Report of the Commissioner of Agriculture of the State of Georgia, year ending December 31, 1907

REPORT
OF THE
ommissioner of Agriculture
OF THE
State of Georgia
TOR THE
Year Ending December 31, 1907
T. G. Hudson, Commissioner R. F. Wright, Assistant.

REPORT
OF THE
ommissioner of Agriculture
OF THE
State of Georgia
FOK THE
Year Ending December 31, 1907
T. G. Hudson, Commissioner R. F. Wright, Assistant

REPORT.
I o His Excellency, Hoke Smith, Governor of Georgia.
In compliance with the law I beg leave to submit the follow ing report of the transactions of the Department of Agriculture from January i, 1907. to January 1, iyo8.
CIW.RK'AU itoROt.
The clerical force consists of the following named persons: R. R. Wright, Assistant Commissioner and General Correspon dent; J. F. Johnson, Commissioner's Clerk; J. T. Derry, Shipping and Mailing Clerk; E. F. Williams, Stenographer; P. A. Methvin, Food Inspector.
Under 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 par tially affected with contagious diseases, this departemnt has co-operated since the year of 1900 with the United States Government and with the authorities of the State of Ten nessee and North Carolina, looking to the suppression of con tagious diseases caused by the cattle tick.
Under the provisions of the Act just referred to, the sum of $500.00 was set aside from the fees arising from the inspec tion of fertilizers for the payment of four cattle inspectors for the counties of Rabun, Union, Fannin and Towns. The Com missioner, therefore, has appointed and commissioned four cat tle inspectors annually to do this work.
In connection with this work we issued a number of bulle tins, outlining the laws governing the quarantine regulations of this State as a guide not only for the inspectors, but also for the people generally. The work of these inspectors has been as faithfully and effectively performed as could be expected un der the circumstances.

After my appointment as Commissioner of Agriculture in August, 1905, in looking over the great advantages and resources of our grand old State, I was soon convinced that one of the greatest possibilities of North Georgia was her live stock in dustry. Her rich valley lands, her abundance of pure water, her hills and mountains covered with native grasses, her ener getic and progressive people, all go to make this an ideal country for dairying, sheep husbandry and beef cattle business. But I found one great barrier in the way of these industries. The cat tle ticks, which produce the Texas fever, knocked out the profits of these industries. Therefore, a more determined and systema tic work of tick eradication was necessary in our State.
In co-operation with the national government we succeeded in placing three more counties above the quarantine line, and partly eradicated the tick in four others during the year [907.
In response to our frequent requests for a State veterinary surgeon, a law was enacted by the Legislature of 1905 em powering the Commissioner of Agriculture to employ the services of such a surgeon upon application of the ordinary or the county commissioners of any county under certain restrictions. Under the provisions of this law we have from time to time employed veterinary surgeons in response to calls from almost every sec tion of the State, our expenses for this item being $843.75 UP to January 1, 1908.
PUBLICATIONS.
We have issued and distributed about 25,000 copies of the Commercial Fertiliser Bulletin, No. 44, of the season of 190161907. This bulletin was in the main prepared by our late effi cient State Chemist, John M. McCandless. Within its pages are found the tables of analyses of commercial fertilizers sold in the State of Georgia during the season of 1906-1907.
The number of brands on the market for this season is 3,545, as against 3,329 for the previous year. There are also 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 also published 5,000 copies of Georgia's Resources and Advantages--Jamestown Ex position Edition--most of which have been distributed.
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IVe call especial attention to the report of State Entomolo gist, Prof. E. L. Worsham; also to those of Dr. W. C. Bryant, State Oil Inspector, and of A. T. Dallis, State Superintendent of Fisheries.

State of Georgia, Department of Fertilizers.

Atlanta, Ga.,- December 31, 1907.

Statement of fertilizer fund for year ending December 31,

1907:

Dr.

To balance January 1st, 1907..............

