432 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Clover investigations. — The present extreme scarcity and high 

 price of red clover seed are seriously handicapping the extension of 

 this crop throufihou't the country. Attempts are being made to re- 

 lieve this condition in three ways: (1) By determining the factors 

 which are necessary to produce large crops of seed in order to bring 

 these factors under control as far as practicable; (2) by developing 

 heavy-seeded strains through selection at cooperative testing sta- 

 tions; (3) by supplying the proper conditions for germination in 

 order that the minimum rate of seeding may be sufficient. 



Tests are under way to determine the effects of seeding at various 

 rates, different depths, and in rows of various widths. The pro- 

 duction of successful stands of clover is coming to be more and more 

 difficult in many sections of the country. Observations indicate that 

 the principal reason for this condition is the gradual depletion of 

 humus in many soils. In some sections the addition of either phos- 

 phorus or potash and lime have remedied the difficulties. Other 

 soils need drainage before red clover can be produced successfully. 



The customary high price of crimson clover seed has also been a 

 serious handicap to the extension of this crop. Preliminary experi- 

 ments looking to the economizing of seed indicate that by drilling 

 instead of broadcasting satisfactory stands can be obtained with 

 much less seed to the acre. The use of wheat, winter oats, winter 

 barley, or rye with crimson clover in mixtures is proving very suc- 

 cessful. Tests are under way to determine to what extent the use of 

 early-maturing and late-maturing strains of crimson clover will 

 extend the harvest season, thus enabling the farmer to handle a corre- 

 spondingly greater acreage with his customary equipment. 

 • The work as outlined for the past fiscal year will be continued with 

 no essential changes. 



Grass investigations. — Grazing experiments conducted in coopera- 

 tion with the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station at Blacks- 

 burg, Va., are being continued. This work has reached the stage 

 where definite results have been accomplished, and a change can 

 now be made to include additional points. Experiments along the 

 line of improvement of pastures by reseeding, eradication of weeds, 

 and the use of fertilizers are being conducted in Virginia, in New 

 York, and in the New England States. 



The breeding of timothy and other grasses at New London, Ohio, 

 has been continued and extended. More than 600 timothy selections 

 and approximately one-third of this number of other grasses and 

 clovers are under observation. Especially valuable strains of timothy 

 sown in small plats promise to produce sufficient seed for field tests 

 during the coming season. 



Field tests of Rhodes-grass are being conducted in Florida in 

 order to determine its climatic and soil requirements and the yield of 

 hay which may be expected. One field of 20 acres has been estab- 

 lished near Brooksville, from which results on a commercial scale 

 are expected. 



Sudan grass, which is very closely related to the cultivated 

 sorghums, is proving even more promising than it did last season. 

 This grass is an annual, but it can be grown so satisfactorily that it 

 promises to replace millet and even sorghums in many localities. It 

 is valuable not only for the South, but also for many of the Northern 

 States. 



