the data have not been statistically analyzed, it is apparent that the federal meat graders had difficulty in differentiating between bull and steer carcasses in the the various age groups. It is interesting to note that three of the 15-month-old bulls produced carcasses that could not be differentiated from steer carcasses and were rolled as U.S. Choice beef. (See Everglades Experiment Station project 1016 for feedlot perform- ance of animals used in this study.) PHYSIOLOGICAL AGING OF CATTLE AND CARCASS MATURITY AS RELATED TO PALATABILITY, MARKETABILITY, AND THE FEDERAL STANDARDS FOR GRADING BEEF Hatch Project 1205 A. Z. Palmer and J. W. Carpenter This project received approval only recently. Research has been planned, but the study has not progressed to the point of providing data. TOXICITY OF NITRATE FORAGE FOR BEEF CATTLE' State Project 1211 R. L. Shirley and J. F. Easley In April this year a series of 35 monthly analyses of nitrate and carotene on para, bahia, pangola and Roselawn St. Augustine grasses grown at the Everglades Experiment Station were completed. Analyses were started in May 1961. Missouri workers classified nitrate levels cal- culated at KNO3 into four categories depending on toxicity. These levels were (1) less than 0.5 percent (safe) ; (2) 0.5 to 1.0 percent (caused drop in milk production of cattle) ; (3) 1.0 to 1.5 percent (drastic drop in milk production); and (4) greater than 1.5 percent (possibly lethal). Above 0.5 percent may also cause abortion. The 35 monthly para samples had a distribution of 12, 9, 4, and 10 samples in the above four categories, re- spectively. The bahia samples had a distribution of 30, 5, 0, and 0; the pangola, 23, 7, 3, and 2; and the Roselawn St. Augustine, 148, 44, 12, and 4, respectively. All but one of those above 1.5 percent occurred after March 1963. No clinical symptoms were observed in the cattle grazing these pastures. The carotene values had a seasonal pattern. They were relatively high (40 to 170 mg carotene per pound dry weight) from April through No- vember each year and quite low (3 to 40 mg) during December through March. Generally, para and pangola were higher in carotene than the other grasses during the summer and lower during the winter. The high carotene content of the Everglades forages may be a factor in the tolerance of cattle to the relatively high nitrate in the area. SIn cooperation with H. L. Chapman, Jr., at the Everglades Station. Annual Report, 1964 PRELIMINARY NON-PROJECTED STUDIES The Physiology and Biochemistry of Hybrid Vigor.-The efficiency of feed utilization by straightbred and crossbred calves under strictly con- trolled conditions has been determined. Results showed that crossbred calves had a greater appetite than straightbred calves. Gross efficiency of feed utilization (pounds of carcass per unit of feed) was similar for all groups of calves. There were significant differences, however, in the form in which tissues were stored. Brahman calves were most efficient in converting feed into meat protein, and British calves were most efficient in converting fat, while crossbreds were intermediate. It is planned to expand this project to determine the relative feed requirements of straightbred and crossbred mother cows for producing a pound of calf. (M. Koger, T. J. Cunha and A. C. Warnick) Effect of Vitamin A Deficiency on Reproduction in Young Rams.-Twelve yearling rams were fed a purified diet containing 3,000 I.U. of vitamin A per pound feed, while 36 were placed on a vitamin A free diet in which plasma vitamin A values were 5 meg per 100 ml compared to 39 mcg per 100 ml plasma for the controls. Six of the control and six deficient rams were irradiated with 400r whole body irradiation, while a part of the deficient rams were given testosterone, pregnant mare serum (PMS), and thryroprotein during a 21 week period. Deficient rams returned to the vitamin A diet recovered, and death loss did not occur. Also, the volume, sperm motility, percent abnormal sperm, and total sperm production im- proved in the deficient rams returned to the vitamin A ration. Night blindness, cloudiness of the cornea, uncoordinated gait, and extreme weak- ness occurred in rams on vitamin A free diet, with death occurring in most rams with depleted vitamin A reserves. Treatment of deficient rams with either testosterone or PMS did not alter deficiency symptoms, time of death, or semen quality and production. Thyroprotein did increase appetite, decreased weight loss, decreased death loss, and improved sperm motility and total sperm production. Rams on the vitamin A free diet had lowered semen volume, sperm motility, percent normal sperm, and total sperm pro- duction, with a reduction in germinal epithelium thickness and seminiferous tubule diameter and weight of testes. Irradiation caused a depression in feed intake and growth on all rams, and the vitamin A status had no effect on survival time of irradiated rams. (A. C. Warnick, T. J. Cunha, P. E. Loggins, and R. L. Shirley) Effect of a Phosphorus Deficiency on Growth and Reproduction in Young Rams.-Thirty-six Florida Native rams averaging approximately 12 months of age were fed a purified ration to determine the effect of a phosphorus deficiency on gains, blood, saliva and semen phosphorus, and semen traits. The control rams weighed 128 pounds after five months compared to 82 pounds for those on a phosphorus deficiency. After 71/2 months the control rams weighed 148 pounds vs. 82 pounds for the deficient rams. Deficient rams put on the control ration gained 33 pounds in 63 days, while the deficient rams merely maintained their weight. Blood and saliva phos- phorus deficient rams dropped after two weeks to approximately one-third the values of the control rams. These values were maintained at this low level throughout the experiment, while semen phosphorus values in the deficient rams did not differ from the controls. Semen volume, sperm motility, percent abnormal cells, and total sperm per ejaculate from the deficient rams were similar to the controls. Six control and six deficient rams were given 350r whole body irradiation after five months. Two of Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations the deficient rams and one control ram died within 30 days after irradia- tion. Appetite, gains, and percent normal sperm cells were decreased following irradiation. Apparently semen production in the ram is not markedly altered by phosphorus deficiency. (A. C. Warnick, T. J. Cunha, P. E. Loggins, and R. L. Shirley) Effect of Temperature Upon Reproduction in Gilts and Boars.