230 EXPEEIMENT STATION RECORD. 



uu important place in the agriculture of the region, and the methods of seeding, 

 culture, and fertilization described are based almost entirely upon the prevailing 

 farm practice. Red clover, alsike clover, common vetch, pearl vetch, field peas, 

 alfalfa, timothy, the rye grasses, orchard grass, meadow fescue, velvet grass, 

 Indian corn, rape, thoiisand-headed kale, root crops, and soiling crops are the 

 crops treated of. A brief note is also given on seeding timber burns and I)urnt 

 slashings. 



Diversified farming in the cotton belt, W. J. Spillman et al. {V. S. Dept. 

 Ayr. Ycarhook lHOo, pp. ]'K]-dlH, pis. .J). — A series of articles is presented with a 

 view to pointing out lines along which further progress in the diversification of 

 crops along the South Atlantic coast, in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkan- 

 sas, and Northeastern Texas, and Texas as a whole, may be made. A special 

 study was made of each one of the regions mentioned and a separate report for 

 each section is given. 



The South Atlantic coast region is divided into agricultural sections, according 

 as the different localities vary in character and crop production, and the agri- 

 cultural practices for each section are briefly noted. 



The observations made in Alabama and Mississippi led to the conclusion that 

 the depletion and the washing away of the soil on southern farms may be pre- 

 vented by establishing a system of farming which would increase the organic 

 content of the soil. It is suggested that this may be done either by a system of 

 crop rotation involving the use of leguminous crops and green manures, or by 

 feeding a large portion of the crops on the farm and returning them to the soil 

 as animal manures. 



In the discussion on Louisiana, Arkansas, and Northeastern Texas, implements 

 commonly used In the South are shown and described. Brief notes on their use, 

 including the terms commonly applied to the different tools and operations, are 

 given. 



Summary of press bulletins (Okhihoma Sta. Rpt. 1905, pp. 20-33, figs. 2). — 

 The subject-matter contained in this summary is largely reprinted from other 

 publications of the station. Only the more recent results are here noted. 



In the experiment with Bermuda grass (E. S. R., IT, p. 10G2) a yield of 5,658 

 lbs. of cured hay per acre was secured in June, 1906. In September, 1905, less 

 than 3 months after planting the ground with Bermuda grass sod 2,584 lbs. of 

 hay was obtained, so that within less than a year 8.212 lbs. of hay was produced 

 per acre. 



Of different varieties of wheat tested Turkey red and Turkish red. believed to 

 be the same, exceeded 25 bu. per acre in yield. Sibley New Golden, grown for 

 several years on the college farm, stands first in average yield during a period 

 of 5 years ending .Tune 30, 1004. Some Northern varieties classed as spring 

 wheats gave good results when sown in the fall in Oklahoma. The results dur- 

 ing 3 years of pasturing wheat showed without variation that late spring i)astur- 

 ing is very detrimental to the crop. In 1905 a catch crop of soy beans was grown 

 after wheat and a yield of 4.33 bu. of beans per acre was secured. 



The business of seed and plant introduction and distribution, A. J. 

 PiETERS (L;. *S'. Dept. Agr. Yearhook 1!)05. pp. 291-306, pis. 3). — The history of 

 seed and plant introduction and distribution by the Commissioner of Patents 

 in former years and by this Department as his successor up to the present 

 time is reviewed and the method of carrying on the work to-day is described. 

 Estimates of the present annual value of some of the important crops intro- 

 duced since the first appropriation in 1839 are presented. The crops and 

 A'arieties included in this list are sorghum, Kafir corn, Durum wheat, Japanese 

 Kiushu rice. Swedish select oats, Excelsior white Schonen oats. Chevalier barley, 

 Fultz wheat, and the Washington navel orange. 



