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forage crops to the conditions which prevail on the ranges, to learn 

 more as to the best methods of growing these crops and of improv- 

 ing and maintaining the general productiveness of the ranges them- 

 selves. Much can be accomplished by the individual efforts of the 

 ranchmen and others concerned ; but all will agree that the best re- 

 sults can be secured only through the united, systematically planned 

 investigations of the representatives of the General Government and 

 the State experiment stations in close cooperation with the farmers 

 and ranchmen. The grass and forage plant investigations at High- 

 more, South Dakota, are being conducted along these lines, and the 

 results are highly gratifying. 



Some of the millets introduced from the plains of Russia, and some 

 of the varieties of sorghum and fodder corn, indicate the possibility 

 of obtaining profitable returns in forage for winter use. With vari- 

 eties sufficiently hardy to withstand the drought, or early enough to 

 produce a crop of forage before the drought begins, the question of 

 winter feed will be settled and the production of milk and butter 

 through the winter months assured. By the cultivation of a rela- 

 tively small area of land to these crops, the ranchman can produce 

 enough forage to bring his stock safely through the winter, and the 

 native pastures and meadows will be left in much better condition 

 because of the lighter drain on their resources. 



One point can not be too much emphasized, and that is the careful 

 handling of the range so as to keep it up to the highest limit of pro- 

 ductiveness. Experiments in range renovation have begun by prop- 

 erly fencing the Station grounds. The difference already seen where 

 there has been a summer's rest, should be an object lesson to every 

 stockman. Experiments along different lines will be carried on next 

 season, such as scarifying and sowing grass seeds on -the native sod 



and scarifying alone. 



F. Lamson-Scribner, 



Agrostologist. 



Approved : 



James Wilson, 



Seci^etary of Agriculture. 



Washington, D. C, December 20, 1899. 



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