$9,187.82

To tag sales.............................................................................. 84,674.69

To bulk taxes ............................................................................ 313.90

$94,176.41 Cr. By amount paid Treasurer ...............................................$57,499.09 By amount paid salaries ...................................................... 24,068.46 By amount paid for tags..................................................... 3,527.70 By amount paid inspectors expenses ............................. 3,538.69 By amount paid expenses (office, etc.) ........................ 1,588.74 By amount paid veterinarians............................................ 843.73 By amount tags redeemed ................................................. 110.00 By amount transferred to Pure Food account ........... 3,000.00

$94,176.4 1

REPORT OF STATE OIF INSPECTOR.

Report of State Oil Inspector. Atlanta, Ga., January r, 1908.
Hon. T. G. Hudson. Commissioner of Ac/ricnlturc. Atlanta, Ga. Dear Sir: Since my last report there has been paid into the
State Treasury, as shown by the Comptroller-General's books, $14,976.23, as fees due the State from the inspection of illuminat ing oils.
We are still troubles by occasional violations of the oil law by agents in other states shipping oil to dealers in the border counties without requesting an inspection of their oils, but in most cases the inspectors have seized their oil and held it for in-
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The work of the Board lias been conducted very much along the same line as last year, but much more time and attention have been given to experimental and research work. Inspection of nurseries has received very careful attention. Much time was devoted also to orchard inspection. The actual number of trees in orchards inspected is about the same as last year, but many new localities were visited and much information obtained as to the distribution of San Jose Scale. The amount of office work shows a considerable increase over last year.
In a report of this nature, the details of the work of the Board cannot be entered into. A brief summary of the work is as fol lows :
PERSONNEL or THE WORKINC. FORCE OF THE HOARD.
Prof. R. I. Smith acted as State Entomologist until (October i, and upon his resignation the writer, who was at that time connected with the lb S. Bureau of Entomology, was elected State Entomologist. The regular assistants are Messrs. A. C. Lewis, W. V. Reed and YV. W. Chase. Mr. Casey has been em ployed by the day as formerly, but on account of ill health gave the Board only thirty days of his time. Miss Bettie Walker, who served as clerk and stenographer for a number of years, resigned October i, and Miss Glover Henderson was appointed in her place. On account of the great amount of office work to be done extra office assistance has been employed from time to time.
A large per cent, of Mr. Lewis' time has been devoted to the study of Black Root of Cotton, Pear Blight, and Cotton Anthracnose. His extra time has been given to nursery inspection and to special trips of investigation for the Department. Mr. Reed's time has been spent in experiments with Peach Leaf Curl and with nursery and orchard inspection. 11 is work on Codlin Moth was interfered with on aeocunt of failure of apple crop. Mr. Chase's time has been devoted to nursery and orchard inspection, experiments with Brown,Rot of Peach, Curcnlio. and San Jose Scale. Mr. Casey's time has been devoted exclusively to inspec tion of nurseries and orchards. All of the above have rendered valuable assistance to the Department.
APPROPRIATION FOR 1907.
The appropriation for 1907 was $11,500, and as nothing was left over from 1906, there was this amount to spend. Of this
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amount $1,171.89 now remains and will be added to the ap propriation for 1908. All of this amount was needed and would have been spent for orchard inspection, had our assistant, whom we employ by the day, been able to give us more of his time.
