The

University

Record

of the

University

of Florida

Twenty-Fi've

Million

Dollars

Annually from Research

Vol. XXVII, Series I

No. 20

October 15, 1932

* *

The University Record of the University of Florida is issued twice every month.

The Record comprises:

The Reports of the President and the Board of Control, the Bulletin of Gen-

eral Information, the annual announcements of

the individual colleges

University, announcements of special courses of instruction, and reports of the
University Officers.

These bulletins will be sent gratuitously to all persons who apply for them. The

applicant should

specifically state which bulletin

or what information

is desired;

Address

THE REGISTRAR,
University of Florida,
Gainesville, Florida.

Research Publications.-Research publications will

contain results

research

work.

Papers are published as separate monographs numbered in several series.

There is no free mailing list of these publications.

are arranged by the University Library.

Exchanges with institutions

Correspondence concerning such exchanges

should be addressed to the University Librarian, University of Florida, Gainesville,

Florida.

The issue and sale of all these publications is

under the control of the

Committee on Publications.

Requests for individual copies, or for any other copies

not included

in institutional

exchanges,

should

addressed

to the University

Library, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.

The Committee on

University

Publications,

University of Florida,
Gainesville, Florida.

LETTER

TRANSMITTAL

For some time an appraisal of the research work at the Univer-

sity
been
plan

of Florida has

been

contributed

most

efficient

badly

needed.

economic
application

To determine

structure

what

past

effort

has

and

future,

inventory

of research

projects

seemed

necessary

Accordingly

some time ago I appointed a committee of the faculty

consisting

Mr.

Harold

Hume

, Chairman,

Assistant

Director

Re-

search,

Agricultural Experiment Stations

Townes R.

Leigh,

Dean

College

College

of Pharmacy

Commerce

and

Dean

Walter

Journalism

Matherly

Clarence

Vernon

Noble

, Agricultural

Economist

, Experiment Station

Dr. Arthur

Bless

, Associate Professor of Physics, and Professor P

Reed,

Head of the Department of Civil Engineering.

The

accompanying

committee.
acquainted

This

with

bulletin

study

work

verifies

of the

result
belief

University

work

that

have

many

held

those

, viz.,

yearly contribution to the economic welfare of the State made by

University far exceeds

the amount appropriated

for it

sup-

port.

this

time

University

has

carried

on research

most

effectively

along

agricultural lines

as a result

stimulation

the Federal

Government.

When

work

was

first undertaken

funds for these investigations were provided almost entirely from

federal sources but

in recent

years

they

have

been supported in

large measure by State appropriations.

eral

along

Government

industrial

done

and

nothing

commercial lines.

Unfortunately

as yet to

stimulate

The State

has

the Fed-
research
neglected

important field.

There is little doubt that the present services of the

University

State

programs

may

greatly

research and

enlarged
carrying

addition

forward

more

other

diligently

some of the work that is already in progress.

JNO.

TIGERT.

-r -n S V

T

*

,.
J:

:

*:

". *i'

q

-

-'

-I'

<

I

TWENTY-FIVE MILLION
DOLLARS ANNUALLY
FROM RESEARCH

**

>

-

i

i

-

*Jl

"

FOREWORD

For years past,
appropriations, h.

research work

, supported by state and national

as been carried on at the

University of Florida.

In an effort to determine whether these expenditures are justified,

and,

looking

future

determine

whether

line

activity should be extended or curtailed,

made within the past year

a careful survey has been

. It has not been possible to cover every

detail

, but in a broad way the result

e University have
The findings of thi

been examined

study

from research activities at

carefully.

establish beyond doubt the fact that

research
mendous

carried

on at the

University

of Florida has

been a

tre-

factor in the development of the commonwealth and that

without these investigations the

potential resources of the state

would not have and could not have been developed to their value

as of this

time.

clearly

indicated

that

University

has

served the state well

that its limitation

have been

those

neces-

stated by force of circumstances,

and that it can from

time

forward

render a

service

tate

many

time

greater than

it has in the past.

The state cannot progress except on

the basis

of research and education and the

University is prepared to lead

the way.

The placing of exact values upon research is not easy

. In some

cases

values

are

tangible

and

can

approximated

readily

while in others they are intangible and fax-reaching.

Values of

this

sort are

cumulative

results

an investment

in the

development of the state,

they project themselves into the years

to come,

their effect

are never-ending.

The discovery

of funda-

mental facts pertaining to soils,

plants and animal

, for instance,

reaches

down

very

basis

successful

agriculture;

it in-

fluences the results of the farmer's

work indefinitely

the finding of one truth leads to the discovery
the way is opened for further advancement.

of another

. Moreover,

so that

Who can place a value upon

the discovery that the application

of copper to the soil would make

the growing of

crops on Ever-

glades lands

possible,

where

without

agricultural

crops

could

fT4-'k~rmf 4 nn honnir ranoclllfa frrim rcOQO roh

l-"^r JWM^-^VT V

1 R*-

Tw n T

Studies initiated in the field of economics and the social sciences

are

vast

importance

Florida.

The

problems

pressing

solution are vital to the welfare of the commonwealth.

Nowhere

else can they be solved

o well as at the University

. So far as the

outcome

an investigation

is concerned

is a

disinterested

party

devoted solely to finding the

truth

, to developing the

fact

Only in

this

way

can

the proper

solution

problem

taxation
instance

of assessment

of tax

districts and

of government,

be found.

Research

pharmaceutical

These

natural

pharmacy
resources

resources

has
tied

can

gone

enough

Florida'

and

should

indicate

native

plant

developed.

life.
This

can

take

place

only

through

properly

supported

and

directed

research.
secured.

a virgin

field

from

which

much

wealth

may

Chemical investigations

Florida's

water resources are

fun-

damental

to their

development and to their uses

in many ways.

As the state'

population increase

the value

the work

done

in thi

field will increase.

Florida needs more

not less

research at it

university and thi

earch should cover the widest possible field.

CONTENTS

AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH

ANIMAL HUSBANDRY .

Salt-Sick

S 6 . * 4 S 4 4 . *. S 4 4 4 4 5 4 9.4 ** . S S S S * a

. . S S S S 4 9. 5 5. 5 5 4 S S S S S S S 4 5. 4l 6 4

a a S S S S 5 4 5 5 S S S SI S S S 4 4 5 4 5 5 S S S 4 4 5 4 6 5 5 4 5 S S S S S S S S S 5 4 5

Range Cattle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 636

The Dairy Herd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 636
Pork Production .. 638

Soybean Silage For Cattle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 639

Diseases of Live Stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 640

Manson's Eyeworm

Poultry Diseases .

Internal Parasites of Poultry

Nutritional Diseases

Anaplasmosis .....

CHEMISTRY AND SOILS RESEARCH

Early Soil Studies .......

Studies of Florida Phosphates

Everglades Soil Problems .. .. .. . 6. . .. .. .. .. .. . . . 642

The Value of Manganese .....

Citrus Fertilizer Investigations

Analyses of Citrus Fruits ....

Forest Soil Research

ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH . . . . .. .. . .. .. . . . . . .

Citrus Whitefly Fungi . . . . . . . . . .. .

Cottony Cushion Scale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Citrus Aphid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Strawberry Crimp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Cover Crops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . . . . 646

CO N T ENTS- Continued

FIELD CROP RESEARCH

Permanent Pasture Studies

New Crops Introduced ....

Velvet Beans

Crotalaria ...

Vetch and Austrian Peas

Sugarcane Cayana 10

Peanuts .. .......... .......... . ...

C orn .. .. .. . . . ... . .*..**. . .

Cover Crop Studies . . ........... ..................

Lawn Grasses ... ... . ... .........

HOME ECONOMICS RESEARCH ............... ........ .........

Nutritional Studies of Florida Children

Vitamin Studies

... ... .. ..C.*.. .. ... C.. ... .C.. .

Preservation Studies

Pecans ........ ...... ........ . . ..... ........ 657

Sweet Corn .. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . 657

Citrus Vinegar

HORTICULTURE

.. .. . .... . .... S .. .. .. .. .. .. C. . 658

Tung-Oil .

Pecans

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 659

Sour Orange Orcharding

Avocado Studies

Florida Ornamentals

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 660

Cold Storage Research

Plant Introductions
General Activities

.. ... . .... ........ . . . . 661

PLANT DISEASE RESEARCH

Tomatoes . . . . . . . . . . . 663
W atermelons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 665

- C a -

............................. . ...... 663

M m

I 1

CONTENT S- Continued

CHEMICAL RESEARCH

Leigh Fog Screen

..... . . . .......... . .. . 668

Studies of Water Supplies ...
Water Supply of St. Augustine

. . . ... . . . . . .. . . 668
.... .. .. ... .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. 669

Colorimetric Determination of Sodium and Potasium in Natural
W waters .. .. .. .. ... .................. .....

Coagulants in

Water

Purification

.. . ... .. .. . 669

Studies

of Mineral Resources

Naval Stores Research ....
Miscellaneous Investigations

Paint,

...... .. . . . .. ... 670
. . .. . . .. . . 670

Varnish, and Lacquer Studies

The U

of Tung-Oil in Spray

Lacquer

Use of Tung-Oil in Brush Lacquer

Manufacture of Varnish From Tung-Oil and Crude Turpen-
tine Gum in One Operation..........................

The U

of Tung-Oil in Paint

Some Chemical Problems

of the Florida Tung-Oil Industry

Manufacture of Ester Gum From Crude Turpentine Gum and
Glycerine in One Operation ....... .... ......

Painting Studies ...

Service Manufacturing

Pure Chemical

Acyl

. . . .. . . ... 672

Research

Derivatives of Ortho-Aminophenol.

Derivatives of Piperazine ....

Organic Compounds of Cerium

Anthraquinone

Derivatives

.... .... .... . ... .. ... 673

The U

of the Nitrogen Grignard Reagent in the Prepara-

tion of Rubber Accelerators ........
Chemical Reaction of Turpentine .....

* a 9 *..
* .. .

.a . ..a . .
. ... .. a. .

of Vanadium Salts in Analytical Work

RESEARCH IN ECONOMICS AND SOCIAL RELATIONS.........

CONTENTS

Investigations

- Concluded

n i Agricultural Economics

*-- W i- -W - -* - w - - - *I *I * * * * a a . .

An Economic Study of Potato Farming........................

Size of Business .......................

Yield of Potatoes .. . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .

Investment per Farm .................. ............. .

Survey of General Farming in Northwest Florida ...... .....

Economic Study of Dairy Farming...........................

Studies of Cotton Grades and Prices. ......................

678

678

679

Cost of Handling Citrus Crops .

. * a *4 . * S

Investigation of Citrus Freight Rates ......

Competition in Truck Crops ..............

Studies of Cooperative Associations... ...

Bureau of Economic and Business Research...

RESEARCH IN THE COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING. . . .

Engineering Experimental Work Accomplished

. .. a .

S S S S

. .. 680

* .. 9. ..5

* S. S S S

Utilization of Palmetto

Fiber for

Building

Measurements of Heat Transfer Through

Precision Timers for

The High Frequency

Calibration

Induction

The Imhoff Method of Sewage

of Rotary

Furnace.

Treatment

Materials.

Materials..

Watthour

*. ... 684

Meters...

. . . . . . . . . 685

RESEARCH WORK OF THE COLLEGE OF PHARMACY

Drug Plant Survey

Herbarium .......

Constituents of Florida Plants

Medicinal Plant Garden

..a... .a..*..S .S......*.S .........s.a ..
*.S. . a ..* . ... .. ..S. ..S..S . S S .....S

S. . .. . ... ....... .. . 688

S. .. . . . . ... 689

Improvements in Methods of Preparation of Pharmaceuticals.

Pure

Research

RESEARCH

THE

FIELD

OF

AGRICULTURE

1888

Florida

Experiment

Station

came

into

existence.

From

that time down to this it has

been furnishing growers and

agricultural workers of the state with helpful information.