-An experiment using 35 crossbred gilts and 10 crossbred boars was run to determine the effect of a 600 and 900 F temperature on fertility and to determine if there was an interaction in fertility of the sexes at these temperatures. Each boar was to be bred to two gilts at each temperature. The boars were allotted at random to the two temperature rooms 80 days before breeding began, while gilts were allotted at random 10 days after first heat and continued there until 25 days postbreeding. The gilts were killed 25 days postbreeding, and counts were made of the corpora lutea and embryos to determine embryonic survival. The gilts were bred one time to their respective boar at the first check in estrus, with one-half of the gilts at each temperature bred to boars from the same temperature and one-half bred to boars at the different temperature. The average number of corpora lutea (eggs shed) in gilts at 60 F was 14.6 vs. 13.6 in gilts at 90 F; however, this difference was not significant. The average number of live embryos at 25 days in gilts at 600 F irrespective of tem- perature of the boar was 11.7 compared to 10.4 embryos in gilts at 90 F, again a nonsignificant difference. The average number of live em- byros in gilts bred to boars at 60 F was 11.1 vs. 11.3 in gilts bred to boars at 900 F. There was no interaction in temperature and sex on fertility at 25 days. These temperatures did not modify fertility in the boar, although there was a slight but nonsignificant lowering of fertility at 90* F in the gilt. (A. C. Warnick, H. D. Wallace, and A. Z. Palmer) Effect of Protein Level and Restricted Feeding on Carcass Quality. Three experiments, involving 300 growing-finishing swine, had been com- pleted in an attempt to determine the influence of dietary protein level on feedlot performance and carcass characteristics. Pigs fed the higher levels of protein have gained significantly faster and more efficiently and have yielded carcasses which were significantly leaner in all respects. A series of five experiments have been conducted on the problem of feed restriction for the growing-finishing pig. The effect of a constant level of feeding (5 pounds per head per day) from an initial weight of 100 pounds to a slaughter weight of 200 pounds has been studied from several aspects. This procedure has reduced rate of gain and efficiency of feed conversion. Restricted pigs have shown reduced backfat thickness, in- creased loin eye area, and a higher percentage yield of four lean cuts. In gen- eral, it can be said that feedlot performance has suffered, while producing a leaner, more desirable carcass. (H. D. Wallace, A. Z. Palmer, J. W. Carpenter, and G. E. Combs) Observations for Urinary Calculi in Cattle.-During the year, 492 slaughtered feedlot cattle have been observed for calculi in their bladders, and 96 were found to have them in varying amounts ranging from ap- proximately 0.1 to 5.0 grams. These cattle represented many different treatments in the feedlot. Of a total of 367 steers, 78 had calculi; of 68 bulls, 17 had calculi; and of 57 heifers, 1 had calculi. Forty-nine steers with no stilbestrol had 13 with calculi compared to 10 with calculi out of 45 that had 24 mg implants of stilbestrol. Five bulls out of 12 that received Annual Report, 1964 no stilbestrol had calculi compared to 1 out of 10 bulls that were given stilbestrol implants. Eight that received 30,000 I.U. of vitamin A per day had no calculi compared to 3 that had calculi out of 8 deprived of the vitamin. The previous year, 1 out of 10 of each vitamin A treatment group had calculi. Fifty-six steers that were divided into equal lots and given 0 or 25,000 I.U. of vitamin A or 50 I.U of vitamin E orally, or both vitamins orally per day, or 720,000 I.U. of vitamin A or 1,400 I.U. of vitamin E by injection, or both vitamins by injection per 28 days were all found to be free of calculi. A group of 18 steers with shade had 8 with calculi compared to 10 with calculi out of 14 steers without shade. A group of 49 steers had 22 with calculi in a regular feedlot operation. No cattle in the above feedlots died or suffered clinically from calculi. A group of 29 heifers after 140 days in the feedlot and 12 months of age were all free of calculi. (R. L. Shirley, Jason Outler, Marvin Koger, J. F. Hentges, Jr., and J. W. Carpenter) Effect of Dietary Vitamin A on the Concentration of Vitamin A in the Heart and Copper in the Heart and Liver of Feedlot Steers.-Twelve eight- month-old steers were placed in the feedlot at the Range Cattle Experiment Station for 180 days on a ration that contained only traces of carotene. Half of the steers were supplemented with 30,000 I.U. of vitamin A palmi- tate per day. Mean values of 0.86 and 0.24 pg of vitamin A and 5.6 and 5.9 pg of p-carotene per gram dry weight were found in the heart ventricle, 16.6 and 16.7 pg of copper per gram dry weight were found in the heart ventricle, and 521 and 501 ug of copper were found in the liver of the vitamin A supplemented and unsupplemented groups, respectively. The heart had 20.4 and 19.5, and the liver had 25.7 and 25.8 percent dry matter for the supplemented and unsupplemented groups, respectively. Mean values of 13.9 and 11.8 grams of hemoglobin per 100 ml of blood and hema- tocrit percentages of 51.9 and 44.7 were obtained for the supplemented and control vitamin A dietary groups, respectively. (R. L. Shirley and G. K. Davis) Effect of Stilbestrol Implants and Vitamins A and E on Cholesterol of Blood of Cattle. Twenty-four Brahman-Hereford crossbreed bulls and 24 steers at eight months of age were equally subdivided into four treatment groups, and half the bulls and steers were implanted with 24 mg of cholesterol before being placed in the feedlot. When they were slaughtered after 123 days in the feedlot, the average mg of cholesterol per 100 ml of blood serum overall for the bulls and steers were 204 and 224, respec- tively. The corresponding values overall for those with and without stil- bestrol were 222 and 205, respectively. Two-year-old steers of Angus, Hereford, and Brahman crossbreeding were given orally and by injection supplementary vitamins A and E and fed for 120 days in the feedlot. Those steers that received through supple- mentation none (6), 25,000 I.U. vitamin A per day orally (4), 50 I.U. vitamin E per day orally (7), both the A and E oral doses per day (5), 720,000 I.U. vitamin A each 28-day period by injection (3), 1,400 I.U. vitamin E each 28-day period by injection (6), and both the doses of vitamins A and E by injection (7) when slaughtered had 363, 348, 377, 365, 344, 343, and 369 mg cholesterol per 100 ml serum. The number in paren- theses is the number of steers per treatment. (R. L. Shirley, Jason Outler, J. W. Carpenter and A. Z. Palmer.) Influence of Level and Form of Dietary Fat on Fatty Acid and Choles- terol Composition of the Fetus.