There is an increased demand each year for a large appro priation for careful investigation of the problems which con front the farmers, fruit growers and truckers. There are many important insect problems in Georgia which should be solved before the arrival of the Mexican Boll Weevil, which is making such rapid strides towards Georgia, and which is the greatest pest with which the southern fanner will have to contend in the future. When we consider fhat insects destroy ten per cent, of the anual crop, and that the annual crop in the United States in 1906 amounted to $6,794,000,000, it seems that Georgia can well afford to spend more than she does for the solution of her insect problems.
X U R S It R Y IX S P K C T T O X.
The amount of nursery inspection has been somewhat less than last year on account of some of the nurserymen having gone out of the business.
Seventy-eight nurseries were inspected and three were found to be infested. Certificates were issued to three after certain in fested blocks were removed, and a second inspetion found the remainder to be free from scale. One nursery was refused cer tificate on acount of stock being generally infested. Three were refused certificates on account of failure to comply with re quirement in regard to fumigation. Seventy-five certificates have been issued. Total number of trees and strawberry plants in the seventy-five nurseries receiving certificates is as follows : straw berries, (estimated) 1,262,500 plants; peach, pear, plum, cherry, apple, grapes, pecans and miscellaneous, total, 3,481,454.
Eighty-six certificates were issued to out-of-state nurserymen. This difference in the number of certificates issued to nurseries in Georgia and- those outside of Georgia, shows that there is a tendency on the part of the people to purchase nursery stock out side of the State. This tendency sould be discouraged. From a commercial standpoint, it is better to put out the native stock, for much better results can be obtained.
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ORCHARD INSPECTION.
A considerable amount of time has been devoted to inspection of orchards. This phase of the work is of great practical value to the fruit grower, for it brings him in close contact with the Department and we can give him advice concerning the treat ment of his trees, not only for San Jose Scale but for other pests as well. Still more time would be given to this phase of the work if our appropriation were larger.
Two hundred and twenty-one orchards w'ere inspected and these contained 1,734,519 trees, an average of 7,848 trees per orchard. Of these 107, containing 1,175,951 trees, were found infested with the San Jose Scale. In each case careful advice was given for treatment of infested orchards.
A few orchards were inspected from which nurserymen ex pected to make buds and grafts. Only a few requests were made for inspections of this kind. These inspections aid the nursery men materially in preventing their nurseries from becoming in fested.
Our law in regard to requiring treatment of orchards infested with scale has been rigidly enforced. One party refused to treat his infested orchard w'hen requested to do so by the Entomoligist. He appealed the case to the Hoard, and when the Board sustained the decision of the Entomologist, the case was appealed to the ordinary's court in the county in which the orchard was located. The ordinary's court still sustained the Entomologist's decision, and party was required to treat his trees or cut them ('own. The infested trees in the orchard were removed.
EXl'ERTM ENTS.
San Jose Scale.--Experiments with several of the so-called soluble or miscible oils were conducted at Fort Valley to deter mine their effect upon the San Jose Scale. The results obtained were not altogether satisfactory on account of the fact that the orchard was sadly neglected the previous year, and also on ac count of the many scales which seemed to have been killed by some fungus. The results of these experiments and the results obtained by a number of fruit growers who sprayed with these oils, were published in Circular Xo. 6.
Fungus Disease on San Jose Scale.--Experiments with Red-
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Headed Scale fungus which is parasitic on San Jose and other scale insects, were begun in July to test the economic importance of the fungus in Georgia. A large per cent, of the scale seems to have been killed by the fungus on the trees to which it was applied, but as yet we cannot rely on it for satisfactory results. These experiments will be continued in 1908, and we hope to in crease the usefulness of this fungus by improved methods of dis seminating the spores.