One

can readily understand

little
tance.

impression

that

on Florida's

Those associated

earlier day

stood in

beginning

agriculture,

with

work

a peculiar position

and

Station

gave

little

Station in

even as workers

made
assis-
those
stand

in large measure today,

in that they were able to gain little knowl-

edge and little assistance on their problems from outside sources,

for Florida is a state peculiar unto itself,

and information secured

elsewhere

But as

or in other

years

have

fields
gone

very

on the

limited

Florida

application

station

here.

gained

strength,

knowledge

and

momentum

until

now

must

garded as a real factor in

the agriculture of the

state and in its

future development.
It is not possible within a limited space to call attention to all

of the way

helpful

which

the Florida Experiment Station

agricultural

industries

has

state.

been
best,

little can be done except to touch

upon a few

of the more impor-

tant and perhaps more striking achievements.

Since

establishment

248

Station

bulletins

and

444

press

bulletins

, touching almost every phase of the state'

agricultural

interests

, have been published.

In addition to these

bulletins

have been issued by the Agricultural Extension

Service,

supple-

meeting those public

hed by the Agricultural Experiment Station.

The

information

contained

these

publications

has

become

much a part of the daily work of

growers and

planters

that the

original source from which

the information came or the research

back

of it has been entirely

lost to sight.

For many years the work
tralized at one point; now, he

at Gainesville

of the Experiment Station was cen-
)wever, in addition to the main station

, there is a branch station for citrus at Lake Alfred, a

North Florida station

Quincy

a subtropical station at

Home-

stead

, and a station at Belle Glade for the Everglades,

all working

UNIVERSITY

cattle.
ments

FLORIDA

The work of the station is handled through several depart-

Agronomy

which has to do with field crops; Animal Hus-

bandry,

which look

after the problems

connected

with

pro-

duction of livestock; Chemistry

, interested in the problems of soil

fertility

and

wise

use of

fertilizers

Entomology,

concerned

with the control of insects attacking various crops; Horticulture,

dealing with

the problems of fruit and

vegetable

growing

Plant

Pathology,

which

takes

care of plant disease

problems

Agricul-

tural Economics

, interested in marketing and in problems relating

to farm profits; and Home Economic

, which carries on investiga-

tions in the values of food

and the

welfare of

our rural

popula-

tions.

What the Experiment Station learn

through it

research

workers is carried to the farmer

of the state and their families

through
Services.

Agricultural

Extension

and

Home

Demonstration

The financial and economic structure of Florida

today rests

large

measure

on agriculture

in many

numerous

forms.

From the very beginning this has been true,
so, for her future is inseparably tied up with

and it will always be
the wise and proper

use of land.

The Florida Experiment Station,

through it

various

activities
the state.

, has had a large part in the agricultural development of

and

future advancement of the state'

agriculture

will come about largely through

the activities of the Experiment

Station.

ANIMAL H1
The Department of Animal Hu

USBANDRY

bandry has charge of all animal

industry work such as dairy and beef

cattle investigations,

pork

production

studies,

and

poultry

management.

Florida

has

yet come into its own in thi

at work on the problem

field

of breeding,

, and the department is earnestly

nutrition, management, and

disease.

SALT-SICK

Salt-sick, an age-old

problem

in Florida cattle

production,

has

been solved.

It ha

engaged the attention of the Florida Experi-

ment Station since

1888.

In Bulletin 2

, issued by the Station in

-a-

.a

CP .1 11 I I

~ 1

I 1f r

TWENTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY

FROM RESEARCH

-- -8~

UNIVERSITY

FLORIDA

Maxwell, who has now undertaken the investigation of that singu-

lar cattle

disease

called

and

sometimes

Texas

Fever

and cattle-plague, which seems to have prevailed slightly in special

sections of

our state,

will not give it over until something more

satisfactory shall be determined."

However, Doctor Maxwell and

many of his successors had worked on the problem before

it was

finally

solved.

This disease

is known

to exist

in at least

Florida's 67

counties and is taking an enormous annual toll either

in deaths or in decreased efficiency of

our cattle.

Its cause

, cure,

and

prevention

have

been

worked

out.

has

been

proved

to be due to a deficiency in

certain mineral

elements

in soils and

grasses.

The use of

copper and iron will prevent it and, if

cases

are not too far advanced,

will

cure it.

Over three

hundred head

affected

cattle

under

range

conditions

have

recovered

when

treated.
industry

raise

This disease

and

cattle

been a serious drawback

large areas

because

state

inroads

people

salt-sick.

the cattle

have

ceased

Now

way

is open to begin again with the full

opportunity for success in so

far as

this trouble is concerned.

The

solution

of the problem is

one of the outstanding achievements of the Station.

RANGE CATTLE

With

the elimination of the fever tick as a cattle pest and

discovery

cause and

cure

salt-sick,

way

has

been

opened up for the raising of range and beef cattle of better quality

and

along

lines

that

promise

greater

return

cattlemen.

Moreover, competition in the

meat markets of

the country

is on

a different

basis from

what it was several

years ago,

because of

improved methods of handling and transporting dressed meats.

Recognizing

need

careful

experimental

work

in this

field

, the Experiment Station has laid plans for beef cattle studies,

particularly in

breeding and feeding.

Thi

is being done largely

in cooperation with outside agencies, and

what has

already

been

accomplished has

beef

cattle

indicated

industries

great
state.

value

this work

cooperation

with

Department

Agronomy

carrying

capacity

and

the

beef

- a WI ~ ~a a -

_- I.- -

1I i w

S

TI *IEU I* IEtI lir *l1 *I JII+ nr r nf *r. .Ia-I .-I-- 1

.

1

'Salt-sick,'

ir *~r~

rl ~u ~C

Y

TWENTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY FROM

RESEARCH

S
II

m~jf;i~~~
esi~A

A HERD OF NATIVE RANGE CATTLE.
The quality of native Florida cattle must be improved to compete successfully in the markets.
Florida Experiment Station through its research work is rendering great assistance in the
improvement of Florida Cattle.

as the Register

of Merit

based

upon

records

animals

milk

and

butter

producers.

The

minimum

requirement

the American Jersey Cattle Club for the

that 250.5 pounds

of butterfat

hall

registration

produced

f Jersey
305 day

by a two-year-old heifer.

For each

day that the animal is older

than this at the start of the test

, the requirement is increased one-

tenth pound,

until at five years of age the cow i

required to pro-

duce 360 pounds of butterfat.
At the Experiment Station every cow in the dairy herd of Jer-

seys

is given an

opportunity

on test

milking period and again at five

four

cows

Station

dairy

year
herd

qualify

age.

have

during
To date

qualified.

her first
twenty-
?-

Thu

Station dairymen have demonstrated that dairy cows of first rank

A Hereford

FLORIDA

REPEATER J. 25TH.
sire used in studies on grading up native cattle.

mineral supplements been fully recognized.
soils are deficient in these materials, it is ir

Since certain Florida
nportant that the part

they play in animal functions

be carefully

studied.

The

result

already secured at the Florida Experiment Station in this field of

investigation are

great importance,

and

these,

together

with

the result

of future studies,

will have tremendous influence upon

the development of the state's

cattle industries.

PORK PRODUCTION

That hogs can be raised free from intestinal parasite

has been

demonstrated for other parts of the country

Swine

herd

man-

agement adapted to Florida conditions, as worked

out by the De-

apartment of Animal Husbandry, proves that hogs of medium meat

UNIVERSITY

TWENTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY FROM RESEARCH

h
m

-

.h.

A TON LITTER OF HOGS RAISED BY THE EXPERIMENT STATION.

A litter of pigs that weighed 27 pounds at birth and 2215 pounds at
ment Station. This litter is proof of the value of breeding,

six months,

raised

feeding and sanital

by the Experi-
tion as

practiced and recommended by the Station.

pigs weighing twenty-seven

weight of

pounds at birth

15 pounds in six month

was grown out

at the Florida Station.

to a
The

Department

shown

further

that

is entirely

practical

raise two litters each year from a brood sow instead

Closely

associated

with

work

and

in cooperation

only
with

one.

Department

Agronomy,

development

stem

raising field crops to supply

grazing for each

month in

the year,

finishing the animal

for market in September and in March,

when

price

are highest.

SOYBEAN SILAGE FOR CATTLE

has

making

been

a silage

found

entirely

which

practical

high

to use

feeding

soybeans

value.

alone

little

over

UNIVERSITY

FLORIDA

sgving thi

valuable legume roughage

is of

material

importance

to Ftorida dairymen.
DISEASES OF LIVE STOCK

Manson's Eyeworm.-The

Manson

history of

the parasite

's eyeworm in poultry has been determined.

It wa

causing

found

that a certain species of cockroach was the intermediate host for

the parasite.

It was found that, by removing the droppings from

poultry

hou

regularly

parasite

could

controlled,

since the cockroaches

became infected by feeding upon the drop-

pmgs.

Poultry in turn became infected from

eating the infected

cockroaches.
Poultry Diseases.-Three to four hundred fowls are received at

laboratory

each

year

for the

diagnosis

various

diseases.

Thi

work is of great importance because it keep

touch with the disea

state

and

because

these

that are more or les

diagnose

and

s the Department
i prevalent in the
recommendations

based upon them undoubtedly

thousands of

ave Florida poultr

dollars each year in preserving the

y owners many
health of foun-

dation

stock

, laying

birds

, pullets,

and

baby

chick

means

of these diagnoses, certain specific diseases of poultry
have been investigated, and it is estimated that contact,

made with at least 500 poultrymen,

dling their flock

in Florida
have been

to whom information in han-

and controlling diseased conditions present has

been given.

Internal Parasites of Poultry

result

.-Very interesting and important

have been obtained from recent extensive studies relating

to the parasites of poultry

It has been found that on the whole

the use of vermifuges to expel worms is a useles

procedure and

that

untreated

birds

handled

exactly

those

treated

give

higher

egg

production.

been

demonstrated

that

worms

may

be controlled

by sanitation and that this method

should be

followed

rather than

that

giving worthless

medicine

tempting to remove worms.

This finding will be of material benefit

to poultrymen both in saving the expense of the medicine and in

doing

away with

the decrease

in egg

production,

which follows

TWENTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY FROM RESEARCH

, particularly

toward

close

winter,

been

attributed

to the lack of feed and to the prevalence of Texas fever.

There

appears

be no question,

however,

that

nutritional

deficiencies

very frequently

causes

responsible.

diseases

There

will

is great

worked

certainty

and

that

that
they

will

brought

under

control.

Definite

progress

has

already

been made.

of the

state

All of thi
on a firm

will assist in placing the cattle industries

basis.

The

results of these studies when

put into effect will be worth more than $2,000,000 annually to the
state.

Anaplasmosis.-How

prevalent

anaplasmosis

was

in the

state

prior to

the clearing

up of Texas

fever in

many

sections

known

, but in all probability the latter disease masked the former

is quite

well

microscopical

established

blood

parasite

that
and

anaplasmo

that

some

is caus

insect

or external

parasite

carries

the organism

from

one animal

another.

vestigations are now under way to discover the carrier,

an insect or tick

probably

and when this carrier has been found the inves-

tigation of control measures can

be intelligently undertaken.

UNIVERSITY

OF FLORIDA

CHEMISTRY

AND

SOILS

RESEARCH

When the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station was estab-

listed in 1888,

the Department of

Chemistry was organized

and

from that time down to the present has rendered a great service

to the state.

From time to

time it

lines of

investigations have

changed

meet the

needs

a developing

agriculture

until

has touched every phase of the state's

In the earlier years it

progress in this

d

work was concerned largely with

direction.
natural

resources.

Early

Soil Studies.-In Bulletin

peared the first analy

No. 2

of Florida soil

, published

both

1888

chemical and

, ap-
me-

chanical

, made by the Department of Chemistry

Later these were

followed

extensive

studies

soils and

mucks.

Hundreds of

examination

were

made and

reported,

and

these

have

large

measure formed the basis

our present chemical

knowledge

Florida

lands.

Samples

were

collected

over

wide

areas

and

consequence

the soil information

secured at that time applies to

the state as a whole and has been of

great value over a period of

nearly

half a century

The

muck and peat

deposit

the state

have not as yet been appraised by the citizenry at their true worth,

but the early analytical work is of value today even as it wa

when

it was done.
Studies of Florida Phosphates.-Undoubtedly the early work of

the Department greatly

stimulated

the phosphate mining indus-

try in the state.