-Female rats maintained from weaning on Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations diets containing either 8 or 45 percent fat in the form of butter, lard, or corn oil were bred on reaching maturity. On the 20th day of gestation their fetuses were taken for assay of fatty acid and cholesterol. Assay has been completed on some fetuses and maternal tissues from the animals on the diets containing 8 and 45 percent lard. Preliminary findings indi- cate no appreciable difference in fatty acid or cholesterol makeup of maternal or fetal tissues between animals on 8 and 45 percent lard, al- though in muscle and fat of the maternal rats, the concentration of palmitoleic acid is about three times as high in the animals on 8 percent lard as in those on 45 percent lard, and the concentration of fetal linoleic acid in the 45 percent lard group is about twice as high as in the 8 percent lard group. It will be of considerable interest to learn whether differences occur in fatty acid and cholesterol tissue concentrations between animals fed the highly saturated forms of fat, butter, and lard, and those fed the relatively unsaturated corn oil. (J. P. Feaster) Determination of Cholesterol in Animal Tissues.-A method designed for the determination of cholesterol in blood plasma has been adapted for use in the determination of cholesterol in animal tissues. Consistency of standard curves and reproducibility in tissue sample duplicates indicate that this modification will prove highly satisfactory for the determination of cholesterol in connection with a lipid study in progress. (J. P. Feaster) Destruction of the Thyroid Gland of the Turkey with Iodine-131 for the Study of Blood Vascular Conditions.-Turkeys which have non-functioning thyroid tissue develop aneurysm of the aorta, thus providing subjects for the study of this condition. It is felt that destruction of thyroid tissue can be accomplished by the injection of 6 to 8 millicuries of iodine-131. Per- mission is being requested of the Radiation Safety Committee to carry out this procedure. (J. P. Feaster) Effectiveness of Various Procedures in Reducing the Amount of Radio- nuclides in the Human Dietary Chain.-The inclusion of verxite (feed grade vermiculite) in the diet of sheep was shown to increase the fecal excretion of a-single oral dose of calcium-47. In a second experiment, the fecal ex- cretion of calcium-47 administered to sheep fed a purified diet was similar to that observed in sheep fed the non-verxite control diet in the first experiment. However, replacing one-half of the purified diet with chopped bermudagrass hay decreased calcium-47 excretion slightly. (J. E. Moore and G. K. Davis, cooperating with B. G. Dunavant, College of Medicine) Effect of High Levels of Vitamin A for Swine.-Two experiments were conducted to study the influence of relatively large intakes of vitamin A on growth and tissue composition. The pigs in both experiments were weaned at two weeks of age and fed a nutritionally adequate corn-soybean meal starter ration for 42 days. In experiment 1, this ration was supple- mented with vitamin A in such quantities as to provide the pigs with 2,000 8,000, 32,000, and 128,000 I.U. of vitamin A daily. Experiment 2 utilized supplementary vitamin A levels of 0, 400, 2,000, and 256,000 I.U. daily. The rate and efficiency of gains with all pigs in experiment 1 were statistically similar, and no abnormal effects from the ingestion of large amounts of vitamin A were exhibited. Similar effects with respect to rate and efficiency of gain were obtained in experiment 2. The pigs receiving the highest level of supplementary vitamin A in experiment 2 exhibited Annual Report, 1964 85 characteristic symptoms of weak bones. Bone analyses data did not reveal a statistically significant treatment difference with respect to bone ash and dry matter or fat content of the bone. Additional chemical analyses showed that the vitamin A content of liver and blood serum was highest with the pigs fed 256,000 I.U. of vitamin A. (G. E. Combs and H. D. Wallace) Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations BOTANY The work of this section has involved the active projects reported and the project on orchid ovules (state 1021) which is being terminated by the resignation of Dr. Y. Sagawa. BIOSYNTHESIS OF CARBOHYDRATES IN PLANTS Hatch Project 953 T. E. Humphreys The study of the uptake of sugars by the corn scutellum (cotyledon) was continued. Mannose was found to inhibit glucose uptake. Both free mannose and mannose-6-phosphate (synthesized from mannose by the tissue) were responsible for the inhibition. These compounds inhibited glucose utilization, not glucose penetration into the cells. These results support the suggestion made earlier that the rate of glucose uptake is controlled by the hexokinase reaction. When glucose utilization was inhibited by mannose (or other compounds, such as 2, 4-dinitrophenol), glucose entered the cells until the glucose in- side was in equilibrium with the glucose outside. At equilibrium the amount of glucose in the tissue indicates that only about 25 percent of the cell volume contains glucose. Apparently the vacuole is not accessible to glu- cose although it is accessible to sucrose, a product of glucose metabolism. Studies on glucose penetration into the cells and sucrose synthesis are underway. The enzyme, hexokinase, has been purified to an extent that its properties may be investigated. This work is also underway. METABOLISM OF MOLECULAR OXYGEN BY PLANTS Hatch Project 1042 G. J. Fritz One of the goals of this project has been the demonstration of the incorporation of molecular oxygen into hydroxyproline by etiolated soybean and maize seedlings. The technique involves exposure of the seedlings for several hours to gas mixtures of oxygen and nitrogen (20 percent-80 per- cent); the oxygen gas is labelled with oxygen-18. After digestion of the seedlings, the amino acids are separated from the digest by column chroma- tography and treated with nitrous acid, to deaminate all of the amino acids except proline and hydroxyproline. These two acids are separated by thin- layer chromatography, and pyrolyzed to carbon dioxide, which is examined by mass spectrometry for the presence of oxygen-18. If the hydroxyproline is synthesized in vivo from proline, and if the oxygen atom is derived from molecular oxygen, then the hydroxyproline should be labelled with oxygen- 18. Current work appears to bear out this hypothesis. Another aspect of work in this laboratory is an investigation of the feasibility of determination of oxygen-18 by neutron activation, in col- laboration with the Department of Nuclear Engineering of the University of Florida. The sensitivity of the mass spectrometric analysis of oxygen-18 has been compared to the neutron activation analysis of this isotope, and the two methods appear to be equally sensitive, and therefore, equally useful as analytical tools. Annual