BUREAU OF PLA.NT INDUSTRY. 359 



Alfalfa experiments. — Further experimental study of the hardy 

 varieties of alfalfa has given somewhat discordant results as to their 

 relative hardiness. The Grimm variety, which has been most ex- 

 ploited, is, however, hardy enough to withstand all but the severest 

 winters in North Dakota. ISIuch progress has been made in encourag- 

 ing the growing of seed of this variety, and by another year it is 

 anticipated that the supply will equal the demand. 



Hybrids have been made between ordinary alfalfas and two of the 

 hardy yellow-flowered alfalfas found in Siberia by Prof. N. E. 

 Han.sen. Some of these are apparently superior to either of the 

 parents in habit and vigor. They are all being tested for hardiness. 



Alfalfa versus clo\'er in the East. — The experimental and dem- 

 onstrational work has shown beyond doubt that alfalfa can be suc- 

 cessfully grown in the East wherever there is a deep, peimeable 

 subsoil. It succeeds best, however, on limestone soils or on clay loams 

 which have been heavily limed. There is still much to be learned in 

 regard to the relative value of alfalfa as compared with clover on the 

 so-called "clover-sick" lands. Much of the interest in alfalfa in 

 the East has been due to the inability of farmers longer to grow red 

 clover. Alsike clover has been much employed as a substitute, and 

 alfalfa to a less extent. In a limited number of experiments red 

 clover sown under the same conditions found necessary for alfalfa has 

 succeeded well. Numerous experiments are now under way to de- 

 termine how far this method may be relied upon with red clover and 

 how the results will compare with alfalfa sown under like conditions. 



Brekdixo improved tuniothies. — Work has been started at the 

 grass-breeding station organized in September, 1909, in cooperation 

 with the Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station at New London. 

 Ohio. More than 200 selections of timothy are now being grown at 

 the station and many more will be put out this fall. This work is 

 being carried forward as rapidly as possible in order that seed may be 

 obtained at an early date for testing under normal field conditions. 



Pasture experiments. — Grazing experiments conducted at Blacks- 

 burg, Va., in cooperation with the Virginia Experiment Station are 

 progressing very satisfactorily. "While this work has not continued 

 for a sufficient length of time to give definite results it has already 

 thrown considerable light on the subject of practical pasture manage- 

 ment. The investigations at Blacksburg are being augmented oy 

 cooperative experiments with farmers and by field investigations. 



New grasses. — Among the numerous new grasses under test two 

 deserve especial mention, Sudan grass and Rhodes grass. Sudan 

 grass is much like Johnson grass in appearance but without running 

 rootstocks, and therefore is easily controlled, as is timothy. Its 

 yield in all the tests thus far conducted is fully equal to that of 

 Johnson grass. Rhodes grass has given splendid results in Florida, 

 southeiTi Texas, and along the Gulf coast, yielding at least two, and 

 sometimes four, cuttings in a season. The hay is fine in texture and 

 quality. This grass promises much in the way of a commercial hay 

 grass for the extreme South. 



Improm^.d soroiiums. — The testing of the numerous varieties of 

 sorghum has continued at Chillicothe, Tex., for five years and has 

 resulted in developing improved strains of dwarf milo, blackhuU 