Many analyse

were published, 387

of them at

one

time

1890,

and

these

furnished

basis

upon

which

numerous
moreover,

instances

early

mining

manufacturing

operations
phosphoric

were

acid

undertaken;

fertilizer

ma-

trials was investigated and much information

upon which both

mining and manufacturing operations

were

based

was

supplied.

It is difficult to place a definite value on

this development

except

state

that

mining

phosphate

amounted to over eighty million tons.

rock
1929.

since

1888

has

last year for

which

figures are available,

3,088,298

long tons,

having

a value

of $9,901,704,

were mined.

The

use of phosphatic

materials

fertilizers, stimulated by the work of the Experiment Station. has

TWENTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY FROM RESEARCH

but when they were drained and the growing of

crop

attempted

difficulties were encountered.

Nearly everything that was planted

simply

refused

grow

solve

problems

that

arose

branch station was established in the Everglades by an act of the

Legislature, and immediately

studied

were

undertaken

to deter-

mine why the saw

grass soils were not productive.

As a

result

of these investigation

it was shown that the

use of

copper sul-

phate and manganese would overcome
fered with the culture of plants. The

the difficulties that

se two chemical

inter-

have now

come into

general

and

profitable use

growing

crop

the whole vast area.

It is safe

to say that practically

every ton

commercial

fertilizer

shipped

in the

Everglades

and

like areas carries

in it the quantity

either or both copper and

manganese

necessary

crop

production

when

applied

oils.

By the use of th

materials the area

that can be profit-

ably cultivated in the Everglades may be increased to one million

acres or more

on them

and

overcome

difficulties

cheaply

encountered

difficult

m growing

estimate

crops

tre-

mendous value of this work to the State of Florida.

-" s '."^- ~* ** ~ .-.. -.^

* I.,

* -

- ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ i a. r 1 i '- -- ----- -: '

lid 1

haefiflfl^^x~btW-vi-w

' . i t

I -

UNIVERSITY

FLORIDA

CORN GROWN ON RAW EVERGLADES SOIL.
The plants at the left were produced on copper treated soil, those at the right
on untreated soil. Both were planted at the same time.

The

Value

Manganese.-In

cooperation

with

Federal

Department of Agriculture, experiments carried on in the Home-

stead section have shown that the use of 50 pound

of manganese

per acre will

take the place of stable

manure

previously

deemed

necessary

production

crops

grown

that area.

the cost of stable manure was steadily increasing, and the quality
decreasing, doing away with its use has meant a large saving to

I* *.V

TWENTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY FROM RESEARCH

Citrus Fertilizer Investigations.-During the period from 1905

1920 the

first extensive citrus fertilizer experiments

were un-

dertaken, and the

results of ten years of

experiments

were

pub-

lished in 1919.
this period, tl

More intensive soil studies were also begun during

object being

determine

loss

fertilizers

sustained through leaching rains, and the part played by

organic

matter in

soil.

During

this

period

also

first

tanks

were installed at the Experiment Station.

These

tanks were the

second

of such

tanks to be

installed in this country.

Since

that

time the value of such equipment in the study of fundamental soil

problems

become

so well

established

that

similar

equipment

has been installed in a large number of

experiment stations.

Experiments

with

sources

nitrogen

on citrus

have

shown

that

inorganic

sources

nitrogen

which

cost

much

less

than

organic

were

sources

closely

successfully

followed

in cost of fertilizer would

closely

used.

citrus

approximate

these

growers

$300,000

findings
; saving
a year.

Experiments with citrus, tomatoes, and celery, comparing muriate

and sulphate

of potash as sources of

potash,

indicate

that the muriate can be successfully substituted for the

present
ulphate.

As the

muriate sells for

approximately $10.00

per ton less

than

the sulphate,

there

will

be a

saving

growers

approxi-

mately $159,000 for citrus, $51,000 for tomatoes, and $80,000 for

celery

their

fertilizer

further work

bears

present

indications.

Extending these experiments

to other crops

might

mean

similar

savings

growers.

Likewise,

work

with

amounts of potash on citrus indicates that fifteen units of potash

per year

sufficient

produce

good

crops,

instead

to 20 units generally used.

Analyses of Citrus

Fruits.--As early

as 1891

analytical

work

on the orange was undertaken.
extended analyses at a later dat(

This was followed by much more
. These studies covered specific

gravity

chemical composition,

sugar,

acid,

solids, and

juice con-

tent.

conjunction

with

other studies,

they

have been used as

the basis of fruit maturity legislation.
Investigations in the waste products from citrus canning plants

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

ciple) of citrus may ultimately lead to the finding of new uses for
these substances, thus opening up a new source of revenue to the
citrus grower.
Cover Crops.-Studies of the use and benefits to be derived
from the use of cover crops in citrus growing have indicated that
the best way of handling these crops is to mow them and allow
them to remain on the surface of the ground, thus cutting down
the cost of grove operations through the elimination of plowing
and frequent harrowing. The present indications are that by
using sufficiently large amounts of organic matter an improve-
ment in the quality of the fruit will result as well as a better
utilization of the rainfall and a reduction in the loss of fertilizer

through

leaching.

The

saving

dollars

and

cents

these

studies to the citrus growers of the state would be difficult to
estimate, but the amount is very large.
Forest Soil Research.-Studies now under way in cooperation

with

United States Forest Service and the Florida Forest

Service

on the

effect

different

methods of

handling forest

areas and the effect on soil and the growth of grass and pasture

plants will,

carried to final conclusion, greatly influence the

future development of forest areas,
the state and the individual owner.

to the betterment of both

TWENTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY FROM RESEARCH

ENTOMOLOGICAL

RESEARCH

Because

Florida's

geographical

location

and

climatic

conditions,
injurious 1

insects of

man,

many

kinds

animals,

occur,

and

numbers

crops

which

grows.

The

situation

here is quite different from

that in northern locations

that

insects

in most

parts

state

active

through-

out the year.

Moreover,

the methods depended

upon for control

elsewhere can not as a rule

be used without modification.

Modi-

fled or new methods must be worked out in dealing with the situ-

action.

consequence,

entomological

studies

are

paramount

importance,

and

the results of

investigations of

insect

pests

cured

Florida

Experiment

Station

Entomologist

have

made possible the continued and profitable production of many of

the state's most important crops.

Insect studies were undertaken

at an early

date, and a

vast amount of assistance

been given

overcoming

certain

their

agricultural

inroads.

industries

Time

has

and

been

again

very

threatened.

But

difficulties

have

been

successfully

overcome

and

threats

moved.

It will be practicable to mention

important instances where

the Station ha

only a few
s pioneered

of the more
in the con-

trol or eradication of these insects.

CITRUS WHITEFLY

FUNGI

About
gating i

1885

n great

a small

swarms

havoc with tree and fruit.

a high mortality

, white-winged

Florida
In 1893.

these whiteflies at

insect
citrus

a station

was
grove

found

and

congre-
playing

worker discovered

Crescent City

made

careful post-mortem examinations of the flies and found that they

had

been killed by a fungus enemy

From

this discovery

devel-

oped the idea of controlling this insect by the use of fungi.

It is

believed that the

Florida Experiment Station is

the first organ-

ization in the world to

make large orchard use of fungi in insect

control.

Two of these friendly fungi,

Red Aschersonia and Yel-

low

Aschersonia,

now

being

grown

on artificial

media

and

disseminated

over

Florida

citrus

area

State

Plant

Board.

These

friendly

fungi

are

most

effective

controlling

UNIVERSITY

FLORIDA

A FUNGUS THAT DESTROYS WHITEFLIES.
A culture of Red Aschersonia fungus used in fighting whiteflies. The fungus
mixed in water is sprayed on infested trees. The method of growing this
fungus was developed by the Florida Experiment Station and cultures
are available in quantity from the State Plant Board.

Spraying

operations to

combat

this

insect were not

found

prac-

tical.

worker

Experiment

Station

imported

tralian

ladybeetle

into

Florida

infested

groves

and

found

this

ladybeetle,

commonly

called

Vedalia,

effective

in controlling

cottony

cushion

scale.

In recent

years

Florida

P State

Plant

TWENTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY FROM RESEARCH

CITRUS APHID

estimated

that

citrus

aphid

damaged

citrus

dustry to the extent of $4,000,000.00 in the spring of 1925.

The

Department of Entomology studied the habits and life history of

this insect to determine how it might be controlled.

It was found

that

dusting

under

proper

atmospheric

conditions

was

very

effective

and

economical.

repetition

1925

damage

very improbable.

STRAWBERRY

CRIMP

The strawberry crop in Florida is an important one,

represent-

ing a gross return to the state of between $2,730,000 and $3,969,

000 annually

. One of the most serious diseases that has occurred

in connection

with this crop is that

known as strawberry

crimp.

A field laboratory was established near Plant City for the study

this

and

other

strawberry

diseases

and

a plant

pathologist

placed in charge.

The result of this

been

that the cause

and the remedy for strawberry crimp

have been

worked out.

has been shown that the disease is due to a nematode,

worm,

or minute

that is carried over from one season to another and intro-

I

duced into new plantings in infested plant

free planting stock has been determined and,

The value of disease-
whether new plants

are secured from without or from within the state, growers now

know

that the

freedom

of their plants

from

crimp

will

gov-

erned by the use of healthy planting stock.

Thus

, a major disease

of thi

crop has been overcome.

ASPARAGUS

MITE

Five

years

ago,

growing

asparagus

ferns

Florida,

farm crop worth a million dollars annually to the state,

was sen-

ously threatened

a new pest known

as the California

or two-

spotted mite.
effective mean

After two years of experimental work,

control has

a cheap and

been developed.

CELERY

LEAF-TIER

A practical and economical means of

control of the celery

leaf-

tier

has

been

worked

Experiment

Station

and

-r - -, a -

UNIVERSITY

FLORIDA

MOLE CRICKETS

Mole

cricket

have

been

one

most

annoying

pests

Florida truck farming, with no satisfactory control method known.

Within the past two year

, the Experiment Station has discovered

that

substituting

egg mash

bran

ordinary

grass-

hopper bait a

will

enable

very

effective

growers

poison

land

obtained.

again

which

Thi

were

s discovery
practically

abandoned because of the activities of this pest.

MEALY BUGS

Mealy

bugs

have

always

caused

considerable

growers

of bulb

and in some years have been serious pest

The control of this insect by spraying is difficult.

in citrus groves.
The Experiment

Station

secured

and

bred

ladybeetle

which

will

feed

upon

the mealy bug,

and the value of the

e ladybeetle

has been demon-

strated

as a practical

control

method.

are also helpful in controlling the citru

These
aphid.

same

ladybeetles

Some of the other injuriou

insects for which the

Experiment

Station

has

measures

been
3 the

instrumental

pecan

in working

shuckworm and

effective

pecan thrips,

control
3 latter

having inflicted severe losses at times, especially on tomatoes and
citrus.

TWENTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY FROM RESEARCH

FIELD CROP RESEARCH

The work of the Department of Agronomy in

the Florida Ex-

periment Station i

concerned with the

production and improve-

ment by selection, breeding,

and testing of

corn

cotton

, peanut

hay

improvement,

pasture

and

grazing

plant

state looks for

leadership

the development of farm crops and

worthy

note

that our

knowledge

uch

plant

stance

, as velvet beans and crotalaria and such grasses as centi-

pede, Bahia, napier, Dallis and Para,

come from investigation

carried out by the Florida Experiment Station.

For many years

extensive

testing

grounds

have

been

maintained

in cooperation

with the Bureau of Plant Industry,

United States Department of

Agriculture, for the testing of grasses and other forage crop

possible

value.

making

good lawns,

in the

establish-

ment

and

improvement

good

pastures,

whether

on farm

range,
crops,

in the uses of cover crop

the Station ha

, and in the improvement of field

rendered a distinct service.

PERMANENT PASTURE STUDIES

Since

good

permanent pastures are

paramount

importance

beef cattle production,

this Department

been cooperating

with the Animal Husbandry Department in ascertaining the most

satisfactory

gras

and

legume

grown

various

types.
pedeza

Carpet, Bahia

have

been

Dalli

found

, Para, Bermuda, centipede,

suited

specific

location

and les-

these

improved pasture studies native grass pastures have been used as

checks.

