190 ANNUM- REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



was carried on with carly-matnrinp; strains, 100 per cent of some of 

 wliicli mature as fai" noi-th as Wasliin^ton, D. C. The introchiction 

 of new early sorts liiis had nnicli to <h) in extcndinir the area over 

 which the velvet bean can be grown and tlierefore in <2;reatly increas- 

 in<j!: the acreagfe of this crop. 



VETCHES. 



The study of \etches was continued (hirinf>; the past year along- th6 

 same general lines as in previous seasons. Woolly-Pod vetch con- 

 tinues to show its sujierior value for the Southern States on account 

 of its comparative resistance to the disease Protocoronospora nigri- 

 can.s and its vigorous Avinter growth. 



Purple vetch has been found to be adapted to a wider area than 

 W'as supposed, a result of which is an increased acreage in the north- 

 ern coastal region of Califoi-nia, which j)romises to produce this yeai* 

 about 400 tons of seed. This new crop is especially well adapted for 

 green manuring in citrus orchards of California, so this new source 

 of seed supply is important. 



Hungarian vetch (Vicia pannonica) has again proved its value 

 for wet lands in experimental trials in the northwestern Pacific Coast 

 States, and seed has been increased for extended demonstrations 

 under such conditions. 



AA^ork with common vetch {Vwia sat km) and hair}'^ vetch {Vicia 

 rillo^a) has been' continued, with a view to making seed available 

 at a figure so low that farmers can afford to use these species more 



generalJv. 



a1b 



SWEET CLOVER. 



The date-of-seeding tests carried on for several v^ears at the North 

 Dakota station have been completed this j^ear. The result in gen- 

 eral shows that the earliest spring seeding gives the best results. 

 While often the api)arent stand has not varied materially from 

 seedings made betMeen April 12 and June 10, the hay yield has been 



heaviest from the earliest seedings. 



LOTUS. 



In Tennessee the plants of Lotus corniculatus have now established 

 themselves and for three years have not only maintained a good 

 growth on the poorest hillsides but have increased. The outlook for 

 usefulness on those lands is good. On the very acid soils Lotus cor- 

 niculatus does not thrive, but T^otus uliginosus seems to succeed, and 

 further experiments with this species will be made. 



HOP CLOVER. 



A study was made of the value of the wild hop clovers in southern 

 pastures. It was found that while these species grow and form a 

 part of the early spring pasturage in all Southern States they are 

 of most importance in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas. In 

 these States they cover thousands of acres, making the best of graz- 

 ing in early spring and giving way to Bermuda grass and Japan 

 clover later. 



