Report of the Commissioner of Agriculture of the State of Georgia, year ending December 31, 1905

REPORT
OF THE
oitinii$$ioner of Agriculture
OF THE
STATE OF GEORGIA
FOR THE
YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1905
O. B. STEVENS, Ex-Commissioner T. G. HUDSON, Commissioner R. F. WRIGHT, Assistant
Atlanta, Georgia The Franklin Printing and Publishing Company
Geo. W. Harrison, Manager
1906

REPORT
OF THE
Commissioner of Agriculture
OF THE
STATE OF GEORGIA
FOR THE
YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 3J, 1905
O. B. STEVENS, Ex-Commissioner T. G. HUDSON, Commissioner R. F. WRIGHT, Assistant
Atlanta, Georgia The Franklin Printing and Publishing Company
Geo. W, Harrison, Manager 1906

REPORT
To His Excellency, J. M. Terrell, Governor: In compliance with the law I beg leave to submit the following
report of the transactions of the Department of Agriculture from January i, 1905, to January 1, 1906-
Cl,EKK'-\n FORCE.,;
The clerical force consists of the following named persons: R. F. Wright, Assistant Commissioner and General Correspondent; J. F. Johnson, Commissioner's Clerk; j. T. Derry, Shipping and mailing Clerk;, E. F. . Williams, Stenographer.
Underi the provisions of an Act-approved December 20, 1899, which provides for the establishment of quarantine lines for the protection, of cattle in those sections not affected or partially af fected with contagious diseases, this department has co-operated since the year of , 1900 with the United States Government and with the authorities of the States of Tennessee and North Caro lina, having agreed upon a line so far as it affected the State of Georgia.
Under the provisions of the Act just referred to, the sum of $500.00 was set aside from the fees arising from the inspection of fertilizers for the payment of four cattle inspectors in the counties of Rabun, Union, Fannin and Towns. The Commission er, therefore, appointed and commissioned the following in spectors, for five months each, for said counties at $25.00 per month:
M. C. Canup, Rabun County. J. W. Foster, Towns County. John B. Medaris, Union County. E. W. Shelton, Fannin County. In connection with this work we issued a number of bulletins, outlining the laws governing the quarantine regulations of this

4
State as a guide not only for the inspector, but also for the people generally. The work of these inspectors has been as faithfully and effectively performed as could be expected under the cir cumstances.
We regret that the people of Fannin county, through their rep resentative, secured the passage of a local law breaking down the quarantine line between their county and Gilmer, thereby nullify ing the past three year's work of the department, so far as Fannin county is concerned. In order to remedy this the Commissioner proposes, on May I, 1906, to issue an order establishing a cattle quarantine line around Gilmer county, and to have the same posted by the cattle inspector, which, it is hoped, will prove a protection to both Fannin and Gilmer counties.
In response to our frequent requests for a State veterinary sur geon, a law was enacted by the Legislature of 1905 empowering the Commissioner of Agriculture to' employ the services of such a surgeon upon application of the ordinary of the county commis sioners of any county under certain restrictions. Under the pro visions of this law we have from time to time employed veterinary surgeons in response to calls from almost every section of the State, our expenses for this item being $182.76, up to January 1, 1906.
Georgia and other Southern States are in great need of Federal aid in the suppression of the cattle tick, and it is hoped that Con gress will do something to fully meet this want.
We have been aided in our quarantine work by the United States Department of Agriculture at Washington.
PUBLICATIONS.
The department has sent out through the weekly press-- monthly, with a few exceptions--six columns of printed matter which has been published in about 185 county papers.
We have issued and distributed about 25,000 copies of the Commercial Fertilizer Bulletin, No. 42, of the season of 1904 and 1905. This bulletin was in the main prepared by our efficient State Chemist, John M. McCandless. Within its two hundred