Steers

that

grazed

an average

nine

month

improved pastures made gain

pounds of beef per acre and

these pastures carried one steer to an acre.

the native range

pastures, by allowing approximately

acres

per steer,

the gain

during the same period averaged about 11 pounds of beef per acre.

Time and methods of planting pastures

have been well

worked

out.

Investigations

show

that

closely

grazed

or frequently

pasture grasses maintain a continuous vegetative growth because

the residual leaf area,

not removed by

grazing or cutting,

elabo-

rates

sufficient

organic

foods

vigorous

vegetative

growth.

652 UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

tion and body building of grazing cattle. Lysimeter studies of
pasture grasses grown on Norfolk sand demonstrate that fre-
quently cut grasses utilize fertilizers economically, while a large
percentage of the fertilizers applied to grasses grown to maturity
is lost through leaching.
During the 1930-31 season, 35,000 pounds of seed of improved
pasture grasses were planted on 4,000 to 5,000 acres in Florida.
NEW CROPS INTRODUCED
The Agronomy Department of the Experiment Station, in co-
operation with the Forage Crops Office, U. S. D. A., has intro-
duced and disseminated in Florida: velvet beans, crotalaria, Aus-
trian peas, monantha vetch, hairy vetch, centipede grass, Bahia
grass, Dallis grass, lespedeza (Japan clover), napier grass, Jap-
anese and cayana 10 sugarcane, pigeon peas, and kudzu.

VELVET BEANS
Velvet beans were first noticed by a member of the Experiment
Station as a trellis or porch vine about 1895. Some seed was
obtained from Mr. A. P. Newheart, of Ocoee, Florida, where it had
been used about 20 years as an ornamental. A quarter of an acre

*\

TWENTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY FROM RE

SEARCH

was

planted at

Lake City

on poor

with

good

success.

The

economic value and use of thi

crop were worked out by the Sta-

tion and some of the important varieties were originated here by

crossing.

Velvet bean

are grown on some 87,000 acres of Florida

lands

annually

and

produce

seed

and

forage

feed

and

land

improvement of inestimable

value to the state.

In nitrogen gath-

ered and vegetable matter furnished, ti
of a million dollars annually in Florida.
CROTALARIA

crop is worth in

excess

The

use of

crotalaria

been increasing

as a fertilizing

a tremendous

and

rate

improving

in recent

year

crop
The

crop

now

being

produced

on from

50.000

75.000

acres

Florida land.

Florida-produced

crotalaria

seed

(1931

crop)

had

a value of $1

20.000

and it is e

timated that the combined organic

matter,
million

nitrogen,

dollars

and

seed

annually

Experiment Station,

value

crop

Through

is well

efforts

in cooperation with the United States

over

one

Florida
Depart-

ment of

Agriculture,

this

valuable

crop

been

spread

widely

over the state.

'f
* a

.er'

mC
Ib-t

I I

*VJ *x"-

UNIVERSITY

OF FLORIDA

VETCH

AND

AUSTRIAN

PEAS

a result of

work

Experiment

Station,

150,000

pounds of vetch and Austrian pea seed were planted on 6,000 acres

of West

Florida

lands in

1931.

This

combination

cover

crop

proving a great soil improver and increases the yields of corn and

other crops appreciably without the

addition

commercial fer-

tilizers.

tural

Thi

work

Extension

has

service

been
and

furthered

potential

greatly

Agricul-
general

value

farming area

of West Florida is very great.

SUGARCANE CAYANA 10

Cayana 10 sugarcane, a variety

originated by the

Depart-

ment of Agriculture and which resists mosaic and root-knot,

been

widely tested by the

Florida Agricultural

Experiment

has
Sta-

tion and is replacing old types of cane for syrup

West Florida.

a result of crossbreeding many new varieties have been origi-

nated

Everglades

Branch

Station

these

, together

with

other canes, are now under test for all-round

value,

not only for

the Everglade

but for the smaller farms of Florida.

654

- 1FA --

TWENTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY FROM RESEARCH

PEANUTS

Variety tests of peanut

show that Florida Runner and Spanish

are the highest yielding varieties for

Florida conditions.

Closer

spacing of peanut

100 to

has

200 pounds per acre.

hown that yields

be increased from

Proper spacing for each variety

has

been carefully worked out by the Station.

Breeding i

under way

to secure new

and better varieties.

CORN

Varieties of corn

have

been discovered

that will yield approx-

imately

25 percent more grain than the varieties

now in common

on Florida

on Florida

farm

farms.

from

The
1929

average

1931,

annual

production

inclusive

was

corn

6,122,000

bushels with an estimated farm value of $4,689,333.

It can readily

be seen what the use of these improved seed varieties by

will represent in new wealth.

Florida

An increase of two bushels per acre

will add $500,000 to the annual value of the corn crop.
COVER CROP STUDIES
Decomposition studies on crotalaria striata at different growth

stages

show

varying results.

early vegetative

stages

decomposes

rapidly

because

higher

nitrogen

content

and

lower percentage of carbohydrate

accumulation of

soil nitrogen is

and fibrou

desired

material.

as in

case

If a rapid
of truck

crops,

the crotalaria

plant

should

incorporated

with

early

growth

stages.

on the

other

hand,

a retarded

accumulation of

soil nitrogen is required, in order that the crop

can make

use of it in

the spring month

, the plant

should be

advanced, stage

growth

before

being

incorporated

with

the soil.

Florida farmer

source

organic

rapidly
matter

utilizing the crotalaria

and

nitrogen.

plant as

better soils

of the truck crop areas,

one acre of crotalaria will yield from two

to three tons of
yield from 80 to

dry material top growth.

120 pound

This top growth

will

of nitrogen, or the equivalent of 533

to 800 pounds of nitrate of soda.

LAWN

GRASSES

qini'ohla rrvoaQaa fnr iravr rnind loXrni onA nrtnhloma ;rtna_

> UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

HOME ECONOMICS RESEARCH
Research in Home Economics covers the field of human food,

clothing and shelter.

These lines of investigation, made possible

by Federal appropriations, have only recently been undertaken
by the Agricultural Experiment Station, Department of Home

Economics.

Already,

however,

this

work

has

progressed

enough to indicate its great value.

Attention over many years

has been given to the welfare of animals and plants.

How much

more important is it that the welfare of human beings should
receive attention!

NUTRITIONAL STUDIES OF FLORIDA CHILDREN

Physical and laboratory

examinations were made by Station

workers of 3,325 white school children in five Florida counties.
These findings were correlated with the progress made in school
by these children and with studies of their diets.
In the rural schools of certain sections of the state more than

60 percent of the children harbor hookworms.

Of the children

who repeated a grade in their school work, 95 percent were hook-

worm subjects.

This is significant from an economic standpoint

when the additional cost to the state for grade repetitions is con-

sidered.

The real significance of this study, however, is its bear-

ing on the health of Florida boys and girls.

Hookworm can be

controlled as soon as the united effort is made, similar to the work
of eradication of the cattle tick and other disease carrying para-
sites of the lower animals.
It was also found in this study that over 30 percent of the chil-
dren were not receiving the proper foods for development and

growth.

This condition was not due to their being economically

unable to secure proper food, but to lack of knowledge as to what

constituted a balanced diet.

It has been

demonstrated further

that children receiving a proper diet are much less susceptible
to hookworm infestations.

VITAMIN STUDIES

Station

workers

have

found

that carotin

can

used

a a -- a -- -

TWENTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY FROM RESEARCH

PRESERVATION

STUDIES

Pecans.-It

been found

that pecans

canned

in vacuum

an atmosphere of

nitrogen

or of hydrogen have a

pleasing taste

one year after canning.
Sweet Corn.---A study has been made of the organisms causing

spoilage of

canned sweet

corn.

Suggestions

and

recommen-

dations have been made which should eliminate a high percentage

of thi

spoilage.

Citrus
vinegar

Vinegar.-It has

made

from

been found

oranges,

that a

very

grapefruit,

good grade

and

other

types

of citrus fruits.

Thi

indicates another means of using the citrus

crop when there is a surplus.

UNIVERSITY

FLORIDA

HORTICULTURE

Because

Florida,

of the large

work

number of horticultural

Department

plant

Horticulture

grown
covers

very wide field.

When the great extent of the state is considered

in connection

with

the diversity

of the

soils

some

realization

the great number of problem

handled

can be

gained.

The

work

Department covers the growing of tropical fruit crops

well as those of more temperate areas.

It deals with truck crops

many

kinds

and

ornamental

plants,

both

commercial

and

aesthetic

in endles

variety

Even

the answering of

correspon-

dence of thi

Department is

a task of no small magnitude.

Among

the lines

work that

have

been

carried

on and

now

under

way the following are interesting:

TUNG-OIL

The

present commercial plantings of

tung-oil

tree

Florida,

now

amounting

about

10.000

acres

directly

traceable

the initial plantings made at the Florida Experiment Station and

I I

1~11

TWENTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY FROM RESEARCH

the work done there.

Early test

indicated the tree

' adaptability;

later

work

gation, s
oil expre

included

studies,

variety

cover crops,

selection
mulching

fertilization

and

, propa-

cultivation.

sing plant has been erected by private capital

ers now have a cash

outlet for their product.

and grow

This is claimed

be the only modern tung-oil extraction mill in the world.

The first

tank car of tung-oil was shipped from Gainesville

in April,

1932.

A new crop that causes

little competition

with other product

Florida soil has come

into

existence through

the effort

and

en-

couragement of the Florida Station.

Tung-oil is used in the mak-

ing of varnishes

and paints,

as well as in the manufacture of

cloth
in 19

and

linoleum and

for many

29, principally from China,

other purposes.

Importation

reached a value of $14,972,000.00.

It appears probable that domestic needs eventually will be met by
home production.

PECANS

When

pecan

investigations

were

first

started

Florida

Experiment Station about

1900

there

were

very

few

budded

grafted orchards in

the commercial pecan

belt.

The

information

**

I -

wrl~

660 UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

gained through investigations carried out by the Florida Station
has been largely responsible for the development of the cultivated
pecan industry in northern and western Florida and in adjoin-

ing states.

The production of pecan nuts in Florida has increased

until it is now in excess of one million pounds annually.

The

largest yield so far obtained in this state was from the crop of

1928, about two million pounds.

The growth and development

of this industry has been very closely correlated with the pecan
investigations of the Florida Experiment Station.
SOUR ORANGE ORCHARDING
Through cooperation with the world's largest manufacturer of
orange marmalade, the suitability of Florida sour oranges in place

of Spanish sour oranges has been established.

This has brought

about a demand for bright Florida sour oranges, and they

now being shipped from Florida in carload lots.

This opens the

way for the expansion of

citrus

production along an

entirely

new line.

AVOCADO STUDIES

Work

Station

composition

and

maturity

avocados has

furnished the first large amount of reliable

and

complete

information

concerning

composition

Florida

avocados and has opened the way to the development of a work-
able maturity standard. The relation of composition to the ma-
turity of the fruit has been worked out for most of the standard

varieties.

The relationship of storage temperature to the keep-

ing of avocados and the development of blackening in the pulp
is being worked out, and the cause of much of the difficulty in the

shipping of

certain

varieties has

been determined.

Thus,

Station

work

should

result

intelligent

harvesting

and

handling of one of the most highly nutritious of fruits.

Demand

for the fruit is certain to increase when it reaches the buyer in
the optimum condition for consumption.
FLORIDA ORNAMENTALS
Much work has been accomplished at the Florida Station in
ascertaining the types` and varieties of hedges, palms and vines
4-L1.a.. a 3 JasnL 1- Z -. < f. r i....

TWENTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY FROM RESEARCH

COLD STORAGE RESEARCH
In the winter of 1930-31 an experimental cold storage plant for
the study of cold storage problems with sub-tropical fruits was

completed and put into operation.

studies on

the freezing of orange

The field of work has included
juice and other sub-tropical

fruits and their products, the' cold storage of oranges, and the cold

storage of grapefruit.

Considerable progress has already been

made in the identification of undesirable tastes in extracted orange
juice, and this work is basic to much of the commercial applica-

tion of freezing processes.

The

Youngberry has been found to

be a very desirable fruit for frozen storage and basic work has
been done on a number of other fruits, some of which show great

promise for this field of merchandising.

