338 ANNUAL. REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



harnifiil as heavy grazing. The beneficial effects of cultural treat- 

 ments on the phits are already strongly in evidence. Experiments 

 similar to those at Blacksburg are being conducted in Maine, Massa- 

 chusetts, and New York. 



A large proportion of the work in ^rass breeding is being con- 

 ducted at a station established for this purpose at New London, 

 Ohio. This station was started in 1900 and, notwithstanding the two 

 very unfavorable seasons which have followed, a number of promis- 

 ing strains of timothy have been developed and enough seed obtained 

 for plat tests. Several hundred selections of timothy are being made 

 this season from fields in the close vicinity of New London. Im- 

 proved strains of orchard grass, brome-grass, and clovers are also 

 being developed at this station. 



The introduction of Rhodes-grass has met with marked success in 

 Florida and along the Gulf coast. In Florida especially this grass 

 has aroused the interest of the farmers and stockmen to the point 

 where they are desirous of seeding large areas of it for both hay and 

 pasture. It is without doubt one of the most promising crops that 

 has recently been introduced into that section. Rhodes-grass appears 

 to be hardy in sections where the temperature does not fall below 

 18° F. 



Sudan grass is another valuable grass, closely resembling Johnson 

 grass but not possessing underground rootstocks and, therefore, not 

 difficult to eradicate. It is hoped that this grass will be found to 

 possess all the valuable qualities of Johnson grass and at the same 

 time be easily controlled. It promises to be valuable both as an an- 

 nual and as a perennial. As an annual, it is believed that it will Id 

 many sections replace millet. Sudan grass suckers readily from the 

 stubble, and with sufficient moisture will give two or three cuttings in 

 one season. 



Sorghum investigations. — The testing of new and improved va- 

 rieties of sorghum is being conducted largely at Chillicothe, Tex., 

 under the immediate direction of Mr. A. B. Conner. Among the 

 new sorghums that have shown the most promise this season are the 

 kowliang, feterita, and pink kafir. Even in the most unfavorable sea- 

 son these varieties can be depended upon to produce a crop. Very 

 definite results have been obtained from improved strains of the 

 Sumac sorghum. These are proving to be superior in forage value 

 to the common, unselected variety. 



CowPEAS. — The testing of a very large number of cowpeas col- 

 lected from various sources, together with numerous hybrids made 

 by Mr. G. W. Oliver, has been conducted both at Arlington Experi- 

 mental Farm and in cooperation with experiment stations, under the 

 direction of Prof. C. V. Piper, assisted by Mr. W. J. Morse. Seed 

 of some of the most promising of these varieties has been introduced 

 on the market and appreciation of their value over the common va- 

 rieties is constantly growing. The Brabham and Groit varieties have 

 come rapidly into favor and during the past spring the demand for 

 seed of these varieties has been much in advance of the supply. 



Sov REA^sS. — The soy-bean crop is already of considerable value 

 in the Soalhern States, and it seems destined to become of much 

 greater importance not only for forage but in all probability for the 