Report, 1964 87 A FLORA OF FLORIDA State Project 1118 D. B. Ward Final manuscript has been prepared on the portions of the state's flora contained within the genera Conyza (Compositae), Corydalis and Fumaria (Fumariaceae), and Ipomoea and Jacquemontia (Convolvulaceae). Keys and preliminary manuscript have been assembled for Vicia (Leguminosae) and Hypoxis (Amaryllidaceae). With the expectation of providing a much needed list of the state's vascular plants at an earlier date than that of the completion of the Flora itself, work was initiated on an abbreviated checklist to consist solely of the plant names, both scientific and common. This checklist is to be con- sidered only a preliminary guide, subject to revision as the Flora itself progresses. Approximately 20 percent of it, containing the ferns, the gymnosperms, the grasses and sedges, as well as related smaller groups, was completed during the latter part of the year. Present expectation is to complete this checklist as quickly as possible and make it available as a Station publication. Initial calculations were made and an IBM program was prepared to enable the flora of the state to be divided into areas of maximum biotic diversity. If this program develops as expected, it will be expanded to constitute a separate project. BIOCHEMICAL EFFECTS OF HIGH TEMPERATURE ON PLANTS Hatch Project 1191 D. S. Anthony This project involves an investigation of the biochemical effects of high temperatures in plants. The two species of plants currently under study are the common pea (Pisium sativum) and Arabidopsis thaliana. The free amino acids are the first class of substances to be investigated. The total amount of free amino acids is markedly increased in the pea grown at high temperatures (30C day temperature and 23'C night tem- perature) as compared to those grown at approximately optimum temper- atures (23 day and 17 night). Samples were taken at approximately 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 weeks after germination. The elevation of total free amino acid at the high temperature was observed in all samples. The increase was greatest at 2 weeks and least at 3 weeks. All comparisons were made on plants of the same physiological age (same plastochron index) ; care was taken to eliminate water stress as a variable by careful and heavy watering of the plants growing in sand culture. Assays for the amount of each individual amino acid were made by a modification of the Moore and Stein technique. The free amino acids most markedly elevated in amount in the peas grown at high temperature were aspartic and glutamic acid and their amides, asparagine and glutamine, as well as an amino acid which we believe to be methionine sulfoxide. There was a substantial amount of a soluble peptide fraction in the high tempera- ture series, while there was no soluble peptide fraction in extracts of the cptimum temperature plants. The studies on Arabidopsis are not nearly as far advanced since the small size of the plants requires the development of more sensitive analyti- cal techniques. Further studies on peas will include an examination of the total soluble protein content and perhaps some investigation of Krebs cycle acids. 88 Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations Another area of study only slightly related to the high temperature experiments is an examination of the biochemical effects of Phosfon and related growth-retardant compounds. The uptake, distribution, and me- tabolism of these compounds will be investigated if a promising ultra- sensitive analytical technique proves satisfactory. Currently, the major effort is directed toward development of the analytical technique. Annual Report, 1964 DAIRY SCIENCE The Department of Dairy Science has expanded its facilities for research in dairy manufacturing with the installation of: apparatus to clean and sanitize automatically by circulation all pipe lines, pasteurizing equipment, and milk storage tanks, including a truck mounted tank. Equip- ment for the direct injection of steam into milk and other fluid dairy products, followed by a vacuum treatment, also has ben installed to permit research in flavor improvement in fluid dairy products. Several new projects have been started, including the following: "Early Weaning of Dairy Calves from an Extended Colostrum-High Solids Milk Regimen" and "Feeding Systems, Nutrient Intake and Growth of Dairy Calves". Another new project entitled "Effects of Shade on the Ability of Dairy Cattle to Adapt to Summer Conditions" has been started to attack the problem of summer slump in milk production of dairy cows. Facilities have been provided to study the problem by keeping selected cows in areas where shade is optional and other cows in areas where no shade is available. It is planned to use the same cows throughout several lactations in this experiment, to determine the effects of gradual subjection of the animals to full summer conditions on milk production. Cooperative projects have been conducted in cooperation with other departments including Animal Science, Agricultural Economics, Agricul- tural Engineering, and Agronomy. Dr. H. H. Head has been employed in the capacity of assistant dairy husbandman. His chief interest is in animal physiology. He will be using radioactive isotopes in research to study the metabolism of certain compounds in dairy cattle. Laboratory facilities for the handling of radioactive materials have been added. A STUDY OF THE ENSILABILITY OF FLORIDA FORAGE CROPS State Project 213 J. M. Wing and C. J. Wilcox Digestibility of the dry matter of pearlmillet ensiled without an additive was 61.2 1.7 (standard deviation). Treatment with methyl-p hydroxy benzoate resulted in dry matter digestibility of 63.8 1.3. The plain pearlmillet silage contained an average of 1.55 0.02 percent digestible protein, whereas the treated silage contained 2.07 0.03 percent. Per 1000 pounds of body weight, 93.80 pounds of the control and 91.38 pounds of the treated silage were consumed daily. Efficiency of ensilability could not be determined accurately because of a malfunction of the silo seal. Replica- tion of this treatment and the effects of dried bakery product, propyl para hydroxy benzoate, and orotic acid are in progress. FACTORS AFFECTING BREEDING EFFICIENCY, ITS POSSIBLE INHERITANCE AND DEPRECIATION IN FLORIDA DAIRY HERDS State Project 345 C. J. Wilcox Records of length of productive lifespan and reason of disposal were obtained from five cooperating Florida dairy herds, representing a living population of over 1000 cows. Similar data were collected from 60 artificial insemination studs in the United States and Canada, representing a living population of over 3000 sires. Evaluation of these data is continuing. The genetic aspects of actinomycosis (lumpy