Studies on the cold stor-

age of

oranges have

shown

the great

advantage of

moisture-

retentive wrappers in retaining the appearance and quality

oranges

during

storage.

The

studies

have

been

particularly

successful with the Valencia variety.

Studies on the cold storage

of grapefruit have been less markedly successful than those with
oranges, but much progress has been made toward the elimina-

tion

pitting,

prevention

internal

breakdown,

and

cutting down decay.

The development of successful methods of

cold storaging citrus fruit would not only be a valuable aid in
lengthening the marketing season but would also operate to im-
prove the methods of handling fruit on long haul shipments, as

foreign

countries.

Considering the

location and climate of

Florida, together with its seasonal production, this line of work
is of tremendous potential value.
PLANT INTRODUCTIONS

When

it is

remembered

that

Florida

agriculture

based

almost entirely upon exotic or introduced plants, to some extent

the value of new plant introduction can be recognized.

A single

new plant or a new variety of an old one may add hundreds of

thousands of dollars annually to Florida

agriculture.

The test-

ing of plants new to the state has been going on at the Station

for many years.

For instance, in the field of agronomy, it was

in this way that the value of the velvet bean, the two crotalarias

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

stations at Lake Alfred and Homestead.

The results will. be of

great value to the state in the future even as this sort of work

has been in the past.

Some of this work is being done indepen-

dently and some is in cooperation with the United States Depart-

ment of Agriculture.

New plants and crops will play a large part

in increasing the production of lands now in cultivation and in
bringing into cultivation lands not adapted to species or varieties
of plants now available.
GENERAL ACTIVITIES
A great deal of help has been given by members of the Depart-

ment to growers of horticultural

products in the state and to

prospective

settlers.

The correspondence

has

been

extremely

heavy, amounting to around 4,300 letters per year, and, in addi-
tion, a number of bulletins have been issued giving information
on the culture of various horticultural crops including persim-

mons,

blueberries, papayas, miscellaneous

tropical fruits,

tung-

oil, strawberries, and pecans, and on citrus propagation. A number
of papers have been published in various magazines covering the

culture of many other fruits.

The work of collecting and cor-

relating data on various crops to the end that those attempting
to grow them shall have the best possible advice is a line of re-
search that has been worth thousands of dollars to those inter-
ested in Florida horticulture.

TWENTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY FROM RESEARCH

PLANT DISEASE RESEARCH
Research in the field of plant diseases is carried on by the De-

apartment of Plant Pathology of the Experiment Station.

main the

work covers

four branches:

diseases of

truck,

In the
fruit,

farm, and ornamental crops.
The investigation of truck crop diseases has been going on con-
tinuously almost since the Station was established in 1888, and
the accomplishments in this field have been of untold value in

solving the problems encountered by growers.

At this time the

truck crops produced total approximately fifty thousand carloads

annually,

with a value approaching forty million dollars.

It is

not too much to say that the plant disease investigations of the
Experiment Station are saving millions of dollars annually to the

truck

growers of the state,

and

some crops

could not now

produced at a profit were it not that the life histories of plant
disease organisms were studied and methods of control developed.
These methods have become a part of standard cultural practices.
Equally important is the work that has been done on citrus

diseases,

and

knowledge

now

employed

handling

these

troubles has originated in large measure in the Florida Experi-

ment Station.

These investigations are going, and must still go

forward, in the interests of citrus production.

of the citrus crop exceeds that of the state'

tru

It is possible to call attention to only a few

portant investigations carried
Pathology.

on by the

The annual value
ck crops.
of the more im-

Department of

Plant

~TOMATOES
The tomato, with an annual average value of about nine million
dollars, has the highest gross return to the state of any truck

crop produced.

It is susceptible to a number of serious diseases

that have received the attention of Station pathologists for many

years.

The

first

publication

on tomato

diseases

appeared

Bulletin Number 18, in 1892.

The value of tomato disease studies

is best exemplified by the results secured in the control of Nail

Head Rust.

In an effort to find a tomato resistent to wilt, an-

_1j .._ - --.. _I -----. -LI-- "*r .... 1 .. .. -. ..---L ------... . 1 .-.-.-. '1

UNIVERSITY

FLORIDA

4

TWENTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY

FROM RESEARCH

Rust

has ceased

be a

disease

importance.

present

time breeding experiments are going forward with the object of

securing varieties

resistent

Fusarium

wilt

and

other

serious

tomato diseases that take their toll of the crop annually
WATERMELONS

Measured
produced 'in

not the

carloads,

1929,

largest,

which

watermelon

produced

in the

nearly

crop

state.

thousand

is one of t
Whenever

were

largest,

watermelons

are grown

on the same piece of land

more

than a season

two

Fusarium

wilt makes

its appearance.

So severe

are its

roads on

the stand

of plants

that it

becomes

unprofitable

the land longer, and to avoid heavy losses the growers are under
the necessity of securing new locations. This has made it neces-

sary

open

new

areas

farther

removed

from

usual

shipping centers at increased expenses for clearing, haulage and

other items.

Hence production costs have mounted steadily

1929

a plant

pathologist

was

assigned

study

this

disease;

as a result of this work three varieties of watermelons

lent quality, resistent to the wilt,

excel-

have been secured by breeding

and selection.

It remains to fix these varieties so they will

come

true to type from year to year when grown from seed.

However

the foundation for the solution of this problem has been laid and

we may

look forward

confidently to

time

when

this

serious

watermelon disease will no longer affect adversely the production

of this crop.

The solution of this disease problem will be of great

financial benefit to the watermelon growers of the state.
TOBACCO

parts of West Florida

growing

high

priced

wrapper

tobacco
a gross

under

annual

shade

is an important

value

industry

approximately

the crop

$2,250,000.

having

1921

serious diseases had invaded tobacco seed beds and fields.

When

called upon for assistance the Florida Experiment Station deter-

mined

that the

most serious of

these diseases

was

black shank,

due to the presence in the soil

a parasitic fungus,

and

under-

took to

produce varieties of tobacco resistent to

2 J

r -

- a a- 4

it, since it could

II

* -

* 3 . ....U A- -_ -- -- -- | . . | . .. r _ I -

.!

I

UNIVERSITY

FLORIDA

DISEASE RESISTANT TOBACCOS.

This illustration

strains

shows

of tobacco.

the results

All the ground

secured

by the Florida Experiment Station in breeding resistant

is infected with Fusarium fungus.

The susceptible tobacco in the

center has gone down under its attack.

resistant

tobaccos on either side

are not affected.

value

apparently

these

efforts

carefully

insurmountable

is probable

directed

problem.

that

research

Had
shade

when

success

tobacco

applied

not attended

industry

West Florida would have been wiped out.

POTATOES

For

several

years

field laboratory for the

e Experiment
investigation

Station

has

maintained

potato diseases at Hast-

ings.

Several diseases

from year to year

had taken a heavy toll

of the crop, reduced the quality

of the product,

and decreased the

returns

growers.

has

been

definitely

hown

pathologists in charge that these potato diseases can be controlled
or eliminated by spraying and by using seed free from disease. It

was

pointed

out that

Florida's

notato

troubles

due

in larae

-. .- I- -'" -"-' - -"V -.C -W .-. r--.. ( .- --

TWENTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY FROM RESEARCH

tion and the seed potatoes of high quality brought into the state

certified

being

free

from

disease.

Seed

first-class

quality is now available for the use of Florida planters, greatly to

their advantage.

The Florida potato crop is valued at approxi-

mately five million dollars annually, and the work of the field labor-

atory at Hastings has resulted in material

reduction of losses

from various potato troubles.
CITRUS BLIGHT
As early as 1887 citrus growers in the Indian River section of

Florida
blight.

were losing many

citrus trees from what they termed

Recently a Station investigator has determined that this

trouble was not caused by a disease but that the trees died from

lack of water or plant food or both.

Groves planted in favorable

locations or supplied with proper food, water, and organic matter

have been shown not to be affected.

The fear that blight is a

contagious disease has been removed.
MELANOSE AND STEM-END ROT OF CITRUS

Melanose was not known to literature until 1896,

when it was

described from Florida as appearing in certain scattered plant-

wings.

About

1912

Station

investigator

discovered

that

disease causing decay in packing houses and in transit and known

as stem-end rot was caused by a fungus parasite.

Several years

later it was found that this same fungus parasite was also the

cause of Melanose.

It was found that by proper pruning, clear-

ing out, and destroying of dead wood in citrus trees that these

diseases could be controlled.

Later, it has been found that by

applying bordeaux-oil emulsion as a spray shortly after bloom-
ing time a greater saving at a lower cost can be attained.
CITRUS DISEASES

Citrus

trees

are

attacked

a number

different fungus

diseases.

The life history of these diseases and the methods by

which they may be controlled have been worked out.

As a result

of these studies the handling of the disease situation in the citrus

groves of the state has become a part of routine practice.
direction has the Station rendered a. orenftpr SPrvinPP t.h n

In no
t+hia

&UNIVERSITY

FLORIA
FLORIDA

CHEMICAL RESEARCH

Although

search

heavy

teaching

a considerable

loads

amount

have
been

necessarily

done as

retarded

a result

interest and enthusiasm of members of the Department, who have

devoted much

their outside

time

the field

research.

the present time the

graduate work is growing rapidly and grad-

uate student

are engaged in different line

own training and to add

to our knowledge of

i research for their
different problems.

Obviously, it is practically impossible to place a monetary value

on teaching

and

pure

research.

Practically

every

commercial

product which is now available owes it

birth and success to pure

earch,

which

has

frequently

been

done

without

idea

commercial

development.

The following i

a general outline of research

work completed

or in

progress at

present

time

members

Depart-

Inent of

Chemistry

In a few cases some of the

work was done

by these men before they

came to the

University

of Florida,

this
tion.

work or some phase of it has been continued at this institu-
Reports of a number of these research problems have been

public

hed

in various

been developed

j ournals,

and

some

to the extent that they

have

these
been

projects

put

into

have
prac-

tical application.

LEIGH FOG SCREEN

The

Leigh,
white

Leigh
makes
cloud

screen

device

, developed

Dean

Townes

it possible to form, in a few minutes, an impenetrable

several

miles

long.

Certain

gase

are

utilized

formation of

desired

rate

screen

speed.

The

which
itself

can

be produced at

is harmless

man

any
and

metals and does not irritate

cided

advantage

over

those

the eyes.

many

These
other

features are

screens.

a de-

The

mechanical portion of the device is so perfected that its operation

distribution

the screen is

quite simple.

The

practical

value of thi

fog screen is

obvious

, although

the actual

value

any implement of

warfare

is difficult to estimate.

STUDIES

WATER

SUPPLIES

a-W J I a lk n r *

D

1 ~.

TWENTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY FROM RESEARCH

Water Supply of St.

Augustine.-A

complete

water survey for

City

ment

of St.

plant was

Augustine

placed

was

made

in operation.

and an

experimental

In recognition

treat-
value

of this

survey,

Augustine

presented

experi-

A PLANT FOR STUDYING WATER PURIFICATION.

The plant used at the University of Florida for studies in

water

purification.

This work

importance to the towns and

cities

of the

State.

mental water plant to the Department of

Chemistry

This plant

is now used for research and for class studies in water treatment

and

purification.

Colorimetric

Determination

Sodium

and

Potassium

Na-

tural
tion

Waters.-Certain

these

elements

colorimetric method

have

been

adapted

the determina-

water

analyses.

Originally these methods were proposed for and used in analytical

work on soils and blood serum.

The method is exceedingly

ensi-

tive and satisfactorily

accurate.

is of

great

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

far cheaper in a great many cases to remove color from a soft

water than

to soften a

very

hard one.

United States

Bureau of Mines publication dealing with Florida waters the pre-
diction is made that in time all cities facing a choice between
removing the color from soft surface waters and softening a hard
one will swing to the use of the soft colored waters. With this in
mind the importance of this research can be estimated. In this

same connection a comparative study

alum and chlorinated

copperas for the removal of color from the highly colored swamp
waters found in the state has also been made.
STUDIES OF MINERAL RESOURCES
During the Summer of 1928 a study on the artificial coloring of

Florida

travertine was undertaken.

Its purpose was to devise

means of utilizing non-commercial sizes and shapes of the rock

in the manufacture of novelties.