0
or more pages are found the tables of analyses of commercial fertilizers sold in the State of Georgia during the season of 1904 and 1905.
The number of brands on the market for this season is 3,329 as against 1,241 for the previous year. There are also1 found in this bulletin letters on agricultural chemistry, fertilizer formulas for all kinds of crops, feeding formulas, and tables of analyses of commercial fertilizers, etc.
We call especial attention to the report of State Entomologist, Prof. R. I. Smith; also to those of Dr. W. C. Bryant, State Oil Inspector, and of A. T. Dallis, State Superintendent of Fisheries.
FgRTIUZER FUND.
The following is a statement of the receipts and disbursements from January 1, 1905, to August 1, 1905, both inclusive: Tag account from January 1, 1905, to August 1, 1905 :
DR.
To amount received from sale of tags...........................$44,403.80 To amount received from bulk sales.......................... 230.32
Total...................................................................... $44,634.12
CR.
By inspectors' salaries....................................................$12,526.14 By inspectors' expenses................................................. 2,740.78 By office expenses, bottles, corks, labels, etc.............. 787.22 By amount paid State Treasurer.................................. 27,000.00 By amount paid for tags............................................. 512.80 By amount paid T. G. Hudson.................................... 1,067.18
Total...................................................................... $44,634.12 O. B. Stevens,
Commissioner of Agriculture.

6

January i, 1906.

T, G. Hudson, Commissioner of Agriculture, in account with State of Georgia from August 1, 1905, to January 1, 1906.

DR.

To amount received from O. B. Stevens................... $ 1,067.18

To amount received fromtag sales................................ 22,450.60

To amount received frombulk sales..........................

4.71

Total........................................................................$23,522.49

CR.
By inspectors' expenses................................................................. $106.76 By general office expenses ... .................................... 151.92 By salaries...................................................................... 6,583.07 By amount paid for tags............................................. 1,660.13 By amount paid Treasurer............................................ 13,000.00 By balance on hand....................................................... 2,020.61

Total....................................................................... $23,522.49

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REPORT OF STATE OIL INSPECTOR.
State oe Georgia, Department oe Agriculture. Atlanta, Ga., January 10, 1906.
Hon. T. G. Hudson, Commissioner of Agriculture, Atlanta, Ga, Dear Sir : I beg to report that the records in this office show
a gradual increase in the consumption of illuminating oils in this State. When we take into consideration the fact that many of the smaller cities and towns throughout the State have installed electric-light plants, it would seem that the consumption of oil as an illuminant would be on the decrease, but such is not the case, and this fact proves conclusively that the agricultural com munities are rapidly filling up.
I have visited a number of local stations in the last twelve months, and find that the local inspectors, as a rule, are fully alive to their duties and responsibilities, and are discharging the duties imposed upon them by law in an efficient and conscientious man ner.
For the year ending January 1, 1906, $11,479.77, arising from the inspection of illuminating oils, have been deposited into the State Treasury. This is $886.49 in excess of the preceding year.
I respectfully recommend that the oil law be amended by the addition of a section requiring all oil shipped into the State for illuminating purposes be inspected by a legally authorized inspec tor; also, that in addition to the "Flash Test" a Specific Gravity Test be required.
Respectfully submitted, W. C. Bryant,
State Oil Inspector.

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REPORT OF STATE CHEMIST.
State oe Georgia, Laboratory oe State Chemist. Atlanta, Ga., January i, 1906.
Hon. T. G. Hudson, Commissioner of Agriculture, Atlanta, Ga. Dear Sir : Reviewing the work of the laboratory for the past
year I have to report that each preceding year for the last seven years has established a new high record figure for the number of tons of commercial fertilizer inspected in the State, also for the number of new brands put on the market, and consequently for the number of analyses made on the samples representing these brands. Tags were sold during the past season for over 713,000 tons, and the number of brands on the market has risen from 440, when the laboratory was established on its present basis, and with the present force, to 1,352 brands during the past season. From the present outlook, this number of brands will be largely increased during the coming season, and I fear that the labora tory force will be inadequate for the heavily increased work re quired of it.
I especially call this matter to your attention, as it will be neces sary ere long to increase the laboratory force, if the work of the chemical department is to be kept up to the present standard of efficiency. For full details of the work accomplished by my de partment during the past year, I refer you to Bulletin No. 42, covering the season of 1904-1905.
I have, as usual, expended in the maintenance of the laboratory the whole of the sum appropriated for that purpose--$1,000.
Respectfully submitted, John M. McCandless, State Chemist.