jaw) and actinobacillosis (wooden tongue) were evaluated in cooperation with the Ohio Agricultural Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations Experiment Station. These conditions accounted for disposal of 2.1 percent of 16,249 males of the various dairy and beef breeds. In a survey of 29,182 cows, 0.2 percent were reported with the conditions. Differences in fre- quencies among the dairy breeds were large. With males, the frequency was seven times as great among Guernseys as the other breeds. Among females, the frequency of infection was three times higher in Guernseys than in Holsteins. There were many cases of related individuals with the conditions, frequently at different farms or studs, and with a number of years between time of contraction. The evidence of genetic differences in susceptibility seemed convincing, although it was not possible to obtain a specific heritability estimate. (See also State Project 345, Agricultural Economics Department.) STUDY OF PRODUCTION, REPRODUCTION, AND CONFORMATION OF THE FLORIDA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION DAIRY HERD State Project 575 C. J. Wilcox, H. H. Head, S. P. Marshall, J. B. White, and J. M. Wing Records of 409 normal, single births of Jersey, Holstein, and Guernsey calves from 1960-62 were analyzed by multiple covariance techniques. Within-breed-year-season variances and covariances were pooled for two analyses, first-calf heifers and older cows. Average birth weights and gestation lengths compared well with published breed values. As expected, males weighed more and were carried longer than females. Unadjusted standard deviations for first-calf heifers were 7.6 pounds and 4.5 days; for older cows, 8.2 pounds and 4.6 days, respectively. It was not possible to detect significant effects of horn of pregnancy on birth weights or gesta- tion lengths, nor was there evidence that prepartum dry period affected these traits in older cows. Curvilinearity was detected in relationships between gestation length and birth weight. Effects of age, days open, previous dry period, and length of record were evaluated by stepwise multiple regression techniques on 1406 Jersey milk records from 1931-61. These variables accounted for 4.5 percent of the variation in milk and fat yields of first-calf heifers, but had no detect- able effect upon fat percentage. Corresponding values for older cows were 11 percent for yields and 6 percent for fat percentage. Curvilinearity in the effects of age, days open, and previous dry period was detected. INFLUENCE OF COMPOSITION OF NON-FAT DRY MILK (NDM) ON YIELD OF COTTAGE CHEESE Hatch Project 1046 L. E. Mull and W. A. Krienke Manufacturing trials and chemical and bacteriological analyses on 34 commercial samples of NDM have been completed. The primary ob- jectives of this study were (1) to determine cottage cheese curd yield made from nonfat dry milks of different composition, and (2) to apply certain modifications in manufacturing procedure when using nonfat dry milks containing different ratios of casein to total solids. Results show that yield cannot be predicted with as high a degree of accuracy on the basis of total solids as on protein content of the reconstituted milks. Average change in curd yield amounted to approxi- mately 1.67 percent for each 0.1 percent increment of protein content of Annual Report, 1964 the reconstituted product, but there was no close relationship between percent total solids in the reconstituted milk and the yield of curd which resulted. High protein milk is preferred for cottage cheese manufacture because of increased curd yield, firm textured, uniform curd particles with reduced shattering, lower curd loss during manufacture, and a greater yield of curd per unit volume of reconstituted milk. Data are now being subjected to mathematical analyses. This project is closed with this report. GENETIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES UPON COMPOSITION OF MILK Hatch Project 1047 C. J. Wilcox, W. A. Krienke, (Regional S-49) J. M. Wing, L. E. Mull and E. L. Fouts Monthly sampling of the 180-cow station dairy herd continued with data accumulated for local and regional use. Average yields during 1959- 62 of solids-not-fat (SNF), protein, and lactose-minerals (LM) were as follows: Ayrshires (16 records), 825, 291, and 533 pounds, respectively; Brown Swiss (12), 1011, 359, and 651 pounds; Guernseys (78), 763, 273, and 489 pounds; Holsteins (97), 1180, 411, and 769 pounds; Jerseys (196), 748, 280, and 467 pounds. About 150 additional records were completed in 1963, and a similar number are in progress in 1964. These data are combined with data from 17 other experiment stations in order to obtain sensitive estimates of several environmental and genetic factors. In an analysis of 5003 Holstein lactation records, SNF was found to average 8.67 percent with a total yield of 1081 pounds. Noticeable variation in SNF yield due to month of freshening was noted, reflecting seasonal effects upon milk yield and SNF percentage. Cows freshening in December gave 107 pounds more SNF than those freshening in July, the high and low months, respectively. Evaluation of the effects of age of freshening is now under way. STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS TOXOID IN THE CONTROL OF STAPHYLOCOCCAL MASTITIS Hatch Project 1049 K. L. Smith and C. J. Wilcox A study was made of the relationship of coagulase, phosphatase, and hemolysin production in bovine staphylococcal isolates with the leucocyte count of the milk sample from which they were isolated. Approximately 94 percent of the 403 isolates tested either produced both coagulase and phosphatase or produced neither of the enzymes. The remaining 6 percent were capable of producing only one of the enzymes. Over 98 percent of phosphatase positive, coagulase positive isolates produced hemolysins, but only 75 percent of the coagulase negative, phosphatase negative isolates produced hemolysins. Higher leucocyte counts were found in those milk samples which contained organisms capable of producing hemolysins plus both coagulase and phosphatase. The data collected to determine the effect of the toxoid are being placed on IBM cards for subsequent statistical analysis. This project will be terminated with the completion of the statis- tical analysis. Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF AN INTEGRATED SILAGE AND GRAZING SYSTEM FOR DAIRY CATTLE State Project 1053 S. P. Marshall, E. L. Fouts and J. B. White NK310 sorghum planted July 10, 1963, was harvested October 14 and yielded 6.2 tons of ensilage per acre with 23.2 percent of the dry matter as grain. Florad oats planted on the same plot were grazed with heifers from December 4, 1963, through February 28, 1964. Body weight gains averaged 182 pounds per acre, and the animals obtained an average of 1540 pounds of total digestible nutrients per acre from the pasture. A subsequent planting of northern hybrid corn made March 6, 1964, was harvested June 29 and produced an average of 10.5 tons of ensilage per acre containing about 37 percent dry matter. A portion of a spring planting of NK310 sorghum was ensiled when the grain was in the milk to dough stage, and the remainder was allowed to stand until the seed was hard. The grain then was combined, cracked, and recombined with the forage as it was ensiled. The feeding value of these silages and that made from DeKalb 805 corn were compared as sole roughages of lactating cows in a changeover type feeding experiment. Daily milk production per cow averaged 43.1 pounds on corn silage, 42.7 pounds on the crushed grain sorghum silage, and 40.9 pounds on the sorghum ensiled in the milk to dough stage. Daily silage dry matter intake per cow averaged 23.4, 28.3, and 17.9 pounds for the respective silages. Concentrate intake averaged 15.6 pounds daily per cow on all silages. (See Project 1053, Agronomy and Agricultural Engineering depart- ments.) DIGESTIBILITY OF CAROTENE IN CATTLE Hatch Project 1062 J. M. Wing The vitamin A requirement of cattle is not known. Since normal feed- stuffs contain no vitamin A per se, the extent to which carotene is ab- sorbed must be determined first. Average digestibility determined under conditions of this experiment was 59.1 6.86 percent (standard deviation). Blood plasma content of vitamin A per ml averaged 229.4 73.2 I.U. Liver vitamin A averaged 1813.3 I.U. 448.3 per gram. No significant effects of season or source of carotene were discernible. Yet the possibility that such effects exist still remains, and further research into this aspect of the problem is in progress. MINERAL REQUIREMENTS OF CATTLE Hatch Project 1079 J. M. Wing Dietary supplementation with iron oxide has been recommended for Florida dairy cattle. Yet, it was not possible to produce anemia by with- holding supplementary iron from steers on old land. Since the supplement is only slightly soluble, much of it passes through the digestive tract and thus may build up mineral reserves in the land. Three comparable groups of seven cows each were assigned as follows: Group 1, new ground with no mineral supplements; Group 2, new ground and supplementary iron; Group 3, old ground with no supplementary iron. Mean values of hematocrit (percent of packed red blood cells) and of Annual Report, 1964 hemoglobin (grams per 100 ml), respectively, were as follows: Group 1, 41.47 and 9.54; Group 2, 42.18 and 10.27; Group 3, 41.27 and 10.31. All blood constituents measured remained normal, and no differences in general health or productive functions have been apparent during two lactations. (See also Project 1079, Department of Animal Science.) THE BACTERIAL FLORA OF INSTANT NON-FAT DRY MILK (NDM) State Project 1114 L. E. Mull and K. L. Smith A study of the sources of variation in counting bacteria in NDM re- vealed that one of the largest sources of error is in weighing and diluting the sample. Significantly higher counts were obtained when dilution bottles tempered at 45C were used. The use of standard methods agar as com- pared to milk protein hydrolysate agar also yielded higher results. It was determined that the addition of each gram of powder to a dilution bottle increases the volume approximately 0.6 ml. Although the highest average (arithmetic average) count was obtained on samples incubated at 32C as compared to those incubated at 30, 37, or 55oC, calculation of the loga- rithmic average of the counts showed that the highest average counts were obtained by incubating the plates at 30C. Analysis of the relationship of the logarithm of the bacterial count versus incubation temperature showed that the relationship was essentially linear with negative slope for the incubation temperatures studied, which were 30, 32, 37, and 55oC. Tentative identification of the cocci isolated from the powder showed 7.6 percent staphylococci and the remaining 92.4 percent streptococci. Of the streptococci 32.8 percent were placed in the viridans group, 38.1 percent were enterococci, 16.4 percent were of the lactic group, and 12.7 percent were unclassified. VARIATIONS OF MILK AND FAT YIELDS OF FLORIDA DAIRY CATTLE State Project 1137 C. J. Wilcox This project is designed to isolate and evaluate variability in milk and fat production associated with breed, herd, year, season of freshening, and their various interactions. Production records from Florida dairy herds, collected through the Dairy Herd Improvement Association testing programs, are being utilized. No analyses have been completed as yet. A large volume of data was added during the year, with the total number of lactation records now in excess of 50,000. FEEDING SYSTEMS, NUTRIENT INTAKE, AND GROWTH OF DAIRY CALVES State Project 1185 S. P. Marshall and K. L. Smith Twelve male Jersey calves were removed from their dams at one day of age. Three in the control group were fed from one to 22 days of age on whole milk twice daily at the rate of 4.5 percent of body weight at each feeding. Three calves in each of three experimental groups were fed whole milk, skimmilk, or colostrum, respectively, ad libitum for the same interval. Body weight gains per animal for the 21-day period averaged Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations 9.0 pounds for those in the control group, and for the groups fed ad libitum, averages were 45.7, 34.3, and 22.7 for those fed whole milk, skimmilk, and colostrum, respectively. Differences in average rates of gains were signi- ficant. Average pounds of milk consumed per pound of body weight gain were 12.9 for the control group on whole milk, and for the groups fed ad libitum were 8.5 for those receiving whole milk, 13.1 for those on skim- milk, and 10.7 for those fed colostrum. MINIMUM WEANING AGE OF DAIRY CALVES FROM HIGH SOLIDS RECONSTITUTED SKIM MILK AND COLOSTRUM State Project 1206 J. M. Wing Early weaning of dairy calves saves market milk and allows oppor- tunity for use of automated systems. Especially good nutrition during the milk feeding period may be provided by high solids milk if some colostrum is included also. The purpose of this experiment is to determine the mini- mum practical age for weaning to simple feeds without complicated formulas and procedures. Of seven calves weaned at three weeks of age to concentrates without minerals, only one survived. With supplemental iron, copper, and cobalt, four of five lived. At 28 days of age, weaning offered no problems, but further research into the effects of mineral sup- plementation and subsequent development of early weaned calves seems necessary. EFFECTS OF SHADE ON THE ABILITY OF DAIRY CATTLE TO ADAPT TO SUMMER