2() FIELD WORK OB' DIVISION OF AGROSTOLOGY. 



to kc'i-p «l<)\vn the weeds. It is a jnatter of observation that the species of weeds 

 which increase most rapidly in the hay fields are those that blossom and ripen their 

 seeds before the hay is ready to cut. Their increase can be checked only by cutting 

 them while they are in flower and thus ].reventing the seed from ripening. The 

 intermingled mass of weeds and grass along the "sloughs" and "draws" or on the 

 ground where old stacks have stood should be mowed and burned, or at least raked 

 off the liel<l. Otherwise these weed patches will grow in si/e from year to year and 

 reduce the yield of hay. 



Tame grasses, clovers, and soiling- crops for the prairie reg-ion are 

 also discussed in this paper. Some of the tame grasses iiiid clovers 

 have met with success in the eastern portion of this region where the 

 rainfall atfords a sufiicient supply of moisture. Orchard grass and 

 red clover mixed have proven successful in eastern Kansas and 

 Nebraska. Tall meadow fescue has also met with fair success, 

 although it is not so enduring as orchard grass. Alfalfa (PI. VIII, %. 2) 

 is quite generally and successfully grown, but most of the introduced 

 grasses and forage plants are not adapted to the conditions of drought 

 prevailing over the greater portion of this region. 



On account of the growing interest in dairying which is manifested 

 at present in the prairie region, considerable attention has been given 

 to soiling crops, the (question of summer forage t)eing an important 

 one, as there is usually a period during the summer when pasture is 

 scarce. Among the most promising plants for this purpose cowpeas 

 and SO}' beans may l)e mentioned. Certain varieties of these plants 

 have been grown with much success during the past few years in vari- 

 ous places, especially in Kansas and Nebraska. Very little has been 

 done with them in the Dakotas, as the season is usually too short for 

 maturing most of the \arieties. Corn, millet, hairy vetch, and field 

 peas also make excellent green feed for milch cows and are to be 

 recommended where thej^ can l)e growMi successfulh'. For ha}- and 

 pasture awnless brome grass {Bromus inennis) has proven more suc- 

 cessful than any other introduced grass tried (PI. VII). Being a native 

 of arid regions, it naturally does well in this region. 



Under the heading "Improvement of the ranges'' the question of 

 overstocking and its results is discussed, and the necessity for discon- 

 tinuing the practice is pointed out. The desirability of constructing 

 artiticial ponds or tanks for the conservation of the rainfall is shown 

 to be of great impoitance, as it would obviate the necessity of cattle 

 having to travel long distances for watei', and thus trampling and 

 packing the soil. As one means of improving the range lands, we 

 may (piotc in conclusion from Mr. Smith's paper the following: 



Clearly, then, if the grazing quality of the ranges is to lie imjirovi'd, they must be 

 so treated that the nutritious native species of grasses and forage plants can spread 

 by means of the ripened seed. This can l)e accom]tlished by dividing the range up 

 into separate ]jastures and grazing the different fields in rotation. There is a con- 

 stant succession of species that ripen their seed from June to October, commencing 

 with k'dlm-iit, Kalon'ut, Slijxi, and IlnllnUx in .Tunc and July, and ending with Andro- 



