658 



in 1889 and 1890 indicate that the flint varieties are not suited to this 

 locality. In both years the white varieties have averaged much larger 

 yields than the yellow varieties. 



Corn, topping and stripping. — " It is a very common practice in this 

 State to stri}) the leaves or cut the tops from the growing corn as soon 

 as the grain begins to ripen. As a test of the economy of this practice 

 one half acre was topped July 12 and another half acre was stripped 

 July 30, equal areas being left untouched on each side of each plat, 

 and the corn gathered, when fully ripe, for comparison." The financial 

 results, as estimated per acre, are as follows: topped, $23; stripped, 

 $28.53; untouched, $30.45. 



Forage plants (pp. 20-33). — In 1889 the station began the testing 

 of numerous species of forage plants in co-operation with the U. S. De- 

 partment of Agriculture. The details of this work will be published 

 in a bulletin of this Department The main object of these tests has 

 been to find a plant which will afford winter pasturage and which will 

 not be run out by other plants occupying the ground during the sum- 

 mer mouths. This article contains a summary of the results with a few 

 species which have been successfully tried in this region and a few 

 which have proved of doubtful value. The promising species include 

 orchard grass {Bacti/Us glomerata), rescue grass {Bromus vnioloides), 

 water grass {Paspaluni dilatatum), carpet grass {Paspalum platycaule), 

 Terrell grass {Elymns virginicus), Texan blue-grass {Poa aracJniifera), 

 red top (Agrostis vulgaris), crab-grass {Panicum sanguinale), Bermuda 

 grass [Gynodon dactylon), Johnson grass {Sorghum halepense), Japan 

 clover {Lespedcsa striata), alfalfa {Medicago sativa), melilo<"us {Melilotus 

 alba), and Mexican clover (Richardsonia scabra). The following seem to 

 be of little value in this section: timothy {PMeum pratmsc), Kentucky 

 blue-grass {Poapratensis), meadow foxtail {Alopeciiruspratensis), fescues, 

 rye grasses, and red clover [Trifolium pratense). 



Feeding for milk and butter (pp. 33-35), — Brief account of an 

 experiment reported in detail in Bulletin No. 13 of the station (See 

 Experiment Station Record, Vol. II, p. 302). 



Horticultural work (pp. 35-38). — Brief notes are given on 13 

 varieties of grapes and on experiments in 1889 and 1890 in growing a 

 fall crop of potatoes, planted about the middle of August. 



Botanical survey (p. 38). — The botanical survey of the State, 

 begun in 1889, has been continued. Thus far about 1,400 species of 

 native plants have been identified and located. 



Ohemical work (pp. 38-42). — Analyses of fertilizers, soils, marl, 

 butter, and sorghum are reported. Analytical work on the cotton 

 plant at different stages of its growth and on grasses is in progress. 



Meteorological summary (p. 43).-- Tabulated data for each month 

 of 1890. The averages for the year were as follows: temperature 

 64.9°, relative humidity 81.4, total rain-fall 55.05 inches, total hours 

 of sunshine 2,561.5. 