This study was

successfully

carried through.
In cooperation with the State Geological Survey in an attempt

to encourage the manufacture of brick,

tile and pottery in the

state, physical and chemical tests of Florida clays have been made.
The series of clays for study was selected by the State Geologist.

They were analysed

chemically.

The

physical

tests

included a

study of the behavior of the clays when fired or burned.

These

studies are being continued and results will be published in the
reports of the State Geologist.
A study has been made of the variations in composition of the

beach sands found on the Florida coasts.

This work was done in

cooperation

with

the State

Geological Survey

and

results

have been incorporated in one of its reports under the heading
"Beaches of Florida."

NAVAL STORES RESEARCH

In cooperation with the Bureau of

Chemistry,

United States

Department of Agriculture, a study is being made of the various
factors influencing the quality and quantity of resin and turpen-

tine from long leaf and slash pine in Florida.

The second year of

this work has just been brought to a close and two additional

TWENTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY FROM RESEARCH

sible are being studied.

This research when completed will yield

a great deal of entirely new data that will be of value in the naval
stores industry.
Analysis of oleoresin from high, medium, and low yielding pine
trees and a checking up on the resin and turpentine content of
these trees to determine whether any relationship exists between
the constituents of oleoresin and tree yield is under way. A study
of the layers of oleoresin which occur when it is allowed to stand

for a period of six months or more is being made.

Early indica-

tions appear to indicate a considerable difference of turpentine
and resin obtained from these separate layers.

MISCELLANEOUS INVESTIGATIONS
Analyses of the ash of various meat and vegetable products

have been made.

These will furnish information of value in the

studies of animal diets.
A new method for bleaching sponges has been developed which
has distinct advantage over methods formerly in use.

Investigation of the effects of sea

water on cement tiles has

furnished information which may be utilized in the preparation
of more resistant kinds of tile.
A series of experiments are under way which are planned to
improve the quality of certain dental products and to decrease
the amount of time required for their preparation.
PAINT, VARNISH, AND LACQUER STUDIES
Since Florida produces large amounts of naval stores and the
production of tung-oil has been started, it is important that the
uses to which these products are put and the methods of prepar-

ing them for use should be investigated.

Studies in this field

have

been

initiated

Department

Chemistry

University of Florida along several lines.
The Use of Tung-Oil in Spray Lacquer. It was found that
bodied tung-oil could be used in place of resins in spray lacquer
and that the presence of the tung-oil increased the durability of

the lacquer.

The durability was determined by exposure tests

on lacquers whose formulas differed only in the composition of

UNIVERSITY

glossy surface.

FLORIDA

The bodying process developed consists in heat-

ing the oil while bubbling air through it.
Manufacture of Varnish From Tung-Oil and Crude Turpentine

Gum in One Operation.-This

method avoids the expense of con-

verting the turpentine

gum

into

resin and also several handling

changes.

It should encourage the manufacture of varnish in Flor-

ida,

where

necessary

ingredient

, except

driers

produced.
The Use of Tung-Oil in Paint.-It has been found that tung-oil

can replace linseed oil,

wholly or partially

, in paint making. Paints

containing tung-oil were found to give films that are more glo
and durable than those containing only linseed oil.

Some Chemical Problems

Florida

Tung-Oil

Industry.-

The chemical

procedures of

tung-oil industry

awaiting

solu-

tion include utilization of by-product

of the pressing plant,

Such

as hulls

and

press

cake

, development

new

uses

study

polymerized

which

now

no important

use

and

the physiological action of the oil and nuts.

Manufacture of Ester Gum

From Crude Turpentine

Gum and

Glycerine in One Operation.

- This very economical method for

producing high

quality ester gum ha

been perfected and should

encourage its manufacture in Florida and other southern states.

Painting Studies.-For the

past

seven

years

Department

of Chemistry has been cooperating with the Forest Products Lab-
oratory at Madison, Wisconsin, in a world-wide study on the paint-

ing characteristic

various

kinds of wood.

Several

thousand

pages of

data and comments

have already been published

on the

work as a whole, and in all of these the Florida work is mentioned

and illustrated.

The data secured from this study have already

been shown to be of great importance
tions.

under our climatic condi-

SERVICE MANUFACTURING

In connection with

the operation of the

University there is an

accumulation
Chemistry ha

certain

waste

zs turned some of

materials.
these to good

The
use.

Department of
Waste grease

nnjrv. wT an r"4 n

t*'. -i

- rt -m

I-fl f-

- a

* I .U*a I *' l I I u I I J I l f * l i .,_l 1" 1 T U, NJ .- I- i J ^-- n

. 1 _

1

1

TWENTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY FROM RESEARCH

PURE CHEMICAL

RESEARCH

To the layman,

investigation

in the field of pure research may

appear

useless

and

unnecessary

Yet

these

lines

research

directed to the solution of fundamental problems, are responsible

for scientific progress in many fields.

Obviously, rno forward step

can be made without a knowledge of methods,

technique, and re-

agents,

and

without

setting

up of

theorie

proved

disproved.

Hence pure research has

its well

defined place in the

advancement of

chemical research.

In thi

field

, the Department of Chemistry has been active.

The

following lines of investigation are noteworthy.

Acyl Derivatives of Ortho-

Aminophenol.

-About 40 new mono-

and di-acyl derivative

ortho-aminophenol have been prepared.

These compounds are of particular interest in the study of mole-

cular rearrangement

and,

in addition

this

phase of

pure

search

, present

possibility

use

as insecticide

or anaes-

thetics.

The

toxic

effect

some

these

compounds

studied at the present time by the Bureau of Entomology

Being
United

States Department of Agriculture,

Honolulu,

More of these

compounds are being prepared,

and the physiological effect of all

of them will be studied.
Derivatives of Piperazine.-Experiments are under way involv-

ing the

preparation and study

of new

derivatives of

piperazine.

These compounds will be tested for possible medicinal use.

Organic

Compounds of Cerium.-Attempts are

being made

prepare
chemical

new

organic

compounds

cerium.

The

physical,

, and physiological properties of these compounds are to

be studied.

Anthraquinone

Derivatives.-This

was

a problem

organic

chemistry of particular interest in the field of vat dyes.

It resulted

in the production of a new

organic compound which may be

used

for dyeing cotton, linen,

and rayon.

Studies of

other compounds

of like nature are now under way.

The Use of the Nitrogen

Grignard Reagent in the Preparation

of Rubber Accelerators.-A number of new compounds have been

prepared

and

tested

as rubber accelerators.

One

these

com-

-I 1 I 1

I

__ _

1 f9J ^

UNIVERSITY

FLORIDA

nature and the properties of

resin

vary

with

the conditions

under which the reaction is carried out. Experiments are in prog-
ress to study the effect of substituting for the aluminium chloride

other

compounds

known

exercise

similar

properties

Friedel

Craft reaction.

A study

of the effect of various reagents on turpentine and on

certain

common

hope

and

sciences

derivatives

that new materials

may

be discovered.

turpentine
or product

Thi

field

also

contemplated

value in
research

the arts
is very

important to the State of Florida since

production

useful

substance

derived from turpentine will increase the demand for

naval stores products.
Uses of Vanadium Salts in Analytical Work.-A study of vana-
dium salts has resulted in their use for new methods of chemical

analysis

copper

and

other

metals.

These

methods

mark

distinct advance

difficult field.

TWENTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY FROM RESEARCH

RESEARCH IN

ECONOMICS AND SOCIAL

/ Research
everywhere.
TjIt is simply

something,

RELATIONS

occupies

a prominent

position

minds

It does not, however, denote a mysterious
a method by which modern man attempts to

to discover the fact

to draw

conclusions

men

process;
find out

therefrom,

and to
human

use

these conclusions

progress.

research

in the
once I

formulation of

considered

programs for

interest

only

theorists. tasf become of interest to

BeePnCee

growing
as well

has

transformed

interest in

as the

physical

world,

value
and

the
and

of research.

biological

practical man.
everywhere t

The

sciences

social
have

Modern

where

is a

sciences
attacked

almost

every

problem

direct

indirect

concern

man.

Whether

in government

or in

industry

whether

religion

education,

whether

domains

politic

or in

those

social
ment

relation

hips,

precision

th
if

e setist has ent
we are not already

;ered
-ina :

with

research

instru-
age we

are steadily approaching such an age.

The people of Florida have never made adequate provisions for

research in the social sciences at the

University

The functions

of a university, say

Abraham Flexner

four

first

con-

servation

of knowledge

and

ideas

second,

the interpretation

knowledge and ideas

third

the search for truth

and fourth

training of students who will

"carry

on"

civilization.

The State

of Florida has understood the last function and made provisions

therefore,

other three

has

only

functions.

partially understood

The

State cannot

and

make

accepted 1
Progress

which its natural advantages entitle it until it is willing to spend
its income to conserve and interpret knowledge and to search for

the truth as well as to train student

"carry on" it

civilization.

While it is

impossible, as has already been indicated, to calculate

the money value of research in the social

sciences

, the expenditure

of thousands of dollars on the search for truth as to the economic,

social, and political

structure of the state would bring

back mil-

lions of dollars in public and private returns.

i As *a

i.fi f~unn.tinn tn dim.nvpr and dinspminn.t nw knnowl1

& J f* _r

-. I J. *

.UNIVERSITY

FLORIDA

they

cease to be

scientists.
scientists.

When

they

become

controversialists

they

Reform is desirable, but reform must come

through legislative and other agencies.

The

University's

task is

furnish

these agencies

with facts,

with conclusions,

and

with

generalizations.
The State of Florida cannot afford to ignore the

benefits

to be

derived from expending funds for research in the social sciences.
To hide from the facts or to act on opinions and prejudices is to

muddle

as it

along.

advantage

Thi
s.

s

state

must

know its

disadvantages as

well

It must understand not only why it has made

progress

has

.but

also

why

has

made even

greater

progress.

Scientific inquiry will prevent

hasty,

untried, and

dis-

astrous actions.

Leader

as well as followers must be informed.

To achieve this end the State must support research.

To build a

commonwealth in which people not only follow the coarser art of

making money but also the finer art of living

respect for scientific

research is essential.

Spending money for the intangible

values

of social science research may be the safest road to

State's

realizing the

destiny.

Need for Research

in Economics.-The State of Florida needs

research

in economics

, general

as well

as agricultural.

does

not know with any degree of

potential wealth is.

exactness what either it

It does not know either its

actual

actual or potential

income.

No scientific

studies

have been made of the

balance of

trade

that

in certain

directions

least

runs

against

comprehensive study

has

been made of fundamental

natural re-

sources

, manufacturing,

domestic and foreign,

taxation

finance

and

, transportation,
tourist facilities.

trade

both

Need

Research

History

and

Political

Science.

- The

State of Florida needs research

concerning history

and

political

science.

Every state going through the processes of change such

as those with

which

Florida has been faced for the past decade

must be familiar with history

. It must know what has been done

in the past and what activities have been successful or unsuccess-

ful.

New

laws

must

based

upon

interaction

conditions and must be tested in the light of experience.

existing
To place

a* a a I -

TWENTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY FROM RESEARCH

where would not necessarily succeed here.

They must be adjusted

Florida

conditions

and

modified

Florida

circum-

stances.

we utilize

None

these

fruit

ends

science

, however,

and

can

secure

achieved

light

unless
we can

from other years and from other states and regions.
Need for Research in Sociology and Psychology.-The State of

Florida needs research in

sociology

and

psychology

This

state

as well as other states is faced

with

the complexities of modern

living.

No longer are its people pioneers pursuing their ends

sulated from

the rest of the world.

Group living is the order of

age.

problem

conflicts

and it

difficulties

must

scientifically surveyed.

Knowledge of similar problems and tasks

in other states and regions must be available.

Otherwise

methods

handling

criminals

and

operating

prisons,

caring

delinquent and

improvident,

uniting

groups

and

peoples

for the common good,

and

solving the

multitude

problems

facing this generation are likely to be disastrous in their applica-

tions or fall short of the desires of

enlightened men and women.

Need for

Research in

Education.-The

State

of Florida

needs

research in education.

Parent

in Florida as well as in the nation

as a whole are devotees to knowledge and enlightenment.

year witnesses increasing numbers flocking to

higher education as well as to the secondary school

Every

the institution

What i

be done with them when

they

arrive ?

