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The State pays the actual travelling expenses of the Board
of Directors in attending quarterly meetings but gives them
no compensation. This is the only regular charge upon the
State made by the Station. A quarterly report is made to
the Governor of the expenditures at the Station and an an
nual report is published and distributed*generally.
RESULTS OF WORK OF THE STATION.
The Station at Athens was in operation but one year. A
good portion of this time was devoted to preliminary prepa
ration. Nevertheless, as the results of experiments at
Athens, bulletins were published on the following sub
jects: °
The Ash Analyses of Native Woods (two papers).
The Origin of Soils Geologically Considered.
The Imported Cabbage Butterfly.
Experiments with Phosphates and Kainit Applied to
Cotton.
Preservation of the Sweet Potato in Winter (two papers).
The Melon-Worm.
The Pickle-Worm.
The Cabbage Bug.
The Cow-Pea as a Fertilizing Crop.
Manure for the Cow-Pea.
Analyses of Cattle Foods.
The present Station was established July 1st, 18S9 A
great deal of preliminary and preparatory work was neces
sary before any experiments whatever could be undertaken.
Since its establishment, however, bulletins have been issued
upon the following subjects:
The Cotton Caterpillar.
The Potato Sphinx.,
The Twig Girdler.
“ Southern Driftand its Agricultural Relations.
Analyses of Feeding Stuffs.
Meteorological Observations for Five Years.
Notes on a Destructive Insect.
Irish Potato Culture.
Potash and Paying Crops (special).
Fertilizer Experiments on Corn.
Culture Experiments on Corn.
Variety Tests of Corn.
Fertilizer Experiments, Culture Experiments and Variety
Tests in Cotton, Sweet Potatoes, Field Peas, Garden Vegeta
bles, etc.
Field Experiments in Forage Plants, with Analyses of the
Products.
Analyses and Observations on the Culture of Forage
Plants. ' °
OBJECTS OF THE 8TATI0N.
BUREAU OF INFORMATION.
In additi6n to its chief function as an establishment tor
investigation, the Station wishes to be also a bureau of in
formation for the farmers of the State. It expects in its
bulletins, from time to time, to publish results of experi
ments and work which have been obtained at other Experi
ment Stations and in the laboratories of * scientific workers
throughout the world, whenever these results shall be con
sidered to be of interest to the people of Georgia. The Sta
tion will be glad, moreover, to render every assistance in its
power, in any matter connected with agriculture, by infor
mation or advice to any farmer of Georgia who may apply
to it in person or by letter. Although a creature of the
national government and dependent upon its bounty, it is
the special servant of the farmers of Georgia, and to serve
them acceptably and usefully shall be its constant aim.
That the service may be useful, the Board of Directors will
endeavor to guarantee by selecting qualified oncers for the
work of the Station and holding them strictly to competent
and enthusiastic work. That it may be acceptable requires
the co-operation of the farmers themselves who are cordially
and earnestly urged to feel and manifest a genuine interest
in the work of the Station, to suggest to the Director any
special lines of investigation in which they may be interested
and to apply to the Station at any and all times for such in
formation and advice as it may be able to give.
To develop this co-operative interest is the object of the
present Bulletin.
By order of the Board of Directors, R. J. Redding,
Director.
All communications, requests for Bulletins, etc., should be
addressed to Georgia Experiment Station,
Experiment P. 0.,
Spalding Co., Ga.
FORAGE PLANTS.
/ X
l with aal
• deep.
The object of Congress in establishing Agricultural Exper
iment Stations was to provide in each State and Territory an
organization and an establishment whose duty it should be
to investigate in a thoroughly scientific and accurate manner
questions and problems connected with agriculture in all of
its manifold branches and to distribute free among the
people the results of the investigations, together with such
other kindred information as might be proper and practica
ble. The value and utility of such stations has been indis-
j. atably established by experience in foreign countries and
in some of the States of the Union. Although the law is si
lent on the subject, it was not expected that each station
could or would undertake investigations in all the numerous
subjects connected with agriculture (the appropriation to
each is entirely insufficient for this purpose), but that each
would give its chief attention to the matters which were most
important in its particular locality, or for which its special
qualifications best fitted it. A Central Station and Bureau
at the National Capital, Washington, District of Columbia,
which is, in a sense, the head of the experiment stations iu
the United States, regularly collates the results of work at
all the stations and distributes them throughout the country.
The experiment stations in the United States are, as yet, in
their infancy, and have scarcely had the time or experience
necessary to enable them to settle down to the systematic
and acceptable work which may be expected of them here
after. It is reasonable to anticipate, however, that, in time,
by interchange of the wisdom that comes with experience,
and by judicious division of labor in investigations, they
may be ultimately brought to the high standard which com
monly marks American achievements in any undertaking.
