aULF COAST. 17 



gra.s.s i.s most largely used. The sod, however, fre(|ueiitly ))ecomes so 

 matted that it should bo disk harrowed in order to give the grass a 

 fresh stiirt. Of the annual hay plants, cowpeas are regarded as the 

 most important and best. The large number of varieties, with the 

 var3dng lengths of time required for growth, makes it possi])le to adapt 

 them to various uses, so that they can be grown on land from which 

 grain or any earh' crop has been harvested. The benefit which the 

 soil derives from them is also of nmch importance. Crab grass 

 {Panlcioit sanguinale) is also used very largely for hay. It is a 

 volunteer crop, taking possession of fields upon which grain or similar 

 crops have been gi'own, and produces a large amount of excellent hay, 

 especially on the richer soils. The hay is of good quality, but needs 

 considerable care in curing. German millet, Johnson grass, and red 

 clover are also extensively cultiv^ated for hay. Professor Tracy's 

 report has ])een in great demand and has done nuich to increase the 

 knowledge and interest of the farmers of the South in forage ques- 

 tions, and has also tended greatly toward the improvement of con- 

 ditions. 



Mr. C. K. Ball did field work two seasons in Louisiana, making 

 especially large and important collections in the northern part of the 

 State and investigating a region whose forage problems and conditions 

 had not been liefore carefully studied. His collections and notes have 

 added nmch to our knowledge of this region. The report of these 

 investigations has not yet been published, but is in course of prepara- 

 tion and will soon 1)c submitted ih connection with a complete account 

 of all the unpublished results of field work in the Gulf States. 



Mr. Robert Combs, accompanied b}^ Mr. Allen Scribner, spent sev- 

 eral months during the summer of 1898 in northern, central, and west- 

 ern Florida, making a careful study of the forage resources of that 

 State. Large portions of Florida have been found to be particularly 

 well adapted to stock raising. Over large areas onl}^ a very small 

 proportion of the land is under cultivation, so that stock have an abun- 

 dant range in the woodlands, where there is an excellent supply of 

 grass and other forage. The growing season being practically contin- 

 uous, there is no lack of feed at any time during the year. For this 

 reason very little attention has been given to cultivated forage plants. 

 As the area of cultivated land increases, however, it will be found nec- 

 essary to pay more attention to the establishment of permanent pas- 

 tures and meadows, and also to the proper preservation and care of the 

 more important native grasses and forage plants. It is very impor- 

 tant that these questions should be carefully looked into and the proper 

 steps taken before the ranges reach the serious condition of those in 

 some other parts of the country, and it is hoped that the investigations 

 which have been undertaken will result in the conservation and proper 

 care of the natural forage of this State. A very large collection of 



1923— No. 25 2 