Where are

tate

counties

and the cities to secure funds for the education of these

increasing numbers ?

What pha

education both

secondary

and

university

should

be eliminated

What

activities

not now

engaged

in but

necessary

should

engaged

These and a

multitude of

other questions educational research in Florida can

and should answer.

Need

Research

Social

Sciences.-The

value

search to the State of Florida in the various fields of social science

is difficult to calculate.

No one knows with accuracy the economic

value

a scientific

study

natural

resources

taxation

manufacturing possibilities,

istration, of numerous

education

related topics.

government admin-

The results of research in

11 a S 4 1 .3 S t S 4 n .

I

rm

UNIVERSITY

FLORIDA

able

value even

though

that value cannot

be reduced

to definite

monetary terms.

The

salvation

modern

civilization

in more,

less,

education.

education here is not meant formal education, but

education that comes from knowing and appropriating significant

fact

To solve

problems

which

modern

civilization

entails

we must gather all the fact

, interpret all the facts and draw valid

conclusions therefrom

upon

which

public and private action may

be based.

The University of Florida,

through the various colleges having

jurisdiction

over

the social

sciences,

vitally

interested

foregoing problems. Already it has made an appreciable beginning

field

achieved

economic

worthy

had adequate

results
funds

research.

this

Two colleges

respect,

research

even

purposes

especially

though

they

have
have

at their disposal.

These two college

are the College of Agriculture and the College

of Commerce and Journalism.

Investigations

Agricultural

Economics.---Investigations

agricultural economics have

been in

progress in

Department

Agricultural

tural

Experiment

Economic

Station

of the
since

University

1926.

The

of Florida Agricul-

studies

have

been

directed toward finding ways and means whereby the net incomes

farmers

state can

improved.

The

quickest

known

means

of rendering this assistance to farmers is by finding what

the incomes of farmers actually
find the principal factors which

are and then analyzing them
determine success or failure.

Economic

Study

Potato

Farming.-In

a study

294

potato

farms

Hastings

area

crop

year

1925

principal factors
net returns were

which

seemed

to explain

wide

variation

Size of business.

Those farms having the largest acreage of

potatoes made the highest labor incomes.

Yield of potatoes.

Labor income

increased as

yield

acre

increased.

Investment per farm.

The potato farms with

very large or

. r a Yr

n IlI

nn,.a..4.al

- .... J 1

e

" 1"

I/ .IY ti 1 r I *J I | J ill *| n rT l nr r I S-i fl f1lfl n -f, t*l11 Ui a, a t a -ft iL

I l A ,llA A

TWENTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY FROM RESEARCH

Survey

General

Farming

Northwest

Florida.-Records

were secured on 499 farms in Jackson County for the year

1925,

110 of the same farms for the
4

cash crops in thi

year

1928.

The principal
watermelons.

and
tion

cane syrup.

and

price

In 1925 the cotton

good

1928

yield

was

exact

high for this sec-

opposite

was

true.

Watermelons

and

cane

syrup

were

also

much

lower

price

1928 than in 1925.

In 1925 the average labor income of

the 110

farm

operators

included

study

both

years

was

$23

1928 there was no return to the operators for their year's

labor,

and

farms

lacked

their investments.

$269

paying

seven

percent

There was a return from the farm

interest on
s, however,

that was

not included in the labor income figure, represented by

the value of farm product

for home use

and the use of the house

as a

home.

1925

these

non-cash

returns amounted

$624,

and in 1928 to $551 per farm.

Economic Study

Dairy

Farming.

- Detailed studied

operations of 249 dairy farms located in the vicinities of Jackson-

ville

year

, Orlando, Miami,

1927

indicated

Tampa,

that

Petersburg,

fewer

and

hours

Ocala
labor

for the

used

producing

100 pounds of milk,

the labor income

and

the lower the cost and the higher

the larger the herd the more efficient was

the labor and the higher the labor income.

In the groups produc-

4,000 pounds of milk and

less

cow

retailers

and

whole-

sales lost about equally

but the relative advantage of the retail-

ers increased rapidly in the higher production groups.

From

1927 to

1931

the price of milk was reduced in

a slightly

greater proportion

than

the costs of

production.

Consequently,

profits

identical

farms

were

reduced

about

percent.

Retail prices paid

by farmers

for commodities used

in living de-

lined only

18 percent between June,

1927

and June

1931.

Studies of Cotton Grades and Prices.-A study

of the relation

of grade and staple to the price of cotton grown in Florida indicat-

that

local

buyers

failed

pay

farmers

premium

they

should receive for the better grades and staples.

This action

the part of buyers is having the effect of retarding any tendency

I '* A . ql S a S .

and on

area are cotton, Spanish peanuts,

UNIVERSITY

OF FLORIDA

dling citrus fruit from the tree to the car, covering approximately

100

packinghou

two

seasons

1924-25

and

1925-26,

reveals that if the least efficient 78 percent of the packinghouses

were as efficient as the remaining 22 percent,

the saving in hand-

ling
This

costs

study

would

amount to $1,370,850 on a 25,000,000

indicates

that

some

important

box

crop.

factors

efficient

handling of citrus fruit

from

the tree to the car are

A reasonable investment per box.

Adequate volume,

in general at

least

75.000 boxes.

Large

volume per

car capacity-at

least

15.000

boxes.

Large volume per grower.

If the fruit of individual growers

must

kept separate

until packed,

at least 400

boxe

per

grower seems necessary for efficient operation.
Efficient arrangement of packinghouses.

Work is now going forward to

bring this study up

to date and

find what new factors have developed during the past few years.
Investigation of Citrus Freight Rates.-A study of citrus fruit

freight rates shows

that

the freight rate on Florida citrus fruit

since 1914 has been increased nine percent more than the freight

rate on California citrus fruit.

If the Florida rate could be placed

on a par with the California

rate

it would mean a

saving of

125,000 per year on a 25,000,000 box crop.

tion in

the Florida rates in line with

these fact

temporary reduc-
s was made from

February

to June 15 of the past season, resulting in

the sav-

several hundred

thousand

dollars

growers

this

state.

Competition in

Truck

Crops.

- Compilations

have

been

made

for each of Florida's important truck crops, showing the

weekly

competition

Florida

with

other state

and

import

from for-

eign countries for each season since 1924-25.

These compilations

show

Increasing

competition

which

Florida

is experiencing

and

indicate

season

year

when

this

competition

lights
tween

t.

A detailed study for

1928-29 shows the competition be-

the various producing areas within

the state.

Studies of

Cooperative

Associations.-Data

were

secur..d

I.1.

TWENTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY FROM RESEARCH

were found to be lack of volume, poor management, no need for

cooperative, lack of

cooperative spirit, insufficient capital,

conm-

petition, unsatisfactory prices, and others.

Since

unincorporated

cooperative associations are essentially

partnerships and have the disadvantage of unlimited liability for
each member, an analysis was made and published of the provi-
sions of the three state laws available for incorporation, and of

related Federal laws.

The information contained in this bulletin

should be of great help to associations that wish to organize on
a business basis.
Successful business practices of cooperative associations are be-
ing determined from the experiences of outstanding associations
and will be made available to those who wish to study them.
Bureau of Economic and Business Research.-The College of
Commerce and Journalism as well as the College of Agriculture
exists for the purpose of research in Florida as well as for instruc-

tion of the youth of Florida.

In recognition of this purpose, the

College of Commerce and Journalism established the Bureau of

Economic and Business Research in 1930.

This Bureau is not a

bureau separate and distinct from the College itself; it is rather
a unit within a unit, a clearing house for the research activities

of faculty memi
its operations.

,ers.

It has no specific appropriations to carry on

It has a director, who is a regular faculty member,

and two research graduate assistants.

The director is released

each year from a part of his teaching load and together with the
research assistants supervises and prosecutes the research proj-
ects of the Bureau.
During the academic years 1930-31 and 1931-32, the Bureau of

Economic and Business Research

bulletins.

published five monographs or

The titles of these monographs show something of the

activities of the Bureau: The Assessment of Real Estate for Pur-
poses of Taxation, by John G. Eldridge and Oscar L. Durrance;

Measures of

Business

Activity

in Florida, by

Montgomery

Anderson

Forewarnings of Bank Failure, by

Harwood B.

Dol-

beare

and

Merle 0.

Barnd;

Studies in Forestry

Resources

Florida: I. Timber Conservation, by Stuart Campbell and E.

TIn r r'"n i

m- .r . .. 1 YA rJ__ .... --___-----1 |1 -_ -

lrT

682 UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

direct Florida studies in natural resources, in manufacturing, in
taxation, in finance, in commerce, in transportation, in tourist

facilities, and in many other related fields.

While it has had no

specific funds allotted to it and while it has been able to make

only the

merest beginnings,

research activities

are of

im-

measurable value to the State of Florida.

The

Bureau

Economic

and

Business

Research

could

directly of great value to the business men of Florida if it could

publish a monthly Florida review of business conditions.

This

review might carry data showing trends in current business and

economic conditions.

While it would not attempt to forecast cur-

rent business conditions in Florida, it would at least give sta-
tistics of past business activities and put the business man in the

position

where

could

judge

himself

future.

Already the Bureau has gathered current statistics on business

conditions and is keeping them up to date.

If these could be inter-

preted and published monthly and thereby be made available to

business

enterprises

Florida,

these

business

enterprisers

might be better able to meet economic changes and save them-
selves from serious losses.
To show more specifically the economic worth of business re-
search to the State of Florida, a simple illustration might not be

entirely

out

place.

Suppose,

example,

Bureau

Economic and Business Research had sufficient funds to study

the operations of retail

enterprises in Florida.

Such

a study

might cover the costs of doing business, the sources from which
they receive goods, the costs of transportation into the territory
which they serve, the types of customers they have, the profits
which the least as well as the most successful make, and numerous

other operating and managerial activities.

The data obtained

would give a picture of a sufficient number of stores to indicate
to the average retailer what his difficulties are as compared with

other retailers in Florida.

The data would be so combined that

specific

person

would

asked

reveal

any

competitive

advantages which he might have.

The conclusions drawn would

general application

and

would

enable retailers

solve

thoim r nrnhlona Qrarioa +h0V,. 1;mfln114-;^, n ,,,-,,, 4- ..'.. ^a..,-.

TWENTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY FROM RESEARCH

RESEARCH IN

THE

COLLEGE

OF

ENGINEERING

Although the Board of Control authorized an Engineering Ex-

periment

Station in

1929

, the organization

has existed

in name

only because no

funds have been available

for a

building

equip-

ment

, or personnel.

In research

, as with most things in life,

one

cannot

get something for nothing.

Elsewhere

in thi

report

depicted the excellent work carried on by the Agricultural Experi-

ment Station
given wherein
establishment

with funds

provided

by the

State.

Examples

the Agricultural Experiment Station has since it

1888

produced

work

which

has

returned

wealth to

the state

more than the

total fund

appropriated

dur-

ing the life of the Station.

The same thing can be demonstrated

for an Engineering Experimental Station,

if the opportunity were

given.

The erection

an Experiment Station

building

and

equipment is justified on the following grounds:

We are

not develop it

living in an industrial

age.

factories and industries

That state
will always 1

which
e poor.

does

Florida is already an industrial state.

More people are gain-

fully

employed in Florida

in manufacturing

and

mechanical

industries

than

are

engaged

Agriculture.

The

1930

census

shows:

Total males and females above 10 years

of age

gainfully employed in Florida.

Agriculture. . . . . . . . .
Manufacturing and Mechanical Industries
Transportation and Communication ......

.......
*...g...

133,530
141,951
47,928

Those engaged in industry produce more

wealth than those

engaged in agriculture and they pay more taxes.

The municipalities,

especially the smaller ones where taxes

are

unusually

burdensome, are entitled to

the same engineering

assistance

from

a state

Engineering

Experiment

Station

which

rural

communities

receive

from

Agricultural

Experiment

Station.

ENGINEERING

Below

is described

EXPERIMENTAL

some

research

WORK
work

ACCOMPLISHED

in engineering which

has

been

carried

on at

University

Florida.

This

is not

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

or not.

Naturally, the projects are those in which the individuals

are most interested and not necessarily those projects which would
aid in creating the maximum wealth for the state.

