16 FIELD WORK OF DIVISION OF AGEOSTOLOGY. 



the Fonij;-(' Pluiits and Forage Resources of the Gulf States." In this 

 bulletin a rather thorough discussion is given of the various soil con- 

 ditions, natural pastures, formation and care of pastures, temporary 

 pastures, winter pastures, and also descriptions of the more important 

 forage plants, with methods of cultivation and care of soils, and 

 extended notes upon the more important ha}^ and jjasture plants of the 



region. 



Professor Tracy, in speaking of the natural pastures, says: 



The natural forage jilants vary an widely as the .soil^. Some adapt tliemselveH to 

 almost any situation and are quite general in their distributon, while others are 

 extremely local. Some become more vigorous and abundant under frequent graz- 

 ing, while others soon disappear with any change of surroundings. 



In regard to the formation of pastures, we may quote the following 



from the same report: 



With a climate favorable to almost continuous growth and Avith soil easily worked 

 and promptly responding to good management it is not difRcnU. to secure permanent 

 pastures of the highest quahty, and in order to obtain the best returns the same 

 intelligent care must be used in their management as is given other portions of the 

 farm. The best pastures are those which contain the greatest variety of plants yield- 

 ing palatable food for stock. These plants should be such as make their greatest 

 growth at different seasons, in order that there may be a continuous supply. A por- 

 tion of them should be legumes, both for their superior fattening qualities and their 

 effect upon the soil, and as large a proportion as possible should be perennials. 



Carpet grass {raspalum compressuvi) is excellent for pastures, espe- 

 cially on the thin sandy lands along the Gulf coast. It is a native and 

 tends to spread and increase as the other and coarser grasses are 

 destroyed by grazing. Its increase can be materially hastened, accord- 

 ing to Professor Tracy, b}^ mowing old pastures in Jul}^ or August, 

 when the grass is maturing seed, and scattering the hay thus made 

 over the new field. For the more fertile lands Bcrnuida grass is most 

 valuable (PI. Ill, tig. 2). In speaking of the selection of varieties for 

 pasture the following advice is given: 



For the whole of the Gulf States, excepting the sandy soils near the coast, Ber- 

 muda grass and Japan clover should be the foundation of every permanent pasture. 

 On alluvial lands add redtop and alsike clover for the damper lands, with orchard 

 grass, sweet clover, and bur clover for the drier lands. On the uplands, yellow loam, 

 and clay sections, orchard grass and l)ur clover do well on the dry soils, while for 

 wet pla(;es redtop, large water grass, and alsike clover should be added. For the 

 black ])rairie regions, Texas blue grass ( PI. IV) and sweet clover are the best additions. 

 On the light soils of the coast region, carpet grass, large water grass, giant beggar weed, 

 and mutton cane largely replace the redtop and clover of the more Northern sections. 



The question of the best crops for winter pastures is one of consid- 

 erable importance in this region. It has been found that oats, rye 

 and barley, and hairy vetch prove the most satisfactory. A mixture 

 of turf oats and hairy vetch give espcciall}^ good results. Rescue 

 grass is also valuable for the same ]:)urpose. As a hay crop Bernmda 



