REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 33 



THE SEARCH FOR GRASSES. 



Scientists are convinced that there are still great possibilities in the 

 search for new crops, especially for plants that are cultivated little, 

 if at all, in their native countries. Perhaps this is most strikingly ex- 

 hibited in grasses, many of which have been introduced accidentally. 

 Thus bluegrass, white clover, redtop, timothy, and many others 

 which came originally from Europe make up nearly all the grass 

 lands of the north ; and Bermuda grass from India, carpet grass from 

 the West Indies, Dallis grass from Argentina, and lespedeza from 

 Asia have performed a similar role in the South. California's pastures 

 consist mainly of species from the Mediterranean region, such as 

 alfilaria, bur clover, wild oats, wild barley, and numerous others. 

 There are undoubtedly in Central Asia many species which, if prop- 

 erly selected and introduced, will add greatly to the carrying capacity 

 of the western ranges, aside from what can be accomplished by 

 rational range management. From this region came alfalfa and 

 sweet clover, both important in the West. There is every reason to 

 believe, also, that good grasses and legumes can be found for the cut- 

 over lands of the South, and thus prepare the way for the further 

 development of the live-stock industry in that section. It is impossi- 

 ble to bring in new grasses or other valuable crop plants from remote 

 and almost inaccessible parts of the world without sending properly 

 trained explorers, and larger funds for this work are needed. 



IMPROVED CULTURAL METHODS AND PRACTICES. 



Better tillage and rotations, more rational irrigation, judicious 

 fertilizing, the greater use of legumes, and proper attention to farm 

 layout, distribution of labor, choice and care of farm machinery, 

 and timeliness of operations, all these make for larger yields and 

 consequently reduced costs of production. Our scientific understand- 

 ing of these matters is far from adequate. Recently it has been discov- 

 ered that prompt plowing under of the wheat stubble will completely 

 destroy the Hessian fly and the joint- worm, both serious enemies of 

 wheat. This points to the desirabihty of a radical change in the 

 ordinary corn-belt rotations. On the other hand, until a rotation 

 that is as good or better can be developed by field investigations, it is 

 manifestly unwise to urge a change. The best rotations are or- 

 ganized around one or more legume crops. It is altogether likely 

 that the failure to secure the full benefits of improved varieties of 

 corn in the corn belt, in spite of increased use of fertilizers, is asso- 

 ciated with the steady decline of the acreage of red clover. The 

 restoration of red clover to its former acreage, or the finding of some 

 other satisfactory legume, is of outstanding importance to the Middle 

 West. Unfortunately, the facilities of the department for carrying 



