20 



as sources of coarse forage, either fresh or cured; of saltbush for alkali 



soils; of the gri^^ii'^s, Canada rye grass, grapevine mesquite, curly 



mesquite, galleta, and needle grass for reseeding the worn out ranges. 



They have shown the feasibility of range improvement by resting and 



scarifying the land and by sowing hardy native and introduced grasses. 



The farmers and ranchmen are beginning to understand that they can, 



at comparatively small expense, greatly improve their ranges, and by 



cultivation of the many excellent grasses and forage plants tested this 



year in the station grounds can add very much to the productive 



capacity of their ranches and farm pastures. They are beginning to 



recognize the fact that there are very many native grasses and forage 



plants that are well worth careful attention and that others of almost, 



if not quite, equal value are being imported from the semiarid regions 



of the Old World and can be successfully cultivated here. Many of 



them propose, during 1900, to test on their owu places the dittereut 



varieties of alfalfa, vetches, sulla, sainfoin, teosiute, saltbush, the 



saccharine and nousaccharine sorghums, and the best native and 



foreign grasses. 



Respectfully, 



11. L. Bentley, 



Special Agent, in Charge of Experiments at Abilene, Tex. 



Approved : 



James Wilson, 



Secretary of Agriculture. 



AVashington, D. C, December 30, 1899. 



O 