The Georgia Experiment Station, in common with the others,
is at this disadvantage of the general inexperience, but
it hopes to be no laggard in its efforts to attain and main
tain a respectable place in the community of stations.
For the present the Georgia Station has determined to
give its chief attention to the following lines of investigation:
1. Culture and fertilizer experiments and variety tests of
Cotton.
2. Culture and fertilizer experiments and variety tests of
Corn. . . _
3. Culture and fertilizer experiments upon the Sweet
Potato.
4. Methods of preservation of the Sweet Potato.
5. Culture experiments on Grasses and Forage crops.
6. Feeding experiments with stock and cattle.
7. Culture and fertilizer experiments upon the Cow-Pea,
especially in relation to its use as a manorial crop.
8. Investigation^ and experiments in Dairying.
Minor investigations will also be conducted in other
branches of agriculture and in the various branches of
horticulture. A portion of the farm has been specially set
apart and arranged for the experimental culture of standard
and small fruits. Purely scientific researches will also be
conducted in thie chemical laboratory, in hybridizing, etc.,
as time and opportunity permit.
Recognizing the great diversity in soil and climate in the
State arrangements will be made from time to time to repeat
in different part of the State experiments made at the Sta-
tion, the results of which would probably be modified by
such differences in conditions.
Every farmer must appreciate the fact that many difficul
ties attend an experiment in agriculture, and that acetate
results can be obtained only by carefully conducted and re
lated trials. The variations and the uncertainty of seasons
Sake it necessary to extend the same toenmente in many
mses through a long series of years before reliable results
cases in j o ml »_ it. fiio station and those
Some of the legumes produce large quantities of forage of a ]
character, their dense foliage protecting the soil from baking
parching to which it is exposed by the clean culture of our i
cottou and corn. If turned under green they furnish the soil
ance of plant food drawn from that immense storehouse—the
and acquired from that inexhaustible supply—the atmosphere ah
But in the system of rotation the legumes are especially valuable,
stubble and roots left in the soil after gathering the crops furnish t
ant supply of vegetable matter, so important, in our hot climate, to keep
moist, loose and friable.
The roots and stubble of an acre of average cow-peas contains abc
pounds nitrogen; 5.9 pounds phosphoric acid, and 14.5 pounds of potasi
will represent about 280 pounds of cottou seed meal; 50 pounds of ad
phate,and 115 pounds kainit.
The harvested crop of peavines from the same area contains
pounds of nitrogen; 20 pounds of phosphoric acid, and 68 pounds of
which would represent an application of about 1,200 pounds of cottoa
meal, 200 pounds of acid phosphate (at 10 %), and 550 pounds of kainit. |
Naturally the yield of the crop and the amount of roots and stubbl;
with the condition of the soil. The larger the yield of vines, the lar
amount of roots and stubble. The larger the amount of these materia
and upon the soil the larger the share of plant food for the benefit of fa
crops.
To illustrate the beneficent effect of cow-peas turned under for the p?
tion of wheat, we copy the results of experiments performed at the No
Carolina Experiment Station, by J?rof. J. R. Chamberlain. The peas were so
in June, at the rate of 2 bushels per acre, turned under in October, and
land sown to wheat November 12, together with the different fertilizers.
[GUSTAVE SPETH, Horticulturist.]
COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS
GREEN MANURING.
If we inquire into the causes of the decline of the fertility of our soil, and
into the causes of the exhausted condition of some farm land as demonstrated
by the great area of abandoned iarms in our Southern as well as in some of
the New England States; if we go one step further and analyze the different
methods and systems, or we might go still further and say, if we look at tho
careless modes of farming, without system or method, we cannot fail to at
tribute it greatly to the sinful neglect of the cultivation of forage crops, and
consequently to the serious falling off of farm live stock.
It is recognized by the whole farming world that live stock and the careful
attention to all their wants and sustenance are the most prominent factors.in the
economy of successful farming.
The experience of the old world has long established the fact that the pros
perity of the farmer, that the productiveness of the soil, is in proportion to the
amount of live stock maintained and the extent to which the cultivation of nu
tritious forage plants is carried.
The productiveness of the soil depends upon the amount of plant food it
contains and upon the supply of manurial matter to replace the elements
assimilated by the growing plants and removed with the crop. This is recog
nized as the basis of successful farming. It must therefore be a matter of first
consideration to supply the land in the most economical manner with all tho
necessary plant food for the most successful production of crops.
