35S ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



s;iy by buying the live slock from the westerD ranges and in the 



stockvnrds and bringing them to .your farms and feeding that live- 

 stock so that your fertilizer can be obtained practically without 

 any other expense than putting it on the soil. If you ask me, Can 

 i his be done? I answer, I think it can. I know that food can be fed 

 to these animals — I know that food can be fed either to cattle or 

 sheep, and the man that feeds it will make some money, not perhaps 

 a very great deal, in addition to the fertilizer which is thrown into 

 the bargain. Now if that is true, it seems to me there is a wide 

 open door for engaging in this work. It seems to me, sir, that there 

 is no way of building up the soils of Pennsylvania than the one sug- 

 gested, by grazing, by bringing sheep and putting them over these 

 hills that w r e saw everywhere yesterday, by feeding rich food, food 

 that is rich in fertilizing matter, and in this way make profits by 

 growing sheep, and increasing the fertility of the pasture at the 

 same time by doing so. But I fear I will trespass on your good 

 nature by occupying your time further. You asked me to appear 

 before you, and I have responded to the call. I thank you for the 

 generous hearing which you have given me. 



The CHAIRMAN: Now then, we are ready to proceed with the 

 Reports of the Specialists and Standing Committees. We will first 

 hear from the Botanist, Prof. Buckhout. 



The SECRETARY: Mr. Chairman, Prof. Buckhout is not here, but 

 his report is here, and can be read or can be printed without being 

 read as may be desired. 



It was moved and seconded that the report be printed without 

 being read, which was agreed to. The report is as follows: 



REPORT OF THE BOTANIST. 



BY Prof. W. A. Buckhout. Staff College, Pa. 



My correspondence during the past year has not been materially 

 different in character and amount from that of former years. The 

 same questions periodically appear with slight differences in setting, 

 Hence I select for particular mention only those which are typical 

 and respecting which the farming community still needs to be 

 specially informed. 



Weeds of one kind or another are frequently sent me for de- 

 termination, generally coupled with the inquiry, how to get rid of 

 them. The golden-yellow or hop clover seemed unusually abundant 

 and conspicuous last year, particularly in the northern tier of coun- 

 ties. This is a good type of a plant, technically, a weed, but really 

 only a somewhat inferior species of its kind, and hence not to be 

 encouraged. White clover or red should take its place, since they 

 produce a larger quantity and more nutritious forage. This is some- 

 times accomplished naturally, the two latter species being the 

 stronger growing and gradually displacing the former which is of a 

 weaker constitution and less well adapted to most soils. Close cut- 