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REPORT OF STATE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Atlanta, Ga./January 19, 1906.
Hon. T. G. Hudson, Chairman Georgia State Board of Ento mology, Atlanta, Ga. Dear Sir : I have the honor to submit herewith, as State Ento
mologist and Secretary of the Board, a report on the work of the State Department of Entomology for the period between Janu ary 1, 1905, and December 31, 1905. A more detailed report will be given to the board at its annual meeting at Macon, January 26, 1906.
The year has been notable for the number of changes and ad ditions to the working force of the department, chief among which was the resignation of your former State Entomologist, Mr. Wilmon Newell. Although he is to be congratulated on gaining a better position, we must regret the loss of his valuable services in Georgia.
The work during 1905 has been carried on along much the same lines as formerly, and in addition, some new fields of re search and experimentation have been entered. More work in orchard inspection has been possible, with the increased appro priation over 1904, and this work has been pushed into new fields. Regular routine nursery inspection has been given even more careful attention than in the past. The office work has shown about 20 per cent, increase in the number of letters received and answered. This feature of the work is of great importance and indicates that the people of the State are becoming more alive to the demands for greater knowledge regarding the control of in sects and diseases in the orchards and general farm crops.
PERSONNEL OF THE DEPARTMENT.
For 1905 the personnel of the department has been as follows: From January 1st to February 14th, Mr. Wilmon Newell was

10
State Entomologist, with Mr. A. C. Lewis and the writer as as sistants. On February 14 the writer was advanced to the posi tion of State Entomologist, Mr. Newell having resigned to ac cept a better and more remunerative position as entomologist to the Louisiana Experiment Stations. After February 14th Mr. Lewis contkiued to act as Assistant Entomologist, filling the posi tion with credit and taking an active interest in the work. After Mr. Newell resigned it became necessary to select another assist ant, and Harper Dean, Jr., a graduate of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute, was selected, and has rendered highly efficient service. Mr. Dean has been known as Field Assistant. His work has been mainly nursery and orchard inspection and experimental work. Since August 1st, W. W. Chase, also from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute, has acted as deputy inspector on orchard and nursery inspection. Mr. G. R. Casey, of Adairsville, Ga., has also acted as deputy inspector, and both these gentlemen have rendered valuable services. The work done by Mr. Casey has been confined mainly to Northwest Georgia, in order to reduce the expense of traveling. As office help, Miss Bettie Walker has rendered valuable assistance. And in this connection I wish to say that the increased correspondence and office work has made the du ties of the stenographer much more arduous than in past years.
The appropriation for the State Department of Entomology for 1905 was $10,000.00, $3,000.00 more than for 1904. This increased amount has made it possible to do more extensive and more efficient work than heretofore.
The changes in the working force of the department and the consequent interruption of work made it difficult to arrange all plans to the best advantage without fear of overreaching the amount appropriated, and hence, instead of using the entire $10,000.00, as could easily have been done, we have come through the year with $503.82 balance. This amount will be added to the appropriation for 1906, and the whole amount can be utilized to good advantage.
I am constrained to mention the matter of railroad passes, as

11
affecting our work. During 1905 I was granted passes by all but one large railroad, and my assistant held passes over several lines. We expect to secure about the same number this year. How ever, the point I wish to mention is that the traveling expenses of assistants not holding passes are very high, and as our work increases the amount spent for traveling will increase each year. Without passes our work would have been reduced con siderably last year.
Farmers' Institutes demand considerable attention during sum mer and fall. Talks on insects and plant diseases have been made at several points over the State. This work was made a special feature of the work of your department by the General Assembly of 1904. We have arranged to give more valuable aid to Farm ers' Institute work by the purchase of a stereopticon for giving illustrated lectures.
INSECTS OE THE YEAR.
The insects of the yeSr were reported at a meeting of the As sociation of Economic Entomologists at New Orleans. In that paper mention was made of thirty-five common and more or less destructive insects, and the number would have been considerably increased if mention had been made of all minor outbreaks. A brief summary of the report follows :
Of orchard insects the San Jose scale has been, as usual, the most important. Other scale insects are: Cherry scale, peach lecanium. West Indian peach scale, oyster shell scale and gloomy scale on oaks and maples, and the former also common on apple, and the scurfy scale common in some apple orchards. Other orchard in sects are: Peachtree-borer, fruit-tree bark-beetle, peach twig-borer, plum curculio, Southern June beetle, woolly aphis of apple, apple codling-moth, apple plant-louse, American tent-caterpillar, and apple twig-borer.
The following cotton insects have appeared: Cotton caterpil lar, cotton boll-worm, new cotton beetle, Luperodes brunneus, red spider on cotton, sharp-shooter, and several others of less im portance.