It is not our object to detail the different ways in which the desired result
can be obtained, or to more than briefly attend to the different sources within
the reach of every farmer, so far as it is closely connected with the object of
this bulletin—the cultivation of forage plants.
The sources which we have to consider in this connection are, 1st, com
mercial fertilizers; 2d, green manuring; 3d, barnyard manure.
The value of commercial fertilizers is too well known to require more than a
passing notice; but while we advocate its use only as a supplement and addi
tion to our home-made manures, we cannot strongly enougli protest against its
injudicious use, carelessly and sometimes purposely neglecting the means o£
developing the manurial resources of the farm.
If we consult the statistics in regard to the use of cemmercial fertilizers we
find that the Southern States are the largest consumers; we will also find that
our Southern States are the largest consumers of forage crops raised outside our
States.
If we did not daily see train loads of western hay and corn pass before our
eyes we were loth to believe it, and this in a country and climate where stock
can be pastured the larger part of the year, where green food can be obtained
for the same period, and where some of the most nutritious forage plants grow
in luxury and perfection.
The cause of this abnormal condition therefore cannot be attributed to tho
soil or climate. It is to be charged to the present methods of farming, the
criminal neglect of fodder and food products, the waste of the manurial re
sources of the farm, the injudicious use of commercial fertilizers, and the one
crop system—the cultivation of cotton year after year on the same land.
o
E
6
y A
Application of Fertilizer
per Acre.
Cost
.Yield without
Peavines.
Yield with!
Peavines. I
1
None
¥
20 bush. 50 ill
21 bush. 40 IB
25 bush. 50 1
9
300 lb. Kainit
2 55
3
300 lb. Acid Phosphate
(175 lb. Acid Phosphate..
2 70
4 bush. 10 lb
4
•j 87} lb. Cotton Seed Meal
(.371 lb. Kainit
2 94
3 bush. 32} lb
24 bush. 10 »
5
None
1 hush. -10 lb
15 bush. 50 Ibl
6
300 lbs. Cottou Seed Meal
( 350 lb. Acid Phosphate
3 60
5 bush. — lb
12 bush. 42} j]
7
•1.175 lb. Cotton Seed Meal
( 75 lbs. Kaiuit
5 SS
11 bush. 52} lb
25 bush. 25 lb.
The following remarks we find important to copy:
“The winter of ltb9-90, in this locality, was severe on all winter grain.,
many instances whole fields, on very good land, were injured. AU of the
in this experiment have the same exposure; all are well drained and subj<
to the same external conditions. On some of the plots the stand was injured^
on others not< The plots injured were those where no peavines had beexl
plowed under. On these plots the plants lacked in development, both on topr
and root, probably from want of food ; the strong plants growing where pea- '
vines were plowed under could withstand the bad weather, and ultimately
produced good growth and crops.”
The above results correspond with those of the writer obtained in former
years in the cultivation of cotton and oats and detailed in a report to the R. Co.
Agricultural Society. As in the above experiment, the application of mixed
minerals (acid phosphate and potash) proved to be the cheapest fertilizer in |
the cultivation of those staple crops planted on land on which a crop of cow
peas has been turned under or a heavy growth of peavines been removed..
The manurial value of the cow-peas depends upon the large amount of plant
food they contain, upon their power of assimilating large amounts of nitrogen
from the atmosphere as well as from the soil, their ability, on account of their
large root development, to penetrate deep into the subsoil to obtain their
nourishment.
If the vines, or only the stubble, be tamed under, these, with the roots in
the soil, decompose and furnish available plant food for future crops.
In the economy of farming the cow-pea is therefore the most important plank
as a renovator and improver of our soils, either in reclaiming our worn out lands
by a judicious system of green manuring, or in maintaining its fertility by a
rational method of rotation.
BARNYARD MANURES.
cise great patience _
in the problems of agriculture.
exer-
involved
The results obtained from green manuring confirm its importance in eco
nomic farm operations. In former years it was thought necessary that laud,
after a number of years of cultivation, should rest a season for recuperation.
It was consigned to a rest from the plow and to the enjoyment of a growth of
weeds (which by dropping their seeds infested the land); the volunteer
vegetation was turned under for the benefit of the soil.
This method is now almost universally abandoned, and a system of rotation
involving the cultivation of such crops aa recuperate the soil, and the planting
of special plants to be turned under as a mechanical and chemical factor—the
improvement of the soil—has replaced the old system.
The great family of leguminous plants offers a huge number of species from
which to select for almost any soil and climate for the purpose. While clover
enjoys a luxuriant growth in the colder zones, oar Southern States is the home
of the cow-pea, the most important plant in the economic system of rotation,
while the value of other leguminous plants, such as vetch and lucerne, is
already well established.