CONDITIONS State Project 1207 J. M. Wing, H. H. Head, and C. J. Wilcox This project is designed to determine whether gradual conditioning can help dairy cattle to change from cold weather to summer.physiological status, thus alleviating losses in milk production due to hot weather. Twenty-four lots have been constructed with facilities for determining feed consumption. Twelve have been equipped with shade shelters. Two comparable groups of 12 cows have been assigned to the experiment and will remain in the lots continuously except when being milked. Data include determination of the reduction in sky and ground radiation effected by the shade, production and composition of milk, two-day average body weights at monthly intervals, consumption of feed, and periodic determina- tions of other physiological functions which appear to warrant investigation following initial tests. PRELIMINARY NON-PROJECTED STUDIES Dried Bakery Product in Dairy Cattle Rations. On the basis of chemical composition, dried bakery product appears to be an excellent feedstuff, but animal performance data are lacking. This product contains cooked ingredients and thus could afford special benefits through its effect on rumen organisms. The present experiment was accomplished by means of a double reversal trial balanced for carryover effects. There were four squares, each of which contained three cows of the same breed; six Jerseys and six Holsteins were used. Average daily production in pounds Annual Report, 1964 of 4 percent fat corrected milk by the control group was 29.9 compared with 31.3 and 29.9, respectively, for low and high levels of dried bakery product as a substitute for corn and citrus pulp. The results indicated that the dried bakery product is a very satisfactory feed. Its main value appeared to be as a source of energy. Further research into the funda- mental effects of such products with both cows and calves is planned. (J. M. Wing) Growth and Development of the Bovine Fetus.-During the past year, 13 fetuses (7 male and 6 female) and 19 nongravid uteri were obtained upon disposal of dairy cattle from the station herd. Ages of the fetuses at slaughter were within the range 58 to 207 days. Both the gravid and nongravid reproductive organs obtained were dissected, and observations were recorded on size, weight, and ovarian status. Fetuses were visually observed, weighed, and dissected according to previously followed proce- dures which gave individual fetal organ weights. With the addition of these specimens there have now accumulated 140 fetal dissections from which to construct the growth pattern of fetal organs and 355 nongravid uteri from which base observations may be obtained. It may further be possible to evaluate critically recent repro- ductive performance of the nongravid females with their known repro- ductive organ status. The collection of such specimens will be continued and will include compositional analyses of several fetal organs. (H. H. Head, C. J. Wilcox, with R. B. Becker cooperating) Some Observations on Plasma Free Fatty Acid Levels in Dairy Cattle.- Blood plasma free fatty acid (FFA) levels have been estimated in open and pregnant nonlactating dairy cattle and in nonruminating and rumi- nating calves. In all cases the plasma levels fell within the range observed in nonruminants, namely 0.2 to 2.0 micro equivalents per liter. No con- sistent differences in plasma levels were attributable to the different physiological states represented by the animals studied. In fasted cows (16-18 hours) plasma FFA levels were higher than in fed animals. Intravenous infusions of volatile fatty acids in these fasted animals gave rise to increased blood plasma glucose levels; however, there were only minimal concurrent decreases in the FFA levels. Factors con- tributing to spontaneous variations in plasma FFA concentration have been investigated prior to undertaking quantitative studies of FFA metabolism in dairy cattle. (H. H. Head) Freezing Point of Milk.-A total of 612 cryoscopic examinations were made on individual cow samples of raw milk from February through July. Of these 150 were in February, 116 in July, and the remainder in March, April, and May. The data represent Holstein, Jersey, Guernsey, Ayrshire, and Brown Swiss milks. For February the average freezing point of milk for the 150 individual cows was -0.546C and for the 116 cows in July it was -0.5400C. Of the 150 cows being milked in February 85 were still being milked in July, the average freezing points for milks of the same 85 cows were -0.547C for February and -0.541oC for July. The breakdown by breeds was as follows for all cows being milked both in February and in July: Holsteins, February, 44 cows, -0.545oC; and July, 38 cows, -0.537oC; Jerseys, February, 69 cows, -0.547C; and July, 54 cows, -0.542C; Guernseys, February, 25 cows, -0.547C; and July, 16 cows, -0.538C; combined Ayrshire and Brown Swiss, February, 12 cows, -0.546C; July, 8 cows, -0.541oC. For the same 29 Holsteins being milked Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations in February and July the respective values were -0.545C and -0.538C; for the same 38 Jerseys, -0.547C and -0.543C; for the same 11 Guernseys, -0.547C and -0.538C. Only a few Ayrshire and Brown Swiss were milked in both February and July, and no averages are being reported because of the small number of samples. For all practical purposes to the commercial milk producers and milk processors, the data show no difference in freezing point values of milk among the five major dairy breeds and no differences during climatic and/or stage of lactation changes (6-month period, February through July 1964). (W. A. Krienke) Rate of Acid Production in Lactic Cultures.-A formula is available for determining the metabolic rate per bacterial cell. The only variables in the formula are metabolic product, number of bacterial cells, and time. This formula was used to determine the rate of lactic acid production per cell in milk, using a commercial starter. The number of cells was determined by multiplying the plate count by the average number of cells per chain as observed under the microscope. The lactic acid present was determined by titrating a 50 ml sample to the phenolphthalein endpoint using 1/10 N sodium hydroxide. At 32C incubation temperature, the acid production was 6.6 x 10l10 mg per cell per hour, and the generation time was 1.3 hours. This method will be used to study the effect of incubation tempera- ture and milk composition on the rate of lactic acid production. (K. L. Smith) Annual Report, 1964 EDITORIAL A major special project of the year was assisting the Provost for Agriculture in the mass media phase of Operation DARE, which has as its objective to Develop Agricultural Resources Effectively between now. and 1975. Other activities included a preliminary research study to dis- cover the effectiveness of the department's news program and developing final plans for a 3-year research project delving into several phases of mass media. In July a staff member transferred to the President's office to become the assistant to the president of the University of Florida. PUBLICATIONS The Station printed 150,000 copies of 19 new bulletins totaling 604 pages, and 57,000 copies of seven new circulars totaling 88 pages. Two bulletins and one circular were reprinted. These totaled 136 pages and 30,000 copies. Also during the year four 20-page Sunshine State Agricul- tural Research Reports were printed and distributed to 6,850 subscribers per issue. Publications printed were: Bul. 661 Raising Domestic Rabbits in Florida. L. R. Arrington ... ----- - Bul. 662 Beef Cattle Production on Organic Soils of South Florida. H. L. Chapman, Jr., R. W. Kidder, C. E. Haines, R. J. Allen, Jr., V E. Green, Jr., W. T. Forsee, Jr. .