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The fall army worm appeared on millet and crab-grass, and the Hessian fly w.as found commonly in all the wheat fields. The corn web-worm and Southern corn root-worm were common in many corn fields.
The usual quota of garden and general farm crop insects havebeen present, the following being the most abundant: Striped cucumber beetle, common potato bug, blister beetle, Harlequin cabbage bug, collard bug, cabbage aphis, melon louse, squash bug,, and others.
The destructive rice-weevil, a great enemy of stored corn, wasfound in abundance in a large crib of com at Cycloneta, early in

July.

finances.

Expenditure of the appropriation of $10,000.00 for 1905. To appropriation, 1905 ...............................................$io,ooo.oo-

$10,000.00By salaries as follows: Salary of State Entomologist, January 1st to December
31st, at $1,500.00 per annum................................$1,500.00Salary of Assistant Entomologist, January 1st to- Febra-
ary 14th, at $1,200.00 per annum......................... 150.00Salary of Assistant Entomologist, February 14th to De
cember 31st, at $1,000.00 per annum................... 875.00Salary of Stenographer, January 1st to December 31st,
at $600.00 per annum............................................ 600.00 By expenses as follows: Field Assistant, 238 days work at $3.00 per diem. . .. 714.00Wages paid W. W. Chase, Deputy Inspector, 123 days'
work at $2.50 per diem........................................ 307.50 Wages paid G. R. Casey, Deputy Inspector, 83 days'
work, at $3.00 per diem......................................... 249.00 Traveling expenses State Entomologist....................... 431.55 Traveling expenses Assistant Entomologist................. 36o.28; Traveling expenses Field Assistant.............................. 392.34.

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Traveling expenses Deputy Inspectors Printing and engraving...................... Postage.................................................. Telegrams............................................ Office supplies and expenses................. Library ................................................. Laboratory expenses and equipment . . Field work and experiments............... Express and freight............................ Expenses board meetings................... Farmers' Institute work...................... Monthly talk (paid for Dept, of Agri.)
Balance unexpended December 31, 1905

395-54 1,012.92
568.50 2775 362.30 248.43 474.91 397.96
65-50
39.00 141.70 182.00
$9,496.18
503-82
$10,000.00

NURSERY INSPECTION.
Inspection of nurseries began August 1st, and the main part of three men's time for four months was devoted to this work; or the equivalent of one year's work for one man. In the largest nurseries the time spent was equal to one man's time for from seven to twelve days.
One hundred and sixty .nurseries have been inspected, and certi ficates issued to 144 of them. No certificate was issued until the nurseryman was prepared to properly fumigate the stock with hydrocyanic acid gas; and in some places where the stock was grown in what we considered dangerous territory, the fumiga tion was personally supervised by a member of this department.
Of the sixteen nurseries inspected, and not receiving certificates, five were found infested with San Jose scale, so bad that it could not be cleaned out, while the remainder have not complied with the fumigation requirement.

