12 



forage plant on this upland soil, with the severest drought ever known 

 here, certainly indicates that it may prove of much value in this section. 

 There can be no doubt of its great value in portions of Texas less sub- 

 ject to long, hot, dry spells than this immediate section. 



SAINFOIN. 

 (Onobrychis saiira). 



This plant, known also as esparcette, is a deep-rooting, perennial 

 legume that thrives on dry calcareous soils which are not favorable for 

 either clover or alfalfa. Seeds were sown May 4, and the plants which 

 were from 12 to 18 inches high stood the dry and hot weather better 

 than the vetches, clover, or alfalfa, and (juite as well as the sulla. 

 There is no better forage plant for barren hillsides. 



COWPEAS. 



About sixteen varieties of cowpeas were tested this year, all of them 

 giving satisfactory results. The seed was planted in drills 3 feet apart, 

 and cultivated as long as the season permitted by stirring the surface 

 of the ground between the drills and about the roots. All the plant- 

 ings were made on the same date, April 11, as there was but little seed 

 of each variety. The plants grew nicely and all matured seed, none of 

 them doing as well as they would have done had the season been more 

 favorable. Seed of each variety was harvested, and will be tried again 

 in 1900. The vines failing on account of the hot, dry winds, were cut 

 and stacked in July, and several bales of excellent hay much relished 

 by cattle and horses were secured. 



CANADA FIELD PEA. 



Seeds of the Canada lield pea were planted April 10, resulting in 

 only a very indifferent stand. The vines grew well, luxuriantly in 

 fact, bloomed well and matured seed abundantly. Both for the vines, 

 which make an excellent forage, and for the seeds, which are quite as 

 rich as the well-known garden pea, which it much resembles in appear- 

 ance, this variety will doubtless prove of much value to farmers and 

 stockmen in central Texas. 



MUMMY PEA. 



A few seeds of this variety were planted April 11 in a heavy soil. 

 Only a few germinated. A vigorous growth of vines was secured, but 

 only a few seeds matured. 



BLUE PEAS. 



A small planting of this variety was made April 11 on the bank of 

 the "dry creek" elsewhere referred to. During the next ten days the 

 rainfall was excessive, the creek overflowed, and most of the vines were 

 destroyed. The few that were left grew luxuriantly but bloomed 

 sparingly, and only a few i)ods of peas matured. 