Green Apple Aphis.--Spraying experiments with a number of insecticides for Green Apple Aphis were conducted by Mr. Lewis at Decatur. The best results were secured with 15 per cent. Kero sene Emulsion. These experiments were published in detail in Bulletin No. 25.
Codling Moth.--The Codling experiments which were begun in 1906 were discontinued this year on account of the failure of apple crop. In the event there is an apple crop in 1908, this work will be taken' up again, and, if possible, carried to comple tion.
Peach Curcnlio.--Spraying experiments with arsenate of lead and Pyrox for Curcnlio were conducted by Mr. Chase at Mayfield. The arsenate of lead was applied at the rate of two pounds to fifty gallons of water, and Pyrox at the rate of five pounds to fifty gallons of water. The results obtained from the two com pounds w'ere very similar. In plats sprayed with arsenate of lead, the highest percentage of uninfested was 82 1-2 per cent., and the lowest, 55 per cent. One unsprayed check plat averaged 29 per cent, sound and 71 per cent, infested, the other, 36 per cent, sound and 64 per cent, infested. In order to obtain more definite re sults, this experiment will be duplicated in 1908.
Hessian Fly.--From the experiments which were begun three years ago, it has been found, that in order to escape damage from the Hessian Fly, wheat should not be sown as a rule before Oc tober 20th. The results will be published in a bulletin in the near future.
Brown Rot of Peach.--In 1907, Brown Rot experiments were conducted at Mayfield by Mr. Chase. On acocunt of no Brown Rot fungus occurring in the orchard, no practical results were secured. These experiments will probably be duplicated in 1908.
Pear Blight.--The work on Pear Blight which was begun in 1905, was continued this year by Mr. Lewis. In an isolated or
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chard at Thomson the Blight has been almost exterminated. The work at Smithville in Mr. McKenney's orchard and at Cairo on Mr. Wright's orchard, shows that the co-operation of all the pear growers is needed in fighting this disease, if the best results are to be secured. California annually spends thousands of dollars in fighting this disease. Georgia could well afford to make special appropriation to fight this disease.
Black Root of Cotton.--Mr. Lewis has continued the work on this disease, securing some very valuable and interesting results. He has secured some hybrids and selections that are quite resist ant to the disease. About fifty bushels of seeds will be distributed next spring. This is not enough seed to supply the demand. For this work alone the State could well afford to spend $5,000.00 per year, with profit to the cotton growers of the State.
Cotton Anthracnose.--The Cotton Anthracnose experiments which were started in a small way this year, will be continued on a more extensive scale. This last season no results were secured as the disease did not appear in the experimental field. From some fields in south Georgia where the disease was severe, a num ber of selections were made by Mr. Lewis. These will be planted in south Georgia where the disease was known to be bad last
F.OLL WEliVTL QUARANTINE
The Mexican Cotton Boll Weevil continued to spread at the rate of about seventy-five to one hundred miles per year. It is now officially' reported to be east of the Mississippi river, and coming at the present rate, under natural conditions, will be in Georgia within five years. Our quarantine law is being rigidly en forced, but there are ways in which the Boll Weevil might be in troduced at any time. In September the Department was informed that a plan was on foot to maliciously introduce the Boll Weevil into Georgia. A careful inspection was made of the cotton fields on the plantation on which it was claimed the Weevils were to be introduced, but no Weevils were found.
The legislature should give the Board authority to take charge of cotton fields in which the Boll Weevil might be introduced. If we had this power, we could probably exterminate the insect when it was confined to a limited area, and prevent it from spread ing.
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farmers' institute work.