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Total number of trees contained in the 144 nurseries receiving certificates are as follows :
Peach, 1 and2year old ......................... 3>775>45 Peach, June-Buds................................... 2,218,400 APp!es..................................................... 1,300,950 Pears....................................................... 368,100 Plum....................................................... 241,100 Cherry . .................................................. 20,700 Grapes.................................................... 5 5,000 Pecans (over 1,000,000 are seedlings) . . 1,378,550 Miscellaneous stock, including shade-
trees, roses, figs, mulberries, and small fruits......................................... 994,000
Total...................................................10,352,250
In addition to the above list sixteen nurseries not receiving certificates contained about 230,000 trees.
Eighty-eight nurserymen outside the State have complied with the requirements of the Georgia State Board of Entomology, and have received certificates allowing them to ship nursery stock into this State.
ORCHARD INSPECTION.
Orchard inspection has been given more attention than in former years. The total number of trees contained in the or chards inspected reach the surprising sum of 1,912,958, of which all but 1,344 were contained in 306 orchards of commercial size. Forty-three orchards of less than 100 contained 1,344. We have therefore really inspected a total of 349 orchards of all sizes, containing an average number of 5,481 trees. Some indi vidual orchards contained from 25,000 to 100,000 trees.
The above figures show an increase of about 114 per cent, in number of orchards inspected in 1905, compared with the num ber inspected in 1904, and likewise an increase of over 200 per cent over total number of trees inspected in 1904.
One feature of our orchard inspection work, is to inspect all

15
orchards from which nurserymen expect to take buds and grafts. Blanks are sent out early in spring to all nurserymen with a re quest that they report the orchards which they desire inspected.
During 1905 we received application for inspection of eightysix orchards of this class, of which fifty-eight were inspected while the remaining twenty-eight could not be reached through lack of time and assistance. Of the orchards inspected five were found infested and the nurserymen cautioned against getting buds therefrom.
Much more orchard inspection would be of value, as many sec tions have not yet been reached.
EXPERIMENTS.
San Jose scale washes have been tested and the general recom mendations for treatment given in Bulletin No. 17. Dime-sul phur wash still holds the first place as a remedy that can be safely applied.
Peach-leaf curl disease is generally controlled with Bordeaux and lime-sulphur wash. Experiments with different mixtures, against leaf-curl were made at Adairsville in the spring of 1905. The result has been reported in the Proceedings of the State Hor ticultural Society for 1905.
The woolly aphis of apple is one of our most destructive ap ple pests. Extensive experiments against the underground form were carried out at Morrow and Pittman, Ga. This work will be taken up again in 1906.
The "cotton wilt" disease has claimed a great part of the time of Mr. A. C. Lewis, Assistant Entomologist. Fertilizer tests were made to determine their effect on the wilt disease, but these, we must say, are not encouraging. The principal effort should be directed toward getting a resistant variety of cotton, and this. Mr. Lewis is attempting to do by hydbridizing. He now has more than 100 varieties of cotton which will be tested again in 1906. We are prepared to send out a limited number of sample lots of cottonseed of the Jackson-limbless variety. This was grown in the experimental field at Zellobee, Ga.

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In co-operation with the United States Department of Agricul ture, demonstration work in pruning pear trees to control pear blight was started in November, 1905, and will be continued for at least three years. Work has been commenced on an orchard at Thomson, and several at Smithville, and will be taken up in other places. Bulletin No. 18, issued in December, 1905, gives an account of the plans for this work.
Considerable time has been devoted to experiments to deter mine the proper date to sow wheat to avoid damage from the Hessian fly. The result of this investigation is not yet ready to be made known, but when completed it will be of inestimable value to the Georgia wheat growers.
A new cotton beetle claimed considerable attention during the latter part of June and early in July. Paris green as a poison was used with success against this pest.
publications.
Bulletins pertaining to the control of insects have been issued during 1905 as follows : Bulletin No. 15.--"An Inquiry Into the Cyanide Method of Fu
migating Nursery Stock." February, 1,200 copies. .Bulletin No. 16.--"The Cotton Boll Worm"--"Insects Injuri ous to Corn and Truck Crops." April, 7,000 copies. Bulletin No. 17.--"Peach Insects." October, 7,000 copies. Bulletin No. 18.--"Pear Blight Disease and Pear Deaf Blight." December, 8,000 copies. In addition to the regular bulletins special circulars have been -distributed to nurserymen and others, as follows : February 1.--"The Hessian Fly." A timely article telling how the North Georgia wheat growers might deal a severe blow to this destructive insect. Sent to all newspapers in North and Middle Georgia.