The roots of these plants penetrate deep into the soil, drawing their food sup
ply from strata out of reach of most of our cultivated plants. It is claimed
that they have the power of assimilating nitrogen, the most costly fertilizing
element, from the atmosphere.
Four-fifths of the weight of the air is nitrogen. Every Bquare inch of the
surface of oar globe is exposed to the influence of nearly twelve pounds of
nitrogen, which, if available for the production of our food supply, would prove
an exhaostless store of the most costly fertilizing element.
This question of the ability of the leguminous plants has attracted the atten
tion of scientists.
While the researches of Atwater, Hellriegel and others imply that legu
minous plants acquire large quantities of nitrogen from the air daring their
period of growth, and that the ability to assimilate free nitrogen depends
largely on the presence of the so-called root-tubercles, or bulb-like enlarge
ments, sometimes called “ warts,” which have their source in the action of
certain microbes in the soil, yet many physiologists still adhere to the teach
ings of Boussingault, that plants cannot use the free nitrogen of the air, and
that they are dependent upon that stored in the soil or supplied in manures.
The highly interesting results of Prazmowski’s experiments coincide with
those obtained by Atwater and others, so that it cannot be doubted that the
bacteria are the only cause of the power of leguminous plants to acquire tht
free nitrogen of the air, and as the bacteria have their seat in the root tuber
cles, *.in those organs which, by the action of these bacteria, are created by
the plant, it is conclusive that the root-tubercles are the organs through which
the free atmospheric nitrogen is assimilated.
Systematic rotation necessitates the cultivation of forage plants, while -it^j
includes the careful feeding and management of farm stock as the first step to
wards an intensive system of farming, in opposition to the extensive one
so much practiced in the South. A German scientist, who has devoted
much of his time to experiments in stock feeding, expresses his conclusions in
these words: “The more forage the more manure; the larger the crops the
more money in the end.”
These words are eminently true. In the economical system of farm manage-
ment and feeding of live stock, the developing of the manurial resources of
the farm, on which the remunerative production of our crops pivots, depends
on the amount of forage produced and consumed on the farm.
The manurial value of the animal excretions depends on the composition of
the various articles used iu feeding. Most of the elements removed from tha
soil in the different forage crops are returned to the soil, to add v with the aid
of nature’s silent forces, new plant food for future plants, after having served
its purpose as food for our farm stock.
The constituents of the different foods in relation to the support of animal
life are divided into three groups, nitmgeneoue, non-nitrogeneoue and mineral con
stituents. Each has its special office to perform in building up the system and
sustaining animal life.
The nitrogeneous compounds, or albuminoids, are especially necessary for tha
formation of muscle, sinew and milk; the non-nitrogeneous, or carbohydrates,
supply fuel to maintain the natural heat and energy of the body, and they ara
also stored up in the fatty tissues of its various parts; while the mineral com
pounds, although found in every part of the body, are chiefly devoted to tha
formation of the bones.
These non-nitrogeneous compounds in tho different foods are comp
of hydrogen, oxygen and carbon—the elements which the plants assi; J
from the soil and atmosphere without affecting the fertility of our land..
The minerals furnish the material from which the bones are largely bu:
they form the essential constituents of the blood and various other jui
the animal body. 5
The most valuable elements which we remove from the soil iu remo
crop are the nitrogenous and mineral compounds.
If we compare the different food constituents with their use in the
mechanism, we cannot butadmire the wonderful work of nature’s jkboi
The non-nitrogeneous compounds, or carbohydrates of the food, have
source in the air of the soil and the atmosphere that surrounds us. They
therefore without inffuenoe upon the fertility of our soils; they are ait.W
Burned in the animal body, or stored as fatty secretions.
The mineral and nitrogeneous compounds of some plants (while others
assimilate the nitrogen from the air) come from the soil, which is thi
made so much the poorer by this loss of plant-food.
But as nearly all those elements are again found in the liquid and solid
cretions, after having served their purpose in the animal body, and being,
turned to the soil, they leave the land—taking into consideration the stu
and roots left from the cultivation of forage plants—in as good or better
tion than before, notwithstanding at the same time very large quarn
forage are removed therefrom.
It is claimed by many farmers of some of our forage plants to be very
haustive to the soil. This is true where large quantities are removed th<
from, but if consumed on the farm, the manure carefully collected and
turned to the soil, almost ail that has been removed is returned to
the fertility that existed before.
i
•Analysis taken from Starr’s School Experiment Stat on Report.