WORK OF THE SAN ANTONIO EXPEEIMENT FARM IN 1912. 17 



ORNAMENTAL PLANTS. 



Ornamental trees and shrubs suitable for the San Antonio section 

 have been tried in large numbers. Particular attention is also being 

 given to native trees and shrubs not already known or whose desir- 

 able qualities are not fully appreciated. In addition to the native 

 trees and shrubs, about 100 varieties of roses and a collection of bam- 

 boos, palms, yuccas, agaves, and many others have been assembled. 



FORAGE CROPS. 



The results of all the forage-crop experiments conducted at the 

 farm from 1908 to 1912, inclusive, have been assembled and published 

 as Circular Xo. 106 of the Bureau of Plant Industry. This circular 

 contains an extensive discussion of the results with the forage crops 

 tested during the past five years. For this reason, only brief men- 

 tion will be made here of the main features of the work in 1912. 



Among the more conspicuous new forage crops that are particu- 

 larly well adapted to the section may be mentioned Canada field peas 

 and Sudan grass. So far Canada field peas have given a higher hay 

 yield than oats, and apparently there is at least one variety that will 

 stand nearly, if not quite, as much cold. Last winter there were on 

 trial three lots, known as S. P. I. Nos. 30307, 18806, and 30134. Dur- 

 ing the winter there was a minimum temperature of 15° F. Xos. 

 30307 and 18806 were almost completely killed out, but, while the 

 plants on the other planting (No. 30134) were killed nearly to the 

 ground, new growth was put out and a grain yield of 14 bushels per 

 acre was obtained. As a winter cover croj) this is the most promising 

 that has been tested. 



Excellent results were obtained with Sudan grass in both 1911 and 

 1912. The yield of Sudan grass in 1912 was 5.66 tons per acre, based 

 on the weights from a one-tenth-acre plat. Sorghum planted in the 

 same way on the rotation fields gave a yield of 4,68 tons per acre. 



A rate-of-seeding test consisting of seven one-tenth-acre plats of 

 Sumac sorghum in 8-inch drills was conducted, as there is a variance 

 of opinion among farmers as to the best rate, quality of forage and 

 yield considered. The rates varied from 26 to 174 pounds per acre. 

 The highest yield was obtained from the plat seeded at the rate of 

 88 pounds per acre, or slightly more than 1^ bushels. The quality of 

 the forage was apparently equal to that j)roduced by the heavier 

 seedings and better than that in the thinner seedings. 



Japanese sugar cane, which has been grown here for the past 

 three seasons, gave a yield in 1912 of 13.08 tons per acre, the average 

 yield for the past three years being 12.84 tons per acre. This crop is 

 grown under irrigation. 



84899°— Cir. 120—13 3 