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February 15.--Circular to nurserymen regarding inspection of orchards from which buds would be secured
July 20.--"Regulations of the Board Relative to Fumigation Sent to all nurserymen in Georgia.
July 24.--"Important Information for Nurserymen." Giving a summary of laws of various States. Sent to all nurserymen.
July 31.--Circular to out-of-State nurserymen, giving regulations relative to1 selling stock in Georgia. Sent to about one hundred and fifty nurserymen in other States.
Other circular letters of minor interest were sent to fruit grow ers and others at various times. Many articles of timely infor mation concerning insects such as San Jose scale, shot-hole borerr new cotton beetle, cotton caterpillar, apple colding-moth and others, have been furnished the Georgia newspapers.
BOLP WEEVIL, quarantine.
The matter of boll weevil quarantine should not be forgotten,, as the danger to Georgia through invasion by the boll weevil be comes yearly more imminent. The boll weevil in Louisiana has made an advance of about fifty miles this year, and has gained its way fully half-way across that State. Next year it will be liable to reach, if not cross, the Mississippi river. We must continue to enforce the boll weevil quarantine measures to avoid the danger of bringing the boll weevil into Georgia in shipments of cotton in its various forms. The General Assembly of 1905 very wisely raised the quarantine on threshed wheat and oats, as it is quite fully demonstrated that there is no- danger through that source. With the present quarantine laws there is reason to believe that the boll weevil will not reach Georgia except by natural spread. The State Department of Entomology will, however, be oh the lookout for its first appearance, and in the event it should appear ahead of the natural spread every known method will be tried toeffect its eradication.

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During the year a number of cotton fields have been inspected in sections where we have learned through correspondence and otherwise that cotton products have been shipped in from Texas within the years of 1903-1904, before the boll weevil quarantine law was passed by the General Assembly of 1904. In the fields inspected we have found no indication of boll weevil.

OFFICE AND CORRESPONDENCE.

The office correspondence is getting to be very lieavy. A gen

eral idea of the time required for this one feature is shown by

the letter-book, our letters for the year covering 4,088 pages, or

an average of thirteen pages for every day except Sundays. These

letters are often of such a nature that considerable; study is re

quired before they can be properly answered. . Farmers and fruit

growers of other States frequently write to our office for advice.

Our mailing-list has been increased by nearly 2,000 names,

numbering now over 5,500, which necessitates our sending out

large editions of each bulletin, and also greatly increasing the

correspondence. Two years ago bulletins were issued in editions

of only 200 to 300, while now it is necessary to have from 7,000

to 8,000 to supply the growing demand. Several times during

the year it has become necessary to hire extra clerical help to:avoid

keeping our men from the regular field work which should not

be neglected.

The necessity of a good reference library; will be understood

by all, and this at present is largely supplied by the bulletins

from various State experiment stations. The work of keeping

these bulletins properly filed for reference is no small feature in

the work connected with our office. And aside, from other duties,

the Entomologist must often spend time giving information to

fruit-growers and others who,come to the office for advice. In

fact, it requires more than all the time of one man to properly

attend to the duties of the office.

Respectfully submitted,

R. I. Smith,

State Entomologist.

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REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF FISHERIES.
Hon. T. G. Hudson, Commissioner of Agriculture. Sir: I have the honor to herewith submit a report from this
department for the year ending December 31, 1905. The work done has been along the lines of previous years. I
have our fish laws in book form and send them to officers and other citizens in different portions of our State from time to time. I answer letters and questions concerning such laws as are now of force; instruct as to pond building, and care of fish, how, where, and what kind of fish can be had, and which kinds are best suited to the particular waters desired to be stocked. This de partment has urged at every opportunity the importance and duty of our citizens in the observance of our laws. I am gratified to report that public sentiment seems to be thoroughly in sympathy with our statute laws, and to approve them in toto. Especially is the recent change in the closed season popular.
I have had the laws pertaining to fish recodified, bringing this code down to date. In this I have had placed, for general informa tion and to meet many inquiries, the present law as to posting lands. Two thousand copies of this code are being printed, and distribution of these will begin early in the next year.
Hereto attached please find expense account of the department for the fiscal year, amounting to $160.38.
Respectfully submitted, A. T. Dallis,
Superintendent of Fisheries, State of Georgia.