FORAGE-CROP EXPERIMENTS AT SAN ANTONIO. 27 



the unevenness of the distribution of rainfall make the growing of 

 the crop in this section inadvisable. 



SUMMARY. 



Though cotton lias heretofore been the principal crop of the San 

 Antonio region, the increasing demand for roughage has made forage 

 crops as profitable as cotton. 



( !rop seasons are such that green forage may be available during the 

 entire year under favorable conditions. 



In' the selection of crops drought resistance is of primary impor- 

 tance; the consideration of earliness is probably second in impor- 

 tance. 



Sorghum is the most widely planted forage crop of the section, and 

 the Sumac variety has given the highest yields. 



Sorghum planted in rows so that cultivation is possible has given 

 better yields on nonirrigated land than that sown in 8-inch drills. 

 Rows 3 or 3^ feet apart are preferable to those of either a greater or 

 less distance, yield and quality considered. 



Oats and rye are valuable as whiter forage. The Appier Rustproof 

 oats have given the highest yields of seven varieties grown. 



Japanese sugar cane is a new forage crop well adapted to this section. 



Alfalfa can not be successfully produced without irrigation. On 

 irrigated land frequent reseeding is necessary to maintain the stand 

 on account of root-rot. 



Cowpeas are the best summer leguminous crop for this section. 

 The Whippoorwill and the Unknown have proved to be the best 

 varieties of those tested. 



Canada field peas have proved particularly well adapted to the 

 local conditions in the vicinity of San Antonio as a winter crop. 



Millets are not as well adapted to these conditions as many other 

 forage crops because of their lack of drought resistance. 



Xo perennial grasses are grown without irrigation except Johnson 

 grass, and the growth of this is not recommended. 



Para grass (Panicvm l>arbinode) and guinea grass (/'. maximum) 

 have given fair yields when grown under irrigation. 



Rhodes-grass (CMoris gayana) appears to be somewhat more prom- 

 ising than either Para grass or guinea grass. 



Approved: 



James Wilson, 



Secretary of Agriculture. 



Washington, I). (\, November 9, 1912. 



I Cir. 106] 



o 



