BUEEAU OF PLANT INDUSTKY. 75 



GRASSES WITH PARTIAL IRRIGATION. 



In all the irrigated sections of the arid region there are considerable 

 bodies of land which can be given irrigation in early spring while 

 water is abundant, but which can not be irrigated in midsummer for 

 lack of water. Questions f requentlj^ come to this office about various 

 grasses for such situations. Cooperative experiments were begun the 

 present year, under the direction of Mr. Hitchcock, to test the value 

 of alfalfa and brome grass with different amounts of irrigation water. 

 These investigations will be extended to other grasses, and will be 

 duplicated in several western States. 



SOIL AND SAND BINDERS. 



A bulletin has been issued during the year giving results of inves- 

 tigations with sand-binding grasses in California (Bureau of Plant 

 Industry, Bulletin No. 12), and another is now in course of prepara- 

 tion. Experiments have been started in Michigan, on the sand dunes 

 along the east shore of Lake Michigan, and an assistant is now in the 

 field studying conditions on the North Atlantic coast, with instructions 

 to institute a series of experiments in that region. 



A number of grasses have been found that can be grown successfully 

 on sand dunes, and plantations of these have been made. Investiga- 

 tions begun on the Oregon coast several j'ears ago are still in progress 

 and a considerable area of sand dune has been reclaimed. 



During the coming year experiments will be conducted with soil- 

 binding plants on railroad and other embankments in the interior. 

 Mr. Hitchcock has charge of this work also. 



ROTATION OF CROPS. 



A study is being made of crop rotations in various parts of the 

 country, and cooperative experiments on this subject have been 

 undertaken with other offices of this Bureau and several of the State 

 experiment stations. Considerable time is required to secure results 

 in investigations of this character. It is therefore important that 

 these experiments be extended in the immediate future to as many 

 parts of the country as possible in order that valuable time may not 

 be lost. Increased appropriations for this purj)ose are earnestly 

 recommended. 



OVERFLOWED LANDS. 



In every State and Territory tliere are considerable bodies of land 

 subject to annual overflow. These lands are generally exceedingij^ 

 rich, but on account of the overflow, which usually comes in the 

 spring or early summer, they are not available for the cultivation of 

 ordinary crops. Investigations have been inaugurated in order to 

 secure meadow and pasture grasses that will thrive on such lands. 

 In manj' i^laces much hay is made on swampy soil, and the native 

 vegetation on such soils is being studied. Several agents are now in 

 the field collecting seed, and plantings are arranged for in one locality 

 in the State of Illinois. This work will be extended as fast as funds 

 will permit. 