--------- Bul. 663 Environmental Factors Affecting Weaning Weights of Beef Cattle in the Everglades. J. H. Meade, Jr., R. W. Kidder, M. Koger, J. R. Crockett ---- Bul. 664 Gladiolus Corm Production in Florida. R. O. Magie, A. J. Overman, W. E. Waters .--- Bul. 665 Supplemental Feeding of Beef Cattle on Pas- ture in South Florida. H. L. Chapman, Jr., F. M. Peacock, W. G. Kirk, R. L. Shirley, T. J. Cunha --. -- ------ Bul. 666 Oral and Implanted Stilbestrol for Beef Cattle Fattened on Pasture and in Drylot. H. L. Chapman, Jr., A. Z. Palmer, R. W. Kid- der, J. W. Carpenter, C. E. Haines ----- Bul. 667 Effect of Winter Gains of Beef Calves on Subsequent Feedlot Performance. F. M. Pea- cock, W. G. Kirk, E. M. Hodges, A. Z. Palmer, J. W. Carpenter -------- ----------- ---- Bul. 668 Market Organization and Practices for Pota- toes in the Hastings Area of Florida. R. E. L. Greene, Paul T. Blair _------------ Number Pages Printed 28 10,000 56 10,000 12 5,000 48 5,000 28 10,000 16 7,500 12 10,000 100 5,000 Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations Bul. 669 Spring Lamb Production in Florida. P. E. Loggins ------------- Bul. 670 Genetic Aspects of Actinomycosis and Actino- bacillosis in Cattle. R. B. Becker, C. J. Wilcox, C. F. Simpson, L. O. Gilmore, N. S. Fechheimer -------------- Bul. 671 Rural Areas in Transition A Study of the Impact of Off-Farm Employment in a Low- Income Farm Area of Florida. Daniel E. Alleger ....--- -------- Bul. 672 Florida Cooperatives. H. G. Hamilton, Maxey Love, A. H. Spurlock --------- Bul. 673 Systems of Crossbreeding for Beef Pro- duction in Florida. R. W. Kidder, M. Koger, J. W. Meade, J. R. Crockett ------ Bul. 674 Copper and Cobalt for Beef Cattle. H. L. Chapman, Jr., R. W. Kidder - Bul. 675 Finishing Cattle in North Florida, F. S. Baker, Jr. ------------------- Bul. 676 Evaluation of Several Combinations of Grass- es and White Clover on Immokalee Fine Sand in South Florida. Albert E. Krestchmer, Jr., Norman C. Hayslip -------- Bul. 677 Citrus Molasses. R. Hendrickson, J. W. Kesterson -------------------- Bul. 678 Effect of Protein Intake on Gains, Repro- duction, and Blood Constituents of Beef Cattle. E. Bedrak, A. C. Warnick, J. F. Hentges, Jr., T. J. Cunha ----- Bul. 679 Production and Utilization of Corn Silage on Organic Soil. H. L. Chapman, Jr., C. E. Haines, V. E. Green, Jr., R. W. Kidder - Cir. S-146 Blue Lupines for Grazing and for Soil Im- provement in Florida. J. R. Edwardson, H. D. Wells, I. Forbes, Jr. ....---- Cir. S-147 Marketing Florida Vine-Ripened Tomatoes. W. T. Manley, M. R. Godwin --- Cir. S-148 Jubilee A Black-Seeded Garrison-Type Watermelon. J. M. Crall ---- Cir. S-149 Smutgrass Control. J. E. McCaleb, E. M. Hodges, W. G. Kirk .---------- Cir. S-150 Specific Gravity as a Means of Estimating Juice Yield of Freeze Damaged Valencia Oranges. Roy G. Stout _--------------- 20 5,000 24 7,500 36 5,000 56 7,500 20 15,000 16 7,500 36 15,000 16 5,000 28 5,000 32 5,000 20 10,000 8 10,000 24 5,000 8 10,000 12 5,000 12 10,000 Annual Report, 1964 99 Cir. S-151 Three Citrus Rootstocks Recommended for Trial in Spreading Decline Areas. H. W. Ford, W. A. Feder ..---------------- 8 12,000 Cir. S-152 Oats and Rye for Grazing on Florida Flat- woods. J. E. McCaleb, F. M. Peacock, E. M. Hodges ---------- 16 5,000 Publications revised and/or reprinted were: Bul. 635 Factors Influencing Winter Gains of Beef Calves. F. M. Peacock, J. E. McCaleb, E. M. Hodges, W. G. Kirk .-.------------ 12 5,000 Bul. 619A Insects and Diseases of the Pecan in Florida. Arthur M. Phillips, John R. Large, John R. Cole -------------- 88 15,000 Cir. S-135A Information to Consider in the Use of Flat- woods and Marshes for Citrus. J. W. Sites, L. C. Hammond, R. G. Leighty, W. O. Johnson, K. D. Butson 36 10,000 MASS MEDIA To keep pace with rapidly changing trends in population and radio listening habits, radio releases were redesigned to appeal to the vast general audience of consumers rural and urban alike. The releases were designed: (1) to tell all Floridians how efficient agriculture benefits our state's total economy and amazingly high standard of living; (2) to explain the vital importance of agricultural research and education; and (3) to provide educational information on nearly every phase of Florida life. During the period new facilities have allowed the radio program to expand greatly. Current production and distribution includes 11,856 pro- grams and 16,380 spot exposures per year. This is a composite annual total of 28,236. If there were only 500 listeners per exposure, the radio mass media programs had 14,118,000 exposures to Florida residents with Experi- ment Station information. To purchase comparable commercial time on radio stations now served would cost an estimated $179,000. Television programming was expanded. The transition from 15-minute filmed shows to 5-minute video taped shows provided a greater demand for the tapes by commercial and educational channels. The goals of the tele- vision shows were the same as for radio. A conservative estimate indicates that at least 10,000,000 exposures were made annually, which was valued at well over $100,000 worth of free television time. Newspapers continued to be the standard mass media approach to reaching the entire state with educational information. All newspapers, magazines, and wire services were furnished with information. TECHNICAL JOURNAL ARTICLES Papers by research staff members continued to be printed in large numbers. The series now contains more than 1,890 listings. Following is a list of Journal Series articles printed during the year and those not previously listed: 1067. Some Effect of Day Length and Temperature on Cold Hardiness of Citrus. G. S. Nijjar, John W. Sites. Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 72:106-109. 1959. |