Projects which have been studied recently in the

College of

Engineering are as follows:
UTILIZATION OF PALMETTO FIBER FOR BUILDING MATERIALS
The results of this investigation were negative in character.
They showed clearly that it was not economically feasible at this

time to produce from the wood of the native palm,

veneers suit-

able

for manufacturing wallboard.

The dissemination

this

knowledge undoubtedly

dissuaded some reputable citizens from

investing their money in projects which were economically un-

sound.

These tests also had a wholesome effect in breaking up

questionable stock selling schemes in this field.

The saving to

the state is estimated at $100,000.00.
MEASUREMENTS OF HEAT TRANSFER THROUGH MATERIALS
This investigation lead to the discovery of the most efficient
type of wall construction for the proper insulation of a building

under weather conditions prevalent in Florida.

The saving to

the people of the state will depend upon the dissemination of the

results of the tests and their adoption.

The heating and cooling

bill for Florida may not seem large but a saving in the aggregate
of 10 or 15 percent is an important economical item, and the added
comfort and efficiency in living is an intangible asset which can
not be appraised in dollars.

PRECISION TIMERS FOR CALIBRATION OF ROTARY

WATTHOUR

The

METERS

results of this investigation are of primary interest

technical

engineers and the engineering

profession

of Florida

has recognized this investigation by having these results present-
ed before the Florida Engineering Society and published under
the title "Theory and Design of an Electric Timer." Every con-
sumer of electricity in Florida is interested and ultimately benefits
when more accurate and cheaper devices for measuring his con-
--- a-- J -c-- .&L- -_ -- .. .

TWENTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY FROM

RESEARCH

quiency
neering

Induction
Society,

Furnace"

which

was

presented

organization

published<

The
d the

Florida
results

Engi-
(see

1930

awarded

author,

Florida

Mr.

Engineering

Laurie,

Society,
a prize.

page
This

and

type

furnace has it

application in scientific fields where high tempera-

tures are

desired and

heating

must be

done either in

a vacuum

or in the presence of gases.

also used to make alloys and for

melting precious

metal

such as gold and platinum.

THE IMHOFF METHOD OF SEWAGE TREATMENT

The study of the Imhoff Method of Sewage Treatment ha

underway continuously since 1927

been

The results of this investiga-

tion have been

applied with success

three

plant

the state.

A preliminary report of this work wa

published in the December,

1928

, issue of The Municipal and Waterwork

News.

semi-tropical climate, its copious supply of water,

Because of
and the vast

number
disposal,

hazard

f tourists
drainage,

which

come

state

and the elimination of

are of vital concern

Florida.

each

year,

mosquito and

There

sewage
typhoid

need for much

- i l4c -"l"?li ~ -S..*

- .-
.". ** AT A --- ^

. 1 1

-

- .-.- - -

Transaction

I. CaL.-

.

* ^Si

-"-*^ii^p,,
"- ^ .* / 1

*rulM"

M^l--- *H-

. ,,. ^./.-^.----

^^'%

\I -

UNIVERSITY

OF FLORIDA

further

investigation

these

fields

and

normally

small

com-

munities
gations.

cannot

afford

carry

on extensive

research

investi-

The question

of the

preservation

beaches

preven-

tion of erosion, and the protection of the vast playgrounds of Flor-
ida are problems with which an Engineering Experiment Station

could most profitably concern it

In 1930 the Federal Govern-

ment

enacted

a law

authorizing

50-50

cooperation

any

state

which would
of its shore

engage in investigation looking to the preservation

line.

To date

Florida

has

not availed itself

of that

opportunity, yet it has the longest shore line of all

the union.

the states

An Engineering Experiment Station could well repre-

sent Florida in that undertaking.

TWENTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY FROM RESEARCH

RESEARCH

WORK

OF

THE

COLLEGE

OF

PHARMACY

The

enormous

economic

losses

caused

sickness

and

pre-

mature death have frequently

been

emphasized

by public

health

writers.

In the battle against disease,

pharmacy renders an indis-

pensable

service.

Without

good

health

difficult

lead

happy and successful life.

Neither pharmacist nor physician rec-

ommend

indiscriminate

use of

drugs,

certainly

no one

would wish to do without the general or local anesthetic in opera-
tions, the analgesic to stop pain, the germicide to prevent contagion

or infection, and the use of quinine in malarial fevers,

a few outstanding examples

of indispensable drugs.

to cite only
As a bridge

helps us over the roaring flood waters of a stream, so a drug helps
us over many a crisis in our lives.

Research

disease

work in

and

principles

pharmacy

is dedicated

attainment of health

and

method

pharmacy

lead

fight against

Improvement
;o a decrease

Sin the
in sick-

ness,

thus conserving definite economic human

values, and to

attainment of health,

which contributes to the enjoyment of life

in a way scarcely measurable in

terms of gold pieces.

Although the College of Pharmacy is primarily a teaching unit,

more than

thirty-five research papers

have been

published from

this

college

in the

nine

years

following

establishment

1923.

These

research

articles,

which

have appeared

leading

national scientific journals, may be grouped in four classes, as fol-

lows

research

on medicinal

plant

resources,

research

on the constituents of Florida

provements

in methods

drug plant

preparation

, (3)

research

pharmaceuticals,

on im-

and

pure

research

intended

primarily

advance

scientific

development

pharmacy.

Drug Plant Survey.-Florida has

a wealth

medicinal

plant

resources, and this has

been a subject of investigation since the

inauguration of the College of Pharmacy

To determine the plant

resources

a survey

has

been

under way

and

considerable

work

has been accomplished by members of the instructional staff and
I J 1 I I

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

Christensen, B.

Industrial importance of medicinal plants

in Florida.

(In Dawe, Grovesnor: Industrial Survey of Florida. 1927.
183).

Some drug plants in Florida.

178-

Fla. Dept. Agr.

n. s. Bul. 14, 1929.

Collection of medicinal plants in Florida. Fla.

Dept. Agr. n. s.

Bul.

1930.

and Lovell D. Hiner: Quality of spearmint oil

produced in Florida.

Jour.

Am.

Phar. Assn. 21

147-149.

1932.

and Arnold D. Welch.

The relation of size of

ergot to potency.

Jour. of Phar. and Exp. Ther. XLV

183-

187.

1932.

Stuhr, Ernst T.:

Medicinal Plants of Florida. Jour. Am. Phar.

Assn.

17:761-766.

1928.

These publications have stimulated an interest in collection of
native medicinal plants and several collectors are now active, as

evidenced

letters

received

College

Pharmacy.

Estimated annual income from crude drugs collected is $75,000,

and this amount

undoubtedly will be

increased with

improved

market conditions.

Herbarium.

plants

- In

previously

connection

mentioned,

with

specimens

survey

have

been

medicinal
collected,

mounted,

labeled and

stored for study

and reference.

Photo-

graphs of many have also been prepared, placed on file and made

available in

class

instruction and for reference.

Many photo-

graphs have been supplied for use in textbooks and journals.. At
present the Herbarium consists of approximately 500 specimens
with an estimated value of $5,000.
Constituents of Florida Plants.-Research on the constituents
of various Florida plants represents a field of study which should

be emphasized

Florida.

Studies along this line on

several

plants have been underway for some time.

There grows in the

waste places of Florida the wild white oricklv DODDV (Araemone

TWENTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY FROM RESEARCH

of about 2.6 percent.

A study was also made of the wild coffee bean

(Glottidium

vesicarium)

which

grows

Florida

and

other

southeastern states.

Cases have been reported in which children

were

poisoned

eating these

wild

coffee

beans.

It was found

that the toxic principle of this plant was an irritating saponin.

similar study was
longifolia), which

made
have

of the
been r4

seeds

reported

sesbania

as causing

(Daubentonia
the poisoning

of chickens.

This research,

which was carried out by a graduate

assistant

under the

direction

a professor

pharmacy,

dis-

closed the fact that the poison is a saponin.
In such studies there is always a possibility
values in Florida plants which would be of ec

of discovering new
onomic value to the

state, and moreover it is important that full knowledge be gained
of the poisonous plants of the state that danger from them may
be minimized.

Medicinal Plant

Garden.-From

time

time

evidence

is pre-

sented in the crude drug market that our natural supply of medi-

cinal plants i

decreasing rapidly

because of the rapid

depletion

of the sources from which they are procured.

It is deemed impera-

c --- I ---------- *i^Y 11211

UNIVERSITY

OF FLORIDA

tive,

regular

therefore,

that

demand

measures

crude

adopted

drugs

either

cultivation

supply

drug

plants

or to

find

natural

substitutes

for those crude

drugs

now in

use,

native

supplies of which are approaching depletion.

For this reason

the cultivation of medicinal plants is a promis-

ing potential industry for this state.
well as the educational point of view

From this point of view, as
considerable research work

on the cultivation of medicinal

plants has

been

fostered

by this

department.

; I

TWENTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY FROM RESEARCH

As a result it has been demonstrated that the following can be
successfully grown under cultivation in Florida, and under reason-
able market conditions are promising commercial crops:

Stramonium
Lemon Grass

Psyllium
Coriander

Ginger

Fennel

Dill

Horsemint
Spearmint

The

papers on

these

phases of research

have

already

been

indicated.
Publications and correspondence on the subject of cultivation
of medicinal plants has stimulated an interest in this industry.
As a result, one crude drug farm has been in operation two or
three years in the vicinity of Fort Lauderdale, and others are in

contemplation.
able commercial

This suggests a potential industry of consider-

value.

the case of spearmint alone, if this

state produced only its proportionate share of the present demand
for the oil, it would mean an annual income of at least $50,000.
Improvements in Methods of Preparation of Pharmaceuticals.
Leading pharmacists of the country have voiced the opinion that
one of the outstanding problems in pharmacy today is the deter-

ioration of drugs and preparations.

It has been urged that more

attention be given to research on methods of improving the keep-

ing qualities of

medicines.

Drugs deteriorate

more rapidly in

warm, sunny regions than in ones cloudy and cold.

Thus, while

the balmy climate of Florida, with its health-giving sunshine, is
a wonderful asset for the well-being of the people, it is to be ex-
pected that this very warmth and sunshine will cause more rapid

deterioration .of

pharmaceuticals.

It is,

therefore,

particularly

appropriate that research along these lines should be emphasized
in Florida.

An important study of the keeping qualities of Donovan's

tion has been carried out.

Solu-

This preparation has been used for

almost a century

in the

treatment of

certain

diseases,

deteriorates rapidly and becomes unfit for use after a time.

but it
This

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

originated by a French savant in 1841.

It is interesting to note

that this project was considered to be of such importance that
our Head Professor of Pharmacy was awarded a research grant

by the

American

Pharmaceutical

Association;

only two

other

such grants were awarded in the United States that year.
Studies also have been made on the keeping qualities of oint-
ments and two other solutions are now being investigated. Re-

search

this

type

has

a decided

value

in cutting

down

economic loss caused by the spoilage of medicines, and by making
it more readily possible for the pharmacist to supply medicines
of full strength, it has great potential possibilities in promoting
health and saving lives.
Research has also been devoted to better methods of preparing

various

prescriptions,

of which

following will serve

as an

illustration.

It has been

estimated

government authorities

that

approximately

one-half

population

United

States is infected with eczematoid ringworm

of the hands and

feet.

This

disease,

which

also

known

"athlete's

foot,"

"golfer'

itch," etc., is prevalent in the southeastern states.

One

of the most common prescriptions for this infection is Whitfield's
Ointment, a preparation of benzoic and salicylic acids in an oint-
ment base. It is no easy task to prepare this ointment properly
in a short time. One of our professors studied several different
methods of preparation and recommended an improved process,
which was published and reprints were sent to every pharmacist
in Florida.
Pure Research.-In any field of scientific endeavor, it is neces-
sary that pure research be conducted to discover new facts and
principles on which further developments may be based. Some-
times the leading reference books give conflicting statements on
certain points, and as long as such points remain unsettled they
prevent a clear understanding of the field of study and act as a

hindrance
hydrolysis

further

arsenous

progress.

iodide,

paper

one

dealing

professor

with

pharmacy

described his accurate measurements bearing on certain points
on which there have been conflicting statements in the reference

It I w a S a 1 A *

1