74 DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS. 



crop has been collected. It is particularly valuable because of its 

 frost and drouglit-resistant qualities and its uj)right liabit of g•ro^^i;ll. 

 Its one objectionable feature is the coarseness of its stems. Studies 

 are in progress in order to secure varieties with stems less coarse and 

 woody. It is well known that the rate of seeding materially affects 

 coarseness of stem, and studies will be made the coming year to ascer- 

 tain the proper amount of seed to sow per acre. This work is under 

 the charge of Mr. Ball and Mr. Pollock. 



FORAGE PROBLEMS IN THE SOUTH. 



The continued cultivation of cotton in the Southern States, with 

 constant reliance on expensive commercial fertilizers, has resulted in 

 such depletion of humus in the soil that, in many places, cotton cul- 

 ture is no longer profitable. This office has given much attention 

 during the past year to forage plants for the South. Typical locali- 

 ties were selected in which quantities of alfalfa, cowpeas, soy beans, 

 beggar weed, rescue and Italian rye grass were sown in cooperation 

 with farmers. All of these crops have been reported on favorablj% 

 and we shall attempt to extend their cultivation as a means of prepar- 

 ing the way for more extended live-stock farming in the South. A 

 study of native forage plants and grasses is also being made with a 

 view to increasing the hay and pasture resources of the South. Mr. 

 P. L. Ricker, of this office, is now in the field collecting the seed of 

 valuable native grasses in that section. These will be tested the 

 coming year for meadow and pasture purposes. 



JOHNSON GRASS. 



Experiments on the extermination of Johnson grass in the Southern 

 States have been continued by Mr. Ball, and it lias been shown that 

 prolonged clean cultivation will eradicate this pest. A bulletin has 

 been issued giving the results of these experiments. Arrangements 

 are nearly comj^leted for a series of experiments in several States the 

 coming year in order to ascertain whether Johnson grass, and the still 

 more formidable pest, nut grass, can be eradicated by continued grow- 

 ing of a winter grain crop followed by a summer shading crop, such 

 as velvet bean or cowpea. 



SUBSTITUTES FOR KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS. 



Information received in this office during the past two years indicates 

 that on the rich, black prairie soils of the Central and Northern States, 

 especially when properly fertilized with barnyard manure, Kentucky 

 bluegrass is perhaps the best possible pasture grass. But on upland 

 soils that are inclined to be gravelh', bluegrass does not j^eld as much 

 pastui-e as some combinations of other grasses. This is partly due to 

 the abundance of weed}^ and bushy gro\vths on these soils, and experi- 

 ments are being undertaken to determine the effect of keeping down 

 such foreign growth. The effect of the application of fertilizers to 

 pastures is also under experiment, and it is hoped that valuable results 

 will be obtained. In those sections where bluegrass is not at its best 

 experiments have been started with combinations of other grasses and 

 clovers known to be valuable for pasture. These will be pushed with 

 vigor during the coming year. 