As usual much time has been devoted to Farmers' Institutes.

Eighteen Institutes were attended either by Mr. Smith or Mr.

Eevvis between May ist and August 30th. This phase of the work

consumes much time, but it brings the Department in close contact

with the farmer, and it enables us to render him much valuable aid.

PUBLICATION S.

The following publications have been issued during 1907:

Bulletin Xo. 23--"The Apple Woolly Aphis."

Bulletin Xo'. 24--"Cotton Anthracnose.''

Circular Xo. 6--"The Use of Soluble Oils Against San Jose Scale."

Bulletin Xo. 25--``Proceedings of the State Horticultural Socie

ty for 1907."

The following special circulars have been issued to nursery

men, fruit growers and others :

January 26--Circular on Peach Leaf Curl, and San Jose Scale,

sent to Georgia newspapers.

February 23--Circular letter to all Georgia newspapers and Re

port of Entomologist for 1906.

March 1--Circular letter to apple growers in regard to Bulle

tin No. 23.

March 13--Circular on Codling Moth sent to 115 newspapers

in Georgia.

March 22--Circular letter accompanying cotton seed resistant

to Black Root sent to cotton growers.

April 15--Circular letter to peach growers.

June

15--Circular to farmers and fruit growers in regard

to available publications.

OFFICE WORK AND CORRESPONDENCE.
The office correspondence continues to become heavier each year. Many requests are received daily from farmers, fruit growers and truckers for information concerning insect problems and plant diseases with which they have to contend. These re quests are not confined to our own State, but come from various sections of the country. The office work has grown to such an extent that it requires all the time of two people, and additional help has to be employed from time to time. The mailing list was increased this year to about 7,500.

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Finances.

Expenditure of the Appropriation for 1907:

Annual Appropriation for 1907 ....................................$11,500.00

By salaries and expenses as follows:

Salary of State Entomologist, at $1,500.00 per annum 1,500.00

Salary of Asst. Entomologist at $1,200.00 per annum 1,200.00

Salary of 1 deputy Inspector at $1,050.00 per annum. . 1,050.00

Wages of 1 deputy Inspector at $3.00 per diem........... 105-50

Salary of Field Assistant at $1,050.00 per annum .... 1,050.00

Salary of Stenographer ........................................................ 720.00

Traveling Expenses, State Entomologist ...................... 653.20

Traveling Expenses Asst. Entomologist ...................... 509.16

Traveling Expenses Field Assistant ............................. 362.52

Traveling Expenses Deputy Inspectors........................... 430.15

Printing and Engraving ...................................................... 895.10

Postage ....................................................................................... 467.00

Telegrams .................... '...........................................................

I3-i3

Office Supplies and Expenses............................................. 362.66

Library .......................................................................................

67.70

Laboratory Expenses and Equipment ........................... 445.42

Field Work and Experiments............................................. 332.13

Express and Freight ............................................................

50.66

Expenses, Board Meetings...................................................

63.78

Attorney's Fee..........................................................................

50.00

Total ..........................................................................$10,328.11 Balance unexpended, December 31, 1907 ........... 1,171.89

June 9, 1908.

$11,500.00 Respectfully submitted,
E. L. Worsham, State Entomologist.

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ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF
FISHERIES FOR THE YEAR 1907.
LaGrangE, Ga., December 31, 1907.
Hon. Thomas G. Hudson, Commissioner of Agriculture.
Sir: I herewith submit a report of the practical work done by this division of your Department for the year 1907.
The general conditions in regard to the observance of the fish law by our citizens are more favorable than at any former period. The Code of fish laws published by this division, after being distributed throughout the State, has done a great amount of good, and these laws are being very frequently called for. An appendix to these laws, which includes the acts of 1907, has been printed and distributed.
This department has, in most instances, discouraged fish pond building. One of the essential tonditions of successful fish cul ture is a proper supply of pure water. Only when the conditions are exceptionably favorable do we lend our encouragement. A great number of our citizens would like a lake and fish pond at their homes, and with a little encouragement from us would make a considerable outlay for that purpose, only to be disappoint ed in the end. I feel very sure that this department has saved thousands of dollars each year to our citizens by properly ad vising them in this matter.
There have been more fresh water fish taken from the streams of Georgia during 1907 than in any year for many previous ones, and that this department has contributed to that increase is evi dent.
Each succeeding year it is less difficult to secure aid in the re quisite and vigorous enforcement of existing laws, and the enactment of more stringent regulations.
The coast commercial fisheries of this state annually become more important and valuable. There is now invested approxi mately three-hundred and fifty-thousand dollars in that business, with about twenty-five hundred men employed. The total yield
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sold is approximately twelve-million pounds, with a value of about four-hundred thousand dollars.
The expense of this department from January i, 1907, to'De cember 31, 1907, is one hundred and twenty-one and 78-100 dol lars, as shown by itemized statement herein attached, and marked Exhibit "A."
Respectfully submitted, A. T. Dauus,
Superintendent of Fisheries, State of Georgia.
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